By Maame Agyeiwaa Agyei
(maamedag@gmail.com)

The people of Haatso and the Sarah Adwoa Safoaa Safoin the Greater Accra Region finally get an ultra-modern maternity clinic and National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) offices, as the Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Sarah Adwoa Safoaa Safo, has cut the sod for the commencement of the project.

According to Ms Safo, the clinic, when completed, would promote quality and affordable health care service to all pregnant women, mothers, and their unborn babies in the constituency. She added that everybody in the constituency would benefit from the service, stressing, “It doesn’t matter which party you belong to.”

The MP made these remarks at a durbar held at the forecourt of the Haatso Palace to commence the handing over of the land, and subsequently, the cutting of the sod for the commencement of the project.

However, she did not mention the cost of the project, which was financed with the MP’s NHIA Fund, and supported by other charitable institutions and individuals. She indicated that in order for Ghana to achieve the fourth Millennium Development Goal (MDG), it would have to reduce the children under five mortality rate down to 40 deaths per 1,000.

According to her, infant mortality was still alarming and needed to be looked at to enable Ghana achieve the MDG, adding that the first 28 days of life, the “neonatal period”, represents the most vulnerable time for a child’s survival.

Globally, the number of deaths of children under-five years of age, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), fell from 12.7 million in 1990 to 6.3 million in 2013.
According to her, WHO’s MDG 4 targets a reduction by two-thirds, between 1990 and 2015, the under-five mortality rate.

In 2013, around 44% of under-five deaths occurred during this period, up from 37% in 1990, adding that in Ghana, the World Bank, in 2013, estimated that the value of female/child mortality rate was under five (1,000 live births), representing 78.40.

Ms Safo bemoaned the country’s current situation where 80 out of 1,000 children do not make it past the age of five. She encouraged everyone to contribute their quota to make the project successful, since healthcare was a national issue which needed to be tackled with a united front.

The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the Ga East Assembly, Kwao Sackey, said he was happy to be part of the project, because health care was important for the development of every nation.

He said he was happy the Ga East Municipality was in the development process, while appealing to all persons to endeavour to give their all to make the project successful. He pointed out that the former MP for the area, Professor Mike Oquaye, started the Haifa Clinic project.

Although he (MCE) recalled that he was not a member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), he used to pass by all the time to lend his support.  He encouraged the people of the Ga East District to put away their party colours and contribute their quota, because every development is for all, not only parties, as he thanked the Member of Parliament for the project.

The Municipal Director of Health, Dr. Julius A. Dadebo, on his part, said as far as health was concerned, Ga East was doing well, ever since the district was separated from Madina-Abokobi. According to him, at the moment, Dome-Kwabenya was to get a hundred-bed capacity hospital, right behind the Atomic Energy Commission, which, in the future, could be expanded to 200.

He said it was very important for the district to have its own NHIA offices, and not be operating from rented offices. Dr. Dadebo thanked the Ghana Atomic Energy for supporting the district, in terms of land, and health. He advised that there should be enough stakeholders’ consultations, and a lot of collaboration to help move the district forward.

From Inusa Musah

Isaac Djangmah Vanderpuje, Deputy Accra Regional Minister, has charged the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) to enforce its environmental and sanitation by-laws, especially in Tema West.

The Deputy Regional Minister expressed unhappiness at the apathy most residents in Tema West showed during last Saturday’s National Sanitation Exercise. Tema, last Saturday, hosted the Greater Accra sanitation exercise.

The exercise was also used to create awareness on the celebration of the Homowo Festival, which would be held at the Efua Sutherland Park, Accra, and as part of the awareness creation, the Ministry for Culture and Tourism was well represented at the exercise.

Registering his worry at the abysmal turnout by residents in Tema West last Saturday, Mr. Vanderpuje said the attitude of the residents was one that cannot help in the fight against filth and sanitation-related diseases.

It is not the sole responsibility of some class or group of persons to clean the community, he reminded, and added that sicknesses and diseases do not care of one’s class or affluence in society.

To make residents adhere and observe the national clean-up day, therefore, Mr. Isaac Djangmah Vanderpuje said the only ‘rod’ that can get people to be responsible to the cleanliness in their community is the strict enforcement of the assembly’s bylaws on sanitation.

The Minister and his team, including the Metropolitan Chief Executive for Tema, Mr. Isaac Ashai Odamtten, the Paramount Chief for Tema, Nii Adjei Kraku II, and representatives from the Ministry for Culture and Tourism, visited Tema East and Central where the clean-up ‘fever’ was impressive.

Nii Adjei Kraku II lamented how every national activity has been given a political tag, including the National Sanitation Day. According to him, some politicians have distanced themselves and vowed never to part-take in the national clean-up exercise.

“It is very necessary we all put Ghana first in our national lives. If we praise and commend other countries for their beautiful environments, it is because the people collectively agreed to make their country as beautiful as we see and commend them. Ghana, too, can do same if we all will de-politicise national matters,” Nii Kraku II advised.

He said the days when Ghanaians were forced to clean their environments are over, “because we all agreed to practise democracy. Let us not abuse the beauty. Together, we can make Ghana clean and beautiful.”

In a related development, Elder Peter Dolf of the Christ Apostolic International, Ashaiman Lebanon, has condemned the Ghanaian lackadaisical attitude in fighting filth.
Elder Dolf wondered why Ghanaians would have to wait for the government or some non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to remind them on the need to keep their own environments and homes clean at all times.

