THE Northern Regional Youth Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Adam Mohammed Amin Abio, has entreated the youth of the party to adhere to approved channels and structures within the party to get their legitimate demands met.
He also advised them against lawlessness, urging them to be patient with the government since it was putting in place the necessary structures to meet their aspirations.
Mr Amin said this at the handing over ceremony and swearing in of a seven-member executive of the Tertiary Education Institutions Network (TEIN) of the NDC at the Nyankpala campus of the University for Development Studies (UDS).
The organiser stressed “taking the law into your own hands is not the best way; it is unfortunate that because we are in power, some of the youth think that one must be rich within a particular period which is not the best.”
“I condemn what is currently going on in the region where some youth are aggrieved and would want to do anything just to get their demands; this is not a healthy sign for the party, the region and the country at large,” Mr Amin emphasised.
The organiser who is also the Regional Co-ordinator of the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) enjoined the youth to be keepers and protectors of the NDC government to enable the party to win the 2012 general election.
He announced that the party in the region would establish a regional youth fund to create more job opportunities as well as support the activities of the NDC youth.
Mr Amin further stated that a community radio station for the NDC youth would also be established.
The Deputy National Organiser of the NDC Capt. Joshua Hamidu Akamba (retd), appealed to the youth in the region not to destroy the region through conflicts, adding that most of the conflicts were being orchestrated by some selfish people in Accra.
The incoming President of TEIN, Mr Amidu Awudu, on behalf of his colleagues, pledged to lay a solid foundation to ensure that the NDC won the 2012 general election.
He said measures would also be put in place to diminish the strength of political opponents on campus and improve on the party’s image and communication on campus.
On behalf of the new executive, Mr Awudu promised to ensure that ladies on campus took active part in the activities of TEIN.
The outgoing President of TEIN, Mr Jerry John Amedzro, mentioned lack of funds and logistics on campus as some of the challenges the outgoing executive faced while in office.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Sunday, March 28, 2010
WATER CONSUMERS IN NR OWE GH¢1,697 (PAGE 23, MARCH 27, 2010)
DOMESTIC and commercial water consumers in the Northern Region owe the Aqua Vitens Rand/Ghana Water Company Limited (AVRL/GWCL) GH¢1.697 million as of February, this year.
The water company also loses more than 50 per cent of its water provided to consumers through illegal connections in the area.
Additionally, the proliferation of water sachet producers and car washing bays, particularly in the Tamale Metropolis, some of which allegedly engage in illegal water connection, is said to be a major problem bedevilling the water sector in the region.
The Regional Customer Care Manager of AVRL/GWCL, Mr Kwabena Tabiri, made this known during an interaction with media practitioners in Tamale as part of activities marking this year’s World Water Day celebration.
The event was on the theme: “Clean water for a healthy world.”
According to Mr Tabiri, while the Food and Drugs Board in the metropolis claimed there were about 70 water sachet water producers in the region, the company had on its record only 40 of such producers.
He stressed that his outfit would ensure that those operating illegally and using water without paying their bills were brought to book.
Mr Tabiri said about 34 per cent of customers had meters while 66 per cent of them did not, adding that the company had acquired about 4,000 meters to be supplied to customers who had no meters.
The manager expressed concern about the way some politicians had been interfering with the work of the AVRL staff anytime they wanted to arrest recalcitrant customers.
“Until we change our attitude, there is little that we can do as a company to improve upon the situation in the Northern Region,” he pointed out.
The Regional Production Manager of the AVRL/GWCL, Mr Joseph Azumah, stated that in 1999, the water facilities at Dalun were expanded to produce 4.5 million gallons of water daily.
He added that in 2008 the water facilities were expanded again to provide 10 million gallons of water daily.
Mr Azumah announced that by 2015, demand for water would increase from about 39,749 cubic meters to 49,392 cubic meters daily.
He said there was the need to expand the current facilities by about 37,500 cubic meters to meet the increasing demand.
