From Nana Konadu Agyeman,
Koforidua
A Koforidua High Court has sentenced a 29-year-old farmer, Kwabena Odoi, to death by hanging for murdering his father.
The convict was sentenced after a seven-member jury unanimously found him guilty of the murder of his 55-year-old father, Kwaku Esewo, also a farmer.
Odoi, who pleaded not guilty to the murder charge, showed a pensive mood after the court had slapped the sentence on him.
Presenting the facts of the case to the court, presided over by Mr Justice Gbie S. Suurbaareh, a State Attorney, Ms Priscilla Dikro, said on December 19, 2004, the deceased engaged the convict to harvest some peas on his farm.
Ms Dikro said after the harvest, Odoi demanded payment from the deceased, who refused to give him the amount, resulting in a quarrel between the two during which the convict picked a pestle and hit his father several times on the head, jaws, ribs and other parts of the body until he fell unconscious.
The incident occurred on December 19, 2004 at Nsukwao-Aboabo, a village near Nkurakan in the Yilo Krobo District in the Eastern Region.
After committing the act Odoi fled while his father was rushed to the Eastern Regional Hospital, where he died the following day.
Odoi was arrested by some youth in the village the following day.
Friday, July 31, 2009
HOW CAN WE ENSURE FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS...Views from Akwatia (MIRROR PAGE 27)
Isaac Frimpong,
Businessman
I recalled that during the last election, each of the 89 polling centres in the Akwatia Constituency had one security personnel at post. This security measure, in my opinion, was certainly not adequate to deter potentials troublemakers.
The security personnel were outnumbered by the troublemakers who had a field day. This time round, if the government really wants to ensure that a successful election takes place, then more security men must be deployed to all the six polling stations.
Another essential thing for the conduct of a free and fair election is the need for security personnel to be impartial so they can send a clear signal to the electorate about their impartiality
If they fail in this regard and display any unprofessionalism, their presence may be countered by the youth.
Beatrice Duker,
Trader
In my opinion, since other polling centres, apart from the six where election are to be held, were also fraught with electoral irregularities, the upcoming elections should not only focus on the six but in all the remaining 83 polling centres.
Again, serious efforts must be made to ease the tension between the two prominent parliamentary candidates and their supporters, not to consider the election as a do- or-die affair.
As one people, we must resolve to pray that this time round, we will be more tolerant and respect the democratic rights of each other. We should not allow a mere voting exercise to destroy the good relations among the people that has taken many years to build.
We must know that in the event of any disturbance in the coming election, we all stand to suffer the consequences of the misdeeds of a disgruntled few. We should therefore help the government, the security agencies and the EC to undertake a transparent election.
Emmanuel Asihene,
Farmer
As the date for the re-run gets closer, the government must ensure that adequate security personnel are sent to the area to protect not only the ballot materials but also the lives of the electorate, who are now entertaining fears following the violent acts they witnessed in the last elections.
If the government failed to ensure the security of the voters, who need to be encouraged to go out in their numbers to exercise their franchise, it may further erode their sense of safety. Why should they want to be brutalised or maimed because they want to exercise their democratic rights? Of course, nobody in his or her right mind will risk his life.
This is against the background that there are widespread rumours making rounds that some youth have hatched plans to engage in various electoral frauds such as snatching of ballot boxes and embarking violent demonstrations as part of strategies to mar the conduct of the election.
Again, there are rumours that some of the youth belonging to one party intends to brutalise some members of another party before, during and after the elections.
If these rumours are true, it would not auger well for the conduct of a peaceful election as the youth belonging to the parties concerned might want to counter any attempt to harm them.
Masawood Saeed,
Teacher
The people of Akwatia, particularly the youth, have not had access to decent employment for many years. The last election made this social canker worse as many idle youth became extremely vulnerable to some of the political leaders who used them to engage in violence.
The lack of employment avenues for the youth has also compelled a number of them to seek greener pastures elsewhere, especially in the mining sector outside Akwatia. The absence of employment has further triggered a high dropout rate among the youth since parents are unable to cater for their children’s education and other needs.
Unemployment has also resulted in an unprecedented teenage pregnancy rate among girls some as young a 11, 12 and 13 years, coupled with petty thievery among boys who have to fend for themselves.Meanwhile, unemployed adults are often seen under trees playing draught on daily basis.
It was for these reasons that the people must do away with violence to enable them to elect an MP who would assist in solving our problems together with the government and other development partners.
In the spirit of reconciliation, it is important that people refrain from attributing the snatching of ballot boxes and its attendant violence to the youth from the Zongo communities. This attitude only push the blame on some people without necessarily helping to find the solution to the problem, which, I believe lied in seeing ourselves as one people with one common destiny—the development of Akwatia and its people.
Nana Owusu Ansah,
Pensioner
I strongly condemn the electoral fraud and violence that truncated the conduct of free and fair elections at Akwatia in the last elections.
As a means of healing the rift among the people, I hail the Supreme Court’s decision for the EC to organise a re-run of the Akwatia elections in the six disputed polling stations.
In the last elections, voters belonging to one party were denied the opportunity to cast their votes at Akyem-Wenchi, thought to be a stronghold of another party.
It was based on this blatant discrimination that tension and confusion erupted at the six polling centres. We must remind ourselves that if a group of voters are prevented from casting their votes because they are perceived to belong to a particular party, they in turn will prevent others they perceive as opponents from casting their votes at other polling centres. This was exactly what brought about the electoral fraud and the snatching of ballot boxes.
I believe the re-run, which should be monitored by a heavy security presence, would ensure the conduct of a free and fair election that would be acceptable by all.
Kofi Amoako,
Farmer
There is a saying that there is no smoke without fire. As the date for the re-run of election draws closer, I urge the government and the security forces to put their ears on the ground and be attentive to all manner of rumours making rounds in the communities.
In the last elections, there were widespread rumours that some of the youth from a particular community intended to snatch ballot boxes and also engaged in electoral fraud as part of efforts to mar the elections. Truly and as expected, this came to pass.
I am saying this because my daily interactions with the people had revealed that most of the electorate may never show up on the voting day for fear of being beaten or harassed by thugs from a political party.
If the government is determined to avert this,it must go all out to boost security presence at all the six polling centres to protect life and property.
The mere presence of security personnel will also ensure orderliness and sanity during the election.
Nana Adwoa Owusua,
Akwatia
Gyaasehema
The 2008 election at Akwatia was characterised by needless violence that badly soiled the good name of Akwatia and its people who have now unfortunately been tagged as being lawless and violent.
Though the violent acts were perpetrated by a few disgruntled individuals, every resident of Akwatia is now bearing the brunt of the deeds of few recalcitrant people.
This was what truncated what was otherwise the conduct of a free and fair election last year.
Consequently, the absence of a member of parliamentary (MP) for Akwatia Constituency for the past seven months has adversely affected the socio-economic development of the area, as making the concerns of the people not being effectively addressed.
With the upcoming election on August 18, the atmosphere has become tense as people who were once good neighbours are no longer on good terms with each due to their political affiliations.
Worse of all, it is common to find a husband and wife as well as a father and his son showing ill feelings towards one another.Why should we allow this to happen among us? This attitude has indeed, affected the healthy relations that had long existed among the people of Akwatia.
To avert a recurrence of what took place during the last election, the government should deploy well equipped security personnel to man the six polling centres. It is my hope that such tough security measure will significantly ensure a violence-free atmosphere that will encourage a high voter turnout.
As a queenmother, it is my hope that our four parliamentary candidates will join hands with the traditional authorities and other stakeholders to educate the people not to perceive the election as a do and die affair but only as a medium to express one’s political belief.
The huge resources that would be channelled into the conduct of the election could have been utilised to develop the area and create jobs for the people. As a people, we are fed up with election-related violence.
Businessman
I recalled that during the last election, each of the 89 polling centres in the Akwatia Constituency had one security personnel at post. This security measure, in my opinion, was certainly not adequate to deter potentials troublemakers.
The security personnel were outnumbered by the troublemakers who had a field day. This time round, if the government really wants to ensure that a successful election takes place, then more security men must be deployed to all the six polling stations.
