11th November, 2014

The Ghanaian Times supports the call by the Chief Executive of the Minerals Commission, Dr Tony Aubynn, for chiefs and public officials to do soul searching over looting of the nation's natural resources in connivance with foreigners. To the paper, this situation has created a boost in small scale mining also known as ‘galamsey’ in which foreigners are deeply involved. The paper says the worrying aspect is that these small scale miners refuse to channel their produce through the Precious Minerals Marketing Company, and send them abroad. The Nation it says loses huge revenues through this. The Times therefore urges the Minerals Commission to rigidly enforce the law to ensure that small scale mining is solely in the hands of Ghanaians. 

The Daily Heritage bemoans the delay in completion of the Atuabo gas processing plant. This they believe could be due to several reasons, hence calls on the Ghana Gas National Company to be patient and ensure that all safety mechanisms are well checked to avoid any energy crises. The Paper says despite the dire need of the gas to aid in resolving energy problems in the Country, the Energy Commission must insist on the right procedures as they are doing without allowing politicians to coerce them to compromise the safety of all and sundry. 

The Daily Graphic discusses a comment made by the director of the Reconstructive plastic surgery and Burns center of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital on the siting of Gas filling stations in highly populated residential areas. Dr Ampah described the situation as a disaster waiting to occur. The paper says if the disaster ever comes, the blame will be laid at the door steps of the NPA and the EPA as they are the two regulatory bodies that have the mandate to sanction or deny the siting of these stations at unauthorised places. The Graphic is therefore calling on the NPA and the EPA to carry out further sensitisation on the siting of gas stations in residential areas.

GBC