Mr Azumah mentioned frequent power interruptions, low voltage and high voltage, and power failures as some of the major challenges facing the water company in its quest to provide adequate and sustainable water supply.
He said such operational problems like old and obsolete equipment, failure of equipment, tampering with valves and invasion of facilities had bedevilled the water delivery system over the years.
The Regional Distribution Manager of AVRL/GWCL, Mr Wisdom Bortier said high water demand during dry season, weak pipelines and construction of structures on pipelines causing leakage, were the other challenges facing the company.
The AVRL General Manager of Area, Mr Samuel Mensah observed that this year’s celebration was aimed at raising the profile of water quality by encouraging governments, organisations, communities and individuals around the world to find solution to water quality issues.
The Assistant Communications Officer of AVRL, Nii Abbey Nicholas expressed optimism that a series of educational campaigns would be carried out in the future to help change public attitude towards the prompt payment of bills and the avoidance of illegal connections.
The water company also loses more than 50 per cent of its water provided to consumers through illegal connections in the area.
Additionally, the proliferation of water sachet producers and car washing bays, particularly in the Tamale Metropolis, some of which allegedly engage in illegal water connection, is said to be a major problem bedevilling the water sector in the region.
The Regional Customer Care Manager of AVRL/GWCL, Mr Kwabena Tabiri, made this known during an interaction with media practitioners in Tamale as part of activities marking this year’s World Water Day celebration.
The event was on the theme: “Clean water for a healthy world.”
According to Mr Tabiri, while the Food and Drugs Board in the metropolis claimed there were about 70 water sachet water producers in the region, the company had on its record only 40 of such producers.
He stressed that his outfit would ensure that those operating illegally and using water without paying their bills were brought to book.
Mr Tabiri said about 34 per cent of customers had meters while 66 per cent of them did not, adding that the company had acquired about 4,000 meters to be supplied to customers who had no meters.
The manager expressed concern about the way some politicians had been interfering with the work of the AVRL staff anytime they wanted to arrest recalcitrant customers.
“Until we change our attitude, there is little that we can do as a company to improve upon the situation in the Northern Region,” he pointed out.
The Regional Production Manager of the AVRL/GWCL, Mr Joseph Azumah, stated that in 1999, the water facilities at Dalun were expanded to produce 4.5 million gallons of water daily.
He added that in 2008 the water facilities were expanded again to provide 10 million gallons of water daily.
Mr Azumah announced that by 2015, demand for water would increase from about 39,749 cubic meters to 49,392 cubic meters daily.
He said there was the need to expand the current facilities by about 37,500 cubic meters to meet the increasing demand.
Mr Azumah mentioned frequent power interruptions, low voltage and high voltage, and power failures as some of the major challenges facing the water company in its quest to provide adequate and sustainable water supply.
He said such operational problems like old and obsolete equipment, failure of equipment, tampering with valves and invasion of facilities had bedevilled the water delivery system over the years.
The Regional Distribution Manager of AVRL/GWCL, Mr Wisdom Bortier said high water demand during dry season, weak pipelines and construction of structures on pipelines causing leakage, were the other challenges facing the company.
The AVRL General Manager of Area, Mr Samuel Mensah observed that this year’s celebration was aimed at raising the profile of water quality by encouraging governments, organisations, communities and individuals around the world to find solution to water quality issues.
The Assistant Communications Officer of AVRL, Nii Abbey Nicholas expressed optimism that a series of educational campaigns would be carried out in the future to help change public attitude towards the prompt payment of bills and the avoidance of illegal connections.
US$700,000 RAISED FOR TB RESEARCH (BACK PAGE, MARCH 27, 2010)
An amount of $700,000 has been mobilised by the Ghana Health Service (GHS) in collaboration with the National Tuberculosis Control Programme (NTCP) to conduct a comprehensive research into the extent of TB infection in the country.
The effort is to enable the country to plan effectively towards TB control and to achieve the Millennium Development Goals on TB.
The last time the Ministry of Health (MoH), in partnership with the World Health Organisation (WHO), conducted a similar study on the disease in the country, was in 1957.
