TOR rehabilitation begins

WORK has begun on the rehabilitation of two key units of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) to pave the way for the refinery to resume full-scale operations.

The units are the Crude Distillation Unit (CDU) and the Residual Fluid Catalytic Cracker (RFCC).

The project was made possible following the release of $30 million by the government to TOR towards the rehabilitation of its plants.

The release of the funds was in response to appeals made by TOR to the government for $67 million to address challenges at the production units of the refinery.

According to an official source at TOR, the government had assured the refinery that it would release the remaining $37 million by the end of the first quarter of this year for the company to operate efficiently on a sustainable basis.

The company has, since 2009, had major challenges at its major production units, leading to periodic shutdowns which virtually crippled its operations.

The breakdown of equipment at TOR’s utilities department has also affected its generators and steam boilers which are also major components in the production activities of the refinery.

The company had, in 2010, requested $36 million. However, damage to the furnace of the CDU Plant, coupled with damage to the steam boilers and the electricity generation plant, necessitated an increase in the figure to $67 million.

It had also sought to install automatic measuring meters to replace the manual gauging equipment currently being used.

Over the past couple of years, TOR has engaged in significant proxy borrowing to finance its activities and the injection of capital by the government is expected to provide some respite for its operations.

 The source said the maintenance work, which had taken off, would be completed by the end of February.

“We expect to resume normal production work early March, after a four-month inactivity at the CDU and RFCC plants,” it said.

The leaders of TOR’s local union who welcomed the effort after four years of widespread agitation among workers were hopeful the government would commit itself to addressing the challenges.

“We would also expect President John Mahama to keep to the promise he made on December 4, 2012 that the NDC government would put the necessary measures in place to enable TOR to operate at full capacity, as well as ‘complete the retrofitting exercise’,” the Chairman of the TOR Senior Staff Association, Mr Daniel Fugar, told the Daily Graphic.

SOURCE: Della Russel Ocloo, Daily Graphic, Tue, Jan 22, 2013

2 Legon students die in accident

Lordina Fobih, one of the two students involved

TWO female students of the University of Ghana, Legon, died in an accident at Okponglo Junction, near the university in Accra, early yesterday morning when the taxi on which they were travelling collided with a refuse truck at the junction where the amber lights of the six traffic lights were blinking simultaneously.

The blinking of the amber lights meant that drivers should drive cautiously, since any of them could cross the intersection.

The two, Lordina Fobih, 19, and Deborah Akosua-Denkyiraa Benaye, 18, both Level 100 students and residents of the Elizabeth Sey Frances Hall, were said to be returning to the campus around 1:30 a.m. after socialisation when the incident occurred.

Lordina was identified as a daughter of Professor Dominic Fobih, a Minister for Lands, Mines and Forestry in the erstwhile Kufuor administration.

The driver of the taxi, with registration number GE 4707-12, Gilbert Darko, 26, is in critical condition at the 37 Military Hospital.

The bodies of the deceased have been deposited at the 37 Military Hospital mortuary.

When the Daily Graphic visited the scene yesterday afternoon, scores of students and residents of the area had visited the accident scene to see the mangled cab.

The Legon District Police Commander, Chief Supt Frank Anning, who confirmed the accident to the Daily Graphic, said the taxi driver, who was travelling from Bawaleshi towards the university campus, collided with the refuse truck, with registration number GE 645 X, at the traffic intersection which had amber (yellow) on display at the time.

According to Mr Anning, the refuse truck, which was travelling from Madina towards the Tetteh Quarshie Interchange, rammed into the taxi and dragged it along the road to the bus stop near the University of Ghana Sports Complex, killing the two students instantly.

The driver of the refuse truck, Kwaku Ababio, who escaped unhurt, has been arrested by the police pending investigations.

Supt Anning expressed worry at the increasing impatience among motorists, even at night, and cautioned commuters to be extra careful when driving at night to avoid such mishaps.

