A 50-year-old farmer, Kwame Kunyuo, who out of anger allegedly went on a shooting spree and shot five persons at Mame Krobo in the Kwahu North District, has been arrested by the Donkokrom police.
The suspect was said to have gone to a slum used by Indian hemp smokers at about 12 noon on January 1, this year, where his bicycle had been sent without his consent by one Kweku Robert.
Robert was said to have demanded some amount of money before returning the bicycle to him.
Kunyuo, who became angry and refused to pay the amount, was said to have gone to his nearby farm and picked a single-barrelled gun, which he used to shoot the victims: Sanny Kadre, a 35-year-old butcher; Kwame Anim, 40, a blacksmith, and Kwame Kumah, a 25-year-old mechanic.
Kadre was shot in his genitals and thighs, while Anim and Kumah were shot in their thighs and legs.
Two others, who were also shot and are yet to be identified, were said to have been taken to an unknown herbalist at Mame Krobo, where some of the pellets were removed from their bodies.
The suspect, who was severely beaten by an angry mob was rushed to the Presbyterian Hospital at Donkokrom, where the first three victims were also sent for treatment.
Briefing the Daily Graphic, the Kwahu North District Police Commander, DSP William Acolatse, said on January 1, 2009 he received a telephone call at about 12 noon from Mame Krobo that a man was being lynched by a group of people for allegedly shooting five others.
Policemen were sent to the scene to rescue the suspect who was unconscious, and he was sent to the Presbyterian Hospital for treatment.
He indicated that during interrogation Kunyuo told the police that he committed the act out of anger.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
SEXUAL OFFENCE CASES INCREASE IN EASTERN REGION (PAGE 20)
THE Eastern Region recorded 1,697 sexually related offences and other forms of child abuse such as rape, defilement and abduction last year.
This is in contrast to 1,081 of such cases reported in 2007.
Defilement topped the list with 159 cases as against 131 in 2007 while rape cases rose from 28 in 2007 to 29 in 2008.
The rape victims were between 18 and 25 years.
Additionally, assault cases hiked from 115 in 2007 to 270 in 2008, while that of threat of death also increased from 15 to 30 within the same period.
With regard to abduction of children, it increased from 12 in 2007 to 16 in 2008 while the figures of criminal abortion rose from four in 2007 to 12 in 2008. Indecent assault also soured from 12 to 15 within the same period.
The Regional Coordinator of the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU), ASP Eunice Annor, who made these figures known in an interview, said 26 persons between the ages of 19 and 76 were convicted on defilement in 2007, while one person was convicted for rape.
She attributed the causes of most of the cases, especially assault, to non-maintenance of children from broken homes.
To avert the occurrence of such cases, she appealed to men not to avenge the failure of their marriages on their children by neglecting them but to take good care of them at all times.
This is in contrast to 1,081 of such cases reported in 2007.
Defilement topped the list with 159 cases as against 131 in 2007 while rape cases rose from 28 in 2007 to 29 in 2008.
The rape victims were between 18 and 25 years.
Additionally, assault cases hiked from 115 in 2007 to 270 in 2008, while that of threat of death also increased from 15 to 30 within the same period.
With regard to abduction of children, it increased from 12 in 2007 to 16 in 2008 while the figures of criminal abortion rose from four in 2007 to 12 in 2008. Indecent assault also soured from 12 to 15 within the same period.
The Regional Coordinator of the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU), ASP Eunice Annor, who made these figures known in an interview, said 26 persons between the ages of 19 and 76 were convicted on defilement in 2007, while one person was convicted for rape.
She attributed the causes of most of the cases, especially assault, to non-maintenance of children from broken homes.
To avert the occurrence of such cases, she appealed to men not to avenge the failure of their marriages on their children by neglecting them but to take good care of them at all times.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
YOUTH URGED TO ESCHEW SOCIAL VICES (PAGE 25)
THE Administrator of the St George’s Cathedral Church at Koforidua, Reverend Fr Paul Abankwa, has called on the youth to eschew social vices to enable them to lead responsible lifestyles as worthy ambassadors of Christ.
That, he noted, would motivate them to draw other young people to Christ and also to develop their potential and make them useful to society.
He was speaking at a thanksgiving service organised by the Koforidua Orthodox Youth Association at Koforidua to thank God for the peaceful nature of the recent general election in the country.
The service brought together some youth from the Catholic, Anglican, Evangelical Presbyterian, A. M. E. Zion, Presbyterian and Methodist churches.
According to Rev. Fr Abankwa, the large number of unemployed youth loitering the streets in the New Juaben Municipality had over the years given a serious cause for concern.
