By Akwasi Ampratwum-Mensah
MR Herbert Acquaye has been elected as the new National President of the Ghana Hotels Association (GHA) to run the affairs of the association for the next four years. He was sworn in together with a 10-member executive during the association’s third National Executive Council meeting held at Techiman in the Brong Ahafo Region.
The other executive members are Mr Tom Kuenyefa, National Vice President; Mrs Juliet Taylor, National Secretary; Ms Ellen Gandaa, Assistant National Secretary; Nana Afoani Tenkorang National Treasurer; Mr P.K. Ntiamoah, National Financial Secretary; Mrs Francisca Addison, Mr Abraham Ahinful, Mr G.W. Otoo and Mrs Wilhelmina Aklaku, as National Trustees.
Nana Adjei Twene, the immediate past President of the association, who administered the oath of office, was confident the new executive would deal effectively with matters affecting the association. He added that the GHA was not a political entity but a professional body that was expected to contribute its quota to the development of the economy.
Nana Twene, who is the current President of the Ghana Tourists Federation (GHATOF), expressed the hope that the new executive members would work hand-in-hand with the Ghana Tourist Board (GTB) to “champion a common course’’.
Mr Acquaye, in his address noted that, a few years ago only a handful of GHA members had insurance cover for their premises but was delighted the situation had changed at present, with most members acquiring insurance policies from a reputable insurance company.
According to GHA president, credit schemes had been arranged with some local manufacturers and importers to enable members to acquire such logistics as good quality electrical appliances, beddings and consumables required for their smooth operations.
The President noted that rising cost of hotel facilities, high energy and maintenance bills were some of the major challenges confronting operations in the industry and seriously affecting their profitability. ‘‘Our turnover seems to be on the decline as we rely on very few business visitors; the leisure traveller does not seem to fall within our market segment.’’
Mr Acquaye pointed out that proprietors and managers of hotels needed a better understanding of the industry through regular interaction, training and capacity building in order to meet contemporary challenges of the industry.
He also suggested the institution of an annual hotel awards ceremony in order to help create competition and raise standards, stating it was a perfect way to bring members together to select and reward peers who had excelled in various activities.
The Brong Ahafo Regional Chairman of the association, Mr Philip Ntiamoah, in his welcoming address, observed that some hotels were yet to receive payment for credit facilities granted to governmental and other agencies but were still expected pay the Value Added Tax (VAT).
He also noted with concern the increasing number of hotels which had not registered with the association and were still operating without the required licenses, rendered poor services to customers and subsequently evaded taxes.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
CHIEF OF NKRANKWANTA APPEALS TO PREZ (PAGE 13, OCT 27, 2010)
THE Chief of Nkrankwanta, Nana Kwabena Asemia II, and some residents of the town, a predominantly cocoa and foodstuffs growing area in the Dormaa municipality of the Brong Ahafo Region, have passionately appealed to President J.E.A. Mills to, as a matter of urgency, fulfil his 2008 campaign promise to them.
According to them, during the 2008 campaign, President Mills gave the assurance that when he was voted into political office, he would ensure the immediate construction of the deteriorated road from Asikasu to Nkrankwanta and Nkrankwanta to Krakrom.
Nana Asemia, who is also the Dormaa Ankobea Dompimhene, noted that passenger vehicles of all types from Kumasi, Japekrom, Berekum, Drobo, Wamfie, Dormaa and other places, plied that western corridor to do business while heavy duty trucks came in to transport several tons of cocoa, logs of timber, food crops and crates of eggs to their various destinations.
He, however, pointed out that the people had become so disappointed and disillusioned that they would feel reluctant and apathetic to listen to politicians who might come to the area to solicit their votes, come the 2012 national elections.
‘‘This road is very important to us but looking at the extent of deterioration, it appears we are not part of Ghana but this area is known to produce the bulk of the nation’s cocoa and foodstuffs of all kinds to feed our people. If our road is not put in good shape, I do not think the politicians can come here to campaign during the 2012 general elections,” the chief declared.
The Dormaa Ankobea Dompimhene disclosed to journalists who had inspected the extent of the deplorable nature of the road that armed robbers had struck a number of times on the Ayum Forest Reserve section of the road, where the road is terribly bad and devoid of cell phone services, and, therefore, succeeded in making away with money and other valuable items from their victims during such attacks.
Mr Hayford Sakyi Bediako, the Nkrankwanta Cocoa District Manager of the Produce Buying Company (PBC), in another interview with newsmen, also expressed regrets that such a prolific cocoa growing area should suffer a deplorable road network while the people lived in fear and panic because of armed robbers and other social miscreants.
He disclosed that his station, together with other Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs) of cocoa, purchased a total of 4,566.24tons of cocoa beans (73,060 bags) last year, adding, however, that the heavy duty vehicles which cart the cocoa unnecessarily break down or fall off due to the bad state of the road.
According to Mr Bediako, the Nkrankwanta Cocoa District was one of those areas that had the highest freight in the country and also transported the beans straight away to the Tema Port for export to Japan, which buys the beans from Ghana and so, ‘‘we are appealing to the government to immediately put the road in a best shape.”
Mr Noah Afari, popularly called Agya Noah and resident of Krakrom, expressed disagreement with the fact that the road from Krakrom and beyond was a feeder road and, therefore, pleaded that the stretch be tarred to encourage the people to continue to produce more cocoa and food crops to benefit the generality of Ghanaians.
He insisted that Krakrom was just a few kilometres from Nkrankwanta, and that the tarring of the Nkrankwanta township road should necessarily be extended to Krakrom to boost the morale of residents in their farming and other business enterprises.
The Assistant Manager of the Nkrankwanta Area Rural Bank, Mr Matthew Amankrah, for his part, pointed out that the security of customers of the bank, including the numerous farmers whose Akuafo cheques are honoured at the facility, was at risk, adding that some of its customers come from Accra to do business in the town and return, in the face of the deplorable nature of the road.
