* Tuesday, 09 March 2010 | CJA concerned about Parliament's inaction on corruption * Source: GNA | Accra, March 9, GNA - The Committee for Joint Action (CJA) on Tuesday expressed concern about the inaction of Parliament towards the fight against corruption though the institution has considerable powers that could be used to check the menace.
The group said it was not enough for Parliament to hold public hearings where officials were made to answer questions on audit reports but no actions were taken against such people to deter others from engaging in similar practices.
Mr Edward Bawa, a member of the CJA, said this at a press conference in Accra on the findings contained in the 2008 Auditor General's report into the public accounts of Ghana.
He urged government to prosecute officials found culpable of misapplying state funds and take steps to seal the loopholes that enabled such reprehensible crimes to be committed against the people of Ghana. "We insist that the laws governing the utilization of public funds must be rigorously adhered to in order to spare the long suffering masses of this country the agony of watching on helplessly as their taxes are stolen by greedy and unscrupulous officials," he said. Mr Bawa said total irregularities in 2008 alone amounted to GHc 166.1 million, representing an increase of 177.4 per cent over that of the previous year.
He said the cash irregularities accounted for 92.8 per cent of the total financial irregularities mainly because imprest holders refused to account for those monies, absence of effective supervisory controls over revenue collection, failure of officers to obtain supporting documents for funds to be disbursed as well as the ineffectiveness of Internal Audits Units within the Ministries.
Mr Bawa said Value Added Tax (VAT) acquired on the Barnett building near Busy Internet in Accra accounted for GHC 874,154 and rehabilitated at GHc 2,387,216 million although the building had only been leased to VAT for 11 years with the possibility that the lease may not be extended. He said three oil marketing companies which reneged on their scheduled payment plans to the tune of GHc 2,768,908 were not asked for guarantees. Though they are not paying the debts, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning is doing nothing.
Mr Bawa said contrary to regulation 14(1) of the Financial Administration Regulation, the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Public Sector Development and PSI opened and operated an account at the Accra High Street Branch of Barclays Bank Ghana in October 2005.
He said GHc two billion was transferred into it from the Ministry's main account which earned an interest of GHc 7.8 million and the two billion was withdrawn but as at now the principal and the interest have not been accounted for.
Mr Bawa also catalogued a litany of other findings as to how officials charged with the responsibility of managing the nation's financial resources at various Ministries, Departments and Agencies encouraged financial irregularities.
He said in spite of the numerous exposures that the CJA had made over the years concerning similar acts in previous audit reports no efforts had been made by the relevant authorities to stem the dissipation of the nation's scarce resources. The group called on the media and civil society organizations to intensify efforts at exposing corruption which he said, was the surest way of safeguarding the nation's resources. | | > BACK to TOP < | Mills reiterates commitment to judicious investment of oil cash * Source: GNA | Singapore, March 9, GNA - President John Evans Atta Mills has reiterated his government's commitment to invest oil inflows from the giant Jubilee field production in critical infrastructure projects, to propel national development for the benefit of all.
He has therefore called for the co-operation of the media, as a key ally, for the successful implementation of projects and programmes envisioned for the emerging oil industry.
"The discovery of oil in Ghana is good news and we must all work together to ensure that it benefits everybody," the President said in a message to a group of media persons on a trip to Singapore as part of a sensitisation programme on Ghana's preparedness for the Jubilee oil field production, which is scheduled to start in the last quarter of the year. Deputy Information Minister Samuel Okudjeto Ablakwa, delivered the message on behalf of the President when the group arrived in Singapore on Monday.
"The oil should be seen as a national resource beyond any political party," Mr Okudzeto Ablakwa said, quoting the President.
The trip was jointly organised by the Ministry of Energy and an integrated team of companies developing the Jubilee field. The highlight of the three-day trip will be a tour of the Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading vessel, a critical facility for the oil start-up, which is currently at the final stage of construction in Singapore.
