The Golden Ghana magazine, a publication which promotes tourism in Ghana, has presented prizes to some loyal customers of Onetouch, Citi FM and the magazine after a month long promotion.
The first and second prize winners received an Accra-Calabar-Accra return tickets from Virgin Nigeria and $300 spending money.
The third and fourth winners received two nights stay each at Hotel Joecarl with other consolation prizes including copies of the magazines as well as fully connected mobile phones from Onetouch.
A co-publisher of the magazine, Mr Hugh Aryee, said the promotion dubbed “Golden Ghana”, which was held between August to September last year, was to popularise the magazine in the domestic markets and reward customers of Onetouch and the loyal listeners of Citi FM.
He said the Golden Ghana magazine was published to provide more information to travellers about Ghana’s culture and tourism sites and is the official in-flight magazine for Delta and Ghana International Airline.
“The magazine also presents investment opportunities for the country as potential investors can use it to gauge which areas they can tap into,” he said.
The magazine, a brainchild of the Ghana Golden Homecoming 2007 Secretariat published three times a year, is also expected to promote corporate bodies in Ghana as a source of attracting investors and tourists.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Steps to combat illegal trafficking of nuclear materials
THE International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in collaboration with the Radiation Protection Institute of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC), has begun a programme to build the capacities of member countries to combat illicit trafficking of nuclear materials.
As part of the programme, a three-day seminar is being organised to create awareness among member states on the need to establish adequate legal and technical nuclear security infrastructure and improve radiation monitoring capabilities at the borders.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Finance Director of the Ministry of Education, Mr Joseph Afranie, commended the IAEA for its continuous role in assisting member states in addressing the nuclear security challenges.
He noted that the IAEA had been able to increase awareness on the importance of establishing an adequate legal and technical nuclear security infrastructure in member states.
“IAEA has improved preparedness in member states to address the risk of malicious acts involving nuclear and other radioactive materials,” he said.
The Finance Director called for “new approaches and strategies to counter the complexity and ingenuity of the threats facing the world today and the nuclear society in particular”.
He, however, called on competent authorities in all states to respond to the threat of theft of nuclear materials and illicit trafficking information with all the means within their power.
He expressed the hope that the seminar would serve as an opportunity for effective international co-operation towards achieving improved nuclear security in the sub-region.
Mr Afranie urged participants to “pay attention to the seminar so that you can contribute towards achieving the set of goals of nuclear security in the world”.
The Director General of the GAEC, Prof E. H. K. Akaho, assured member states of the government’s commitment to the multilateral treaty on nuclear safeguards and other legal instruments, including those which have not yet been ratified.
“We will also ensure that whilst developing and promoting nuclear science and technology, nuclear safety and security are not comprised,” he said.
The seminar is being attended by 27 scientists from Ghana, Sierra Leone, Seychelles, Mali, Togo, Nigeria and Burkina Faso.
As part of the programme, a three-day seminar is being organised to create awareness among member states on the need to establish adequate legal and technical nuclear security infrastructure and improve radiation monitoring capabilities at the borders.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Finance Director of the Ministry of Education, Mr Joseph Afranie, commended the IAEA for its continuous role in assisting member states in addressing the nuclear security challenges.
He noted that the IAEA had been able to increase awareness on the importance of establishing an adequate legal and technical nuclear security infrastructure in member states.
“IAEA has improved preparedness in member states to address the risk of malicious acts involving nuclear and other radioactive materials,” he said.
The Finance Director called for “new approaches and strategies to counter the complexity and ingenuity of the threats facing the world today and the nuclear society in particular”.
He, however, called on competent authorities in all states to respond to the threat of theft of nuclear materials and illicit trafficking information with all the means within their power.
He expressed the hope that the seminar would serve as an opportunity for effective international co-operation towards achieving improved nuclear security in the sub-region.
Mr Afranie urged participants to “pay attention to the seminar so that you can contribute towards achieving the set of goals of nuclear security in the world”.
The Director General of the GAEC, Prof E. H. K. Akaho, assured member states of the government’s commitment to the multilateral treaty on nuclear safeguards and other legal instruments, including those which have not yet been ratified.
