The Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development (MLGDRD) has expressed satisfaction with operations of the Kumasi Compost and Recycling Plant (KCARP) which facility also hosts the Kumasi Wastewater Treatment Plant at Adagya in the Bosomtwe District in the Ashanti Region. According to the sector Minister, Dan Kwaku Botwe, based on that satisfaction, the government will continue to collaborate with the Jospong Group Companies (JGC) to make sure that the operations of the group inure to the benefit of Ghanaians. Mr Botwe made the observation when he led a delegation of directors from his outfit to pay a working visit to the KCARP on Friday, March 25, 2022. The visit afforded the minister and his team the opportunity to familiarise themselves with operations of both KCARP and the wastewater treatment plant. Mr. Botwe explained that it also formed part of his ministry's monitoring role of JGC operations, particularly in the light of the fact that the government has an agreement with the group. "For 2015, the Kumasi Compost and Recycling Plant and 2012, for the Accra Compost and Recycling Plant, the Ministry of Local Government Decentralisation and Rural Development we have a Management Service Agreement with this organisation (the JGC), and before any agreement is done, we continuously monitor what they do to make sure that they are living up to the agreement that we have with them," he said. He was particularly impressed about ongoing expansion works at the KCARP, stressing that it will help cater for the growing waste in the Greater Kumasi Area. These ongoing expansion works at KCARP, he intimated, will definitely affect the 2015 Waste Management Service Agreement between the government and KCARP. "...so we felt that it was very necessary for us to come here to have a first feel of what is happening. And our staff, of course, keep on monitoring the agreement we have with the Composts both in Kumasi and Accra," he further said. Mr. Botwe gave the assurance that his team will follow up with another visit to the plant to have a more detailed discussion with the JGC for review and areas of improvement so far as the agreement was concerned. He averred that his ministry will always ensure value for money in contracts such as this. He disclosed that the MLGDRD will also be visiting the Accra Compost and Recycling Plant soon. Continuing, Mr. Botwe indicated his resolve to ensure that Parks and Gardens which is currently under his ministry collaborates with JGC to help the state agency green the country using compost materials and fertilisers produced by the compost plants in both Accra and Kumasi. "...and you would have taken notice of the fact that early this year, we doing everything to revamp Parks and Gardens: we gave them brand new trucks, water tankers, mowers and other things. I am aware that Jospong Group of Companies gave them some water tankers sometime ago, out of their corporate social responsibility," he said. Furthermore, he pointed out that the Ministry of Local Government Decentralisation and Rural Development was looking at ways of encouraging Ghanaians to have gardens and grass their environs. The Executive Chairman of JGC, Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong, contended that his group has had a "very good relationship with the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, adding that the ministry has been very supportive. In this regard, he commended Hon. Botwe, for taking time off his tight schedules to visit the KCARP. Such visits, he noted, help spur them on to do more in a professional way. Again, Dr. Siaw Agyepong said the KCARP was also an academic facility which takes in students from the Kumasi University of Science and Technology (KNUST). "We have about 4 lecture halls at KCARP that are often used by student interns from KNUST and also for practical knowledge," he revealed. Earlier, the General Manager of KCARP, Samuel Ntumy, conducted Hon. Botwe and his team around the two treatment plants. KCARP, he said, has the capacity to receive 1,200 tons of solid waste, adding that when its expansion works are completed, the plant will be able to take in another 1,200 tons of waste making 2,400 tons in total. He was full of praise for Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, who he said was magnanimous to give them land to construct the plants. He said KCARP and the Kumasi Wastewater Treatment Plant, which receive 1,200 tons of solid waste and 1,000 tons of liquid waste respectively were the first of their kind in Africa. Below are some pictures: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Happy Fm’s popular presenter and entertainment show host, Doctor Cann has passed on. He died Friday after an undisclosed ailment. Management of Global Media Alliance owners of Happy Fm confirmed his unfortunate demise in a statement Friday evening. “It is with a heavy heart that Management of Global Media Alliance Group announces that we have lost one of the members of the GMABC