Ghana TV News, 24.07.2010 | | | | News - 24.07.2010 Fuel Price Case; High Court To Decide On Monday | Following a ruling by an Accra High Court presided over by His Lordship Patrick Baayeh that the current fuel prices being paid by consumers in Ghana are illegal, the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has filed a motion to set aside the court's default judgement.
In addition to ordering the NPA to reduce fuel prices by the illegal ex-refinery differential, the Court also ordered NPA and TOR to disclose publicly the full amount realised from the illegal pricing of fuel since 5th June 2009 and pay same into the Consolidated Fund.
From Development Data's calculation, the total amount accrued from the ex-refinery differential between the 5th of June 2009 and the 22nd of July 2010 (that is yesterday) comes to GH¢681.27 million. This is also twice the amount of money (GH¢340.05 million)realised from petroleum taxes over the same period.
In its motion to set aside the judgement, the NPA among other arguments, concedes charging the ex-refinery differential but argues that the money was (and is being) used for good purposes.
The case will be heard in the Accra High Court 11 (Cocoa Affairs Courts) at or around 9.00 am on Monday, the 26th of July 2010. | Buabeng-Fiema Monkey Sanctuary gets a bus to boost tourism * Source: GNA | Nkoranza (B/A) July 24, GNA - The Management of Buabeng-Fiema Monkey Sanctuary in the Nkoranza North District of the Brong Ahafo Region, has purchased a 14- seater bus at the cost of GHC 16,500 to facilitate the movement of tourists.
Mr Edward Opoku, Chairman of the management team made this known, when he led a delegation of the Buabeng and Fiema communities to brief Okatakyie Agyemang Kudom IV, Omanhene of Nkoranza about developments at the sanctuary.
He said the decision to purchase the vehicle arose to address the problems tourists encounter in moving in and around the sanctuary.
Mr Opoku said the bus would also operate on commercial basis to generate funds to develop the sanctuary into a modern status.
He said a sub-committee has been set up to oversee the operations of the bus to promote transparency and accountability.
Okatakyie Agyemang Kudom IV, praised the management of the sanctuary for their initiative.
He called on the Kintampo North District Assembly to emulate the shining example and develop the Kintampo Water Falls into a modern facility.
Mr Benjamin Adu Darko, Presiding Member of the Nkoranza North District Assembly commended the people of Buabeng and Fiema for their peaceful cohesion and the management of the sanctuary. | Two MMT buses kill three in Upper West * Source: GNA | Wa, July 24, GNA - Three persons are reported dead in two fatal accidents involving two Metro Mass Transit (MMT) buses in the Upper West Region.
The first accident which occurred on Thursday; July 12, on the Wa-Tumu road killed a 16-year-old boy, Nabali Sayibu.
Mr James Adoko, the 55-year-old driver of the bus was moving from Bolgatanga to Wa when the accident occurred between Hain and Sabuli on the Wa-Tumu road.
According to the driver, the deceased who was riding an unregistered motor bike from Bawku to Wa wrongfully overtook the bus which resulted in the accident.
The other accident which occurred on July 18 at Issa on the Funsi-Wa road killed a man and his wife who were travelling on a motor bike.
Abass Iddrisu, the driver of the bus said Seidu Minlang-ang, 35, and his wife Salamatu Seidu, 32, were riding on his side of the road when they crashed into the bus resulting in the accident.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) John Ferguson Dzineku, Regional Commander of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit of the Ghana Police Service told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Wa that the MMT drivers are professionals and could have avoided the accidents.
He attributed the accidents to over speeding and lack of defensive driving and blamed motorists for being careless.
When the GNA contacted Mr Malik Ibrahim, Regional Manager of MMT, he expressed regret for the two accidents.
Meanwhile the two drivers are in police custody and will soon appear before court. | GBC marks 75th Anniversary * Source: GNA | Accra, July 24, GNA - Mrs Elizabeth Smith, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association (CBA) has urged Public Service Broadcasters (PSBs) to ensure quality programming to serve the interest of the public.
She said; 93This will keep public support for the PSBs at a high level".
According to her, PSBs, which set to only serve the interest of the government and or bring in a specific income, would find it difficult to survive.
Mrs Smith, who is a recipient of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), said this when delivering a lecture to mark the 75th Anniversary Celebration of the establishment of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) in Accra on Friday.
It was under the topic: 93The Future of Public Service Broadcasting."
The lecture, which was the fifth in the series in the year, climaxed the anniversary attended by some past and present staff members of GBC including former Directors-General, representatives of media houses and media associations such as the Ghana Journalists Association.