Christ Apostolic International Church, over the last one year, has, as part of its church programmes, a monthly cleanup exercise, and the youth ministry especially, de-silts choked drains in their neighbourhood and the main Lebanon-Zenu School junction drains.

Elder Peter Dolf told The Chronicle that much as the church salutes the government for initiating the monthly National Sanitation Day, he said it behoved on every Ghanaian to know that the government is not responsible for the cleanliness in their various neighbourhoods.

The church was at the Lebanon School junction, Ashaiman, to de-silt drains and raise awareness on the need for a clean Ghana, and Elder Dolf said the Ghanaian ought to learn to keep disposable wastes in their bags until they get to a dustbin where they can drop the litter.

He explained that the Ghanaian’s beautiful physical appearance has always defeated the attitude towards their environments, “and so it’s no wonder we are always battling with malaria and cholera.”

Considering how far Ghana has come with lazy minds in keeping the environment clean, the country will continue to be swallowed by filth, he observed. He said: “We are always conscious of what we wear, but lazy in thinking of keeping our areas clean. Our worship and service to God must replicate in our attitude towards our environment.”

Elder Dolf was of the view that the various assemblies’ inability to prosecute offenders is the misery for the sanitation indiscipline in the country, “and I implore the assemblies to bite a few people and everybody will wake up.” He reminded Ghanaians to re-develop their past communal spirit that saw them compulsorily clean their environments every weekend.

Meanwhile, water was able to freely run through heavily choked drains along the main Ashaiman bus terminal after over a year. Drivers and their mates, including traders, put all hands on deck to de-silt the heavily choked drains during last Saturday’s National Sanitation Day exercise.

Though the drivers heavily partook in the cleaning exercise, no passenger was left stranded at the bus terminal, as a timetable the leadership of the various transport unions prepared was followed to the letter. A similar commitment was shown at the Ashaiman Central Market, where the leadership of the market women urged their women to involve themselves in cleaning their business center.

Several persons continued to show apathy to the exercise, however, the committed ones joined the Ashaiman Assembly to clean their various areas, in a bid to make their areas disease-free. The Coordinating Director for the Ashaiman Assembly, Mr. James Asrifi, expressed delight at the commitment the people showed in de-silting choked drains especially.

Tulaku, Zongo Laka and Roman Down were areas that were badly hit by the last outbreak of cholera, and so Mr Asrifi said the assembly will storm those areas in the next clean-up. He called on all Ghanaians to see clean-up exercises as a need and beautification, reminding them that environmental-related diseases are impartial. He concluded: “Ghana is our home, and it is we who can make or unmake it. Let us take the cleanliness of our community as one of our daily needs.”

By Richard Attenkah

Andrew Evans Quayson, Chairman of the Unilever Foundation, has disclosed that scientific research has proven that our hands are the principal carriers of disease-causing germs, as a result washing one’s hand regularly with soap and water can avert one million deaths a year.
“Therefore, making hand washing with soap and water before eating and after using the toilet into a regular daily practice can save more lives than any single vaccine or medical intervention, cutting deaths from diarrhoea by almost half,” he explained.

According to him, a UNICEF report released in May 2010 shows that 2.2 million deaths of children are preventable through improvements in the provision of safe drinking water, basic sanitation, and hygiene practices.

Mr. Quayson was speaking at a programme for the handing over of a US$28,000 hygiene station for children at the Klangon TMA Primary A&B Schools, near Sakumono in the Tema Metropolitan area last Friday. A similar facility, estimated at the same cost, was handed over to the Tema Manhean TMA School, later in the day.

The programme forms part of Unilever’s annual Global Hand Washing Day, aimed at sensitising the general public about the need to make hand washing part and parcel of our lives. The theme for this year’s Global Hand Washing Day is “Raise a Hand for Hygiene.”

The hygiene station, which, according to Mr. Quayson, comprises of four washrooms and four hand washing units for pupils, is one of his outfit’s community investment projects towards improving the health and wellbeing of its community. “Today, we live in a world where over two million children under the age of five die each year from diarrhoea and pneumonia.

“In fact, one child dies every 15 seconds from diarrhoea disease, which is the second most common cause of death in children under five in Africa and Asia.  “These deaths occur because 884 million people do not have access to clean drinking water, and 2.6 billion people lack basic sanitation.

“Given these facts, Unilever is committed to improving the health and wellbeing of a billion people around the world by 2020. This is a big goal within the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan, and we are determined to get there,” he noted.  The Unilever Sustainable Living Plan is also aimed at achieving the United Nation’s Global Goals of ensuring good health and wellbeing, as well as availability and management of water and sanitation for all.

He hinted that his outfit had lined up a number of campaign programmes aimed at addressing some of the challenges confronting the day-to-day living that inhibit the ability of its consumers to enjoy a complete state of health and wellbeing.

Some of the campaigns, which he referred to as “social mission” branded programmes, include Lifebuoy’s hand washing campaign, Pepsodent’s twice daily campaign, and the Blue Band’s growth challenge.

Continuing, Mr. Quayson said the Global Hand Washing Day was originally created for children and schools, but can also be celebrated by any one promoting hand washing with soap.