family, Francis Cann, popularly known in the Showbiz Industry as Doctor Cann, who passed away on Friday 25th March, after a short illness,” the management confirmed. Until his death, Doctor Cann was the Host of Ayekoo After Drive and Showbiz Xtra on Happy FM. Several of his friends and colleagues from the entertainment fraternity, have since been pouring out their condolence messages on social media. Cann was born Francis Ebo Cann to Francis Sylvester Cann and Gloria Ofosua. He hails from Saltpond in the Central region and was married to Dorcas Cann. He left behind his wife and two sons namely Nigel and Nino Cann. Before working with HappyFM, the late Dr Cann worked with Sunrise FM in Koforidua, GBC radio in Accra and Radio Winbay in Winneba. Credit: Daily Guide Network

The Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources in charge of mines has made a passionate appeal to chiefs and elders of Ada to throw their weight behind Electrochem Ghana Limited and help the company succeed. Speaking after a working inspection of the concessions of Electrochem Ghana, Hon. Duker said that the success of Electrochem will inure to the benefit to the Ada community as well. He noted in his tour of the area that Electrochem Ghana has invested in the town and committed resources to developmental projects. He observed that Electrochem Ghana has undertaken developmental projects in the areas of sports, education, electrification among others. Hon. Mireku Duker emphasized the objective of government to raise Ghanaian entrepreneurs in the mining sector and that the establishment of Electrochem feeds into that agenda. The Deputy Lands Minister said that salt mining presents the country another opportunity to diversity its mineral resources and that Ghanaian-owned companies like Electrochem need to be empowered. He said that Electrochem and other salt mining companies are adding value to salt production in the country and thereby creating employment and revenue with their ability to export the product. He said that Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources will provide unflinching support to the company and the community to ensure the success of the union. He concluded his speech with an appeal to aggrieved persons in the area to down their tools and rally behind Electrochem. Before the visit to the Electrochem, Hon. Duker engaged the chiefs of the area when he drummed home the importance of salt mining to the country. Announcing the purpose of his visit to the traditional leaders, Hon. Duker said government is determined to resolve the impasse between a section of the traditional authorities and Electrochem Ghana Limited over the mining of salt at the Songhor Lagoon. He stated that salt mining, especially on the large -scale offers the country significant benefit and that it is important that proactive steps are taking resolve the problem. “Our purpose is to fraternize with you and also to encourage to support government as to the need for us strengthen the natural resource base of the country. Fortunately for us we are endowed with resources. Our focus is not only to enhance gold mining, diamond and manganese but also deepen the salt industry. “Songhor has existed for ages but the name has not impacted on this country so we want to find out and resolve to have some form of positive impact on our economy. “As a ministry it is our duty to create the enabling environment for investors who are determined to support and build local people to champion their vision. The President has tasked us to build local champions within the mining industry so we more than ready to support indigenes of this country to build the mining industry,” he said. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government has received overwhelming commendations and a seal of approval from the Ada Traditional Council for its dedication to the promotion of salt mining in the area. In a statement of appreciation to the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources after it intervened in the impasse between a section the traditional council and Electrochem Ghana Limited Nene Lomo IV, the Divisional Chief of Lomobiawe who acted as the Spokesperson of the Council said that the government ought to be applauded for the decisive and proactive manner it has handled the issue. Reacting to the call for support for Electrochem by the Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, George Mireku Duker, Nene Lomo IV said that the Council will ensure that the peaceful coexistence and all forms of support needed by the company to thrive will be provided by the chiefs. He talked up the impact of Electrochem in the area, stressing that the arrival of the mining firm has created job opportunities and improved living standards of the people in the area. Hon. Duker, in accordance with a directive from the sector minister, Samuel A. Jinapor paid a working visit to the area to ‘fraternize with the chiefs’ and create the needed awareness about Electrochem' presence and its operations