The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ghana

  • Nigeria trails Ghana, others in LPG consumption

    Nigeria is trailing Ghana, Benin Republic and Côte d’Ivoire in Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) per capita income because it produces lower metric tons per annum (mtpn) of LPG, an expert has said.

    A former Managing Director, Nigerian Liquefied and Natural Gas (NLNG), Mr. Godswill Ihetu, who spoke in a telephone interview in Lagos, at the weekend, lamented that Nigeria was battling with poor reception facilities, such as jetties and tank farms, to ensure seamless distribution of the product across the country.

    Other challenges are awareness and funding of the sub-sector.

    He said the use of LPG in Nigeria was below 35 per cent, while the rate at which Ghana, Benin Republic and Cote’d Voire consumed the product was 55 per cent and 65 per cent.

    He said the NLNG was not producing LPG enough to meet the needs of the population, unlike Ghana and other countries in the West African sub-region that produced the product to meet the needs of their populations.

    He said though NLNG had increased processing and distribution of LPG from 150,000 metric tons per annum (mtpa) in 2007 to 250,000 mtpa in 2013, and later 350,000 mtpa in 2016, it’s  not enough to cater for the needs of Nigerians.

    Ihetu said: “Apart from the fact that the metric tons per annum of LPG that is being processed in Nigeria is very small, the jetties that would take delivery of the product, which is coming from the NLNG’s headquarters in Bonny, Rivers State is another challenge. Often times, the goals of the jetties were prioritised. By this, the jetties were assigned to take delivery of fuel first to forestall scarcity.

    “Also is the poor awareness of the usage of LPG. Majority of the population, especially those in the village still use fire wood for cooking.’’

    According to him, stakeholders are not funding the sub-sector well, by providing facilities needed for the distribution of the products.

    He said the list of firms approved by NLNG to engage in off-taking business should be reviewed in order to widen the distribution of LPG in the country.

    He said countries such as Ghana, Cote’ d’Voire and others, have deepened the consumption of cooking gas such that its usage knows barriers.

    He said a larger percentage of people in the urban and semi-urban areas use LPG for domestic cooking in those countries.

    He, however, said NLNG is working to double the production of cooking gas in the country.

    The Federal Government, through the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), is working to deepen the usage of LPG in the country.

    The National Oil Company has advocated for the use of cooking gas as alternative cooking fuel in the country, he added.

  • UK, Ghana trip for school quiz winners

    Finalists of the ongoing Ayodeji Joseph Inter-Primary Schools Quiz competition would be taken on tour to the United Kingdom  (UK) and Ghana.

    Ayodeji Joseph, a lawmaker, disclosed this at the kick off of the quiz, noting that it would promote academic excellence among the pupils.

    The contest held simultaneously in 20 schools.

    According to the legislator, two best pupils from the competition, one each from Apapa Local Government (LGA) and Apapa-Iganmu Local Council Development Area (LCDA), would be sent to the UK for two weeks, while the runners-up would go on tour of Ghana, as well as N500,000 cash prizes each.

    The tours, he said, would be co-sponsored by the Apapa LCDA Chairman, Elijah Owolabi.

    Ayodeji said he was committed to instilling the passion for education in the children, adding that the quiz would encourage academic rivalry, challenge the pupils to be focused and bring out the best in them.

    He said: “Many youths in this constituency have seen touting and thuggery as the only means by which they can make money. We need to change this and that is why we want to focus on the pupils, so that they do not grow with that mentality.

    “When you educate a child, you enhance the potential inherent in him or her and when we fail to do this, they will take to hooliganism.

    By sending them on UK tour, we need them to know another part of the world where development is on the high side.

    “Since they are the leaders of tomorrow, we need them to know that something is wrong in this part of the world and that something must be corrected. We want them to know that electricity can run uninterrupted and traffic can flow better.”

  • FG won’t relent in its yam export initiative – Ogbeh

    FG won’t relent in its yam export initiative – Ogbeh

    The Federal Government ( FG ) says it will not relent in its yam export policy which is aimed at attracting foreign exchange for the country.

    Chief Audu Ogbeh, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, said this during a sensitisation walk in commemoration of the World Food Day in Abuja on Tuesday.

    Ogbeh, who was reacting to reports that some yams recently exported to Britain were rejected, said that the policy had come to stay.

    The minister said that the set back would not deter the dealers of the produce from exporting it, pointing out that the current world market for yams was worth $12 billion.