SOURCE: Della Russel Ocloo, Daily Graphic, Sat, Jan 19, 2013

Late Kamel’s family informs House of his demise

THE family of the late Volta Regional Minister and Member of Parliament for Buem, Henry Ford Kamel, has formally informed the leadership of Parliament of his demise.

The delegation, led by Nana Barima Kumessey, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Jasikan, also officially informed the leadership of Parliament that the late MP would be buried at Bueman, his home town, on February 23, 2013.

According to Nana Kumessey, custom demanded that the family inform Parliament, where Kamel had been re-elected to before his sudden death.

The Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, for his part, said the late Kamel was a personification of a gentleness, adding that “good things don’t last”.

He said the House was prepared to support the family in any way to ensure that their late colleague was given a fitting burial.

The Majority Leader, Dr Benjamin Kunbuor, said he was devastated when he heard the shocking news of Kamel’s death, noting that, “This is a shared loss.”

He urged the family to accept with courage what had happened and also accept the challenges of the loss, since Kamel contributed immensely to the country’s development in diverse ways.

The Speaker of Parliament, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, said he was short of words, since the late MP had been more of a brother to him.

He said he and the MP had been encouraging each other in their parliamentary work, saying the deceased was one of the finest politicians the Volta Region ever produced.

The Speaker described Kamel as a team player and unifier who had been able to bring the various interest groups in the Volta Region together for its rapid development.

He said the House would work closely with the family to give him a fitting burial, since he was a statesman and astute politician.

SOURCE: Daily Graphic, Fri, Jan 11, 2013

Parliament denies reports on intended strike

THE Leadership of Parliament has denied media reports that they intended to go on strike over unpaid emoluments.

They have therefore urged the media to be circumspect in their reportage of proceedings in Parliament.

Addressing a joint news conference called by the leadership of house in Accra today, Dr. Benjamin Kunbuor and Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu said the press conference was occasioned by a misreportage of an intervention made by the Member of Parliament  (MP) for Old Tafo, Dr Anthony Osie-Akoto on the floor of house last Tuesday.

Dr Osei-Akoto in making a contribution had said that members would not be encouraged to attend parliamentary sittings when their outstanding allowances in the previous parliament remained unpaid.

That they said was, however, misreported by sections of the media that MPs had resolved to go on strike to back up their demands for unpaid allowances.

The Minority Leader, in reacting to the said report, indicated that there may be occasional slips which were part of human nature.

Mr Mensah-Bonsu , however, said that the media ought to focus on principal issues to fashion out national cohesion and development.

"Innocuous matters may crop up, but let us all be in the same boat together to deal with the big issues and not be distracted by minor sidekicks,"Mr Mensah-Bonsu said.

He also said that issues relating to parliament as an institution needed to be vetted appropriately by the media before being put out.

The Majority Leader, Dr. Kunbuor for his part, said that it was very early in the day in the life of the Sixth Parliament for such unhealthy publications to be making rounds.

That, Dr Kunbuor, said would go to create a negative perception in the minds of the public that Members of Parliament were not necessarily in the House to serve the interest of the people.

He also cautioned politicians and members of the House to desist from engaging the press for their parochial interests.

Dr Kunbour called for another level of engagement with the press to focus on larger national interest.
He assured of the leadership and members co-operation to building networks that would positively project Parliament to the general society that they represent.

The Director of Public Affairs of Parliament, Mr Jones Kugblenu wondered why the Sixth Parliament would boycott proceedings because emoluments of the Fifth Parliament which had ceased to exist had not been paid.

"Although most members of the previous parliament have returned to the House, the issue of payments of benefits are being formalised and could therefore not be an obstacle in the business of the current parliament," Mr Kugblenu said.

SOURCE: Della Russel Ocloo, Daily Graphic, Fri, Jan 11, 2013

New MPs hopeful of informed debates

SOME new Members of Parliament (MPs) have expressed the belief that the sixth Parliament would see  improvement in scope and informed debate as well as consensus buildings and compromises.

