President John Evans Atta Mills yesterday visited the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) and assured workers that the government would definitely provide the refinery with the much needed crude oil to facilitate its operations.
“ I am here for one reason: I want crude oil. I want to assure you that you are going to get crude oil to run the refinery,” he said.
Interacting with the workers on the factory premises in Tema, President Mills said the government attached great importance to the activities of the refinery, which he described as one of the pivots of the country’s economic development.
He said the government was sensitive to the plight of the electorate who gave it the mandate to manage the country’s affairs and would not, by any stretch of the imagination, undertake actions which would inflict hardships on them.
According to him, the regular supply of petroleum products to the market was important to industry and manufacturing, for which reason the government would strive at all times to ensure that those products were on the market.
President Mills explained that the government had learnt very hard lessons from the operations of the petroleum sector, stressing that there were so many intrigues in the sector which it had discovered and was dealing with them to ensure that petroleum products were available to Ghanaians throughout the year.
He said the government sympathised with the broad masses of the people whenever there were shortages of fuel on the market and cautioned that individuals and groups of persons whose main intention was to sabotage the efforts of the government in the sector should reconsider their ways and change for the better.
“The government is learning its lessons the hard way, for which reason I want to assure those engaged in all sorts of malpractice in the petroleum sector that they will not get away with their acts which are harming the economy,” he said.
President Mills appealed to the workers to exercise restraint while the government took all the needed measures to address challenges facing the refinery.
The workers enjoined President Mills to take pains to investigate activities at the Ministry of Energy which they believed were the cause of the recent shortage of petroleum products in the country.
They also enjoined him to be watchful of the activities of some of his ministers whom they alleged were sabotaging his efforts to ensure the transformation of the country’s social and economic structures.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Blatter To Seek Re-Election
FIFA President Sepp Blatter told Tuesday's Gazzetta dello Sport that he wants to continue beyond the end of his term in office in 2011.
The 73-year-old has been FIFA President since 1998 when he replaced Brazilian Joao Havelange at the head of the top post in world football.
In 2007 he was re-elected for the third time but the Swiss says he's not ready to stop just yet.
"I haven't finished my mission in football, I need more time," he told the Gazzetta dello Sport.
"I hope in 2011 the Congress will show faith in me. Otherwise I'll return to my village, Visp, and take part in bocce (an Italian game from the boules family closely related to bowls and petanque) tournaments," he said.
"There's a beautiful covered bocciodrome (stadium for playing bocce) but I love big stadiums. Football is my life."
Blatter has had an often controversial tenure as FIFA President, introducing new laws such as the silver and then golden goals, banning matches being played at high altitude and stopping the World Cup winners from gaining direct entry into the following tournament.
His original election and subsequent tenure have also been beset by allegations of corruption.
— AFP
The 73-year-old has been FIFA President since 1998 when he replaced Brazilian Joao Havelange at the head of the top post in world football.
In 2007 he was re-elected for the third time but the Swiss says he's not ready to stop just yet.
"I haven't finished my mission in football, I need more time," he told the Gazzetta dello Sport.
"I hope in 2011 the Congress will show faith in me. Otherwise I'll return to my village, Visp, and take part in bocce (an Italian game from the boules family closely related to bowls and petanque) tournaments," he said.
"There's a beautiful covered bocciodrome (stadium for playing bocce) but I love big stadiums. Football is my life."
Blatter has had an often controversial tenure as FIFA President, introducing new laws such as the silver and then golden goals, banning matches being played at high altitude and stopping the World Cup winners from gaining direct entry into the following tournament.
His original election and subsequent tenure have also been beset by allegations of corruption.
— AFP
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Obuasi Assembly Rejects Ghana@50 Cups
THE Obuasi Municipal Assembly has refused to accept 15,949 Ghana@50 souvenir cups delivered by Able Import and Export which is based in Teshie/Nungua in Accra.
Announcing the decision at a press conference, the Obuasi Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr John Alexander Ackon, explained that on October 16, 2009, the driver of a cargo vehicle, with registration number GT 6104 B, reported at his office with a letter and a waybill from Able Import and Export of Teshie/Nungua, Accra, to deliver Ghana@50 souvenir cups to the assembly.
He stressed that the assembly refused to take the items owing to the ongoing probe into the Ghana@50 celebrations and recent developments but emphasised that his outfit was waiting for a directive from the Ministry of Local Government, the Commission of Enquiry into the Ghana@50 celebrations and the Ashanti Regional Co-ordinating Council.