in the area. Speaking after an inspection tour of the concessions of Electrochem Ghana, Hon. Duker said " the success of Electrochem will inure to the benefit of the people of Ada and the entire community". He noted that, Electrochem Ghana has already invested heavily in the town and committed resources some key developments projects, stressing that Electrochem Ghana has undertaken developmental projects in the areas of sports, education, electrification among others. Hon. Mireku Duker emphasized the the unwavering commitment of government to raise Ghanaian entrepreneurs in the mining sector saying " that the establishment of Electrochem feeds into that laudable agenda". The Deputy Lands Minister said that salt mining presents the country another opportunity to diversify her mineral resources and that Ghanaian-owned companies like Electrochem needs to be empowered. He pointed out that Electrochem and other salt mining companies are adding value to salt production in the country and thereby creating employment opportunities and revenue and with its ability to export the product. “As a Ministry it is our duty to create the enabling environment for investors who are determined to support and build local champions, The President has tasked us to build local champions within the mining industry so are we more than ready to support indigenes of this country to build a robust mining industry,” he said. Below are some pictures: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The much anticipated World Cup Qualifiers between the Black Stars of Ghana and Super Eagles of Nigeria ended in a stalemate. Although the two countries played their hearts out, it was unfortunate that either of them could find the back of the net. With what seemed to be an overhyped clash, supporters from both country were patiently waiting to see who would own the bragging right. In the first department of the game, it is emerging that both Ghana and Nation could not create enough chances. The sharp attacking force of the Super Eagles could not fly above the Black Star. Information gathered indicates that Baba Yara Sports Stadium was sold out with majority of the spectators being Ghanaians. The Nigerians did not disappoint as a respectable number made it to the stadium to cheer them on. The heavy security present made most of the spectators feel at ease as they felt well protected. The second half saw the Nigerians presser higher. Their efforts almost gifted them a penalty however, the referee overruled the decision. Ghana, on the other hand will feel very disappointed for not winning at its home grounds as it awaits to fly to Nigeria for the next leg. However, some Ghanaians are confident, the Black Stars will make it to Qatar 2022. Politicians, teachers, students, among a host of others rallied their support for Ghana. The draw has left Ghana in a shaky position as it is unclear if the team will fly to Nigeria to perform wonders. The rivers between the countries does not stop at football. Jolly rice, good music, love, church and politics are a few to mention. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) in partnership with the Nineteen Ninety-Seven (1997) year group of Achimota Secondary School have launched the 'Daabi Campaign', an awareness programme aimed at advising the youth to stay away from drugs. According to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the FDA, Delese Mimi Darko, the objectives of the 'Daabi campaign' in schools are to increase coverage of substance abuse awareness in secondary and tertiary level institutions, and develop the youth as ambassadors in disseminating the dangers of drug abuse. She also mentioned that the campaign seeks to advance the inclusivity of educational institutions in the FDA strategic plan for mitigating substance misuse in Ghana. Explaining further, Madam Darko said “The Daabi Campaign simply put is an FDA initiative against substance abuse. Drug abuse is an abnormal pattern of substance use that persists despite adverse social, psychological, or medical consequences. The Say No to Drug Abuse music video dubbed “Daabi” features key industry players such as Kuami Eugene, Article Wan, Bogo Blay, Eno Barony, Amrado, Yaa Yaa amongst others” “Indeed, I must applaud the efforts of my team at the FDA, MUSIGA under the presidency of Bice Osei Kufour popularly known as Obuor and the individual contributions of each and every artiste featured in this video. The lyrics and pictorial depictions of the video positions it as a vibe and a promising banger for the 2022 music charts” She told the students that the World Drug Report, 2021 shows that, globally, the number of people using drugs are projected to increase 11 per cent by 2030 because of demographic changes alone; and low-income countries account for the lion’s share of this rise. She revealed that the number of drug users in Africa are projected to rise in the next decade by as much as 40% as a result of the demographic peculiarities of this region. Madam Darko