TOR SHUTS DOWN DISTILLATION UNIT FOR INABILITY TO PROCURE CRUDE , DAILY GRAPHIC, JULY 28, 2011

Story: Della Russel Ocloo

THE Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) has shut down its Crude Distillation Unit (CDU) plant following its inability to establish letters of credit (LCs) from its bankers to purchase crude oil for production.

This follows an earlier shut down of the Residual Fluid Catalytic Cracker (RFCC) on June 30, this year.

A highly placed source at the refinery told the Daily Graphic that the CDU plant was shut down about 11:50 a.m. last Monday, moments after workers had finished processing the remaining quantity of crude oil belonging to the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) under a tolling arrangement between the two institutions.

The management of the refinery has, for the past three weeks, been struggling to establish LCs for some $54 million to take delivery of a consignment of 600,000 barrels of crude ordered from Nigeria through an open market arrangement.

The chartered vessel carrying the crude, the Nippon Princess owned by Chakos Shipping Line, is still on dock at the Tema Port awaiting the successful establishment of the LCs to enable it to dock at the single point mooring (SPM) facility for onward delivery.

Indications are that since no single bank can raise the amount, there was the need for three banks to come together to raise the amount to enable TOR to take delivery of the crude oil.

Similarly, a single LC service charge, the Daily Graphic learnt, attracted a 0.7 per cent interest, for which reason TOR would be prompted to pay some 2.2 per cent charge in the event of three institutions forming a consortium.

The source also stated that TOR was yet to retire a previous 90-day LC raised by a consortium of financial institutions for April and May crude deliveries.

That, it said, was a major reason hindering the TOR management's efforts at raising further LCs for the delivery of the consignment.

According to the acting Managing Director of TOR, Dr Alphonse Dorcoo, the refinery's inability to raise the LCs was as a result of an operation framework between the commercial banks and the Bank of Ghana (BoG) that restricted the banks from raising LCs to a certain limit, depending on the business structure.

He stated that although TOR's bankers were willing to raise the LCs, the BoG's regulations were making it difficult to raise the needed amount for the consignment.

'We are not privy to the actual regulation between the banks and the BoG,' he explained.

Dr Dorcoo who described the regulation as a constraint leading to the shut down of the plants, said management was working feverishly to ensure that the LCs went through to enable the discharge of the product.

The intermittent shut down of the two plants has become a major cause of worry for the workers.

The workers expressed worry at the government's incapability to provide a guarantee for TOR to enable the Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB) to raise the LCs to avoid the periodic shut down of the refinery's plants.

They wondered why the government had consistently provided an enabling environment for the bulk distribution companies (BDCs) to import finished products to augment TOR's stock but was unwilling to extend financial assistance to the refinery, although its recovery rate from the oil marketing companies (OMCs) had improved tremendously.

'Just because we do not have crude oil to process, we have to shut down and wait until another parcel is procured,' a source close to the workforce said.

It indicated that apart from the GCB which had the capacity to raise LCs to the tune of $100 million for TOR in the past, other commercial banks were under capacity, considering their limited capital base.

The situation, it said, prompted the consortium to wait until TOR retired earlier LCs before subscribing to another, since the GCB was also unwilling to raise the LCs for TOR, although the government had paid outstanding debts owed it.

'If the government can support us to raise two LCs to cater for adequate crude oil stock, consistent production can be achieved without intermittent shut down of the plants,' the source added.

LEGON STUDENTS PROTESTS AGAINST INCREASE IN USER FEES, DAILY GRAPHIC, JULY 28, 2011

Story: Della Russel Ocloo

STUDENTS of the University of Ghana yesterday hit the streets of Accra in protest against what they termed “exorbitant” fees approved by the University Council for the next academic year.

The joint demonstration, which was organised by the Executive Council of the Students Representative Council (SRC), the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS), the University Students Association of Ghana (USAG) and the Graduate Students Association of Ghana (GRASAG) and dubbed “Yentua” (we will not pay), also had in attendance students unions from some private universities in the country.

The over four-hour peaceful demonstration attracted a huge police presence who provided security for the over 1,000 demonstrators.

Carrying placards, some of which read, “Aryeetey must go”, “If inflation is single digit, why school fees na double-double”, “Legon is not a private institution, nor the property of Aryeetey”, “Mr President, no reduction, no vote in 2012” and “We no go pay Amina fees', the students marched from the Kwame Nkrumah Circle through some principal streets of Accra amidst chanting, singing and dancing.

They called for a significant downward reduction in the fees. They also called for the removal of the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Ernest Aryeetey, whom they accused of adopting an autocratic style of leadership aimed at intimidating students into submission.

Led by the acting SRC President, Ms Irene Sitsofe Attipoe; the NUGS President, Mr Hamza Sulhyini; Mr Innocent Badasu of USAG; the GRASAG President, Mr Rester Torgormey, and the Chief Vandal of the Commonwealth Hall, Mr William Tackie Yarboi, the students first marched to Parliament, where they presented a petition to the Parliamentary Select Committee on Education which was received by the Majority Chief Whip, Mr Gershon Gbediame.

They then marched to the Ministry of Education, where a Deputy Minister, Mr Mahama Ayariga, received the petition on behalf of the government.

According to the leadership of the group, students were at the cross-roads, as their efforts to get the vice-chancellor to listen to their pleas had been unsuccessful.

Among other things, they sought the abolition of sports, security and sanitation levies imposed on them and a decrease in the healthcare levy of GH¢47 which they described as far beyond the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) premium.

Similarly, they called for the declaration of a national emergency dialogue on sustainable approach to funding university education in the country, a redefinition of the government's role in the determination of fees and the utilisation of funds by the universities.

Ms Attipoe told the media that the demonstration would continue until their demands were met.

According to her, the current fees were not just excessive but had also been designed to truncate access to university education by hundreds of students who might not be able to afford the high charges.

For his part, Mr Sulhyini called on the government to urgently intervene, as the vice-chancellor had claimed that “nobody anywhere can convince him to rescind his decision on the increment”.

He asked why an increment in the honorarium for lecturers should be a cost borne by students and wondered why the realistic charges students had presented in the past had been ignored.

“We must let him understand that even if the government fails to let him back down, we, as leaders of various institutions, will make him back down,' he reiterated.

He maintained that much as the students were not against reforms to make the university a first-class one, the authorities ought to respond to the need of students, whose input would help in the attainment of the said strategy, 'since the university cannot use just one academic year to achieve total reform”.

Mr Ayariga, who commended the students for the peaceful manner in which they had conducted the demonstration, gave the assurance that the government would engage the authorities and ensure that the outcome would be satisfactory to both parties.

GUNMEN ATTACK ECOBANK, DAILY GRAPHIC, FRI JULY 22, 2011

Story: Della Russel Ocloo

TWO unidentified armed men yesterday morning carried out a daring operation when they stormed the Accra Mall branch of Ecobank near the Tetteh Quarshie Interchange and made away with an unspecified amount of money, mainly in foreign currencies.

The incident, which occurred about 8:50 a.m. moments after the bank had opened for the day's business, left both workers and eyewitnesses in profound amazement.

