L' Observateur Burundi

Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), has said the implementation of the Cylinder Recirculation Model (CRM) policy will improve safety in the distribution of LPG and bring it closer to the people.

He said the policy would also remove barriers in the distribution of LPG and make it more efficient and less costly in the delivery of LPG to homes.

Dr. Abdul-Hamid made the remarks in a speech read on his behalf by Dr. Joseph Wilson, Director of Research Monitoring and Evaluation of the NPA at a consumer sensitization programme on the (CRM) held at the Catholic Social Centre in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region.

The programme, chaired by the Upper East Regional Chairman of GPRTU,,Mr Fatau Atinga, brought together key stakeholders and experts to share valuable insights.

The Director of Gas at the NPA, Mrs. Akua Ntiwaa Kwakye, who gave the welcome address, set the tone for the event by highlighting the significance of the LPG industry in Ghana.

In a pre
sentation on CRM, the Head of Gas, Commercial Regulation Department of the NPA, Mr. Obed Kraine, gave a comprehensive insights into CRM and shed more light on the policy and how it would to be run.

Participants inquired about the assurance of receiving the exact amount of gas they paid for when exchanging their cylinders. Mr. Kraine said, ‘The CRM policy includes robust measures to ensure transparency and accuracy in the exchange process. Cylinder exchange points will have mechanisms in place to verify the weight of the cylinders, preventing any discrepancies and ensuring that consumers receive the full value of their purchase’.

Again, concerns were raised about potential unemployment due to the implementation of CRM but Mr. Kraine debunked that assertion by saying, it was important to note that the transition to the CRM model aimed at creating new job opportunities in the LPG value chain.

‘Additional personnel will be required for cylinder distribution, maintenance, and related services.’

On safety measu
res, the Ghana National Fire Service conducted a demonstration, showcasing the appropriate actions to take in the event of an LPG-related incident.

Participants were provided with crucial safety tips to ensure the safe handling and usage of LPG.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Togbe Kwasi Nego VI, the Mankralo of Mepe, expressed his concern for the flood victims still inhabiting tents in Mepe Degorme with the rainy season underway.

In an exclusive interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Togbe Nego emphasised the urgent need for swift action to alleviate the suffering of these displaced individuals.

He highlighted the ongoing efforts by the government to construct resettlement homes for the flood victims and stressed the critical necessity for the project to be expedited and completed promptly to provide relief to those affected.

Togbe Nego described the dire living conditions faced by the residents, when rainwater seeps into their tents, exacerbating their already challenging circumstances and urged the government to prioritize and accelerate its efforts to address the pressing issue, particularly during the current rainy season.

He appealed to corporate Ghana to lend their support in providing robust shelters for the flood victims to ensure their well-being and safety.

To
gbe Nego, however, reiterated his commitment to advocating for the welfare of his community and pledged to continue working tirelessly alongside government officials and corporate partners to expedite relief efforts for the flood victims in the enclave.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Madam Anna Bossman, Ghana Ambassador to France, has said government with the support from the private sector would construct a reading and creative writing facility in the Greater Accra Region.

She said this would further boost the culture of reading and creative writing to stimulate socio-economic transformation in the country, and to leave a lasting legacy for the City of Accra.

She said the goal was to promote the acquisition of 21st Century skills to address rising unemployment in vulnerable communities in the Greater Accra Region and beyond.

It would also reinvigorate businesses in the domestic book industry as well as re-imagine the concept of libraries to further instill reading culture among the youth, she stated.

Madam Bossman, who is also the Permanent Delegate to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), made this known at the closing ceremony of the year-long Accra World Book Capital, 2023.

She said the World Book Capital, 2023 came to ignite the spirit of
reading and its inherent transformative power to positively impact the Ghanaian society towards national goal of becoming a learning nation.

‘I believe the yearlong activities also laid a strong foundation for Ghana which would serve as springboard for activities earmarked for 2024 African Union Year of Education,’ she noted.

The Ambassador said the theme for the Accra World Book Capital, 2023 could not be more appropriate; ‘Reading to Connect Minds for Social Transformation’ as it targeted marginal groups with high levels of illiteracy, including women, the youth, migrant street children and persons with disabilities.

The Accra programme was designed to directly impact over 100,000 children, youth, and adults – seeking to provide institutional support for lifelong learning as well as equipping school and community learning facilities such as libraries.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Ghana National Gas Company (GNGC) has met the members of the Nzemamanle Traditional Council to brief them on the Company’s Corporate Social Responsibility within its catchment areas.

The annual meeting also afforded the traditional rulers the opportunity to elicit feedback from the Company as to how their operations had impacted towns and communities.

Speaking at the meeting, Mr Stephen Donkor, the Senior Manager in charge of Community Relations, outlined some of the major developmental projects initiated and completed by Ghana Gas within the catchment areas following a request made by the Council at last year’s annual meeting.

He said Ghana Gas had given approval for a contractor to start work on a doctors’ bungalow in the Jomoro Municipality.

According to him, the Company had expanded the Aiyinasi Health Center in Ellembelle, and commissioned a Nursery and 24-seater mechanized toilet facilities.

Mr Donkor said that approval had been given for the construction of five Community Centres along the coa
stal belt in Ellembelle.

He again stated that they had approved the construction of a VIP Hostel at the Axim Government Hospital.

He assured the Omanhene of Lower Axim Traditional Area that the Company would meet the demands of the Axim Vocational Girls School this year.

In the Gwira Traditional Area, he said Ghana Gas had given the green light for the construction of Boys’ and Girls’ dormitory to accommodate about 600 students, and an Astroturf at Bamiango.