“We will also ensure that whilst developing and promoting nuclear science and technology, nuclear safety and security are not comprised,” he said.
The seminar is being attended by 27 scientists from Ghana, Sierra Leone, Seychelles, Mali, Togo, Nigeria and Burkina Faso.
Alert CEPS on suspicious shipments - Commissioner
THE Commissioner of the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS), Mr E.N. Doku, has called on shippers and custom house agents to alert customs authorities to any suspicious shipments to ensure timely interventions.
He also called for regular updates on products perceived to pose threats to the environment, such as discarded computers and computer parts, used outer covers and refrigerators, for immediate attention.
Mr Doku made the call in Accra yesterday during the celebration of this year’s International Customs Day on the theme, “Customs and the environment: Protecting our natural heritage”.
He called for pragmatic ways of ensuring that various multilateral protocols, recommendations and national laws which sought to protect the environment were effectively implemented by all countries, adding that "relevant agencies should embark on initiatives that will ensure the promulgation of workable laws to deal with the canker".
He applauded the theme for this year's celebration, saying it would help develop a vibrant and sophisticated agenda to save the environment from degradation and also serve as an opportunity for customs administrations to focus on the looming environmental crisis.
The commissioner noted that the need to fight environmental degradation and illegal trade in toxic substances was a core function of CEPS and urged CEPS officers to “work together to protect the integrity of our environment and lift our image through improved service delivery”.
He noted that CEPS expected a stronger partnership with stockholder institutions in discharging its duties and responsibilities to protect the environment.
The Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Mr Jonathan Allottey, said illegal international trade in environmentally sensitive commodities, such as ozone depleting substances (ODS), toxic chemicals and hazardous waste, threatened human health and the environment and also contributed to revenue loss by the government.
He stated that the EPA, in collaboration with CEPS, had put in place measures to control the importation of electrical and electronic waste.
The Director of the Radiation Protection Institute of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Professor Geoffrey Emi-Reynold, advised Ghanaians against the effects of artificial radiation emitted through medical applications used for diagnostics.
He also called for regular updates on products perceived to pose threats to the environment, such as discarded computers and computer parts, used outer covers and refrigerators, for immediate attention.
Mr Doku made the call in Accra yesterday during the celebration of this year’s International Customs Day on the theme, “Customs and the environment: Protecting our natural heritage”.
He called for pragmatic ways of ensuring that various multilateral protocols, recommendations and national laws which sought to protect the environment were effectively implemented by all countries, adding that "relevant agencies should embark on initiatives that will ensure the promulgation of workable laws to deal with the canker".
He applauded the theme for this year's celebration, saying it would help develop a vibrant and sophisticated agenda to save the environment from degradation and also serve as an opportunity for customs administrations to focus on the looming environmental crisis.
The commissioner noted that the need to fight environmental degradation and illegal trade in toxic substances was a core function of CEPS and urged CEPS officers to “work together to protect the integrity of our environment and lift our image through improved service delivery”.
He noted that CEPS expected a stronger partnership with stockholder institutions in discharging its duties and responsibilities to protect the environment.
The Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Mr Jonathan Allottey, said illegal international trade in environmentally sensitive commodities, such as ozone depleting substances (ODS), toxic chemicals and hazardous waste, threatened human health and the environment and also contributed to revenue loss by the government.
He stated that the EPA, in collaboration with CEPS, had put in place measures to control the importation of electrical and electronic waste.
The Director of the Radiation Protection Institute of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Professor Geoffrey Emi-Reynold, advised Ghanaians against the effects of artificial radiation emitted through medical applications used for diagnostics.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Kaneshie Market to undergo renovation (24/1/09)
The Kaneshie Market Complex is to be transformed with the construction of a $20 million structure to help decongest the crowded market.
The project, which is being funded by shareholders of the market and some benevolent individuals, is expected to commence by the end of the year.
The Managing Director of the market, Mr Edmund Kofi Duffour Addae, told the Daily Graphic in an interview in Accra that the new structure would consist of a car park, shops, offices, conference rooms and cinema halls among others.
The Kaneshie market is noted to be one of the busiest and most congested markets in the country.
The market has a large car park beside its structure, which has completely been taken over by commercial vehicles that ply many parts of the country.
