Features
Kudos BOST!
• Aerial view of Bulk OilStorage and Transportation
Company Limited facility
If Ghana is to quickly recover from the current economic problems and be able to make things better for all Ghanaians and other residents in the country, then each and everyone will have to play his/her role in support of the country’s national agenda for socioeconomic development.
If certain individuals and groups play their part well while others also keep destroying things, the result will be unpalatable in the sense that not much can be achieved to improve upon the welfare of Ghanaians. It is important to note that the agenda for national development will not be an easy task but if every person agrees to work hard and contribute his/her quota towards national progress, things will be far better for everyone in the country.
SOEs
It is unfortunate that some State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) are not performing well due to greed and corrupt practices. Some of these state enterprises are not making use of good governance but rather victimising some of their members of staff and ensuring that conditions are highly unfavourable for some of these people to have their peace and put in their best to ensure satisfactory productivity.
Many of such enterprises led by their management have linkages with corrupt officials in their procurement department, finance office, general administration and many other places to engage in what has become known as “create and share” among themselves. The overall result of this is poor performance and inability to generate more revenue to support central government revenue. What happens very often is that these corrupt officials team up to do little to improve the financial position of their own state enterprises, sometimes rendering it worse than what they came to find.
DISTRESSED ORGANISATIONS
There are a number of cases in this country where at the initial stages, the management at the time found it very difficult to make meaningful strides as a result of limited resources and other problems that they were facing. The genuine problems faced by these organisations did not help matters in the sense that the management of these organisations, tried as they did, could not make any headway even though they did their best and were committed towards progress and development. In spite of this, they were able to find other leaders appointed later to take over the management of their distressed entities.
The challenge was accepted by management in some of these organisations to overcome the hurdles and make things better. As a result of this, the distressed organisations concerned were able to recover from their problems and difficulties to make things far better than the situation they came to meet.
PROSPERITY
It is not easy to move from nowhere in terms of limited resources and push forward to a place where prosperity is made to become the order of the day. When things happen in this way, it brings remarkable improvement to all members of staff, helping them to be knitted together as one family striving for good life of prosperity.
Prosperous life does not come about easily, especially within organisations. Rather they are able to come about as a result of discipline, selflessness, dedication and alacrity, among others. Also, the rules of the organisation, the welfare packages and all others will have to be applied in a manner that will favour anyone who works for the organisation.
TRANSPARENCY
In organisations where things are made transparent, everyone feels good and work hard towards the general good of the entities. This is what all organisations, together with their staff and management ought to do if they are to achieve the ultimate. This is attainable so all public enterprises will have to put in their best for the attainment of this positive agenda.
State-owned enterprises or organisations in public sectors should never consider their activities unimportant or begin to do business as usual, that is not caring to bring in innovative ways that will bring about great increase in productivity compared with what they did in the past and disillusionment.
BOST POSITIVE TURNAROUND
It is in light of this that the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company Limited (BOST) ought to be highly commended for being able to make a positive turnaround and bringing about great improvement to the economy. This is what all state-owned enterprises or public organisations ought to do to ensure that the assets of such public entities are being held in a responsible way for the country. When things happen like this, it helps the whole economy to go forward.
All sectors of the economy must grow but this should not come from the private sector alone. The public sector must also do all it can to bring in such improvement.
DISCIPLINE
For the public sector to grow well, there must be discipline on the part of the governing board, management and also members of staff. All leaders must, therefore, provide good examples for the attainment of the best results.
We will continue to be proud of BOST for what they have been able to do.
IMPRESSIVE REVENUE
The Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company Limited (BOST) has recorded a revenue of GH¢1.12 billion in 2021, almost twofold the GH¢632 million recorded in 2020.
Out of that amount, GH¢671.6 million came from product sales, GH¢380.4 million from the BOST margin, GH¢52.64 million from storage and rack, GH¢14.83 million from marine transportation, with GH¢2.07 million coming from products swap. The Managing Director of BOST, Edwin Provencal, who disclosed this at a press conference in Accra, attributed the company’s recent successes to some new policies introduced.
HONESTY & COMMITMENT
The trick about Mr. Provencal and his management is that they were disciplined and honest apart from their commitment to the work they are doing. If BOST has been able to do it, then all other public agencies can do same.
All sectors of the economy ought to be able to grow under the various leaderships there, as has been done by BOST, so that tremendous success can be attained for the country. When all sectors grow well, we will all end up contributing various sources of income to the national kitty and the result will be nothing but national growth for the entire country.
Email address/whatsApp number of author:
Pradmat201@gmail.com (0553318911)
By Dr. Kofi Amponsah-Bediako
I experienced something on Monday, June 15, that really frustrated me. I had to go to the ministries but I could not get up early that day so I decided to pick a taxi and get to the Tuba Junction.
