According to William Owuraku Aidoo, solar is a cheap source of energy, which has been used in most countries in the world to augment their traditional source of energy.

He made the call at the commissioning of an 80 kilowatts Solar Power project of the Building and Road Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (BRRI-CSIR) in Kumasi.

The project, which is under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) with Kata Solar in Japan, would be managed by Kata Solar for five years, after which it would be handed over to CSIR-BRRI to operate.

The system can be used with the national grid or generator sets, and can control how much energy has been produced and used since it is a “hybrid controller technology.”

Power can also be supplied to the electricity company for continuous distribution to the public.

Mr. Owuraku Aidoo indicated that, the Energy Ministry is saving Ghc90, 000.00 annually from the use of solar power.

“I urge all individuals and institutions in particular to embrace solar to help in achieving the President’s vision of having 10 percent of renewables in the total energy mix of the country.”

He said Government is focused on accomplishing its target of 10 per cent installation, and use of solar power in the country.

Director of BRRI, Dr. Eugene Atiemo, explained that the first phase of the project produced 20 kilowatts in 2016, with the second phase in 2017 producing 60 kilowatts.

He said the technology is environmentally friendly and cost less.

Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of KATA Solar Limited, Dr. Kofi Ampofo Appiah, said the project is unique because it can be extended for commercial use, and also reduces the cost of electricity for the user.

He said the project will save the BRRI-CSIR a lot of money, and more than 50 to 60 percent of electricity form the main power supplier.

Dr. Ampofo said his outfit will continue its engagement with Government to get more of the institutions adopt the use of solar.

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By: Hafiz Tijani/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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He said though the various institutes under the CSIR has been conducting numerous scientific research, its impact on society needs to be felt adequately to bring about the needed development desired by the people they were serving.

Dr Agyemang made this suggestion at Nyankpala in the Tolon District during the 27^th Annual General Meeting of the Research Staff Association of the CSIR.

The meeting was under the theme: “Climate change, food security and wealth creation in Ghana: contribution of science, technology and innovation” and was largely attended by staff of the CSIR.

Dr Agyemang said the CSIR through its various institutes has developed 165 technologies which have contributed to the development aspirations of the populace.

He said there is the need for the Council to refocus its scientific discoveries on human resource development stressing that “we must widen our scope to focus on the sciences, mathematics and engineering for growth”.

He said only 800 scientific publications from Ghanaian scholars appeared in recognised international journals between 2005 and 2010 and urged them to strengthen their capacities on quality research to reposition the country at the international level.

Dr Stephen Nutsugah, CSIR-Savannah Agricultural Research Institute (SARI), said the contribution of the institute to research and the discovery of various crops varieties has significantly improved crop yields in the northern parts of the country.

He said there is the need for CSIR-SARI to rebrand and sell their stories very well to the general public to ensure more funding for research.

He expressed worry over the continue brain-drain situation that the institute was facing saying: “for the past years, many experienced scientists have been retired from active service while others have resigned and there are no replacements”.

Dr Nutsugah complained about poor conditions of service and the lack of logistics and funding for research as some of the reasons for the brain-drain.

He appealed to government to focus its policies on dry season farming and the cultivation of short seasoned crops to mitigate the devastating effects of climate change.

Dr. Edward Yeboah, National President of Research Staff Association (RSA), said the fast depleting rate of soil and its nutrients coupled with the devastating effects of climate change was worsening poverty in rural parts of the country.

He said the country had many strategies to address the situation but needed commitments on the part of government to ensure its realization.

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Source: GNA

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According to him the introduction of the 17.5 percent Value Added Tax (VAT) and National Health Insurance Levy (NHIL) by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) on the non-core banking services are unreasonable and ridiculous.

”This is the most business unfriendly government I have ever had to be alive to witness in this country; this is so bad. Whoever it is who conceived or brought this up and thought they were doing government a service has really just blundered completely and they have blundered with the assistance of the Central Bank,” he said.