Around the market building itself are hundreds of petty traders and hawkers who do brisk business wherever they find convenient.
The congested nature of the area around the market, one of the first planned markets in Accra, has forced many of the commercial drivers to ply their business on the three-lane dual carriageway that leads to the Mallam Junction, a situation that creates unbearable and constant traffic around the area.
Hawkers who have no access to the small spaces around the market building have also found the shoulders of the street in front the market and the pavements a much more convenient place to attract people to their wares.
When asked about what the market authorities would do to all the commercial drivers and hawkers around the market, Mr Duffuor said the management of the market would hold discussions with the city authorities to relocate them.
Mr Duffour said as part of plans for this year, the management intended to improve on the environmental conditions of the market by providing traders with more improved toilet and bathroom facilities.
He noted that the number of toilet and bathroom facilities in the market were insufficient hence the need to add up to the existing ones.
Mr Duffour said they would be organising health talks, financial management programmes and education on the need for insurance for the traders before the end of the year.
On the indiscriminate dumping of refuse in and around the market, he said the management was in talks with Zoomlion Ghana Limited, one of the leading waste management companies in the country, to take care of the waste situation.
The project, which is being funded by shareholders of the market and some benevolent individuals, is expected to commence by the end of the year.
The Managing Director of the market, Mr Edmund Kofi Duffour Addae, told the Daily Graphic in an interview in Accra that the new structure would consist of a car park, shops, offices, conference rooms and cinema halls among others.
The Kaneshie market is noted to be one of the busiest and most congested markets in the country.
The market has a large car park beside its structure, which has completely been taken over by commercial vehicles that ply many parts of the country.
Around the market building itself are hundreds of petty traders and hawkers who do brisk business wherever they find convenient.
The congested nature of the area around the market, one of the first planned markets in Accra, has forced many of the commercial drivers to ply their business on the three-lane dual carriageway that leads to the Mallam Junction, a situation that creates unbearable and constant traffic around the area.
Hawkers who have no access to the small spaces around the market building have also found the shoulders of the street in front the market and the pavements a much more convenient place to attract people to their wares.
When asked about what the market authorities would do to all the commercial drivers and hawkers around the market, Mr Duffuor said the management of the market would hold discussions with the city authorities to relocate them.
Mr Duffour said as part of plans for this year, the management intended to improve on the environmental conditions of the market by providing traders with more improved toilet and bathroom facilities.
He noted that the number of toilet and bathroom facilities in the market were insufficient hence the need to add up to the existing ones.
Mr Duffour said they would be organising health talks, financial management programmes and education on the need for insurance for the traders before the end of the year.
On the indiscriminate dumping of refuse in and around the market, he said the management was in talks with Zoomlion Ghana Limited, one of the leading waste management companies in the country, to take care of the waste situation.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Barclays donates to hospital
BARCLAYS Bank of Ghana Ltd has presented a cheque for £20,000 to the Princess Marie Louise Hospital.
This is in support of the construction of a paediatric surgical theatre and an emergency unit for the hospital.
Presenting the cheque, the Managing Director of the bank, Mr Benjamim Dabrah, said the donation was in fulfilment of the bank’s promise to support the hospital. It is also part of the bank’s social responsibility.
He said as part of its contribution to promote quality health care in the country, the bank had taken up a guinea worm eradication campaign in the three northern regions to help curb the disease.
Mr Dabrah noted that although it was a challenging time for the financial institution, the bank would not relent in its support to society, adding that it would still dedicate one per cent of its profit to support society.
The acting Medical Superintendent of the hospital, Dr Eric Sift, received the cheque on behalf of the hospital and expressed gratitude to the bank for its generous support.
He assured the management of Barclays that the donation would be used for the purpose intended.
Dr Sifah said it was the hope of the hospital to become a specialised hospital in such areas as paediatric surgery, neonatal intensive care, as well as paediatric asthma treatment.
The Chairman of the Management Board of the hospital, Rev. Fr Andrew Campbell, called on institutions to support the hospital, especially those with pending pledges.
Fr Campbell appealed to benevolent societies and individuals to help provide the hospital with transportation.