According to them, the era where Parliament was seen as partisan had given way to bridge building between the majority and minority.

The NDC MP for Chiana-Paga, Mr Abuga Pele, told the Daily Graphic that one of his aspirations in the new Parliament would be to see a review of the formula for the allocation the District Assemblies Common Fund, that would make communities rely on their own efforts before they are rewarded with the fund.

"The present system where communities have to wait or lobby central government for the allocation of resources is dwarfing creativity," Mr Abuga Pele said.

The NPP MP for the Komenda Edina Eguafo Abirem (KEEA) constituency, Dr Nana Ato Arthur for his part said his first meeting was insigting since he met friends from both sides of the house.

"Although its relatively early, I can foresee exciting and challenging times ahead with both sides forging ahead in national cohesion", Dr Arthur said.

He said even though Parliament was a legislative body, he intended using his position as an MP to developed Elmina through sister-city partnerships.

The PNC MP for Builsa North, Mr Alhassan Azong, who faulted the previous leadership of Parliament for not placing him on an effective committee, did not ruled out lobbying for selection on any of the effective committees.

According to him, the process where MPs were ask to submit curriculum vital (CV) for placement on committees that reflected their expertise and experience was not effective as lobbying have overridden these  principles.

"It is committees that makes MPs effective, thus if you are put on a committee that meets once in a year to draw a budget, as in the case of the Judiciary Committee that draws an annual budget for the judiciary, your constituents sees you as ineffective,' Mr Azong said.

He added that his expertise in the area of works and housing, local governance and water and sanitation would beneficial to serve on any of the committees that deals with such matters and not for "monetary purposes".

Mr Azong also task the general public to disabuse their minds from the fact that it is only when their governments were in power that they could benefit form development.

"There is statutory funding for all MPs to access for the development of their constituency and when manage well could bring development to heir local communities and the country as a whole," he said.

Mr Azong was hopeful that the  Sixth Parliament would lived up to the expectation of Ghanaians owing to the calibre of elected members, who have so far demonstrated their willingness to rise above partisanship.

 Meanwhile, parliament adjourned sitting on Tuesday to deliberate on the formulae for the composition of membership of committees.

The leadership will also consider the for action of parliamentary delegations and other parliamentary groupings and associations.

The Speaker, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho adjourned the sitting to allow for the formation of the committees which are vital and integral part of parliamentary proceedings and processes.

With the commencement of the formation, intense lobbying for membership of committees that carry clout and power, such as the Appointment committee, Public Accounts Committee (PAC),finance Committee, Works and Housing.

SOURCE: Della Russel Ocloo, Daily Graphic, Thur, Jan 10, 2013

Parliament approves composition of three commitees

PARLIAMENT on Tuesday approved the composition of three committees because of their critical nature in the facilitation of the business of the House and that of the government.

They are the Committee of Selection, chaired by the Speaker, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho; the Business Committee, chaired by Dr Benjamin Kunbuor, and the Appointments Committee, headed by the First Deputy Speaker, Mr Ebo Barton Odro.

 The composition of the committees was based on the ratio 55 per cent for the Majority, 45 per cent for the Minority.

The debate on the adoption of the report was characterised by heckling and boos from both the Majority and Minority sides.

Contributing to the debate, the NPP Member of Parliament (MP) for Manhyia, Dr Mathew Opoku-Prempeh, cautioned the newly constituted Business Committee to ensure that ministers of state availed themselves to the House to answer questions.

His contribution, however, attracted jeers from the Majority, who argued that ministers were yet to be appointed, for which reason his argument was out of order.

The NDC MP for Ketu North, Mr Fiifi Kwetey, contributing to the debate, commended the report for including new MPs on the Appointments Committee, since their involvement would afford them the opportunity to learn the work of Parliament from more experienced hands.

That, however, attracted comments from the Minority, who said Mr Kwetey's comment implied that the previous Appointments Committee failed to live up to expectation.