The Unilever, Ghana, Board Chairman noted that children are everyone’s business, because they are our future, adding, as a people, there is the need for us to work together for their wellbeing. “We are delighted that as we commemorate the laudable initiative of Global Hand Washing with soap, we are able to provide an effective means to enable the children of Klangon TMA Primary A&B School and Manhean TMA adopt and practice this life saving habit all the time.”

Nii Bortey Klan II, Chief of Klangon, thanked Unilever for the kind gesture, saying the facility will go a long way to improve the health and wellbeing of children in the school. He called on the company not to stop there, but continue to help develop the school by constructing a library facility to enhance the performance of children in the school.

By Bernice Bessey

A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Nyirema Foundation, has organised a free health screening exercise for residents of Sowutuom in the Ga Central Municipality.
The screening was to create awareness and help residents know their health status, especially with blood pressure, sugar diabetes, eyes, ears, and HIV/AIDS among other diseases.

Jabel Abdula, President of Nyirema Foundation, speaking to the Accra File recently, said the main focus was the youth, in order to help them acquire a future that will promote the country’s development and also guide them in career choices.

He said the foundation, though young, had managed to carry out educational programmes for all levels of the education ladder, and how they can avoid peer pressure and focus on their studies.

Jabel believes that the future of the country could only be seen to be bright if the youth are encouraged to engage in productive ventures.

“Nyirema means young generation. For them to succeed, we have to prepare or lay the foundation for them to build on,” he added

Dominic Aboagye, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Foundation, held health screening, educational and talk shows for students against drug abuse, and sexually transmitted diseases among others.

By Richard Attenkah

The Paramount Chief of the Nungua Traditional Area, King (Dr.) Odaifio Welentsi III, has called on chiefs and elders of villages surrounding Katamanso in the Kpone-Katamanso District to allow peace to prevail.
He pointed out that information available to him indicates that the relationship among the various chiefs and elders in the surrounding villages and that of Katamanso was not one that is peaceful, and, therefore, there was the need for all of them to put behind their personal interests and move on as one people.

According to him, without peace and friendship the area cannot develop, saying when things continue to stay as they are currently, the overall development of Katamanso, which is a historical village, together with its surrounding communities, will suffer in the long run.

The Nungua Mantse, who was speaking at a get-together of chiefs and elders of Katamanso and its surrounding villages, where they ate, drank, danced and made merry over the weekend, called on all present to give peace chance to prevail, which will no doubt translate into the development of the area.

“We have met here today, because Katamanso, which is the oldest village in the region and surrounded by so many smaller villages, is bedeviled with so many problems.  “And if the head is spoilt, the entire body cannot be any good. The elders of this village have taken it upon themselves, but are saying that the problems bedeviling the Katamanso village appear to be destroying things in the smaller villages and beyond.

“So, today, elders of Katamanso have called all the chiefs and elders in all the villages surrounding Katamanso to gather here eat, drink, dance and make merry for all to see that there is no problem among them, and that we are all one people,” he explained.

The Nungua Mantse said where there is no peace development cannot take place; adding that the chiefs and elders from the smaller villages surrounding Katamanso should endeavour to allow peace to prevail, so that development can take place.

Continuing, King (Dr.) Welentsi III said it is a known secret that the substantive Chief of Katamanso is not very well, and as a result, cannot participate in meetings and also undertake other traditional responsibilities, therefore, there is the need to get someone to sit on his laps to steer affairs of the town.

“And in my capacity as the Nungua Mantse, I am promising all of you that soon, maybe by the close of the year, December, you will all see who will be appointed as regent to manage affairs of the area on behalf of the ailing Katamanso Chief, so that all the elders in the surrounding villages will have peace,” he noted

Advising the people of Katamanso, King (Dr.) Welentsi III warned all those who have wrongly acquired land in the area, and those who bought land from the chief, but have decided that because he is not well they will take the opportunity to extend the frontiers of their territory, to be careful.

“My advice to the people of Katamanso is that a lot of people have taken it that because the chief is not well, they will take advantage of the situation to grab lands in the area, and as a result, some people now own lands in the town without proper documents.

“Some people have also made it their business to loot Katamanso lands, and I want to advise all natives of this town to remain calm.” Explaining further, the Nungua Mantse said since land is not movable for people to carry it away, the people should remain calm, assuring them that as soon as a new regent is named, and he starts work, everything will change, because, “new king, new law.”

He advised all those who have taken Katamanso lands from unauthorised sources that they should quietly let go of it, saying “if he or she doesn’t leave it, and they are called to answer where they got it from, then it is their own problem.” “And those who the chief has given lands to, and because he is not well have pushed their boundaries farther than it is expected to be, should be careful.

“I am very much sure that those who are going to take over the administration of Katamanso have a lot of experience in land administration, and will find them out, because they know want they want.

“I will advise them to let go of the lands, which they are encroaching upon now, because if they hold on to it and the land administrators take over and brings them to Nungua, there will be no leniency for them,” King (Dr) Wellentsi III warned.

By Bernice Bessey

It is becoming a normal scene to sight heaps of refuse at the Kaneshie Market Complex.  The surrounding area is full of refuse deposited by traders, hawkers, shoppers and passengers.

The market, which can be described as one of most planned in the Accra Metropolis, does not have a single refuse bin placed at vantage points for individuals who trade or shop to deposit refuse.

