Day: December 15, 2023

The Ghana Chamber of Mines has held this year’s Mine Performance Awards to reward outstanding mining companies that have excelled during the year under review.

Nine mining companies were honoured under various categories.

Speaking at the award ceremony, the Deputy Chief Inspector of Mines of the Minerals Commission John Amoanyi, observed that mining companies have not performed very well over the period under review.

He noted that a total of seven fatal accidents and 14 serious accidents were recorded in 2023.

Four of the fatal accidents came from contractors working on behalf of the mining companies and almost all the serious accidents were also from contractors.

This figure compares poorly with the 2022 figure of one recorded fatal accident.

We need to do more to minimize serious accidents as well as eliminating fatality. As a Regulator, I feel ashamed when the figures are mentioned,’ he advised.

The Deputy Chief Inspector of Mines was of the view that accidents are caused by unsafe acts and unsafe
conditions, therefore, managers of safety must up their game and look at their safety management systems, especially towards the Mine Support Services Operators.

‘We need to ensure that duties are assigned to competent persons as stated in Regulation 44 of LI 2182. We should conduct risk assessment in every activity to be done and ensure that employees are taken through safe working practice codes developed,’ he urged.

He however admitted that, notwithstanding the adverse and negatives, some of the mining companies’ performances were excellent during the year and therefore deserve to be rewarded.

The performance for all the mining companies was great and it is my believe and hope that the performance will translate into reduction of accidents in the various mining companies, going forward,’ he said.

For his part, the CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Dr. Suleiman Koney, reiterated the need for everyone to be involved in safety at the mines.

Based on 2022 performance, Asanko Gold mine was adjudged the mi
ning company with the Best Improved Mine. Goldfields Ghana Ltd- Tarkwa Mine was first runner up while Newmont Ghana Ltd- Ahafo Mine won the third place.

Gold Fields Ghana Ltd.-Tarkwa Mine also won the overall best in Best Mine based on O ccupational Injury Statistics. Asanko Gold was adjudged second best while Golden Star Wassa Resources won the third place.

Golden Star Wassa Resources emerged winners in the 2023 Best Mine Team in Inter-mine First Aid and Safety Competition. FGR Bogoso Preastea won the second place while Chirano Gold Mine Ltd came third.

In the Best Mine based on Mine Safety, Health and Environmental Audit category, Golden Star Wassa Resources was adjudged winners, while AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine was second and AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine was third.
Source: Ghana News Agency

Serene Insurance Limited has refurbished and donated various items to the Accra Psychiatric Hospital.

The Company also prepared and provided lunch for the inmates and staff of the hospital all totalling GHS200,000.

Madam Mercy Naa Koshie Boampong, the Chief Executive Officer of Serene Insurance Limited, said the donation and other supports formed part of its Corporate Social Responsibility.

The CEO made this known during the 2023 Carol Service of the Company at the Accra Psychiatric Hospital in Accra.

The items include student mattresses, bottles of mineral water, bags of beans and gari, boxes of tin tomatoes, bags of sachet water, gallons of cooking oil and packs of T-rolls.

She said the purpose of the gathering goes beyond simply hosting a Carol Service but rather ‘We have come together to uplift the spirits of the inmates and staff of the psychiatric hospital and to spread warmth and happiness during the festive season.’

She said their responsibility did not end with the beautiful gathering, followi
ng the programme, they would have donated items, symbolizing their commitment to making a difference in the lives of those who needed it the most.

She said the Company had always believed in the power of giving back to its communities and they had come together not only to celebrate the season of joy and love but also to fulfil its social responsibility towards our immediate community.

‘As we stand within the walls of this psychiatric hospital, we acknowledge the importance of providing support and care to those in need,’ she said.

The CEO said mental health was crucial to the overall well-being, and it was their duty to ensure that those who were on the path to recovery received the love, compassion, and assistance they required.

She said through the power of music and song, they hoped to bring comfort, solace, and a sense of belonging to all those present here.

She said these items, no matter how small, would contribute towards creating a more comfortable and conducive environment for the patients and
staff here.

She said for them at Serene Insurance Limited, social responsibility was not a buzzword; it was a fundamental pillar of their existence as a company.

‘We firmly believe that we have a moral obligation to use our resources and influence to impact the lives of others positively,’ she added.

She urged staff to embrace the chance with open hearts and open minds, knowing that each one of them had the power to make a difference.

‘Together, we can create a ripple effect of compassion and empathy, touching the lives of countless individuals,’ she said.

She expressed gratitude to the Board of Directors of Serene Insurance and the Management of the Accra Psychiatric Hospital for graciously accepting their proposal on the event.