The National TB Control Programme Manager, Dr Frank Bonsu, who made this known in Tamale at the national launch of the World TB Day celebration, explained that an additional $1.5 million was needed urgently to conduct the exercise.
He said the WHO had already spent over $100,000 to provide technical assistance to kick-start the exercise and appealed to the MoH to help raise the additional funds needed for the research project.
Dr Bonsu stressed that “Ghana must not fail to raise this amount in the interest of the poor TB patients and the larger society; the GHS research institutions and the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research have the capacity to undertake this important national assignment”.
Giving an overview of the disease in the country, Dr Bonsu indicated that last year, a total of 15,301 people were confirmed to have been infected with TB.
He said the figure represented five-per cent increase over last year’s figure of 14,536, while a total of 642 children were also diagnosed of the disease last year.
“The higher percentage rise of TB cases for children means two things; that our healthcare providers are now vigilant and that our surveillance system was working effectively making more cases to be diagnosed,” he further explained.
The manager announced that four regions did exceptionally well with regard to treatment of the diseases.
They are the Northern, Volta, Ashanti and Central regions. “Greater Accra, Western and Brong Ahafo regions were also astounding with excellent performance with TB treatment success exceeding 85 per cent,” he added.
In a speech read on his behalf, the Vice-President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, called on stakeholders including civil society groups to collaborate to reduce the prevalence rate of the disease.
“It is, however, encouraging to note that progress has been made in the fight against TB but we need to do things differently to accelerate efforts towards achieving the MDG’s targets for TB in 2015,” he said.
The Director-General of the GHS, Dr Elias Sory, called on the public not to shy away from going for regular medical check-ups to detect TB.
The Deputy Minister of Health, Mr Rojo Mettle-Nunoo, said over 30 per cent of all avoidable deaths occurred in Third World countries, adding that the disease affected mostly those between the ages of 15 and 59.
He announced that there were 1,059 TB treatment centres and 274 diagnostic centres throughout the country, saying case detection was one of the major challenges to reducing the prevalence rate of the disease.
The Northern Regional Director of Health Services, Dr Akwasi Twumasi, expressed regret that the region was expected to detect 4,541 TB cases last year but only 549 cases were detected representing a case detection rate of only 12 per cent.
The effort is to enable the country to plan effectively towards TB control and to achieve the Millennium Development Goals on TB.
The last time the Ministry of Health (MoH), in partnership with the World Health Organisation (WHO), conducted a similar study on the disease in the country, was in 1957.
The National TB Control Programme Manager, Dr Frank Bonsu, who made this known in Tamale at the national launch of the World TB Day celebration, explained that an additional $1.5 million was needed urgently to conduct the exercise.
He said the WHO had already spent over $100,000 to provide technical assistance to kick-start the exercise and appealed to the MoH to help raise the additional funds needed for the research project.
Dr Bonsu stressed that “Ghana must not fail to raise this amount in the interest of the poor TB patients and the larger society; the GHS research institutions and the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research have the capacity to undertake this important national assignment”.
Giving an overview of the disease in the country, Dr Bonsu indicated that last year, a total of 15,301 people were confirmed to have been infected with TB.
He said the figure represented five-per cent increase over last year’s figure of 14,536, while a total of 642 children were also diagnosed of the disease last year.
“The higher percentage rise of TB cases for children means two things; that our healthcare providers are now vigilant and that our surveillance system was working effectively making more cases to be diagnosed,” he further explained.
The manager announced that four regions did exceptionally well with regard to treatment of the diseases.
They are the Northern, Volta, Ashanti and Central regions. “Greater Accra, Western and Brong Ahafo regions were also astounding with excellent performance with TB treatment success exceeding 85 per cent,” he added.
In a speech read on his behalf, the Vice-President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, called on stakeholders including civil society groups to collaborate to reduce the prevalence rate of the disease.
“It is, however, encouraging to note that progress has been made in the fight against TB but we need to do things differently to accelerate efforts towards achieving the MDG’s targets for TB in 2015,” he said.