Some eyewitnesses, meanwhile, suspected that the operation might have been supported by an insider because of the manner in which it was carried out.

Not even the presence of a private security alarm van with occupants could deter the robbers as they carried out the act and left before the bank staff and a security officer manning the frontage of the bank could draw the attention of policemen on duty at adjacent financial institutions.

Sources close to the bank which confirmed the incident, however, declined to comment because the police had taken up investigations into the incident.

It was, however, unclear whether the closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras in the banking hall had been functioning at the time of the incident.

The sources could also not indicate the whereabouts of the policeman detailed to maintain security at the bank at the time of the incident.

The witnesses, who pleaded anonymity, said a member of the robbers, suspected to be about 23, entered the bank wearing a raincoat, following the morning downpour, ostensibly to transact business.

They said unknown to the bank workers, one of the suspected armed robbers had held the security man at the main entrance hostage, while the other young man moved directly to the teller responsible for foreign currency accounts, pointed a gun to his head and took away currencies in his possession.

The two robbers thereafter sped off on a motorbike.
When the Daily Graphic visited the bank about 11:30 a.m., the Branch Manager, Mrs Linda Morrison, was locked up in a meeting with top officials from the Ecobank Head Office on the incident.

At the time of the visit by the Daily Graphic, armed policemen were seen patrolling the premises, while normal banking business was being conducted.

Policemen from the Airport District Police Command were also there to take photographs and statements from staff to enable them to begin investigations into the robbery.

Source: Della Russel Ocloo, Daily Graphic

ARMED GROUP ATTACKED TWO FILLING STATIONS IN TEMA, DAILY GRAPHIC

A GROUP of armed robbers in the early hours of Monday raided the Excel and Star Oil Filling stations in Tema and made away with thousands of Ghana cedis and various items.

In a bizarre manner, the robbers also defecated indiscriminately on the premises of the Excel Filling Station before making away with their booty.

The incident occurred at the Steel Works Junction on the Tema-Aflao highway where the two stations are located.

At the Excel Filling Station, the robbers took away GH¢17,000, in addition to GH¢4,900 which was in a locked safe in the mart.

They also made away with mobile phones belonging to night workers on duty, credit cards, assorted canned drinks and other items on sale at the mini mart of the two filling stations.

In a similar fashion, they took away GH¢2,000 from the Star Filling Station after they had tied the workers with ropes.

The Tema Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Augustine Gyening, who confirmed the robberies, told the Daily Graphic that the police were yet to make any arrest.

He said the victims only called the police patrol team hours after the gunmen had left with their booty.

"We have, however, visited the scene and picked up some evidence to enable us to conduct further investigations into the incident," ACP Gyening explained.

Narrating the incident to the Daily Graphic, a 56-year-old security man (name withheld) who was on duty at the Excel Station said he was awaken by a rude noise about 12:30 a.m., after which a member of the gang pointed a gun to his head.

The robbers, who he said wielded guns and other dangerous implements, cut through the metal doors of the mart after they had successfully tied him and his colleagues with ropes.

The two operations, according to the security man, lasted two hours, with some members of the gang patrolling the premises, while others busily ransacked the shops.

He explained that they remained tied at different areas of the station, with no access to mobile phones, for which reason they could not call the police patrol teams.

Source: Della Russel Ocloo, Daily Graphic

ECG RESTORS POWER TO TOR, DAILY GRAPHIC, FRI JULY 15, 2011 (Back Page)

(An aerial view of TOR's machinery)

By: Rose Darko & Della Russel Ocloo

The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) yesterday restored power supply to the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) 22 hours after its officials disconnected the plant for non-payment of debts owed the ECG.

The Managing Director of TOR, Mr Ato Ampiah, however, believed the action of the ECG was orchestrated to embarrass the management of the refinery.

ECG officials from the Tema Region stormed the refinery about 2 p.m. and disconnected supply for non-payment of bills to the tune of GH¢1.6 million, but Mr Ampiah, who challenged the action of the ECG, claimed that although his outfit was indebted to the company, the refinery’s strategic nature to the nation did not warrant the power cut.

He told the Daily Graphic that TOR’s own reconciliation revealed that its indebtedness was far lower than the amount being speculated.

He said the steam boilers which produced steam to power the plants had started working following the restoration of power about 12:30 p.m yesterday, which helped to resume production immediately.

The power cut led to interruption in the pumping of Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) and other petroleum products, whereas the entire facility and its immediate environs were plunged in total darkness.

Daily Graphic sources at the refinery explained that TOR, as an institution, did not owe much; rather its storage depots at Buipe, Accra Plains and Mami Water, which have now been taken over by the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Limited (BOST), owed the ECG huge sums of money.

STRIKE EATING INTO NLA REVENUE, DAILY GRAPHIC, THUR JULY 14, 2011 (Front B)

Story: Debrah Fynn & Della Russel Ocloo

THE National Lottery Authority (NLA) will lose close to 13 per cent of its revenue threshold each week if the National Lotto Receivers Union (NLRU) and the lotto marketing companies (LMCs) do not call off their strike.

Although the percentage loss could not be quantified in real figures as a result of confidentiality, sources at the authority told the Daily Graphic that the NLA would be able to achieve an 87 per cent revenue threshold, in spite of the strike.

Members of the NLRU and the LMCs began an indefinite nation-wide strike last Thursday, July 7, 2011 to protest against the reduction in the commission paid to them by the NLA.

According to them, the NLA had failed to address the concerns they raised regarding the downward review of their commission from 25 to 20 per cent.

In addition to the strike, the receivers also resolved to withdraw their trading capitals from the NLA's business.

But speaking to the Daily Graphic in Accra on Wednesday, the Communications Director of the NLA, Mr Reagan Twum Barimah, said the authority had been able to achieve more than 80 per cent of its daily revenue as of Friday, July 8, 2011.

He, therefore, called on the NLRU and the LMCs to reconsider their stance and call off the strike as they were important stakeholders in the lottery industry.

He explained that the decision to pay 20 per cent commission had been implemented since April this year, without any complaint and expressed surprise at the new development.

According to Mr Twum Barimah, the two bodies could call off their strike and resume operation while negotiations with the NLA continued.

Meanwhile, the national executive of the NLRU has asked officials of the NLA to desist from the smear campaign being targeted at the union.

Rather, they called on the authority to engage the union to address the problem, instead of using media platforms to fight its cause.

Making the appeal in an interview with the Daily Graphic, the National Chairman of the NLRU, Mr Daniel Mensah, said members had resolved to continue the strike until their concerns were addressed.

He described the assertion that automation machines had been supplied to members of the union free of charge, thereby necessitating the need for a reduction in their commission, as false.

“We use our own money to purchase the booklets before selling to the public for commission, yet NLA officials do not appreciate it,” Mr Mensah, who spoke for the executive, stated.

A Ghana News Agency (GNA) story published in the Daily Graphic on July 12, 2011 quoted the Communication Director of the NLA as having indicated that “the NLRU earning 20 per cent on any amount sold is better than withdrawing its service.”

