A LECTURER at the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Professor John Blay Junior has called for the review of the Fisheries Act to make it responsive to the conservation and restoration of brackish waters and its fishery resources to help reduce poverty in coastal communities.
Prof. Blay, who is the Head of the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, said the act in its current form, gives little attention to the conservation of brackish waters thus leaving such care for traditional sources.
Professor Blay said the situation had hampered the production of tilapia, a common fish in lagoons in the country.
Delivering his inaugural lecture at the auditorium of the UCC, he said even though tilapia constituted about 90 per cent of fisheries resources in the lagoons and had potential contribution to the coastal fishery production, such potential had been underestimated.
His topic was: “Lagoon Tilipai: Bioprofile and prospect for coastal fisheries development”.
Prof Blay said the country’s total 320 kilometres of lagoons produced only 0.2 per cent of the total fish produced in the country.
He said heavy pollution of the lagoons had resulted in the stunted growth of tilapia and its low production in the country, and called for appropriate approach and measures to enhance aquaculture and increased production of tilapia in the country.
Prof. Blay said despite the setback, lagoon tilapia continued to provide nutrition and employment for the poor coastal communities and had the capacity to grow to the size comparable to those in the River Nile when handled in proper aquaculture conditions.
He said it had also been established that it was the most suitable candidate for coastal aquaculture, and therefore called for the intensification of and effective fisheries management efforts to develop fisheries resources.
The lecturer, therefore, recommended the co-management of brackish water resources and comprehensive feasibility study to identify areas for pond and aquaculture, establishment of community lagoons, tilapia farming projects and establishment of hatcheries with the support of district assemblies for sustained fingerlings supply.
The Vice-Chancellor of the UCC, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, who chaired the function, stressed on the need for serious approach for sustainable development to enhance the country’s development fortunes.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
BAC UPGRADES SKILLS OF BUSINESS ENTREPRENEURS (PAGE 26)
THE Cape Coast Business Advisory Centre (BAC) has embarked on a programme to upgrade the skills of small scale business entrepreneurs to enhance their businesses in order to break the cycle of poverty among them.
The BAC has realised that despite the abundant resources and efforts put in by such entrepreneurs, packaging, book keeping and sometimes quality, are the bane of most entrepreneurs which render them poor in the midst of potential and bounty to control the perpetual cycle of poverty which afflict most rural communities in the region.
It was in this direction that a five-day workshop was organised by the centre with assistance from its mother organisation, the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI) for 24 palm fruit processors from two communities in the Cape Coast metropolis.
The beneficiaries are the Nyanasin and the Koforidua Palm Oil Producers association.
They were taken through the practical preparation of palm oil, using modern methods to improve quality and taste.
According to Ms Veronica Essel, the Head of the Cape Coast branch of the BAC, the centre observed that the traditional preparation of palm-oil was done under very unhygienic conditions and was of poor quality thereby attracting low market.
Ms Essel was hopeful that with their newly acquired knowledge and skills, the beneficiaries would run their businesses with all seriousness to enable them to attract the desired market for their products as well as proper and effective time management and proper records keeping.
She urged them to educate their colleagues in the business to ensure the progress and success of their businesses.
A Metropolitan Agricultural Officer Mrs Victoria Dansoa Abankwa, urged them to take personal hygiene and sanitation at their work places seriously because consumers were at the risk of contracting diseases if they failed to work under clean environment.
She further called on them to consider packaging as important in their trade to attract customers.
A participant, Mr Frederick Adjei, on behalf of the group, thanked the organisers for equipping them with knowledge and skills to improve their products and businesses.
The BAC has realised that despite the abundant resources and efforts put in by such entrepreneurs, packaging, book keeping and sometimes quality, are the bane of most entrepreneurs which render them poor in the midst of potential and bounty to control the perpetual cycle of poverty which afflict most rural communities in the region.
It was in this direction that a five-day workshop was organised by the centre with assistance from its mother organisation, the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI) for 24 palm fruit processors from two communities in the Cape Coast metropolis.