The Director-General of the GHS, Dr Elias Sory, called on the public not to shy away from going for regular medical check-ups to detect TB.
The Deputy Minister of Health, Mr Rojo Mettle-Nunoo, said over 30 per cent of all avoidable deaths occurred in Third World countries, adding that the disease affected mostly those between the ages of 15 and 59.
He announced that there were 1,059 TB treatment centres and 274 diagnostic centres throughout the country, saying case detection was one of the major challenges to reducing the prevalence rate of the disease.
The Northern Regional Director of Health Services, Dr Akwasi Twumasi, expressed regret that the region was expected to detect 4,541 TB cases last year but only 549 cases were detected representing a case detection rate of only 12 per cent.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
5,000 HOUSEHOLDS IN NR RECEIVE LEAP ASSISTANCE (PAGE 20, FEB 19, 2010)
FIVE thousand households with Orphaned Vulnerable Children (OVC) in the Northern Region have been supported with GH¢150,000.
The facility was provided under the Emergency Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme.
The beneficiaries are located in the East Gonja, West Gonja, East Mamprusi, West Mamprusi and Sawla-Kalba-Tuna districts.
The programme was aimed, among other objectives, at providing relief to worst affected households during the 2009 floods.
The Regional Director of the Department of Social Welfare, Mr John Ankrah who made this known to the Daily Graphic in Tamale, stated that each household was given GH¢30.
According to him, 25 communities benefited from the programme.
Mr Ankrah explained that the LEAP programme was meant to complement the existing pro-poor government intervention by catering for the basic needs of the vulnerable and less fortunate people in the society.
“The LEAP has additionally been designed to respond to emergency situations by providing livelihood support to households made vulnerable by natural or manmade disasters,” he stated.
Mr Ankrah said in natural and man-made disasters such as floods in northern Ghana, poor households for instance became even more vulnerable and sank deeper into poverty.
He said the effects of those problems were not far-fetched as the victims lost the opportunity to bounce back from those shocking disasters.
“Unless the government seriously deals with vulnerability, in parallel to promoting economic growth, poverty would not be reduced; the role of social protection is to assist people to get out of poverty and cope better with risk,” the director stressed.
The facility was provided under the Emergency Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme.
The beneficiaries are located in the East Gonja, West Gonja, East Mamprusi, West Mamprusi and Sawla-Kalba-Tuna districts.
The programme was aimed, among other objectives, at providing relief to worst affected households during the 2009 floods.
The Regional Director of the Department of Social Welfare, Mr John Ankrah who made this known to the Daily Graphic in Tamale, stated that each household was given GH¢30.
According to him, 25 communities benefited from the programme.
Mr Ankrah explained that the LEAP programme was meant to complement the existing pro-poor government intervention by catering for the basic needs of the vulnerable and less fortunate people in the society.
“The LEAP has additionally been designed to respond to emergency situations by providing livelihood support to households made vulnerable by natural or manmade disasters,” he stated.
Mr Ankrah said in natural and man-made disasters such as floods in northern Ghana, poor households for instance became even more vulnerable and sank deeper into poverty.
He said the effects of those problems were not far-fetched as the victims lost the opportunity to bounce back from those shocking disasters.
“Unless the government seriously deals with vulnerability, in parallel to promoting economic growth, poverty would not be reduced; the role of social protection is to assist people to get out of poverty and cope better with risk,” the director stressed.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
TAMALE IS A PEACEFUL CITY (PAGE 29, JAN 22, 2010)
“MY brother I never knew Tamale was that peaceful and beautiful. Whenever we hear of disturbances in the area, we become apprehensive because of the negative publicity over the years.”
This remark made by Mr Agbeko Ben Coffie, the Volta Regional Correspondent of Joy FM, summed up the views and impressions of most visitors to the metropolis when the 8th national delegates congress of the NDC was held in the metropolis at the weekend.
Mr Coffie, who visited the metropolis for the first time, could not hide his feelings as he was full of praise for residents.