Another essential thing for the conduct of a free and fair election is the need for security personnel to be impartial so they can send a clear signal to the electorate about their impartiality
If they fail in this regard and display any unprofessionalism, their presence may be countered by the youth.
Beatrice Duker,
Trader
In my opinion, since other polling centres, apart from the six where election are to be held, were also fraught with electoral irregularities, the upcoming elections should not only focus on the six but in all the remaining 83 polling centres.
Again, serious efforts must be made to ease the tension between the two prominent parliamentary candidates and their supporters, not to consider the election as a do- or-die affair.
As one people, we must resolve to pray that this time round, we will be more tolerant and respect the democratic rights of each other. We should not allow a mere voting exercise to destroy the good relations among the people that has taken many years to build.
We must know that in the event of any disturbance in the coming election, we all stand to suffer the consequences of the misdeeds of a disgruntled few. We should therefore help the government, the security agencies and the EC to undertake a transparent election.
Emmanuel Asihene,
Farmer
As the date for the re-run gets closer, the government must ensure that adequate security personnel are sent to the area to protect not only the ballot materials but also the lives of the electorate, who are now entertaining fears following the violent acts they witnessed in the last elections.
If the government failed to ensure the security of the voters, who need to be encouraged to go out in their numbers to exercise their franchise, it may further erode their sense of safety. Why should they want to be brutalised or maimed because they want to exercise their democratic rights? Of course, nobody in his or her right mind will risk his life.
This is against the background that there are widespread rumours making rounds that some youth have hatched plans to engage in various electoral frauds such as snatching of ballot boxes and embarking violent demonstrations as part of strategies to mar the conduct of the election.
Again, there are rumours that some of the youth belonging to one party intends to brutalise some members of another party before, during and after the elections.
If these rumours are true, it would not auger well for the conduct of a peaceful election as the youth belonging to the parties concerned might want to counter any attempt to harm them.
Masawood Saeed,
Teacher
The people of Akwatia, particularly the youth, have not had access to decent employment for many years. The last election made this social canker worse as many idle youth became extremely vulnerable to some of the political leaders who used them to engage in violence.
The lack of employment avenues for the youth has also compelled a number of them to seek greener pastures elsewhere, especially in the mining sector outside Akwatia. The absence of employment has further triggered a high dropout rate among the youth since parents are unable to cater for their children’s education and other needs.
Unemployment has also resulted in an unprecedented teenage pregnancy rate among girls some as young a 11, 12 and 13 years, coupled with petty thievery among boys who have to fend for themselves.Meanwhile, unemployed adults are often seen under trees playing draught on daily basis.
It was for these reasons that the people must do away with violence to enable them to elect an MP who would assist in solving our problems together with the government and other development partners.
In the spirit of reconciliation, it is important that people refrain from attributing the snatching of ballot boxes and its attendant violence to the youth from the Zongo communities. This attitude only push the blame on some people without necessarily helping to find the solution to the problem, which, I believe lied in seeing ourselves as one people with one common destiny—the development of Akwatia and its people.
Nana Owusu Ansah,
Pensioner
I strongly condemn the electoral fraud and violence that truncated the conduct of free and fair elections at Akwatia in the last elections.
As a means of healing the rift among the people, I hail the Supreme Court’s decision for the EC to organise a re-run of the Akwatia elections in the six disputed polling stations.
In the last elections, voters belonging to one party were denied the opportunity to cast their votes at Akyem-Wenchi, thought to be a stronghold of another party.
It was based on this blatant discrimination that tension and confusion erupted at the six polling centres. We must remind ourselves that if a group of voters are prevented from casting their votes because they are perceived to belong to a particular party, they in turn will prevent others they perceive as opponents from casting their votes at other polling centres. This was exactly what brought about the electoral fraud and the snatching of ballot boxes.
I believe the re-run, which should be monitored by a heavy security presence, would ensure the conduct of a free and fair election that would be acceptable by all.
Kofi Amoako,
Farmer
There is a saying that there is no smoke without fire. As the date for the re-run of election draws closer, I urge the government and the security forces to put their ears on the ground and be attentive to all manner of rumours making rounds in the communities.
In the last elections, there were widespread rumours that some of the youth from a particular community intended to snatch ballot boxes and also engaged in electoral fraud as part of efforts to mar the elections. Truly and as expected, this came to pass.
I am saying this because my daily interactions with the people had revealed that most of the electorate may never show up on the voting day for fear of being beaten or harassed by thugs from a political party.
If the government is determined to avert this,it must go all out to boost security presence at all the six polling centres to protect life and property.
The mere presence of security personnel will also ensure orderliness and sanity during the election.
Nana Adwoa Owusua,
Akwatia
Gyaasehema
The 2008 election at Akwatia was characterised by needless violence that badly soiled the good name of Akwatia and its people who have now unfortunately been tagged as being lawless and violent.
Though the violent acts were perpetrated by a few disgruntled individuals, every resident of Akwatia is now bearing the brunt of the deeds of few recalcitrant people.
This was what truncated what was otherwise the conduct of a free and fair election last year.
Consequently, the absence of a member of parliamentary (MP) for Akwatia Constituency for the past seven months has adversely affected the socio-economic development of the area, as making the concerns of the people not being effectively addressed.
With the upcoming election on August 18, the atmosphere has become tense as people who were once good neighbours are no longer on good terms with each due to their political affiliations.
Worse of all, it is common to find a husband and wife as well as a father and his son showing ill feelings towards one another.Why should we allow this to happen among us? This attitude has indeed, affected the healthy relations that had long existed among the people of Akwatia.
To avert a recurrence of what took place during the last election, the government should deploy well equipped security personnel to man the six polling centres. It is my hope that such tough security measure will significantly ensure a violence-free atmosphere that will encourage a high voter turnout.
As a queenmother, it is my hope that our four parliamentary candidates will join hands with the traditional authorities and other stakeholders to educate the people not to perceive the election as a do and die affair but only as a medium to express one’s political belief.
The huge resources that would be channelled into the conduct of the election could have been utilised to develop the area and create jobs for the people. As a people, we are fed up with election-related violence.
EMPLOYERS, WORKERS ADVISED TO RESPECT LABOUR ACT (PAGE 50)
THE acting Executive Director of the Ghana Employers Association (GEA), Mr Alex Frimpong, has called on employers and employees to respect the rules and regulations of the Labour Act and use them in settling industrial disputes.
This, he said, would reduce the spate of strikes and other industrial disputes, and promote economic stability and productivity and enhance the welfare of workers.
Speaking at a workshop on the Labour Act 2003 (Act 651) in Koforidua, Mr Frimpong said “our ability to build strong labour-management relations could make Ghana a favourable investment destination”.
The two-day event, attended by 50 employers from the formal and informal sectors in the Eastern Region, was organised by the GEA and sponsored by Business Sector Advocacy Challenge (BUSAC).
It was aimed at enhancing employers’ understanding and compliance with the Labour Act to enable them to interpret and apply it appropriately.
Mr Frimpong noted that inadequate knowledge of the Labour Act could adversely affect employer-employee relations that could result in low productivity and morale, as well as other industrial lockouts.
That, he said, could undermine efforts by the management of any establishment to build and sustain a vibrant business enterprise with high outputs.
“A successful business operates in a keen and dynamic environment where employer-employee relations remain the key to building sustainable enterprises, a situation that requires employers and employees to abide by provisions of the Labour Act”, he added.
He, therefore, encouraged employers and their employees to always follow laid down procedures for settling disputes without resorting to unilateral decisions or actions.
For his part, the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, noted that challenges facing enterprises in the 21st century required leaders with vision to strategically manage and utilise the limited and competitive resources at their disposal.
“One of the challenges that confront any private or public organisation is how to improve labour-management relations,” he said, adding that “the new labour law requires all of us to resolve our differences instead of resorting to confrontational stance to settle disputes”.
Mr Ampofo added that “labour-management relationship thrives on the principles of social justice, fairness and equity in the working environment”.
This, he said, would reduce the spate of strikes and other industrial disputes, and promote economic stability and productivity and enhance the welfare of workers.
Speaking at a workshop on the Labour Act 2003 (Act 651) in Koforidua, Mr Frimpong said “our ability to build strong labour-management relations could make Ghana a favourable investment destination”.