    He said that the country could not afford to stay away from it because it was the highest producers of yams in the world.

    “I read some news report about some yams arriving in Britain and being rejected. They stayed so long en route and if they stay that long, they are bound to rot.

    “It happens to yams from Ghana as well. We will not stop the policy of the exportation of yam. I can assure you that.

    “It is a policy that will stay because we are the largest producers of yams in the world. We produce 67 per cent of the yams.

    “We will continue to help exporters; we will not as an institute export yams. We only support the private sector to do that and if there are problems we will solve them,’’ he said.

    The yam export initiative was flagged off on June 29 and the consignment exported to the US recently was rejected.

    Exporters of yam include Messrs Wan-Nyikwagh Farms Nig. Ltd, Gboko, Nigeria and Oklanbest Limited, Ibadan, Nigeria.

    Meanwhile, an exporter of the product, Mr Yandev Amaabai, has identified the challenges that government should addressed to ease the exportation yams.

    He said they included lack of refrigerated container and the long time the produce stay on the before its arrival to Europe of America.

    NAN

  • Ghana explosion (UPDATE): Death toll hits seven; 132 injured, 64 discharged

    Ghana explosion (UPDATE): Death toll hits seven; 132 injured, 64 discharged

    At least seven people have died, with 132 still reported injured after the two explosions at a petrol station in Ghana ’s capital, Accra, the Presidency confirmed on Sunday.

    A statement signed by the Information Minister, Mustapha Hamid, added that out of those injured, 64 persons had been discharged from the hospitals with 68 others receiving treatment.

    Hamid said that the Vice President on Sunday morning visited the site of the explosion at Atomic Junction near Madina to get the first-hand update.

    The fire which was reported to have started at about 7 p.m. on Saturday night also caught an adjacent filling station and set ablaze many vehicles at a nearby taxi and commercial buses hub.

    “Government expressed its condolences to families of the deceased and injured in the unfortunate incident, it also commended the Fire Service, Ambulance Service and police for their quick control and rescue exercise.

    “Any injured persons who may have been evacuated from the scene on their own should kindly inform the Ghana Police Hospital of their location,” he said.

    Hamid added that the cause of the explosion had not been determined, but an investigation was underway, and that those responsible would be punished to forestall future occurrence .

    Eye witnesses said the explosions were caused by a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanker.

    “I heard a loud noise and the sky lit up. It was followed by another explosion which rattled my windows. The sky turned yellow,” said John, who lives about eight kilometres away.

    NAN

  • Ghana gas depot blast kills six – Fire service

    Ghana gas depot blast kills six – Fire service

    No fewer than six people have reportedly died while 35 others injured, following intense burns from an explosion at a natural gas depot in Ghana.

    The country’s fire service spokesman, Billy Anaglate, made this disclosure in Accra during the inferno on Sunday.

    The explosion, which occurred on Saturday evening at the state-owned GOIL liquefied natural gas station, sent a giant fireball into the sky above the eastern part of Accra.

    Report said the development frightened residents to flee their homes in large numbers, even as many others were also evacuated.

    Ghana, a relatively new oil and gas producer, has suffered several recent accidents including an explosion in 2015 that killed scores of people.

    Several onlookers at the scene of the explosion, expressed anger that the government had not done enough to prevent another fatal accident.

  • Ghana held by Uganda as World Cup hopes fade

    Ghana held by Uganda as World Cup hopes fade

     

    Ghana and Uganda played out a dour goalless draw in Kampala on Saturday which dents the pair’s hopes of World Cup qualification and leaves Egypt within one win of a place in Russia next year.

    The stalemate took Uganda to eight points, one behind Egypt who play their game in hand against already eliminated Congo-Brazzaville in Alexandria on Sunday knowing that a victory would end their 27-year wait for a place at the World Cup.

    Ghana, in third on six points, need Egypt to lose against Congo, Uganda to fail to beat the Red Devils next month, and to beat the Pharaohs in their final qualifier to reach a fourth consecutive World Cup.

    Both Ghana and Uganda had opportunities to claim all three points, particularly during a second half that grew more frantic as the duo saw their prospects of qualification fade.

    Derrick Nsibambi missed the best opening at the start of the second half when he headed wide from four yards after meeting a brilliant cross.

    It was a lucky escape for Ghana, but the Black Stars had their own hard luck story too, as Daniel Bennett ruled out Daniel Amartey’s first-half header for offside, before denying Ghana twice in the second half

    He booked Frank Acheampong for diving when replays showed that he had indeed been fouled in the box, and with the last kick off the game, Ghana thought they had scored the winner when Dennis Onyango failed to hold unto Ebenezer Ofori’s long-range shot, allowing Raphael Dwamena to tap in from close range.