According to Mr Amankrah, barely one-and-a- half years after the bank started operations, a brand new Toyota van was suffering some defects, stressing that the bank was the only one that was serving the vast majority of the people in the area who are prone to attacks by thieves and armed robbers.
Mr Alex Ameyaw, the District Commander of Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS), said he had been using the scanty imprest to assist in the patching of some dangerous portions of the road to make it possible for vehicles to come in for assessment, a decision that had yielded dividend.
He intimated that it was this initiative that had helped the station in meeting its targets since he assumed control of the area in 2008, adding that ‘‘we are on the road every other day to do some patches and fill manholes, and any time it threatens to rain no vehicle will move because it risks getting stuck or falling off.”
A trader at Nkrankwanta, Mr James Yeboah, said he had twice encountered armed robbers, together with other travellers on the forest section of the road and robbed of substantial amount of money and other items.
According to them, during the 2008 campaign, President Mills gave the assurance that when he was voted into political office, he would ensure the immediate construction of the deteriorated road from Asikasu to Nkrankwanta and Nkrankwanta to Krakrom.
Nana Asemia, who is also the Dormaa Ankobea Dompimhene, noted that passenger vehicles of all types from Kumasi, Japekrom, Berekum, Drobo, Wamfie, Dormaa and other places, plied that western corridor to do business while heavy duty trucks came in to transport several tons of cocoa, logs of timber, food crops and crates of eggs to their various destinations.
He, however, pointed out that the people had become so disappointed and disillusioned that they would feel reluctant and apathetic to listen to politicians who might come to the area to solicit their votes, come the 2012 national elections.
‘‘This road is very important to us but looking at the extent of deterioration, it appears we are not part of Ghana but this area is known to produce the bulk of the nation’s cocoa and foodstuffs of all kinds to feed our people. If our road is not put in good shape, I do not think the politicians can come here to campaign during the 2012 general elections,” the chief declared.
The Dormaa Ankobea Dompimhene disclosed to journalists who had inspected the extent of the deplorable nature of the road that armed robbers had struck a number of times on the Ayum Forest Reserve section of the road, where the road is terribly bad and devoid of cell phone services, and, therefore, succeeded in making away with money and other valuable items from their victims during such attacks.
Mr Hayford Sakyi Bediako, the Nkrankwanta Cocoa District Manager of the Produce Buying Company (PBC), in another interview with newsmen, also expressed regrets that such a prolific cocoa growing area should suffer a deplorable road network while the people lived in fear and panic because of armed robbers and other social miscreants.
He disclosed that his station, together with other Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs) of cocoa, purchased a total of 4,566.24tons of cocoa beans (73,060 bags) last year, adding, however, that the heavy duty vehicles which cart the cocoa unnecessarily break down or fall off due to the bad state of the road.
According to Mr Bediako, the Nkrankwanta Cocoa District was one of those areas that had the highest freight in the country and also transported the beans straight away to the Tema Port for export to Japan, which buys the beans from Ghana and so, ‘‘we are appealing to the government to immediately put the road in a best shape.”
Mr Noah Afari, popularly called Agya Noah and resident of Krakrom, expressed disagreement with the fact that the road from Krakrom and beyond was a feeder road and, therefore, pleaded that the stretch be tarred to encourage the people to continue to produce more cocoa and food crops to benefit the generality of Ghanaians.
He insisted that Krakrom was just a few kilometres from Nkrankwanta, and that the tarring of the Nkrankwanta township road should necessarily be extended to Krakrom to boost the morale of residents in their farming and other business enterprises.
The Assistant Manager of the Nkrankwanta Area Rural Bank, Mr Matthew Amankrah, for his part, pointed out that the security of customers of the bank, including the numerous farmers whose Akuafo cheques are honoured at the facility, was at risk, adding that some of its customers come from Accra to do business in the town and return, in the face of the deplorable nature of the road.
According to Mr Amankrah, barely one-and-a- half years after the bank started operations, a brand new Toyota van was suffering some defects, stressing that the bank was the only one that was serving the vast majority of the people in the area who are prone to attacks by thieves and armed robbers.
Mr Alex Ameyaw, the District Commander of Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS), said he had been using the scanty imprest to assist in the patching of some dangerous portions of the road to make it possible for vehicles to come in for assessment, a decision that had yielded dividend.
He intimated that it was this initiative that had helped the station in meeting its targets since he assumed control of the area in 2008, adding that ‘‘we are on the road every other day to do some patches and fill manholes, and any time it threatens to rain no vehicle will move because it risks getting stuck or falling off.”
A trader at Nkrankwanta, Mr James Yeboah, said he had twice encountered armed robbers, together with other travellers on the forest section of the road and robbed of substantial amount of money and other items.
AGRIC SECTOR NEEDS INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS — PROF ELLIS (PAGE 11, OCT 27, 2010)
THE Vice Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Professor W.O. Ellis, has said that the agricultural sector in particular and the entire society are bedeviled with bottlenecks which needsustainable and innovative solutions.
He has, therefore, expressed the hope that, students of the Faculty of Forest Resources and Resources Technology (FFRT) of the Sunyani Campus of KNUST in the Brong Ahafo Region, will strive to acquire the needed skills, knowledge and attitudes to solve those myriad of problems confronting the agricultural sector.
‘‘You may be aware that, our entire society, especially, our agricultural sector is not without bottlenecks and those you experience in the course of your studies here on this campus are expected to introduce you to the broader problems that bedevil our society in general and the agricultural sector in particular that are yawning for sustainable and innovative solutions’’, he stressed.
Prof. Ellis made the observation when he addressed the 2010 matriculation ceremony of the FFRT at Fiapre, near Sunyani and said currently, the faculty was the only institution in the country that trained middle level manpower for the forestry sector.
