The Transport and Communications Ministries are engaged in talks to find ways of resolving the impasse between the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) and the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMET) over reported non-payment for meteorological services rendered by the GMET from 2007 to 2013. The two Ministries, which have direct oversight over the two feuding entities, hope to resolve the issue amicably in the shortest possible time.“The two Ministries and the agency [GMET] are meeting to resolve the issue. The GACL is contesting the claim for the payment [of US$2million to the GMET], †Mr. Twumasi Ankrah Selby, Chief Director of the Ministry of Transport, told the B&FT in an interview. Last week, the Director-General of the Ghana Meteorological Agency, Captain Stephen Komla (Rtd), said his outfit is considering suing the GACL in order to retrieve about US$2million owed it for meteorological services provided to airport facilities in the country. The dispute seems to be over whether both the industry regulator, Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), and GACL should be paying for the services of GMET, or it is the GCAA alone that should pay -- which is the position held by the Airports Company. The issue dates back to 2007 upon the separation of the regulatory and operational functions of the GCAA, which had signed an agreement with the GMET to pay a percentage of its landing fees to the Agency. While the GCAA maintained the regulatory function, a separate company -- the GACL -- was set up. The company was registered in January 2006 with the responsibility for planning, developing, managing and maintaining all airports and aerodromes in Ghana: namely the Kotoka International Airport (KIA), the regional airports in Kumasi, Tamale and Sunyani as well as various airstrips. The Company commenced business on 1st January 2007. With the two entities fully operational, airport landing fees were shared between them -- 60 percent to Ghana Airport Company and 40 percent to the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority. “The two entities were expected to pay a percentage of their respective landing fees to the GMET. The GCAA, after the decoupling, has continued to pay a percentage of its landing fees to the GMET, but the GACL has reneged on its responsibility,†a highly placed source in the aviation industry told the B&FT. While acknowledging that the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), the industry regulator, has made regular payments for services rendered, Capt. Rtd. Komla said in spite of several reminders his outfit is yet to receive any payments from the GACL. The GMET in a correspondence to some stakeholders, which was seen by the B&FT, is seeking their support in retrieving the monies from the GACL. The Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMET), set up to provide efficient and reliable meteorological information to end-users, currently faces difficulties in securing funds and recovering part of its costs of providing general, aeronautical, and maritime meteorological information. Due to the challenges, stakeholders say there is need to re-examine ways of funding the Agency to enable it execute its mandate.“We need to find a way of resourcing the GMET going forward, because it is currently grossly under-funded,†the source said. By Dominick ANDOH
Mr. Ato Van-Ess has been re-elected as the Chairman of the Sekondi-Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry (STRCCI) for a two-year term. The other executives are Mr. Cadmond Dadzie as Vice Chairman; Mr. Matthew Ade, Treasurer; and Mr. Vincent Annan remains the Executive Secretary. Speaking to the media after the election, Mr. Van- Ess explained that it is the vision of the STRCCI to be Ghana’s most influential business organisation -- providing maximum value to its membership by recognising and encouraging the private sector’s role as the driving force of the economy. “Over the past three years, we have been able to create and sustain reinforcing relationships among businesses, the community and development partners such as GIZ, BUSAC Fund, Business Development Services Fund among others in areas such as provision of technical expertise, capacity building for members, as well as advocacy,†he said. He said today’s STRCCI will focus on a broad range of activities and support for both business and communities, adding "I will lead to strategically direct the chamber through the coming years." According to him, the chamber will provide business-building programmes from trade shows to business development and management seminars and training to discounts on business-related goods and services. “We will offer-one stop solutions for starting a business and be the primary source for businesses and individuals seeking information on the business climate in the Western Region,†he added. At the moment, he said, the Chamber is embarking on speedy passage of the local content bill which is before parliament into law -- when this is passed, it will protect local businesses and encourage them to expand and sustain their operations. “Every single business within the metropolis and the region at large will have to be doing well to maximise profit -- we will come up with more attractive programmes and network with other chambers across the world as we have been doing,†he said. By Juliet AGUIAR, Takoradi
Accra Brewery Limited (ABL) has launched its cassava beer, “Eagle Lagerâ€, at Ho in the Volta Region. Eagle Lager is brewed with 70 percent cassava and has been introduced after years of research into overcoming the challenges of processing and brewing with cassava, a staple in Ghana. Togbe Afede XIV, Paramount Chief of the Asogli State in the Volta Region who was the special guest at the event, said Eagle Lager brings new hope to cassava farmers because it will motivate them to shift from subsistence crop farming to commercial status. “I am informed that the farmers who grow the cassava for Eagle Lager beer receive extension services from the International Fertiliser Development Centre. This is a wise move to draw in more people into the farming business. I would therefore advise farmers in this area to take advantage of this brilliant opportunity to transform the region, their lives and that of their families.†Gregory Metcalf, Managing Director of Accra Brewery Limited, said: “The valued support of SABMiller and the Ghanaian government has now made it possible to bring this combined brewing and supply-chain innovation to Ghana. “We are most grateful to Government for their foresight in recognising the enormous socio-economic potential of the initiative. “Our initiative will create what we call a ‘virtuous circle’: consumers can afford consistently high-quality beer; our smallholder cassava farmers have a guaranteed market for their crop; and Government realises increased revenues as people trade up into formal, taxable alcohol consumption.†The launch of ABL’s commercial “Chibuku†plant last month saw the livelihoods of 550 maize and sorghum farmers being impacted. This new cassava project will have an initial 1,500 farmers supplying the cassava, with positive implications on their livelihoods as well. ABL expects this number to grow as it steps-up production of Eagle Lager. Increasingly, ABL is contributing to rural wealth development, which is of immense importance to the business’ sustainable development agenda. Commenting on the new initiative, the representative of the Regional Minister said: “We in Government are happy to note that companies such as ABL, through their sustainable development agenda, have deemed it fit to use locally-grown cassava for this product. “This is a major boost to farmers in this region. The arrival of Eagle lager is proof that SABMiller has long-term plans for its businesses in Ghana. The Volta Region has many areas where cassava is the main cash crop, and I would urge ABL to focus their attention on these areas. This will definitely transform lives and communities.†Farmers in Ghana produce more than enough cassava for domestic consumption; however the surplus is difficult to bring to market due to the rapid deterioration immediately after harvesting. This cassava initiative from Accra Brewery offers marketing opportunities to subsistence farmers. It allows them to continue to feed their families due to increased productivity while also generating income from the extra cassava.
The National Lottery Authority (NLA) has warned illegal lottery operators in the country to end their operations with immediate effect, saying it will soon organise a task-force to rid them out of the system. This was disclosed by the Director for Special Projects, George E. Gyamfi-Osew, after he had presented a cheque for GH¢5,000 and 50 pieces of T-shirts to the Omanhene of the Techiman Traditional council to support their Apoo Festival celebration. Addressing the Omanhene, Oseadeeyo Akumfi Ameyaw IV, and his elders at his palace, Mr. Gyamfi-Osew said the NLA contributes a large portion of the nation’s revenue and deserves to be protected from the illegal operators -- also called “Banker to Banker†operators. During its 50th anniversary celebration last year, the NLA presented a cheque for GH¢20million to overnment. Besides that, it plays a major role in promoting health, sports, education and culture among others. The Omanhene commended the Authority for its attention to heritage and culture. Nana Akumfi Ameyaw IV urged the NLA to give intensive education on the importance of the organisation to the country.
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