Mr Mensah said the stance of the authority was a disincentive to the union which had, over the last 25 years, enjoyed the 25 per cent commission.

He indicated that the association had since 2000 enjoyed the 25 per cent following persistent negotiations that led to an eventual review of the Lotto Act 237 of 1961 in 2006.

“We were receiving the 25 per cent even before the automation system was introduced,” he explained.

While calling on members of the NLRU to continue with the strike, Mr Mensah similarly charged them to go for their June commission from the authority to ease their financial difficulties.

ATTA AKYEA CHARGED FOR STEALING, DAILY GRAPHIC, WED JULY 13, 2011 (PAGE 3)

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Abuakwa South, Mr Samuel Atta Akyea, has been arrested and charged with stealing and fraudulent breach of trust by the Commercial Crime Unit of the Ghana Police Service.

The charges were preferred against the MP yesterday after he had been arrested on the premises of the Accra High Court, where he was scheduled to be witness to a case pending before the court.

But Mr Akyea, who was granted bail in the sum of GH¢100,000 with one surety, has denied the charges.

According to police sources, Mr Akyea was arrested for his alleged role in the embezzlement of US$60,000 earmarked by J. Adom Company Limited for the purchase of a building situated in the Airport Residential Area in Accra.

The Public Relations Officer of the Police Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Inspector Joseph Benefo Darkwa, who confirmed the arrest to the Daily Graphic, however, declined further comments on the issue.

Mr Akyea was also said to have defrauded Mr Adom of some $60,000 which was said to be a judgement debt paid into Mr Adom’s account to which the MP was the sole signatory.

Mr Akyea, who has denied the allegation, said he suspected that the government had a hand in his arrest.

He accused the Attorney General of allegedly putting the forces of the state behind Mr Adom, since there was already a civil suit pending before the court regarding the same case.

Mr Akyea explained that his arrest was unusual because the police had already requested the Speaker of Parliament for his release to stand trial and indicated that the Speaker was yet to respond to such a request.

“The Attorney General has stepped into a purely private matter which is pending before the civil court and the forces of the state have been put behind Joseph Adom to do whatever he wants to do,” he told an Accra FM station.

Telling his side of the story, Mr Akyea said Joseph Adom contracted him to prepare a title document for a $115,000 landed property he (Adom) had wanted to buy from one Amissah.

He said in the course of the transaction, Mr Adom paid $60,000 in three tranches to Amissah, but it later “turned out that the guy (Amissah) was a fraudster.

The MP said Amissah was subsequently arrested and arraigned before a court of law, “so how do I suffer for that?”

“If it had not been me, Mr Adom would have lost about $115,000, and I am being punished for this also,” he lamented.

He, however, indicated his preparedness to defend himself in the case to its logical conclusion and clear his name as well.

KIA IS BEST AIRPORT IN AFRICA, DAILY GRAPHIC, TUE JULY 13, 2011 (CENTRE SPREAD)

Story: Della Russel Ocloo

Kotoka International Airport (KIA) has been adjudged the best African airport at the Sixth Routes Airport Marketing Awards held in Bamako, Mali.

The KIA emerged winner following a competitive and rigorous selection and screening process by a panel of eminent global airport experts at the awards ceremony which was held on the sidelines of the Routes 2011 Conference.

With the winning of the award, the KIA joins other finalists such as the Entebbe International Airport in Uganda, the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, Kenya, and the Sikuphe International Airport in Swaziland for the overall Airport Marketing Award of the World Routes scheduled for Berlin, Germany, in October this year.

Routes Africa is an annual air service development forum for airports, airlines, tourism authorities and key decision makers for the African region.

The sixth edition provided a platform for airlines to meet with airports to discuss route development and explore the potential for new air services to, from and within Africa.

The event, put together by the United Business Media (UBM Aviation), a United Kingdom-based aviation firm, in partnership with the African Airlines Association (AFRAA), the Airline Association of Africa (AASA) and the Airports Council International (ACI) Africa, sought to reward airports that had distinguished themselves in infrastructural development, the adoption of modern airport technology, adherence to safety and security standards, new routes and human capital development, as well as good service delivery.

Nominated airports submitted details of their route development activities and results, which were scrutinised by a panel of judges.

The judges gave scores to the submissions based on route development content, evidence of relationship with airlines, innovative ways of marketing to airlines, results, effectiveness and creative application.

A citation accompanying the award said, “KIA has distinguished itself in service delivery, development of new routes, and in 2011 alone attracted four major airlines from the USA and Europe to Ghana.”

It further stated that “the astute leadership exhibited by the management of the Ghana Airport Company Limited (GACL), adherence to global best practices in safety and security, as well as continuous improvement in handling facilities, with priority on the development of its human capital, were unmatched by any other airport in Africa”.

Giving an insight into the award in an interview with the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday, the Managing Director of the GACL, Mrs Doreen Owusu-Fianko, said teamwork and combined tireless efforts in delivering excellent service were major contributors to the global recognition, adding, "We feel so proud to have won the prestigious award."

She paid glowing tribute to the board, management and staff of the company for working together to achieve such a feat.

She hinted of the management's decision to embark on ambitious plans aimed at attracting more global airlines to the country, in line with the agenda of “making Ghana the gateway to Africa”.
"We want to develop as a hub and our geographical location has similarly offered us an enviable position to be able to offer links to every continent across the board," she said.

She said the company had embarked on an aggressive two-year strategic programme aimed at connecting Ghana to South America and the Caribbean, which had been identified as a missing network on its routes.

Mrs Owusu-Fianko was optimistic that the honour would feverishly encourage officials of the GACL to achieve the target of developing into new markets.

POLICE INVESTIGATES ENGINEER'S DROWNING, DAILY GRAPHIC, MON JULY 11, 2011 (PAGE 51)

Story: Della Russel Ocloo

The Police have begun investigations into the death of an employee of the Saltpond Offshore Producing Company Limited (SOPCL), John K Asimeku, who got drowned in a tank on a crude oil storage vessel.

The deceased, an engineer with the MT Bonsu-Q vessel, drowned in the tank when he attempted to fix a decoupled hose to a pumping machine last Thursday.

The Saltpond Municipal Police Commander, Superintendent Emmanuel Oscar Narh-Odonkor, told the Daily Graphic yesterday that the body, which was retrieved from the storage tank about 12 noon on Saturday following the pumping of the crude from the tank, had been deposited at the Cape Coast Regional Hospital mortuary for autopsy.

A statement issued by SOPCL said Asimeku, who was also the head of the technical crew, commenced pumping of crude oil into the main tanks with a diaphragm pump because of the rough nature of the sea, which was precipitated by the heavy rainfall being experienced recently.

“Due to the roll, some quantity of crude oil flowed into the forward peak tanks of MT Bonsu-Q and in order to pump this crude oil back to the main cargo, the forward peak tanks covers were opened on July 4, 2011 to vent the tank and evacuate the gas present,” it said.

The statement added that two of the three member-crew objected to the operation due to the intensity of gas present in the working area, and therefore asked for more time to allow the tank to be vented properly.