Officials who will be interacting with the group include Mr Thomas Manu, Director of Production and Operations. GNPC; Mr Dai Jones, President of Tullow Ghana; Mr Gayheart Mensah, Communication Manager of Tullow Ghana; Mr Cory Weinbel of Anardarko, and Mr Dennis McLaughlin of Kosmos Energy. | | > BACK to TOP < | TOR apologises for shortage of liquefied petroleum gas * Source: GNA | Accra, March 9, GNA - The Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), on Tuesday assured the public that it was working hard to repair a leakage that was detected= on its sixth Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) pipeline, leading to the suspensi= on of the discharge of the product over the weekend.
It said personnel of the refinery were currently working around the clock to quickly restore the pipeline for discharge and onward distributi= on of LPG to the market. A statement signed by Ms Aba Lokko, Public Affairs Manager, TOR, said the company acknowledged the present shortage of LPG on the market, but attributed the situation to some technical difficulties resulting from th= e fire outbreak on January 19, 2010.
It noted that the incident also coincided with a major maintenance be= ing carried out on the Residual Fluid Catalytic Cracker (RFCC) Unit. The statement explained that subsequently, the refinery had been depending on imported finished products to serve the market. It said it was in the process of discharging one such cargo of 5,000 metric tonnes of LPG, which arrived over the weekend through an arrangeme= nt by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) from the Oil Jetty to the refinery. The statement said TOR sincerely regrets the situation and any inconvenience that it might had caused. | | > BACK to TOP < | Naruhito appeals for assistance to deal with infectious diseases * Source: GNA | Accra, March 9, GNA - Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan on Tuesday called for more commitment by the international community to deal with the threat of AIDS and other infectious diseases in the world. He noted that Africa had continually suffered from many infectious diseases such as malaria and remained one of the most seriously affected areas in the world.
"In Africa, there are 22.4 million people infected with HIV/AIDS, which represent 67 per cent of the world's total and in 2008, 1.4 million people died from AIDS", he added. Crown Prince Naruhito on a four-day visit to Ghana made the call when addressin g the maiden Dr Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize Memorial Symposium in Accra.
He expressed the hope that world leaders would encourage medical and health professionals to devote more attention to research into infectious diseases.
The symposium was attended by the first two recipients of the Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize, Dr Brian Greenwood of London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and Dr Mariam Were, a Kenyan Public Health Advocate. It attracted eminent personalities around the world to brainstorm on how to enhance medical research into parasitic and communicable diseases. The symposium was also to share ideas on the ideals of the late Dr Hideyo Noguchi, the foremost Japanese international medical researcher, who died in Accra on May 21, 1928, while researching into yellow fever in Ghana. It also contributed in creating awareness of the importance to research in the field of infectious diseases to strengthen the health system in Africa.
Crown Prince Naruhito paid tribute to the pioneering efforts and devotion in the search for a cure for yellow fever by Dr Noguchi. Crown Prince Naruhito, who is also the Honorary President of United Nations Secretary General's Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation, called for concerted efforts by the international community to find solution to infectious diseases in the world.
Vice President John Dramani Mahama, recalled that the Japanese Government established the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research in Accra in 1979 as a donation to Ghana to help promote medical research. He said it had emerged as one of the foremost kind in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Vice President Mahama said child mortality and improvement of maternal health care still remained challenges to mankind.
He expressed appreciation for organising the symposium in Accra, and pledged government's co-operation to make it successful. Vice President Mahama expressed appreciation for the Japanese Government's development assistance to Ghana and described Japan as a "true friend of Ghana".
"Young volunteers from Japan continue to arrive in Ghana to serve in some of the remotest parts of the country," Vice President Mahama said. Crown Prince Naruhito later laid a wreath at the La Cemetary in Accra, to the memory of Japanese volunteers who lost their lives in the line of duty in Ghana. | | > BACK to TOP < | EPA orders Iduapriem Mine to stop using tailings storage facility * Source: | Accra, March 9, GNA - The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has ordered AngloGold Ashanti (Iduapriem) Limited (AAIL) to stop using its 'tailings storage facility' at Iduapriem and Teberebie for non-compliance with best practice regarding the storage of waste material containing sodium cyanide. The Company operates a surface mine in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality of the Western Region of Ghana and processes ore using Sodium Cyanide and other chemicals via Carbon in Leach (CIL) method for gold. The waste material in the form of slurry from the processing operations is stored in a 'tailings storage facility'.