The two-day event, attended by 50 employers from the formal and informal sectors in the Eastern Region, was organised by the GEA and sponsored by Business Sector Advocacy Challenge (BUSAC).
It was aimed at enhancing employers’ understanding and compliance with the Labour Act to enable them to interpret and apply it appropriately.
Mr Frimpong noted that inadequate knowledge of the Labour Act could adversely affect employer-employee relations that could result in low productivity and morale, as well as other industrial lockouts.
That, he said, could undermine efforts by the management of any establishment to build and sustain a vibrant business enterprise with high outputs.
“A successful business operates in a keen and dynamic environment where employer-employee relations remain the key to building sustainable enterprises, a situation that requires employers and employees to abide by provisions of the Labour Act”, he added.
He, therefore, encouraged employers and their employees to always follow laid down procedures for settling disputes without resorting to unilateral decisions or actions.
For his part, the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, noted that challenges facing enterprises in the 21st century required leaders with vision to strategically manage and utilise the limited and competitive resources at their disposal.
“One of the challenges that confront any private or public organisation is how to improve labour-management relations,” he said, adding that “the new labour law requires all of us to resolve our differences instead of resorting to confrontational stance to settle disputes”.
Mr Ampofo added that “labour-management relationship thrives on the principles of social justice, fairness and equity in the working environment”.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
NEW JUABEN RESIDENTS UNHAPPY WITH POOR STREET LIGHTS (PAGE 20)
RESIDENTS of the New Juaben Municipality have expressed worry over the failure of the authorities to maintain the Koforidua streetlight project aimed at boosting security in the area at night.
They said the situation had resulted in increased armed robbery cases in the municipality.
The multi-million dollar project, which was gradually failing to fulfil the purpose for which it was executed, stretched from Okras to Magazine, Akwadum through Effiduase to Oyoko and some parts of the municipality.
Executed by the Elsewedy Electrical Ghana Limited barely a year ago, most of the street streetlights do not light up the streets at night, eroding the sense of security among residents.
The people, who attributed the problem to lack of maintenance on the part of the authorities concerned, feared that the situation could easily provide a field day for armed robbers and other criminals to operate in the night.
They stated that while the Eastern Regional Police Command had stepped up their presence on the streets and in the neighbourhoods, their commitment to combat crime in the area could be adversely compromised due to frequent darkness in the area.
Madam Aqua Mensah, a trader at Adweso told the Daily Graphic that the poor visibility in the area at night had affected her sense of security, a fear that had often compelled her to close her shop early.
Mr Ebenezer Tetteh, a 46-year-old teacher, said darkness at Kenkey Factory could make the area more prone to criminal activities, adding “you just have to come home early and stay at home if you really cherish your safety”.
A senior medical personnel who spoke to the Daily Graphic on condition of anonymity, stated that the Nursing and Midwifery Training College and the Medical Village had become crime prone area since the streetlights were not functioning.
“Our houses and cars are often burgled into by criminals in the night while the students at the Nurses’ Training College, mostly the females, have had their mobile phones snatched anytime the light fails to light up the streets”, the health personnel added.
They have, therefore, made a passionate appeal to the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo and the Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Alex ., to help address the problem immediately to enhance security in the municipality.
They said the situation had resulted in increased armed robbery cases in the municipality.
The multi-million dollar project, which was gradually failing to fulfil the purpose for which it was executed, stretched from Okras to Magazine, Akwadum through Effiduase to Oyoko and some parts of the municipality.
Executed by the Elsewedy Electrical Ghana Limited barely a year ago, most of the street streetlights do not light up the streets at night, eroding the sense of security among residents.
The people, who attributed the problem to lack of maintenance on the part of the authorities concerned, feared that the situation could easily provide a field day for armed robbers and other criminals to operate in the night.
They stated that while the Eastern Regional Police Command had stepped up their presence on the streets and in the neighbourhoods, their commitment to combat crime in the area could be adversely compromised due to frequent darkness in the area.
Madam Aqua Mensah, a trader at Adweso told the Daily Graphic that the poor visibility in the area at night had affected her sense of security, a fear that had often compelled her to close her shop early.
Mr Ebenezer Tetteh, a 46-year-old teacher, said darkness at Kenkey Factory could make the area more prone to criminal activities, adding “you just have to come home early and stay at home if you really cherish your safety”.
A senior medical personnel who spoke to the Daily Graphic on condition of anonymity, stated that the Nursing and Midwifery Training College and the Medical Village had become crime prone area since the streetlights were not functioning.
“Our houses and cars are often burgled into by criminals in the night while the students at the Nurses’ Training College, mostly the females, have had their mobile phones snatched anytime the light fails to light up the streets”, the health personnel added.
They have, therefore, made a passionate appeal to the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo and the Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Alex ., to help address the problem immediately to enhance security in the municipality.
ER POLICE COMMAND INITIATES NEW PATROL SYSTEM (PAGE 20)
KOFORIDUA, capital of the New Juaben Municipality, which is also the Eastern Regional capital, has over the years been noted for its unique serene environment.
The town, surrounded by Obuotabire Mountains covered with lush green vegetation, has a number of sight-seeing facilities such as hotels, restaurants and many others, making it a favourable place for workers and tourists.
Covering an estimated area of 110 square kilometres and constituting 0.57 per cent of the total land area of the region, the relative proximity of Koforidua to Accra and other tourist sites in the region such as the Boti Falls, the Akosombo Dam, the Dodi Island, the Aburi Botanical Gardens and the Adomi Bridge,have all made the town gained a status for relaxation during the weekends and on holidays.
With a cluster of walking distance suburbs, the town has over the years also become a second home for countless holiday makers, both local and foreign.
First to attain a municipal status in the region, Koforidua, with a heterogeneous population of 96,266, mainly Ashantis, has become a vibrant commercial centre that had been peaceful for many decades.
However, within the last few years the well-known hospitable municipality has seen an upsurge in crime rates as it has become a prime target for criminals, mostly armed robbers.
Not long ago, some residents in the area, mostly at Kenkey Factory, Water Works, Old Estate SNIT Flats, Adweso, St James and others began living in constant fear following a series of attacks by armed robbers on some of the households in those areas.
The armed robbers, who usually announce their presence with several gunshots to instil fear in their victims, often brutally assault and sometimes rape innocent young girls and mothers.
One clear robbery case was in September, last year, when two households at Water Works were attacked by a seven-member armed robbery gang who did not only deprive their victims of their money and personal belongings but also subjected them to torture, threatened to rape some of the women and girls and set some of their belongings on fire in the sitting rooms after they had locked up the families in the bathrooms.
Members of a nearby household who considered themselves safe due to heavy metal gates on all the major entrances to the house, however, suffered a more brutal assault after the robbers had spent over one hour to break down the metal gate and the wooden door to the main hall with cement blocks, hacksaw blade and a chisel.
Having a field day, the robbers who did not appreciate the efforts made by their victims to be co-operative, allegedly used the butt of an AK47 assault rifle to hit the head of one Mr Sarpong, a retired teacher, before hitting his chest with a hammer. This was after the criminals traumatised him, his wife and children.
All that while, the households had made an SOS call to the police to come to their aid. However, the police were reported to have arrived at the scene after the robbers had successfully carried out their mission and bolted with their booties.
This robbery and many similar incidents that took place in the municipality somehow could have been averted had there been adequate physical police presence and patrols in the area, according some of the victims of the robberies.
It was strongly believed that the best strategy for tackling crime was one that focused on preventing crime and tackling the root causes and not just the symptoms.
The question now is can more physical police presence in all the communities in the municipality lead to a significant reduction in crime rate in the area?
Criminology evidence strongly suggested that fear of being detected in the act of a crime was the strongest deterrent to potential criminals, not the fear of being caught.
It is part of this effective preventive measure to combat armed robbery and other crimes in the area that the Eastern Regional Police Command instituted a new innovative Police Patrol System two weeks ago code named the “Tent Cities”.