This is in support of the construction of a paediatric surgical theatre and an emergency unit for the hospital.
Presenting the cheque, the Managing Director of the bank, Mr Benjamim Dabrah, said the donation was in fulfilment of the bank’s promise to support the hospital. It is also part of the bank’s social responsibility.
He said as part of its contribution to promote quality health care in the country, the bank had taken up a guinea worm eradication campaign in the three northern regions to help curb the disease.
Mr Dabrah noted that although it was a challenging time for the financial institution, the bank would not relent in its support to society, adding that it would still dedicate one per cent of its profit to support society.
The acting Medical Superintendent of the hospital, Dr Eric Sift, received the cheque on behalf of the hospital and expressed gratitude to the bank for its generous support.
He assured the management of Barclays that the donation would be used for the purpose intended.
Dr Sifah said it was the hope of the hospital to become a specialised hospital in such areas as paediatric surgery, neonatal intensive care, as well as paediatric asthma treatment.
The Chairman of the Management Board of the hospital, Rev. Fr Andrew Campbell, called on institutions to support the hospital, especially those with pending pledges.
Fr Campbell appealed to benevolent societies and individuals to help provide the hospital with transportation.
It's time to build bridges-Mahama
The Vice President, John Dramani Mahama has said that with the 2008 Elections over, nothing should divide Ghanaians, adding that "it is time for all to join hands to heal any pain and hurt and make the country more united".
He therefore called on all Ghanaians build bridges and a more united nation for rapid, accelerated development in the country.
Mr Mahama made the call today when he addressed a large congregation at the induction service of the newly appointed president of the Ghana Pentecostal Council (GPC).
Apostle John Annan Adotey, a renowned educationalist, becomes the 7th President of the GPC.
The Vice President said the challenges that confronted the country required a concerted effort with each person playing a meaningful role to ensure that the goals, dreams and aspirations of all as one untied nation were met.
He acknowledged the perseverance in prayer among many others of members of various religious groups in a run-up to the elections and after.
“Through this electioneering process, you and the electorate of Ghana have spoken loud and clear, that nobody can compromise the democratic integrity of this nation,” he said.
Mr Mahama said; ”Put together, the mix of tension, exchanges, dialogue, legal and executive interventions, protests, media attention, vigilance and ultimately peace that has prevailed in the last few weeks, represent a rare election model that the whole world would soon be referring to”.
“You and I need to be proud of being part of a part of this model, that is if we played the expected role of us,” he said, adding that posterity would examine the history for its merits and demerits.
The Vice President gave the assurance that the Mills administration was committed to sustaining the peace that the nation enjoyed.
“The Mills administration is committed to peace and unity in diversity, without compromising our core values of accountability, integrity and respect for the rule of law,” he noted.
The Vice President who is a member of the Assemblies of God Church said, the growth and composition of the GPC was an indication of unity that existed in the diversity of the Christian denominations it represented.
He said that the team work of the council was worth emulation, he therefore, challenged the incoming executives of the GPC to “lookout for more room for improvement and refurbish it”.
In his acceptance speech, the newly appointed president reiterated the need for the GPC to be united to fight the menace of armed robbery, ritual murders, drug trafficking among others through the teaching and application of God’s word.
“God is calling the GPC to direct our attention and resources to address this menace with great sense of urgency,” he added.
Apostle Adotey appealed to heads of churches and members to “pray earnestly for the outpouring of the holy spirit which will energise our evangelism effort to win Ghana for Christ”.
He therefore called on all Ghanaians build bridges and a more united nation for rapid, accelerated development in the country.
Mr Mahama made the call today when he addressed a large congregation at the induction service of the newly appointed president of the Ghana Pentecostal Council (GPC).
Apostle John Annan Adotey, a renowned educationalist, becomes the 7th President of the GPC.
The Vice President said the challenges that confronted the country required a concerted effort with each person playing a meaningful role to ensure that the goals, dreams and aspirations of all as one untied nation were met.
He acknowledged the perseverance in prayer among many others of members of various religious groups in a run-up to the elections and after.
“Through this electioneering process, you and the electorate of Ghana have spoken loud and clear, that nobody can compromise the democratic integrity of this nation,” he said.
