The Daily IIJ » Environment

UNICEF Equips Police Anti-Human Trafficking Unit

Nathaniel Yankson — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 07:36:31 +0000

THE UNITED Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has donated assorted office equipment valued at about $23,000 to the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service to set up three more offices in the Volta, Brong Ahafo and the Upper West regions. Read more on www.nayank80.blogspot.com

IGP Charges Men To Tidy Up Surroundings

Nathaniel Yankson — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 08:42:19 +0000

COUNTRYWIDE, PERSONNEL of the Ghana Police Service have over the years been greeted with various degrees of castigations and insults from the public due to their supposed uncleanliness and lukewarm attitudes toward maintaining their surroundings at the barracks and even rented homes. Read more on www.nayank80.blogspot.com

Police Tight-lipped Over Dr. Kwabena Adjei’s Treachery Remarks

Nathaniel Yankson — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 06:29:04 +0000

THE POLICE Administration seems to be tight-lipped in commenting or taking action on the alleged treacherous public utterances by the Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr. Kwabena Adjei. Read more on www.nayank80.blogspot.com

“We Will Ask For More Salary If…

Nathaniel Yankson — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 20:19:16 +0000

THE GREATER Accra Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Rose Bio Atinga says police personnel would be in a better position to demand even more salary adjustment and better conditions of service from government if they are able to justify what they have been granted recently.

She indicated that “we will even get the morale justification to ask for more like Oliver Twist, if we work hard. We therefore need to justify the need to enjoy this new salary because ‘he who much is given, much is demanded.” Read more on www.nayank80.blogspot.com

Landlord, Family Beat up Tenant

Nathaniel Yankson — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 11:54:31 +0000

A LANDLORD at Kokomlemle in Accra, Michael Taylor, and his three sisters, Abigail Addy, alias Awo, Vida Armah, and Mercy Addy, are alleged to have subjected a tenant’s aunt to severe beatings, and subsequently threw a coal pot filled with fire at the victim. Read more on www.nayank80.blogspot.com

Closing educational institutions to ease traffic jam

Mahadi Hasan — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 16:16:09 +0000

Known scene of Dhaka. Photo: Mahadi Hasan by Nokia 7210 Supernova

It was the demand and the Government of Bangladesh has done that. From tomorrow all school and colleges of Bangladesh will remain closed and it will continue till 16 September. The Education Minister, who declared the decision told about the month of Ramadan as reason. He also told that it was difficult for the students as well as parents to come to school at the early morning of Ramadan. That may be a reason as people got up after mid night to take food and perform fasting through out the day. But Education Minister also says, he believes that traffic jam will decrease if the educational institution are closed.

I have seen that many people are happy. Because they are fed up with
the early morning traffic jam in the capital city Dhaka. I am personally suffer for traffic jam. I need to start at least one hour ahead to attend a program whose venue is not even one kilo-meter away from my house. If there is rain or political rally, the jam turns into a panic. I have seen many times that ambulances are locked in jam.

Every morning and evening people face trouble to move. Who will believe that Dhaka has about 10 million people? Can any one imagine that 10 percent of the total population of a country live in a single city? The number of dwellers is increasing day by day. Any one can
easily understand the condition of our road if he just think that at least five million people are at the roads to go to the offices and workplaces.
The problem is that all of our workplaces are based in Dhaka. All important office, educational institutions and ministries are in Dhaka. There is no decentralization. The number of dwellers has increased rapidly. But roads and public services have not developed. Above all these services have become limited for huge population in Dhaka. Once upon a time there was canals and trees in the city. But these are decreasing day by day. But the most important thing is that Dhaka is in high risk for earthquake. The buildings are so closer to each other that it will be very tough to rescue the victims. Unfortunately our developers have not followed the building code and safety measures. Every one believes that if there is any high scaled earth quake the city will turn into devastation and death zone.
Every morning we start our day with the tension of traffic. We lost several hours in road everyday. Our Government take steps to ease our problems but nothing works. This year’s decision to close the educational institution will at least help the students not to face traffic jam at the early morning. But they will face huge pressure of their syllabus after the vacation. Above all, closing educational institutions is not any permanent solution to solve the traffic jam. Roads of Dhaka are always busy.

Police Embark On Crime Free Society

Nathaniel Yankson — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 07:35:58 +0000

A group of people listening to Police advise at the Arts Centre in Accra

THE NIMA Divisional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Yoosa Bonga has cautioned families against exposing sharp objects such as cutlasses and knives in their homes or surroundings because they are possible tools criminals can use to attack or kill them. Read more on www.nayank80.blogspot.com

President Koroma launches SCP

Rachel Horner — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 18:55:26 +0000