Indeed, the peace and stability of the area was put to the test but the event was successfully hosted.
For most of the visitors to the metropolis, their apprehension when they got to know that the city was to host that important event gave way to excitement and satisfaction after the congress.
At the end of the day, residents, including chiefs and opinion leaders, were commended by both politicians and visitors for the peaceful nature of the event.
The visitors observed that owing to the negative publicity gained by the area over the years, many of them nearly refused to attend the congress for fear that it might end up in chaos.
Delegates, media practitioners and dealers in party paraphernalia were equally astonished about the level of peace they experienced in the area.
Madam Afia Dadziwa, a dealer in party paraphernalia who travelled from Accra to transact business in Tamale during the two-day congress, was happy but surprised at the peaceful nature of the congress that enabled her to do brisk business.
It is heart-warming to note that dealers in food, particularly guinea fowl, clothing and smock, had a field day and cashed in on the event.
Some dealers in fruit drinks and commercial drivers apparently took advantage of the event and slightly hiked their prices and charges for their services.
Mobile phone service providers also made good sales as most of them succeeded in selling all their products, including SIM cards, by the close of the event.
It was also gratifying to note that drinking spots, fast food joints, restaurants, Internet cafes, salons, hotels, guest houses and chop bars were all busy with activities and equally made huge sales.
Owners of such businesses described the event as timely and wished similar events would be organised in the metropolis.
The well laid out roads with pedestrian and bicycle lanes, the level of infrastructural development, the hospitality exhibited by residents, the appetising and sumptuous traditional dishes, as well as the general peaceful atmosphere, were the toast of visitors to the metropolis.
One pertinent question is: Will this success chalked up by residents of Tamale after the NDC congress change the perception of the north as a volatile area?
This remark made by Mr Agbeko Ben Coffie, the Volta Regional Correspondent of Joy FM, summed up the views and impressions of most visitors to the metropolis when the 8th national delegates congress of the NDC was held in the metropolis at the weekend.
Mr Coffie, who visited the metropolis for the first time, could not hide his feelings as he was full of praise for residents.
Indeed, the peace and stability of the area was put to the test but the event was successfully hosted.
For most of the visitors to the metropolis, their apprehension when they got to know that the city was to host that important event gave way to excitement and satisfaction after the congress.
At the end of the day, residents, including chiefs and opinion leaders, were commended by both politicians and visitors for the peaceful nature of the event.
The visitors observed that owing to the negative publicity gained by the area over the years, many of them nearly refused to attend the congress for fear that it might end up in chaos.
Delegates, media practitioners and dealers in party paraphernalia were equally astonished about the level of peace they experienced in the area.
Madam Afia Dadziwa, a dealer in party paraphernalia who travelled from Accra to transact business in Tamale during the two-day congress, was happy but surprised at the peaceful nature of the congress that enabled her to do brisk business.
It is heart-warming to note that dealers in food, particularly guinea fowl, clothing and smock, had a field day and cashed in on the event.
Some dealers in fruit drinks and commercial drivers apparently took advantage of the event and slightly hiked their prices and charges for their services.
Mobile phone service providers also made good sales as most of them succeeded in selling all their products, including SIM cards, by the close of the event.
It was also gratifying to note that drinking spots, fast food joints, restaurants, Internet cafes, salons, hotels, guest houses and chop bars were all busy with activities and equally made huge sales.
Owners of such businesses described the event as timely and wished similar events would be organised in the metropolis.
The well laid out roads with pedestrian and bicycle lanes, the level of infrastructural development, the hospitality exhibited by residents, the appetising and sumptuous traditional dishes, as well as the general peaceful atmosphere, were the toast of visitors to the metropolis.
One pertinent question is: Will this success chalked up by residents of Tamale after the NDC congress change the perception of the north as a volatile area?
NO LAND LITIGATION FOR INVESTORS (PAGE 29, JAN 22, 2010)
INVESTORS in the Tamale metropolis have a lot to gain if they channel their resources towards unearthing the potential in the sprawling city.