The beneficiaries are the Nyanasin and the Koforidua Palm Oil Producers association.
They were taken through the practical preparation of palm oil, using modern methods to improve quality and taste.
According to Ms Veronica Essel, the Head of the Cape Coast branch of the BAC, the centre observed that the traditional preparation of palm-oil was done under very unhygienic conditions and was of poor quality thereby attracting low market.
Ms Essel was hopeful that with their newly acquired knowledge and skills, the beneficiaries would run their businesses with all seriousness to enable them to attract the desired market for their products as well as proper and effective time management and proper records keeping.
She urged them to educate their colleagues in the business to ensure the progress and success of their businesses.
A Metropolitan Agricultural Officer Mrs Victoria Dansoa Abankwa, urged them to take personal hygiene and sanitation at their work places seriously because consumers were at the risk of contracting diseases if they failed to work under clean environment.
She further called on them to consider packaging as important in their trade to attract customers.
A participant, Mr Frederick Adjei, on behalf of the group, thanked the organisers for equipping them with knowledge and skills to improve their products and businesses.
Monday, May 18, 2009
STUDENTS URGED TO SHOW TOTAL COMMITMENT (PAGE 17)
THE Central Regional Minister, Mrs Ama Benyiwa-Doe, has admonished students and stakeholders in the Health Assistants Training School at Twifo Praso to show total commitment and devotion to the holistic development of the school.
Mrs Benyiwa-Doe said in the present circumstances when people had become individualistic, the stakeholders “have some soft spot for working for community development programmes”.
She was addressing a durbar of students of the school at the official opening and matriculation ceremony at Twifo Praso.
The occasion coincided with the inauguration of a five-member stakeholders committee.
Mrs Benyiwa-Doe said posterity beckoned the students and stakeholders to enhance the development of the school.
The school, which was established in September 2007 with the first batch of 150 students, now has a population of 375 with 150 in second year and 225 in the first year.
She reiterated the government's commitment towards improving health delivery system and advised the students to surmount the challenges which the new institution faced and be disciplined, focused, committed and dedicated for success to crown their efforts.
The Principal of the school, Mrs Abakah-Quansah, said the school lacked a dining hall, a means of transport, accommodation and computers and therefore called for support from all to ensure that it achieved its objectives.
Professor P. K. Buah-Bassuah, who inaugurated the stakeholders association, called for dedication and hard work from the members to enhance the development of the school.
The acting Regional Director of the Ghana Health Services, Nana Kwame Owusu Brempong, called on staff and students to complement each other’s efforts for the success of the school.
Nana Nkwantabisa, Chief of Nymasin, who chaired the function, called for an admission quota to be allotted to the youth in the catchment area of the school.
Mrs Benyiwa-Doe said in the present circumstances when people had become individualistic, the stakeholders “have some soft spot for working for community development programmes”.
She was addressing a durbar of students of the school at the official opening and matriculation ceremony at Twifo Praso.
The occasion coincided with the inauguration of a five-member stakeholders committee.
Mrs Benyiwa-Doe said posterity beckoned the students and stakeholders to enhance the development of the school.
The school, which was established in September 2007 with the first batch of 150 students, now has a population of 375 with 150 in second year and 225 in the first year.
She reiterated the government's commitment towards improving health delivery system and advised the students to surmount the challenges which the new institution faced and be disciplined, focused, committed and dedicated for success to crown their efforts.
The Principal of the school, Mrs Abakah-Quansah, said the school lacked a dining hall, a means of transport, accommodation and computers and therefore called for support from all to ensure that it achieved its objectives.
Professor P. K. Buah-Bassuah, who inaugurated the stakeholders association, called for dedication and hard work from the members to enhance the development of the school.
The acting Regional Director of the Ghana Health Services, Nana Kwame Owusu Brempong, called on staff and students to complement each other’s efforts for the success of the school.