Under the programme, the municipality has been zoned into six strategic areas, namely Mile 50, Oyoko Roundabout, Asokore Community Health Centre, Nkurakan and Pentuwala, where tents have been placed at vantage points manned by well armed police personnel numbering between 22 and 40 per each tent with a standby communication centres and police vehicles to attend to emergency calls from the members of the public.
Under the initiative, a brainchild of the new Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Stephen Andoh-Kwofie, police personnel would be deployed to patrol the streets and the neighbourhoods in pairs from 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. each day to make their physical presence more felt.
Additionally, rapid response standby combat ready police teams are located at the Regional Police Headquarters and the New Juaben Municipal Police Station to provide the necessary reinforcement in the wake of any eventuality.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, DCOP Andoh-Kwofie, said since crime prevention or detection was less costly and more effective than crime combat, the Police Command decided to make the physical police presence more felt in the neighbourhoods in the municipality.
“More police action, especially our presence, is needed to effectively prevent crime, rather than just dealing with crimes once they are committed.This is a more effective way to significantly reduce crime in the municipality”, DCOP Andoh-Kwofie explained.
Under the initiative, the police will also undertake frequent swoops on ghettos that harbour criminals.
Besides the tent cities, DCOP Andoh-Kwofie stated that additional police patrols and temporary snap checks had also been intensified on the roads to deter criminals, adding “we need not maintain one permanent security check point on our roads in order to outwit criminals”.
It is indeed reassuring that the Regional Police Command is going all out to check crime to make the municipality safe to enable the people to go about their activities without fear or intimidation.
If this exercise is to succeed, and not be a nine day wonder, there was the need for the police and other security agencies to be well resourced and motivated to enable them discharge their duties more professionally.
This required industries, businesses and well-to-do individuals in the municipality to generously assist the New Juaben Municipal Assembly to provide the security with the necessary logistics, since no individual or business entity is immune to crime.
The idea of deploying more police personnel to patrol our neighbourhood is an igneous one and worthy of praise. This would definitely help keep criminals at bay thereby, creating a sense of security and allay the fears and boost confidence among the people.
Besides, the mere physical presence of the police would also instil discipline in errant drivers on the roads
As members of the public, whose welfare and safety are utmost to the police, residents need to cooperate fully with them to make the new police patrol system a real success. Without such public cooperation, all their efforts will be in vain, since the security in the municipality is not the sole responsibility of the police but a shared one.
Furthermore, members of the public are obliged to inform themselves about the names of their streets and house numbers since that would enable them to provide the police accurate information during any eventuality.
We hope that these preventive actions of the police and other agencies would become a standard practice throughout the year until a time when the residents of the municipality would feel a strong sense of security.
Besides, more than ever before, it time residents of the municipality recognised the need to embrace the neighbourhood watchdog concept and other community initiatives that required them to be the “eyes and hears of their communities” and see the need to look out for each other to be each other’s keeper.
They should recognise that helping to foster a strong sense of togetherness as one community would keep the communities in the municipality more vibrant, since active communities were more vigilant and less attractive to criminals.
Since the new police patrol system is an igneous one that is highly commendable, residents need to join hands with the police to effectively combat and if possible, wipe crime from our communities.
The town, surrounded by Obuotabire Mountains covered with lush green vegetation, has a number of sight-seeing facilities such as hotels, restaurants and many others, making it a favourable place for workers and tourists.
Covering an estimated area of 110 square kilometres and constituting 0.57 per cent of the total land area of the region, the relative proximity of Koforidua to Accra and other tourist sites in the region such as the Boti Falls, the Akosombo Dam, the Dodi Island, the Aburi Botanical Gardens and the Adomi Bridge,have all made the town gained a status for relaxation during the weekends and on holidays.
With a cluster of walking distance suburbs, the town has over the years also become a second home for countless holiday makers, both local and foreign.
First to attain a municipal status in the region, Koforidua, with a heterogeneous population of 96,266, mainly Ashantis, has become a vibrant commercial centre that had been peaceful for many decades.
However, within the last few years the well-known hospitable municipality has seen an upsurge in crime rates as it has become a prime target for criminals, mostly armed robbers.
Not long ago, some residents in the area, mostly at Kenkey Factory, Water Works, Old Estate SNIT Flats, Adweso, St James and others began living in constant fear following a series of attacks by armed robbers on some of the households in those areas.
The armed robbers, who usually announce their presence with several gunshots to instil fear in their victims, often brutally assault and sometimes rape innocent young girls and mothers.
One clear robbery case was in September, last year, when two households at Water Works were attacked by a seven-member armed robbery gang who did not only deprive their victims of their money and personal belongings but also subjected them to torture, threatened to rape some of the women and girls and set some of their belongings on fire in the sitting rooms after they had locked up the families in the bathrooms.
Members of a nearby household who considered themselves safe due to heavy metal gates on all the major entrances to the house, however, suffered a more brutal assault after the robbers had spent over one hour to break down the metal gate and the wooden door to the main hall with cement blocks, hacksaw blade and a chisel.
Having a field day, the robbers who did not appreciate the efforts made by their victims to be co-operative, allegedly used the butt of an AK47 assault rifle to hit the head of one Mr Sarpong, a retired teacher, before hitting his chest with a hammer. This was after the criminals traumatised him, his wife and children.
All that while, the households had made an SOS call to the police to come to their aid. However, the police were reported to have arrived at the scene after the robbers had successfully carried out their mission and bolted with their booties.
This robbery and many similar incidents that took place in the municipality somehow could have been averted had there been adequate physical police presence and patrols in the area, according some of the victims of the robberies.
It was strongly believed that the best strategy for tackling crime was one that focused on preventing crime and tackling the root causes and not just the symptoms.
The question now is can more physical police presence in all the communities in the municipality lead to a significant reduction in crime rate in the area?
Criminology evidence strongly suggested that fear of being detected in the act of a crime was the strongest deterrent to potential criminals, not the fear of being caught.
It is part of this effective preventive measure to combat armed robbery and other crimes in the area that the Eastern Regional Police Command instituted a new innovative Police Patrol System two weeks ago code named the “Tent Cities”.
Under the programme, the municipality has been zoned into six strategic areas, namely Mile 50, Oyoko Roundabout, Asokore Community Health Centre, Nkurakan and Pentuwala, where tents have been placed at vantage points manned by well armed police personnel numbering between 22 and 40 per each tent with a standby communication centres and police vehicles to attend to emergency calls from the members of the public.
Under the initiative, a brainchild of the new Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Stephen Andoh-Kwofie, police personnel would be deployed to patrol the streets and the neighbourhoods in pairs from 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. each day to make their physical presence more felt.
Additionally, rapid response standby combat ready police teams are located at the Regional Police Headquarters and the New Juaben Municipal Police Station to provide the necessary reinforcement in the wake of any eventuality.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, DCOP Andoh-Kwofie, said since crime prevention or detection was less costly and more effective than crime combat, the Police Command decided to make the physical police presence more felt in the neighbourhoods in the municipality.
“More police action, especially our presence, is needed to effectively prevent crime, rather than just dealing with crimes once they are committed.This is a more effective way to significantly reduce crime in the municipality”, DCOP Andoh-Kwofie explained.
Under the initiative, the police will also undertake frequent swoops on ghettos that harbour criminals.
Besides the tent cities, DCOP Andoh-Kwofie stated that additional police patrols and temporary snap checks had also been intensified on the roads to deter criminals, adding “we need not maintain one permanent security check point on our roads in order to outwit criminals”.
It is indeed reassuring that the Regional Police Command is going all out to check crime to make the municipality safe to enable the people to go about their activities without fear or intimidation.
If this exercise is to succeed, and not be a nine day wonder, there was the need for the police and other security agencies to be well resourced and motivated to enable them discharge their duties more professionally.
This required industries, businesses and well-to-do individuals in the municipality to generously assist the New Juaben Municipal Assembly to provide the security with the necessary logistics, since no individual or business entity is immune to crime.
The idea of deploying more police personnel to patrol our neighbourhood is an igneous one and worthy of praise. This would definitely help keep criminals at bay thereby, creating a sense of security and allay the fears and boost confidence among the people.
