Features
Certification of locally assembled vehicles
The story of two friends who stayed in the same village called “Papaasa” somewhere in the Eastern Region were close to each other until in their early 20s when one of them decided to move away from the other because of the lazy behaviour put up by the other friend.
The lazy person known as “Atadwe” was so lazy that washing his own clothes to make him look neat was a big problem for him. The other friend known as “Din Pa Na Eye” stayed away from this lazy friend and was able to invest in his own business to become independent of any other person in the village. This was a positive behaviour worthy of emulation.
Not long ago, the President of the Republic Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo hinted of plans to set up an automobile industry in Ghana to allow the building of local assembled vehicles in the country to reduce dependency on countries that manufacture such vehicles for export.
AUTOMOBILE POLICY
The decision of the government to set up an automobile industry in the country is a well thought-through policy that will ultimately benefit the country in a number of ways. The automobile policy requires the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) to play a useful role and ensure that automobiles will be manufactured for both the domestic and the sub-region of West Africa.
In fact, the GSA is required to implement internationally recognised standards and regulations for automobile manufacturing. The implementation of the standards includes compulsory vehicle standards, homologation (vehicle certification), conformity assessment as well as entire vehicle marking to ensure the safety, efficiency and environmental compliance of Ghana’s vehicle fleet. This is an encouraging development because standards and regulations help to facilitate Asset-backed Vehicle Financing thereby enabling the manufacture of the value of the vehicle fleet.
The implementation of these national standards was originally meant to begin in January 2020. Unfortunately, it was delayed due to a slowing down in the ratification of the Customs Amendment Bill. The delay in the ratification of that Bill slowed down the implementation process.
The Bill was eventually passed by Parliament in March 2020, but the country’s determination to move at a faster rate on the issue was once again delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The good news is that despite these challenges, in June 2020, the GSA was able to begin its activities in vehicle standardisation to ensure the quality and safety of the first vehicles that were assembled in the country.
All these go to show that the country, with determination, has the capacity to strive shoulder to shoulder with others in the world. Having developed the standards, the GSA is now in a position to certify vehicles that are manufactured elsewhere, within the country or assembled in Ghana.
STANDARDISATION & CERTIFICATION
The standardisation and also certification of the automobile industry in the country is a good move that have been initiated by the government. A number of reasons could be identified as motives behind the move. In the first place, the President thought it wise to indigenise the automobile industry. This way, appropriate skills and technology could be passed on to Ghanaians employed in that sector.
There is also another reason the President thought of a local automobile industry in Ghana. The issue of employment is relevant here because, technical skills employed in that sector could be utilised to form the basis of employment in the sector. Again, world-trained people with marketing skills can also make use of their knowledge to help promote and sell the vehicles manufactured or assembled in Ghana. These will help to reduce unemployment in the country.
Another important reason for the President’s decision relates to attracting attention to Ghana as a hub for the production of vehicles in the sub-region of West Africa. This move is also likely to influence neighbouring states in West Africa and the rest of Africa to place their orders of vehicles from Ghana.
WORKING GROUP TECHNICAL SESSION
In line with the desire to set up an automobile industry in the country, a Working Group Technical Session (WGTS) was set up to see to the review of standards within a certain period. This working group began the review and revision of 15 automobile lubricant national standards. In addition, the group developed also Working Drafts. All these were done in the month of May 2021.
In fact, by the end of May 2021, the Standards Authority had been able to complete the homologation or certification of 14 automobile vehicle models either imported into the country as Fully-Built-Units (FBU) or assembled in Ghana from Semi-Knocked Down Kits.
A number of models were assembled here. Indeed, Homologated Models that were dealt with included VW’s Tiguan, Amarok and Teramont. Others were Gol, Polo, Passat and T-cross, Toyota’s Hilux, Corolla cross, Fortuner and Rav 4. The rest of the Homologated Models dealt with were Land Cruiser Prado, Isuzu’s D-max Pick-up and Changan’s Hunter Pick-up.
As of now the Authority is working on the homologation of an additional 14 models from Ford, Hyundai, Honda, Changan, Citroen, Peugeot and VW.
The homologation of the vehicles is meant to achieve quality and safety by ensuring that all the models are produced according to required standards. The certification or homologation of the models is meant to ensure that the models are fit-for-purpose and ensure value for money for customers who may be interested in purchasing them.
GHANA BEYOND AID
It is quite good that the Ghanaian society has foreseen the need to promote the assembling or production of vehicles in the country. This is in line with Nana Akufo-Addo’s decision of Ghana Beyond Aid which is an economic strategy aimed at ensuring that the country moves on gradually to ultimately depend on its own self in the production of certain goods and services.
With this development, the cash base of the economy will expand to include incomes from purchases made by customers outside the country for such vehicles. What this means is that it will help in the strengthening of the local currency, that is, the Cedi against other currencies.