Nana Nkwantabisa, Chief of Nymasin, who chaired the function, called for an admission quota to be allotted to the youth in the catchment area of the school.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
UGLY SCENES AT AGONA EAST...As members fail to approve nominee (PAGE 17)
There were ugly scenes on the premises of the Agona East District Assembly at Agona Nsaba after the assembly members had failed to approve the nomination of Mr Ernest Oresmus Arkoh as the district chief executive (DCE).
Mr Arkoh, who needed 19 votes to secure two-thirds of the votes cast, fell short of that by two votes but still has the opportunity for a second ballot within 10 days.
The premises went haywire as soon as the results were announced, with Mr Arkoh’s supporters calling for the blood of the assembly members.
Rumours had been rife that the assembly members had asked for GH¢700 from Mr Arkoh but he could offer GH¢500.
Not satisfied with the behaviour of the assembly members, a traditional ruler ordered them to appear before him at his palace the next day to explain their action.
While Mr Arkoh was pondering over his plight and the next line of action, his counterpart at Agona West, Mr Jacob Obeng Forson, was full of smiles when all the members who voted threw their weight behind him.
In a related development, the Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam District Assembly has endorsed Mr Light Koomson as the DCE.
A report from J.K. Essien from Ajumako said Mr Koomsom, who is the Central Regional Secretary of the NDC, was finally confirmed by the assembly as the DCE after a second round of balloting.
Mr Koomsom, a Deputy Director of the GES and former District Cultural Officer for Ajumako, polled 48 votes, representing 84.2 per cent of the total votes of 57 cast, with nine against.
Speaking after his victory, the new DCE thanked the assembly members for voting massively for him, saying, “You are really the king makers.”
He reiterated his vision to give priority attention to the development of the district and promised to work together with all and sundry to accelerate development in the area.
The Presiding Member of the assembly, Mr Albert Ato Quainoo, said Mr Koomsom’s endorsement had brought joy to the assembly and appealed to the assembly members to give him the needed co-operation and support.
For her part, the Central Regional Minister, Ms Ama Benyiwa Doe, expressed her gratitude to the members for confirming the President’s nominee.
She promised to assist the assembly to overcome its financial challenges, as well as ensure that funds received were judiciously managed to provide the needs of the people.
Mr Arkoh, who needed 19 votes to secure two-thirds of the votes cast, fell short of that by two votes but still has the opportunity for a second ballot within 10 days.
The premises went haywire as soon as the results were announced, with Mr Arkoh’s supporters calling for the blood of the assembly members.
Rumours had been rife that the assembly members had asked for GH¢700 from Mr Arkoh but he could offer GH¢500.
Not satisfied with the behaviour of the assembly members, a traditional ruler ordered them to appear before him at his palace the next day to explain their action.
While Mr Arkoh was pondering over his plight and the next line of action, his counterpart at Agona West, Mr Jacob Obeng Forson, was full of smiles when all the members who voted threw their weight behind him.
In a related development, the Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam District Assembly has endorsed Mr Light Koomson as the DCE.
A report from J.K. Essien from Ajumako said Mr Koomsom, who is the Central Regional Secretary of the NDC, was finally confirmed by the assembly as the DCE after a second round of balloting.
Mr Koomsom, a Deputy Director of the GES and former District Cultural Officer for Ajumako, polled 48 votes, representing 84.2 per cent of the total votes of 57 cast, with nine against.
Speaking after his victory, the new DCE thanked the assembly members for voting massively for him, saying, “You are really the king makers.”
He reiterated his vision to give priority attention to the development of the district and promised to work together with all and sundry to accelerate development in the area.
The Presiding Member of the assembly, Mr Albert Ato Quainoo, said Mr Koomsom’s endorsement had brought joy to the assembly and appealed to the assembly members to give him the needed co-operation and support.
For her part, the Central Regional Minister, Ms Ama Benyiwa Doe, expressed her gratitude to the members for confirming the President’s nominee.
