Day: June 1, 2023

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Let’s strike a balance between economic growth and environmental conservation – Dr Awal

Dr Ibrahim Mohammed Awal, Minister of Tourism Arts and Culture, has said it was important to strike a delicate balance between economic growth and environmental conservation to protect the natural resources for future generations.

He said, 'by embracing eco-friendly initiatives, promoting responsible travel, and fostering community engagement, we can create a tourism sector that not only brings economic prosperity but also leaves a positive and lasting impact on our environment.'

Dr Awal made this observation at opening of the maiden Presidential summit on tourism, on Tuesday, in Peduase in the Eastern Region.

The two-day summit on the theme: 'Rethinking tourism for economic growth and job creation' is aimed at bringing tourism stakeholders together to explore new approaches to the industry, which prioritize national development, job creation and sustainable tourism.

He said the summit presented stakeholders the opportunity to strengthen the Public Private Partnership Forum, harness the collective wisdom and devise strategies that would elevate Ghana to new heights in the global tourism arena.

Dr Awal said the country had the opportunity to collectively shape the future of the tourism sector, by unlocking its full potential as a catalyst for economic growth, job creation, cultural preservation, and social development.

'Our commitment to sustainable tourism practices, coupled with the warm hospitality of our people, has made us a sought-after destination. However, we must not rest on our laurels.'

He said it was also important to recognize the transformative power of tourism in promoting cultural exchange and understanding.

'Ghana's vibrant arts and cultural heritage are invaluable assets that can drive tourism growth. By preserving and showcasing our traditional music, dance, visual arts, and culinary delights,

we can captivate the imaginations of travellers, enabling them to connect with our history and traditions in a meaningful way.'

The sector minister noted that in an increasingly interconnected world, technology had emerged as a vital tool in promoting tourism.

'We must leverage digital platforms, and innovative marketing strategies to showcase the best of Ghana to the global audience.

By embracing digital transformation and investing in smart tourism initiatives, we can enhance visitor experiences, improve connectivity, and create new opportunities for local entrepreneurs and small businesses.'

He urged participants to seize the moment to shape a roadmap for Ghana's tourism sector that was inclusive, sustainable, and resilient.

Mr Akwesi Agyeman, the Chief Executive Officer, Ghana Tourism Authority, said the theme for the summit resonated deeply with the vision and aspirations of the GTA in seeking to make the country a destination of choice for travellers seeking authentic experiences.

He said, 'we have in the last few years witnessed the potential of tourism in driving economic growth, creating jobs, and fostering sustainable development. However, to fully capitalize on this potential, we must constantly adapt, innovate, and rethink our approach to tourism.'

He said the GTA recognized that the tourism sector had the potential to stimulate various industries, including hospitality, transportation, arts and crafts, and agriculture.

'By strategically aligning our policies and programmes, we hope to create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive, attract investment into the sector, and empower local entrepreneurs.'

'As we rethink tourism, we must be mindful of sustainability and responsible tourism practices. The road ahead is filled with immense opportunities and I urge all stakeholders to collaborate, share knowledge, and leverage our collective expertise to unlock the full potential of tourism in Ghana. Together, let us build an inclusive and sustainable tourism sector that generates prosperity for all.'

Source: Ghana News Agency

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Association of Oil Marketing Companies launches Safety Week

The Association of Oil Marketing Companies (AOMC) has launched the 6th AOMC Safety Week Celebrations to educate and remind downstream petroleum industry players, the importance to maintain and upscale safety precautions at their operational stations.

The week is also aimed at re-enforcing the Oil Marketing Companies' obligation to human safety at their operational areas and filling stations.

It is to remind them not to engage in any work that would jeopardize the lives of their customers, and property.

Speaking at the AOMC Annual Safety Week (ASWEC), Mr Kwaku Agyemang-Duah, AOMC Industry Coordinator, stressed that within the downstream petroleum sector mistakes were not to be tolerated as just one mistake meant loss of lives, property or disability and even more specifically, revocation of operating licenses.

This informed the relevance of this year's theme: 'Your First Mistake could be Your Last,' which sought to serve as a reminder to players in the industry that contrary to the widely accepted norm of encouraging mistakes as a part of learning procedure, in some instances, 'our lives could depend on the very first one. We must not confuse poor decision-making with unintentional mistakes.'

Mr Agyeman-Duah noted that sadly, many on-the-job injuries were not accidental - they were caused, adding, 'it is possible to address the causes and prevent suffering.'

He said fortunately, in a growing number of oil marketing companies, workers, employers, and regulators were demonstrating through cooperation and dialogue, the possibility to create safer, healthier workplaces, resulting in a high level of compliance with industry standards.

He emphasized that guidelines would not make much difference unless workers themselves were able to express themselves on issues and make proposals based on their own experiences.

He said as part of the celebration the association would organize important activities around specialized training for OMC member companies to get acquainted with latest trends in efficient health and safety compliance.

'This will ensure that our consumers can transact business at our stations safely and without what ifs. Let us pledge to continue to make Safety a priority in our lives. Let us take responsibility for our safety and that of those around us. By doing so, we can ensure that we live in a safe and secure world,' he said.

Mr Herbert Krapa, Deputy Minister for Energy who launched the event noted that the Government had been working with the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), and other stakeholders to use regulations and education, to reduce accidents in downstream sector.

He said the NPA had increased the frequency of inspections and tightened its inspections regime, while Safety Operational Guidelines had been issued and were being enforced, and Bulk Road Vehicles drivers were now trained and certified by the Driver Vehicle License Authority.