For one thing, the Town and Country Planning Department has given an indication that investors stand to gain a lot owing to the little land litigation in the metropolis.
The Northern Regional and the Tamale Metropolitan directors of the department, Messrs Sylvester Gyogluu and Zikiru Sulley Shittu, respectively, told the Daily Graphic that the relatively fewer land litigation cases in the metropolis should be an incentive to investors to invest in the area and give employment to the youth.
Indeed, investment opportunities exist in the area, including large tracts of arable land, the arts and culture industry and leather processing.
The metropolis that covers a land area of approximately 750sq km also has the potential for an irrigation scheme. The Pagazaa river which collects all the waters of the streams could be dammed for irrigation purposes.
There are some artificial dams and dug-outs, including the Bulpela, Lamashegu and Fooshegu dams.
According to the directors of the department, some infrastructural service providers had plans to extend water and electricity to the peri-urban communities to support investment in the area.
They, however, cautioned against the practice of putting up structures in the metropolis before obtaining permits.
They explained that when some structures were marked “remove by order”, it meant that their owners did not obtain permits and that the structures were illegally constructed.
The directors indicated that the Building Inspectorate Department of the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly (TAMA) was responsible for posting such warning signs on illegally constructed structures.
They described the processes for obtaining a permit as getting a site plan from the landowner, a title from the Lands Commission, drawing up one’s building plan, purchasing Town and Country Planning forms 1 and a development permit from the District Town Planning Office.
The steps included filling of the forms with the help of an architect, payment of the required fees and a receipt bearing dates for site inspection.
The directors noted that town planners were required to visit the site for inspection and request for corrections if necessary.
They, however, stressed that a permit would only be granted after meetings of the Technical and Statutory Planning committees.
The process takes between three and four months after submission of the application.
Touching on the activities of the Town and Country Planning Department, the directors stated that the greatest challenge facing it was the enforcement of bye-laws on planning.
Mr Gyogluu particularly mentioned that the proposed planning law placed emphasis on community participation in planning, saying, “Gone are the days when technocrats and experts planned for people.”
“Planning should now be seen as a highly democratic principle, instead of a technical principle,” he explained.
For one thing, the Town and Country Planning Department has given an indication that investors stand to gain a lot owing to the little land litigation in the metropolis.
The Northern Regional and the Tamale Metropolitan directors of the department, Messrs Sylvester Gyogluu and Zikiru Sulley Shittu, respectively, told the Daily Graphic that the relatively fewer land litigation cases in the metropolis should be an incentive to investors to invest in the area and give employment to the youth.
Indeed, investment opportunities exist in the area, including large tracts of arable land, the arts and culture industry and leather processing.
The metropolis that covers a land area of approximately 750sq km also has the potential for an irrigation scheme. The Pagazaa river which collects all the waters of the streams could be dammed for irrigation purposes.
There are some artificial dams and dug-outs, including the Bulpela, Lamashegu and Fooshegu dams.
According to the directors of the department, some infrastructural service providers had plans to extend water and electricity to the peri-urban communities to support investment in the area.
They, however, cautioned against the practice of putting up structures in the metropolis before obtaining permits.
They explained that when some structures were marked “remove by order”, it meant that their owners did not obtain permits and that the structures were illegally constructed.
The directors indicated that the Building Inspectorate Department of the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly (TAMA) was responsible for posting such warning signs on illegally constructed structures.
They described the processes for obtaining a permit as getting a site plan from the landowner, a title from the Lands Commission, drawing up one’s building plan, purchasing Town and Country Planning forms 1 and a development permit from the District Town Planning Office.
The steps included filling of the forms with the help of an architect, payment of the required fees and a receipt bearing dates for site inspection.
The directors noted that town planners were required to visit the site for inspection and request for corrections if necessary.
They, however, stressed that a permit would only be granted after meetings of the Technical and Statutory Planning committees.
The process takes between three and four months after submission of the application.
Touching on the activities of the Town and Country Planning Department, the directors stated that the greatest challenge facing it was the enforcement of bye-laws on planning.