She promised to assist the assembly to overcome its financial challenges, as well as ensure that funds received were judiciously managed to provide the needs of the people.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
9 MDCES APPROVED IN CR (PAGE 15)
Nine persons nominated by the President as Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives in the Central Region have all been approved by their various assemblies.
They are Messrs Anthony Egyir Aikins, Cape Coast; Yankey Ackah, Denkyira West; Kofi Ashia, Denkyira East; Joseph Foster Andoh, Twifo-Hemang-Lower Denkyira; Nuhu Kofi Adams, Ewutu-Senya and Theophilus Aidoo Mensah, Gomoa West.
The rest are Ms Georgina Nkrumah Aboah, Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa; Alex Antwi Bosiako, Assin North and Ms Sabina Appiah-Kusi, Assin South.
The assemblies in the Gomoa East and the Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam, however, failed to approve the nomination of Messrs Theophilus Ampah and Light Koomson respectively.
Mr Ampah’s nomination received an outright disapproval when he failed to secure the number of votes even after a second ballot. Mr Koomson, however, has the option of being presented for a second ballot within 10 days.
Speaking at separate meetings, to confirm the nominees Central Regional Minister, Mrs Ama Benyiwa-Doe tasked the assembly members and the people to demand accountability from their representatives.
She said the MMDCEs would be judged by the level of development that they would initiate in their areas and, therefore, asked them to respect the views of the people they served.
She asked them to do away with nepotism, ethnicity, corruption and other anti-social vices whilst making sanitation, environmental issues, HIV/AIDS, and the overall development of their areas their top priorities.
Speaking to the press later, Mr Andoh appealed to the assembly members to work hard to uplift the image of their districts.
In a related development, Mr Henry Kwaku Hayfron, 41 a tutor at OLA Training College, Cape Coast was confirmed as the Municipal Chief Executive of the Mfantseman Municipal Assembly.
They are Messrs Anthony Egyir Aikins, Cape Coast; Yankey Ackah, Denkyira West; Kofi Ashia, Denkyira East; Joseph Foster Andoh, Twifo-Hemang-Lower Denkyira; Nuhu Kofi Adams, Ewutu-Senya and Theophilus Aidoo Mensah, Gomoa West.
The rest are Ms Georgina Nkrumah Aboah, Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa; Alex Antwi Bosiako, Assin North and Ms Sabina Appiah-Kusi, Assin South.
The assemblies in the Gomoa East and the Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam, however, failed to approve the nomination of Messrs Theophilus Ampah and Light Koomson respectively.
Mr Ampah’s nomination received an outright disapproval when he failed to secure the number of votes even after a second ballot. Mr Koomson, however, has the option of being presented for a second ballot within 10 days.
Speaking at separate meetings, to confirm the nominees Central Regional Minister, Mrs Ama Benyiwa-Doe tasked the assembly members and the people to demand accountability from their representatives.
She said the MMDCEs would be judged by the level of development that they would initiate in their areas and, therefore, asked them to respect the views of the people they served.
She asked them to do away with nepotism, ethnicity, corruption and other anti-social vices whilst making sanitation, environmental issues, HIV/AIDS, and the overall development of their areas their top priorities.
Speaking to the press later, Mr Andoh appealed to the assembly members to work hard to uplift the image of their districts.
In a related development, Mr Henry Kwaku Hayfron, 41 a tutor at OLA Training College, Cape Coast was confirmed as the Municipal Chief Executive of the Mfantseman Municipal Assembly.
Monday, May 4, 2009
FOCUS MORE ON UNITY (SPREAD)
THE Central Regional Minister, Mrs Ama Benyinwa-Doe, has called on the chiefs and people of the Effutu Traditional Area to make the perennial skirmishes that characterise the annual Aboakyer festival a thing of the past.
She said the people should focus more on the things that united them rather than those that divided them.
According to her, no tourist, whether foreign or local, will go to a “volatile environment where his or her personal safety can only be guaranteed by the massive presence of security personnel”.
Mrs Benyinwa-Doe made the call last Saturday at a grand durbar to climax this year’s Aboakyer festival of the chiefs and people of Winneba in the Central Region.