He attributed that situation to lack of counselling and guidance for such persons, whom he described as future leaders whose potential must be nurtured to enable them to become responsible adults.
He, therefore, entreated members of the association to consider it a challenge to individually and collectively eschew various social vices so as to become role models for other young people.
“A responsible lifestyle on your part as Christian youth to be looked up to, requires that you individually and collectively avoid all forms of social vices if you are to become worthy ambassadors of Christ”, Rev Fr Abankwa said.
“To achieve this, we must avail ourselves of God’s guidance in our everyday endeavours and unite as a group with a common ambassadorial purpose for Christ,” he added.
The interim Chairperson of the association, Ms Emelia Oppong, appealed to the youth of the various political parties to unite to enable them to contribute meaningfully to nation building.
She particularly appealed to the leadership of the National Democratic Congress to institute youth-friendly policies that would allow the youth to play a major role in the country’s socio-economic development, adding that “this surely will help us to prepare adequately for future leadership roles”.
That, he noted, would motivate them to draw other young people to Christ and also to develop their potential and make them useful to society.
He was speaking at a thanksgiving service organised by the Koforidua Orthodox Youth Association at Koforidua to thank God for the peaceful nature of the recent general election in the country.
The service brought together some youth from the Catholic, Anglican, Evangelical Presbyterian, A. M. E. Zion, Presbyterian and Methodist churches.
According to Rev. Fr Abankwa, the large number of unemployed youth loitering the streets in the New Juaben Municipality had over the years given a serious cause for concern.
He attributed that situation to lack of counselling and guidance for such persons, whom he described as future leaders whose potential must be nurtured to enable them to become responsible adults.
He, therefore, entreated members of the association to consider it a challenge to individually and collectively eschew various social vices so as to become role models for other young people.
“A responsible lifestyle on your part as Christian youth to be looked up to, requires that you individually and collectively avoid all forms of social vices if you are to become worthy ambassadors of Christ”, Rev Fr Abankwa said.
“To achieve this, we must avail ourselves of God’s guidance in our everyday endeavours and unite as a group with a common ambassadorial purpose for Christ,” he added.
The interim Chairperson of the association, Ms Emelia Oppong, appealed to the youth of the various political parties to unite to enable them to contribute meaningfully to nation building.
She particularly appealed to the leadership of the National Democratic Congress to institute youth-friendly policies that would allow the youth to play a major role in the country’s socio-economic development, adding that “this surely will help us to prepare adequately for future leadership roles”.
EASTERN REGIONAL HOSPITAL DEBUNKS RUMOURS (PAGE 26)
THE Management of the Eastern Regional Hospital at Koforidua has debunked rumours that it has withdrawn its services to subscribers of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
In a statement signed by the Director of the hospital, Dr E. Apori Obeng, the management said “we wish to assure the public that we have never withdrawn services to any of our clients and have no intention of doing so”.
The statement, therefore, advised the public to disregard such rumours, since they were false and calculated to tarnish the image of the hospital.
According to the statement, the attention of the management of the hospital had recently been drawn to rumours that it had withdrawn its services to subscribers of the NHIS.
It therefore advised any client who would be denied service in any department of the hospital to, as soon as practicable, report such conduct to the administrator, matron or medical superintendent of the facility for the appropriate action to be taken.
“The management also wish to appeal to media personnel, who may receive complaints about denial of service to clients or any untoward treatment at the hands of any member of staff of the hospital to immediately report such conduct to the hospital’s authorities for appropriate action to be taken,” the statement added.
The statement wished the hospital’s valued clients a happy and prosperous New Year, adding that “we sincerely trust that this and the coming years will see greater collaboration with all and sundry to help in the nurture and growth of the NHIS in the New Juaben Municipality, the region and the country as a whole”.
In a statement signed by the Director of the hospital, Dr E. Apori Obeng, the management said “we wish to assure the public that we have never withdrawn services to any of our clients and have no intention of doing so”.
The statement, therefore, advised the public to disregard such rumours, since they were false and calculated to tarnish the image of the hospital.
According to the statement, the attention of the management of the hospital had recently been drawn to rumours that it had withdrawn its services to subscribers of the NHIS.
It therefore advised any client who would be denied service in any department of the hospital to, as soon as practicable, report such conduct to the administrator, matron or medical superintendent of the facility for the appropriate action to be taken.
“The management also wish to appeal to media personnel, who may receive complaints about denial of service to clients or any untoward treatment at the hands of any member of staff of the hospital to immediately report such conduct to the hospital’s authorities for appropriate action to be taken,” the statement added.
