L' Observateur Burundi

The Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC) has called for reforms to the composition and appointment processes of Board Members of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC).

This according to the committee will allow persons with the technical competence or experience in the extractives industry to provide strategic direction to the NOC.

PIAC observed that the appointment to the GNPC Board is governed by PNDCL 64, which allowed all board members to be appointed by the President of Ghana, on the advice of the Minister for Energy.

‘It is believed that persons often affiliated with the ruling administration are appointed to the Board,’ PIAC highlighted in its second Issue Paper titled, ‘The Role of GNPC in the Upstream Petroleum Industry: Challenges and Prospects’.

It also noted that the Board lacked institutional representation, unlike other Organisations such as the Petroleum Commission Board, which has representation from the Environmental Protection Agency, the Institution of Geoscien
tists, and three other persons, one of whom must be a woman.

It called for the urgent review of the PNDCL 64, which does not provide enough details on the qualifying criteria for appointment to the board of GNPC and for that matter served as an opening for ruling administration to appoint individuals ‘with strong allegiances to the party.’

PIAC also highlighted the need for the corporation to, among other things, take urgent action to retrieve funds owed to it by the state and other government agencies and review its Corporate Social Responsibility activities to commit more funds to cash calls and mandates, especially when its funding from the PHF is expected to cease.

‘The Committee commends GNPC for its role in managing Ghana’s interest in all upstream petroleum activities for over 30 years since its establishment, however, the NOC must start refocusing on its core mandate, and increase its efforts at becoming a viable stand-alone operator,’ the paper indicated.

PIAC is an independent statutory body man
dated to promote transparency and accountability in the management of petroleum revenues in Ghana.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Authorities at the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) have sympathized with families and relations of a student who lost his life in a robbery attack, which occurred on Tuesday April 16, 2024.

Describing the incident as unfortunate, the university urged residents in the neighbouring communities where the robbery happened to be on a look out for any suspicious character and inform the Police accordingly.

A statement issued by the University, signed by Alfred O. Appiah, the Deputy Registrar and University Relations Officer, said a group of armed robbers attacked some level 300 and 400 BSc Renewable Energy students during their return from a field trip to the Bui Generating Station.

Tragically, one of the students lost his life as a result of the incident, it stated, and that ‘the family of the deceased has been notified and our thoughts. We are with them during this difficult time’.

The statement said the remaining students had received medical treatment and had been discharged, but currentl
y going through the necessary counseling.

‘A suspect has been apprehended by the Sunyani Police Command team,’ it said, and that the University would provide further updates to keep the public informed.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Dr Stephen Amoah, a Deputy Finance Minister, has articulated the government’s readiness to partner with value chain stakeholders to solve logistical challenges in the country to boost intra-African trade.

Such collaboration, Dr Amoah said would be critical in making Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) thrive in the country, while boosting their participation under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

He was speaking with the media after a forum on ‘Making logistics work for Ghanaian SMEs to trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area,’ in Accra on Tuesday, April 16.

The event was organised by Deutsche Gesellschaft fr Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and CUTS International, as part of efforts to streamline activities to make SMEs reap the benefits under AfCFTA.

The Deputy Finance Minister stated that deepening efforts to invest heavily in logistics infrastructure would also help businesses in neighbouring African countries to trade easily and fast with Ghana.

He, therefore c
alled on all stakeholders to pool their energies and resources and push for a common cause of enhancing extremely efficient and effective logistics system that will support businesses to grow sustainably.

Dr Amoah noted that while logistical facilitation of trade between two countries elsewhere, were often seamless, the situation was different among many African countries.

He stated that, ‘now, more than ever, it has become necessary for all stakeholders to come together for Ghana to open a new chapter in prioritising logistical infrastructure development.

The Deputy Finance Minister said the Government would provide the enabling regulatory framework and other material and human resources to ensure that the country built an effective logistical system, particularly for SMEs to trade.

‘Finance, agriculture, and trade are very key, but you can’t have a successful trade without efficient and effective logistics management system, and we’re be ready to support you as a government,’ Dr Amoah said.

He also enc
ouraged businesses, policy Think-Tanks, and academia to increase collaboration with the government to build a logistical system work devoid of any leakages and corruption.

Mr Appiah Kusi Adomako, Director, West African Regional Centre, CUTS International, reiterated the importance of stakeholder collaboration to address the issue of trade logistics.

‘AfCFTA will not become successful if we do not address the issue of trade logistics, but this is something that the Government alone cannot do; it involves the private sector too,’ he said.

He, however, noted that, ‘it is when the Government creates the enabling framework, the private sector will be able to take advantage of it.’

Mr Kusi Adomako encouraged African governments to increase the pace of connecting road networks, ensuring favourable shipment, and having carriers that would facilitate the movement of persons and goods.

A 2023 African Development Bank report showed that about 53 per cent of roads on the continent were tarred, though it carried 80 p
er cent of goods and 90 per cent of passenger traffic.

Also, railways, many of which were developed during the colonial period have not been maintained properly and were not also designed to support the transport of goods for intra-African trade.

The AfDB report also showed that only 13 African countries had direct flight to some 20 neighbouring countries, with about five per cent of the passenger and cargo aircrafts out of the 230 airlines operating in Africa.

Mr Kusi Adomako called for an urgent and pragmatic approach to tackle all sectors of transport logistics to facilitate the successful implementation of the intra trade pact.

‘If for instance, we were to have a railway line from Tema-to-Abidjan, then, we’ll see the benefit of the intra-continental free trade agreement,’ he said.