Mr Mahama said; ”Put together, the mix of tension, exchanges, dialogue, legal and executive interventions, protests, media attention, vigilance and ultimately peace that has prevailed in the last few weeks, represent a rare election model that the whole world would soon be referring to”.
“You and I need to be proud of being part of a part of this model, that is if we played the expected role of us,” he said, adding that posterity would examine the history for its merits and demerits.
The Vice President gave the assurance that the Mills administration was committed to sustaining the peace that the nation enjoyed.
“The Mills administration is committed to peace and unity in diversity, without compromising our core values of accountability, integrity and respect for the rule of law,” he noted.
The Vice President who is a member of the Assemblies of God Church said, the growth and composition of the GPC was an indication of unity that existed in the diversity of the Christian denominations it represented.
He said that the team work of the council was worth emulation, he therefore, challenged the incoming executives of the GPC to “lookout for more room for improvement and refurbish it”.
In his acceptance speech, the newly appointed president reiterated the need for the GPC to be united to fight the menace of armed robbery, ritual murders, drug trafficking among others through the teaching and application of God’s word.
“God is calling the GPC to direct our attention and resources to address this menace with great sense of urgency,” he added.
Apostle Adotey appealed to heads of churches and members to “pray earnestly for the outpouring of the holy spirit which will energise our evangelism effort to win Ghana for Christ”.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Government urged to amend Investment Code
The Chairman of the Abossey Okine Spare Parts Dealers Association, Mr Joseph Paddy, has appealed to the new National Democratic Congress (NDC) Administration to speed up the process of amending the investment code to reflect the modern trend of doing business.
“This would help protect the indigenous Ghanaian business entrepreneurs who provide the bulk of employment for the youth and a greater source of income for the economy when it comes to the retail sector,” he said in an interview with the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday.
The Chairman expressed worry over the cost of doing business in the country, which according to him was too expensive due to the high import duties, delays in clearing procedures, as well as the monopolistic nature of the service providers (agents) at the ports of entry, who charge exorbitant fees for import duties and clearing procedures.
He noted that these challenges accounted for the high cost of the spare parts in the country, and therefore, called on government to reduce these taxes to improve business.
“We are appealing to the government to empower the Ghana Shippers Council to fight the course of traders with regards to shipping lines,” he said.
Mr Paddy noted that the spare parts business in the country, as well as other small-scale businesses, were currently under threat because of these unfavourable conditions and stressed that “by speeding up the process of amending the investment code, which was enacted over a decade a go, these problems would be addressed”.
Mr Paddy explained that members of the association have not increased the prices of their goods because of the change in government.
He said as traders, what made them increase the prices of their goods was the significant increase in the dollar rate as against the cedi and high import duties
He said it was unfortunate that some people perceived spare parts dealers at Abossey Okai as being sympathetic to a particular party and pointed out that “we are commercial business operators who contribute our quota to national development and we do not indulge in party politics with our business”.
On the prices of some of their goods, he said the cost of an oil filter was between GH¢2 and GH¢3, brake pad was also between GH¢20 and GH¢30, depending on the type of car, while a water pump, whose price varied from car to car, was GH¢25, particularly for saloon cars such as Toyota and others.
“The change in government does not affect our business here; the only thing which does is the investment policy the government decides to put in place,” he stated, and called on the new government to put in place good policies to enhance their businesses.
A Honda and Benz spare parts dealer who gave his name only as Opare said, “We have not increased our prices. How can we increase our prices when the goods are not being bought? We will only run at a loss.”
Another Honda parts dealer, Nii Nartey, recalled that the prices of goods shot up slightly last year but since then they had not increased the price of any item and were rather decreasing it to get more buyers.
“Even when petrol prices are increased our prices are still the same and we hardly increase the prices of our goods here. We are yet to see what the Mills administration has for us,” he said.
Gloria, a car battery dealer, appealed to the government to reduce taxes for them to also make some profit.
Another trader who gave her name as Serwah Akoto also noted that the prices of goods had decreased significantly because in January people did not patronise their goods, adding that the market was slow during that period.
