President Akufo Addo last Thursday launched the policy at Ejura in the Ashanti Region, with a sod-cutting for the construction of a ten thousand metric ton capacity warehouse.

[contextly_sidebar id=”PwVlAWeWd3DA3OKJV0lRrj9u3cGPDaiD”]But reacting to the policy, the Minority Spokesperson on Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs, Eric Opoku, said the government must rather focus on ensuring that farmers are not cheated on their produce.

“What the President launched, we are told that it will have a capacity of 10,000. We are talking about construction of 25,000 metric tonnes warehouse in the same place in the market by the previous government. If you create the impression that they do not have warehouse facilities so I want to give them warehouse so that they can have a place to sort their produce, that is not it. The facilities are there, and some are even being constructed, so adding 10,000 metric tonnes will not do anything different.”

“…As for the facilities, they have a lot of warehouse facilities in Ejura …I am worried about the fact that President Mahama started work on 25,000 capacity, and that was no news, and now you start work on 10,000, and you say that it is the best thing that ever happened in the history of agriculture in Ghana just because it has been titled 1 district, 1 warehouse? Is it because of the name or what?” Mr. Opoku asked.

The warehouse, according to the President, will not only minimize post-harvest losses, but also boost efforts in ensuring food security.

“The purpose of these warehouses will be to hold produce, and store the anticipated surplus under the Planting for Food and Jobs initiative,” President Akufo-Addo had earlier stated.

He also assured that the warehouses will be fitted with modern equipment.

“Government will accelerate the construction of the warehouse, and will ensure each of them is fitted with modern equipment including drying or freezing systems,” the President stated.

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Warehouses for 1 District, 1 Factory needless – Minority appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to  the association, the Judicial Service has not received its subvention, thus making the efficient running of the service impossible.

The Ghana Bar Association in a statement signed by its National President, Nene Amegatcher noted that the judicial service has been paralysed by lack of funds.

”The Ghana Bar Association notes with regret that despite the fact that the constitution guarantees financial autonomy to the judiciary, the institution virtually has to be on its knees begging government to release its subvention.

”The situation has been worsened by the fact that the judiciary has not received even the inadequate budgetary provision for over a year,” the statement said.

The GBA revealed that an annual tour by its National Executives to the Central region revealed that the living conditions and working environment of the judges and staff of the judiciary is ”inhuman and degrading”.

”…there were cracked walls, leaking roofs, poor sanitation, lack of running water and broken down air conditioners and other infrastructure. Court recording systems have all broken down, forcing judges to revert to long hand as a way of recording thereby frustrating the speedy adjudication of cases,” the GBA statement noted.

This the GBA explained compromise the security of court documents.

The GBA also noted that the crisis has caused  some regional courts to suspend sittings thereby forcing litigants and lawyers to travel all the way to the capital which itself is overburdened with cases.

The Ghana Bar Association further called on President Mahama to ensure that the budgetary allocation due to the Judiciary is released ”forthwith” in accordance with the constitution.

Speaking on Eyewitness News on Wednesday, Public Relations Officer of the GBA, Tony Forson said ”this will enable the sorry living and working environment of judges to be rectified to give them [judges] a conducive environment to live and work and administer justice without fear or favour. ”

The GBA also complained that the 15 percent internally generated fund retained by the judiciary is ”grossly” inadequate for third arm of the state to perform its mandate in all ten regions.

”The GBA calls on Parliament, without further delay to increase the percentage of the internally generated funds, from 15% to 75%,” the statement on the state of the judiciary delivery system added.

The Judiciary is not the only institution which has had to suspend business over unpaid subvention. Reports indicate that Parliament had to suspend resumption of business for the same reason.

Some public sector workers have also threatened strike over unpaid allowances and salaries.

By: Evans Effah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Ghana’s Judiciary too broke to conduct cases – GBA appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.