When I got there I realised that Traffic had built up from the Toll Booth towards Accra. After a while I got a Taxi and it was when we got to a certain spot on the road, that I realised why there was a traffic jam.
There is a short stretch of the road where each time it rains heavily, loose material run down the hill onto the road, blocking one side of the road. Vehicles from Kasoa to Accra are then forced to move into one of the lanes of those going towards Kasoa from Accra.
The two lane road from Accra to Kasoa becomes a single carriage way. That was the reason for the traffic jam from the toll booth onwards.
This has been a perineal problem and yet, no permanent solution has been found till date. The area falls under Ga South and even though, a new MCE has taken over, the technocrats are still there and so the problem is not new to them.
There is therefore no excuse for the inability of the Ga South Metropolitan Assembly to resolving the problem on that stretch of the road. Apart from the Ga South Metropolitan Assembly, another institution that must be held accountable is the Ghana Highways Authority.
The Highways Authority cannot say they are unaware of this issue. The fact that the problem falls within the area of responsibility of the Ga South Assembly, does not relieve the Ghana Highways Authority, of their responsibility of ensuring that our highways are maintained in a motorable state at all times.
A collaboration between the Ghana Highways Authority and The Ga South Municipal Assembly is required for a permanent resolution of the problem.
There was another traffic jam at a place called Atala about 250 metres to the traffic light at Old Barrier as a result of an issue similar to the one close to the toll booth, that I talked about earlier.
When we got to Weija junction, we encountered another traffic jam. The cause of this jam was a bad condition of road about 80 metres from the traffic light at Ga South Hospital heading towards Accra.
Due to the bad nature at that section of the road, vehicles are compelled to slow down resulting in a traffic jam stretching all the way to Weija Junction.
I started wondering if that short stretch of road cannot be sorted on one Sunday when traffic is usually light. When we got to the traffic light at Odorkor, there was another issue.
When the traffic light shows green, there is a slow down because there is a big pothole or should I say manhole in the outer lane, right at the traffic light. Vehicles in the outer lane are compelled to swerve into the second lane thereby causing a traffic to slow down and resulting in a traffic jam.
It is very important to take into account the effect of traffic jam on the national economy. If we are able to assess the value of the loss to the economy of the nation, I believe the issue of traffic jam will be prioritised.
Imagine persons working at various Government Organisations like Registrar General’s Department, Ghana Ports and Habours Authority, Ghana Revenue Authority, CEPS etc. and lives at Kasoa and whose job is to collect revenue for the state and is held up in traffic.
Just imagine the effect their lateness to work will have on the economy if you consider the delays in say clearing of goods at the port and as a result traders cannot sell their goods for government to generate the required taxes.
Let us deal with the traffic jams on our streets to promote economic growth. God bless.
By Laud Kissi-Mensah
Mortality is an inherent aspect of life, a universal experience that has sparked philosophical, theological, and scientific inquiry throughout human history.
This article aims to provide a comprehensive and nuanced exploration of mortality, acknowledging the complexity of the topic and the diverse perspectives surrounding it.
The biological imperative
From a biological standpoint, death is a natural part of the life cycle. It serves as a mechanism for the evolution of species, allowing for the passing on of genetic material and the adaptation to environmental changes.
Evolutionary perspective: Death allows for the recycling of resources, promoting the survival and adaptation of species.
Life span and senescence: Cellular aging and the limitations of biological systems contribute to mortality.
Philosophical and existential perspectives
Existentialism: Emphasises individual freedom and responsibility in the face of mortality.
Meaning and purpose: The finite nature of life can prompt individuals to seek meaning and purpose.
The human condition: Mortality is a fundamental aspect of the human experience, shaping our perceptions and values.
Cultural and spiritual views
Afterlife and spirituality: Many cultures and religions believe in an afterlife or spiritual continuation.
Rituals and mourning: Cultural practices surrounding death reflect the significance of mortality in human experience.
Legacy and remembrance: The impact of one’s life can transcend mortality.
Ethical considerations
End-of-life care: Ethical debates surround issues like euthanasia, assisted dying, and palliative care.
Quality of life: Balancing the value of life with the quality of life is a complex ethical issue.
Resource allocation: Societal decisions about healthcare and resource distribution involve considerations of mortality.
Psychological impact
Grief and loss: The experience of mortality can evoke profound emotional responses.
Fear and anxiety: The awareness of mortality can lead to existential anxiety.
Appreciation and gratitude: Recognising mortality can foster appreciation for life.
Conclusion
Mortality is a multifaceted aspect of human existence, influencing how we live, relate, and find meaning. Understanding and acknowledging mortality can prompt deeper reflections on life and our place in the world.
By Robert Ekow Grimmond-Thompson