Mr Ackon added that the assembly already had 3,750 of the Ghana@50 souvenir cups in stock which were yet to be distributed and, therefore, the delivery of an additional 15,949 pieces would not be necessary.
He said he could not understand why the cups should be delivered long after the celebration had ended, with no records to that effect.
Announcing the decision at a press conference, the Obuasi Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr John Alexander Ackon, explained that on October 16, 2009, the driver of a cargo vehicle, with registration number GT 6104 B, reported at his office with a letter and a waybill from Able Import and Export of Teshie/Nungua, Accra, to deliver Ghana@50 souvenir cups to the assembly.
He stressed that the assembly refused to take the items owing to the ongoing probe into the Ghana@50 celebrations and recent developments but emphasised that his outfit was waiting for a directive from the Ministry of Local Government, the Commission of Enquiry into the Ghana@50 celebrations and the Ashanti Regional Co-ordinating Council.
Mr Ackon added that the assembly already had 3,750 of the Ghana@50 souvenir cups in stock which were yet to be distributed and, therefore, the delivery of an additional 15,949 pieces would not be necessary.
He said he could not understand why the cups should be delivered long after the celebration had ended, with no records to that effect.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
University Of Education Turns Away 2,707 Students
The University of Education, Winneba, has turned away 2,707 qualified applicants at its Kumasi and Mampong campuses due to limited facilities and resources.
Out of the number, 2,460 qualified for admission at the College of Technology Education (Kumasi Campus) while 247 were for the College of Agriculture Education (Mampong Campus).
“It was a painful decision to take but the circumstances demanded it,” Prof Akwasi Asabere-Ameyaw, Vice Chancellor of the university, said at separate matriculation ceremonies at the two campuses last Saturday.
At the Kumasi Campus, 1622 fresh students comprising 1507 males and 584 females registered and were accordingly matriculated while the Mampong campus matriculated 359 students 52 of whom are females to undertake various undergraduate and post graduate programmes.
Speaking at the ceremonies, the vice-chancellor observed that even though the two colleges had achieved a lot within the few years they had been in existence, they still faced challenges especially in respect of decent residential and office accommodation for staff, student accommodation, lecture theatres, laboratories and other teaching and learning facilities.
He consequently appealed to the government and civil society to come to the aid of the university. In spite of the challenges, Prof Asabere-Ameyaw stated that the university had put in place measures to ensure that the university achieved its vision.
“The university is positioned to provide the training needs of all categories of persons who aspire to become great teachers and is poised to provide at its best what can be described in any part of the world as excellent teacher education.”
Prof Asabere-Ameyaw indicated that the university was committed to ensuring that students who enrolled on its programmes maintained academic excellence to become competent in their professions.
The vice chancellor asked the students to take their studies seriously to enable them to come out fully qualified to meet the challenges in their profession.
“Whether or not our mission to produce excellent, well-grounded teachers who will meet the challenges of our time is fully realised will largely depend on how well you take advantage of the opportunities the university offers,” he told the students.
Meanwhile, the College of Agriculture Education (Mampong Campus) of the University of Education Winneba, has sacked seven second-year students for poor academic work.
A statement from the office of the assistant registrar’s office of the college said 10 others have been put on probation and asked to improve on their performance or get the sack.
Out of the number, 2,460 qualified for admission at the College of Technology Education (Kumasi Campus) while 247 were for the College of Agriculture Education (Mampong Campus).
“It was a painful decision to take but the circumstances demanded it,” Prof Akwasi Asabere-Ameyaw, Vice Chancellor of the university, said at separate matriculation ceremonies at the two campuses last Saturday.
At the Kumasi Campus, 1622 fresh students comprising 1507 males and 584 females registered and were accordingly matriculated while the Mampong campus matriculated 359 students 52 of whom are females to undertake various undergraduate and post graduate programmes.
Speaking at the ceremonies, the vice-chancellor observed that even though the two colleges had achieved a lot within the few years they had been in existence, they still faced challenges especially in respect of decent residential and office accommodation for staff, student accommodation, lecture theatres, laboratories and other teaching and learning facilities.
He consequently appealed to the government and civil society to come to the aid of the university. In spite of the challenges, Prof Asabere-Ameyaw stated that the university had put in place measures to ensure that the university achieved its vision.
“The university is positioned to provide the training needs of all categories of persons who aspire to become great teachers and is poised to provide at its best what can be described in any part of the world as excellent teacher education.”
Prof Asabere-Ameyaw indicated that the university was committed to ensuring that students who enrolled on its programmes maintained academic excellence to become competent in their professions.