‘Let us remember that each act of kindness, no matter how small, has the potential to transform lives and make our world a better place and may the gathering be a source of hope, healing, and joy for all of us present,’ the CEO said.

Dr Kojo Marfo Obeng, Medical Director of th
e Accra Psychiatric Hospital, commended the Management and Board of Serene Insurance Limited for the support.

He said often inmates of the hospital were stigmatized, hence the support to the inmates during these festive seasons was well appreciated and it was impressive to see the items being presented to them.

The Medical Director said spending time with the inmates and providing music itself was a therapy for healing for them, adding that the Hospital was moving from being receivers to forming partnerships with institutions and organisations in their operations.
Source: Ghana News Agency

The Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA) has revealed that in 2022, shippers importing cargoes to the country paid an estimated amount of USD$24 million to shipping lines in demurrage.

Mr Charles Asiedu Sey, the Tema Branch Manager of the GSA, disclosed this at a day’s seminar on demurrage, organised by the Authority for Shippers.

Mr Sey indicated that the figure showed an increase over the US$19 million paid in demurrage in 2021.

He, however, said that prior to the increase in 2021, the amount paid saw a decline from US$76 million in 2017 to US$27 million in 2019, and a further decline to US$19 million in 2021.

He attributed the increase in demurrage paid in 2021 and 2022 to the exchange rate differentials between the Ghanaian cedi and the US dollar in the third and fourth quarters of 2022, which he noted resulted in significant increases in import duties and taxes at the ports.

He said demurrage and rents were avoidable, adding that the GSA had resolved to bring the amount down by conducting such sensitizat
ion programmes for shippers to avoid delays in clearance and attracting extra charges for keeping the containers beyond the free days.

Mr Kwesi Saforo, a Senior Research and Monitoring Officer at the GSA, in a presentation on the effect of demurrage on the cost of doing business at the port, defined demurrage as the fee charged when an import container was still under the control of the shipping line (carrier) in the port, terminal, or depot and not unstuffed by the consignee beyond the free time allotted.

Mr Saforo explained that container demurrage was applied once the free time had expired, adding that the rates vary depending on the shipping lines, indicating that in Ghana, the law gave the first seven days as free days for clearance.

He said the next seven days after the free days attract a minimum of US$20.00 to a maximum of US$30.00 per day as demurrage charges, while between 15 and 21 days of the container staying at the port attract between US$30.00 and US$45.00, and other days after that would al
so lead to the payment of demurrage charges between US$45.00 and US$55.00.

He disclosed that 60 percent, 59 percent, 33 percent, 40 percent, and 45 percent of Ghana’s containerised cargoes went on demurrage, respectively, in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2022.

He noted that some factors contributing to demurrage included delays in the receipt of cargo documentation, a lack of prior information on vessel arrivals, a lack of funds to clear cargo, inaccurate declaration information, non-compliance with regulatory requirements, and deliberate delay due to some ulterior motives on the part of shippers.

Mr Saforo noted that from the side of the service providers, issues such as bureaucratic shipping lines, operational procedures or standards, unprofessional conduct of clearing agents, and difficulty in finding containers at terminals could also lead to demurrage payments.

According to him, system issues, including downtimes, teething problems with the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS), and poor feedbac
k systems, coupled with bureaucratic appeals processes, all lead to delays in the clearance of containerised cargo.

He stated that shippers must do their best to avoid demurrage, as it could dwindle their profits and working capital, lead to higher product costs on the market, affect the volume of imports, increase the cost of living in the country, and affect the competitiveness of Ghana’s ports, as well as put a foreign exchange drain on the economy.

Mr Romeo Frimpong, an Executive Member of the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF), and Mr. Dan Aryee, the Commercial Manager of Grimaldi Ghana Limited, provided insight into demurrage from the perspectives of freight forwarders and ship agents, respectively.
Source: Ghana News Agency

Madam Lariba Zuweira Abudu, Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, has appealed to Regional Coordinating Councils (RCCs) to provide temporarily bungalows to shelter victims of domestic violence.

She said the Ministry lacked shelters and pleaded with the RCCs to support.

Madam Abudu made the appeal at the High -Level Dialogue on Combating Gender-Based Violence and Harmful Practices as part of activities to mark the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) organised by the Gender Ministry and supported by its partners in Accra.

The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an annual international campaign that starts on 25th November and runs until 10th December to fight violence against women and girls.

The Minister said victims needed somewhere to stay or hide, be clothed and supported after escaping from abuse and reporting to the Domestic Violence Secretariat, however, funding was not adequate to handle those needs.

She said victims who were sheltered and support
ed were confident of their safety and able to seek redress.