President Ernest Bai Koroma has launched the Smallholders Commercialization Programme (SCP) in Kenema, east of Sierra Leone, a nationwide initiative aimed at increasing the productivity of Sierra Leone’s agricultural sector. The US$403 million agricultural sector growth project is one of President Koroma’s top priorities on the “Agenda for Change” that is geared towards achieving food security and self-sufficiency in the country. With a life span of five years running from 2011 to 2014, the SCP is expected to strengthen the economy and get over two and half million people out of poverty. Speaking at the launching of the programme, President Koroma described the occasion as a great day for the people of Sierra Leone and farmers in particular. “We want agriculture to take the lead in development in Sierra Leone thus we must move agriculture forward because most of our people are farmers,” he vowed, and added that “government through the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security has beefed up the tractorisation programme by increasing the number of tractors, power tillers, combine harvester and other farming implements”. President Koroma said thereafter; “we decided on opening up our roads so that our crops harvested will not perish in the bush”. He informed all that the SCP involved many sectors and ministries. The president stated that the programme will enable farmers sell their crops and earn cash out of what they grow and export some if necessary. The SCP, Koroma stated will provide fertilizer, good roads networks, markets, and training and extension services for farmers. Government, according to the president, has adopted the right policy in consistent with the African Union, Food and Agricultural Organizations, G8 and other partners. He disclosed that the Islamic Development Bank has allocated funds for the rehabilitation of Mattru Jong oil mill. President Koroma said funds have been also provided by other donors to revive the cocoa and coffee production in Kenema and Kailahun. He said resources will be made available for irrigation and large scale production of rice. The President also vowed that Sierra Leone must produce rich people out of farming especially in rice production. He said with the SCP farmers will be fully empowered. President Koroma encouraged farmers to take the lead in agriculture as nobody has to do it for Sierra Leone as a nation except Sierra Leoneans. Resident Minister East, William Juana Smith said the scheme was proposed to support food production by cultivating in-land-valley swamps, create cassava production centers and stimulate agricultural production. Mr. Smith said the SCP is also aimed at building the capacities of farmers and make farming a lucrative profession. Chairman of the Kenema District Council, Patrick Sam, expressed delight at receiving President Koroma. He said at any time the president visits Kenema he comes along with a gift for the people of the eastern region which will leave them with happiness. “We are working day and night to implement your Agenda for Change”, Mr. Sam told President Koroma. The Paramount Chief of Nogowa chiefdom P.C. Amara Banya Vangahun thanked God for having President Koroma as Head of State of Sierra Leone. P.C. Vangahun praised President Koroma for showing keen interest for his people, the country, and for his bold steps in reforming the agricultural sector. P.C. Vangahun implored land owners to help the scheme with land. He cautioned detractors not to sabotage the All People’s Congress led government, for development is for everybody in Sierra Leone. For his part, the Minister of Agriculture Forestry and Food Security, Dr. Joseph Sam Sesay recalled that the process started in 2008 when President Koroma put together the initiative. Food and Agricultural Organizations Country Representative, Kelvin Galaga said he is looking forward to work with other ministries for the achievement of the SCP. He noted that government has opened many opportunities for farmers which he encouraged them to explore and improve agricultural growth in Sierra Leone.

London Mining boosts Tacugama Chimpanzee

Rachel Horner — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 17:38:53 +0000

The Chief Finance Officer of London Mining Plc Rachel Rhodes together with a cross section of management and staff of London Mining Company over the weekend visited the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary to assess their immediate needs. The visit is part of their strategy to evaluate projects that can benefit direct form their Corporate Social Responsibilities programmes. At the CHIMPS site, London Mining Management and Staff were taken on a conducted tour by the Sanctuary Supervisor Willie Tucker who gave a brief at every port of call. Mr. Tucker informed the visitors about the current state of the sanctuary, which he stated is holding up to 100 Chimpanzees. “We feed them five times a day with fruits, milk and sweet potatoes and this is costing us a lot” he noted. Tucker pointed out that the Sanctuary is in readiness to send the first sets of Chimps to the jungle but needs to give them more integration into the wild life where they will have to survive on their own. Most of the Chimps he went one, were brought in from abroad at a tender age and have to go through an integration period which has increase their daily running costs. “Operating Tacugama requires funding to cover both our running costs and outreach projects and we need companies like London Mining who considers the environment and has interest in developing the Tourism Sector in Sierra Leone to lend a helping hand” he opined. Officially handing over London Mining’s contribution, which is worth millions of Leones to the sustenance of the Sanctuary, Chief Finance Officer of London Mining Plc Rachel Rhodes thanked the management and staff for their hospitality and praised them for keeping the sanctuary alive. Mrs. Rhodes noted that London Mining is committed to helping in protecting the environment and preserving the natural forest reserves. She pointed out that such contribution is the start of many and that London Mining will help in ensuring that the future of wild chimpanzees is protected. The CFO pledged her company’ support to assist with the communication projects of the Sanctuary that will contribute to the survival of the Western Chimpanzee. Upon receipt of the donation, the founder of Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary Bala Amarasekaran expressed thanks and appreciation to London Mining for the kind gesture and promised that the money will go towards the construction of more holding facilities for the Chimps. Mr. Amarasekaran noted that the sanctuary is not only and animal welfare project but contains a lot of educational and environmental aspects as this has attracted daily visits from schools and colleges to learn more about the operations of a Chimps Kingdom. He added that the sanctuary can be seen as an economic viable project when the Tourism Sector will have developed in the country and therefore urged the government to fast their effort in revamping this sector.

US Embassy starts tree planting project

Rachel Horner — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 14:42:51 +0000

As part of a continuing initiative to reforest the land surrounding the embassy compound, the U.S. Embassy community gathered on July 15 for a tree planting ceremony. Both locally engaged staff and American employees donated the funds needed to pay for a variety of trees, including palm, citrus, cashew, and ornamental trees.
Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Agriculture also generously donated a large number of acacia trees to the effort. The embassy’s gardeners will continue planting until all 1,000 trees have been planted on the property.
This initiative is an important effort in reversing the extreme deforestation that Sierra Leone is presently undergoing. “Deforestation is a grave problem in much of the world; it is one of the causes of global warming, erosion, flooding and landslides. It also hurts biodiversity.
By replanting trees at Hill Station, the embassy is doing its part in what is hoped will become a larger effort in all of Sierra Leone,” said Charge d’affaires Douglas Sun. All citizens bear responsibility for protecting the environment and preventing deforestation by replanting trees on their property after a house has been built.