Besides, the mere physical presence of the police would also instil discipline in errant drivers on the roads
As members of the public, whose welfare and safety are utmost to the police, residents need to cooperate fully with them to make the new police patrol system a real success. Without such public cooperation, all their efforts will be in vain, since the security in the municipality is not the sole responsibility of the police but a shared one.
Furthermore, members of the public are obliged to inform themselves about the names of their streets and house numbers since that would enable them to provide the police accurate information during any eventuality.
We hope that these preventive actions of the police and other agencies would become a standard practice throughout the year until a time when the residents of the municipality would feel a strong sense of security.
Besides, more than ever before, it time residents of the municipality recognised the need to embrace the neighbourhood watchdog concept and other community initiatives that required them to be the “eyes and hears of their communities” and see the need to look out for each other to be each other’s keeper.
They should recognise that helping to foster a strong sense of togetherness as one community would keep the communities in the municipality more vibrant, since active communities were more vigilant and less attractive to criminals.
Since the new police patrol system is an igneous one that is highly commendable, residents need to join hands with the police to effectively combat and if possible, wipe crime from our communities.
Friday, July 24, 2009
VOTERS IN AKWATIA APPEAL FOR SECURITY (PAGE 24)
VOTERS in the six polling stations in the Akwatia Constituency where the 2008 parliamentary election is to be re-run have appealed to the government to institute the necessary security measures to ensure a free and fair election.
Tough security measures, they said, would discourage individuals and groups who were bent on engaging in electoral fraud and the snatching of ballot boxes to discredit the outcome of the election.
According to them, adequate security presence in the area during the election would also ensure a violence-free atmosphere that would encourage a high voter turnout.
The election at the six polling stations were disrupted last year, making it impossible for the Electoral Commission (EC) to declare a winner for the Akwatia Constituency.
As a result, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Parliamentary Candidate, Baba Jamal, and two independent candidates, Basil Ahiable and Samuel Abrokwah, petitioned a High Court in Koforidua to have the entire election in the Akwatia Constituency re-run.
However, the Supreme Court, on July 15, this year, unanimously ruled that the EC must determine which polling stations it wished to re-re-run.
Although the EC is yet to announce a date for the re-run, voters in the constituency have expressed worry that failure on the part of the government to ensure adequate security could trigger a repeat of the violence that characterised last year’s election.
Some of the voters who spoke to the Daily Graphic on Tuesday noted that the constituency had become a flashpoint, a situation that called for more stringent security measures to be taken to forestall any electoral fraud and the snatching of ballot boxes in the upcoming election.
Mr Emmanuel Asihene, a 40-year-old teacher, expressed worry over rumours making the rounds in the area that indicated that some of the youth were hatching a plot to engage in ballot-box snatching as part of an attempt to once again discredit the credibility of the re-run election.
He also indicated that rumours were rife that the youth were bent on embarking on a massive violent demonstration “to disorganise the smooth conduct of the election in the area”.
Nana Adwoa Owusua, the Akwatia Gyaasehema, for her part, said Akwatia had gained notoriety for violence, and as the two main political parties, the NDC and the NPP, were bent on doing everything to win the seat, the presence of well-armed security personnel at all the polling centres would deter those who intended to mar the electoral process.
According to her, the absence of a Member of Parliament (MP) for the area in the past seven months had adversely hindered the socio-economic development of the town, asking in the process, “How long will we allow violence to destroy our resolve to elect an MP to facilitate the development of our communities?”
Nana Owusua also called on the government to work closely with the two main political parties to educate their followers to be law-abiding and refrain from taking the law into their own hands on voting day.
Nana Owusu Ansah, a 69-year-old pensioner, stated that violence in the six polling centres erupted when many of the electorate at the Akyem-Wenchi polling area were prevented from casting their votes.
“To prevent anything like that ever happening again, the security personnel must make their presence felt to allow every voter to cast his or her vote to ensure a free and fair election,” he stated.
Masawood Saeed, a teacher, said since the two main political parties perceived winning the seat as a “do-or-die affair”, the government must double the presence of security men and women during the upcoming election to prevent any unnecessary political confrontation among the people.
Tough security measures, they said, would discourage individuals and groups who were bent on engaging in electoral fraud and the snatching of ballot boxes to discredit the outcome of the election.
According to them, adequate security presence in the area during the election would also ensure a violence-free atmosphere that would encourage a high voter turnout.
The election at the six polling stations were disrupted last year, making it impossible for the Electoral Commission (EC) to declare a winner for the Akwatia Constituency.
As a result, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Parliamentary Candidate, Baba Jamal, and two independent candidates, Basil Ahiable and Samuel Abrokwah, petitioned a High Court in Koforidua to have the entire election in the Akwatia Constituency re-run.
However, the Supreme Court, on July 15, this year, unanimously ruled that the EC must determine which polling stations it wished to re-re-run.
Although the EC is yet to announce a date for the re-run, voters in the constituency have expressed worry that failure on the part of the government to ensure adequate security could trigger a repeat of the violence that characterised last year’s election.
Some of the voters who spoke to the Daily Graphic on Tuesday noted that the constituency had become a flashpoint, a situation that called for more stringent security measures to be taken to forestall any electoral fraud and the snatching of ballot boxes in the upcoming election.
Mr Emmanuel Asihene, a 40-year-old teacher, expressed worry over rumours making the rounds in the area that indicated that some of the youth were hatching a plot to engage in ballot-box snatching as part of an attempt to once again discredit the credibility of the re-run election.
He also indicated that rumours were rife that the youth were bent on embarking on a massive violent demonstration “to disorganise the smooth conduct of the election in the area”.
Nana Adwoa Owusua, the Akwatia Gyaasehema, for her part, said Akwatia had gained notoriety for violence, and as the two main political parties, the NDC and the NPP, were bent on doing everything to win the seat, the presence of well-armed security personnel at all the polling centres would deter those who intended to mar the electoral process.
According to her, the absence of a Member of Parliament (MP) for the area in the past seven months had adversely hindered the socio-economic development of the town, asking in the process, “How long will we allow violence to destroy our resolve to elect an MP to facilitate the development of our communities?”
Nana Owusua also called on the government to work closely with the two main political parties to educate their followers to be law-abiding and refrain from taking the law into their own hands on voting day.
Nana Owusu Ansah, a 69-year-old pensioner, stated that violence in the six polling centres erupted when many of the electorate at the Akyem-Wenchi polling area were prevented from casting their votes.
“To prevent anything like that ever happening again, the security personnel must make their presence felt to allow every voter to cast his or her vote to ensure a free and fair election,” he stated.
Masawood Saeed, a teacher, said since the two main political parties perceived winning the seat as a “do-or-die affair”, the government must double the presence of security men and women during the upcoming election to prevent any unnecessary political confrontation among the people.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
ROBBERS ROB BUSINESSMAN OF GH¢6.000 (,IRROR, PAGE 26, JULY 25, 2009)
From Nana Konadu Agyeman, Koforidua
TWO suspected armed robbers who attacked and robbed a businessman of GH¢6,000 in broad day light at Brekuso in the Eastern Region have been arrested by the police.
The suspects, Kofi Asiedu, 29 and Ismaila Mohammed, 26, were said to have attacked Mr Samuel Bruce Peprah, 59, in the middle of a road at Brekuso at about 1.30 p.m and made away with his bag containing the amount and a mobile phone.
They were said to have pursued the businessman and his driver from Koforidua to Brekuso, where they used an Opel Vectra taxi to overtake and cross his Hyundai Mighty truck with registration number GT 524 F heading towards Accra.
Right in the middle of the road, the two, including another accomplice who is on the run, rushed out of the taxi with registration number GT 6327 S and pulled out a machete, which they used to attack Mr Peprah before robbing him.
Briefing newsmen on the incident, the New Juaben Municipal Police Commander, Superintendent of Police, Mr John A. Naami said at about 1.30 p.m on July 8, police intelligence gathered that some armed robbers who had gone on an operation at Brekuso were sharing the booty in a house at Okorase.
Immediately a team of policemen were dispatched to the area, where after thorough investigations they succeeded in apprehending Asiedu and Mohammed.
One of the robbers, whose name was only given as Diggy, however, managed to escape.
The police then retrieved GH4,700 out of the GH¢6,000 and his mobile phones, they took from the businessman.