And as a result, people indiscriminately litter the environment, resulting in heaps of rubbish in an area where health and hygiene is very important.

The traders told the Accra File that it is a daily ordeal to inhale bad odour from the heaps of refuse. “Ah! This is nothing. You have not seen anything yet. This is least of the refuse heaps you will find here,” one trader said.

By Bernice Bessey

The plight of fruit vendors in Ghana has inspired two young international students to invent a solution addressing their many challenges.
Roy and Hannah Park, both high school students of the Lincoln Community School (LCS), yesterday introduced the “Carts with Hearts” project, aimed at providing goods transportation solutions for fruit and vegetable vendors in Ghana, through innovation.

Roy and Hannah have invented a transportation cart which will provide vendors ease in transporting their products. The cart is a two-wheeled mechanism made of wood, with two handles, and has the capacity to accommodate a heavy load without placing any burden on the handler.

With the cart, the sides are covered, preventing items from falling off. Vendors can set up conveniently with it at any point in time, in a stress-free way. The students were inspired to embark on the project after they conducted a survey on vendors in selected market places across the capital.

They observed that majority of them had several challenges with transporting their products to the market.  The two LCS students found out that majority of their respondents used old and abandoned truck tyres for their wheelbarrows, which made it difficult for them to transport their heavy loads causing several inconveniences.

Roy Park said: “The Vendors don’t have any boards around their wheelbarrows, so coconuts or other round items easily fall off, making the items hazardous to the health of consumers and the vendors themselves.” “We were also moved by the carrying capacity of these and flat platforms on these wheelbarrows, they make the work of these vendors cumbersome,” Roy added.

According to Hannah Park, younger sister of Roy, they were heart-stricken at the detrimental effect of wheelbarrows on vendors’ health. They felt the meagre incomes of the less privileged vendors will ultimately go into healthcare, depriving them from saving anything meaningful.

“It is very sad; vendors complain about body pains and other complications in their joints, forcing them to use their savings on healthcare,” Hannah added.  They have attributed the health complications to no brakes on the wheelbarrows, heavy loads on over-used tires, and the limited capacities of the wheelbarrows.

Fredrick, a coconut vendor in Accra who wants to save money and go back to school, narrated his troubles with the wheelbarrow. “My wheelbarrow has given me several injuries over the past few months, and I always have to start all over again,” Fredrick said.

“I want to go back to school and become an engineer, but I have to save a lot before I can do that,” he added. Roy and Hanna’s innovation comes in a timely manner for vendors like Fredrick, who was the first beneficiary of a cart from the project. Several vendors across Accra are expected to benefit from the project.

By Bernice Bessey

An environmental non-governmental organisation, Ecological Restoration, has joined the international community to campaign against paint lead poisoning that is having a harmful effect on humans, especially children.
According to the NGO, research carried in Ghana indicated that 6 out of 18 tested 33%od lead concentration, five tested 28% and three 17%. This outcome was arrived at when the NGO participated in a United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) research in 2013, where 18 paints purchased from retail shops all tested positive with lead poisoning.

To address this health hazard, the Executive Director of the NGO, Emmanuel Odjam-Akumatey, said preventive measures had been adopted, which is a national mandatory policy that would phase out the manufacturing and sale of paints containing lead, a major source of childhood lead poisoning.

“It’s essential for our society to respond to this global challenge and make the phasing out of lead paint a top public health priority. We must act with urgency, as the health of health of our children can be permanently and irreversibly damaged, even at very low exposures, from lead,” he noted.

Lead is considered by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as one of the 10 chemicals of major public health concern, he stated. It is also a cumulative toxicant that affects multiple body systems, and is particularly harmful to young children. Childhood lead exposure is estimated to contribute to about 600,000 new cases of children developing lead poisoning.

By Richard Kofi Attenkah

The Reviewing Officer of the Tema Eastern Naval Command, Commodore BF Asante (rtd), has urged newly recruited naval personnel to take advantage of all the various forms of training they have undertaken, to enable them serve with distinction while in the service, and also inspire them to greater heights after they have passed out.

He said this during a passing out parade by the Ghana Navy in Tema. According to him, it is important for them to know that the training so far is the foundation upon which their future careers will be built.

The training has equipped them with the relevant skills that will assist them stand tall in any task, whether it being Military or civil that they may be required to undertake in the course of their duties.

Commodore Asante stated: “You are just going to be ushered into an institution where loyalty integrity and discipline form the foundation on which your progress depends.

As vividly expressed in the oath you have just sworn, your loyalty to the President of Ghana and Commander-In- Chief of the Armed Forces, and your superiors must be unflinching.”He urged them to strive and build upon the military discipline instilled in them during their training.

He reminded them that military duty is a calling to sacrifice and dedication, and does not tolerate mischievous people. “You must know that any acts of the individual or group indiscipline will reflect negatively on the service.”

He revealed that their future success will depend on the extent to which they apply the knowledge and training acquired in their line of duty within the service.  He advised them to display their utmost honesty and patriotism in the discharge of their duties. “Be trustworthy ambassadors and hold the banner of the Ghana Navy high wherever you find yourselves,”‘ he advised.

He expressed his profound gratitude to the family of the new recruits and other institutions which equally played important roles in sponsoring most events during the training period of the gallant sailors.