The statement said Asimeku, on the other hand, over-ruled suggestions by his colleagues and charged the Pump Man, Mr James Duncan, to commence discharging the crude oil from the tank.

Asimeku, the statement said, initially succeeded with the installation of the discharge hose to the pump, but the hose got disconnected after some time, prompting him to go back into the tank for a second time in an attempt to re-fix it.

“When that also failed to work, Asimeku asked Mr Duncan to enter the tank and try to rectify the problem since he was tired, but the later refused on the grounds that it was still not safe to enter the tank,” the statement explained.

In his effort to rectify the problem, Asimeku climbed the tank for the third time and upon sensing the strong presence of gas, started jumbling up to the surface but “was unfortunately overwhelmed by the gas and fell off the ladder, causing him to fall into the tank containing the crude”.

Supt Odonkor, who described the incident as an industrial accident, said his outfit would however not hesitate to conduct further investigations into the safety operations of the company.

BEES ATTACK SCHOOL CHILDREN, DAILY GRAPHIC, MON JULY 11, 2011 (PAGE 51)

Story: Della Russel Ocloo

A SWARM of bees attacked six schoolchildren of the Mizpah International School at Tesano Club in Accra last Friday.
The incident occurred about 3:30p.m. when the children from the neighbouring Apenkwa Government School threw stones into the hive harbouring the bees in a house in the vicinity.
Provoked by the action of the children, the bees came out of their hive stinging anyone they came across.
Three of the children who sustained severe bee stings were rushed to the Hobats Clinic for treatment.
They were siblings Michael Nii Odartey Lamptey, 6, and Imagin Naa Korshie Lamptey,5 and their friend, Vanessa Obeng Nyarko.
A taxi driver, Mr Ebenezer Abeiku Sam, who was conveying the children home at the time of the incident, was also treated and discharged from the same hospital for bee stings.
Mr Sam, who was oblivious of the bees invasion, said after picking the children and driving a short distance from the school, the bees, which had taken over the entire stretch, entered his car and this made visibility difficult, a situation which compelled him to pull up.
In the process, the three children, who were sitting at the back of the vehicle, opened the doors and fled to the opposite direction leading to the school, while the bees chased and stung them.
Mr Sam said the three injured children were members of some six children he picked daily from the Mizpah School.
A resident of the area, Mr Daniel Nyarko, who attempted rescuing the children, was attacked by the bees which inflicted wounds on his ears.
The action of the bees was so disturbing, prompting the residents to call for the services of the Ghana National Fire Service.
The firemen, who responded to the distress call, had difficulty controlling the bees because they used ordinary water which proved to be ineffective.
The owner of the house where the hive was located was said to have travelled abroad at the time of the incident.

PRIVATE SECTOR TO PLAY ROLE IN REVIVAL OF NATIONAL AIRLINE, DAILY GRAPHIC, SAT JULY 2, 2011 (PAGE 16)

Story: Della Russel Ocloo

THE government is considering involving the private sector in the revival of the national airline, the Minister of Transport, Alhaji Collins Dauda has said.
According to the minister, the state would no more get involved in the running of a national airline, citing examples of countries like Singapore that had no governmental involvement in airline operation, but had done very well in the airline business.
Alhaji Dauda, made this known when he inspected the on-going construction works at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA).
He said although no decision had been taken yet, the issue was being discussed at the highest level and the government would soon announce its decision after it had carefully studied available opportunities regarding the running of a national carrier.
On the security situation at the airport, Alhaji Dauda said a new scanner at the airport as part of security improvement strategy would be operational by the end of July, this year.
The scanner, he said, would scan for illegal goods including narcotics.
Alhaji Dauda was accompanied by the Director General of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Air Commodore Kwame Mamphey (rtd), board chairman of the Ghana Airport Company Limited (GACL), Mr George Kuntu Blankson and other members of the GACL board.
Briefing newsmen after the tour, Alhaji Dauda said the on-going works formed part of KIA's phase three expansion projects estimated at $50.92 million.
The projects include the installation of ground lighting on the taxiway and the passenger apron and the construction of apron drainage, provision of pavement management systems and the installation of a fuel main, while total construction works were expected to be completed by April, 2012.
Alhaji Dauda pledged government's commitment to creating an enabling environment for private investors who are making strides in the airline industry, and in that light, new licenses were being issued by the GCAA to ensure that fair competition prevailed in the industry.

CJ, ATTA AKYEA SENT TO CHRAJ, DAILY GRAPHIC, JUNE 2, 2011 (FRONT C)

Story: Della Russel Ocloo

A Public Interest Lawyer, Mr Sam Pee Yalley, has petitioned the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to investigate the Member of Parliament for Abuakwa North, Mr Samuel Atta-Akyea, for judicial corruption, abuse of human rights and administrative injustice.

He is also calling on the commission to equally investigate the Chief Justice (CJ), Mrs. Georgina Theodora Wood, for her alleged role in empanelling a court on a public holiday and as well as allegedly coaching lawyers as to what to say and do in furtherance of the conspiracy to prohibit the elections in the Tain constituency in the Brong Ahafo Region on January 4, 2009.

That, he said, was an abuse of her judicial and administrative powers.

Mr Yalley, in a 15-point petition to the Commissioner, which is also copied to the Speaker of Parliament, is also seeking CHRAJ to take immediate steps to establish facts of Mr Akyea’s role to seek an order of court to prohibit the Chairman of the Electoral Commission from conducting the elections in Tain.

Mr Yalley, who attached a tape recorded conversation purported to be Mr Akyea’s voice as evidence, described the conduct of the MP as treasonable attempts calculated to subvert provisions of the 1992 Constitution.

The petitioner pointed out that Mr Akyea in the said recorded conversations indicated that the CJ, after convening a court on New Year’s Day, coached him about how to go about the case a situation Mr Yalley described as the MP using his family relations with Mrs Wood whose sister he married to subvert the constitution for private and political gain.

The recorded conversation, according to Mr Yalley, revealed the CJ’s intention to withdraw Justice Asante, who was appointed to hear the case earlier, following his association with Mr Ato Ahwoi, a member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and owner of CASHPRO, a company, the judge was said to have worked with in the past.

That, he said, prompted Mrs. Wood who allegedly relayed a message that he raised the issue of bias against the judge.

Mr Yalley contends that the aforementioned issues apart from amounting to attempts to infringe on the fundamental human rights of some Ghanaians were equally treasonable.

The MP’s conduct, he said, had also corrupted the judicial system and should therefore be brought to book with his conspirators.