Madam Abudu said stakeholders must invest adequate resources to help the fight against GBV because every year, millions of women and girls globally fell victims of all forms of violence, including domestic violence and Ghana was no exception.

Data from the 2016 Domestic Violence Survey in Ghana showed that approximately, 27.7 per cent of Ghanaian women had experienced at least one form of domestic violence being either physical, economic, psychological, social, or sexual violence.

Approximately 38.2 per cent of adolescent girls aged 15-19 were reported to have experienced at least one act of sexual violence according to the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (2017/2018).

She said laws that protected women and girls must bite and bite fast to encourage more victims to report cases of abuse.

The Minster said the country had over the years made strides in fighting violence against women and girls, including the establishment of the Domestic Violence
and Victim’s Support Unit (DoVVSU), passage of the Domestic Violence Act, 732(2007) and establishment of the Orange Support Center.

Mr Javier Gutiérrez, Spanish Ambassador to Ghana, expressed worry about the slow progress towards a more egalitarian society, and the increasingly threats to women’s sexual and reproductive freedom.

He highlighted some reinforced actions from Spain for Ghana to emulate, including its contribution of pound 100 million from 2023 to 2025 to organisations promoting women’s rights.

Mr Gutiérrez said Spain’s new Cooperation Law, adopted this year, had gender as a crosscutting priority for all their actions, had prevention, protection and assistance, recovery of victims and fight against discrimination and stereotypes through education, awareness and affirmative action as four action-based pillars.

Madam Fati Ndiaye, Acting United Nations Resident Coordinator, said fostering strategic partnerships from the national through to the community level with key stakeholders was central to
advancing gender equality and end harmful practices.

She said stakeholders must map out effective ways of ensuring that national structures were responsive to the needs of GBV survivors because an effective national response to GBV had to be accessible, culturally appropriate and age-specific to leave no one behind.

Madam Thelma Hayford, Gender Advisor, Oxfam Ghana and Project Manager EU Enough, said Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) was like an amoeba which easily adapted to whichever context it found itself to spread and wreak havoc.

She called for a more unified front where synergies and knowledge sharing were leveraged for a responsive approach to addressing the menace of SGBV.
Source: Ghana News Agency

The Tumu Community Center in the Sissala East Municipality, which used to host major entertainment and other social functions is suffering serious deterioration after decades of neglect.

The roof of the building had been ripped off with sheets of zinc flipping with walls defaced and falling apart while visible cracks on the floor and doors left ajar.

Some residents had turned the place into a place of convenience and left unwanted materials in there for stray animals.

That was observed when the Ghana News Agency (GNA) went to assess the current state of the facility.

Some event organisers and artists in the municipality had decried the current deplorable state of the community centre and called for measures to renovate it.

Mr Shaibu Kukunlinbenin, a radio show host in Tumu, said the facility’s location in the heart of the Tumu town made it easier to access, but said it looked abandoned with erosion eating away the frontage saying, ‘I think it lacks the integrity to host any serious social event of the S
issala East Municipality.’

Mr Danlardi Nahadia, a musician and event organizer, said they resorted to the community centre for their events because they did not have any option.

‘We used to pay GH?100.00 last year but from this year it has been increased by GH?195.00 but the place has not been renovated for a long time.

I had to build a part that fell off and clean it before using it. Something needs to be done,’ he bemoaned.

Mr Nahadia said entertainment was one area that served as a source of income to the youth who organised all sorts of programmes but that due to the current state of the Tumu Community Centre, some people no longer patronize the events there, which was affecting them.

Abuga One, a budding musician who recently organised a music album launch, blamed the poor patronage of the event on the undignified state of the centre as some people would not attend events there.

Mr Bugu Abubakar, known in social life as ‘Glee Jeezy,’ a musician told the GNA that the facility is not appealing for en
tertainment events and needed to be reconstructed.

‘Look at the stage, it’s almost like the floor and looks too small in space for a concert, they should just rehabilitate or reconstruct the place to meet the growing population of the area,’ he explained.

Mr Osman Shaibu, the Assembly member and chairman of the Tumu Urban Council said, ‘The community centre is supposed to be the social centre for all community programmes but its current state is not fit for purpose, that’s why in the last Assembly session I called for the building of a new centre or rehabilitate it, but it was not heeded.’

Mr Godfrey Baveru Kanton, an opinion leader, urged the organisers of social events and musicians not to throw their arms in despair about the absence of a befitting facility but should draw strength in the many people who continue to patronise outdoor programmes until help comes.

He said music was a vital component of culture and has the potential to preserve the culture of the people.