Two hundred and thirty nine personnel paraded and three collapsed during the match past. The passing out recruits displayed drill par excellent, smart turn out, and splendid display of drill making the occasion a unique one.

The best female recruit was awarded to Rect Busia Edith Kwa. Best in Academics was Rect Sackey Emmanuel. Best in drill was Rect. Shikabli Emmanuel Senam, while the best all round recruit was Asumang Abraham Nii Odoi.

By Richard Kofi Attenkah

The Deputy Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, has charged Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMAs) throughout the country to allocate some open spaces to serve as public spaces for all, in order to create inclusive, integrative and liveable cities and towns in Ghana.

According to him, pedestrians feel safe and secure on clearly designated walkways, and these encourage more people to choose walking as a form of exercise.  Again, walkways are also good for the reason that as people have spaces to walk around they scare off criminals.

He said this at a durbar to commemorate the 2015 World Habitat Day and the maiden public sensitisation on urbanisation under the theme: “Public Space for all” in Tema.

Mr Vanderpuye expressed his disappointment at how public spaces in Ghana, especially, in urban areas, have been encroached upon, and taken over completely by street vendors and hawkers, leaving pedestrians to struggle with vehicles for space on the streets.

He added that the situation is not only posing traffic jams on our streets, but rather endangering the lives of pedestrians.  He further noted that fragmented market lands, coupled with multiple sales, have brought about a myriad of challenges in urban planning and development control in our cities and towns.

“In the same vein, most of the MMDAs continue to re-zone to alter the land use plans of our cities and towns, which compromises existing public spaces for commercial gain.  “This phenomenon, if not checked, will pose a significant threat to the availability of public spaces, and this results in urban sprawl and poor environmental conditions and other challenges associated with urbanisation,” he revealed.

He called on the media to devote their time to sensitising the public on the planning of human settlements and other social amenities required in living a dignifying life.  Meanwhile, Ms. Christine Evans-Klock, UN Resident Coordinator, in a speech read on behalf of the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki- moon, said today’s  theme is placed into a historical perspective, given the adoption of the sustainable development agenda by over 150 heads of states at the United Nations.

She continued: “The adoption of the 2030 agenda for sustainable development is an inspiring new framework that will guild our efforts to end poverty and ensure prosperity for all on a healthy planet.”

“The new sustainable development goals, which includes SDG 11 to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable to represent a broad international consensus that recognises sustainable urban development as a transformational approach.”

As part of an integrated agenda, cities and human settlements have an important role to play across the entire spectrum of the 2030 agenda, she revealed.

By Richard Kofi Attenkah

Sampson Ahi, Deputy Minister of Water Resources, Works & Housing, has inspected work at the Tema Site Three project of the Tema Development Corporation (TDC) to apprise himself of progress of the work.
At the Site 3 project site in Community One, the deputy Minister and his team inspected progress of work at the ongoing residential apartment in-filling project.  In-filling, because there are some blocks already put up in the area but with extremely generous spacing, and so these new apartments are being constructed in the large spaces in between the blocks.

The project, which is being handled by the China State Hualong Construction Company, will have eight blocks of eight-storey residential apartments, and four commercial blocks.

The blocks will have two and three-bedroom apartments. The first phase of four blocks of two-bedroom apartments (which will turn out some 64 individual apartments) and two commercial blocks is nearing completion, and once completed, will pave way for the commencement of the second phase of the project.

Accompanied by the Director of Housing at the Ministry, Alhaji Yahaya Yakubu, the Deputy Minister was conducted round the site by the Managing Director of TDC, Mr. Joe Abbey.

The deputy Minister and his team continued their inspection at Community Two, where the Corporation was putting up an eight-storey block of shops and offices for multi-purposes.

The eight-storey block, which has a floor area of 13,200 net rentable spaces, apart from the shops and offices, will also have two banking halls, a conference hall and a restaurant, as well as an outdoor terrace area.  Contractors for the project Berock Ventures are expected to complete their work by next year.

The final stop for the team was the Government Affordable Housing Project at Kpone, where different contractors are working hard to wind up work on some eight blocks before the year’s end. Some have even started painting works on the blocks.

Eight of the twenty four blocks of uncompleted affordable houses at Kpone that was transferred to the TDC for completion is expected to be completed by the end of 2015. The eight blocks will provide 112 apartments.

The Deputy Minister expressed satisfaction at the pace of work, and encouraged the Corporation to work faster on the housing projects, so that they are completed on time or ahead of schedule to relieve Ghanaians of the burden of finding accommodation.

Mr. Joe Abbey said the Corporation was determined to work hard on all its projects to improve the standard of living of Ghanaians. He was hopeful that with the quality of work being undertaken by the contractors, coupled with diligence, all the projects will ultimately come up as high quality pieces of work.

Dear Editor,
I would like to bring to the attention of the Ghana Highway Authority and allied ministries and agencies to re-look at the road design between the Polo Court and the back of the Accra Mall on the Spintex road.
At this portion of the road, right under the railway bridge that traverses the dual carriage road, there is a deep incline which gathers water anytime it rains, causing deep flooding. The danger manifested itself during the last heavy rains of June 3, 2015, where the water rose above 10 feet and swallowed several cars.