stressed that the population in Africa is relatively younger, and drug use is higher among young people than older people. “In Ghana, statistics show that more than 2700 boys and 3100 girls smoke cigarettes each day and shisha use is also higher in girls (1.7%) than boys (1.6%) probably due to the misconception that shisha is a safer alternative to cigarettes. Shisha has similar or even have worse health risks” With the FDA having previously embarked on and seen the positive impact of interventions such as public education amongst the populace especially among the youth sees the substance abuse music video as an innovative strategy that takes into cognizance the vulnerability of the youth and the urgent need to comprehensively address the situation. She was optimistic that together, the nation can leverage on the audiovisual advantage and the far-reaching network of the entertainment industry to strongly communicate the economic psychosocial and above all the health consequences of drug abuse. “The FDA appreciates youth-led partnerships such as the OAA offers and welcomes other similar initiatives. The official launch today kick starts a nationwide campaign in schools in collaboration with the entertainment industry, media, other stakeholders, and the general public” “Also, the FDA will introduce the FDA Drug Abuse Scheme which seeks to encourage student-led initiatives against substance abuse and in the long run establish a nationwide FDA network of drug abuse youth ambassadors. This drug abuse peer to peer prevention programme seeks to sustain the ‘Daabi campaign’ which is to be replicated in other schools” In an exclusive interview with Thinknewsonline.com, Madam Delese said “I am worried about the rate at which the youth especially girls are abusing drugs. It is dangerous to their health and I will appeal to them to stop. Sometimes it is not the punishment that will make them stop but continuous advice can cause a great change” “On the selection of the Artists for these projects, we threw our cards out to all but it was these few who openly accepted and came on board to bus this agenda and I optimistic that they can through music caused a change in the lives of the youth” She appealed to parents not to leave the life of their wards into their own hands adding that a guardian who fails to perform his or her duty lives to regret the damage he or she will cause the child in future. In other developments, the 1997-year group held a bonfire to climax their 25th anniversary after completing school. The 1997 group used the bonfire celebration to mourn and pay rest to fourteen (14) of its members who had passed away. In honouring their fallen colleagues, the old students observed a ‘balloon release’ in which 14 white helium-filled balloons were unleashed into the sky. Artists such as Kuami Eugene, Eno Barony, Article Wan, Mr. Drew and DJ Vyrusky thrilled the students and old school mates with good music. Watch the video and pictures below: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Benito Owusu-Bio has revealed the Appiatse Reconstruction Implementation Team has designed a new spatial plan for the Appiatse Community. According to the Minister, the Implementation Team is working in deep consultation with the citizens of the town and its leaders as well as professionals from the Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority to redesign the Appiatse township Addressing Journalists, the Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Benito Owusu-Bio said "This plan makes room for additional social spaces like transportation terminals, clinics, schools, markets and expansion of roads" He also added that the implementation team have also secured temporary structures at Odumase, a nearby community. The Deputy Minister stressed that as the country enters the rainy season, it is clear that affected citizens cannot remain in tents at Appiatse. "Working together with Future Global Resources Company Limited, (FGR) we have secured structures for a planned relocation as a temporary shelter for the Appiatse citizens" "We are currently preparing road designs with costs estimates for the Ministry of Roads and Highways. Those of you who may have visited the community know that there was a good amount of work to be done regarding Appiatse roads" He noted that, the explosion also did some considerable damage to roads that were otherwise in good shape. He mentioned that in building Appiatse back, it must include the roads in the community. "A Request for Proposals will go out on Monday, 28th March 2022 for interested contractors to bid for the designing and construction of buildings. We expect to start construction by the end of April, 2022" Hon. Owusu-Bio told Journalists that there are many other activities that have been done over the last two months. "I want to thank the citizens of Appiatse for their resilience and the warm cooperation they have offered as we work with them to rebuild their town" "I want to especially thank the Chief of the area