LOTTO RECEIVERS EMBARK ON STRIKE, DAILY GRAPHIC, SAT JULY 9, 2011 (CENTRE SPREAD)

Story: Della Russel Ocloo

LOTTO receivers have begun an indefinite nation-wide strike to protest against the reduction in commission paid to them by the National Lottery Authority (NLA).
The receivers say they are on strike because the NLA has failed to address concerns raised by the lotto receivers concerning the downward review of their commission from 25 to 20 per cent.
In addition to the strike, the receivers have also resolved to withdraw their trading activities capitals from the NLA’s business.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic Mr Daniel Mensah, the National Chairman of the lotto receivers union said their action had become necessary because the NLA had turned a deaf ear to several attempts to resolve the matter and reinstate the 25 per cent commission.
“We use our own money to purchase the booklets before selling to the public for commission, yet the NLA officials do not appreciate it”, he stated.
The NLA has said the reduction is sin accordance with plans to modernise the sector to increase revenue generation.
But Mr Mensah said the move was a disincentive as members of the union had been enjoying the 25 per cent commission for close to 25 years.
“What they are doing now will push people into the banker to banker trade”, he cautioned.
The Eastern Regional Chairman of the union, Madam Faustina Agyekum said the union had petitioned the leadership of Parliament and the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning to intervene in the matter as the development would not only affect repayment of loans they contracted and invested in the business but also throw them out of business.
She stated that following the petitions and a press conference held to register their protest, officials of the national security held a meeting with the leadership and gave the assurance that their concerns would be addressed.
She observed that the union had been a major mobiliser of the NLA’s substantial revenue and members had not relended in that effort, hence the need for government and other stakeholders to help address their concerns.
Similarly, she said the union would only reconsider its stands if the government intervened and restored the 25 per cent.

MIGRATION ONTO SINGLE SPINE; FAILURE TO PRESENT DATA-MAJOR CHALLENGE, DAILY GRAPHIC, FRI JULY 8, 2011 (PAGE 3)

Story: Della Russel Ocloo

THE delay and failure by some institutions to submit migration data for verification has been identified as a major challenge in migrating institutions onto the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS).
This is because most institutions were implementing allowances that had not been approved and so feared those allowances might not be accepted under the new structure.
Also, dishonesty in the presentation of migration data, with frequent insertions of names of casual employees as permanent ones had equally been identified as an impediment affecting the process.
The tendency of some public service institutions to impose their own ideas for adoption by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) in the implementation process was as well identified as an impediment.
The Minister of Employment and Social Welfare, Mr Enoch Teye Mensah, made this known at a press conference in Accra yesterday on the status of the migration of public sector workers onto the SSSS.
According to him, FWSC had invited various institutions within the nine service classifications where the groups were requested to study and present their comments on the rules of engagement, which included the procedure to be followed in the negotiation of allowances.
"Regrettably, only the legal and judicial service and the education non-tertiary service groups have so far submitted their comments regarding the rules of engagement," Mr Mensah explained.
He stated that the delay in migrating the Civil and Local Government Workers Association of Ghana (CLOGSAG) resulted from the association’s decision in filing a law suit against the commission in which the court ruled that members of the association should co-operate with the commission in the national interest.
The commission, he said, had since then held meetings with the leadership of CLOGSAG to discuss and agree on their grade structure for an eventual migration for which further meetings had been scheduled for next week.
He, therefore, expressed surprise at recent agitation by members and challenged them to direct their frustrations towards their respective institutions.
The minister stated that although it was agreed with the Public Services Joint Standing Negotiation Committee before the migration process that salary arrears should be paid after all public service employees had been migrated, the government had issued a directive for the payment of arrears to be effected from September,2011.
He said that some 313, 097 workers had so far been migrated onto the scheme since its commencement.
The figure, he said, represented 70 per cent while some 156, 003 workers, made up of Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU), the Federation of University Senior Staff Association of Ghana (UTAG), CLOGSAG, and Polytechnic Teachers Association of Ghana (POTAG), were yet to be migrated.
Others include Health Sector Workers, made up of Ghana Medical Association (GMA), Ghana Registered Nurses Association (GRNA) and the Health Services Workers Union (HWSU).
The Chief Executive Officer of the FWSC, Mr George Smith Graham, said their immediate priority was to ensure the above-mentioned groups would be migrated within July and August, this year, as they made strides towards achieving their September deadline for all workers.

GOVT TO ADOPT ILO CONVENTION ON DOMESTIC WORKERS, DAILY GRAPHIC, THUR JULY 7, 2011 (PAGE 35)

Story: Della Russel Ocloo

THE Government has decided to adopt the international Labour Organisation’s (ILO) convention on social protection for domestic workers, the Minister of Employment and Social Welfare, Mr Enoch Teye Mensah has announced.
The convention is intended to improve working conditions of hundreds of domestic workers across board.
Addressing a press conference in Accra yesterday, Mr Mensah said some East African countries had in place social protection policies that had ensured domestic workers had equal rights just as any other group of workers under their constitutions.
Such policies he said went to secure adequate wage payment and improved conditions of service for such category of workers.
The press conference was intended to brief the media on Ghana’s participation at the ILO’s 100th session held in Geneva in June this year.
Mr Mensah indicated that a solid social protection policy would equally enhance job security for unskilled labour thereby contributing to poverty reduction.
A ratification of the convention by government would also see the country benefiting from the conduct of performance audit in its labour department by the ILO as well as the building of capacity and training of technical staff of the ministry and strengthening of the communications section of the ministry.
In addition, the Factories Inspectorate would also be strengthened to ensure adequate protection of workers who worked under hazardous conditions.
The minister who led a 60-member delegation made up of Members of Parliament, workers representatives, the Trades Unions Congress (TUC), employers association and some selected employees of the ministry, indicated that the session took a unanimous decision to adopt the convention as service to humanity.
The session also elected the Secretary General of TUC, Mr Kofi Asamoah as a Titular of the workers group, while representatives of the Ghana Employers Association was elected as deputy member of the governing body for a four year term.
Mr Mensah denied suggestions that the government footed the bills for the 60-member team, saying, “only six people were catered for under the government sponsorship deal, while other interest groups paid for their members.
Mr Asamoah, who chaired the programme, expressed concern about the rising unemployment ratio in the country and express fear that the situation, if not addressed, could result in social unrest.

ATTACKS ON JUDUCIARY, THREAT TO DEMOCRACY, DAILY GRAPHIC, TUE JULY 5, 2011 (CENTRE SPREAD)