I was a witness that fateful day. A driver panicked when he got to the edge of the underpass and saw the water quickly rising towards him as he tried to drive through.
He attempted to reverse, which caused other cars to back-up on the road behind him. A few cars managed to climb the median and escape, however, the not so fortunate ones eventually disappeared under the water.  (See picture)

The evidence suggests that this portion of the road is blocking a water way. Weeks after the heavy rains and the water had subsided, I went back to the spot and noticed that water was still gushing out of the many holes created on the side of the retaining walls.

Behind these walls was a stream trying to follow its natural flow, but was being impeded by the retaining walls and the road. (See picture)  Are we waiting for another disaster to happen before we take action?
Richard Quartey, Spintex road richq57@gmail.com

By Bernice Bessey

The Accra Institute of Technology (AIT) has enrolled a total number of 1,058 students to acquire certificates, diplomas, bachelor degrees, masters and PhDs in their various areas of study.
The ceremony, which took place recently in Accra, registered 814 campus-based, students, while 234 are open university, a school run in partnership with Open University Malaysia, and 506 (62%) made of foreign students, and 308 (37.23%) Ghanaians.

Due to the engineering courses it offers, the school is generally male-populated, as, 673 (82.68%) are male, and female 308 (37.23%). The President of AIT, Prof. Clement Dzidonu, addressing the matriculants, encouraged them to set high personal and academic standards for themselves, and live up to them.

“At AIT, we are committed to your education; yours is to take advantage of the opportunities on offer, and explore the possibilities to choose from to make a difference in your lives, family, society, country and the world at large,” he challenged. Prof. Dzidonu urged the students not to merely memorise what they would taught, but rather strive to understand them, which would increase their in-depth knowledge on the subject matter.

“We are confident that we have all the resources to support your teaching and learning process here, and you will make it like others before you. With focus and will power you too can live up to the high educational standard of AIT, modelled on the best in the world,” he said.

To grace the occasion was the Director General of the Ghana Education Service, Mr. Jacob Aaworb-Nang Maabobr Kor, who urged the students not to give chance to laziness, and rather work hard to achieve their goals and aspirations.

As an educationist, Mr. Jacob Aaworb-Nang Maabobr Kor, emphasised the importance of education as a way of transforming and improving lives, both physically and emotionally. He advised the students to take their studies seriously, since human lives and circumstances, development and advancement are based on education.

By Bernice Bessey

Some have described it as ‘dodge one get three potholes for free.’ Potholes have developed, even on the major roads in Accra, and are simply unavoidable, and no matter how hard a driver tries to dodge, he or she will end up in others.

Other road users, who are also frustrated by the poor nature of the roads, call them manholes, as some are too deep to be considered potholes. The Accra File’s tour of some parts of the metropolis clearly reveals how the city’s road network has worsened over the years.

Some drivers told the File they were fed up with the situation, and would no longer dodge potholes. “As I am speaking to you now, we don’t dodge potholes, because if you dare, you will end in three manholes.”

From Inusa Musah

Twenty-two business delegations from different agro-companies in the United States of America (USA) have visited the Tema Port to learn and observe firsthand the facilities available to expand their markets abroad.

Presently, the US agro investment in Ghana stands at about US$50 billion, from US$150 billion. The People’s Republic of China has beaten the US agro investment with about US$280 from her earlier investment of about US$70 billion.

Going by the huge agro investment gap between the US and China, therefore, the US agro business industry visited the Tema Port to observe its facilities that would meet their export size from Ghana to the rest of the West African sub-region.

At a breakfast meeting, the Marketing and Public Relations Manager of the Tema Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), Mr. Paul Asare Ansah, told the US business delegation that the Port is the most enhanced and efficient in the West African sub-region.

That, he explained, is due to the advanced modern technological moves to block all illegal entries into the port, and also tighten security in and around the area. The move is to make foreign and local persons who do business in and around the Tema Port feel secure that their goods are constantly going to be in safe hands at the port.

Aside some 100 close circuit television (CCTV) camera installations already affixed at vantage points within and outside the port, Mr. Paul Asare Ansah told his guests that an electronic or automated security system has been introduced to check illegal entries of persons.

Electronic identification cards, he went on, have been issued to persons who have a direct business with the port.  To further clamp down on illegal entries, fingerprint and image identification equipment have been mounted at all entry points of the port, hence, assuring how goods of importers and exporters are safe in the Tema Port.

The automated security system, he noted, is to help screen ‘thievery’ minds from decent and genuine business persons who want to enter the port to transact business.
Continuing, Mr. Paul Ansah described how the port security agencies, together with the Ghana Navy, Maritime Police and Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), regularly embark on patrols of the sea and the inner port premises to ensure that vessels at anchorage and those leaving the waters of Ghana are heavily protected.

Touching on turn round time for container vessels, the Tema GPHA Marketing and Public Relations Manager explained that the turn round time for container vessels had taken a nosedive from four days. That, he said, is due to four versatile mobile harbour cranes the Port has acquired, explaining that each mobile crane can do 20 moves per hour, and with a twin spreader fixed to it, a crane can do 40 moves per hour.

The productivity level of the cranes in the port has improved efficiency and productivity, he told the US agro delegations. Seated in the breakfast meeting was Mr. Jacob Adorkor, Director of Tema Ports, and topping up, he said the Port has an 800 twenty footer-equivalent unit (TEU) reefer yard and other facilities that can contain second generation cargoes.