In all, 97 fresh students, made up of 71 males and 26 females, representing 73 per cent and 27 per cent respectively, were admitted to the faculty this year, bringing the total student population to almost 400.
He said the Institute of Distance Learning admitted 150 students for the Sunyani Centre, who were also matriculated at the ceremony, which was attended by traditional authorities from Fiapre.
The Vice Chancellor reminded the students that, their first pre-occupation was to study to acquire degrees from the university and all other things ought to be considered secondary and said that statement did not mean they should not participate in co-curricular activities.
Giving the college by college rankings for the KNUST, Prof. Ellis revealed that, the College of Arts and Sciences admitted the highest number of students this year, accounting for 31 per cent of students, followed by the College of Engineering with 16 per cent of students while the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources admitted 13 per cent, Health Sciences 10 per cent and the College of Architecture and Planning, admitting eight per cent.
He noted that 475 students were studying for various degrees through the distance learning mode and expressed the hope to expand the frontiers of the Institute of Distance Learning and E-Learning Centre, which was inaugurated recently, to afford a lot more opportunities for science and technology.
According to him, the university authorities were fully aware of the number of problems confronting the Sunyani Campus, including academic facilities and transportation, adding that, the academic board was also giving serious consideration to the restructuring of the three-year diploma programme to entice more students.
He has, therefore, expressed the hope that, students of the Faculty of Forest Resources and Resources Technology (FFRT) of the Sunyani Campus of KNUST in the Brong Ahafo Region, will strive to acquire the needed skills, knowledge and attitudes to solve those myriad of problems confronting the agricultural sector.
‘‘You may be aware that, our entire society, especially, our agricultural sector is not without bottlenecks and those you experience in the course of your studies here on this campus are expected to introduce you to the broader problems that bedevil our society in general and the agricultural sector in particular that are yawning for sustainable and innovative solutions’’, he stressed.
Prof. Ellis made the observation when he addressed the 2010 matriculation ceremony of the FFRT at Fiapre, near Sunyani and said currently, the faculty was the only institution in the country that trained middle level manpower for the forestry sector.
In all, 97 fresh students, made up of 71 males and 26 females, representing 73 per cent and 27 per cent respectively, were admitted to the faculty this year, bringing the total student population to almost 400.
He said the Institute of Distance Learning admitted 150 students for the Sunyani Centre, who were also matriculated at the ceremony, which was attended by traditional authorities from Fiapre.
The Vice Chancellor reminded the students that, their first pre-occupation was to study to acquire degrees from the university and all other things ought to be considered secondary and said that statement did not mean they should not participate in co-curricular activities.
Giving the college by college rankings for the KNUST, Prof. Ellis revealed that, the College of Arts and Sciences admitted the highest number of students this year, accounting for 31 per cent of students, followed by the College of Engineering with 16 per cent of students while the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources admitted 13 per cent, Health Sciences 10 per cent and the College of Architecture and Planning, admitting eight per cent.
He noted that 475 students were studying for various degrees through the distance learning mode and expressed the hope to expand the frontiers of the Institute of Distance Learning and E-Learning Centre, which was inaugurated recently, to afford a lot more opportunities for science and technology.
According to him, the university authorities were fully aware of the number of problems confronting the Sunyani Campus, including academic facilities and transportation, adding that, the academic board was also giving serious consideration to the restructuring of the three-year diploma programme to entice more students.
B. A. STARS RESCIND PULL-OUT THREAT (PAGE 63, OCT 27, 2010)
The Board of Directors of B.A Stars has rescinded the decision by the club to withdraw from participating in the remaining matches of the Glo Premier league competition following alleged attempts by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to frustrate the club’s exploits.
“We are continuing the premier league and no subtle or overt attempts from any quarters can deter us from participating in the competition, and come 2011 we shall still be in the premiership competition” the board declared.
Addressing a well-attended press conference at Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo region yesterday, the board gave the assurance that they would mobilise all resources to ensure that there was no turning back and was confident to play in the Top 4 competition and also win the F.A cup.
However, it gave the FA a one week ultimatum to show the video clips of three of their league pairings against New Edubiase FC, Accra Hearts of Oak game honoured at the Sunyani Coronation park about three weeks ago and Kessben FC at the Essipon stadium at Sekondi last Sunday.
That, the board explained would enable all football loving people and indeed Ghanaians at large to know and judge for themselves the unfair officiating by referees appointed to handle matches involving their club.
The spokesperson for the board, Mr Alfred Tuah-Yeboah, who is also a Sunyani-based legal practitioner, indicated further that the board was yet to meet to take decision on the resignation of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the club, Mr Takyi Arhin.
He said there was no truth in rumours that the coach of the club Karim Zito has resigned but rather explained that he had sought permission to visit his family and would soon return to his duty.
According to Mr Tuah-Yeboah, the earlier threat to pull out of the competition stemmed from the persistent and consistent attempt by referees to show open bias when handling matches involving B.A Stars and other opponents.
He dismissed claims that supporters of the club had been violent at the Sunyani Coronation park, saying there were other supporters and fans of their opponents who could misbehave at the park during matches.
According to Mr Tuah-Yeboah, the board always prevailed on supporters and fans of the club to behave well during matches but noted with concern and regret the bad officiating of some referees.
The board also noted that the decision of the referees were backed by some powers-that-be in the FA whose ultimate goal was to ensure that football clubs in the Brong Ahafo region were booted out of the premiership.
Mr Peter Nimoh, the chairman of the board of directors advised presenters of the various radio stations to report accurately about matches and the behaviour of referees for the listening public to know, saying that running of commentaries by some of the radio stations had not been the best.
He also blamed the public for masterminding the abrupt end of the match between B.A Stars and New Edubiase FC, adding that but for the police, the match officials would have continued the game to its final conclusion.