The vice chancellor asked the students to take their studies seriously to enable them to come out fully qualified to meet the challenges in their profession.
“Whether or not our mission to produce excellent, well-grounded teachers who will meet the challenges of our time is fully realised will largely depend on how well you take advantage of the opportunities the university offers,” he told the students.
Meanwhile, the College of Agriculture Education (Mampong Campus) of the University of Education Winneba, has sacked seven second-year students for poor academic work.
A statement from the office of the assistant registrar’s office of the college said 10 others have been put on probation and asked to improve on their performance or get the sack.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Gold Price Hits Record High
The price of gold has hit a new all-time high. The precious metal reached a record high of more than $1,050 an ounce at the close of business yesterday.
It is the third record-setting price in as many days. Last Wednesday the price closed at $1,048.40 per ounce.
The greenback is commonly seen as the world's reserve currency. Low interest rates and the US government's massive economic support package have weakened the dollar, contributing to the high price in the metal.
Those who would typically have invested in that currency are looking for other places to put their money where it will, they hope, gain value.
A lot of the investment into gold is coming from institutions such as hedge funds - whose money needs to go somewhere.
When banks are offering very low rates of interest on savings - and money can be borrowed extremely cheaply - gold becomes attractive, observers say.
Gold is seen as a hedge against inflation. Right now, inflation is pretty low, but mounting worries about potential inflation in 2010 may be enticing more investors to the precious metal.
Gold has a "primeval" quality argues Adrian Ash of UK online gold exchange, BullionVault.com (which makes its money when customers buy and sell gold).
He says that while it is essentially a "lump of metal with little purpose", gold tends to hold its value over the long term and is not anchored to the value of cash.
This means that people are drawn to it in uncertain times, Mr Ash adds, though he cautions the price can be volatile.
In Western cultures, individuals buying into gold as an investment remains relatively rare. It is not the kind of advice you are likely to get from a financial adviser, for example.
However, in countries such as China and India, buying gold as in investment is more common. And at this time of year, in the run-up to the Diwali festival, there is a seasonal increase in gold purchases because the metal is traditionally given as a gift.
Indian farmers are also big gold customers at this time of year - seeing it as a way of keep their profits safe after harvest - free from threat of currency fluctuations.
It is the third record-setting price in as many days. Last Wednesday the price closed at $1,048.40 per ounce.
The greenback is commonly seen as the world's reserve currency. Low interest rates and the US government's massive economic support package have weakened the dollar, contributing to the high price in the metal.
Those who would typically have invested in that currency are looking for other places to put their money where it will, they hope, gain value.
A lot of the investment into gold is coming from institutions such as hedge funds - whose money needs to go somewhere.
When banks are offering very low rates of interest on savings - and money can be borrowed extremely cheaply - gold becomes attractive, observers say.
Gold is seen as a hedge against inflation. Right now, inflation is pretty low, but mounting worries about potential inflation in 2010 may be enticing more investors to the precious metal.
Gold has a "primeval" quality argues Adrian Ash of UK online gold exchange, BullionVault.com (which makes its money when customers buy and sell gold).
He says that while it is essentially a "lump of metal with little purpose", gold tends to hold its value over the long term and is not anchored to the value of cash.
This means that people are drawn to it in uncertain times, Mr Ash adds, though he cautions the price can be volatile.
In Western cultures, individuals buying into gold as an investment remains relatively rare. It is not the kind of advice you are likely to get from a financial adviser, for example.
However, in countries such as China and India, buying gold as in investment is more common. And at this time of year, in the run-up to the Diwali festival, there is a seasonal increase in gold purchases because the metal is traditionally given as a gift.
Indian farmers are also big gold customers at this time of year - seeing it as a way of keep their profits safe after harvest - free from threat of currency fluctuations.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Kosmos Enters Accord With ExxonMobil
Kosmos Energy, one of the major partners in Ghana’s offshore Jubilee oilfields, is reported to have entered into an exclusive binding agreement with ExxonMobil for the sale of its assets in Ghana, a source close to the parties disclosed to the Daily Graphic last night.
Kosmos discovered oil in Ghana in July 2007 and is currently drilling for more oil in the West Cape Three Points offshore area.
The company also heads the Jubilee Development Integrated Project Team with the responsibility of successfully implementing its fast-track development plan for production of oil in the last quarter of next year.
Kosmos is known for its focus on finding oil and transferring its long-term development to more experienced deepwater operators.
