Hot!
Firms convert seaweed, clay into raw material
Mr Faibille addressing the House
The Petroleum Commission, in partnership with Tullow Ghana Limited (TGL), has transformed the Sargassum seaweed into a raw material for the production of ovens in fishing communities in the Western Region.
The Ahoto ovens are environmentally-friendly and also promote good fish hygiene and preservation.
It also seeks to enhance energy efficiency, enhance job creation, and improve the local economy and profitability of the project.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Petroleum Commission (PC), Mr Egbert Faibille Jnr, announced the innovation at the eighth edition of the PC-Western Regional House of Chiefs annualmeeting at Sekondi, on Monday.
The event was to update the House on the upstream petroleum activities and social investment in the Western Region.
The Sargassum seaweed, MrFaibille noted, hitherto, was a public nuisance that hindered fishing activities and endangered livelihoods of fisher folk along some coastal beaches in Ghana.
He stated “I am glad to announce that hydrofoam bricks made from a mixture of processed seaweed and clay are being produced in Axim and used to construct Ahoto fish ovens, used by our fish processors.”
Mr Faibille said, by the end of 2023, about 100 ovens would be distributed to fishmongers in all the seven coastal metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies in the Western Region.
He assured the Commission would ensure the implementation of social investment to benefit oil host communities in the Western Region.
He told the House that, upon the request of the Bakanta Royal Stool, the Commission gave approval for ENI, as part of its local content obligations, to asphalt the 3.2km Sanzule-Old and New Bakanta road in the Ellembelle District.
This is to check flooding and improve road networks in the Sanzule area, Mr Faibille explained.
On the Exclusive Zone demarcated for safety at sea, he commended the fisher folk for observing restrictions at the 500-metre area, leading to drastic reduction in incursion rates.
“It is gratifying to note that year-on-year, the rate of incursions around petroleum facilities reduced from 36 in September, 2022, to 11, same period in 2023, representing about 69 per cent decrease,” the CEO explained.
He said, a dispute resolution committee comprising the Ghana Navy, Canoe Fishermen Council, and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), exploration and production companies and the Commission would be formed.
That, he added, would promote peaceful co-existence between the security services, upstream operators and other users of the marine space.
From Clement Adzei Boye, Sekondi
Ghana’s parliament has marked the 2nd edition of May Day 2026 under the theme “ Welcome Home”.
It was special day meant to celebrate the invaluable support of the workforce, recognizing the commitment, resilience, and contributions of workers to institutional growth and national development.
Delivering the message on behalf of the Speaker, the 1st Deputy Speaker, Bernard Ahiafor, described the theme as very apt, appropriate, and timely, noting that Parliament is more than a workplace, it is a shared home.
He emphasized that we cannot speak about work without speaking about people, reminding everyone that the true measure of our work is the well-being of our people.
He urged that our traditional clothing become an integral part of our everyday clothing, and that our local languages must become integral to our daily lives, interwoven into education and practiced at home.
Referencing Standing Order 63, which captures the use of local language as optional in deliberations, he encouraged a renewed commitment to identity, saying it is significant that we “come home” and present who we are so future generations can inherit a story they can fully tell.
The Clerk, Mr. Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, in his remarks commended officers for their dedication and devotion to duty, calling on them to go the extra mile and leave legacies.
Echoing the reminder that an unexamined life is not worth living, he described the event as an invitation to reconnect with our roots through cultural revival.
The Deputy Clerk, C&FMS, Dr. Gloria Sarku Kumawu, urged all not to forget their roots, the people behind the stories of ministries, industries, and the strides made both in-house and beyond.
What began last year has now become a meaningful tradition, showcasing Ghanaian heritage, fostering unity, and encouraging innovation under the principle of diversity for unity and diversity for progress, she added.
The gathering brought together leadership, public officials, and staff across all levels, along with the media, standing as a unifying platform that honored service, celebrated culture, and reaffirmed a shared commitment to national development.
Hot!
Manhyia would serve as Ghana’s unifying force …Otumfuo assures on commemoration of 27 years on the Golden Stool
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, last Friday celebrated his 27th enstoolment with a colourful and culture-rich ceremony at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, drawing a distinguished gathering of dignitaries from across Ghana and beyond.
Clad in splendid kente and adorned in rich traditional regalia, the dignitaries added colour and elegance to the occasion, as the palace grounds came alive with a vibrant display of Ghanaian culture.
Traditional drumming, dancing and symbolic rites underscored the deep-rooted heritage of the Ashanti Kingdom, captivating guests and reaffirming the value of tradition in modern society.
Speaking at a high-level Executive Gala organised by the Diaspora Affairs Office of the Office of the President in strategic partnership with the E ON 3 Group, the ‘World-Meets-in-Ghana’ gala, the Asantehene urged Ghanaians to guard against the divisive tendencies of partisan politics.
The event was to honour the Asantehene’s nearly three-decade reign under the theme ‘Advancing Peace and Sustainable Economic Development through Royal Vision’.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II noted that such attitudes threatened the country’s long-standing values of unity, civility and brotherliness.
He assured that Manhyia would continue to serve as a unifying force for the nation.
The celebration also featured the presentation of commemorative gold coins to notable national leaders, including the President, John Dramani Mahama, former Presidents John Agyekum Kufuor and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as well as Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, a former Vice President in recognition of their contributions to peace and national development.
By Spectator Reporter