The General Manager of the club, Michael Agyeman, recounted the ordeal, frustration and intimidation that he want through at the Essipon stadium at the hands of a group of macho men who suspected him of being a jujuman.
“We are continuing the premier league and no subtle or overt attempts from any quarters can deter us from participating in the competition, and come 2011 we shall still be in the premiership competition” the board declared.
Addressing a well-attended press conference at Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo region yesterday, the board gave the assurance that they would mobilise all resources to ensure that there was no turning back and was confident to play in the Top 4 competition and also win the F.A cup.
However, it gave the FA a one week ultimatum to show the video clips of three of their league pairings against New Edubiase FC, Accra Hearts of Oak game honoured at the Sunyani Coronation park about three weeks ago and Kessben FC at the Essipon stadium at Sekondi last Sunday.
That, the board explained would enable all football loving people and indeed Ghanaians at large to know and judge for themselves the unfair officiating by referees appointed to handle matches involving their club.
The spokesperson for the board, Mr Alfred Tuah-Yeboah, who is also a Sunyani-based legal practitioner, indicated further that the board was yet to meet to take decision on the resignation of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the club, Mr Takyi Arhin.
He said there was no truth in rumours that the coach of the club Karim Zito has resigned but rather explained that he had sought permission to visit his family and would soon return to his duty.
According to Mr Tuah-Yeboah, the earlier threat to pull out of the competition stemmed from the persistent and consistent attempt by referees to show open bias when handling matches involving B.A Stars and other opponents.
He dismissed claims that supporters of the club had been violent at the Sunyani Coronation park, saying there were other supporters and fans of their opponents who could misbehave at the park during matches.
According to Mr Tuah-Yeboah, the board always prevailed on supporters and fans of the club to behave well during matches but noted with concern and regret the bad officiating of some referees.
The board also noted that the decision of the referees were backed by some powers-that-be in the FA whose ultimate goal was to ensure that football clubs in the Brong Ahafo region were booted out of the premiership.
Mr Peter Nimoh, the chairman of the board of directors advised presenters of the various radio stations to report accurately about matches and the behaviour of referees for the listening public to know, saying that running of commentaries by some of the radio stations had not been the best.
He also blamed the public for masterminding the abrupt end of the match between B.A Stars and New Edubiase FC, adding that but for the police, the match officials would have continued the game to its final conclusion.
The General Manager of the club, Michael Agyeman, recounted the ordeal, frustration and intimidation that he want through at the Essipon stadium at the hands of a group of macho men who suspected him of being a jujuman.
Monday, October 25, 2010
TOURISM BRINGS IN U$1.6 BILLION (PAGE 15, OCT 23, 2010)
A total of 802,779 tourists visited Ghana last year, generating revenue of U$1,615.2 billion for the country.
The tourism industry thus contributes significantly to the Ghanaian economy, through such means as corporate, income and value added taxes, as well as the Ghana Tourist Board (GTB) licence fees and airport service charges.
This contribution by the tourism industry was because the accommodation (hotel) sector plays a very crucial role with respect to the tourism industry’s contribution to the economy.
The Brong Ahafo Regional Director of the GTB, Mr Charles Obeng, announced this at the opening of the third National Executive Council meeting of the Ghana Hotels Association (GHA) at Techiman.
He said the average tourist expenditure on accommodation had always been above 25 per cent since 1996.
That expenditure, according to Mr Obeng, was actually the highest compared to other expenditure items such as local transportation, shopping, food and beverage, entertainment, among others, and that the importance of the accommodation sector, therefore, could not be overemphasised.
The theme for the meeting, which was organised under the auspices of P.Z. Cussons Ghana Limited, was: ‘‘Establishing Professional Standards in the Hotel Industry’’.
He stressed the need for the hotels to strive to maintain highest standards to meet the demands of their clientele, as standards could be looked at in terms of quality, safety and authenticity.
Mr Obeng said even though there were specific standards covering beaches, tour guides, protected areas, many of the tourism standards focused on accommodation, and gave an assurance that the GTB would collaborate with the GHA executives to inspect facilities of members to ensure that standards were met, provide information for performance review, increase quality awareness, as well as improve customer satisfaction.
He stressed that most of the difficulties experienced in service delivery arose from the need for hotels to understand what the customer needed and when the service was needed and thereafter, to employ the necessary processes to convert those needs into the service.
To that end, the GTB regional director appealed to the national executive council to partner the board to organise periodic training programmes for their staff to bring about continued improvement in service delivery.
Mr Obeng said in recent times the regional office had been encouraging groups such as tourist clubs, students and church groups to visit tourist sites as a way of boosting domestic tourism.
He said to make that drive sustainable, hotels could give discounts and other packages, especially during off seasons, to those domestic tourists.
Those packages, he said, would make travels affordable to potential tourists leading to increased travels and thereby, increasing the market share of the hospitality industry.
He added that developing and even retaining one’s market share had become an increased priority on the agenda of most hotels.
The regional director said it was of utmost importance for hotels to develop consistent destination management approach with a clear tourism product definition oriented towards sustainability and new market trends.
Mr Herbert Acquaye, the newly elected National President of the GHA, noted that the cost of operating a hotel facility kept rising as a result of high energy and maintenance costs.
‘‘Our turnover seems to be on the decline, as we rely on very few business visitors,“ he said.
The Brong Ahafo Regional Chairman of the association, Mr Philip Ntiamoah, in his welcoming address, called on metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives to take a critical look at some of the deplorable roads leading to the locations of hotels in their respective areas.
A 10-member national executive council was sworn into office to run affairs of the association for the next four years.
The tourism industry thus contributes significantly to the Ghanaian economy, through such means as corporate, income and value added taxes, as well as the Ghana Tourist Board (GTB) licence fees and airport service charges.
This contribution by the tourism industry was because the accommodation (hotel) sector plays a very crucial role with respect to the tourism industry’s contribution to the economy.
