Accra (Greater Accra), 21 March 2000
The National Petroleum Board, has announced increases in prices of petroleum products.
A statement in Accra, signed by the Chairman of the Board, Mr W. S. Parker, said the ex-pump price for Premium Gasoline, which was 1180 cedis per litre, is now 1420 cedis.
Gas Oil, which was 1100 cedis per litre, is now 1325 cedis. Kerosene, from 1100 cedis per litre to 1325 and L.P. Gas, from 1400 cedis per kilogram, to 2240 cedis per kilogram.
The new ex-pump prices took effect from seven o'clock in the evening of Saturday, 18 March 2000.
The statement said, the increases have been necessitated by the high cost of crude oil and petroleum products on the international market and the depreciation of the cedi against major international currencies.
It said the reviewed ex refinery prices are to ensure sustainability of
supply.
GRi
Accra (Greater Accra), 21 March 2000
Research conducted by the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), following the recent spate of armed robberies in the Kumasi metropolis, show that shopkeepers and fuel station operators sacrifice eight business hours daily for their safety.
As a result, five million cedis, is lost each day to the traders who were operating into the late hours of each night.
Dr Cletus Dodornu, Director of the Department of Policy Analysis of GIMPA, made this known at the seminar on "national development implications of security and justice", organised by GIMPA.
The seminar was, among other things, to collect data on the problems facing the law enforcement machinery with the view to develop appropriate strategies to ensure their efficiency in the face of increased sophisticated crime.
Dr Dodornu said GIMPA would soon conduct a similar research in the other regions, adding that the situation is expected to be worse in Accra, particularly in the Mataheko and Dansoman areas, where the lives of women are under serious threat.
"It is high time the government takes a critical look at the issue of public safety and security since the current situation has the potential of posing a threat to the poverty alleviation effort it is pursuing."
A communiqué issued by participants at the seminar, stressed the need for national security agencies to broaden their scope beyond the security of those in power, and to ensure adequate security and safety for all.
Dr Stephen Adei, Director-General of GIMPA, who read the communiqué, noted
that while state functionaries enjoy tight security, the rest of the citizens have very low protection from criminals.
Other recommendations included the need for adequate training for personnel of all law enforcement agencies, from the police to the judiciary.
The participants also recommended close collaboration among the law enforcement agencies as well as the provision of the necessary logistics to enable them to face the challenge of increased crime in the country.
"The important role of the public in crime investigation also calls for education of the public on the protocol to follow at crime scene."
Dr Adei said the recommendations would be forwarded to the Vice-President and other policy makers for consideration and action.
He thanked to the participants and resource persons from the United States Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and Internal Naturalisation Service (INS).
GRi