Besides, he said, the Port is reclaiming about 4 kilometres of land from the sea for expansion of its operationable land area to enable it hold third generation cargoes. The US agro delegation later toured the Fruit Terminals in the port and the Reefer Yard to be informed of the Tema Port’s readiness to be their gateway in agro exports and imports.

A member of the delegation, Phil Karsting, an Administrator at the US Department of Agriculture, told The Chronicle that the group was impressed with the facilities they saw during their tour of the port. The delegation, he said, would take a positive decision and advantage to invest in Ghana’s agro industry to enhance US-Ghana bilateral trade in agriculture.

From Inusa Musah

The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), in the past two months, has lost over 20 pole-mounted transformers within its operational areas through theft.
The worst hit areas are the communities along the motorway – Ashiaman, Tema, Katamanso, Dawhenya, Afienya, Nungua and Shai Hills.  These transformers, which cost close to GH¢25,000 each, are used for the distribution of high voltage electricity power to the various customers in and around these communities.

Some time back, the stealing of conductors became very rampant, and now these recalcitrant individuals in society have redirected their attention to the pole-mounted transformers. They carry out this heinous act when the transformer is not energised.
They remove the fuses, which then enables them to bring the transformer down to empty its content.

They remove the oil, coils and any other thing they may find useful, leaving the empty tank.  The rampant nature of this notorious activity is very alarming, and at a huge cost to the company.  Also the offices of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, which receives its supply though these transformers, would have to remain in darkness until the transformers are replaced.

The number that goes within a short period is a huge financial drain on the company.
The ECG is appealing to the public to assist safeguard these national assets, and also to apprehend these unscrupulous individuals in the communities.

The Senior Public Relations Officer for the Tema Region appealed and encouraged members of the public to report any doubtful person close to any ECG installation or transformer to the police or to any ECG office close by.  She stressed on the fact that these are national assets, and we all need to help take care of them.

By Bernice Bessey & Pix by Eric Owiredu

The Power Queens Club of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has launched a blood donation campaign in Accra to support health delivery in the country.

The Power Queens Club is a female employee association of the ECG that seeks the welfare of its members and promotes social responsibility. Addressing the Power Queens last week Monday, the Managing Director of the Accra East ECG office, Robert Dwamena, commended the ladies for bringing a human face to the delivery of services.
He said the company serves over 3 million customers, and it was important the employees add a human face to the service they offer.

Mr. Dwamena indicated that the programme would also be carried out in Accra West, Tema and at the ECG headquarters. Also, he added that cash and a prize would be presented to the Cardiothoracic Centre of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.

Rosemond Asamoah-Frimpong, National Power Queens President, told the gathering that blood donation is one of the most significant contributions a person can make towards addressing some of the health needs of society. Mrs. Asamoah-Frimpong stated that as mothers and caregivers, they recognise the importance of blood transfusion, especially, during times of sicknesses that required blood.

She mentioned health challenges such as anemia, undergoing surgery and accidents as periods where one may require blood transfusion, saying: “The most dreadful of all the situations to Queens is when a pregnant mother needs blood in a case of emergency.” She added that it was under these circumstances that the Queens deemed it necessary to donate blood as part of their corporate social responsibility.

The Queens’ President promised to make the exercise an annual practice. A blood recruiter with the Blood Service, Joyce Oppong, urged Ghanaians to donate blood at least three times a year.

According to her, blood is one of the most essential commodities in the health delivery system, and it was imperative that individuals donate blood regularly to support, as blood cannot be manufactured. She also said individuals would have the opportunity to know their health status, blood group and other benefits during such exercises.

From Sebastian R. Freiku, Kumasi

The Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) Co-operative Credit Union (CCU) has recorded a net profit of GH¢4,958.680 in 2015, representing 65% growth as against GH¢3,214.342 in 2014.
Total assets of the Union also grew from GH¢4,058.680 – indicating an increase of almost 80 percent over last year’s figure. The Union’s investments also saw a rise from GH¢3,214,342 in 2014 to GH¢3,331,986.02 in 2015, representing an increase of 65 percent.

The Board Chairman of the Union, Dr. Charles Anane, who disclosed these at the Union’s 8th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Kumasi at the weekend, explained that the union has granted loans to the tune of GH¢1,296.047.83 this year for the benefit of its members.

Dr. Anane admonished members to continue to save and to enhance their savings habit which is paramount to the vision of the Union. According to him, the Union membership shares had gone up to GH¢300 from GH¢100 as directed by Credit Union Association (CUA), but a member could hold shares up to any amount higher than 200 but less than 20 percent of the Union’s total assets, adding that the total shares of members in the Union have gone up to GH¢431,195.22 as compared to GH¢364,483.68 last year.

Dr. Anane, commended the directors of the Board, Executives and the Manageress and staff of the Union for their untiring efforts to make good of the faith they have placed in all of the members to deliver only the best.

Mrs. Christiana Atakora, the manager of the (KATH-CCU) said in spite of successes chalked the Union will be working towards improving quality of their services to all members of the Union.

She encouraged the members to enhance their savings habit and also top up their minimum shares to enable them participate fully in all the activities of the Union as Shareholders.

Mrs. Atakora said total membership of the Union has increased to 2,394 -comprising 1,545 females, 804 males and 45 groups with total staff strength of the hospital currently estimated to be 3,821.