The Brong Ahafo Regional Director of the GTB, Mr Charles Obeng, announced this at the opening of the third National Executive Council meeting of the Ghana Hotels Association (GHA) at Techiman.
He said the average tourist expenditure on accommodation had always been above 25 per cent since 1996.
That expenditure, according to Mr Obeng, was actually the highest compared to other expenditure items such as local transportation, shopping, food and beverage, entertainment, among others, and that the importance of the accommodation sector, therefore, could not be overemphasised.
The theme for the meeting, which was organised under the auspices of P.Z. Cussons Ghana Limited, was: ‘‘Establishing Professional Standards in the Hotel Industry’’.
He stressed the need for the hotels to strive to maintain highest standards to meet the demands of their clientele, as standards could be looked at in terms of quality, safety and authenticity.
Mr Obeng said even though there were specific standards covering beaches, tour guides, protected areas, many of the tourism standards focused on accommodation, and gave an assurance that the GTB would collaborate with the GHA executives to inspect facilities of members to ensure that standards were met, provide information for performance review, increase quality awareness, as well as improve customer satisfaction.
He stressed that most of the difficulties experienced in service delivery arose from the need for hotels to understand what the customer needed and when the service was needed and thereafter, to employ the necessary processes to convert those needs into the service.
To that end, the GTB regional director appealed to the national executive council to partner the board to organise periodic training programmes for their staff to bring about continued improvement in service delivery.
Mr Obeng said in recent times the regional office had been encouraging groups such as tourist clubs, students and church groups to visit tourist sites as a way of boosting domestic tourism.
He said to make that drive sustainable, hotels could give discounts and other packages, especially during off seasons, to those domestic tourists.
Those packages, he said, would make travels affordable to potential tourists leading to increased travels and thereby, increasing the market share of the hospitality industry.
He added that developing and even retaining one’s market share had become an increased priority on the agenda of most hotels.
The regional director said it was of utmost importance for hotels to develop consistent destination management approach with a clear tourism product definition oriented towards sustainability and new market trends.
Mr Herbert Acquaye, the newly elected National President of the GHA, noted that the cost of operating a hotel facility kept rising as a result of high energy and maintenance costs.
‘‘Our turnover seems to be on the decline, as we rely on very few business visitors,“ he said.
The Brong Ahafo Regional Chairman of the association, Mr Philip Ntiamoah, in his welcoming address, called on metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives to take a critical look at some of the deplorable roads leading to the locations of hotels in their respective areas.
A 10-member national executive council was sworn into office to run affairs of the association for the next four years.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
EPA, KATO COMMUNITY TO PROTECT FOREST RESERVE (BACK PAGE, OCT 16, 2010)
THE Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in collaboration with the Kato community in the Berekum municipality of the Brong Ahafo Region, has embarked on a programme to save the Mfensi Forest Reserve from further encroachment and destruction.
Already, 5,100 different types of indigenous trees, including Framo, Wawa, Kyenkyen and Cidrella, have been planted in the encroached portions of the forest.
In addition to the planting of trees, the EPA officials are educating the people of Mfensi on the relevance of the reserve to the community and the country.
The Brong Ahafo Regional Director of the EPA, Mr Isaac Osei, and the Queen of Kato, Nana Afia Siraa Ababio II, led officials of the EPA, the people and students in the community to undertake a two-hour tree-planting exercise in some degraded portions of the about 40-hectare reserve.
For the past three years, the EPA, in association with the Kato traditional authorities, has been engaged in tree-planting activities to ensure that the hitherto rich biodiversity and national heritage was conserved for the present and future generations.
During an interaction with newsmen, Mr Osei expressed optimism that with the enthusiasm and zeal showed by the people, the area could become a miniature Kakum Park to attract tourists.
He observed that once the people themselves had come to realise and understand the significance of their own history, they ought not go about destroying their rich heritage but rather protect and preserve it at all times.
Nana Siraa disclosed that a 11-member committee, chaired by one Mr S.Y. Boakye, had been set up to oversee the effective protection of the groove, which she admitted was being encroached upon by certain unscrupulous persons in the area, saying, ‘‘We are educating them on the need to stop such encroachment.’’
Already, 5,100 different types of indigenous trees, including Framo, Wawa, Kyenkyen and Cidrella, have been planted in the encroached portions of the forest.
In addition to the planting of trees, the EPA officials are educating the people of Mfensi on the relevance of the reserve to the community and the country.
The Brong Ahafo Regional Director of the EPA, Mr Isaac Osei, and the Queen of Kato, Nana Afia Siraa Ababio II, led officials of the EPA, the people and students in the community to undertake a two-hour tree-planting exercise in some degraded portions of the about 40-hectare reserve.
For the past three years, the EPA, in association with the Kato traditional authorities, has been engaged in tree-planting activities to ensure that the hitherto rich biodiversity and national heritage was conserved for the present and future generations.
During an interaction with newsmen, Mr Osei expressed optimism that with the enthusiasm and zeal showed by the people, the area could become a miniature Kakum Park to attract tourists.
He observed that once the people themselves had come to realise and understand the significance of their own history, they ought not go about destroying their rich heritage but rather protect and preserve it at all times.
Nana Siraa disclosed that a 11-member committee, chaired by one Mr S.Y. Boakye, had been set up to oversee the effective protection of the groove, which she admitted was being encroached upon by certain unscrupulous persons in the area, saying, ‘‘We are educating them on the need to stop such encroachment.’’
Friday, October 15, 2010
GRAINS COUNCIL PROVIDES WAREHOUSE FOR FARMERS (BACK PAGE, OCT 15, 2010 )
THE Ghana Grains Council (GGC), a private agricultural sector association in the country, has provided a warehouse to farmers to store their grains.
The certified warehouse pilot project at Nkoranza Breman in the Brong Ahafo Region will benefit more than 20,000 farmers from different farmer-based organisations in the country.