The spare parts dealers expressed concern about development in Abossey Okine in terms of facilities such as electricity, public places of convenience and congestion due to the deplorable nature of the roads, stressing that these were also major challenges confronting them.
They therefore called on the new administration to address these concerns in order to help facilitate their business and afford them the opportunity to contribute their quota to the country’s economy.
“This would help protect the indigenous Ghanaian business entrepreneurs who provide the bulk of employment for the youth and a greater source of income for the economy when it comes to the retail sector,” he said in an interview with the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday.
The Chairman expressed worry over the cost of doing business in the country, which according to him was too expensive due to the high import duties, delays in clearing procedures, as well as the monopolistic nature of the service providers (agents) at the ports of entry, who charge exorbitant fees for import duties and clearing procedures.
He noted that these challenges accounted for the high cost of the spare parts in the country, and therefore, called on government to reduce these taxes to improve business.
“We are appealing to the government to empower the Ghana Shippers Council to fight the course of traders with regards to shipping lines,” he said.
Mr Paddy noted that the spare parts business in the country, as well as other small-scale businesses, were currently under threat because of these unfavourable conditions and stressed that “by speeding up the process of amending the investment code, which was enacted over a decade a go, these problems would be addressed”.
Mr Paddy explained that members of the association have not increased the prices of their goods because of the change in government.
He said as traders, what made them increase the prices of their goods was the significant increase in the dollar rate as against the cedi and high import duties
He said it was unfortunate that some people perceived spare parts dealers at Abossey Okai as being sympathetic to a particular party and pointed out that “we are commercial business operators who contribute our quota to national development and we do not indulge in party politics with our business”.
On the prices of some of their goods, he said the cost of an oil filter was between GH¢2 and GH¢3, brake pad was also between GH¢20 and GH¢30, depending on the type of car, while a water pump, whose price varied from car to car, was GH¢25, particularly for saloon cars such as Toyota and others.
“The change in government does not affect our business here; the only thing which does is the investment policy the government decides to put in place,” he stated, and called on the new government to put in place good policies to enhance their businesses.
A Honda and Benz spare parts dealer who gave his name only as Opare said, “We have not increased our prices. How can we increase our prices when the goods are not being bought? We will only run at a loss.”
Another Honda parts dealer, Nii Nartey, recalled that the prices of goods shot up slightly last year but since then they had not increased the price of any item and were rather decreasing it to get more buyers.
“Even when petrol prices are increased our prices are still the same and we hardly increase the prices of our goods here. We are yet to see what the Mills administration has for us,” he said.
Gloria, a car battery dealer, appealed to the government to reduce taxes for them to also make some profit.
Another trader who gave her name as Serwah Akoto also noted that the prices of goods had decreased significantly because in January people did not patronise their goods, adding that the market was slow during that period.
The spare parts dealers expressed concern about development in Abossey Okine in terms of facilities such as electricity, public places of convenience and congestion due to the deplorable nature of the roads, stressing that these were also major challenges confronting them.
They therefore called on the new administration to address these concerns in order to help facilitate their business and afford them the opportunity to contribute their quota to the country’s economy.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Zoomlion Cleans Independence Square
Four days after the inaugural ceremony of President John Evans Atta Mills at the Independence Square in Accra, the arena and its environs had been kept clean after the event.
At about 12 noon on Thursday when the Daily Graphic got to the arena, it had been cleaned with no trace of a paper and a plastic although hitherto the area could be described as very dirty.
The excellent work was undertaken by workers of Zoomlion Ghana Limited in collaboration with Parks and Gardens. They started the cleaning at 7am.
Mr Joseph Gletsu, the leader of the group told the Daily Graphic that because of the huge nature of the amount of garbage created and its spread as a result of the event, they had to sweep from the National Theatre through to the Independence Square to the Osu Castle.
He said the garbage consisted of mainly empty water, ice cream sachet and rappers.
The workers called on the new government to ensure the continuous operation of Zoomlion Ghana Limited because the organisation had provided them employment and it had also served as their source of income for their daily livelihood.
They however, called on the organisation to increase their salaries as the work they do was tidious but with meagre salary.
The atmosphere at the time the Daily Graphic was leaving was quiet with everybody going about their normal activities without let or hindrance and no vehicular traffic jam as compared to the inaugural day.