Superintendent Naami said further police investigations into the case had revealed that the driver of the businessman informed his accomplices of his master’s movement from Koforidua through Brekuso to Accra.
During interrogations, Asiedu and Mohammed told the police that Kwofie, who claimed that he was not well paid by his master, sought their assistance to rob Mr Peprah, whom he described as "frail and easy to be robbed"
Narrating the incident to The Mirror, Mr Peprah said on Tuesday, July 8 at about 7.30 a.m, he called his driver, Kwofie, also a resident of Okorase, to accompany him to Accra to purchase a packet of roofing sheets.
He said when they reached Brekuso, Kwofie deliberately slowed down during which an Opel Vectra taxi cab on top speed overtook and crossed them right in the middle of the road at about 1.30 p.m.
One of the robbers, whose name was only given as Diggy, pulled out a machete and attempted to slash his right hand but he swerved and for fear of being killed, he willingly gave out the bag containing the money and his mobile phone.
He indicated that another robber also attacked his driver and demanded his mobile phone after which they sped off in the Opel Vectra taxi cab.
Mr Peprah said soon after the robbers had left, a friend of his who was travelling from Aburi to Accra on the same stretch of road, arrived at scene and he narrated the ordeal he had gone through.
He said he and his friend pursued the robbers but their efforts proved futile after which he went back to Koforidua.
According to him, it was the following day, Thursday, July 9, 2009 that his wife informed him that there was rumours in town that his driver, Kwofie, orchestrated the robbery operation.
He, therefore, reported the matter to the New Juaben Municipal Police Command.
TWO suspected armed robbers who attacked and robbed a businessman of GH¢6,000 in broad day light at Brekuso in the Eastern Region have been arrested by the police.
The suspects, Kofi Asiedu, 29 and Ismaila Mohammed, 26, were said to have attacked Mr Samuel Bruce Peprah, 59, in the middle of a road at Brekuso at about 1.30 p.m and made away with his bag containing the amount and a mobile phone.
They were said to have pursued the businessman and his driver from Koforidua to Brekuso, where they used an Opel Vectra taxi to overtake and cross his Hyundai Mighty truck with registration number GT 524 F heading towards Accra.
Right in the middle of the road, the two, including another accomplice who is on the run, rushed out of the taxi with registration number GT 6327 S and pulled out a machete, which they used to attack Mr Peprah before robbing him.
Briefing newsmen on the incident, the New Juaben Municipal Police Commander, Superintendent of Police, Mr John A. Naami said at about 1.30 p.m on July 8, police intelligence gathered that some armed robbers who had gone on an operation at Brekuso were sharing the booty in a house at Okorase.
Immediately a team of policemen were dispatched to the area, where after thorough investigations they succeeded in apprehending Asiedu and Mohammed.
One of the robbers, whose name was only given as Diggy, however, managed to escape.
The police then retrieved GH4,700 out of the GH¢6,000 and his mobile phones, they took from the businessman.
Superintendent Naami said further police investigations into the case had revealed that the driver of the businessman informed his accomplices of his master’s movement from Koforidua through Brekuso to Accra.
During interrogations, Asiedu and Mohammed told the police that Kwofie, who claimed that he was not well paid by his master, sought their assistance to rob Mr Peprah, whom he described as "frail and easy to be robbed"
Narrating the incident to The Mirror, Mr Peprah said on Tuesday, July 8 at about 7.30 a.m, he called his driver, Kwofie, also a resident of Okorase, to accompany him to Accra to purchase a packet of roofing sheets.
He said when they reached Brekuso, Kwofie deliberately slowed down during which an Opel Vectra taxi cab on top speed overtook and crossed them right in the middle of the road at about 1.30 p.m.
One of the robbers, whose name was only given as Diggy, pulled out a machete and attempted to slash his right hand but he swerved and for fear of being killed, he willingly gave out the bag containing the money and his mobile phone.
He indicated that another robber also attacked his driver and demanded his mobile phone after which they sped off in the Opel Vectra taxi cab.
Mr Peprah said soon after the robbers had left, a friend of his who was travelling from Aburi to Accra on the same stretch of road, arrived at scene and he narrated the ordeal he had gone through.
He said he and his friend pursued the robbers but their efforts proved futile after which he went back to Koforidua.
According to him, it was the following day, Thursday, July 9, 2009 that his wife informed him that there was rumours in town that his driver, Kwofie, orchestrated the robbery operation.
He, therefore, reported the matter to the New Juaben Municipal Police Command.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
CHURCH OF PENTECOST DONATES TO HOSPITAL (PAGE 21)
THE Koforidua Area of the Church of Pentecost at the weekend donated assorted items worth GH¢2,000 to the Eastern Regional Hospital in Koforidua.
The items comprised four bags of rice, 33 bars of key soap, 20 tins of milo, 50 pieces of florescent tubes, six cartons of milk, two bags of sugar, 50 loaves of bread, toiletries, edible oil, bundles of mosquito nets and other provisions.
Presenting the items, the Koforidua Area Head of the church, Apostle Samuel K. Ofosu, said the church had donated the items to the hospital in order to support the sick as part of the church’s social responsibility towards the needy and the poor in society.
“As Christians, we have a moral obligation to support the government to cater for the spiritual and physical needs of the needy in society, including those in prisons, hospitals and orphanages,” he stated.
The items comprised four bags of rice, 33 bars of key soap, 20 tins of milo, 50 pieces of florescent tubes, six cartons of milk, two bags of sugar, 50 loaves of bread, toiletries, edible oil, bundles of mosquito nets and other provisions.
Presenting the items, the Koforidua Area Head of the church, Apostle Samuel K. Ofosu, said the church had donated the items to the hospital in order to support the sick as part of the church’s social responsibility towards the needy and the poor in society.
“As Christians, we have a moral obligation to support the government to cater for the spiritual and physical needs of the needy in society, including those in prisons, hospitals and orphanages,” he stated.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
133 PERSONS KILLED IN ROAD ACCIDENTS IN ER...Between January and June, this year (PAGE 20)
ONE Hundred and thirty-three persons were killed in road accidents in the Eastern Region between January and June, this year.
This implied that on the average, about 22 people perished in road carnage in the region every month.
Statistics made available to the Daily Graphic by the Eastern Regional Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU), showed that 68 people lost their lives between January and March, this year in 330 accidents involving 433 vehicles.
The number of deaths, however, reduced between April and June, when 65 persons lost their lives in 380 accidents involving 520 vehicles, a decrease of 4.42 per cent over that of the first quarter of the year.
As many as 449 persons sustained various degrees of injury in accidents during the first quarter of the year while 615 persons got injured in the second quarter.
Speaking in an interview at Koforidua, the Eastern Regional Commander of the MTTU, Superintendent James S. Peprah said, “many innocent road users have suffered untold hardships, with some of them being maimed as a result of road accidents”.
“If we can lose about 133 lives within six months in one region, how safe are we on our roads?”, Supt Peprah asked.
According to him, most of the fatal accidents occurred along the Apedwa Junction-Bunso-Nkawkaw stretch of the Accra-Kumasi Highway, which he described as “extremely accident prone area”.
Supt Peprah attributed the causes of road fatalities to drivers’ ignorance of road signs, the use of KIA trucks to convey passengers, speeding, drunk driving, wrongful overtaking and the frequent breakdown of overloaded trucks on the highway.
He stated that the intensification of highway patrols by his outfit had immensely reduced the use of KIA trucks to convey passengers on the highways, a situation which contributed to high fatalities on the roads.
The MTTU Commander also mentioned the intensification of patrols on the highways to check speeding, overtaking on dangerous portions of roads, drunk driving as well as educating both drivers and passengers on how to comport themselves on the roads, as part of the measures to reduce carnage on the roads.
He appealed to motorists to be extremely cautious on the Accra-Kumasi Highway and refrain from alcoholic drinks when driving in order to arrive safely at their destinations.
This implied that on the average, about 22 people perished in road carnage in the region every month.
Statistics made available to the Daily Graphic by the Eastern Regional Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU), showed that 68 people lost their lives between January and March, this year in 330 accidents involving 433 vehicles.