The United States of America (USA), through the US Agency for International Development (USAID), provided $543,655 as a grant to the GGC towards improving the performance of the country’s grain marketing.
The project will, particularly help smallholder farmers to avoid selling their grain at low prices, provide consumers with safer and more nutritious food and allow market actors to engage in transactions without the need to travel long distances to check on grain quality before buying it.
Mr Eric Opoku, the Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, who performed the inauguration of the facility at a ceremony at Breman near Nkoranza, said there were some major challenges facing agriculture in the country, including small farm sizes, averaging 1.5 acres per smallholder, and less than optimum yields estimated at one to two tons per hectare compared with about six to eight tons elsewhere.
He said the implementation of policies and programmes for a sustainable agricultural sector would, therefore, be the responsibility of the current generation and, especially, the government.
Mr Allen Flemming, the team leader of the Economic Growth Office, USAID, indicated that the US Government supported agribusiness and regional trade in agricultural commodities through Agricultural Development and Value Chain Enhancement (ADVANCE) projects under the USAID.
He said there was a great demand for uniform good quality maize in commercially viable quantities, both domestically for agro alimentary products and livestock feed and in West African sub-region.
He added that the current organisation of the maize storage and marketing did not permit the growing of the industry to meet those demands.
The certified warehouse pilot project at Nkoranza Breman in the Brong Ahafo Region will benefit more than 20,000 farmers from different farmer-based organisations in the country.
The United States of America (USA), through the US Agency for International Development (USAID), provided $543,655 as a grant to the GGC towards improving the performance of the country’s grain marketing.
The project will, particularly help smallholder farmers to avoid selling their grain at low prices, provide consumers with safer and more nutritious food and allow market actors to engage in transactions without the need to travel long distances to check on grain quality before buying it.
Mr Eric Opoku, the Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, who performed the inauguration of the facility at a ceremony at Breman near Nkoranza, said there were some major challenges facing agriculture in the country, including small farm sizes, averaging 1.5 acres per smallholder, and less than optimum yields estimated at one to two tons per hectare compared with about six to eight tons elsewhere.
He said the implementation of policies and programmes for a sustainable agricultural sector would, therefore, be the responsibility of the current generation and, especially, the government.
Mr Allen Flemming, the team leader of the Economic Growth Office, USAID, indicated that the US Government supported agribusiness and regional trade in agricultural commodities through Agricultural Development and Value Chain Enhancement (ADVANCE) projects under the USAID.
He said there was a great demand for uniform good quality maize in commercially viable quantities, both domestically for agro alimentary products and livestock feed and in West African sub-region.
He added that the current organisation of the maize storage and marketing did not permit the growing of the industry to meet those demands.
Friday, October 8, 2010
KOTOKO-ARSENAL CLASH CALLED OFF (BACK PAGE, OCT 7, 2010)
The teeming supporters of Berekum Arsenal and Kumasi Asante Kotoko who thronged the Golden City Park to watch the Glo Premier League encounter between the two sides left for home disappointed following the decision by the match officials to call off the match as a result of a clash of jerseys.
Both Arsenal and Kotoko put on white and red dominated jerseys which, according to the match officials, made it impossible for them to be distinguished.
Having waited for about 40 minutes, Accra-based class one referee Silas Okine called the two captains, Salou Mohammed and Jordan Opoku of Arsenal and Kotoko respectively, to inform them of the decision to call off the match after which players and officials of the two teams retired to the dressing room to change over again.
Before then there was a heated verbal exchanges between Kotoko officials and the match officials as to whether the visiting team was to change their apparel in accordance with the rules.
However, Kotoko insisted that they presented their jersey at the pre-match conference which was agreed by all before the start of the match.
The officials explained that it was detected that Kotoko were putting on white shorts and white hose which was the same as those of Arsenal and so they were asked to put on red shorts and red hose which the visiting team obliged to avoid a possible clash.
However, when the two teams marched to the field for the commencement of the match, the officials realised that the jerseys of the two teams were quite similar, thus making it difficult to distinguish between the two sides.
The match commissioner, M. G. Togborco from Cape Coast, and Referee Silas Okine of Accra insisted that Kotoko had breached what went on at the technical meeting, but the Kotoko officials, led by Jarvis Peprah, maintained that the match commissioner and the other officials were not presenting the true picture of the meeting.
Mr Augustine Asante, the Brong Ahafo chairman of the referees association, told the Daily Graphic that they would present their report about the incident to the FA for the necessary action.
Mr Togborco also indicated that by the rules, since the match had delayed for well over 30 minutes, it had to be called off for the necessary steps to be taken later.
Both Arsenal and Kotoko put on white and red dominated jerseys which, according to the match officials, made it impossible for them to be distinguished.
Having waited for about 40 minutes, Accra-based class one referee Silas Okine called the two captains, Salou Mohammed and Jordan Opoku of Arsenal and Kotoko respectively, to inform them of the decision to call off the match after which players and officials of the two teams retired to the dressing room to change over again.
Before then there was a heated verbal exchanges between Kotoko officials and the match officials as to whether the visiting team was to change their apparel in accordance with the rules.
However, Kotoko insisted that they presented their jersey at the pre-match conference which was agreed by all before the start of the match.
The officials explained that it was detected that Kotoko were putting on white shorts and white hose which was the same as those of Arsenal and so they were asked to put on red shorts and red hose which the visiting team obliged to avoid a possible clash.
However, when the two teams marched to the field for the commencement of the match, the officials realised that the jerseys of the two teams were quite similar, thus making it difficult to distinguish between the two sides.
The match commissioner, M. G. Togborco from Cape Coast, and Referee Silas Okine of Accra insisted that Kotoko had breached what went on at the technical meeting, but the Kotoko officials, led by Jarvis Peprah, maintained that the match commissioner and the other officials were not presenting the true picture of the meeting.
