Hot!
GPHA commissions 4 new craft …names them after retired staff
A group picture of the retired personnel and their families and some dignitaries
The Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) has commissioned four marine crafts christened after four former members of staff who worked with dedication.
They include a former Director of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), Mr Jacob Kwabla Adorkor, a former General Manager for the Fishing Harbour, Kumi Adjei-Sam, a former Director of the Port of Takoradi, Captain Joseph Eric Quansah and a Director of Port of Takoradi, Captain Edmund Deri Ziem.
The ceremony was attended by the Deputy Minister for Transport, Mr Frederick Obeng Adom and high profile officers of GPHA.
The boats are made up of two pilot boats named Capt Edmund Deri Ziem, and Kumi Adjei-Sam both deceased and would transport maritime pilots between the shore and the inbound or outbound ships they are piloting.
They would also ensure that pilots could efficiently and safely embark and disembark from vessels as they navigate through the ports and harbours under the jurisdiction of the GPHA.
The security patrol boats on the other hand which adds up to the infrastructure of the institution would enhance port operations and avert threats such as terrorism, smuggling, illegal migration, piracy, and unauthorised access to sensitive areas.
Addressing guests at the commissioning, the Deputy Minister for Transport, Frederick Obeng Adom said the boats would boost the operational capacity of the Ports of Tema and Takoradi, adding that the investment would translate into having more business from clients.
He observed that this would ensure a quick turnaround time for vessels while enhancing GPHA’s capacity to be able to receive modern container vessels and bulk carriers.
The Director General of the GPHA, Mr Michael Achagwe Luguje expressed appreciation to the retired personnel for their commitment and dedication that contributed to the significant achievements of the port community.
He said it was a tradition for the GPHA, to recognize staff whether dead or alive for their hard work and dedicated service.
One of the beneficiary retired staff, Mr. Adorkor thanked the port and urged the youth to take a cue from the gesture and give their best while in service.
In an interview with The Spectator he said, he was happy and proud that one of the crafts had been named after him and three others.
He described it as a rare honour for people to work with an institution and years later invited to be recognised in such an extraordinary way.
He therefore encouraged the youth to do their best even when it looked like no one was watching them because it would pay off at the end of the day.
Hot!
Traders, ‘Okada’ riders take over Circle pavement
• Korle-Bu CEO with staff of Nivaansh MediQas
Activities of traders and drug addicts are contributing to make the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange (Circle) area very uncomfortable and unsafe for commuters.
Day in and out, pedestrians are ‘ejected’ from the pavement created for their safety as traders preferred to sell their wares on that space.
That hinders the free movement of the pedestrians.
The small space left for the pedestrians are also shared with ‘Okada’ riders.
As if these woes are not enough for a commuter on a single day, they also have to navigate carefully to avoid clashes with drug addicts and the mentally challenged.
These people have turned the pavements into their places of abode, covering every inch of space with their wares.
Our photographer, Lizzy Okai, captures some of the unfriendly scenes the authorities must try and deal with to restore sanity to the area.
By Lizzy Okai
Hot!
NDC outlines demands before committing to Peace Pact
The National Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, has set forth specific conditions that the party insists must be met before considering signing the Peace Pact advocated by the National Peace Council in anticipation of the December 7 elections.
Mr. Nketia expressed scepticism about the effectiveness of past Peace Pacts, highlighting that they had not achieved their intended outcomes, particularly referencing the 2020 elections, during which eight NDC members were allegedly killed by national security operatives without accountability.
During an August 20 meeting with the National Peace Council at the NDC headquarters, Mr. Nketia detailed the certain conditions for the NDC’s participation in the Peace Pact.
The NDC is demanding that the recommendations from the investigation into the violence during the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election be fully implemented.
They also want those responsible for election-related violence in the last election to be prosecuted, stressing the importance of justice and prevention.
The party is calling for accountability regarding irregularities in the printing of ballot papers and insists that visible measures be taken to prevent such issues from happening again.
They are also pushing for a thorough investigation into the missing IT equipment from the Electoral Commission’s (EC) warehouse, expressing concerns about the integrity of the EC’s systems and the potential bias of its staff.
Furthermore, the NDC is urging the President to publicly commit to respecting the results of the 2024 elections. Lastly, the party insists that the Peace Pact should be signed by key figures, including the Inspector General of Police, the Chief Justice, the Attorney-General, and the National Security Coordinator, before they will consider signing it themselves.
Source: Citinewsroom.com