A release from EPA on Tuesday said as part of its Environmental Performance and Public Disclosure programme dubbed 'Akoben' it discovered some operational challenges faced by AAIL resulting in non-compliance with best practice regarding the operations of tailings storage facility. "The EPA, therefore, in a letter dated 4th August 2009, directed the Company to stop the use of the tailings storage facility within six months and in line with Section 13(1-4) of Act 490, December 1994, the EPA issued an Enforcement Notice to AAIL to undertake the following: "Cease the deposition of tailings material into Blocks 2 and 3 tailings storage facility by 11th February 2010 and or any other area/site unless otherwise permitted by the EPA and subsequently, remove all tailings discharging facilities. "Submit to EPA, a comprehensive report on water requirement within one month from the date of the enforcement notice and to provide within one month from the date of the enforcement notice an Action Plan for treatment of excess water to meet EPA's Sector Specific Effluent Quality Guidelines for discharge into water bodies.
The Company was also to engage a third party acceptable to the EPA to conduct independent requisite studies with regard to surface and ground water quality within the catchments communities and submit monthly reports to the EPA and directed, in the interim, to initiate action to assess and augment the potable water needs of the catchments communities within two months from the date of the enforcement notice. The release said EPA further directed that AAIL should prepare and submit a Decommissioning and Reclamation Plan covering Blocks 1, 2, and 3 Tailings Storage Facilities.
The plan should include among other things schedule of rehabilitation, proposal on end use(s) and cost estimates. The plan must be submitted within three months from the date of the enforcement notice. The Company is to prepare a report on displaced farmers from Teberebie community as a result of AAIL's operations with requisite strategic interventions (land for land) within four months from the date of the enforcement notice and report on the assessment of all affected buildings/structures that have experienced cracks one month from the date of the enforcement notice and commence repair works by 15 April 2010. Prior to the August 4, 2009 directive, the Company was requested in September 2008 to submit an application to obtain an environment permit to construct a new tailings facility that will last till the end of the mine. | > BACK to TOP < | GBC Staff work under trees * Source: | Wa, March 9, GNA - Some staff of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation(GBC) in Wa sit under trees to do their work thereby exposing them to public ridicule and the risk of intruders, Mr. Chris Alalbila, Acting Upper West Regional Director, has said
He therefore appealed for office accommodation and critical office staff especially, those in the technical area to enhance the corporation's performance.
Mr. Alalbila who made the appeal at the launch of Upper West Regional edition of the 75th anniversary celebration of the GBC in Wa on Tuesday, said:" all those notwithstanding, GBC had been playing its traditional role by promoting and preserving the culture of the people".
He appealed to government to provide a fence wall for the Wa station to secure staff and equipment as well as prevent private developers from encroaching on the station's land, which was already under threat. The Acting Regional Director said GBC was still in the business of educating the people on government's policies and programmes to help them make informed choices.
He announced that while the GBC was 75 years old, the Upper West Radio, a local FM. Station in Wa was also 10 years old. Mr. Alalbila commended the workers for their hard work and sense of judgment in the performance of their duties and urged them to work more to improve programmes at the station for the benefit of the public. Mr. Mahmud Khalid, Upper West Regional Minister, said the 75 years of GBC's existence had greatly enhanced national development of which Ghanaians were grateful.
"The unity, the promotion and preservation of the culture and the peace that people of Ghana are enjoying could be largely attributed to the GBC".
He therefore urged workers of the corporation to be mindful of GBC mandate and mission in their day-to-day performance of their duties to give meaning to the public broadcaster as a national asset.
"An informed public can be changed but uninformed public can never be changed", Mr. Khalid said and urged staff of GBC to continue to educate the people to adopt best practices, either politically, socially, economically or culturally to move the development of the country forward. Mr. Khalid promised to collaborate with other development partners to see how best they could help provide the GBC with its basic needs to enhance quality work delivery.