Sources close to the parties say the transaction will be a win-win for both parties, as well as the country.
It will provide the Government of Ghana with an increased role in the Jubilee Project and the West Cape Three Points and Deepwater Tano blocks. The government has indicated its desire to increase its stake in the Jubilee Oilfields.
Industry experts have described the choice of ExxonMobil as hugely significant and far-sighted, given the unmatched technical skills, expertise, experience and technology the company has in the upstream petroleum sector, including deep water offshore operations in West Africa.
ExxonMobil will significantly strengthen the current contractor consortium and complement existing operating capability provided by the other major partners Tullow and Anadarko.
This is crucial since the Jubilee Field development is the first of many phases of a very large, highly complex and expensive oil and gas exploitation effort over the coming years.
As one close watcher of the industry puts it, “buying the asset is one thing, but the ability to fund its development is another”.
International press reports on the transaction concerning the entry of ExxonMobil into the emerging Ghana petroleum industry, quoting industry analysts, have been very positive.
ExxonMobil also offers expertise in other sectors of the petroleum industry, including downstream, and specifically refining.
Kosmos has long promised that its legacy to the government and people of Ghana would include identifying a company to take over from it, which will play a leading, long-term, full cycle role in optimising the exploitation of the oil and gas deposits in a manner that benefits the country.
ExxonMobil will bring to the project the largest integrated oil and gas company in the world and many experts are of the view that this ensures Ghana’s energy future is in the safest hands.
ExxonMobil is financially fully capable with a very strong balance sheet, which provides access to substantial, low cost of capital for future funding of the very significant development costs.
In addition, ExxonMobil is known to take a very long-term view and is expected to bring other benefits to Ghana.
The company has demonstrated elsewhere in Africa its strong focus on social and environmental responsibility, as well as a deep commitment to the training and development of the host country’s people in support of early indigenisation of the local oil and gas industry.
The decision of ExxonMobil to invest in Ghana confirms the importance of the country as an emerging major oil and gas producer and exporter and demonstrates that Ghana is an attractive investment destination.
Ghana is being watched keenly by industry players, many of whom see its actions as critical if the oil experience is to change for the better in Africa. The early conclusion of this transaction is likely to provide a significant vote of confidence in the government of Ghana.
Kosmos discovered oil in Ghana in July 2007 and is currently drilling for more oil in the West Cape Three Points offshore area.
The company also heads the Jubilee Development Integrated Project Team with the responsibility of successfully implementing its fast-track development plan for production of oil in the last quarter of next year.
Kosmos is known for its focus on finding oil and transferring its long-term development to more experienced deepwater operators.
Sources close to the parties say the transaction will be a win-win for both parties, as well as the country.
It will provide the Government of Ghana with an increased role in the Jubilee Project and the West Cape Three Points and Deepwater Tano blocks. The government has indicated its desire to increase its stake in the Jubilee Oilfields.
Industry experts have described the choice of ExxonMobil as hugely significant and far-sighted, given the unmatched technical skills, expertise, experience and technology the company has in the upstream petroleum sector, including deep water offshore operations in West Africa.
ExxonMobil will significantly strengthen the current contractor consortium and complement existing operating capability provided by the other major partners Tullow and Anadarko.
This is crucial since the Jubilee Field development is the first of many phases of a very large, highly complex and expensive oil and gas exploitation effort over the coming years.
As one close watcher of the industry puts it, “buying the asset is one thing, but the ability to fund its development is another”.
International press reports on the transaction concerning the entry of ExxonMobil into the emerging Ghana petroleum industry, quoting industry analysts, have been very positive.
ExxonMobil also offers expertise in other sectors of the petroleum industry, including downstream, and specifically refining.
Kosmos has long promised that its legacy to the government and people of Ghana would include identifying a company to take over from it, which will play a leading, long-term, full cycle role in optimising the exploitation of the oil and gas deposits in a manner that benefits the country.
ExxonMobil will bring to the project the largest integrated oil and gas company in the world and many experts are of the view that this ensures Ghana’s energy future is in the safest hands.
ExxonMobil is financially fully capable with a very strong balance sheet, which provides access to substantial, low cost of capital for future funding of the very significant development costs.
In addition, ExxonMobil is known to take a very long-term view and is expected to bring other benefits to Ghana.
The company has demonstrated elsewhere in Africa its strong focus on social and environmental responsibility, as well as a deep commitment to the training and development of the host country’s people in support of early indigenisation of the local oil and gas industry.