The statement wished the hospital’s valued clients a happy and prosperous New Year, adding that “we sincerely trust that this and the coming years will see greater collaboration with all and sundry to help in the nurture and growth of the NHIS in the New Juaben Municipality, the region and the country as a whole”.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
DCE FOR KWAHU NORTH APPEALS TO NDC SUPPORTERS (PAGE 14, JANUARY 9)
THE District Chief Executive for Kwahu North, Mr Solomon Y. Fordjour, has appealed to the leadership of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to advise their jubilant supporters to refrain from provocative acts that could undermine the peace and unity in the area.
He said violent behaviours such as the destruction of public property put up by the district assembly and the defacing of the billboards of parliamentary members of the NPP had given a serious cause for concern.
“Democracy is not about the destruction of lives and property, but is about our ability to deliver on the promises made to the people as well as of our ability to accommodate each other’s divergent political views,” Mr Fordjour stated.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic at Donkokrom, the DCE expressed concern about the untoward attitude of some jubilant supporters of the NDC in the area who had not only destroyed and defaced some of his billboards, but had also destroyed a community toilet put up by the district assembly at Ekye Amanfrom.
“Prior to the destruction of such public place of convenience, some jubilant supporters of the NDC were reported to have also denied the residents of the area an access to the facility at Ekye Amanfrom, he added.
The DCE, who stood as parliamentary candidate for Afram Plains South on the ticket of the NPP, further bemoaned the negative development in the area, particularly the placing of some of his campaign T-shirts and those of the flag bearer of the NPP, Nana Akufo-Addo, in a coffin, which he said were buried at Mame Krobo, also in the Kwahu North District.
“Such extreme provocation could lead to violence beyond human description as it could destroy the peaceful unity that has existed among us for many years,” he said, adding “violence in this moment of jubilation is not healthy for our fledgling democracy”.
According to Mr Fordjour, the Kwahu North District, surrounded by water and inhabited by people with different ethnic backgrounds, had remained peaceful over the past decades as it had never seen such jubilations turned violent.
“For this reason, we should not allow jubilation to create enmity among us as a people with a common future”, he said.
“We should all bear in mind that power is like a flower. It blossoms in the morning and withers in the evening. Today, it may be your moment to jubilate at the expense of others, but remember it may be the turn of the very person you are mocking today,” he emphasised.
Mr Fordjour, who appealed to the supporters of the NPP not to allow themselves to be taken in by the provocative behaviour of some of the NDC supporters, urged them not to lose courage but stand firm, adding “there is time for everything on earth”.
He said violent behaviours such as the destruction of public property put up by the district assembly and the defacing of the billboards of parliamentary members of the NPP had given a serious cause for concern.
“Democracy is not about the destruction of lives and property, but is about our ability to deliver on the promises made to the people as well as of our ability to accommodate each other’s divergent political views,” Mr Fordjour stated.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic at Donkokrom, the DCE expressed concern about the untoward attitude of some jubilant supporters of the NDC in the area who had not only destroyed and defaced some of his billboards, but had also destroyed a community toilet put up by the district assembly at Ekye Amanfrom.
“Prior to the destruction of such public place of convenience, some jubilant supporters of the NDC were reported to have also denied the residents of the area an access to the facility at Ekye Amanfrom, he added.
The DCE, who stood as parliamentary candidate for Afram Plains South on the ticket of the NPP, further bemoaned the negative development in the area, particularly the placing of some of his campaign T-shirts and those of the flag bearer of the NPP, Nana Akufo-Addo, in a coffin, which he said were buried at Mame Krobo, also in the Kwahu North District.
“Such extreme provocation could lead to violence beyond human description as it could destroy the peaceful unity that has existed among us for many years,” he said, adding “violence in this moment of jubilation is not healthy for our fledgling democracy”.
According to Mr Fordjour, the Kwahu North District, surrounded by water and inhabited by people with different ethnic backgrounds, had remained peaceful over the past decades as it had never seen such jubilations turned violent.
“For this reason, we should not allow jubilation to create enmity among us as a people with a common future”, he said.
“We should all bear in mind that power is like a flower. It blossoms in the morning and withers in the evening. Today, it may be your moment to jubilate at the expense of others, but remember it may be the turn of the very person you are mocking today,” he emphasised.
Mr Fordjour, who appealed to the supporters of the NPP not to allow themselves to be taken in by the provocative behaviour of some of the NDC supporters, urged them not to lose courage but stand firm, adding “there is time for everything on earth”.
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