The NPP MP for Akwapim North, Mr William Ofori Boafo, appealed to the Speaker to ensure the Majority Leader furnished the House with the list of caretaker ministers of state at the various ministries, in line with the Presidential Transition Act.

According to the act, the President is supposed to furnish the House with caretaker ministers until the appointment and approval of new ministers of state.

The Speaker ruled that the Majority Leader furnish the House with the list of caretaker ministers and other appointees.

Earlier, the Majority Leader, Dr Kunbuor, had informed the House of the decision of the three independent MPs and the PNC MP for Builsa North, Mr Alhassan Azong, to do business with the Majority in the House.

That followed the call by the MP for Sekondi, Papa Owusu Ankomah, on the four MPs to declare which side of the House they intended to do business with.

The Speaker subsequently informed the House  of a memorandum to the effect that the four MPs had decided to align themselves with the Majority.

SOURCE: Della Russel Ocloo, Daily Graphic, Wed, Jan 7, 2013

Doe Adjaho is New Speaker

THE Sixth Parliament of the Fourth Republic was inaugurated in the early hours of Monday, with Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, taking over as the new Speaker.

Mr Adjaho, who until his appointment was the First Deputy Speaker of the Fifth Parliament, replaced Justice Joyce Adeline Bamford-Addo, who was the Speaker of the Fifth Parliament from 2009 to 2012.

By his elevation, Mr Adjaho has vacated his seat as a Member of Parliament in accordance with Article 97 (1) b which stipulates that “a Member shall vacate his seat in Parliament if he is officially sworn in as the Speaker of Parliament.”

The position of the First Deputy Speaker went to Mr Ebo Barton-Odro, the MP for Cape Coast North and outgone Deputy Attorney General and Deputy Minister of Justice.

The MP for Essikado Ketan and a former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mr Joe Ghartey was appointed as the Sond Deputy Speaker.

The Outgoing Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dr Benjamin Kunbuor replaced Mr Cletus Avorka as Majority Leader, while MP for Ashaiman, Mr Alfred Kwame Agbesi took over from Wa Central MP, Alhaji Abdul Rashid Pelpuo as the Deputy Majority Leader.

While many believe Mr Adjaho’s selection for the position was based on merit and his experience in Parliamentary issues, others believe he lacked the fatherly figure attribute a speaker should have.

Mr Adjaho, a product of Accra Academy studied at the University of Ghana for the L.L.B. Degree in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Ghana School of Law, graduating in 1986 with a Barrister-at-Law.

He began his career at the Attorney-General’s Department before venturing into politics, standing on the ticket of the NDC, after the 1992 referendum that brought the Fourth Republic. He has retained the seat till date. 

He rose through the ranks becoming a Minority Chief Whip, Deputy Minority Leader, one time member of the Pan-African Parliament before attaining his current position as the First Deputy Speaker.

Mr Adjaho, a Christian and married with four children, and hails from Wlitey in the Volta Region.

Mr Adjaho’s elevation is the first time a in the Fourth republic that a Speaker has been selected from within the House.

Mr D.F Annan, Speaker for the First and Second parliaments, Mr Peter Ala Adjetey, Mr Ebenezer Sekyi-Hughes and Mrs Joyce Adeline Bamford-Addo, Speakers of theTthird, Fourth and Fifth Parliaments had all been selected from outside Parliament.

Others on the front bench are Alhaji Mohammed Muntaka (Asawase), Majority Chief Whip, Hajia Mary Boforo (Savalugu), First Deputy Chief Whip and Sampson Ahi (Bodi) Second Deputy Chief Whip.

On the Manority front bench are Mr Ossei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, Minority Leader, Mr Dominic Nitiwul (Bimbilla), Deputy Minority Leader, Mr Dan Botwe (Okere) Minority Chief Whip Ms Irene Naa Torshie Addo (Tema West) and Mr Ignatius Baffuor Awuah,  (Sunyani West) as the minority deputy whips.