At the KATH CCU annual general meeting were  Dr. Joseph Akpaloo, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the hospital, Mr. George Tetteh, Director of Administration, Mr. Emmanuel Oduro- Darko, General Manager (CUA) Ghana, and Charles Offeh, Kumasi Metro Director of Cooperatives.

By Maame Agyeiwaa Agyei (maamedag@yahoo.com)

The Trinity United Church (TUC) has commissioned a new church building complex, with a sitting capacity of more than 2500, at the Theological Seminary Campus at Mempeasem, Legon, in the Greater Accra Region.
The huge edifice, which was commenced over twenty 20 years ago, has facilities such as huge auditoriums, audio visual and live-radio recording technologies for conferences, conference rooms, and offices.

The occasion was graced by renowned men of God, including the Chairman of the Governing Council, Rt. Rev. Dr. Daniel S. M. Torto; Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rt. Rev. Professor Emmanuel Martey; Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church of Ghana, Most Rev. Titus Awotwi Pratt, and the Moderator of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Rt. Rev. Dr. Seth Senyo Agidi.

Others were the Presiding Bishop of the A. M. E. Zion Church, Rt. Rev. Dr. Seth O. Lartey; President of the Trinity Theological Seminary, Rev. Professor Joseph O. Y. Mante, and the Minister in charge of the Trinity United Church, Rev. Dr. Kris Ewontomah.

The immediate Past Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church of Ghana, Most. Rev. Professor Emmanuel Asante, said the opening prayer for the occasion, and Rt. Rev. Dr. Daniel S. M. Torto cut the tape for the commissioning of the edifice.

The President of the Trinity Theological Seminary, Rev. Professor Joseph O. Y. Mante, briefing the media, said the church population is currently over 1,500, and that there was the urgent need for a new and bigger church building to accommodate the growing congregation.

According to him, the road has not been smooth since the acquisition of the land and commencement of the project to the completion of the edifice. He said he had known the Trinity United Church for the 37 out of the 48 years that it had been in existence. That was when he was a student at the Seminary.

Rev. Professor Mante maintained that he could attest to the fact that God had brought them far. Rev. Professor Mante said the church qualified to be called a teaching church, juxtaposing it to some hospitals in the country being referred to as teaching hospitals, for the simple reason that students underwent practical lessons there.

He recalled that “This church, Trinity United Church, was established and nurtured to, among other things, become a Teaching Church for students and faculty of the Seminary.”

He expressed appreciation to all individuals who helped the church through diverse means, and gave the assurance “ all who pray in here will have the windows of heaven opened to them and will be heard swiftly.”

The Church Steward, Alex K. Oppong-Poku, on his part, gave a brief history of the emergence of the TUC, where he said it started in 1967 as a result of students from the then Trinity College going for evangelism at the University Staff Village.

He hinted that the evangelism works resulted in the forming of a fellowship. This then gave birth to the church, with people beginning to worship with students in the Seminary Chapel. However, as the years went by, they realised that the congregation was out-growing the small chapel, hence the need for a bigger building.

Mr. Oppong-Poku applauded the Trinity Theological Seminary for their immense help, especially for accommodating them.

By Bernice Bessey & Pics Eric Owiredu

The graveyard is one of the least places for any living soul to consider as a comfortable home, but gradually, most cemeteries in Accra are becoming the preferred denizen for squatters and drugs peddlers.

In Ghana, the cemetery is a place most people are afraid of, due to superstition associated withit, yet ironically, some individuals spend their nights sleeping on tombs of the dead, bath and sometimes prepare their meals there.

Some of the squatters interviewed by The Chronicle said they hang around the cemeteries because they have nowhere to call a home, and felt rejected by society.

Others also confessed that they have relocated to the resting place for the dead because of the hard drugs they are addicted to

On the 28 December, 2015, close to 100 squatters, mainly men, were fetched from the various cemeteries in the capital by a Royal House Chapel team, led by the Apostle General, Rev Sam Korankye-Ankrah, to dine and fellowship with them.

Preaching to the destitutes, he said the Creator of the universe, God, will change and transform their lives if they accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and personal Saviour.

Also at the function was the Reverend Minister’s wife, Mrs. Rita Korankye-Ankrah, who beat her tummy and eventually broke down upon seeing at the dilapidated living conditions of the young men.

She said: “No mother would be happy to find her son living in the graveyard when he is not dead. I have been pregnant for four times, and been to the labour ward four times, so I know how it feels as a mother to find your children in this condition.”

In other related issues, the Royal House Chapel, under the leadership of Rev Sam Korankye-Ankrah, organised a Christmas feast for 2,000 orphans from 20 orphanages across the country.

Rev. Sam Korankye-Ankrah explained that the feast is a yearly event the church embarks upon to show love to the most vulnerable in society.

He said the church, as part of support to the needy, awarded scholarships to some of the orphans.

Advising the nation on the coming general elections, he said politicians must not inflame passions that might lead to civil war, fight, confusion and division among the people.

“In election year, we are asking our politicians to extend the message of peace, unity, and love to all and sundry. The Christmas message is relevant at all time. We should avoid statements that would inflame passions or mayhem, disunity, chaos and fighting,” he advised.

He promised that the church will continue to play its role as a peace advocator and intercede for the nation at all times, adding, “The church is not partisan, and the leaders are ready to counsel and pray for the nation. Our doors are always open for the politicians to use our platform to put across their campaign messages.”

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