He said currently one needed a special license to drive a vehicle carrying hydrocarbons, while a Cylinder Recirculation Model was being introduced to replace the old method of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Distribution, all as part of the broad measures to ensure safety within the downstream sector.

Mr Krapa also noted that OMCs were required to conduct daily safety checks, while the AOMC bore the ultimate obligation of increasing safety trainings for members.

'We also now have a Multi Stakeholder Committee of all agencies involved in issuing permits to filling stations: NPA, EPA, Fire Service and LUSPA (the Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority,' he said.

Source: Ghana News Agency

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Only licensed, accredited cybersecurity service professionals to work with public sector after September 30

Mr Joseph Cudjoe, the Minister for Public Enterprises, says the Ministry will work with the State Interest and Governance Authority (SIGA) to ensure that after September 30, 2023, only licensed and accredited cybersecurity service providers and professionals are allowed to provide service in the public sector.

He said because the country had a collective responsibility to ensure that Critical Information Infrastructure were protected from cybersecurity attacks.

The Minister said this during a working visit at the Cyber Security Authority (CSA) Office in Accra.

A statement copied to the GNA said the visit also afforded the Minister the opportunity to interact with management and staff of CSA.

Mr Cudjoe said the CSA was one of the most vital institutions of State considering its role and mandate in the country's digitisation agenda and elated over the level of collaboration Ghana was enjoying through the Memoranda of Understanding signed by the CSA with other African countries.

He charged all government and private institutions that performed critical roles for the State to develop cybersecurity policies based on the directives on Protection of Critical Information Infrastructure launched by government two years ago in conformity with Section 35, of the Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038).

Dr. Albert Antwi- Boasiako, Director General, CSA, said the Cybersecurity/ Cybercrime Incident Reporting Points of Contacts (POC), which was launched in 2018, had become 'a major means of preventing many Ghanaians and businesses from becoming victims of cybercrime'.

Source: Ghana News Agency

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Collapse of buildings: Investigators deployed to incident areas

A team of investigators has been deployed to communities that recorded collapse of storey buildings under construction to unravel the actual cause(s) of the disasters.

The country, within two weeks, recorded four separate cases of collapse of storey buildings under construction, three of which occurred in the Greater Accra Region and one in the Northern Region.

The investigators have been grouped into four, comprising five members each, drawn from four built environment professional institutions - Ghana Institute of Architects, Ghana Institute of Planners, Ghana Institution of Engineering, and the Ghana Institution of Surveyors. They are to investigate the circumstances that led to the collapse of the storey building under construction at the Old Bortianor, Adentan, and La Nkwatanang-Madina municipalities of the Greater Accra Region, and the University of Development Studies Campus in the Sagnarigu Municipality of the Northern Region.

Mr Foster Osae-Akonnor, President of the Ghana Institute of Architects, told the Ghana News Agency that the investigators commenced work on May 22, 2023, and had since been collecting relevant information in accordance with their terms of reference.

He said investigations were progressing steadily at the various sites, adding that he was confident that the task would be completed by June 5, 2023.

'The Assemblies and all relevant stakeholders are cooperating with them,' Mr Osae-Akonnor said.

Meanwhile, preliminary investigations by the Engineering Council of Ghana had cited poor supervision particularly on the part of local Assemblies as a major contributory factor to the collapse of the buildings under construction.

Mr Wise Ametefe, the Registrar of the Council, earlier told the GNA that preliminary investigations at the disaster sites had revealed that the owners of the buildings either did not obtain permits or extended the buildings beyond what was approved.

In the case of the Bortianor Church building incident, the Council said preliminary investigations had showed that there were 'a lot of flaws in the construction'.

'Concrete columns were there without reinforcement. Concrete work was done porously…there was very little supervision,' Mr Ametefe said.

Source: Ghana News Agency

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Speaker courts support for Ghana Nuclear Energy Programme

Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has called for reliable and sustainable funding for Ghana's Nuclear Energy Programme to achieve the intended purpose.

He said for a viable programme such as the Nuclear Energy project to achieve the intended purpose, serious attention must be given to financial challenges.

The Speaker made the call at a meeting with the Board of Directors of Nuclear Power Ghana (NPG), led by its Chairman, Professor Benjamin J. B. Nyarko, when they called on him at the Parliament House in Accra.

The Board was in Parliament to brief the Speaker on the progress made on the programme as well as explore ways to ensure the successful implementation of Ghana's only nuclear energy programme, a statement issued by the Public Affairs Directorate of Parliament, and copied to the Ghana News Agency, said on Wednesday.

The Speaker pledged the support of Parliament towards the overall success of the programme and called for immediate steps to be taken to protect lands allocated for the programme from encroachment.

Prof Nyarko emphasised the long-term benefits of the programme to Ghana's industrialisation drive, including reducing, considerably, the cost of power for industrial use.

He, however, expressed worry over the current limited staff, the lack of agency coordination, and low nationwide information, communication and education initiatives as some challenges inhibiting the smooth operation of the project.

'Nuclear implementation demands competences in specific areas of specialisation. Unfortunately, employment across the key institutions has been limited,' he said.

'Currently the NPG draws staff from the Volta River Authority, Bui Power Authority, and the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission and have a staff strength of about 20.'

Ghana's effort to exploit the peaceful applications (including power generation) of nuclear science and technology dates to the early 1960s when the first President decided to undertake the Ghana Nuclear Reactor Project (GNRP) by establishing the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission.

Unfortunately, the nuclear ambition was truncated due to political instability until 2007 when the Government established a Nuclear Power Committee to explore the feasibility of using nuclear energy to meet the country's growing energy needs.

The programme has since gained momentum, and Ghana is now on track to becoming the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to operate a nuclear power plant.

Source: Ghana News Agency