and his elders, the Regional Minister Hon. Okyere Darko and the Municipal Chief Executive of the Prestea Huni Valley Municipality, Dr. Isaac Dasmani for their immense leadership during this period. I also want to thank the team and the many government agencies, departments and personnel who have worked with us during this period" It will be recalled that earlier this year, the country witnessed a disaster that left all shaken, both literally and figuratively. A vehicle conveying explosives for mining was involved in an accident and the materials being transported erupted. The devastation that was caused was been captured by citizens in snippets of videos and pictures that went viral. "We have all been witnesses to the tremendous work that the fire service, police, and other first responders did in the immediate aftermath of the event. On behalf of the country, I wish to express our gratitude to them. But after the initial response, is rebuilding" The Appiatse Reconstruction Implementation Team was created to do the big and important job of rebuilding the town and other affected communities. The Reconstruction Implementation Team has been working around the clock on its mandate. On her part, the Chairman of the Appiatse Support Fund Committee, Rev. Dr. Joyce Aryee who sat in the briefing shared a few thoughts saying "part of leaving out portions of the community untouched, like the hills and mountains, is part of the green concept that the President would like us to implement" "In addition, having these very narrow roads, to encourage walking and bicycling, is also part of the Green idea  because the more vehicles we use, the more carbon monoxide we put out, the more we destroy the environment and the planning has taken all these into account" She added. Rev. Dr. Joyce Aryee applauded the Reconstruction Committee on their progress made while beckoning the general public saying that global warming is not "European" and therefore "all hands must be on deck to ensure it's eradication and all these presentations tell us that this is real and therefore we must come together to get this project done". She hinted that her Committee will soon meet the media, providing details on funds collected and also jaw-jaw on how to solicit more funds for the project, adding that it's not always about the quantum but the ability to sustain the inflow of contributions. Mr. Mohammed Alhassan Damba, the Director for Research, Monitoring and Evaluation of the Land Usage and Spacial Planning Authority (LUPSA), gave a detailed presentation on the redesigned local plan for the Appiatse Reconstruction on behalf of the Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Kwadwo Yeboah, who is also a member of the committee. In his presentation, he noted that the plan which has been designed to accommodate about 870 people on 205.64 acres of land seeks to forster a vibrant human environment by balancing residential land use with complementary land meant for commercial, industrial and public services. He said to a large extent, the plan maintains the pre-disaster cultural settings and lifestyle of the people, providing four different varying land sizes; 185sqm, 279sqm, 372sqm, 585sqm and access networks that promote walkability to keep the community closely knit. Mr. Damba alerted that to incorporate sustainability and climate resilience principles, 15% of the total land area has been earmarked as places for ecological assets such as water ways, green parks and green reserves in wetlands and hilly areas, adding that tree planting corridors have also been provided along major roads. Mr. Blankson Hemans, a member of the team and representative from the Ghana Institute of Architects gave a brief presentation on the way foward, clearly stating that the road networks within the settlements are the first construction works that will begin the entire project in April ending. He explained that from the plan design, the team will be moving on to designing the actual houses which has warranted the requests for proposals from contractors for the reconstruction. Detailing the number of houses expected in the new Appiatse Commmunity, Mr. Hemans said 124 houses will be erected in the core area of the community flattened completely by the explosion, plus some other 292 building which will be simply retouched, bringing the total number of houses to be constructed to 416 houses of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 bedroom apartments. In a recent interview with the BBC, The Hon. Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel A. Jinapor announced that the reconstruction of the Model Appiatse community will be completed in a space of 12 months and this timeframe, the reconstruction committee is committed to meet. Below are some pictures: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Ghana Police Service has outlined some security measures ahead of the Ghana vs Nigeria World Cup Qualifiers slated for March 25 at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium. According to the Police, in ensuring officials of GFA, CAF and FIFA of an incident-free event, it has deployed personnel in and out of the stadium and within the Kumasi Metropolis. In a statement signed by the Director-General, Public Affairs, ACP Kwesi Ofori, he said "As part of the arrangements, there will be an additional deployment of Highway and Motorbike Patrols to augment the existing security deployment along all the eight (8) entry routes into Kumasi and other adjourning regions. "At the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) has made adequate provisions to ensure effective traffic management. Below is a copy of the release: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The former England striker, Jermain Defoe has announced his retirement at the age of 39. Defoe scored 20 goals in 57 games for his country and travelled to the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012. His career ended with a second spell at Sunderland, with his final appearance coming as a substitute in Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Lincoln in League One. “After 22 years in the game, I have decided to retire from professional football,” he posted on Instagram. “It’s been a really tough decision, and one I have discussed with my family and those closest to me.” Defoe is the ninth-highest scorer in the Premier League, with 162 goals in 496 appearances. He began his career with West Ham and had two spells with three clubs – Tottenham, Bournemouth and Sunderland – in addition to playing for Portsmouth, Major League Soccer’s Toronto FC and Rangers. “I made my professional debut at 17 years old in 1999, and I feel now is the right time to bow out,” he said. "I have had an incredible journey, and have met some amazing people in the game.“ "Football will always remain in my blood, and it gives me great pride and satisfaction to look back on the blessed career that I’ve had. I now look forward to spending some quality time with my friends and family.” Defoe was part of the Tottenham side that won the League Cup in 2008 and last year lifted the Scottish Premiership title with Rangers. He made his England debut in March 2004 in a 1-0 defeat to Sweden during the reign of Sven-Göran Eriksson. His final cap came in a 2-2 World Cup qualifying draw with Scotland in 2017. In addition to his exploits on the field, Defoe developed a close friendship with the terminally ill Sunderland supporter Bradley Lowery. “Thank you to all the fans from each club I’ve played for,” it said. “The love I have received and (which) endured throughout my career will never be forgotten, and I will always have a special bond with you all. Thank you also to my amazing teammates, coaches, and staff for playing such an integral part in my career" “Lastly, I want to say thank you to my mum. You gave me a ball at two years old, and you made me believe my dream could happen. All that I am is because of you, and I owe everything to you and God.” Credit: The Guardian

Information reaching Thinknewsonline.com indicates that Ghana has recorded two cases each of measles and rubella. The Director, University Health Services at the University of Ghana, Dr. Mark Frempong in a statement said "The University Health Services (UHS) is therefore bringing this information to the attention of the University Community so that students and staff will be on the lookout for possible cases" He also charged the public to refer recorded cases to the hospital for appropriate care and management. Touching on symptoms, he said "With measles, some of the symptoms are; dry cough, running nose, sore throat, inflamed eyes, kopliks' spots and skin rash" "On Rubella, the symptoms are; sore throat, fever, headache, headache, conjunctivitis, swollen lymph in the neck and cough" It is emerging that the cases were recorded in the Greater Accra Region. Below is a copy of the release: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Ghana has suffered another massive injury blow ahead of the decisive 2022 World Cup playoff clash with Nigerias on Friday as Moldova-based midfielder Edmund Addo has been released from the squad due to injury, GHANASoccernet.com can exclusively report. The decision to release the UEFA Champions League sensation means the tough tackler will also not be available for the Black Stars in the second-leg to be played in Abuja on Tuesday. The FC Sherrif star arrived in Ghana with an injury (unspecified) he picked up playing for his club side at the weekend and thought he would recover in time for the two important matches. GHANASoccernet.com understands, the 21-year-old underwent an MRI on Wednesday in Kumasi and the result showed severe damage. Addo is expected in the capital Accra on Thursday to see a specialist at Korle-Bu Teaching hospital. Already, the Black Stars have been ravaged by injuries with the likes of Baba Rahman, Kamaldeen Sulemana, Samuel Owusu, Richmond Boakye-Yiadom sitting out this month's contest. Addo popped up in Europe with some superlative displays for FC Sheriff in this season's UEFA Champions League. His consistent displays earned him a place in Ghana's squad for the delayed 2021 Africa Cup of Nations which was held in Cameroon this year. This rules him out of selection for the first leg which will be played in Kumasi on Friday, 25 March 2022 and the return leg in Abuja four days later at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium. The winner of the tie will be in Qatar for the World Cup later this year. Ghana are aiming for a fourth appearance after missing the 2018 edition in Russia, while Nigeria are hoping to qualify for a seventh. Credit: GhanaSoccernet.com

