Minister refutes allegations of eyesight impairment

Obenemase mine has large reserve of sulphide ore- Ohene-Kena

Safeguard security of disabled-Tagoe

Ensure solid foundation for healthy old age, Benyiwa-Doe

Accra (Greater Accra) 3^rd July '99

Mr Cletus Avoka, Minister of Environment, Science and Technology on Friday told Parliament that it is incorrect that mining activities in the Tarkwa area are adversely affecting the eyesight of the residents.

He said data obtained by the Ministry from the Wassa District Health Service do not support the allegations.

He said according to the data, only about two per cent of out-patients who reported at the Tarkwa Government Hospital between January 1997 and May 1999, had acute eye problems of short duration which were treated on out-patient basis.

Mr Avoka said these acute eye problems do not affect eyesight.

The data also indicated that for the whole of the Wassa West District, only five per cent of eye cases reported were from the Tarkwa Government Hospital.

The Minister had been asked whether he was aware that activities of the Teberebe Mining Company at Tarkwa are adversely affecting the eyesight of most residents of the area, during "Question Time" in Parliament on Friday.

The question stood in the name of Mr Stephen Kwadwo Balado Manu, NPP-Ahafo Ano South.

Mr Avoka assured the House that the Ministry would, however, intensify its monitoring activities and collaborate with the Ministry of Health as well as the Ministry of Mines and Energy to ensure that health problems arising from mining and other economic activities were adequately addressed.

On monies accruing from the National Environment Fund and how these were disbursed, Mr Avoka said since its establishment in 1995, about 688.805 million cedis had been realised as at the end of last year.

Of the amount, 176.548 million cedis had been expended on human resource development while 4.10 million cedis had gone into research and studies as at the end of 1998.

The monies come from levies collected by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the performance of its duties, he said.

He said under the Act establishing the Fund, the monies should be used in public education on the environment, research, studies and investigations relating to the functions of the EPA and human resource development.

Asked whether it would be possible to extend credit facilities from the Fund to charcoal burners to establish woodlots, Mr Avoka said the inadequacy of the fund would not allow its extension to charcoal burners.

There is, however, a complementary programme to shift them to other economic activities to help check the rate of deforestation resulting from charcoal burning, the Minister added.

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Accra (Greater Accra) 3^rd July '99

Mr Fred Ohene-Kena, Minister of Mines and Energy, on Friday announced that current exploration work has established that the Obenemase Mine in Ashanti has 1.5 million tonnes of mineral reserve of sulphide ore.

He said work is continuing to determine whether there is enough ore to allow for project development at the mine.

The minister was responding to a question by Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, NPP-Asante Akyem North, who wanted to know the future of Obenemase Goldmine Company Limited.

Mr Ohene-Kena said the Obenemase Goldmines have held the Konongo gold mining lease since 1994 and has currently spent 19 million dollars on exploration and project development.

Resolute Mining Company in Amansie West District of the Ashanti Region has funded a new exploration and development programme on the Obenemase lease with the view to establishing a new gold mining project.

Asked why some towns in Asutifi North have not been provided with electricity, even though the national grid from Sunyani to Mim in the Brong Ahafo Region passes through them, Mr Ohene-Kena explained that the line is not a sub-transmission one and therefore cannot be teed off to supply power to the towns.

He said the existing Sunyani-Mim line is a 161kv transmission line, but it is currently being operated at 34.5kv to supply electricity to Mim.

The minister, however, assured the questioner that Kensere, Atronie, Asamang, Kramokrom, Osei Yawkrom and Nweneso, are being considered for supply by either extending a sub-transmission line from Kenyasi through Wamahinso or a 34.5kv line feedback from Mim.

He said the project is scheduled for the next phase of the National Electrification Project (NEP).

Under the National Electrification Scheme (NES), the ministry has planned to provide electricity to every community with a population of 500 and above over a 30-year period, which began in 1990.

Mr Ohene-Kena said depending on the cost of electrification, each community has been scheduled to be connected at a specific period within the 30-year time frame.

Under the master-plan for implementing the national electrification scheme, the towns are scheduled for electrification not earlier than 2010.