The number of deaths, however, reduced between April and June, when 65 persons lost their lives in 380 accidents involving 520 vehicles, a decrease of 4.42 per cent over that of the first quarter of the year.
As many as 449 persons sustained various degrees of injury in accidents during the first quarter of the year while 615 persons got injured in the second quarter.
Speaking in an interview at Koforidua, the Eastern Regional Commander of the MTTU, Superintendent James S. Peprah said, “many innocent road users have suffered untold hardships, with some of them being maimed as a result of road accidents”.
“If we can lose about 133 lives within six months in one region, how safe are we on our roads?”, Supt Peprah asked.
According to him, most of the fatal accidents occurred along the Apedwa Junction-Bunso-Nkawkaw stretch of the Accra-Kumasi Highway, which he described as “extremely accident prone area”.
Supt Peprah attributed the causes of road fatalities to drivers’ ignorance of road signs, the use of KIA trucks to convey passengers, speeding, drunk driving, wrongful overtaking and the frequent breakdown of overloaded trucks on the highway.
He stated that the intensification of highway patrols by his outfit had immensely reduced the use of KIA trucks to convey passengers on the highways, a situation which contributed to high fatalities on the roads.
The MTTU Commander also mentioned the intensification of patrols on the highways to check speeding, overtaking on dangerous portions of roads, drunk driving as well as educating both drivers and passengers on how to comport themselves on the roads, as part of the measures to reduce carnage on the roads.
He appealed to motorists to be extremely cautious on the Accra-Kumasi Highway and refrain from alcoholic drinks when driving in order to arrive safely at their destinations.
SUHUM HOSPITAL GRATEFUL TO ASSEMBLY (PAGE 20)
THE management of the Suhum Government Hospital has expressed its gratitude to the Suhum-Kraboa-Coaltar District Assembly and its Chief Executive, Mr Sammy Kwarbi for clearing the mountain of refuse near the entrance of the hospital.
The Medical Superintendent of the facility, Dr Divine Apaloo who spoke to the Daily Graphic, said, “We are happy that the refuse dump which made working at the hospital and staying in its bungalows a health hazard, has been removed at long last”.
“For the first time, we hope to stay and work in an environment where we can breathe in fresh air, while our patients, especially women and children will stay comfortably at the wards without any stench or pollution”, Dr Apaloo added.
The medical superintendent’s appreciation followed the clearing of the refuse dump by the district assembly and Zoomlion Ghana Limited, a waste management company.
The Medical Superintendent of the facility, Dr Divine Apaloo who spoke to the Daily Graphic, said, “We are happy that the refuse dump which made working at the hospital and staying in its bungalows a health hazard, has been removed at long last”.
“For the first time, we hope to stay and work in an environment where we can breathe in fresh air, while our patients, especially women and children will stay comfortably at the wards without any stench or pollution”, Dr Apaloo added.
The medical superintendent’s appreciation followed the clearing of the refuse dump by the district assembly and Zoomlion Ghana Limited, a waste management company.
AKOSOMBO FIRE STATION CRIES FOR FIRE TENDER (PAGE 20)
ANY fire outbreak at Akosombo and its environs, where strategic industries in the country are located, could be disastrous as the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) station in the town does not have a single functioning fire engine.
The only fire engine at the station broke down many years ago and has since not been repaired.
The Eastern Regional Fire Officer, Mr Edwin Blankson expressed the concern when the Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo paid a working visit to the Akosombo fire station to acquaint himself with the challenges facing the personnel.
He appealed to the government to as a matter of urgency resource the station with fire engines and other logistics as early as possible to enable the personnel of the service to professionally respond to any fire outbreaks in the area.
“If the government fails to resource us, we will find ourselves incapable of effectively fighting fire outbreaks at strategic industries such as the Volta River Authority (VRA), the Mama Water Depot and the Akosombo and the Juapong Textile factories”, Mr Blankson stressed.
Mr Blankson stated that since the only fire engine at the station broke down some months ago, all efforts to have it repaired or replaced had proved futile.
He said apart from the lack of a fire engine, the station did not also have the needed equipment to enable it respond to emergency situations such as accidents.
“Since we do not have a vehicle and other rescuing devices to reach and rescue victims of accidents, we find ourselves less helpful whenever accidents cases are reported to us”, the regional fire officer lamented.
According to him, all efforts to have their concerns addressed had proved unsuccessful in the past.
In his reaction, Mr Ofosu Ampofo expressed the preparedness of the government and the district assembly to help address the problem.
He appealed to the various industries located at Akosombo and its environs such as the VRA, TOR, the Akosombo Textiles Limited and the Juapong Textiles to go to the aid of the GNFS in the area.
The only fire engine at the station broke down many years ago and has since not been repaired.
The Eastern Regional Fire Officer, Mr Edwin Blankson expressed the concern when the Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo paid a working visit to the Akosombo fire station to acquaint himself with the challenges facing the personnel.
He appealed to the government to as a matter of urgency resource the station with fire engines and other logistics as early as possible to enable the personnel of the service to professionally respond to any fire outbreaks in the area.
“If the government fails to resource us, we will find ourselves incapable of effectively fighting fire outbreaks at strategic industries such as the Volta River Authority (VRA), the Mama Water Depot and the Akosombo and the Juapong Textile factories”, Mr Blankson stressed.
Mr Blankson stated that since the only fire engine at the station broke down some months ago, all efforts to have it repaired or replaced had proved futile.
He said apart from the lack of a fire engine, the station did not also have the needed equipment to enable it respond to emergency situations such as accidents.
“Since we do not have a vehicle and other rescuing devices to reach and rescue victims of accidents, we find ourselves less helpful whenever accidents cases are reported to us”, the regional fire officer lamented.
According to him, all efforts to have their concerns addressed had proved unsuccessful in the past.
In his reaction, Mr Ofosu Ampofo expressed the preparedness of the government and the district assembly to help address the problem.
He appealed to the various industries located at Akosombo and its environs such as the VRA, TOR, the Akosombo Textiles Limited and the Juapong Textiles to go to the aid of the GNFS in the area.
POLITICISATION OF MASS SPRAYING EXERCISE WORRIES FARMERS (PAGE 20)
COCOA farmers in the Eastern Region have expressed frustration and anger over the politicisation of the mass cocoa spraying exercise by some spraying gangs in the cocoa growing areas in the region.
They accused the gangs of not only being selective in executing the national exercise on the grounds of political affiliation but also demanded money from them before spraying their farms.
The farmers further accused the spraying gangs of pilfering premix fuel and insecticides, and stealing new spraying machines meant for the exercise.
They claimed that the negative attitudes on the part of the gangs could sabotage government’s efforts at boosting the country’s capacity to produce one million metric tonnes of the commodity by 2011.
Besides, the country also stands a great risk of losing the gains it had attained over the past eight years under the previous government, the farmers added.
The Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, said his office had received many complaints from farmers over the negative attitudes of the various spraying gangs in the region since he assumed office.
He said this when he met with the Municipal and District Chief Executives, cocoa officers, officials of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) and the Produce Buying Company (PBC) as well as coordinators of mass spraying exercise at Koforidua recently.
The regional minister said most of the cocoa farmers’ groups, who made the complaints, had on many occasions petitioned him to intervene and stop the politicisation of the exercise, since the country’s economy and the livelihood of the people depended on the cocoa industry.
According to him, the farmers had indicated that ever since the exercise began under the previous government, their living standards had improved significantly while cocoa farming had become more attractive to the youth.
He, therefore, called on all stakeholders to address the problem since the cocoa industry had over the years remained the backbone of the country’s economy.
“As a national exercise aimed at boosting the economy, we must refrain from playing politics with the mass spraying exercise to enable Ghana to retain its lost glory as the best cocoa producing country in the world”, Mr Ampofo stressed.
He particularly called on MDCEs and Municipal and District Officers of COCOBOD in cocoa growing areas as well as officials of the PBC to help address the problem.
They accused the gangs of not only being selective in executing the national exercise on the grounds of political affiliation but also demanded money from them before spraying their farms.
The farmers further accused the spraying gangs of pilfering premix fuel and insecticides, and stealing new spraying machines meant for the exercise.
