Inadequate power supply hampering TV reception

Accra, July 22, GNA - Mr Dan Botwe, Minister of Information, on Friday said television transmission problems in the Bia, Krachi East and Kintampo North Constituencies were the result of inadequate power output and resource constraints on the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation to provide alternative power from generators.

He said in the Bia constituency, a five-kilowatt transmitter for television and a 2.5-kilowatt transmitter for FM transmission had been installed.

"They are both ready for use except that a three-phase electricity power supply was required to operate them," the Minister said in response to a question on when a television transmitter installed at Oseikojokrom in the Bia District would become operational for better reception in some parts of the area.

Mr Botwe said the Bia District assembly was collaborating to extend the requisite power supply to the transmission site at Oseikojokrom. In response to a similar question from Mr William Gidisu, NDC Krachi East, as to plans the Ministry had to improve television reception in the Constituency, the Minister said power drawn to drive the transmitter in the area was of "2.2 KW capacity, which hampered good TV reception". He said GBC and the Volta River Authority were discussing the possibilities of placing GBC on a separate transformer, which would normalise TV transmission in the Krachi area.

The Minster said the Kintampo areas were also facing similar problems, however, the District Assembly was working to supply power to the TV transmitter site.

"The Kintampo District assembly intimates that VRA plans to get the power there in August or September 2005," the Minister explained.

Dr Richard Anane, Minister of Road Transport, who was also in the House to answer some questions, said three trunk roads in the Western Region would be considered for reconstruction under the next phase of the Road Component of the Transport Sector Development Programme, which would run from 2007 to 2010.

He said in order to keep Akontombra - Sefwi Wiawso; Akontombra - Dadieso and the Akontombra - Juaboso roads in good shape, contracts for routine works had been awarded for various sections of the three roads. The Minister said contract sums of about 1.5 billion cedis had been awarded for each of the three roads for the routine works, which would be completed by the end of next year.

In response to a question from Mr Stephen Amoanor Kwao, NDC-Upper Manya, as to when the Akatawia Junction - Sekesua road in the Eastern Region would be tarred, the Minister said the road, which had a bituminous surface, was in poor condition.

He said currently, a pothole-patching contract on the road had been awarded for routine maintenance.

He said the contract was awarded in April this year, at a contract sum of 1.02 billion cedis for completion by December 31, next year. Parliament, meanwhile, is expected to rise next week after double sitting to pass the Minerals and Mining and Human Trafficking bills among other businesses.

Under the auspices of the Ministry of Fisheries, members would be hosted to a mini tilapia fair before they rise to deepen their understanding of the potentials of aquaculture in the economy of the country.

Mr Felix Owusu-Adjapong, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, who said these when presenting the business of the House for next week, said the fair sought to indicate the direction, which the Fisheries Ministry wished to move to revamp the industry.