Mr Augustine Asante, the Brong Ahafo chairman of the referees association, told the Daily Graphic that they would present their report about the incident to the FA for the necessary action.
Mr Togborco also indicated that by the rules, since the match had delayed for well over 30 minutes, it had to be called off for the necessary steps to be taken later.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
NEWMONT TO EMBARK ON UNDERGROUND MINING (PAGE 43, OCT 5, 2010)
NEWMONT Ghana Gold Limited (NGGL), operating the Ahafo Mine in the Brong Ahafo Region, is to embark on underground mining activity in one of its potential pits of the ore, called “Subika Pit” in its current concession at Ahafo.
The exploration activity followed the granting of 18-month permit by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Minerals Commission to NGGL to go ahead with its plan after the company had indicated to the two institutions of the registered potential of an underground ore deposits in the Subika Pit.
If the exploration activity turns out to be viable, then the NGGL would have to apply to the appropriate regulatory agencies for the acquisition of the final license to operate the underground mining programme.
Currently, the company is undertaking surface mining activities in four pits in the Ahafo South communities, namely, Ntotroso, Gyedu, Kenyase Number One and Kenyase Number Two since its operations started in the area about four years ago.
The Community Relations Manager of NGGL, Mr Emmanuel Ato Aubynn and Azumah Agbeko of the Public Relation Directorate of the company, announced the intention of the NGGL at a media encounter in Sunyani.
They explained that the exploration might not be positive at the end of the 18-month period set by the EPA and the Minerals Commission, but expressed the hope that the work would yield dividend for the underground activity to take off in due course.
The two officials further stated that a company called African Underground Mining Services was currently working on the exploration process, adding ‘‘We are at the moment not doing the underground mining but it is just an exploration activity.”
According to the NGGL officials, the law permitted that having registered the potential in the pit, the company ought to share that idea with the necessary stakeholders, including the media after which the EPA would organise a public forum in the operational area of the company for a wider deliberation on the activity.
‘‘For us in the company, it is critical that we meet the media who are our core collaborators in our work and we want to debunk the perception that the company was trying to dodge the payment of compensation to land acquired for surface mining,” they stated.
“It is also not true that Newmont has dug a tunnel to the northern part of the district to secretly mine the ore underground,” the two officials emphasised.
Messrs Aubynn and Agbeko explained further that the company had no intention to acquire new land area where people were resident but was still using the already zoned area of the company’s operations, where the need had arisen to go underneath for mining.
They stressed that the rocks in the Subika Pit were among those of the hardest in the world, and therefore, ruled out the possibility of caving in if the operations should start eventually after the exploration.
The exploration activity followed the granting of 18-month permit by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Minerals Commission to NGGL to go ahead with its plan after the company had indicated to the two institutions of the registered potential of an underground ore deposits in the Subika Pit.
If the exploration activity turns out to be viable, then the NGGL would have to apply to the appropriate regulatory agencies for the acquisition of the final license to operate the underground mining programme.
Currently, the company is undertaking surface mining activities in four pits in the Ahafo South communities, namely, Ntotroso, Gyedu, Kenyase Number One and Kenyase Number Two since its operations started in the area about four years ago.
The Community Relations Manager of NGGL, Mr Emmanuel Ato Aubynn and Azumah Agbeko of the Public Relation Directorate of the company, announced the intention of the NGGL at a media encounter in Sunyani.
They explained that the exploration might not be positive at the end of the 18-month period set by the EPA and the Minerals Commission, but expressed the hope that the work would yield dividend for the underground activity to take off in due course.
The two officials further stated that a company called African Underground Mining Services was currently working on the exploration process, adding ‘‘We are at the moment not doing the underground mining but it is just an exploration activity.”
According to the NGGL officials, the law permitted that having registered the potential in the pit, the company ought to share that idea with the necessary stakeholders, including the media after which the EPA would organise a public forum in the operational area of the company for a wider deliberation on the activity.
‘‘For us in the company, it is critical that we meet the media who are our core collaborators in our work and we want to debunk the perception that the company was trying to dodge the payment of compensation to land acquired for surface mining,” they stated.
“It is also not true that Newmont has dug a tunnel to the northern part of the district to secretly mine the ore underground,” the two officials emphasised.
Messrs Aubynn and Agbeko explained further that the company had no intention to acquire new land area where people were resident but was still using the already zoned area of the company’s operations, where the need had arisen to go underneath for mining.
They stressed that the rocks in the Subika Pit were among those of the hardest in the world, and therefore, ruled out the possibility of caving in if the operations should start eventually after the exploration.
Monday, October 4, 2010
HEARTS SNATCH CRUCIAL AWAY WIN (BACK PAGE, OCT 4, 2010)
Accra Hearts of Oak halted their recent poor run at the Sunyani Coronation Park yesterday when they triumphed 1-0 over B.A. Stars in their fifth week Glo Premier League encounter.
Hearts’ first away victory of the season, courtesy Uriah Asante’s 66th minute strike, was a big relief to Coach Paa Kwesi Fabin, who was under pressure to stem the tide.
Asante latched on to a loose ball punched into play by goalkeeper Mohammed Nurudeen from a Douglas Nkrumah free-kick.
Cheered on by their vociferous fans, the Phobians continued to probe for more goals but Nkrumah’s 73rd minute effort was saved by goalie Nurudeen.
There was a temporary hold-up after 88 minutes when Kumasi-based class one referee, Patrick Kojo Kyerematen, disallowed a Joseph Halm goal for B.A. Stars following an infringement on Hearts’ keeper Sammy Adjei who saved some sticky situations for the Phobians.
Hearts’ first away victory of the season, courtesy Uriah Asante’s 66th minute strike, was a big relief to Coach Paa Kwesi Fabin, who was under pressure to stem the tide.
Asante latched on to a loose ball punched into play by goalkeeper Mohammed Nurudeen from a Douglas Nkrumah free-kick.