Mr Donkor said the Company had also given the green light for a Health Centre to be constructed at Apetaim.

On what the Company had done so far, he mentioned that 68 students in the three districts and seven paramountcies in the Nzema area benefitted from Ghana Gas scholarship packages.

On land compensation, he stated that Ghana Gas had paid 60 per cent of claims to traditional authorities, while efforts were being made to clear bottlenecks that impeded payment for the rest.

Chairman of the Nzemamanle Council, Awulae Amihere Kpanyinli III, called i
n his members to form a committee on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism to withdraw numerous land cases pending before the law courts for speedy and amicable settlements.

Awulae Kpanyinli III, also the Paramount Chief of Eastern Nzema Traditional Council, asked Chiefs and Queen mothers to channel land disputes cases and grievances through their Paramount Chiefs for them to bring them to the Council for amicable resolution.

Vice President of the Nzemamanle Council, Awulae Attibrukusu, lauded the efforts of Ghana Gas on their corporate social responsibility in the area, but, however, appealed to the Company for more projects and social interventions in the Nzema area.

Paramount Chief of Nsein Traditional Area, Awulae Agyevi Kwame, urged Ghana Gas Company to continue to engage the Council and factor their concerns and grievances into their strategic corporate plans.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Teachers and Educational Workers’ Union, (TEWU), of Trade Union Congress (TUC)-Ghana, has made history with the election of Madam Salamatu Mahamah Braimah, as the first female national chairperson, after 65 years of existence of the union.

Madam Braimah, who was the Deputy Registrar at Accra Technical University, until her election, was the Union’s Second National Vice Chairperson.?

Mr King James Azortibah, the Chief Finance Officer of TEWU at TUC Ghana, got the nod as the new

General Secretary, taking over from Mr Mark Dankyira Korankye.?

The immediate past Deputy General Secretary, Mr Charles Kofi Osei, was re-elected for the same position.?

Madam Olivia Oparebia Obuobi was elected Second National Vice Chairperson, while Mr Ken Botchway was elected Second National Trustee.?

Mr Richmond Sakyi and Madam Fati Bintu Adamu were elected unopposed for the positions of First National Vice Chairman and First National Trustee, respectively.

The election took place at the 13th Quadrennial National Delegates
Conference of TEWU of TUC-Ghana, held at the Pentecost Convention Centre at Gomoa Fetteh near Kasoa in the Central Region.

The new National Officers of TEWU of TUC-Ghana, took their oath of office, administered by Mr Joshua Ansah, the Deputy TUC Secretary General, who charged them to uphold the trust and confidence reposed in them by the members.?

Mr Ansah entreated the TEWU members to rally behind the new leaders so that together they could achieve the desired goals of the union for the next quadrennial and beyond.

In an acceptance speech on behalf of her colleagues, Madam Braimah said TEWU of TUC-Ghana was poised to position itself for rapid transformation aimed at securing enhanced working conditions for members.?

Madam Braimah promised that the leadership would work towards inclusivity, improvement in the union’s visibility through innovative programmes and projects to help sustain a vibrant union.?

Mr King James Azortibah, the newly elected General Secretary, said the new leadership was ready to con
structively engage with the social partners.

He cautioned the social partners, especially the employers, not to come to the negotiation table, adopting the business as usual approach with the new TEWU national officers.

He indicated that the new leadership of TEWU at TUC-Ghana would not? entertain any deliberate delay tactics from the employers during negotiations on the demands of members.

Both Madam Braimah and Mr Azortibah urged the various political party leaders and their supporters to think of national peace and stability as they go about their political campaigns.?

They stressed that workers need a peaceful environment to continue contributing their quota to the national development efforts.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Awutu Breku District Court has fined and jailed a 27-year-old vulcanizer for claiming falsely that someone had caused his penis to shrink.

This was after Mohammed Abdul Fatao, the vulcanizer, charged with publication of false news and deceit of public officer, changed his plea from not guilty to guilty.

The court presided over by Mrs Naomi A. A. Kuntour, therefore, convicted and sentenced Fatao on his own plea.

On the charge of publication of false news, the court sentenced Fatao to a fine of GHC2,400 in default serve six-months imprisonment.

Additionally, Fatao would serve six months on the same charge.

On the charge of deceit of public officer, Fatao was ordered by the court to pay a fine of GHC1, 200 in default, he would serve three months imprisonment.

Additionally, serve two months imprisonment on the same charge.

The sentences are to run concurrently.

The court ordered the convict to sign a bond to be of good behaviour for 24 months after serving his sentence and pay GHC3,600 towards the rec
overy of the victim, Elvis Boadi.

The prosecution, led by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Thomas Sarfo and Chief Inspector Bernice Wei Kpuusuu, said the victim, Elvis Boadi was a businessman residing at Kasoa and Fatao, a resident of Fijai in Kasoa.

The prosecution told the court that on April 28, 2024, at about 8:00am, the complainant went to Fatao’s shop at Millennium City junction to have his car tyres fixed.

The prosecution said immediately the complainant paid Fatao for the services rendered, he raised the alarm that the complainant had ‘spiritually’ caused his penis to shrink.

The prosecution said the accusation made the youth angry and they went for stones, sticks and cutlasses to attack the complainant.

The court heard that fortunately for the complainant, the Millenium City District Police Patrol Team arrived at the scene and rescued him from being lynched.

The prosecution said both parties were sent to the Police Station and Fatao was sent to the Kasoa Polyclinic for examination and t
reatment.

The prosecution said the medical officer on duty after examination of Fatao’s penis submitted that his penis was intact and there was no deformity seen contrary to what Fatao claimed.

Source: Ghana News Agency