President, NEF Participants Commend Veep

By Edmund Mingle

President Mahama (left) with his Deputy, Vice President Amissah-Arthur

Participants at the just ended National Economic Forum, have lauded the immense contribution and performance of Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, whose contribution they say led to the successful consensus achieved at the forum.

According to them, the exemplary contribution and zeal exhibited by the Vice President to develop practicable solutions to the challenges facing the nation, highly motivated the participants to give off their best.

Many of the participants, particularly those who know the Vice President from a distance, said they were surprised at the performance of the Vice, expressing confidence that the President has a good backing.

The participants’ commendation followed President John Mahama’s public appreciation to his deputy for his immense contribution and commitment towards addressing the challenges confronting the economy.

Closing the forum held at Senchi, near Akosombo in the Eastern region after the adoption of the Senchi Consensus which proffered vital practical solutions to the nation’s economic problems, President Mahama renewed his confidence in the Vice President, saying his contribution to national development and leadership demonstrated at the forum, “is not short of exemplary.”

He was confident that his deputy would continue to lead the Economic Management Team, which he said had been emboldened by the Senchi consensus, to develop the pursue the necessary interventions for economic growth.

Dr. Steve Manteaw, Coordinator of the Integrated Social Development Centre (ISODEC), said “he gave a very good account of himself.”

According to him, the Vice President’s workaholic nature, incisive knowledge and high level of openness surprised many, adding that he remain active throughout the three day forum to ensure that the outcome was successful.

“I think that he showed a great deal of commitment and dedication to the whole process. He contributed to the discussions and he was deeply involved.

“I’m not privy to what he does when he is out of the public view, but the fact that the person is not in the public view does not necessarily mean he is not working.

“But I can speak to what I’m privy to and that is the fact that he is a very hard working person, very dedicated and committed and a damn good facilitator,” he said.

Kof Asamoah, Secretary General of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), said said he was in total agreement with the commendation by the President.

He said he considered the performance the Vice President worth emulating, adding that “his determination to get the work done” remained admirable.

 “He actively co-ordinated the whole thing from the very beginning till the end and sometimes into the late night and it was just appreciable that he was on his feet all through from the planning stages. It was quite commendable and encouraging.”

  
According to political analysts, the performance of the Vice President, who work output was in full glare for all the dozens of participants, corrects the negative impression about him.

According to the analysts, although the Vice President is known workaholic in government cycles, his absence from public view gives an impression that he was not working.

That impression, they said may have fuelled speculations that others were been groomed to take up the NDC running mate position for the 2016 elections.

Atuabo Residents Yearn for Free Port Project

From Edmund Mingle, Atuabo

Residents of Atuabo in the Western region have urged Parliament to expedite action on the Agreement for the establishment of the Atuabo Free Port to offer essential services to the oil industry.

According to the residents of Atuabo and surrounding communities, the project offers a lot of promise for job creation and development of the area, indicating that they are eager to host to project.

During an project assessment tour of the communities by journalists at the weekend, traditional and opinion leaders, traders, Assembly members and youths who were interviewed at random, were happy about the economic and job creation prospects from the project.

The Commercial Agreement for the 650million dollar Atuabo Freeport project is currently before Parliament, and its approval would pave the way for construction works to start for the project that is expected to create more than 2,500 jobs.

Lonrho, a British firm is promoting the project, in which the government has a 45 per cent carried interest although the government would not provide any counterpart funding.

The Report of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Finance and Roads & Transport, on the commercial agreement among the government, Lonrho Ports Ghana Limited and Atuabo Freeport Ghana Limited in respect of the Ghana oil and gas Freeport project, was presented to Parliament before the House went on recess last month.

During the media tour of the area, the residents, who were keen on having the project, demonstrated good knowledge about the projects and its expected impact on the economy of the area.

John Quarshie, Assemblyman for Atuabo told journalists on the tour that the residents were very eager to have the project.

According to him, although the Ghana Gas project was also in the area, the establishment of the Freeport holds more promise for the residents since they would be jobs for both skilled and unskilled youths.

“We would be highly disappointed if this project does not come on,” he said.

Currently, he said the community members were mobilising themselves into groups such as traders, caterers, fishmongers and artisans to be able to take advantage of the trade and business opportunities that would fall out of the project.

He acknowledged the bureaucratic challenges that was hindering the start of the project, but expressed optimism that Parliament would approve the project for the benefit of the people of the area and Ghanaians in general.

Obaahemaa Nyanda VI, Queenmother of Asamda, an adjoining community that would host an airstrip which is part of the project, believed the Freeport “project is long overdue.”

She is happy about the company’s plans for skills training for the youth in the community to be able to secure jobs at the port, indicating that that would help in the development of the area.

“We are highly supportive of the project,” she said, adding that they were confident the project would contribute to the speedy transformation of the area.

For his part, James Annor Afful, an opinion leader, said the company has so far dealt reasonably with the community, providing adequate information about the project, and believes it would offer mutual benefit to both the company and the community.

“The Lonhro project is for the good of area and the nation,” he said, adding that a plan has been made to use the technical institutions on the region to train indigenes to be able to secure direct and indirect jobs.

