This follows reports of massive diversion of premix fuel meant for fishermen to other parts of Tema for industrial purposes.

According to letters signed by the Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) and forwarded to the National Premix Committee continuously for eight months, the Central Region fell victim to the premix consignment diversions on four different occasions from April to July  2017.

[contextly_sidebar id=”EE7b1mStly2JRYmNTDx0UVKI6l8MOQJf”]The coastal belt of the Region starts from Komenda in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem Municipality area, through Winneba to Nyinyano in the Gomoa East District, but only two notable areas: the Ekumfi District and the Mfantseman Municipality suffered the unfortunate artificial shortage.

While the Ekumfi area had three of its consignments diverted, the Mfantseman area had one.

On April 18, 2017, a 13,500 litre truckload of premix fuel from the Tema Oil Refinery, of invoice number 6543, that was to be sent to the Ekum Mpoano in the Ekumfi District, was diverted to a place at Tema.

On 20th of April, a similar quantity of the product from TOR meant for the Landing Beach Committee of Ekumfi Narkwa, of invoice number 6019, was diverted to Senya Breku, another part of the Central Region.

Again, on July 25 this year, another 13,500 litres of premix fuel, of invoice number 662, also from TOR, that was meant for Ekumfi Imuna, found its way to Kpone in the Greater Accra Region.

The last was on July 20, when a similar amount of the product loaded from TOR, of invoice number 88895, that was supposed to be brought to the Saltpond Landing Beach Committee, was diverted to Manya Krobo in the Eastern Region.

When Citi News visited Ekumfi Narkwa to meet officials of the Landing Beach Committee, the Committee showed April 2017 invoices for the 4^th and 27^th of that month.

The secretary of the Committee, Kenneth Andoh, confirmed they were actually awaiting a consignment on April 20, but it never arrived, and they took it to mean the usual delays associated with the supply.

Mr. Andoh said, “I didn’t sign any consignment on the 20^th or 21^st of April, though we were expecting a consignment, but I didn’t get any explanation from anywhere”.

Asked about the last time fishermen had premix fuel at Ekumfi Narkwa, he indicated they have not been getting it for two weeks now.

At the Saltpond Nankesedo Landing Beach Committee, at the time of Citi News’ visit, some fishermen were seen holding gallons getting ready to go to the fuel station in the heart of Saltpond.

Oblivious of what the reality on the ground was, the fishermen had gone to the house of the Landing Beach Committee chairman’s residence, fuming over why they have not been getting the product.

They complained angrily that they have not been getting premix fuel for over two months now.

One of the angry fishermen and owner of three canoes, Opanyin Kofi Ansah, said, “We are really having a turbulent time as a result of this premix shortage. It is an indispensable input in our work, but it’s always in short supply”.

He said “Government should deal ruthlessly with all those smuggling the product for denying us of what is due us. We have planned of going to the MCE’s office to demonstrate. We are now spending extra money to buy other products to mix them for our machines.”

Confirming the fishermen’s frustration, the pump attendant of the Committee complained that, “Sometimes, we are firmly promised that the premix consignment is on its way, but we will wait for days, and nothing will come. It’s almost three months now, and we have had no premix here at Saltpond. It’s embarrassing to be told to wait for a consignment and it will not come”.

Contacts made to fishermen at Ekum Mpoano also confirmed that, the area has not been getting the product for close to three months.

The fishermen in all the four areas have been resorting to the use of a combination of other petroleum productions to power their outboard motors, at a cost three times the amount they would have spent on premix fuel.

There have been similar reports of artificial shortages in many coastal communities of the Western Region.

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By: Joseph Ackon-Mensah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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This is the first time a sitting president has visited the town, where the UGCC was founded to mark the anniversary.

The President was joined by leading members and the party faithful of the New Patriotic Party.

The UGCC disbanded after its poor showing in the 1951 elections where Kwame Nkrumah’s Convention People’s Party (CPP) won 34 of the 38 elected seats in the assembly.

The governing New Patriotic Party is a political descendant of the UGCC and the party has said it will be “eulogizing the founding fathers of the UGCC and for that matter the key architects of Ghana’s independence struggle for their legendary sacrifices in honour of country.”

The party said in a statement it wished to “extol the enviable virtues and sacrifices of these forebears of our national struggle including J.B. Danquah, Paa Grant, William Ofori-Atta, Obetsebi Lamptey, Hon. Edward Akufo-Addo, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ebenezer Ako-Adjei, V.B. Annan, Oheneba Sakyi Djan, Hon. Akilakpa Sawyer, Hon. N.A. Ollenu, Councilor E.A. Bossman, K.B. Teko, Enoch Mensah, Q. Tagoe, Councilor W.Q.M. Halm, Quist Therson, Councilor Richard Akwei, E.C. Quist, Ben A. Tamakloe, Councilor G.N. Alema, Joe Myers, Dr. F.V. Nanka Bruce, E.C.A. Quarshie, Dr. J.E. Armah, Solomon Odamtten and many others.”

The party highlighted Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s role with the party, which he joined in 1947 upon invitation from J.B. Danquah to become the UGCC’s General Secretary.

“Nkrumah, who was at some point, invited to join the struggle by the UGCC leadership and appointed as the General Secretary of the party, undoubtedly, played a leading role in the struggle for self-government together with his compatriots in the UGCC and the CPP.”

Commemoration will be momentous

The NPP is collaborating with government, via the Ghana 60 Years on Planning committee “to make this commemoration, a momentous one.”

As part of activities earmarked for this event, there would be an anniversary lecture to be delivered by the Speaker of Parliament, Professor Mike Oquaye on the topic at the National Theatre 6 pm today [Friday].

President Akufo-Addo will also be at the lecture as a guest of honor.

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By: Joseph Ackon-Mensah/Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Nana Addo marks UGCC 70th anniversary at Saltpond appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The waves affected Ankaful, a suburb of Saltpond, Nankesedo, Kormantse, Abandze and Anomabo.

One fisherman from Saltpond was reportedly injured while trying to salvage his fishing equipment, but has since been treated at the Saltpond Municipal Hospital and discharged.

Another fisherman at Saltpond, whose canoes and fishing nets were damaged, recounted to Citi News that “it was around 10:00pm last night that we heard shouts that the canoes we anchored on the sea have been hit by tidal waves.”

“When we came around, we saw our canoes so badly damaged that nothing can be done about it. As for the fishing nets, we can repair some of them but for the canoes, no.”

Thus, the fisherman said, “we are humbly appealing go government to come to our aid because without our canoes, we will remain without a source of livelihood.”

Tidal waves overcome Ketu South fishing community

Also in Blekusu, a fishing community in the Ketu South Municipality of Volta Region, was in the early hours of Sunday, hit by strong tides leaving parts of the area flooded.

The ravaging sea water also affected the main road connecting Denu and Keta. Some residents, mostly fisher folk, are counting their losses as they had been displaced. Some of them have tried to salvage their belongings through the flood to higher ground for safety.

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By: Joseph Ackon-Mensah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Mfantseman: Fishermen cry for help as tidal waves destroy canoes appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

They accuse the current and previous governments of depriving them of the basic necessities due them, despite the revenue accrued from  the Saltpond Offshore Crude Oil Producing Company.

Some communities in the country in recent times have threatened not to vote in the upcoming general election; if the necessary development projects are not implemented.

Addressing a press conference on Thursday, the President of the Saltpond Forum, Dr. Ransford Gyampo, asked government to provide them with updates on the revenues from the company or risk losing their vote.

“We sensed a gradual grand but surreptitious scheme to relocate the municipal capital to Mankessim simply because of Saltpond’s stalled development. We believe this approach is very irresponsible and a defeating solution to a problem that can easily be tackled to honour the role and contribution of Saltpond towards Ghana’s development.”

He further called on government and presidential hopefuls to come to their aid else they would advice themselves.

“We call on government and indeed all presidential hopefuls to immediately turn their attention to Ghana’s political Mecca. We have been abandoned for far too long and today we are prepared to mobilise the good people of Saltpond to boycott the upcoming general elections in protest against their marginalization, if we do not see any sign of concern from the ruling government and the opposition,” he added.

About Saltpond

Saltpond is the capital of the Mfantsiman Municipality in the Central Region.

The area is noted for offshore crude oil resources. Saltpond Offshore Producing Company Limited, and two joint venture partners operate the Saltpond Oil Field.

Saltpond Oil Field faces closure

Meanwhile the Saltpond Oil Field, Ghana’s oldest oil producing field, was to be decommissioned this year because of its inability to turn around its dwindling fortunes and remain economically viable.

Oil production from the field, which is about 65 miles west of Accra and operated by the Saltpond Offshore Production Company Limited, has declined consistently, hence considerations for a closure.

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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post No oil cash; no vote – Saltpond residents appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.