The establishment of a successful automobile industry greatly depends on ensuring that measures are taken to conform to standards. In this case, the application of standards has come in form of homologation or certification of the models for the purpose of safety, quality as well as fit-for-purpose. This shows that the Ghana Standards Authority is playing its part to ensure that the expected quality is guaranteed.
Once this is done, the vehicles produced here would be comparable in terms of quality to others produced in any part of the world. Indeed, it has been learnt that because of the absence of automobile industry in the country, some of the brand vehicles manufactured and imported into the country had doors and other parts that were sub-standard. What all this means is that Ghana is gradually rubbing shoulder to shoulder with other vehicle manufacturing countries in the world.
This is a bold step that must be greatly supported by all stakeholders because if for nothing at all it shows the determination of the Ghanaian leader, Nana Akufo-Addo, to ensure that the country is pushed to greater heights. Again, as a result of this, Ghana will be accorded the needed respect as far as vehicle production or assembling is concerned.
No country is an island so each one needs to depend on the other for development. However, countries must know the limit of dependence and note that their dependence on others should not be pursued in perpetuity but used as a stepping-stone to leap forward to achieve a reasonable measure of economic independence. This is what President Akufo-Addo is striving to achieve to enable the country to depend on its own self in terms of national economic development in the automobile manufacturing sector. It shows that the government is making every effort “to fix Ghana”.
This is good news that must be told to the rest of the world because it is better than going round the world with a cup in hand “begging for alms”.
Contact email/whatsApp of author:
Pradmat2013@gmail.com (0553318911)
Features
Correcting some doctrinal misconceptions
This week I have a very strong desire to talk about the things of God and therefore the Bible. There are a whole lot of misinterpretation going about in the world as far as the Bible, which is the Word of God, is concerned.
One of the easiest jobs that does not require a licence to get into, is the Pastoral vocation. In this country all you need is a loud voice and even if you do not have, you can seek the aid of a loudspeaker to preach.
Again, one does not have to sit for any exams and all you need to do is to talk to Headmaster of one of the numerous JHS, get a classroom, get a couple of young ladies who have melodious voices and you are good to go.
As a result, we have all manner of people with very questionable characters parading about as Pastors, a.k.a., Men of God. Again, because titles are not something we purchase, they pick all manner of titles after getting a few congregation and transferring the church from a classroom to a structure of their own.
Suddenly they become Bishop after initial title of Prophet and as someone said they butcher the scriptures like nobody’s business. We have an interesting country.
One of the misconceptions is the question of whether the Bible endorses the consumption of Alcohol or not. In the Old Testament which is basically a manual for the relationship between God and his people, Israel, drinking of alcoholic beverages was not forbidden.
However, there was a particular group of people, who were forbidden to consume alcoholic beverages. In Leviticus 10:9-10, God specifically gave a decree for the High Priesthood Order to follow that is, they were to abstain from alcohol throughout the generations.
When we come to the New Testament, the Bible makes it clear to us that, every believer is regarded as a High Priest and therefore a member of the High Priesthood order who are to abstain from strong drink, i.e. alcoholic drink.
A careful study of the Bible, leads one to conclude that Christians are to shun alcoholic drink because our bodies now houses the Spirit of God just like the Tabernacle in Old Testament so we should not contaminate it with unholy things.
There is another issue that raises a lot of argument in Christian circles. The issue of Tithe is a very topical issue that is gainng attention in this era if social media.
Some Christians believe that Tithe is an Old Testament thing and therefore should not be countenanced in the New Testament era.
To really understand what Tithe is, we need to go to Genesis 14:20 where Tithe originated. It was a sacrifice initiated by Patriarch Abraham that was motivated by the Spirit of God after God had given him a mighty victory in battle.
It therefore became a practice among the descendants of Abraham. God endorsed its observance after the Commandments were given to Moses and was among other reasons to serve as a means for taking care of the needs of the Levites the Priests.
In Malachi God instituted it as an ordinance for generations to come cautioning noncompliance and specifying blessings that will follow its observance. In the New Testament, it was mainly practised as an offering on a weekly basis by the early church and it was received by the leaders, every first day of the week according to 1 Corinthians 16:2.
I intend to periodically attempt to address certain issues that appear controversial in the Bible gradually, we shall have a clearer understanding to enrich our knowledge of the Bible.
NB: ‘CHANGE KOTOKA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO KOFI BAAKO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT’
By Laud Kissi-Mensah
Features
Monsieur’s daughter —(Part 4)
Sarah and her two younger brothers attended Research School Complex, a fine school run by the research institutions in the Eastern Region. A brilliant child, she enjoyed school, and was always around the top of her class.
She loved her parents. Her mother made sure they lacked nothing. Her father was the easy going type. He was generally good to them, but he hardly spent much time at home. Her major problem was her parents’ continuous quarrels.