Story: Della Russel Ocloo

THE Chief Justice (CJ), Mrs Justice Georgina Theodora Wood, has expressed worry about attacks and threats on the judiciary, saying that such actions do not augur well for the country’s fledgling democracy.
She said it was unfortunate that such ill-motivated attacks, “sometimes plain falsehoods, intimidation and threats” should be directed towards people who had placed their lives and services at the disposal of the country to the best of their ability and conscience.
Mrs Wood made the observation when she swore in a high court judge, Mrs Sophia Rosetta Bernasko Essah, and five circuit court judges in Accra Monday.
She said although the public was entitled to demanding accountability from the judiciary, it ought to be done through constructive criticism.
“He who threatens judicial independence destroys not merely the judiciary, but also the rule of law and the smooth functioning and growth of the economy,” she explained.
The magistrates who gained promotion from the lower bench as circuit court judges are Mrs Rita Agyemang-Budu, Mr Emmanuel Brew Bart-Plange and Ms Audrey Kocuvie-Tay. Others are Ms Eva Bannerman-Williams and Ms Janet Anima Maafo.
Mrs Wood indicated that the 1992 Constitution guaranteed absolute independence to all members of the judiciary.
“Thus, the removal of Justices of the senior judiciary, including the CJ, can only be done through the constitutional procedures under Article 146,” she stated.
Such guarantees, she noted, were not meant to turn members of the judiciary into a special class of citizens who were above the law and exempted from criticism, but were meant for ensuring true independence and integrity, without which the rule of law would be a myth.
While calling on the new judges to maintain high values, professional and ethical standards as contained in the code of ethics, she similarly charged them to discharge their judicial duties completely independent of public opinions from the media, pressure groups and vested interest.
While emphasising that the judiciary was not above criticism, she said accountability lay in the heart of justice administration, as people summoned before the courts to answer either criminal or civil charges were in a sense rendering accountability to the judiciary in the service of the state.
The Deputy Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mr Ebo Barton-Odro, challenged the newly appointed judges to ensure fairness in the discharge of their duties and pledged the government’s commitment to ensure absolute protection for judges and the general legal council.
Mrs Bernasko Essah, in a speech read on behalf of her colleagues, indicated that they were very conscious of the awesome responsibility entrusted to them by their appointments and charged fellow justices to strive to make a difference in the country’s justice system.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Judicial Secretary, Mr Alex Poku-Acheampong, indicated that the six judges had passed the pre-requisite examinations and rigorous interview conducted by the bench and was optimistic that they would perform their duties in accordance with the judicial oath.
Present at the ceremony were the Minister of Interior, Dr Benjamin Kunbuor, and the President of the Ghana Bar Association, Mr Frank Beecham.

ITC INTENSIFIES SENSITISATION ON FOOD SAFETY, DAILY GRAPHIC, MON JULY 4, 2011 (PAGE 51)

Story: Della Russel Ocloo

The Ministry of Trade and Industry in collaboration with the International Trade Centre (ITC) has intensified an industrial sensitisation programme on food safety compliance.
The programme, a component two of the private sector development programmes, is aimed at maximising export performance through the implementation of food safety and security management in the agro-business sector.
It is also intended to strengthen the capacities of African intermediary organisations such as the National Standards Bodies (NSBs) to act as national focal points to assist small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) in ensuring that their food exports meet the mandatory required technical specifications applicable in their targeted markets.
Participants were drawn from selected food processing industries, Ghana Standards Board (GSB), the European Union (EU), Food and Drugs Board (FDB), National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI) and SMEs.
It was on the theme; “Joining forces to empower the African private sector network to strengthen the international competitiveness of small and medium scale enterprises”.
The organisers contend that, food safety and security would have dire consequences on world trade if compliance to standards are under-estimated.
Speaking at the sensitisation programme, the Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms Hannah Tetteh indicated that Ghanaian businesses were exporting to the most sophisticated markets.
meanwhile, she said markets all over the world had become so conscious that, end products ought to have a standardised safety compliance in place to avoid being blacklisted.
The Programme Co-ordinator of ITC, Dr Namrata Pandita Wakhaloo, explained that globalisation had seen manufacturing industries across Africa faced with unprecedented competitive challenges, noting that for industries to successfully compete in the domestic and international markets, the production of quality products and services was necessary.
“There are numerous cases where products were refused entry to EU markets, the United States of America and other international markets, due to poor quality and non-compliance to international standards”, Dr Wakhaloo said.
She, therefore, urged Ghana’s agro-business enterprises to partner the GSB and its stakeholders to implement food safety and security measures.
Earlier in her welcome address, the acting Deputy Executive Director in charge of core services at the GSB, Mrs Elizabeth Adetola, tasked managers in the food industry to understand the various sanitary and phytosanitary regulations which, she said, had a bearing on food safety.
She was optimistic that the programme would maximise market access for food products by helping SMEs meet the increasing stringent standards required by exporting markets.

AFIA SCHWARZENEGGER, MY DARING LOVE WISH, GRAPHIC SHOWBIZ, THUR JUNE 2, 2011 (FRONT LEAD)

Story: Della Russel Ocloo

AFIA Schwarzenegger, the popular actress who plays the lead role in the 30-minutes TV comedy series Afia Schwarzenegger on TV3 has a most unusual love wish - to become Ghana’s ‘First Mistress’ following what she describes as her crush on the NPP presidential hopeful, Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo.
She believes Nana Addo will win the 2012 elections and become President of Ghana and she will be his mistress, official First Mistress.
“I have had a long-term crush on Nana. I admire him so much that I wish he were mine”, the 30-year-old widow, whose real name is Valentina Nana Agyeiwaa, told Showbiz rather unabashedly.
“I know it is wrong to go after someone’s husband but I have already prayed to God to forgive me. You see, I am not taking him away from his wife so she shouldn’t worry at all. She will still be our First Lady. I just want to ‘borrow’ him while I wait for my Mr Right”, she said.
And for Afia, a mother of nine-year-old twin boys— James Ivan and John Irvin Guiling, her prince charming must be a wealthy christian. “My man must be a christian, rich and rich, that’s all. Looks are not very important to me so I am not looking for a Mr Universe to marry. The man after my heart just has to be a christian and rich”.
Afia finds watching the stars as very romantic. “ I love that. I used to do that with my late husband. We had a place at Coco Beach. We used to make bonfires and just stare at the stars and have fun.
Afia came into the lime-light in February this year when the Afia Schwarzenegger series started airing on TV. In the series, she plays Afia who lives a lie. The Afia in the series is a con artist called Grace Boamah born in Aburi but parades around as Afia Schwarzengger, the god- daughter of Arnold Schwarzenegger, the former Governor of California.
Although she’s never left the shores of Ghana, she keeps up appearances with the impression she has been living abroad and just returned home with her female Shitshu dog, Biscuit.
“The series is to make people laugh. It is to help ease some of the tension in the country. Laughter is good therapy and it is necessary for people to exercise their ribs often and that is what we aim to do with Afia Schwarzenegger”, she said.
According to Afia, acting was never part of her plans until she returned home last year from a six-year sojourn in Johannesburg, South Africa and met with her childhood friend, Deloris Frempong Manso (Delay) of Oman FM who is the executive producer of the series.
“We were at the Holiday Inn and I stumbled and said something silly like ‘sorry for the rude interruption’ and we all laughed.Then Delay said she has been looking for someone to play Afia’s character in the series and she thought I could do it. I went for the audition and I got the part and the rest, as they say, is history”, she said.
Asked how she is able to get into character and come up with all the funny phrases, Afia said “ I am a christian so I pray alot. I also read my script and with Biscuit by my side, I am able to flow. “You know, Biscuit belongs to Delay but she is my baby.
I have known her since she was five days old. I am her god-mother. She will be one year old in October.
Afia said coming on TV has been fun but not without it setbacks. “I have made some beautiful friends since I started coming on TV however, I have already been hit with a lesbian allegation and that hasn’t been easy for me.
Afia who at the moment operates a boutique in Kumasi hopes to take on some further studies in the near future. “ I want to go back to school hopefully in 2014 for a Private Pilots Licence (PPL) in South Africa and if things go well, I will go further to pursue a commercial pilot course. I really want to become a pilot but it is very expensive so I will have to make some money first.
Although her sons love what she does currently, Afia believes they would prefer her being a pilot. “I was doing a lot of charter flights when I was a cabin crew member and I used to take them along whenever it was a return trip.
She has also been offered roles in some movies and will soon host a talk show on radio. “It is the first of its kind but I am not saying much about it incase someone nibs my idea.
Afia was born at Krofrom, a suburb of Kumasi, to Madam Grace Achiaa, a business woman and Mr Augustine Agyei. She started her basic education at the Ridge Experimental School and continued at Tamale Seventh Day Adventist School. She later enrolled at the KNUST Secondary School and thereafter to St Louis Girls’ School, all in Kumasi.
She enrolled at the Future Flyers Academy in Johannesburg, South Africa, for a cabin crew licence programme and thereafter worked with South African Airways in Johannesburg between 2007-2009. She later joined Allegiance Air PTY also in Johannesburg and remained their employee until she decided to return home in October 2010.