However, communities which wish to be considered for electrification earlier than their normal schedule in the master plan may apply to join the self-help electrification programme (SHEP), which requires interested communities to satisfy certain conditions.

An interested community should be within 20 kilometres of an existing 11/33 kv network. It should be able to buy its own low-tension poles, and a minimum of 30 per cent of the houses in the community should be wired up.

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Accra (Greater Accra) 3^rd July '99

Mrs Theresa Ameley Tagoe, Member of Parliament (MP) for Ablekuma South, on Friday urged government to come out with data on persons with disabilities.

Making a statement in Parliament, Mrs. Tagoe pointed out that the lack of data makes it difficult for government to assess the actual situation of the disabled in society.

She expressed concern about the way some "insensitive employers" discriminate against disabled persons, though they are skilful, and called for strict enforcement of the Labour Regulations of 1969 on the employment of disabled persons.

Mrs. Tagoe dismissed the claim that persons with disabilities are lazy and inefficient, and urged employers who flout the Regulations with impunity to change their attitude.

"If a survey were conducted in all our establishments today, it would be revealed that in both private and public institutions, the quota of disabled persons employed is far below what is required by the Labour Regulations of 1969."

Mrs. Tagoe suggested that disabled persons with potentials must be given the opportunity to serve in district assemblies, where they can become role models for the rest of society.

She called for the putting in place of a loan scheme to offer financial assistance to disabled persons who pass out of rehabilitation centres, so that they can establish their own businesses.

The MP urged Ghanaians to change their negative attitudes towards people with disabilities and see them as fellow citizens with the potential to fully participate in national development.

Associating herself with the statement, Mrs. Ama Benyiwa-Doe, Deputy Minister of Employment and Social Welfare and MP for Gomoa West, regretted that most of the time society leaves the responsibility of catering for the disabled solely to government.

She reminded Ghanaians that it should be the concerted effort of all and sundry to address the problem of people with disabilities within the society.

Dr Francis Osafo-Mensah, NPP-Mpraeso, urged the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare to focus attention on the mentally handicapped by providing financial support for their families.

Mr Ebenezer Kobina Fosu, NDC-Asikuma/Odoben/Brakwa, stressed the need for the ministry to expedite work on the proposed legislation on the disabled which, in his opinion, has been on the drawing board for long. This will help address the problems of the disabled effectively.

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Accra (Greater Accra), 5^th July 99 –

Mrs. Ama Benyiwa-Doe, Deputy Minister of Employment and Social Welfare, on Friday stressed the need for governments to lay solid foundations for healthy and fulfilling old age for their people.

In a statement in the House on the International Year of Older Persons, Mrs. Benyiwa-Doe explained that such foundations would go a long way to ensure the security of older persons and protect their dignity.

She said the theme for the declaration and celebration, "Towards a Society for All Ages", conveys the urgency for a holistic approach to ageing, "since it provides an opportunity for us to become aware that older persons share many of the needs and concerns that other people have".

The Deputy Minister pointed out that meeting the needs and concerns of older persons give the youth an assurance of life in their old age.

The Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare will soon put before the House legislation for a National Ageing Policy to address the rights and responsibilities of older persons.

Highlights of the legislation will include the right of older persons to receive care and support from their children.

On ageing population, Mrs. Benyiwa-Doe said one serious aspect of the phenomenon, of which Ghana has her fair share, is the increasing number of older persons of 80 years and above.

She pointed out that Ghana, like other developing countries, cannot run away from the problems associated with ageing population, "because with increasing improvement in our economies, there is hope for improvement in the quality of life and an increase in life expectancy".

Ms Christine Churcher, NPP-Cape Coast, in associating herself with the statement said the adulteration of our culture has impacted negatively on our society so much so that the older in society have lost respect and dignity from the youth.

Ms Churcher called for regular interactions between the old and young, so that the latter can tap the rich experience and wisdom of the former towards nation building.

Mr. Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, NPP-Asante-Akim North, charged district assemblies to commit part of their common fund towards the upkeep of the elderly.

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