Speaking on Citi FM‘s political news analysis programme, The Big Issue on Saturday, Mr. Casley Hayford noted, the Central Bank is supposed to be the custodian of ensuring that the economy of this country is buoyant.

He questioned why he would be charged for a cheque book and also pay VAT on the same cheque book. “How can you charge me for giving me a cheque book; you want me to pay VAT on the amount that the bank charges as fees for work that it is normally supposed to provide!” he added.

Casley-Hayford revealed that he will go to court to challenge the idea of why a goods and services tax is being hidden as a value added tax. “We are going to go and challenge the whole idea of what actually a value added tax means and this is not value added tax; you do not add value to me by charging me more.”

The GRA on Friday released a list of 32 fee-based services by the banks that would attract tax from July 1, 2014.

The amendment of the VAT law last November expanded the scope of the tax and raised the rate from 15 percent (including the National Health Insurance Levy) to 17.5 percent.

Click here to see the full list of financial services that would attract the 17.5% tax.

Some Ghanaians have raised concerns about the rationale behind the 17.5 percent Value Added Tax (VAT) and National Health Insurance Levy (NHIL) the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) seeks to charge on the non-core banking services.

Another panelist on ‘The Big Issue’, Editor of Business Finder, Toma Amihere said the move by the GRA also defeats Bank Of Ghana’s efforts to achieve a cashless economy.

Franklin Cudjoe, founding President and Chief Executive Officer of IMANI Ghana said the 17.5 percent VAT on the noncore banking services does not encourage people to bank.

”What is the purpose of this, because clearly you are not encouraging people to go and do banking, you are not even encouraging technology…There is a policy disconnect,” he said.

Mr. Cudjoe suggested that the law has to be reviewed. ”I am not saying you shouldn’t charge but I think you can do it nicely; there are some services that obviously you want to impose certain taxes on. Do we even know the quantum of resources that would be generated as a result of these rules…?

”I do not see why we need newer taxes; it is not as if there is even any real growth within the banking sector to add value to my money… you get peanuts for long term investments and savings,” he added.

By: Evans Effah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

Follow @effsevans

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He further mentioned that the President Mahama’s comment is a clear indication of his lack of temperance.

“There’s this mockery, there’s this insulting posture, there’s this sense of talking down to us, there’s this almost teasing attitude that for me is completely unpresidential and  I think that Mr. Mahama has unwittingly put a blood stain on himself with this Kumasi thing,” he said.

President Mahama in an address to supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) last weekend in Kumasi is quoted as saying; the residents in the Ashanti Region are unappreciative of efforts being made by the governing NDC to develop the region.

His comments generated criticisms from the public who described his statement as inappropriate.

Government is however insisting the tape recording of the President was doctored and the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) has announced it has began investigations into the matter.

Speaking on Citi FM’s News Analysis Programme, The Big Issue, Dr. Amoah opined that the President Mahama could have projected “an image of a statesman who is intent on leading the country and providing leadership regardless of whether people support the party or not.”

“When you are voted into power, you become a President of all of us, you don’t become the arrowhead or the leader of the host of your political party,” Dr.  Amoah added.

According to him, since the Ashanti region represents an important part of the country, the President and Ghanaians as a whole should be circumspect in their dealings with the region.

“We should not forget that in many ways, the Ashanti region also represents a very useful place in this country so in engaging in that political, historical space one would expect that you do that without drawing that unnecessary flag and creating room for misinterpretations and innuendos,” Dr. Amoah said.

Meanwhile, a Financial Analyst, Sydney Casely-Hayford has indicated, the President is not in the position to make statements about the ungrateful nature of the people of the Ashanti region due to his failure to produce evidence on developmental projects in the region.

He therefore counseled the President to channel his energy into rendering account to the people of Ghana on how their monies are being spent on the developmental projects his administration has undertaken.

Click on audio to listen to Dr. Llyod Amoah

By: Marian Efe Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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