Kuoro Mohammed Kanchuo, the Divis
ional Chief of Lipilme, urged the authorities to give a facelift to the community centre whilst appealing to the public to support budding musicians who had started showing their talent in the kind of music they did.

He gave the examples of ‘Lil Win’ and ‘Agya Koo,’ saying they both started like young artists and encouraged the rest to follow suit.

He also advised the younger generation to continue to show respect to the elderly.

Mr Fuseini Batong Yakubu, the Sissala East Municipal Chief Executive, told the GNA that the Assembly had come up with a new design for the Community Centre where other facilities would be included.

They included a skills acquisition Center for the physically challenged, a cafeteria, a playing area, an auditorium with seating for guests and an area for shows that had been discussed awaiting funding to give a facility a turnaround.

He said the challenge of financing the project had been an issue that the Assembly was working to resolve.

Mr Batong expressed hope that the Gulf of G
uinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion (SOCO) project was being explored to see whether it could support the new Tumu Community Center Complex.
Source: Ghana News Agency

A police recruit at the Police Public Safety Training School (PPSTS), Pwalugu, has been arrested for allegedly using a fake Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) certificate.

Suspect Sadam Sumaila was arrested when he went to demand a rightful placement after he was given a constable rank.

A news brief by the Ghana Police Service received by the Ghana News Agency (GNA) said he was assisting investigations.

It said the suspect, who had been under training since October 2023, presented a forged degree certificate claiming to be issued by KNUST.

The brief said he had gone to the PPSTS’ administration to complain that he provided a degree certificate but was put in constable category and requested for same to be corrected.

The administration later detected the certificate was fake and arrested him.
Source: Ghana News Agency

Rev Dr Worlanyo Mensah, Economist and Executive Director, Centre for Greater Impact Africa (CGIA), said, Ghanaian businesses need adequate education and capacity building to invest in specific market opportunities the AfCFTA presents.

He said despite the market’s combined GDP of approximately US$3.4 trillion and 1.3 billion people, most businesses had been struggling to understand how to penetrate the market, know the key areas of trade and investments.

‘Citizens and the business communities are not receiving the needed education they ought to get to explore AfCFTA in its fullest. The focus should not only be on the publicity but the

education on how to explore the opportunities,’ Rev Dr Mensah said.

He said this during the 10th public lecture on trade and business organised by Centre for Greater Impact Africa under the topic: ‘Continental Trade and Ghanaian Business Community.’

The Executive Director said Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), trade associations and agencies responsibl
e for promoting trade and investments must collaborate with private sector to take education to the doorsteps of Ghanaian businesses.

He called on businesses to develop their capacities in research, build up marketing departments that to identify countries with their needs, the quantity to produce and the channels to use for distribution.

‘Businesses that could not do research, should contract researchers in the fields of trade and investments to do so, create innovative ideas and policies for them,’ he said.

Rev Dr Mensah said businesses must employ technology as key driver from manufacturing to distribution especially

robotic technology and artificial intelligence to scale up industrialisation.

Dr Forgive Kwadamah, Lecturer Finance and Banking, College of Distance Education, University of Cape, said government must help tackle the issues of infrastructure, regulations and finance and encourage innovation.

He Ghana’s participation in AfCFTA will reduce cost of production in the Ghanaian business commun
ity and would improve the bottom line of businesses.

‘Our participation will strengthen the Cedi and give the business communities value for money. AfCFTA is capable of redeeming the Ghana Cedi from its perennial depreciation,’ Dr Kwadamah.

He said intra-Africa exports were woefully 16.6 per cent of the entire export in 2017, juxtaposed to 68.1 per cent in Europe, 59.4 per cent in Asia, 55 per cent in America and 7 per cent in Oceania.
Source: Ghana News Agency

Nana Dr Michael Agyekum Addo, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Mikaddo Holdings Limited, has called on tertiary institutions and universities to introduce volunteerism and attitude training into their study curricula.

Dr Addo made the call at the 14th Congregation Graduation Ceremony for the Data Link Institute of Business and Technology (DLIBT) on the theme, ‘Positioning Tertiary Institutions in Emerging Economies for Entrepreneurship and Wealth Creation.’

A total of 265 students graduated for the 2022-2023 academic year from the various programmes offered at the university.

A total of 49 students graduated with a Masters degree, with 15 graduating with a Master of Science (MSc) in Accounting and Finance, 32 with a Master of Science in Strategic Management, and 2 with a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in Strategic Management.

A total of 191 students graduated with a bachelor’s degree in computer science and information systems as well as business administration, and a total of 23 students graduated wit
h an Advanced Diploma in Logistics and Transport (ADILT).