AFRICA ADOPT OIL SPILL CONTIGENCY PLAN, DAILY GRAPHIC, TUE, JUNE 28, 2011 (PAGE 49)

Story: Della Russel Ocloo

African ministers and delegates to the Ninth Conference of Parties (the COP 9 forum) have adopted a regional oil spill contingency plan for the Marine and Coastal environment of the Western, Central and Southern parts of the continent
The adoption follows a decision by the conference to revitalise the Abidjan Convention on marine spillage and the protection of port environments.
The event, put together by Ports Environmental Network Africa ((PENAf)), a non governmental organisation with interest in port environmental performance, drew participants from 19 of the organisation’s 22-member states.
Addressing the meeting, the Executive Co-ordinator of PENAf, Mr Harry Darban-Barnes, indicated that although the coastline of Western, Central and Southern Africa region was one of the world's most productive marine areas, rich in fishery resources and petroleum production, such resources were being over exploited with detrimental environmental impacts on the coastal and marine environment.
Those resources, he said, formed an important global region of marine biological diversity.
He noted that ports provided ocean-land interface for the handling of ships, adding that such an interface plays a key role in the international trade of goods and services.
According to him, the role of ports was crucial to the region’s economy since about 90 per cent of its foreign trade were conducted through the maritime route.
Similarly, Mr Darban-Barnes noted that exports and imports represented about a quarter of member countries’ Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and with the continuing programmes for export-led growth and the diversification of economies in the region, the share of foreign trade in their respective GDPs was expected to increase further.
"The region’s dependence on fuel importation to meet its energy needs also puts their ports at the risk of pollution arising from accidental, operational and deliberate discharges that have severe consequences on the environment", Mr Darban-Barnes explained.
He said shipping-related environment challenges such as ship generated wastes, ballast water, oil spill, air pollution from ships, dredging and disposal of dredged material would further compound environmental challenges as Ghana joins the rest of the world in oil production.
While calling for proactive measures to be taken by member countries towards addressing the challenges, Mr Barnes called for adequate safety management to address issues of air pollution, odour nuisance, energy use and soil contamination.

GOVT TO DEPEND MORE ON NON DONOR FUNDS FOR DEVELOPMENT, DAILY GRAPHIC, JUNE 15, 2011 (CENTRE SPREAD)

Story: Della Russel Ocloo

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni, has announced the government's decision to redouble efforts at mobilising non-aid resources to fund its development agenda.
In that light, the reformation of revenue institutions and procedures in revenue collection has commenced to ensure an increase in domestic revenue.
He indicated that non-tax revenue measures, including rationalising the minerals and energy sectors by reviewing fees and charges, as well as automation towards paperless operations of government, were similarly underway.
The minister was speaking at a validation workshop on Ghana's Middle Income Status(MIS) organised by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Accra. The programme was on the theme, "Moving towards middle-income country status: Potential implications for development assistance and achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)".
Participants were drawn from the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), civil society organisations (CSOs), academia, political groups and a cross-section of members of the Diplomatic Corps.
The workshop addressed the implications of the new status for development assistance and the challenges arising therefrom and how to go forward. Alhaji Mumuni indicated that the attainment of a middle-income status would not automatically vanquish poverty and other development constraints.
"It is for this reason that any immediate and significant cut in aid flows to the country may hamper the gains already made," he stressed.
According to him, although Ghana had attained a middle-income status resulting from indices from relevant parameters, the status might come with a cost, as foreign assistance might decline and sometimes end abruptly.
He indicated that substantial poverty continued to thrive, while the generation of domestic resources remained quite low in relation to the level of resources required to end poverty, saying, "Many countries, including Ghana, which have achieved a middle-income status continue to face some structural problems afflicting low income countries (LICs) and need to boost incomes in order to meet the MDGs.”
Alhaji Mumuni added that whereas there were sufficient resources, inequality remained an issue that could contribute to political unrest and social instability which could in turn affect the people’s livelihood and their capacity to contribute to development.
The UN Resident Co-ordinator, Ms Ruby Sandhu-Rojon, observed that although Ghana might have graduated from a low income status, the change might not be significant, as effects might unfold to threaten expectations.
She indicated that while many attributed the recent status to oil discovery and exploration, the reality was that much work needed to be done to raise average incomes through agriculture, mining, industry and services.
She called for a shift in policy direction to fully comprehend what it meant to reach a middle-income status, as the resultant increase in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) might change rankings of all sectors.
A former Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Professor Gyan Baffour, who spoke on macro economy and economic growth, resisted to be drawn into an argument over a middle-income status.
He stated that poverty levels and non-accessibility of road infrastructure clearly called for a shift in policy to reduce the adverse effects of the factors that were retarding growth and development. Earlier in his welcoming address, a Senior Economist with the IEA, Dr John Kwakye, had reiterated the need for the provision of social protection interventions and strengthening institutional capacities.
Present at the ceremony were the Chief Director of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, Professor Newman Kusi; the Executive Secretary of the National Identification Authority (NIA), Dr William Ahadzie, and the President of the AGI, Nana Owusu Afari.

COURT CAUTIONS APONKYE SPOT PROPREITOR, DAILY GRAPHIC, JUNE 8, 2011 (CENTRE SPREAD)

Story: Della Russel Ocloo

The District Magistrate’s Motor and Traffic Court, presided over by Mr Emmanuel Barte Brew Plange, has cautioned and discharged an Accra businessman, Mr Seth Lartey, on two counts of causing distraction and public nuisance to the motoring public.
The accused, who is the proprietor of Aponkye Spot, a popular drinking bar located in Adabraka, a suburb of Accra, was arrested by personnel of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Police Service following his refusal to heed warnings by the unit to prevent creating obstruction and nuisance to the motoring public.
The accused was cautioned by the court to limit operations of the bar within his periphery, while ensuring an over-sight responsibility for the crowds that visit his bar from irritating road users.
Similarly, Mr Lartey was tasked to avoid mounting canopies along the pedestrian walkway, while minimising noise levels within the business environment.
According to the prosecutor, L/Cpl Dramani, the accused, who operates a drinking spot along the major road from Accra linking Kaneshie from the Farisco Traffic Light Intersection to the Graphic Road at weekends and on public holidays, normally mounted canopies on both sides of the pedestrian walkway to serve his customers.
The situation, he said, had led to customers of the bar virtually taking over one half of the main road where they parked their vehicles.
He said often between 7 p.m. and 12 a.m., some customers paraded the premises partly naked, and exhibited their dancing skills to loud music from giant sound systems mounted there, thereby creating chaos and rendering impossible passage by road users.
L/Cpl Dramani said following persistent complaints from the general public, Mr Lartey was invited by the Commanding Officer of the MTTU, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Angwubutoge Awuni, who cautioned him, but Mr Lartey failed to heed the verbal caution.
Later in an interview with the Daily Graphic, ACP Awuni said the action was taken against Mr Lartey to serve as a deterrent to others who engaged in such illegalities, such as creating blockades along major streets for the purposes of funerals and other social gatherings.