    Bennett and his assistants ruled that Dwamena had been offside, denying Ghana an equaliser, although replays appeared to show that he was level with the last defender.

    While there were no winners in Kampala, Egypt were the major beneficiaries from these two cancelling each other out, as they find themselves on the brink of a first World Cup qualification since 1990.

  • Elumelu to host 1,300 African Entrepreneurs from 54 countries

    Elumelu to host 1,300 African Entrepreneurs from 54 countries

    The Tony Elumelu Foundation ( TEF ), Africa’s leading philanthropy, on Friday announced plan to host 1,300 African Entrepreneurs, Business leaders and Policymakers from 54 countries in Lagos.

    Mrs Parminder Obe, the TEF’s Chief Executive Officer, who made this known at a briefing in Lagos, said the 3rd Annual TEF Entrepreneurship Forum was slated for Oct. 13.

    She said the 2017 invitation had been extended beyond the usual 1,000 Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurs to include selected SMEs, media, hubs, incubators, academia and investors from across Africa.

    “Assembled SMEs will build networks, share knowledge, connect with investors and link with corporate supply chains.

    “Since launching the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme and committing $100 million to empowering 10,000 African entrepreneurs in a decade, we have unleashed our continent’s most potent development force, its entrepreneurs.

    “In just three years, our first 3,000 entrepreneurs have created tens of thousands of jobs and generated considerable wealth.

    “On Oct. 13 and 14, the global entrepreneurship community will gather in Lagos to build a New Africa, a thriving, self-reliant continent capable of replicating the results of our ground-breaking programme.

    “The two-day forum will feature plenary panels, master classes, sector specific networking opportunities and policy-led forums focused on enabling African business growth.

    “This is the first year we have opened the forum up to include the full pan-African entrepreneurship ecosystem.

    “In doing so, we are enabling African SME communities to come together and expand the possibilities for intra-African partnerships.

    “I am looking forward to welcoming our invited policy-makers and investors to join us at the forum, as we empower the next generation of African business leaders,’’ she said.

    Also speaking, Mrs Owen Omogiafo, the TEF’s Chief Operating Officer, said speakers at the forum would include Wale Ayeni of International Finance Corporation, Stephen Kauma, Afrexim Bank and Andre Hue, African Development Bank.

    “Others are Stephen M. Haykin, USAID Nigeria, Heikke Reugger, European Investment Bank and Abdoulaye Mar Dieye, United Nations Development Programme,’’ she said.

    Omogiafo said TEF’s long-term investment in empowering African entrepreneurs was emblematic of Tony Elumelu’s philosophy of Africa Capitalism, which positions Africa’s private sector, as catalysts for social and economic development.

    She said the foundation, which was founded in 2010 by Tony Elumelu, was aimed at empowering a generation of successful pro-profit entrepreneurs who drive Africa’s economic and social transformation.

    According to her, the foundation received 20,000 applications in 2015 from residents of 53 African countries out of which 1,000 applicants were selected, with Nigeria contributing 64 per cent.

    “In 2016, 45,000 applications were received with Nigeria contributing 30 per cent with 1000 selected applicants.

    “Agriculture leads the sectors represented with 26.67 per cent: a great number are into poultry and fish farming.

    “Fashion and ICT followed in second and third with 10 and 8.8 per cent respectively.

    “This year, we received 93,246 applications out of which 1,300 applicants had been selected in 52 African countries with 57.1 per cent from Nigeria for the forum.

    “Entrepreneurs are coming from Kenya. Uganda, Ghana, Tanzania, Cameroon, South Africa, Rwanda, Botswana and Cote d’Ivoire,’’ she said

    NAN

  • One Corner Dance- The darling of parties, events

    One Corner Dance- The darling of parties, events

    Dance forms a very important aspect of our identity as a people. It most times is at the epi-centre of our culture and tradition.

    We communicate and share our essence with global audiences when we dance, especially our traditional dances.

    Although, to be a good dancer you need a lot of practice and training and would be easier if the talent is inborn.

    However, when dance loses its rhythm and essence, it not only becomes a ‘demonstration of craze’, but reduces man to states of bestial tendencies; more or less like a macabre dance.