At about 12 noon on Thursday when the Daily Graphic got to the arena, it had been cleaned with no trace of a paper and a plastic although hitherto the area could be described as very dirty.
The excellent work was undertaken by workers of Zoomlion Ghana Limited in collaboration with Parks and Gardens. They started the cleaning at 7am.
Mr Joseph Gletsu, the leader of the group told the Daily Graphic that because of the huge nature of the amount of garbage created and its spread as a result of the event, they had to sweep from the National Theatre through to the Independence Square to the Osu Castle.
He said the garbage consisted of mainly empty water, ice cream sachet and rappers.
The workers called on the new government to ensure the continuous operation of Zoomlion Ghana Limited because the organisation had provided them employment and it had also served as their source of income for their daily livelihood.
They however, called on the organisation to increase their salaries as the work they do was tidious but with meagre salary.
The atmosphere at the time the Daily Graphic was leaving was quiet with everybody going about their normal activities without let or hindrance and no vehicular traffic jam as compared to the inaugural day.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Honour promises to PWD's-Tetteh
The Executive Director of the Centre for Employment of Person's with Disabilities (CEPD), Mr Alexander Tetteh has called on the new NDC administration to honour the promises it has made to Persons with Disabilities (PWD's) in its manifesto.
He said although the NPP government did its bit to provide them with the needed support, they were looking forward to the NDC government to deliver its promises.
"We have high expectations of the new government and we hope they would continue the good works of the Kufuor administration,"he pointed out in an interview with the Daily Graphic in Accra today.
" We ask that as stipulated in the NDC manifesto that the provision of Persons With Disability Act, 2006 and Act 715 be implemented as well as the national life of PWD's would be fully integrated as stated", he added.
According to him, the Kufuor administration established the disabled Act and also initiated measures to implement the 2% district common fund for the PWD's in some selected districts to ensure better conditions of livelihood for PWD's thus, he hoped the new government would continue with the all programmes established by the NPP administration.
"The social protection programme under which we have the Livelihood Empowerment Advocacy Programme (LEAP) was introduced by the NPP government and it is yet to reach the PWD's," he noted.
He asked that the premium for the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) for the PWD's would be free as in the case of pregnant women.
"We expect the NDC government to tap the potentials in disabled persons for appointments into higher positions such as chief executives in the district assemblies, and top political appointments among others, so that we the disabled also benefit from the all inclusion government" he stated.
Mr Tetteh called for the employment of qualified PWD's in private organisations, adding that " individual organisations seeking to recruit employers should consider PWD's since most of them were qualified enough to hold positions in these organisations".
The CEPD which was established in 2007 seeks to facilitate the employment of PWD's and assist companies to manage PWD's in their work places.
He said although the NPP government did its bit to provide them with the needed support, they were looking forward to the NDC government to deliver its promises.
"We have high expectations of the new government and we hope they would continue the good works of the Kufuor administration,"he pointed out in an interview with the Daily Graphic in Accra today.
" We ask that as stipulated in the NDC manifesto that the provision of Persons With Disability Act, 2006 and Act 715 be implemented as well as the national life of PWD's would be fully integrated as stated", he added.
According to him, the Kufuor administration established the disabled Act and also initiated measures to implement the 2% district common fund for the PWD's in some selected districts to ensure better conditions of livelihood for PWD's thus, he hoped the new government would continue with the all programmes established by the NPP administration.
"The social protection programme under which we have the Livelihood Empowerment Advocacy Programme (LEAP) was introduced by the NPP government and it is yet to reach the PWD's," he noted.
He asked that the premium for the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) for the PWD's would be free as in the case of pregnant women.
"We expect the NDC government to tap the potentials in disabled persons for appointments into higher positions such as chief executives in the district assemblies, and top political appointments among others, so that we the disabled also benefit from the all inclusion government" he stated.
Mr Tetteh called for the employment of qualified PWD's in private organisations, adding that " individual organisations seeking to recruit employers should consider PWD's since most of them were qualified enough to hold positions in these organisations".
The CEPD which was established in 2007 seeks to facilitate the employment of PWD's and assist companies to manage PWD's in their work places.
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