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Substance abuse at the Port GPHA warns casual workers
Mrs. Manu
The Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) has moved to curb the abuse of drugs or substances among casual workers on its premises, warning culprits to stay away from the port when ‘high.’
This follows the Authority’s observation of the use of several energy enhancing drugs and substances to aid them to work for extra hours to boost their daily earnings.
According to the Deputy Corporate Planning Manager and the International Standards Organisation Coordinator of the Authority, Ms Frances Jemima Manu, the menace has come to the notice of GPHA and must be quick to nip it in the bud.
This came up on the sidelines of an occupational health, safety and environment policies sensitisation for staff and stakeholders on Friday.
Ms Manu said “the Authority had noted with serious concern the use of substances such as glue, green tea, and ‘momo’, cough mixture among others which they mixed with other illegal or harmful substances to give them extra energy for the day’s activities.”
She said“evenat the mere look at some of them one could tell all is not well with them even before they are tested.”
She explained that the illegal practice also compromises the health and safety of the users and other persons that work with them or conduct businesses at the port.
She said some of these people look ‘high’, and strange as if they want to ‘fly’ as a result of the excessive consumption of the substances which they sniff, inhale or consume through food and drinks.
“This is the reason the Authority wants to kick out the offenders tomake the place safe for all,” she said.
Some of these offenders, she explained, include drivers, their conductors and dock labour staff whose activities were supposed to support the work of the GPHA.
Ms Manu said to curb the situation, measures have been put in place to sanction all such persons who were found out to be engaged in the unhealthy practices.
She said apart from the individual punitive measures against the culprits, the organisation they workforwould also be dealt with to serve as a deterrent to others.
Ms Manu said the Authority has banned some individuals with their photographs displayed at the ports to alert all others that such persons were no more allowed into their premises.
She said some businesses risk not having their licences renewed or entirely withdrawn if their activities create inconvenience and compromise standards.
She cautioned all stakeholders to be responsible and take their health and safety seriously if they wished to continue to work with the GPHA.
She said the right of admission to the port was reserved and testing could be done randomly if a person was suspected to have used any harmful substance.
From Dzifa Tetteh Tay, Tema
Ghana’s First Lady, Lordina Mahama, has made a generous donation to the country’s national female Under-17 and Under-20 teams – Black Maidens and Black Princesses- as they continue preparations for major international assignments.
The donation, made on Friday, May 22, was presented on behalf of the First Lady by the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, at the GFA Technical Centre in Prampram.
The gesture forms part of efforts to motivate and support Ghana’s young female footballers as they prepare to represent the country on the international stage.
The donation included essential food items and toiletries aimed at supporting the welfare and well-being of the players and technical teams.
The donation included cartons of Milo, T-rolls, soft drinks, toiletries, and a range of essential supplies aimed at supporting the welfare of the players, enhancing camp conditions, and easing preparations ahead of their respective assignments.
The Black Maidens are currently engaged in preparations for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers and are set to take on Liberia women’s national under-17 football team in the second-leg encounter in Liberia this weekend.
Meanwhile, the Black Princesses have already secured qualification to the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup after overcoming Uganda in the qualifiers, extending Ghana’s remarkable record to eight consecutive appearances at the tournament.
The donation by the First Lady was expected to boost morale within both camps while reinforcing national support for the young female footballers who continue to make the country proud.
The prosecution has officially rested its case in The Republic v Solomon Asamoah & Another, the high-profile legal battle commonly referred to as the “Sky Train” case.
The Deputy Attorney General Justice Srem Sai announced the development, praising the state’s team of hard-working prosecutors for successfully anchoring the state’s evidence before the High Court.
The criminal trial centers on the former Chief Executive Officer and the former Board Chairman of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF).
The duo stands accused of illegally authorizing and paying out US$2 million to a foreign company without obtaining board directives or other mandatory statutory approvals.
State investigators have confirmed that the disbursed millions cannot be found.
Following the closure of the prosecution’s case, the accused persons moved the court for an opportunity to file a submission of no case.
The presiding judge granted the application, ordering the defense to submit their arguments by June 8.
The outcome of the June 8 filings will decide the fate of the trial:
With this, if the judge finds the defense’s submission convincing, the accused will be acquitted and discharged however, If the judge dismisses the submission, the court will order the accused officials to take the stand and explain why they should not face prison sentences.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