Workers and concerned students of the University for Development Students went on a float through the principal streets of Wa and later converged at the four-courts of the Regional Coordinating Council. | > BACK to TOP < | EPA orders AngloGold to repair damaged community structures * Source: | Accra, March 9, GNA - The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has ordered AngloGold (Iduapriem) Mine to carry out assessment of all affected buildings/structures that have experienced cracks in Teberebie community and to start repairing them by 15 April 2010. The Company is also to submit a Decommissioning and Reclamation Plan for three of its Tailing Storage Facilities within three months from the date an enforcement notice was issued.
The Plan must include among other things; schedule of rehabilitation; proposal on end uses and cost estimates, a release from the Executive Director of EPA said on Tuesday. The release said the plan must report on displaced farmers from Teberebie community as a result of the Company's operations with strategic interventions (land for land) within four months from the date of the enforcement notice.
EPA said it carried out an audit as part of its new approach towards Environmental Governance in a programme known as Environmental Performance and Public Disclosure dubbed 'Akoben'.
It said during the audit at AAIL, the EPA discovered some operational challenges including a number of recurrent socio-economic challenges within its catchments communities and in line with Section 13(1-4) 0f Act 490 of December 1994, the Agency issued an Enforcement Notice to AAIL. AAIL operates a surface mine at Iduapriem and Teberebie, near Tarkwa, in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality in the Western Region of Ghana and the ore is processed using Sodium Cyanide and other chemicals via Carbon in Leach (CIL) method for gold. | > BACK to TOP < | Anti-armed robbery taskforce in accident * Source: | Tokoranu (V/R), March 9, GNA - A taskforce comprising the navy and police personnel had an accident on Tuesday while pursuing armed robbers between Dormabin and Tokoranu in the Krachi East district. The driver of the taskforce vehicle believed to be a navy officer died in the accident. The rest who sustained various injuries were said to have been rushed to the WoraWora Government Hospital. Mr Musa Gado, Krachi East District Coordinating Director, who confirmed the accident to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) said the vehicle skidded-off the road and somersaulted.
A source told the GNA that the fate of three women abducted by the robbers hangs in the balance.
The armed robbers were said to have taken away cash, hand bags and mobile phones belonging to the passengers on the Krachi bound Accra Benz bus. Mr Raphael Kofi Ogyemoko, Krach East District Chief Executive appealed to the general public to volunteer information about any strange characters they see around. | > BACK to TOP < |
_____________________________________________________ ----- | 
| | Tuesday, 09 March 2010 | | CJA concerned about Parliament's inaction on corruption Mills reiterates commitment to judicious investment of oil cash TOR apologises for shortage of liquefied petroleum gas Naruhito appeals for assistance to deal with infectious diseases EPA orders Iduapriem Mine to stop using tailings storage facility GBC Staff work under trees EPA orders AngloGold to repair damaged community structures Anti-armed robbery taskforce in accident Attorney General calls for reforms in legal education Veep clinches housing deal with South Korea Three dead in renewed chieftaincy dispute at Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo State Of Whose Nation? ...Ghanaians Wonder All arms of government should work together-Judge Vice President commends Japanese Government for assistance Prophet 'One-Touch' Arrested For Having Sex With Daughter Stevie Wonder Flew A Plane Under My Instructions -- J.J. LPG shortage hits parts of the country NDC Steps Up Efforts To Jail Kufuor’s Men GAF to train with US Navy and Marine corps Ghana is Going Downhill Under NDC - NPP-USA Crown Prince Naruhito interacts with Japanese volunteers Ghana High Commissioner Invites Malaysian Expertise | RIGHT | LEFT | _________________________________ | Your Opinions | Have Your Say!
| Archived News for 2010 | Go to 08.03.2010 | 
| All about the Ghana Election 2008 | | | | * 09.03.2010 | * Source: The Enquirer | | * Source: GNA | | | . | | . | | . |
|