    Social media have been set ablaze with the trending song called ‘one corner dance’. This song by Patapaa Amisty, a Ghanian musician, requires some level of craziness to flow with it.

    The winning strategy for this song was the introduction of a dance competition online; this meant that the winner carts away with a huge sum of money.

    The dance competition made the song more popular (or should we say – notorious?), because both the old, young, celebrity and ordinary person danced enthusiastically and posts it on their various social media platforms.

    This song has spread like wildfire such that it has become the darling of wedding parties and youth events, not just in its place of origin (Ghana), but also in our beloved country – Nigeria.

    The question that readily comes to mind is – Is there a possessive spirit behind this song or is it an avenue for people to escape from the harsh economic and social realities that continues to stare them in the face like a one-eyed monster?

    Can we say that those who dance to this song in weird manners do so without any sense of reasoning? Please before you start to throw tantrums on the writer…HOLD UP!

    This should be an appropriate point for our regulatory bodies like the National Broadcasting Commission ( NBC ) to step up and take charge of the airwaves because apart from the fact that this ‘alien’ song has been surreptitiously introduced into our country, this song is gradually eating deep into the comportment and perceived sanity, especially among our youths and teenagers who have too much energy to burn.

    The One Corner song is powered by merriment dance, which is hilarious in its notion. It is a sexualized dance movement in the sense that you move your waist in a sexual form.

    Obviously, we (the youths) are already drowning in the ocean of ignorance and have thrown caution to the wind when it comes to ‘dancing.’

    Although culture (dance inclusive) can be a viable source of revenue for the country, however, it is also very expedient that we tell the narrative of our rich tradition in the right way.

    In Conclusion, Nigerians especially the youths should be more innovative and creative, and stop waiting for the chance to feed on another man’s creativity, especially when it is bereft of cultural ideals.

  • WAFU 2017: Ghana beat Nigeria 4-1

    WAFU 2017: Ghana beat Nigeria 4-1

    Host Black Stars of Ghana have won the 2017 edition of West African Football Union ( WAFU ), beating Nigeria four goals to one in the final of the competition.

    Vincent Attingah scored in between Sarfo’s brace, with Cobbinah scoring the fourth before Rabiu Alli of Nigeria scored a consolation goal for Nigeria

    Nigeria had defeated the Black stars 2-0 in the group stage of the competition.

    Niger won the third place match with a 2-1 win against Benin Republic.

     

  • WAFU FINAL: Ghana defeats Nigeria

    WAFU FINAL: Ghana defeats Nigeria

    The Black Stars of Ghana have defeated the Super Eagles 4-1 at the 2017 WAFU Cup of Nations final which was held on Sunday at the Cape Coast Stadium Ghana.

    However, Niger had claimed the bronze medal earlier in the day after it beat Benin 2-1 in third place game.
    In a report by allnigerisoccer.com, ‘both sides had clashed in Group A match last week with Nigeria winning 2-0 but the hosts overpowered their rivals in the final played at the Cape Coast Stadium on Sunday.

    The Black Stars started the game sharper than they did in the semifinals win against Niger on Thursday.

    Super Eagles number 10 Rabiu Ali had a sight of goal but Samuel Sarfo blocked his shot to corner.

    In the 33rd minute, goalkeeper Ezenwa Ikechukwu pulled a great save to deny Isaac Twum.

    The Super Eagles suffered a crushing blow when hardworking defender Adeleye Aniyikaye was injured and Ariwachukwu Emmanuel took his place.

    Sarfo made the dominance of Ghana count with a clinical finish after he cooly controlled the ball on the edge of the box and fired in a low shot in the 44th minute. There was no chance for Ezenwa.

    Early in the second half, Super Eagles coach Yusuf Salisu threw on Gabriel Okechukwu for Ubong Friday, who was on a yellow card.

    The switch didn’t deter Ghana who continued to run down the Nigerian team.

    The Black Stars had the chance to increase their lead, when substitute Patrick Razaq was tripped in the box.

    Vincent Atinga sent Ezenwa the wrong way from the penalty spot to make the scoreline 2-0 two minutes before the hour mark.

    The woes of Nigeria increased as Sarfo kept his cool to put his spot kick past Ezenwa in the 77th minute.

    The Black Stars were reduced to ten men in the first minute of additional time when Atinga was sent off for a second bookable offense.

    Ghana continued to be ruthless and added another goal. Winful Cobbinah tapped home following a lovely work from Patrick Razak.

    Nigeria reduced the deficit with what seemed to be the last action of the game thanks to Ali.’