WESTERN STEEL RESUMES OPERATION IN DEFIANCE OF ORDER, DAILY GRAPHIC, MAY 30, 2011 (FRONT B)

Story: Della Russel ocloo, Tema

Production is said to have resumed at the Western Steel and Forgings Limited in Tema, in defiance of the one-month closure imposed on the company by the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare.
The temporary closure, which took effect from May 5, 2011, followed a series of industrial accidents that claimed the life of one worker and injured 14 others.
It was also to ensure that managers of the company put in place appropriate health and safety measures required for the establishment of factories.
However, three weeks into the closure, production is reported to have resumed at the furnace and rolling mill plant, leading to the manufacture of 11 bundles of iron rods between Wednesday, May 25 and Thursday, May 26, 2011, after a test run had been carried out on Tuesday, May 24, 2011.
Sources at the factory told the Daily Graphic that officials were yet to work on the full recommendations made by the ministry, which called for a total re-construction of the furnace.
The recommendations also underscored the need for the furnace to be equipped with a hood extractor to adequately cater for fumes and hot air at the furnace platform.
According to the source, although the oxygen plant was idle, the crane at the furnace was in full force.
“While protective clothing have been provided for some workers, nose masks, protective eye goggles and earpieces are yet to be made available to the entire workforce,” it said.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Employment, Mr Enoch Teye Mensah, has told the Daily Graphic that the ministry has not given permission to the management of the company to resume production.
According to him, both parties had agreed for a test run to be conducted, supervised by personnel of the Factories Inspectorate Division, adding that he was surprised at the development.
“I have been out of town and do not immediately know whether the deputy minister or the chief director of the ministry has given them a green light to reopen,” Mr Mensah explained.
When contacted, the Corporate Affairs Director of Western Steel, Nana Ofosua Tamakloe, denied that the company was defying the orders of the ministry.
Ms Tamakloe, who was evasive on the issue, expressed disgust at this reporter for calling her.
“You do not own me; you should know that. I don’t sit idle answering calls from people, since I am a very busy woman,” she fumed.
When prompted further, she said Western Steel was conducting a test run of the machinery, after the minister had tasked officials of the Factories Inspectorate to ensure that everything was working.
“Last Friday, we installed a hood extractor which was built by the GRATIS Foundation and the ministry has asked that we operate to check whether the equipment is working to absorb the fumes, as well as the quality of air in the working environment,” Ms Tamakloe explained.
Efforts to get the acting Chief Factory Inspector, Mr Adjei Boye, on the latest development were unsuccessful, as calls to his telephone were not answered.
Western Steel has, since 2005, recorded major accidents at its Hammer, Rolling Mill, Furnace and Quality Control divisions which never came to public attention, leading to serious injuries and the death of one Dominic Annor at the Tema General Hospital on September 11, 2007.
Similarly, John Billa was confirmed dead at the same hospital on October 3, 2005 when molten steel he was working with fell on him.
Between January 5 and July 15, 2006, 25 some employees of the company sustained various degrees of injury at the Furnace and the Hammer plants.
Indications are that officials of the Factories Inspectorate and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are due to visit the factory today to access the situation.

BNI TO INVITE RAWLINGS? DAILY GRAPHIC, MAY 24, 2011 (FRONT C)

Story: Della Russel Ocloo

Indications are that former President Jerry John Rawlings may be invited by the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) to answer queries on allegations made by his close associate, Mr Herbert Mensah, in respect of a secret tape on GH¢90-million election spending.
The tape, according to Mr Mensah, allegedly indicated the intention of President John Evans Atta Mills to spend GH¢90 million on his re-election bid as the flag bearer of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).
According to the National Security Advisor, Brigadier General Joseph Nunoo-Mensah, the claims by Mr Mensah are of great public interest which need exhaustive investigations.
Brigadier General Nunoo-Mensah, who was speaking on an Accra-based radio station, also called on the media to fully pursue the issue to its logical conclusion to prove the veracity or otherwise of the claims, since the whole country is interested in it.
Brigadier General Nunoo-Mensah said since the whole country wanted to know the truth, it was also the responsibility of the media to question former President Rawlings to find out the truth.
Mr Herbert Mensah recently told BNI officials during interrogation that the controversial tape was in the custody of the former President.
Mr Mensah’s interrogation was in reference to the allegations he had made that President Mills was influencing delegates with huge sums of money in his attempt to win the flagbearership of the NDC at its presidential congress slated for July 8 to 10 this year.
President Mills has rubbished the claim and called for a thorough probe to unravel the truth of the allegations.
Attempts to reach the spokesperson of the former president, Mr Kofi Adams, on the latest developments were unsuccessful.

HERBERT MENSAH FAILS TO PRODUCE TAPE, DAILY GRAPHIC, MAY 17, 2011 (FRONT B)

Story: Della Russel Ocloo & Sebastian Syme

A former football administrator, Mr Herbert Mensah, who claims to have a tape which reveals the President's intention to expend GH¢90 million on the National Democratic Congress (NDC) primary, has failed to produce the tape upon questioning by officials of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI).
Mr Mensah, a friend of the Rawlingses, was invited to the offices of the BNI at about 9 a.m. Monday and questioned up to 5:15 p.m. about the allegation, a development which prompted members of Friends of Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings (FONKAR), a group which is rooting for Nana Konadu’s flag-bearer aspirations, to raise concerns over what they described as “unduly holding” Mr Mensah for such a long period.
After the BNI had finished with its questioning, Mr Mensah, who is also a businessman, was released on an enquiry bail to report himself to the BNI today for further questioning.
According to a Deputy Minister of Information, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, he had information to the effect that Mr Mensah had been questioned and his statement accordingly taken, in the company of his lawyer.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, Mr Ablakwa said Mr Mensah was released by the BNI about 6.45 p.m. yesterday and that he (Mr Mensah) would continue to give further information on his allegations today.
Mr Mensah’s invitation by the BNI followed allegations he made that President Mills was influencing delegates with huge sums of money in his attempt to win the flagbearership of the NDC.
Mr Mensah alleged on an Accra private radio station that he had picked up a security tape which suggested that GH¢90 million was being transferred to boost the chances of the President at the July congress of the party.
President Mills denied the claims and called for a thorough probe to help unravel the truth or otherwise of the allegations.