The event was peaceful with adequate police presence to ensure law and order. The Tuafo Number One Asafo Company which went to hunt for a deer, the traditional animal used for the festival, arrived at the durbar grounds with a live deer at about 9 a.m.
Amidst jubilation, members of the company in white attire, presented the animal which was carried shoulder high to the Effutu Omanhene, Neenyi Ghartey VII, who stepped on it three times to signify acceptance.
The rival Asafo company, Dentseifo Number Two, had about an hour earlier made a catch of a live deer. But members, clad in red attires and also carrying the animal shoulder high, did not send the animal to the durbar grounds for it to be stepped on by the Omanhene as tradition demanded, but went on a procession through the streets.
Early on Friday, the two Asafo companies clashed resulting in some of them sustaining injuries. The injured persons were rushed to the Winneba Government Hospital where they were treated and discharged. Hospital authorities said most of the victims sustained injuries on their heads as a result of stones thrown by members of the two groups.
Mrs Benyinwa-Doe said the festival was important because of its potential to serve as a watershed to place the tourism industry in its proper place as a major source of foreign exchange and employment avenue for the unemployed.
She underscored the need for parents to prepare their children well for the challenges ahead, by taking advantage of the numerous educational institutions in the region.
She expressed concern about the poor performance of children from the region in last year’s Basic Educational Certificate Examination (BECE), adding that the performance of the candidates “must be a source of worry” to all.
Mrs Benyinwa-Doe told the people that the government would embark on a number of programmes to improve their lives.
“Let me assure you that the government is fully aware of the plight of our farmers and fishermen in this region and will spare no effort to live up to its policy of putting in place appropriate measures to bring about the needed change we all yearn for,” she said.
The Minister of Transportation and Member of Parliament for the Effutu Constituency, Mr Mike Hammah, said the government had begun an initiative through which the country would export maritime labour.
He said currently, there was a shortage of seamen round the world, especially in the developed world and that the government would take advantage of this to train people and ‘export’ them to foreign countries through bilateral arrangements.
A committee to develop the rules and relations through which such an initiative would be carried out had been set up to that effect as part of efforts to create job opportunities for the youth.
He told the people that a street lighting project was underway in the area, and advised the youth against drug abuse, teenage pregnancy, HIV/AIDS and other diseases.
Mr Hammah said the government was sourcing funds to build a harbour in the area, adding that there were plans to build another hospital to reduce the pressure on the main hospital as well as a market.
He deplored the recent spate of road accidents which he said were mainly due to human errors, and indicated that the government was putting in place the right structures to ensure sanity on the roads.
He appealed to the factions in the town to bury their differences, since without that, the area could not be developed.
Neenyi Ghartey, for his part, appealed for support from the government and other public-spirited organisations and individuals to complete the town’s library project.
He said the library was vital to the education of the youth and that the chiefs and people of the area would contribute their quota to ensure that the country was developed through the promotion of peace and other development activities.
She said the people should focus more on the things that united them rather than those that divided them.
According to her, no tourist, whether foreign or local, will go to a “volatile environment where his or her personal safety can only be guaranteed by the massive presence of security personnel”.
Mrs Benyinwa-Doe made the call last Saturday at a grand durbar to climax this year’s Aboakyer festival of the chiefs and people of Winneba in the Central Region.
The event was peaceful with adequate police presence to ensure law and order. The Tuafo Number One Asafo Company which went to hunt for a deer, the traditional animal used for the festival, arrived at the durbar grounds with a live deer at about 9 a.m.
Amidst jubilation, members of the company in white attire, presented the animal which was carried shoulder high to the Effutu Omanhene, Neenyi Ghartey VII, who stepped on it three times to signify acceptance.
The rival Asafo company, Dentseifo Number Two, had about an hour earlier made a catch of a live deer. But members, clad in red attires and also carrying the animal shoulder high, did not send the animal to the durbar grounds for it to be stepped on by the Omanhene as tradition demanded, but went on a procession through the streets.
