Ghana told to stop new oil drilling in disputed waters

5 hours ago
 From the section Business


Ghana and Ivory Coast want to develop their offshore oil reserves
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Ghana has been told by an international tribunal not to begin any new offshore drilling for oil in disputed waters with the Ivory Coast.
The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea did, however, allow Ghana to continue developing current oilfields.
These include the so called-Ten fields, part owned by UK firm Tullow Oil.
Ivory Coast had asked that all drilling be suspended, but the tribunal ruled this would risk "considerable financial loss" to Ghana.
Instead, it told the West African nation to "take all necessary steps to ensure than no new drilling either by Ghana or under its control takes place in the disputed area" and to "refrain from granting any new permit for oil exploration and exploitation in the disputed area".
'Call for restraint'
The area is believed to contain large reserves of oil, which both countries are keen to exploit.
Pending a ruling on the precise maritime border, the tribunal told both countries to "pursue co-operation and refrain from any unilateral action that might lead to aggravating the dispute".
The ruling was welcomed by Tullow Oil, which owns a large stake in the near $5bn (£3.3bn) Ten project, which could reportedly produce up to 80,000 barrels a day.
"Following this ruling, the Ten project can move ahead and we will now await instructions from the government of Ghana with regard to implementing those provisional measures that have been ordered by [the tribunal]," a Tullow spokesman said.

Immigration Department inaugurates office on Isles

  AS Tanzanians mark the 51st anniversary of the Union today, Immigration S e r v i c e s Department (ISD) which falls under the Union matters is progressing well, but still faces multiple challenges, Mr Sylvester Ambokile, the Principal Commissioner (PC) of Immigration Services has said.

Speaking at the opening of the building for the Immigration Services, head office at Maisara/Kilimani area in Zanzibar, Mr Ambokile said the expansion of services, improved services delivery, new buildings for offices and houses for the staff, are some of the achievements recorded over the last ten years.

“We have been working hard to achieve our goals, but the shortage of funds remains a stumbling block despite the fact that our revenue collection has been increasing annually. We request the government to review the budget for the department and increase allocation,” said Mr Ambokile.

He said some of the big challenges facing the Immigration Department include shortage of manpower, increased sophisticated crimes, lack of equipment and shortage of buildings for offices and staff.

“We need to overcome these challenges for efficiency. For example, we need to have about eight thousand staff to meet the international standard, but currently we (Immigration officers) are about three thousand…” the Principal Commissioner said, at the event officiated by President Ali Mohamed Shein on behalf of President Jakaya Kikwete.

Deputy Minister for Home Affairs, Mr Pereira Silima, said a good working environment like the new building is important in improving delivery of services and the government is determined to put up more buildings, instal equipment and avail training for its defence and security departments.

“Our founding leaders, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere and Sheikh Abeid Amani Karume thought wisely to have immigration and citizenship to fall under Union matters, as it is good to identify ourselves as Tanzanians. We need an Africa with one people and Tanzania is leading with good example,” said Dr Shein.

USAID in 22.3m treated nets drive

BY FRANK AMAN
26th April 2015

The government together with anti-malaria organizations has launched a one year nationwide campaign to distribute about 22.3 million long-lasting insecticide-treated mosquito nets.

Speaking during a ceremony to mark World Malaria Day, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) Tanzania Mission director of health, Miriam Lutz said after increasing awareness and the use of pesticide nets, malaria infections have been reduced by 50 per cent.

She said yesterday that distribution of pesticide nets has increased from 23 per cent in 2006 to 90 per cent last year, increasing the number of children using mosquito nets by 90 per cent.

“This trend shows that the fight against malaria has helped the country to reduce number of deaths caused by new malaria infections,” she said.

Since 2013, the United States President's Malaria Initiative (PMI) has distributed about one million mosquito nets to 2,300 schools located in the southern part of the country.

“Today marks World Malaria Day. The US government through PMI is proud to have partnered with the government of Tanzania on this important issue,” she declared.

As a result of PMI in Tanzania, there has been a 28 per cent reduction in mortality rates among children under five, while Zanzibar is presently in a pre-elimination phase in the fight against malaria.

The United States, under PMI, has pledged $1.2 billion over a period of five years to help fight malaria in 15 sub-Saharan countries.

Tanzania was one of the first beneficiaries of this programme, providing and distributing free of charge about 240,000 long-lasting insecticide-treated mosquito nets to every expectant mother and child under age five.

Officiating at the launch, Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner Said Meck Sadiki said each household registered to receive long-lasting insecticide-treated mosquito will be given it free of charge.

He said that the process of distributing long-lasting insecticide-treated mosquito nets will be conducted to each zone and the date of the exercise will be announced.

“The process of distributing long-lasting insecticide-treated mosquito across the country aims at ensuring the government manages to provide this service by 80 percent,” he said.

Through an under five catch-up campaign ending in May 2010, the government with USAID help distributed 8.7million long-lasting insecticide-treated mosquito nets, targeting children under five.

Through the universal coverage campaign (UCC) started on October 2010 up to October 2011 17.6 million long-lasting insecticide-treated mosquito were distributed to families using the Tanzania National Vouchers Scheme.