Monday, June 7, 2010

Volta Lake Transport Now Safer

Monday May 24, 2010
By Edmund Mingle

Transport on the Volta Lake
Travelling on the Volta Lake has become safer with the increasing presence of life guards who are contributing towards safe lake transportation in the country.

The life guards, provided by Zoil Services Limited, a subsidiary of Zoomlion Ghana Limited, now constantly monitor transportation and other activities on the Volta Lake to ensure that lives and property are protected.Since last year, hundreds of lifeguards have been trained and deployed, and have successfully intervened in accident situations to save lives and goods from drowning.

Samuel Opoku Manu, Managing Director of Zoil Services, who disclosed this to newsmen, said the objective of the Volta Lake Transport Enhancement Project, under which the lifeguards were deployed, was achieving the desired results.

The Volta Lake Transport Enhancement Project was initiated by the company as its contribution to resolve the perennial accidents on the lake, he explained and stated.

"We are committed to ensuring that no life is lost should an accident happen on the lake." Zoil's lifeguards, who are present in the 739 communities along the Volta Lake , apart from rescue operations, also undertake such activities as public awareness creation against over loading and poor boat maintenance.

Mr. Opoku Manu, Managing Director of Zoil Services, briefing newsmen, said the lifeguards had so far successfully conducted a number of rescue operations.

In one of their recent operations, he said 10 life guards in a swift response, saved a driver and his two mates from drowning when their truck loaded with farm produce fell off the Dambai ferry into the lake.
After saving the three men, the lifeguards also retrieved the food items from the lake, he said, adding that their work had earned them the admiration of people in the communities.

To ensure the safety of passengers on boats, Mr Manu said the company had also been donating lifejackets to boat owners for use by available to passengers crossing the lake.In addition, he said the company had provided speed boats and communication gadgets to enable the lifeguards to operate effectively.

President Charges Judiciary To Improve Upon Its Performance

Wednesday June 02, 2010
By Edmund Mingle

President John Evans Atta Mills yesterday charged the Judiciary to re-examine itself and work towards improving its performance.
He assured of non-interference by government in its work but said the Judiciary should work hard to engender public confidence in the judicial system.

An enhanced performance, devoid of perceived biases, is urgently needed to win the total confidence of the general public, he said, explaining that the role of the judiciary in the country's development process could not be taken for granted.

President Mills, gave the admonition when members of the Judicial Council called on him at the Castle, Osu, in Accra.
The Council, led by the Chief Justice, Mrs. Georgina Theodora Wood, was at the Castle to discuss with the President issues described as pertinent.

"I admit that our judicialy system is not perfect, but we have to work at it to ensure that people's confidence in the judiciary will be total and absolute, he said, and expressed worry about the complaints from the public, such as delays in trails.

The President commended the judiciary for its contribution to the country's development in spite of the challenges, and assured the Service of government's full support and co-operation.

"I want to assure you that my government will do whatever it takes to make sure that service conditions in the Judicial Service are improved, he said, pledging government's assistance in the provision of accommodation facilities of judges and officers of the judiciary to improve their work.

The Chief Justice, in her brief remarks before the meeting went behind closed doors, thanked the government for the enormous support being offered to the Judiciary.

She cited the government's financial support for the construction of a new 34-court-room complex in Accra, the release of a parcel of land for the establishment of a Judiciary Training Institute to serve as a centre of excellence in Africa, and the replacement of vehicles for judges, saying it was laudable assistance for which the judiciary would remain grateful.

The council, she, said had instituted measures to ensure an effective management of the Judicial Service, adding that it was determined to deal with issues of financial management and effective supervision of the courts.

Proper supervision of the court, she said, would ensure that cases were not delayed unduly, and loopholes that led to corrupt practices were plugged.