Early on Friday, the two Asafo companies clashed resulting in some of them sustaining injuries. The injured persons were rushed to the Winneba Government Hospital where they were treated and discharged. Hospital authorities said most of the victims sustained injuries on their heads as a result of stones thrown by members of the two groups.
Mrs Benyinwa-Doe said the festival was important because of its potential to serve as a watershed to place the tourism industry in its proper place as a major source of foreign exchange and employment avenue for the unemployed.
She underscored the need for parents to prepare their children well for the challenges ahead, by taking advantage of the numerous educational institutions in the region.
She expressed concern about the poor performance of children from the region in last year’s Basic Educational Certificate Examination (BECE), adding that the performance of the candidates “must be a source of worry” to all.
Mrs Benyinwa-Doe told the people that the government would embark on a number of programmes to improve their lives.
“Let me assure you that the government is fully aware of the plight of our farmers and fishermen in this region and will spare no effort to live up to its policy of putting in place appropriate measures to bring about the needed change we all yearn for,” she said.
The Minister of Transportation and Member of Parliament for the Effutu Constituency, Mr Mike Hammah, said the government had begun an initiative through which the country would export maritime labour.
He said currently, there was a shortage of seamen round the world, especially in the developed world and that the government would take advantage of this to train people and ‘export’ them to foreign countries through bilateral arrangements.
A committee to develop the rules and relations through which such an initiative would be carried out had been set up to that effect as part of efforts to create job opportunities for the youth.
He told the people that a street lighting project was underway in the area, and advised the youth against drug abuse, teenage pregnancy, HIV/AIDS and other diseases.
Mr Hammah said the government was sourcing funds to build a harbour in the area, adding that there were plans to build another hospital to reduce the pressure on the main hospital as well as a market.
He deplored the recent spate of road accidents which he said were mainly due to human errors, and indicated that the government was putting in place the right structures to ensure sanity on the roads.
He appealed to the factions in the town to bury their differences, since without that, the area could not be developed.
Neenyi Ghartey, for his part, appealed for support from the government and other public-spirited organisations and individuals to complete the town’s library project.
He said the library was vital to the education of the youth and that the chiefs and people of the area would contribute their quota to ensure that the country was developed through the promotion of peace and other development activities.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
TWO MORE IN POLICE GRIPS FOR ATTEMPTED BRIBERY (PAGE 32)
Two persons who attempted to bribe the District Commander of the Assin Fosu Police with GH¢300.00 to drop a case over 50 bails of treated mosquito nets have been placed in custody.
The two, who are assisting the police in investigations into the case, are Ken Breku and Kofi Kyere.
According to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Akwasi Kankam-Boadu, who is also the District Police Commander, the two went to his house and made the offer, which he refused.
DSP Kankam-Boadu said on Saturday, April 18 the police intercepted two metro mass transit buses with registration numbers GR 5780 Y and GR 4462 with 20 and 30 bails of treated mosquito nets respectively.
He said when the conductors of the buses, which were travelling from Fosu to Accra were quizzed, they told the police that the nets were given to them by someone who said the owners would meet them in Accra, and collect them.
He said not satisfied with their explanation, the police impounded the nets and while investigations were going on Breku and Kyere went to his house and made the offer.
The two, who are assisting the police in investigations into the case, are Ken Breku and Kofi Kyere.
According to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Akwasi Kankam-Boadu, who is also the District Police Commander, the two went to his house and made the offer, which he refused.
DSP Kankam-Boadu said on Saturday, April 18 the police intercepted two metro mass transit buses with registration numbers GR 5780 Y and GR 4462 with 20 and 30 bails of treated mosquito nets respectively.
He said when the conductors of the buses, which were travelling from Fosu to Accra were quizzed, they told the police that the nets were given to them by someone who said the owners would meet them in Accra, and collect them.
He said not satisfied with their explanation, the police impounded the nets and while investigations were going on Breku and Kyere went to his house and made the offer.
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