Ms Sofia Kamarudeen, Ghana Component Lead, GIZ, stated that the idea of the dialogue was to delve deeper into logistics, and present a strong recommendation to the government to help solve the challenges.

‘We’re committed
to this topic, which is a long-term ambitious project for Africa. We will continue to support institutions to create more platforms, which will further boost the dialogue and the progress made towards that,’ she said.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Stephen Asamoah Boateng, the Minister of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, has called on the Chiefs to understand processes and procedures involved in resolving conflicts that may arise in their traditional areas through the judicial, arbitration and other alternative methods.

He said the Chiefs should know some of the processes such as land allocation, granting leases and land administration in general and some of the laws that cover the chieftaincy institution.

Mr Asamoah Boateng made the call at the inauguration of the Apesokubi Traditional Council in the Biakoye District of the Oti Region.

Richard Fedieley, Director, Research, Statistics and Information Management (RSIM) of the Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs Ministry, on behalf of the Minister made the call when he inaugurated the council.

This follows its official creation by the Ministry for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs through the Oti Regional House of Chiefs.

Mr Asamoah Boateng expressed gratitude to the Chiefs and added that, Presid
ent Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo attaches prominence to the administration of chieftaincy in the country because chiefs play an important role in maintaining the peace.

He said the Ministry is mandated to develop an effective interface between the government, traditional authorities, religious bodies and civil societies on matters that relate to chieftaincy and Religious Affairs for the promotion of peace.

He called on the Chiefs to get to understand the processes and procedures involved in resolving conflicts through the judicial and arbitration system and other alternative methods in resolving other matters that may arise in the traditional area.

Mr Asamoah Boateng said the Apesokubi Traditional Council is a government establishment with a mandate to investigate chieftaincy cases for settlement.

He said the Council is to ensure the amicable settlement of disputes within the communities and ensure the peaceful co-existence for all Ghanaians and further enhance the administration of chieftaincy in Apesokub
i.

Mr Joseph Evans Anang Okropa, a District Court Judge administered the Official Oath, the Judicial Oath and the Oath of Secrecy for the 17-gazetted chiefs of the Apesokubi Traditional Council.

Nana Mprah Besemuna III, President of the Oti Regional House of Chiefs and Krachiwura advised the people to support the progress and development of Apesokubi Traditional Council by becoming ambassadors of unity, peace and development.

He said unity, togetherness and collaboration are his topmost priorities and would ensure that the elevation of Apesokubi to paramountcy status would become a blessing and an avenue to make Apesokubi stronger than before.

Nana Okogyeaman Kwasi Asiedu Koram II, Omanhene of Apesokubi Traditional Area thanked the Oti Regional House of Chiefs as well as all stakeholders for their role in ensuring the elevation of Apesokubi to a paramountcy.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Plan International Ghana, a non-profit organisation, in collaboration with Safisana Ghana Limited, an Ashiaman-based waste management company, has launched a pilot project to tackle waste management in that community.

The launch of the ‘Waste for Health and Wealth’ aims to sensitise the public on making some meaningful living through waste management and ensuring healthy lifestyle.

The project is estimated to cost 200,000 euros and would be carried out within 10 months, Mrs Josephine Fiawornu, the Sponsorship Manager, Plan International-Ghana, told the Ghana News Agency in an interview.

‘It will target 5000 residents in Ashaiman for a sustainable waste management policy,’ she said.

Mrs Fiawornu said waste management had been a major issue at Ashaiman and in Ghana generally, adding that all stakeholders must show commitment towards the success of the project

‘This is first time Plan International is operating in a peri-urban community such as Ashaiman,’ she said, and that the project would touch on the v
arious waste management lapses affecting the residents and adjoining communities.

She said through well-coordinated community engagements, the pilot project would bring out innovative solutions to impact the various sectors within the local economy.

‘Farmers, traders, truck operators, and formal and informal institutions, amongst others, would not be left out,’ she stated.

Mr Elikplim Asilevi, the General Manager of Safisana Ghana Limited, said the company was converting organic waste into organic fertiliser, renewable electricity, and biogas to help improve the livelihood of the people in Ashaiman and that the project would amplify its work.

He said the exposure to waste posed health threats to the residents and that Safisana was bent on reducing such exposures to create a serene environment to promote healthy living.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Tema Metropolitan Security Council (MESEC) will refer the Kplejoo shooting incident to the Greater Accra Regional Security Council (REGSEC) for further investigation.

The incident resulted in the killing of two men and injury to three others.

The MESEC, chaired by Mr Yohane Amarh Ashitey, the Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive, decided on the matter in an emergency meeting on Monday.

A statement from the Council, signed by the MCE, said: ‘MESEC shall refer the matter to the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) for further investigations to ensure a high degree of neutrality and confidentiality since the investigations involved a wing of the MESEC.’

The Municipal Security Council shall be committed to assisting and cooperating with the REGSEC on its investigations to arrive at an appropriate recommendation and conclusion.

MESEC would implement security measures to prevent a repeat of the incident, protect the people of Tema, and secure key installations of the Ghana Navy, the statement said.

It would e
ngage the youth of the town, the Tema Traditional Council, and the Ghana Navy to make an earnest appeal for peace to prevail while investigations were ongoing for justice to be duly served.

‘They are to visit and commiserate with the bereaved families as part of the measures,’ it said.

The Metropolitan Security Council appealed to the people of Tema, especially Tema Manhean, to remain calm and peaceful while the case was being investigated.

‘We want to assure everyone that the findings and recommendations from the investigations will be adhered to strictly without fear or favour,’ it noted.

Source: Ghana News Agency