As part of a nationwide programme to protect lives on Ghana’s water bodies, boat owners and passengers at Akateng in the Upper Manya Krobo of the Eastern Region have been senistised on various safety protocols. Among the safety measures include avoiding overloading, wearing of life jackets and also keeping the boats and canoes tidy at all times. Additionally, the boat owners and commuters were also given free life jackets. The programme is an initiative of the government through the Ministry of Transport in partnership with ZOIL (ECOZOIL), one of the subsidiaries of the Jospong Group of Companies (JGC). It is equally aimed at cleaning the country’s landing sites and its surrounding communities. Addressing the media, the General Manager (GM) of ZOIL, Mrs. Abitha Odame-Nyanteh, expressed her outfit’s delight in collaborating with the government to undertake this project. “Aside from protecting lives of commuters on the Volta Lake, we also assist in training individuals to set up control units to monitor various activities of the clean-up exercise on the landing sites,” she added. This, she explained, will help create job avenues and also reduce the unemployment rate in the country. “This project is not only for Akateng but a national exercise. And I pray it helps reduce the incidence of accidents on our water bodies to protect precious lives of Ghanaians,” she expressed. According to her, the core mission of the JGC which ZOIL is a member is to improve lives of Ghanaians. She was hopeful that the programme after its completion would yield positive impacts in helping to “save lives on our water bodies.” The National Coordinator for Volta Lake Transport Safety Project, Mrs. Yaa Oforiwaa, explained that the programme was necessitated by safety concerns on the Volta Lake. “Following concerns of safety on our Volta Late, the Ministry of Transport partnered ZOIL to undertake this project of massive clean-up exercise on the country’s landing sites, and also educate the inhabitants around the landing sites as well as boat operators across the country,” she said. She said the landing sites on the Volta Lake have become so untidy, a situation that was posing health risks to residents. “It is along this reason that the Ministry of Transport partnered ZOIL to undertake this all important exercise. And in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goal Six (Clean Water and Sanitation), it is required that we give our valuable Ghanaians access to healthy and quality water and also improve the sanitation of our various communities and Ghana as a whole,” she indicated. She, therefore, entreated residents around water bodies to change their attitudes, cautioning them to refrain from dumping refuse into the lake. “For all you know, the lake rejects this dumped refuse, posing a lot of health threats,” she noted. She was upbeat that the ongoing public education will promote safety on the Volta Lake. “This is because we have provided them with logistics like life jackets to protect lives on the lake,” she disclosed. “Also, in order to sustain this exercise, a group of people have been trained to be monitoring always. This is not a one-off exercise but a continuous one which will be carried out nationwide,” she assured. Mrs. Oforiwaa stated that the public education was also to educate people to appreciate the essence of maintaining a serene environment. Some boat owners who spoke to the media were excited about the programme. Mr. Nartey Quainoo, a Boat Inspector and an owner, was full of praise for the partnership between the Ministry of Transport and ECOZOIL to protect lives on the Volta Lake. “We will take the education serious, and I as a boat inspector and an owner will ensure that henceforth, there will be no overloading of passengers on the boats to avoid accidents on the lake. I will also ensure that all my passengers have life jackets on,” he gave a firm assurance. Madam Juliana Odi, a market woman who also spoke to the media, commended ECOZOIL for the donation of the life jackets. “We as market women use the boat regularly for our trading business. And in fact getting life jackets is a real headache. We are, therefore, grateful for the donation of life jackets by ECOZOIL. It will go a long way to save lives of commuters,” she expressed. Below are some pictures: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith