Accra (Greater Accra) 19 April 2002
Currency Buying Selling
US Dollar 7,593.55 7,784.64
Pound Sterling 10,983.31- 11,263.60
Swiss Franc 4,601.11 4,713.98
Canadian Dollar 4,822.95 4,942.56
Japanese Yen 58.25 59.70
S/African Rand 681.34 695.37
Euro 6,766.04 6,932.30
CFA Franc 10.31 10.57
Naira 64.84 66.47
Ecowas/WAUA 9,393.26 --------
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Cape Coast (Central Region) 19 April 2002 -The Canadian High Commissioner in Ghana, Mr. Jean Pierre Bolduc, on Thursday stressed the resolve of the industrialised nations to assist African countries in their efforts to develop their economies.
He said a new partnership with Africa, would be a principal focus of discussion at the G8 summit, which is scheduled to take place in Alberta, Canada, in June this year and which his country currently chairs. M Bolduc, gave the assurance at the inauguration of the 'Ghana-Canada Students Chamber’ (GCSC) at the University of Cape Coast.
The GCSC is geared towards the promotion of educational, social and cultural relations between Ghanaian and Canadian students, and developingtheir leadership skills with a view to making them disciplined, innovative and achievement oriented.
The High Commissioner also mentioned an action plan being evolved to support the New Partnership for Africa's development (NEPAD) with the underlying objective of unlocking greater resources both public and private to assist the continent.
He said G8 leaders have already resolved to work with committed African leaders to help build and expand this new partnership during their last summit in Genoa. "This new partnership will be formed not only among Africans, but also between Africa and the friends of Africa", he declared, adding that the formation of the Chamber, would further strengthen the partnership and foster communication between young Ghanaians and Canadians, who are potential future leaders.
Mr. Kojo Acquah, director of the information and linguistic bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who inaugurated the Chamber, commended Canada for her assistance in improving facilities in some of Ghana's educational institutions, and in her poverty reduction programmes.
He said it is estimated that there are about 50,000 to 60,000 Ghanaians in Canada and said the inauguration of the Chamber has become another milestone in the development of Ghana-Canada relations.
Mr. Acquah was happy that the Chamber seeks to make its members disciplined and productive, particularly in the wake of gross indiscipline on the part of some students. "Under the cloud of such indiscipline, some of us wondered whether the universities, would be able to transform the products from the secondary schools and other educational institutions into patriotic, achievement oriented products, who would do the country proud during their working life," he said.
He, in this regard, expressed the hope that the Chamber would work hard to ensure that the excellence it is striving to achieve does not become "a nine-day wonder". The Pro-Vice Chancellor of the UCC, Professor Kobina Yankson, laterout-doored the Chamber's 'education exchange programme,' which is among others, designed to offer educational opportunities through intercultural learning and overseas study programmes. A nine-member national executive with Mr. Dela Gadzanku of the UCC as president, was sworn into office.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 19 April 2002 - Privatisation of the water sector would begin in March 2003, Mr Ohene Okai, Acting Chief Director of the Ministry of Works and Housing, said on Thursday.
"The final document of the lease agreement on Private Sector Participation (PSP) in urban water supply that is designed to be performance driven and attractive to bidders is substantially complete," he said, adding that "it is expected that the operators (investors) would be in place in March 2003."
Inaugurating a 14-member organising committee for the 12th congress of the Union of Africa Water Suppliers (UAWS) slated for February 2004 in Ghana, Mr Okai said the government was committed to ensuring that every Ghanaian had access to water and had over the years injected massive doses of public money to revamp the production and delivery of potable water.
Members of the committee include Mr Jonathan Nunoo, Acting Managing Director of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) as Chairman, Mr S. O. Lamptey, Co-ordinator of the Congress, Mr Jeff Pinkney, Operations Manager of Ballast Nedam (a foreign consultancy firm) and Said Fakhry, Chairman of Interplast Ghana Limited.
He noted that apart from efforts to privatise the sector for an efficient supply of water, government was much concerned that constraints on access to water in terms of quality and quantity could become a major limiting factor in sustainable development.
"Government is, therefore, determined to take advantage of every opportunity to tackle problems by promoting local and national systems for managing the sustainable use of water resources based on an integrated approach.
"Such an approach should link development to the protection of the national environment, participation of all actors and interested parties, the involvement of both men and women and the recognition of social and economic value for water", Mr Okai stated.
In pursuant of these, he said, government had translated into action by the creation of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission and the Water Resources Commission to oversee the holistic management and sustainable use of both ground and surface water resources in the country.
The Acting Chief Director said government would endorse the recommendations that UAWS must adopt practices to bring more efficiency that would allow the union to rapidly collect up-to-date information relating to the provision of water for potential users.
Mr Nunoo said the union was the premier international organisation in Africa, made up of institutions responsible for the provision of water supply for domestic, industrial and agricultural purposes as well as wastewater management.
Membership is drawn from 33 countries in Africa and 36 affiliated international organisations across five continents. Ghana currently holds the Vice Presidency position of the Union. Mr Nunoo also said GWCL was committed to planning the development of urban water supply systems for public, domestic and industrial purposes throughout Ghana.
He said until the delineation of functions between the GWCL and the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA), it operated and maintained 210 pipe-borne and some 6,500 hand pump bore-hole systems which served an estimated 65 per cent of urban population and 50 per cent of rural and under-privileged communities.
At present 76 per cent of the water supply systems, which is urban, is under GWCL while the remaining systems serving the rural population were being transferred to the district assemblies for community management. Annual water production is now 187 million cubic metres.
Mr Nunoo said within its limited resources, government policies and regulations, the GWCL had strived to provide sustainable and affordable water supply to Accra, regional capitals, district capitals and towns at the least cost with the most appropriate technology and least adverse environmental impact.
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