The decision of ExxonMobil to invest in Ghana confirms the importance of the country as an emerging major oil and gas producer and exporter and demonstrates that Ghana is an attractive investment destination.
Ghana is being watched keenly by industry players, many of whom see its actions as critical if the oil experience is to change for the better in Africa. The early conclusion of this transaction is likely to provide a significant vote of confidence in the government of Ghana.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Students Need Protection From Sexual Abuse
A legal practitioner, Mrs Hillary Gbedemah, has advocated the institutionalisation of policies on sexual behaviour in schools to protect the rights of girls and the youth.
She said it was necessary for students to keep abreast of laws that protected against sexual misconduct, in order not to compromise their morals and also help them engage in the right processes of mediation.
“The youth should claim their rights and you can only do that if you are knowledgeable and assert your rights,” she said.
She was speaking at the Institute of Professional Studies (IPS) ‘Mmaa Nkomo’ on “Promoting women’s rights and gender equality” in Accra.
The IPS ‘Mmaa Nkommo’ is an initiative of the Abantu for Development, a gender advocacy organisation, to create a platform to mentor female students and encourage them to participate in governance and decision-making.
The programme was sponsored by Abantu for development in collaboration with ActionAid Ghana.
Touching on the topic: “Promoting Women’s Rights and Gender Equality Using the Existing Structures”, Mrs Gbedemah said society must actively promote measures to ensure the education of girls and increase literacy among women, especially in the rural areas, to enable them to assert their rights.
“Ensure the active promotion of all human rights for women and girls, including the right to development by raising awareness or enacting legislation where necessary,” she added.
She said parents needed to desist from coercing their children into submission, since it culminated in making them timid and compromised on issues even when they had to protest to harassment against them.
Mrs Gbedemah, who is also the Rector of the Law Institute, said international and national laws stipulated that all human beings were born free and equal and needed to have the same rights and freedoms irrespective of race, colour and sex.
She said women had equal rights as men and it was therefore disheartening to see women living under exploitation, discrimination or violence on the basis of education, employment, health or access to education.
The Senior Programme Officer of Abantu for Development, Mrs Hamida Harrison, who spoke on “increasing women’s representation in decision-making: the role of affirmative action policy,” said women’s inequality found expression in areas of politics, leadership, economics and social development.
She said that was due to inadequate representation and participation of African women in decision-making, and encouraged more young women to pursue higher education, get into the governance process and become a mouthpiece for other underprivileged women.
The IPS Women’s Commissioner, Ms Emma Asante, said the programme had been very educative and very encouraging to the students.
She said it was necessary for students to keep abreast of laws that protected against sexual misconduct, in order not to compromise their morals and also help them engage in the right processes of mediation.
“The youth should claim their rights and you can only do that if you are knowledgeable and assert your rights,” she said.
She was speaking at the Institute of Professional Studies (IPS) ‘Mmaa Nkomo’ on “Promoting women’s rights and gender equality” in Accra.
The IPS ‘Mmaa Nkommo’ is an initiative of the Abantu for Development, a gender advocacy organisation, to create a platform to mentor female students and encourage them to participate in governance and decision-making.
The programme was sponsored by Abantu for development in collaboration with ActionAid Ghana.
Touching on the topic: “Promoting Women’s Rights and Gender Equality Using the Existing Structures”, Mrs Gbedemah said society must actively promote measures to ensure the education of girls and increase literacy among women, especially in the rural areas, to enable them to assert their rights.
“Ensure the active promotion of all human rights for women and girls, including the right to development by raising awareness or enacting legislation where necessary,” she added.
She said parents needed to desist from coercing their children into submission, since it culminated in making them timid and compromised on issues even when they had to protest to harassment against them.
Mrs Gbedemah, who is also the Rector of the Law Institute, said international and national laws stipulated that all human beings were born free and equal and needed to have the same rights and freedoms irrespective of race, colour and sex.
She said women had equal rights as men and it was therefore disheartening to see women living under exploitation, discrimination or violence on the basis of education, employment, health or access to education.
The Senior Programme Officer of Abantu for Development, Mrs Hamida Harrison, who spoke on “increasing women’s representation in decision-making: the role of affirmative action policy,” said women’s inequality found expression in areas of politics, leadership, economics and social development.
She said that was due to inadequate representation and participation of African women in decision-making, and encouraged more young women to pursue higher education, get into the governance process and become a mouthpiece for other underprivileged women.
The IPS Women’s Commissioner, Ms Emma Asante, said the programme had been very educative and very encouraging to the students.
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