Surface mining takes 70 percent of Tarkwa land
Waive 70 percent income tax demand on disabled persons
Takoradi (Western Region) 26 November 2001 - Surface-mining concessions have taken over 70 percent of the total land in the Tarkwa area, Mr Joseph Aidoo, Western Regional Minister said on Saturday.
He said surface mining in the region was responsible for severe environmental, social, economic and other abuses, which have to be changed.
This was contained in an address read for him at a one-day seminar organised by the Ghana Wildlife Society for members of schools wildlife clubs in Sekondi-Takoradi. The event, dubbed "Wildfest," was on the theme "The Concern of the Youth."
Mr. Aidoo urged organisations concerned with the environment, particularly the Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA ), to be vigilant in the execution of their duties.
He urged the EPA to monitor and to bring to book culprits found to have flouted environmental laws. Mr. Aidoo called on the Environmental Health Division of the district assemblies to enforce their bylaws on sanitation to check defecating on the beaches and the littering of public places with impunity.
Mr. Christopher Mensah, Regional Co-ordinator of the Ghana Wildlife Society, said the seminar was to help members of the clubs to acquaint themselves with environmental problems in their schools and communities.
GRi../
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Waive 70 percent income tax demand on disabled persons
Nkenkansu (Ashanti Region) 26 November 2001 - An appeal has been made to the government to waive the 70 per cent income tax payment on Community-based Rehabilitated (CBR) persons with physical disabilities.
Mr Sylvester Barima Antwi, Field Director of the Offinso and Nkenkansu Training and Rehabilitation centres for the disabled, said the waiver is necessary to save the CBR programme from coming unstuck.
He made the appeal at a press conference held at Nkenkansu in the Offinso district. Mr Antwi said the over 170 physically disabled persons trained in various vocations and assisted with funds and tools to operate their own workshops under the CBR programme by the two centres are now threatening to close down their businesses due to harassment by the IRS for the tax payment.
"If this should be allowed to happen, we could have more of these people taken off the streets and equipped with skills to become economically self-supported through the support of non-governmental organisations back on the road sides begging for alms".
The Field Director said already two of those rehabilitated, Charles Brefo, a cripple, and Akua Twumwaa, who has both hand amputated, have put their workshops at the central market in Kumasi under lock and key as a result of their inability to meet the tax demand.
Mr Antwi said he made a representation to the last Parliament on "This tax issue, but no decision could be taken before its dissolution. He was hopeful that the government would give a more sympathetic hearing to the appeal to help promote and sustain the CBR programme.
The Offinso and Nkenkansu Training and Rehabilitation centres have between them provided medical and skill training to more than 200 physically disabled persons over the past decade.
GRi../
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