Although the project is yet to begin, Josehp Nyamenle Essien, and opinion leader and former headmaster of Nsein Senior High School at Axim, is praying for contracts from the project.

He was hopeful that contracts for catering, transportation and accommodation could be outsourced to the locals for them to derive the desired benefits.

The presentation of the Agreement to Parliament followed recent approval by Cabinet for the project which is expected to make Atuabo the West African hub for the servicing of vessels, especially those operating in the oil and gas industry.

So far preparatory works, which included feasibility studies, acquisition of land, successful community engagement and Environmental Impact Assessment have been completed for a smooth take off of the project.

Although the free zone project is being fully funded by Lonrho without a sovereign guarantee or counterpart funding from Ghana, the government has a 45 percent interest equity stake in the project while Lornho and its international partners hold the remaining 55 per cent.

In addition, as one of the conditions for Cabinet’s approval, the Port’s Governing Board would be chaired by a nominee of the government, while institutions like the Volta River Authority (VRA), Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA)and the Social Security and National Insurance Trust(SSNIT), have stakes in the project.

According to the Agreement, Ghana’s 45 per cent interest consists of 10 per cent carried interest for government and 35 per cent share to be owned by Ghanaian institutions including VRA, GPHA and SSNIT.

In addition, Lonrho would build a Naval base, forwarding bay and barracks at no cost to the government.

Services to be provided by the Freeport to the oil and gas industry include the development of logistics supply bases, offshore fabrications, rig and ship repairs, modification, maintenance and life support operations.

The Atuabo Freeport Complex, which would be operated in collaboration with the Ghana Port and Harbours Authority and other relevant agencies, would provide support services for the offshore oil and gas developments in Ghana as well as providing the infrastructure for companies wishing to offer services to their other Oil and Gas clients in the region.

It supports the government’s Medium Term National Development Policy Framework dubbed “Ghana Shared Growth and Development Agenda 2011-2013” which calls for spatial planning to encourage developments that bridge the spatial divide between the traditional economic growth points to other locations around the country and relieve the perpetual problem of congestion of the Ports in Ghana. 

The project begun August 2011 with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Lonrho and the government for feasibility studies, which was funded by the former.

Lonrho currently operates in 18 African countries in the fields of infrastructure development, transport, agribusiness, hospitality industry and support services.

GPHA Workers' Union Declares Support For Atuabo Free Port Project

Mr. Isaac Klu ( in smock) addressing the press

By Edmund Mingle, Tarkoradi

The Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) Workers Union yesterday (Wednesday May 14) declared its support for the Atuabo Free Port project in the Western region, saying the project holds a lot of promise for the country.

According to the workers, although they had initial concerns about the project, they were prepared to support it.

A resolution passed AT a meeting of Senior and Junior staff unions 
of GPHA on May 9, and read at a press conference in Takoradi on Wednesday said "We resolve that the unions are no against the development of Atuabo Free Port as misunderstood by sections of the public," they said.

Mr. Isaac Klu, Local Union chairman of Maritime and Dockworkers Union at Tema, who addressed the press, said they raised the concerns against the project initially because they believed any port development or construction of additional port must be the responsibility of GPHA as per the PNDC Law 160 and at worst, in partnership with GPHA to ensure that the public interest is upheld.

Hitherto, the GPHA have kicked against the 650 million dollar Atuabo Free Port (AFP) project which is expected to become a West African hub for the logistics and servicing of vessels and the oil and gas industry. 

The project, in which the government has 45 per cent share, although it will be fully funded by Lonrho and its partners, is currently awaiting Parliament's approval.

Apart from supporting the growth of the oil and gas sector and yielding financial benefits for the State, the project is expected to lead to the speedy development of host communities particularly Atuabo whose chiefs have allocated a large track of land to represent their equity in the project.

"We are not against the Atuabo project, and we are not saying that the people of Atuabo do not deserve this glorious opportunity to be the first to directly develop," Mr. Klu said , adding that they were concerned with how GPHA could be allowed to effectively play a partnership role in the project.

He said they were convinced that the ATUABO FREE PORT LIMITED SHOULD BE OPENED TO MARKET COMPETITIVENESS WITHIN THE REGION, GIVING CUSTOMERS THE CHOICE IN TERMS OF COMPETITIVE SERVICE SATISFACTION AND THE ABILITY TO MEASURE PERFORMANCE LEVELS OF THE GAS AND OIL TERMINALS UNDER THE GHANA PORTS AND HARBORS AUTHORITY.

Explaining the reason for the softening of their stance, Mr Klu explained that based on information from the agreement before Parliament for ratification, the union has detected that the AFP is a Special Oil & Gas facility which would AFP have no adverse effect on è Takoradi and Tema harbours when completed. 

He also said the the worker have found that the initial operational period for the management of the port by the private entity  "is 10 years and not 20 years as we thought."

In additional, he said the unions were aware of the equity structure which favours government, as well as the opportunity for GPHA to participate in the project.

He, however, called for more clarity on the exclusivity issues, saying that although they have been made to understand that the project would not bar competition, proper guidelines needed to developed for the project.