Mr Gyogluu particularly mentioned that the proposed planning law placed emphasis on community participation in planning, saying, “Gone are the days when technocrats and experts planned for people.”
“Planning should now be seen as a highly democratic principle, instead of a technical principle,” he explained.
SCRAP DEALERS IN TAMALE FACE CHALLENGES (PAGE 29, JAN 22 , 2010)
SCRAP dealers in the Tamale metropolis are now losing huge sums of money as profits and business capital due largely to the high cost of materials.
They equally complain of alleged undercutting by some foreign nationals who are in similar business in the metropolis, thereby killing the businesses owned by residents of the area.
They have entreated the government to come up with an effective policy to regulate the activities of scrap dealers and set up a revolving fund for them.
They also stressed the need for non-governmental organisations and the private sector to support the dealers, since it would ultimately generate more employment for the youth of the area.
Mr Salifu Abukari, a scrap dealer whose shop is located on the Tamale Water Works road, did not mince words when he told the Daily Graphic that as a result of the challenges being faced by the dealers in the industry, he incurred losses to the tune of GHC5,200.
According to him, another dealer in the metropolis had, from the beginning of this year, incurred a GHC8,500 loss, while others also made losses in various sums.
“My brother, are you prepared to give me some money? Please I need money to sustain my business,” he lamented.
He further intimated that for a dealer to sustain his business, he needed not less than GH¢40,000.
Mr Abukari has about 10 people working under him who assist him to produce consumer items such as buckets, coal-pots, bowls, dustbins, gates and block laying machines.
“The scrap business is a big industry that supports almost all the various sectors of the economy. Talk, for instance, of the construction and housing industries,” he noted.
He suggested that it was necessary for those in the industry to form a formidable association to fight for their rights.
But he was quick to point out that the people in the industry were apathetic towards the formation of the association.
Mr Abukari further pointed out that the implementation of a policy that reduced the loading weight of articulated trucks loaded with scraps from 40 to 30 tonnes per truck had adversely affected the profit margins of the dealers.
He noted that transporting scrap from Tamale to Accra cost between 1,800 and 2,000 Ghana cedis.
“Because of the high cost of materials, we now purchase vehicle body frames which are cheaper for us,” he stressed.
They equally complain of alleged undercutting by some foreign nationals who are in similar business in the metropolis, thereby killing the businesses owned by residents of the area.
They have entreated the government to come up with an effective policy to regulate the activities of scrap dealers and set up a revolving fund for them.
They also stressed the need for non-governmental organisations and the private sector to support the dealers, since it would ultimately generate more employment for the youth of the area.
Mr Salifu Abukari, a scrap dealer whose shop is located on the Tamale Water Works road, did not mince words when he told the Daily Graphic that as a result of the challenges being faced by the dealers in the industry, he incurred losses to the tune of GHC5,200.
According to him, another dealer in the metropolis had, from the beginning of this year, incurred a GHC8,500 loss, while others also made losses in various sums.
“My brother, are you prepared to give me some money? Please I need money to sustain my business,” he lamented.
He further intimated that for a dealer to sustain his business, he needed not less than GH¢40,000.
Mr Abukari has about 10 people working under him who assist him to produce consumer items such as buckets, coal-pots, bowls, dustbins, gates and block laying machines.
“The scrap business is a big industry that supports almost all the various sectors of the economy. Talk, for instance, of the construction and housing industries,” he noted.
He suggested that it was necessary for those in the industry to form a formidable association to fight for their rights.
But he was quick to point out that the people in the industry were apathetic towards the formation of the association.
Mr Abukari further pointed out that the implementation of a policy that reduced the loading weight of articulated trucks loaded with scraps from 40 to 30 tonnes per truck had adversely affected the profit margins of the dealers.
He noted that transporting scrap from Tamale to Accra cost between 1,800 and 2,000 Ghana cedis.
“Because of the high cost of materials, we now purchase vehicle body frames which are cheaper for us,” he stressed.
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