With the election of Mr Adjaho as the Fifth Speaker of the Fourth Republic, the Electoral Commission has to start preparations for the conduct of two bye-elections following the death of the Volta Regional Minister, Mr Henry Ford Kamel, who is also the NDC M- elect for Buem.

The Sixth Parliament the Fourth Republic is made up of 148 NDC MPs, 122 NPP MPs, four Independent MPs and one PNC MP.

However, until a bye-election is conducted in the Akatsi South Constituency, the NDC will have its number reduced by two as a result of the death of Mr Kamel and the elevation of Mr Adjaho to the Speakership position.

The new Parliament has 97 new MPs and 177 MPs, including Mr Adjaho and excluding the late Mr Kamel, who were in the Fifth Parliament of the Fourth Republic.

While the Fifth Parliament had 230 members, the Sixth Parliament is made up of 275 MPs as a result of the passage of the C.I 78.

SOURCE: Della Russel Ocloo, Daily Graphic, Mon Jan 7, 2013

Two nabbed for fraud

THE Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) have arrested two people who used fake credit cards for the fraudulent purchase of clothing from a retail shop in Japan.

The two, Kofi Afrifa, 23-year-waiter at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Accra and his accomplice, Ernest Ofori, 18-year-old second year student of the Accra Technical Training Centre (ATTC), were arrested when they attempted to take delivery of the items at the Accra Central Post Office.

The Assistant Commissioner of Customs in charge of Preventives at the James Town Collection point, AC Alhaji Mohammed Abubarkar, who disclosed this to the Daily Graphic, said the two successfully purchased the items to the tune of $500 from Japan.

According to him, the owner of the shop in Japan, Morgan Bowman, detected the fraudulent nature of the transaction after the items,which the two suspects had route through Italy had arrived in Ghana, notified the Commissioner of the Customs Division, Major General Carl Modey.

He said the James Town sector office mounted a surveillance on the suspects, who later turned up at the Post Office last Wednesday afternoon to pick up the parcels.

“We suspect Afrifa might have stolen the credit cards from guests at the hotel where he works”, Alhaji Abubarkar said.

He said the two suspects admitted the offence and would be handed over to the police for further investigations and prosecution.

SOURCE: Della Russel Ocloo, Daily Graphic, Sat Jan 5, 2013

GRIDCo promises stable power supply

BARRING any unforeseen challenges, power supply will remain stable throughout January, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo), Mr Charles Darku, has stated.

According to him, the Tema Cenit Thermal Power Plant (TCTPP), which took off in October,2012  with an additional 100 megawatts of generation, had enabled GRIDCo to diversify its power supply source.

 In an interview with the Daily Graphic, Mr Darku said the Takoradi Thermal Three (T3) project belonging to the Volta River Authority (VRA) had also made available 80 megawatts of generation for supply, although the plant was yet to assume commercial operations.

“Challenges on power transmission lines have been addressed, while issues on crude oil procurement for the day-to-day running of the generation plants have also been stabilised,” he said.

He said the demand for power in January was expected to go up to about 1,730 megawatts, as against the current available stock of 1,710 megawatts.

He, however, gave an assurance that GRIDCo had put in place an emergency generation contingency plan to forestall a relapse in its generating systems.

Mr Darku further indicated that GRIDCo had made available reserves in the range of 1,600 to 1,700 megawatts on a day-day basis to cater for any shortfall in the system.

“We, therefore, anticipate reliability in power as soon as the T3 project also begins commercial operations, which will likely scale up the generation capacity in the coming months,” he said.

He also said work on GRIDCo’s Third Bulk Supply Point, which would also facilitate the evacuation of power from various plants onto the national grid, had been completed.

The $15-million project, Mr Darku said, would further ensure reliability in power supply and minimise outages in the distribution network.

He was hopeful that the company’s contingency plan that it had put in place, coupled with Cenit’s continuous operations, would mitigate the severe power crisis that hit the country in 2012.

SOURCE: Della Russel Ocloo, Daily Graphic, Sat Jan 5, 2013