Dr Addo who was the special guest said issues such as sanitation in communities would need volunteerism and a change of attitude to fix them.

He again added that it was necessary for tertiary institutions to teach and encourage students to do engage in volunteerism, disclosing that research had shown that ‘it takes 15 percent knowledge, 25 percent skills, and 60 percent attitude for a person to be successful.’

He said that attitude was not only about their expression but also the way people behaved and run their lives against one another, whilst homicide, jealousy, and enviousness constituted our attitudes and mindset.

He noted again that it was time Ghanaians valued our culture and embraced it by loving one another, our work, and all that surrounds us in our societies.

He said it was important to market the Ghanaian culture and advised students to see opportunities in some of our traditional products, create businesses out of the products, and ma
rket them for the whole world to see.
Source: Ghana News Agency

To reduce the effects of climate change and commit to environmental sustainability, economic growth, and global climate goals, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has on behalf of the Ministry of Transport launched the National Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy.

In a news brief copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra, said the launch was to transition the country to a more sustainable energy sources since the continuous use of fossil fuels was identified as a major contributor to environmental challenges, impacting the economy which could jeopardize the well-being of future generations.

It said Electric Vehicles (EVs) had emerged as a pivotal solution in the battle against transportation-related emissions and climate change.

In the statement, Mr Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, Minister for Transport said the economic viability of EVs had spurred investments in the electric mobility value chain, with the global EV inventory projected to surge from 11 million in 2020 to over 145 million by 2030.

He said numerous natio
ns had committed to a complete shift to EVs in the coming years, this pushed for government to fast shift towards EVs globally to aligned with international efforts in moving towards the reduction in the use of fossil vehicles.

‘The policy emphasized a just, equitable, and inclusive transition, ensuring that the adoption of EVs benefits all segments of society, fosters innovation, and enhances manufacturing competitiveness,’ he added.

He mentioned that the formulation of the EV policy involved extensive consultations with stakeholders across the 16 regions to ensure inclusivity and consider the perspectives of all industry players.

The policy aimed not only to address environmental concerns but also to contribute to socioeconomic growth by creating job opportunities for both skilled and unskilled workers.

The Minister noted that to ensure the effective implementation of the policy, there would be dedicated Unit created within the Ministry to collaborate with sector representatives and institutions to addr
ess cross-cutting issues.

The policy also emphasised manpower development, particularly for artisans and garages familiar with servicing Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles to

be trained and retrained on how to handle and maintain EVs, and also how to retrofit when necessary.

The success of the policy would depend on collective efforts and smart investment choices, leading the country towards a cleaner and more sustainable energy future, he said.

He called on stakeholders, businesses, civil society organisations, and the international community to come on board for the successful take-off of the policy.

The Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to sustainability and a greener future with the National Electric Vehicle Policy being a catalyst for creating new industries, experts,jobs, improving public health, and reducing emissions in the transport sector.

He stated that as the nation embarks on this historic journey towards sustainable transportation, with determined action and strategic
investments, the policy would pave way for a cleaner, more prosperous future for the current and future generations.
Source: Ghana News Agency

The Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) has brought smiles on the faces of children of the Teshie Orphanage, donating assorted items to the home.

The donation was meant to support children of the Orphanage as part of the Christmas festivities.

The items included bags of rice, gallons of cooking oil, bottles of soft drinks, bottles of water, toiletries, provisions and an undisclosed sum for their upkeep this Christian season.

The gesture also forms part of the Centre’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to the 28-year-old Orphanage located in the Ledzorkuku Municipality.

The Orphanage has 13 boys and 14 girls who are between the ages of two years and 21 years.

Major General Richard Addo Gyane, Commandant, KAIPTC, joined by Colonel Chris Dagadu, Chief Coordinator, and other members of staff, said the donation served as a reminder of the spirit of giving that defined the season of Christmas.

He said the Centre recognised the plights of the children at the orphanage, and the C
hristmas season was an opportune time to show love to them.

As a CSR initiative, the Commandant pledged the Centre’s support to the orphanage.

Mr Moses Lamtey, the Manager of the Teshie Orphanage, expressed appreciation to the Centre for the gesture as it had brought some respite to the Children.

He said the orphanage relied on donations from philanthropic organisations and individuals to fend for the children, mostly brought in by the Department of Social Welfare.

The orphanage currently had five rooms for boys and three rooms for girls, making general supervision effortless, he said.

Academically, he noted that, the performance of the children who schooled in the community was impressive despite their challenges.

Mr Lamtey said among other things, the orphanage had difficulties in the payment of their utility bills and required a generator for the home.

The Orphanage Manager, therefore, called on organisations and individuals to come to their aid.
Source: Ghana News Agency