80-megawatt barge arrives to support Akosombo

An emergency 80-megawatt barge procured by a consortium of mining companies has arrived at the Tema Port as part of efforts to beef up energy requirements due to depleting water levels in the Akosombo Dam.It would be providing power in three months during which Newmont engineers would install and test the facility to meet expected capacities.

The consortium led by Newmont Ghana Gold Limited includes Gold Fields Ghana, AngloGold Ashanti and Gold Star Resources. The barge would be located at the New Tema VRA Sub-Station near the Tema Oil Refinery.Briefing journalists at the Tema Port, Mr Joshua Mutoti, Newmont's Energy Manager, said the 45 million-dollar barge is the consortium's contribution to stabilizing the power rationing programme.

The Volta River Authority (VRA) embarked on a power-rationing programme last August following depleting water resources of the Akosombo Dam, which is currently at 237.60 feet, far below the minimum operating level of 240 feet.The Akosombo Dam started commercial production of electricity in 1965.

GNA

Two more judges dead

Two more justices of the superior courts of Ghana are reported dead.Justice Essilfie Bondzie, a retired Appeal Court judge died at the weekend while Justice Asamoah of the Court of Appeal died on Wednesday morning.

Their deaths come immediately after the death of Justice George Kingsley Acquah, the Chief Justice who passed away on Sunday.

Brazil struggles to hold on to lead

Reuters) - Brazil were heavily indebted to goalkeeper Julio Cesar in their 1-0 win over Ghana in a friendly international on Tuesday.Vagner Love scored the winner in a rematch of the 2006 World Cup second-round tie which Brazil won 3-0 but Julio Cesar was their most important player.He made his first notable save in the 15th minute when he tipped away Eric Addo's close-range header.

Two minutes later, Brazil won a corner, Kaka headed on at the near post and Vagner Love, unmarked at the far post, drilled the ball home for his second international goal.Julio Cesar was in action again in the 20th minute as he blocked a dangerous run by Alex Tachie Mensah.Despite missing captain Stephen Appiah and midfielder Michael Essien, Ghana continued to threaten the South Americans in a surprisingly slow-paced game.

Julio Cesar made his best save to turn away Laryea Kingston's fierce drive from the edge of the area in the 50th minute and tipped over Sulley Muntari's 30-metre free kick shortly afterwards.Muntari's effort scraped the crossbar before going out to safety.Brazil, who thrashed Chile 4-0 in Gothenburg on Saturday, were happy to threaten on the break and created a clear opening in the 65th minute which was wasted by Kaka, who toe-poked the ball wide.Ghana had midfielder Haminu Dramani sent off for a second bookable offence in the 77th minute, after which the game fizzled out with Brazil happy to sit back on their lead.
Source:Reuters

ECOWAS Ministerial conference on Biotechnology opens in Accra

The third ECOWAS Ministerial Conference on Biotechnology opens in Accra on Tuesday to deliberate on issues pertaining to biotechnology in the sub-region. The four-day conference, to be attended by about 200 agricultural and environmental ministers, biotechnology experts, international agricultural scientists, farmer groups and civil society would be under the theme: "Adoption of 2006-2010 Action Plan for Meeting of the Challenges of Biotechnology and Bio safety".

A statement signed by Mr Edward B. Karkari, Chief Technical Adviser for the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment, said the Ministerial session, which takes place on the last day of the conference will examine and adopt the 2006-2010 Action Plan for the development of biotechnology and bio safety within the ECOWAS region. The first three days would have the experts discussing critical issues pertaining to the theme.

It said the Action Plan was focused on measures deemed as necessary by the Ministers for the development of a regional approach to biosafety, biotechnology application and a biotechnology information, communication strategy and policy. The Plan of Action was prepared by the ECOWAS Commission in line with the decision taken by the ministers at their second meeting held in Bamako, Mali in June 2005.

ECOWAS Ministers at various meetings had resolved to develop the capacity for the safe use of modern biotechnology in agriculture as sub-Saharan Africa continues to face drastic food shortages, it said. It attributed the problem to pests, diseases, declining soil fertility and drought, input and market constraints, poor policy development for agriculture and low research support.

The resulting food security problems are associated with the decline in socio-economic well-being. The first ministerial conference on biotechnology was held in June 2004 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.GNA