Mrs Smith said the increasing number of commercial broadcasting channels, offering variety of programmes and a choice to watch at one's own preferred time, presented the PSBs with a challenge to adopt pragmatic ways to sustain audiences.
She deplored a creeping situation where most of the respected old PSBs had become subservient state broadcasters, serving the government before the public and making their news stories to lack credibility compared to their commercial competitors.
She urged governments to stop interfering in the running of PSBs.
Mrs Smith said the public was prepared to support the PSBs because of its quality programmes that promoted national aspiration and nurtured national cohesion and education and urged the PSBs not to shirk such a responsibility.
She suggested that PSBs should streamline some of their programming to keep its audiences from declining too fast.
"Using a number of channels, the broadcaster can cross-trail and cross programme across all its outlets 96 TV, radio and website, and so use some of the same original material in different ways to suit different kinds of audiences and also improve schedules to make appropriate material available at the best time for particular audiences.
"It can drive down its costs in order to transfer funds into cutting edge areas such as computerized play-in, electronic editing and distribution. It can use FTP for incoming dispatches and invest in broadcasting-linked websites," she said.
She urged PSBs to develop appropriate mechanisms to raise funds to support their operations adding; 93if we fail to do this, there could be no 100th Anniversary for many of the great PSBs".
Mr William Ampem-Darko, Director-General of GBC, called on Parliament to take a bold decision to increase the TV licence fee from the current 30 Ghana pesewas to a more realistic amount to enable the GBC to effectively operate as a PSB.
He said GBC received funding through only government subvention and revenue, which was inadequate to managed a multi channel TV station and operate multicasting; both analogue and digital and 11 FM stations.
He called on civil society organisations and other stakeholders "to rise fearlessly to defend the PSB as soon as they notice any unnecessary interference or unjustifiable control from any quarters and also to keep the PSB on its toes to do the right things and to do things right".
He expressed the hope that the Broadcasting and Freedom of Information Bills would soon be passed.
Professor Kwame Karikari, Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa, who chaired the event, said despite the challenges, GBC survived adding its continual survival was crucial for the development of the nation. |
_____________________________________________________ ----- | - Fuel Price Case; High Court To Decide On Monday - Buabeng-Fiema Monkey Sanctuary gets a bus to boost tourism - Two MMT buses kill three in Upper West - GBC marks 75th Anniversary - Monorail system being planned for Accra | _________________________________ | Monorail system being planned for Accra * Source: GNA | A monorail system is being planned to help ease traffic congestion in the Accra Metropolis.
Dubbed “Greater Accra Transit System,” the project would operate on elevated beams in order not to disturb pedestrians and traffic.
The transit system would commence in phases and will include retail and commercial facilities, shopping malls, parking facilities, hotel business conferences, and beach resorts.
Dr Ron Watson, Transportation Engineer and Project Manager of Intercontinental Commerce Corporation, (ICC) USA briefing journalists in Accra on Friday said the transit system would operate from Danquah Circle and Kwame Nkrumah Circle, the Castle Drive and Ohene Gyan Sports Stadium.
He said the double straddle beam monorail would use electricity and ICC would supply its own energy systems for the project.
Dr Watson said transit problems in the cities were similar and that the increase of new buses on roads and construction of new roads could solve those issues.
He said over 40 per cent of the total income of workers was spent on transportation.
Dr Watson said the introduction of monorail systems had been the solution to traffic in Germany, United States, Japan and Egypt.
Throwing more light on the monorail system in Accra, he said the elevated monorail system would be eight miles with 16 stations during the first phase estimated at 1.5 billion dollars.
Dr Watson said the project would be financed 100 per cent from loans and equity contribution by ICC and provide full time jobs for 1,000 people after completion and 15,000 during construction period.
He said a mono rail train could carry the equivalent number of what 20 cars could carry and that would restore the choice to drop out of traffic congestion.
Dr Watson recalled that monorail system introduced since 1877 had not suffered any pedestrian fatalities pointing and that it was one of the safest and inexpensive modes of transport.
He explained that time between trains would be as low as every three minutes to every nine minutes depending on their need.
Dr Watson said so far construction for phase one of the project would be approximately between four to five years and as soon as ICC was through with the feasibility studies concluded within 12 months, it would start construction.
Mr E.J. Miller, President of ICC, said management had completed monorail systems in Cairo and Mecca for pilgrims.
He said ICC had been in Accra for the past two years and that they were happy to start with the project as soon an agreement was signed between the Ministries of Transport, Local Government and Rural Development and Justice. | Your Opinions | Have Your Say!
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