Cheered on by their vociferous fans, the Phobians continued to probe for more goals but Nkrumah’s 73rd minute effort was saved by goalie Nurudeen.
There was a temporary hold-up after 88 minutes when Kumasi-based class one referee, Patrick Kojo Kyerematen, disallowed a Joseph Halm goal for B.A. Stars following an infringement on Hearts’ keeper Sammy Adjei who saved some sticky situations for the Phobians.
Friday, October 1, 2010
REFUND ILLEGAL LEVIES FRESH MEN AND WOEN..S-Poly Student leaders direct (PAGE 11, OCT 1, 2010)
THE authorities at the Sunyani Polytechnic (S-Poly) in the Brong Ahafo Region, have directed leaders of all students associations who have levied freshmen and women for matriculation pictures and compulsory payment for ties and vests to refund such monies since the act was illegal.
The authorities, therefore, asked students who did not receive their monies from the associations to report to the Assistant Registrar (Academic) for redress’.
The concerns of the authorities were expressed by the Rector of S-Poly, Professor Kwasi Nsiah-Gyabaah, who was delivering a speech at the 14th matriculation ceremony and his last address as Rector of the polytechnic.
Prof. Nsiah-Gyabaah was concerned about the manner in which some unscrupulous student leaders of the institution had devised illegal means to extort monies from freshmen and fresh women and, therefore, directed that ‘‘all the associations that have collected monies from freshmen and women for items not listed by the polytechnic must refund them immediately”.
The outgoing rector also warned that ‘‘ponding’’of students was a major offence at the Polytechnic, saying that, ‘‘students who engaged in this act, will be dismissed from the Polytechnic. You are, therefore, warned to desist from such acts; for, “a word to the wise is enough’’.
Prof. Nsiah-Gyabaah disclosed that, since the establishment of the institution in 1997, the Polytechnic had grown from strength to strength and explained that, currently, its had three schools namely, School of Applied Sciences and Technology, School of Business and Management Studies as well as School of Engineering.
He said currently the Polytechnic ran 12 full-time tertiary programmes, including one Bachelor of Theology, seven Higher National Diploma (HND) and five Technicians Programme, adding that, the institution admitted students into eight professional programmes at the tertiary level and 26 Technicians and Craft courses.
The rector disclosed that, in line with its focus and mission, S-Poly is now running the Bachelor of Technology (B. Tech) in building, and that, the first and second batches of the B. Tech students, who were admitted in March and October, 2008, had completed their programmes with very impressive performances.
According to Prof. Nsiah-Gyabaah, accreditation had also been sought for additional B.Tech and HND programmes from the National Accreditation Board (NAB), saying that, in running those programmes, the Polytechnic would remain focused in providing hands-on, demand driven training for the industrial transformation of the country.
The rector said discipline was the bedrock of every developed nation and if Ghana could catch up with the developed world, then the people ought to show a high sense of discipline, pointing out that, S-Poly would, therefore, protect and support students who were humane, respectful and law-abiding.
‘‘I urge you all to avoid alcoholism, drug-abuse, absenteeism and sexual promiscuity. Be time conscious and concentrate on your studies, which are the core objectives of your admission into the polytechnic’’, Prof. Nsiah-Gyabaah advised.
Mr Samuel Ankamah Obour, the Registrar of the Polytechnic, administered the Matriculation Oath.
The authorities, therefore, asked students who did not receive their monies from the associations to report to the Assistant Registrar (Academic) for redress’.
The concerns of the authorities were expressed by the Rector of S-Poly, Professor Kwasi Nsiah-Gyabaah, who was delivering a speech at the 14th matriculation ceremony and his last address as Rector of the polytechnic.
Prof. Nsiah-Gyabaah was concerned about the manner in which some unscrupulous student leaders of the institution had devised illegal means to extort monies from freshmen and fresh women and, therefore, directed that ‘‘all the associations that have collected monies from freshmen and women for items not listed by the polytechnic must refund them immediately”.
The outgoing rector also warned that ‘‘ponding’’of students was a major offence at the Polytechnic, saying that, ‘‘students who engaged in this act, will be dismissed from the Polytechnic. You are, therefore, warned to desist from such acts; for, “a word to the wise is enough’’.
Prof. Nsiah-Gyabaah disclosed that, since the establishment of the institution in 1997, the Polytechnic had grown from strength to strength and explained that, currently, its had three schools namely, School of Applied Sciences and Technology, School of Business and Management Studies as well as School of Engineering.
He said currently the Polytechnic ran 12 full-time tertiary programmes, including one Bachelor of Theology, seven Higher National Diploma (HND) and five Technicians Programme, adding that, the institution admitted students into eight professional programmes at the tertiary level and 26 Technicians and Craft courses.
The rector disclosed that, in line with its focus and mission, S-Poly is now running the Bachelor of Technology (B. Tech) in building, and that, the first and second batches of the B. Tech students, who were admitted in March and October, 2008, had completed their programmes with very impressive performances.
According to Prof. Nsiah-Gyabaah, accreditation had also been sought for additional B.Tech and HND programmes from the National Accreditation Board (NAB), saying that, in running those programmes, the Polytechnic would remain focused in providing hands-on, demand driven training for the industrial transformation of the country.
The rector said discipline was the bedrock of every developed nation and if Ghana could catch up with the developed world, then the people ought to show a high sense of discipline, pointing out that, S-Poly would, therefore, protect and support students who were humane, respectful and law-abiding.
‘‘I urge you all to avoid alcoholism, drug-abuse, absenteeism and sexual promiscuity. Be time conscious and concentrate on your studies, which are the core objectives of your admission into the polytechnic’’, Prof. Nsiah-Gyabaah advised.
Mr Samuel Ankamah Obour, the Registrar of the Polytechnic, administered the Matriculation Oath.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)