During those sessions, the children would recoil in front of the TV in their room till they fell asleep. Very often, they would wake up to hear them quarrelling. Up till she reached junior high, she and her siblings managed to live with the situation. But later on she would hear them exchange threats and insults which confused and scared her.
‘You are a useless man. You are lazy and incompetent at work. Your boss says he’s tired of complaining. He says if you don’t change you could lose your job’.
‘And you are a heartless and selfish woman. You only care about money and yourself. Why should you go and discuss me with my boss? ‘
‘You dare call me heartless and selfish, when I feed and clothe you and your children? You lazy man. Can you survive for a month if I don’t feed you? When was the last time you took care of any of your children’s expenses, school fees, food, clothing or books?’
‘At the very least I provided you with a home and respectability. Without me you would be living in shame. You would have been exposed for who you really are’.
‘If you dare repeat that brainless sentence, I will teach you a lesson you would never forget’.
‘There you go. Threats! Threats! Why are you always threatening me?’
‘I asked you to repeat that stupid statement once, and see what happens’.
‘Okay. I’m sorry. Look, this is not good for the kids. I’m going to town. Will be right back’. With that he dashed out of the door, into his car and noisily sped off.
Although Sarah usually excelled in academics, the turmoil at home was having an impact on her. The teachers noticed that she was withdrawn, and would sometimes break into tears with little or no provocation.
Ms Odame, an elderly English teacher, took an interest in her and, after Sarah had told her about the problems she was facing at home, spent any free time she got encouraging her. She realised that there was a deep seated problem behind the symptoms she was displaying. One morning, she took her out for lunch, and asked her the hard question.
‘Sarah, for some time now, I’ve been trying to encourage you, because you are a brilliant girl, even though you may be facing a few problems at home. Now Sarah, I want to do my best to help you, but I want you to try and tell me exactly what the problem is at home, and I will do my best to help you. I promise you that I won’t discuss this with your parents’. Without much hesitation she unburdened herself of the load she had been carrying.
‘My parents are always quarrelling. Most of the time it is about money. Mummy keeps saying that Daddy doesn’t give her money, but spends his money on going out with friends and girls.
She also says that he is not serious with his work, so he’s not gaining any promotion. But Daddy sometimes says something which infuriates Mummy. He says he has kept her secret and given her respect, so she should stop disturbing her.
Mummy would then say that the whole issue was Daddy’s making, that if she mentioned it again she would move us out and leave him destitute. He would usually get scared, and apologised. There would be peace for some time, then it would happen again’.
‘I see. I see. Now, Sarah, I want you to trust me on this. I will do my best to help you. Do your best not to dwell on this. Come to me whenever you need any help, but we will solve the problem very soon’.
Through her enquiries, she learnt that Madam Gladys Ababio taught for a while at Aboso Senior High School. She made further enquiries at the GES, and learnt that the current headmaster of the school had been teaching there for close to twenty years. She called him and booked an appointment, explaining that she wanted to make an enquiry about an issue that would help a student of hers who was currently troubled.
‘Thanks for agreeing to see me’, she said after she had been welcomed with a snack. ‘I will go straight to the point. I have a student in JHS three, a girl. She’s brilliant, but she’s troubled at home. She confided in me that her parents have been quarrelling continually, and they seem to be hiding a secret. The mother was a catering teacher here in this school’.
‘I believe I have your assurance that you will handle this information with care, since it concerns a minor’.
‘You have my fullest assurance, madam
‘.
‘You are talking about Gladys and David, who were my colleagues. I know them, very well. They separated soon after marrying, and Gladys married one Simon. David was a very popular French teacher. In fact, the school’s playground is named after him.
He left for Germany as soon as the marriage broke down. He’s back, doing big business. He has been doing a lot for the school, but he prefers not to be given any publicity.
Now, let me come to the main issue that has brought you here from Koforidua. Not long after David had married Gladys and was living with her, Simon appeared from America, and spent some time in a hotel with her.
This happened again some months later. David got wind of this, and decided to end the marriage and leave town. Gladys and her relatives begged and begged, but he wouldn’t budge. Then, obviously with the intent of punishing him for rejecting her, Gladys came out and told Monsieur that the baby, Sarah, was not his. Indeed, she had told him that she would teach him a lesson.
David was shattered, but his parents advised him not to fight Gladys over the issue, because she was quite strong-headed. They told him that the child would come back to him eventually, if she was truly his. So he left town. And Simon married Gladys.
‘I see. So Sarah is not Simon’s child’.
‘No way. Listen, Sarah was conceived before Simon appeared from nowhere. This was known to everyone at Aboso, because David was very popular, a great guy. I don’t know how Gladys can live with herself, after what she did’.
‘I don’t know how to thank you. I will go back and do my best for the child, without causing much trouble’.
By Ekow de Heer