They claimed that the negative attitudes on the part of the gangs could sabotage government’s efforts at boosting the country’s capacity to produce one million metric tonnes of the commodity by 2011.
Besides, the country also stands a great risk of losing the gains it had attained over the past eight years under the previous government, the farmers added.
The Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, said his office had received many complaints from farmers over the negative attitudes of the various spraying gangs in the region since he assumed office.
He said this when he met with the Municipal and District Chief Executives, cocoa officers, officials of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) and the Produce Buying Company (PBC) as well as coordinators of mass spraying exercise at Koforidua recently.
The regional minister said most of the cocoa farmers’ groups, who made the complaints, had on many occasions petitioned him to intervene and stop the politicisation of the exercise, since the country’s economy and the livelihood of the people depended on the cocoa industry.
According to him, the farmers had indicated that ever since the exercise began under the previous government, their living standards had improved significantly while cocoa farming had become more attractive to the youth.
He, therefore, called on all stakeholders to address the problem since the cocoa industry had over the years remained the backbone of the country’s economy.
“As a national exercise aimed at boosting the economy, we must refrain from playing politics with the mass spraying exercise to enable Ghana to retain its lost glory as the best cocoa producing country in the world”, Mr Ampofo stressed.
He particularly called on MDCEs and Municipal and District Officers of COCOBOD in cocoa growing areas as well as officials of the PBC to help address the problem.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
POLICEMAN SUFFERS VERBAL ATTACK (PAGE 27, MIRROR)
From Nana Konadu Agyeman, Koforidua.
A 27-year-old man, who allegedly assaulted a policeman on duty at Koforidua last Tuesday, has been arrested by the police.
The suspect, Eric Yeboah Asare, was said to have alighted from a taxi under a traffic light and held Lance Corporal David Intikora at the neck before subjecting him to severe verbal assault.
Other motorists, who were stuck in traffic as a result of the incident went to the aid of the policeman and rescued him from the grips of Asare, a resident of Anlo Town at Koforidua.
The suspect, who has been charged for obstructing the work of a policeman on duty, is currently in police custody assisting in investigations.
Briefing The Mirror, on the incident, the Public Affairs Officer of the Eastern Regional Police Command, Chief Inspector Christopher Tawiah, said at about 8.30 a.m. on Tuesday, Asare was in a taxi with registration number GW 1270 X heading towards Adweso, a Koforidua suburb.
When the taxi reached the traffic light, the green light gave the motorists the indication to move but the driver of the taxi refused to move ahead and rather picked a passenger at the spot, bringing traffic to a halt.
The policeman on duty reproached the driver of the taxi and asked him to move to allow the flow of traffic .
However, Asare, approached by the policeman’s order to the driver, rushed out of the vehicle and held Lance Corporal Intikora at the neck and hurled insults at him.
This, according Chief Inspector Tawiah, created a scene at the spot, resulting in a heavy traffic jam for almost an hour.
Luckily for Lance Corporal Intikora, Chief Inspector Tawiah said, some of the motorists rushed to the aid of the policeman and released him from the grips of Asare, who was later taken to the Eastern Regional Police Headquarters.
A 27-year-old man, who allegedly assaulted a policeman on duty at Koforidua last Tuesday, has been arrested by the police.
The suspect, Eric Yeboah Asare, was said to have alighted from a taxi under a traffic light and held Lance Corporal David Intikora at the neck before subjecting him to severe verbal assault.
Other motorists, who were stuck in traffic as a result of the incident went to the aid of the policeman and rescued him from the grips of Asare, a resident of Anlo Town at Koforidua.
The suspect, who has been charged for obstructing the work of a policeman on duty, is currently in police custody assisting in investigations.
Briefing The Mirror, on the incident, the Public Affairs Officer of the Eastern Regional Police Command, Chief Inspector Christopher Tawiah, said at about 8.30 a.m. on Tuesday, Asare was in a taxi with registration number GW 1270 X heading towards Adweso, a Koforidua suburb.
When the taxi reached the traffic light, the green light gave the motorists the indication to move but the driver of the taxi refused to move ahead and rather picked a passenger at the spot, bringing traffic to a halt.
The policeman on duty reproached the driver of the taxi and asked him to move to allow the flow of traffic .
However, Asare, approached by the policeman’s order to the driver, rushed out of the vehicle and held Lance Corporal Intikora at the neck and hurled insults at him.
This, according Chief Inspector Tawiah, created a scene at the spot, resulting in a heavy traffic jam for almost an hour.
Luckily for Lance Corporal Intikora, Chief Inspector Tawiah said, some of the motorists rushed to the aid of the policeman and released him from the grips of Asare, who was later taken to the Eastern Regional Police Headquarters.
TWO ARRESTED FOR ROBBING BUSINESSMAN (BACK PAGE)
TWO suspected armed robbers who allegedly attacked and robbed a businessman of his GH¢6,000 in daylight at Brekuso in the Eastern Region have been arrested by the Koforidua Police.
The suspects, Kofi Asiedu, 29, and Ismaila Mohammed, 26, were said to have attacked Mr Samuel Bruce Peprah, 59, in the middle of a road at Brekuso and taken away his bag containing the amount and a mobile phone.
They reportedly pursued the businessman and his driver from Koforidua to Brekuso, using an Opel Vectra taxi to overtake their car, with registration number GT 524 F, heading towards Accra.
Right in the middle of the road, the two, including another accomplice who is on the run, rushed out of the taxi, with registration number GT 6327 S, and pulled out a machete, which they used to attack Mr Peprah before robbing him.
That was after the 45-year-old driver of the businessman, Eric Kwofie, was alleged to have deliberately slowed down to enable the vehicle of the robbers to overtake theirs.
The robbers, residents of Okorase near Koforidua, were first reported to have attacked the businessman to demand the money, while his driver whom he had worked with for the past six years stood by his master’s truck unconcerned.
Narrating the incident to the Daily Graphic, Mr Peprah said on July 8, 2009, he called his driver, Kwofie, also a resident of Okorase, to accompany him to Accra to purchase roofing sheets.
He said when they reached Brekuso, Kwofie slowed down during which the taxi, which was at top speed, overtook and crossed them right in the middle of the road at about 1.30 p.m.
One of the robbers, whose name was only given as Diggy, pulled out a machete and attempted to slash his right hand but he swerved and for fear of being killed he willingly gave out the bag containing the money and his mobile phone to Diggy.
He indicated that another robber also attacked his driver and demanded his mobile phone after which they sped off in the taxi.
Mr Peprah said soon after the robbers had left, a friend of his who was travelling from Aburi to Accra on the same stretch of road, arrived at the scene and he narrated to him the ordeal he had gone through.
He said he and the friend pursued the robbers at top speed in the friend’s four-wheel drive but their efforts proved futile after which he went back to Koforidua.
According to him, it was the following day, July 9, 2009, that his wife informed him that there were rumours speculating in town that his driver, Kwofie, orchestrated the robbery operation.
He, therefore, reported the matter to the New Juaben Municipal Police Command.
Corroborating the narration of the businessman, the New Juaben Municipal Police Commander, Superintendent John A. Naami, said about 1.30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 8, 2009, police intelligence gathered that some armed robbers who had robbed a businessman at Brekuso were sharing the booty in a house at Okorase.
Immediately, a team of policemen were dispatched to the area, where after thorough investigations they succeeded in apprehending two of the robbers and Kwofie, but Diggy managed to escape arrest.
The police then retrieved GH¢4,700 out of the GH¢6,000 and two mobile phones they took from the businessman.
Superintendent Naami said further investigations into the case had revealed that the driver of the businessman informed his accomplices of his master’s movement from Koforidua through Brekuso to Accra.
During interrogations, Asiedu and Mohammed told the police that Kwofie, who claimed that he was not well paid by his master, sought their assistance to rob Mr Peprah, whom he described as "frail and easy to be robbed".
The suspects, Kofi Asiedu, 29, and Ismaila Mohammed, 26, were said to have attacked Mr Samuel Bruce Peprah, 59, in the middle of a road at Brekuso and taken away his bag containing the amount and a mobile phone.
They reportedly pursued the businessman and his driver from Koforidua to Brekuso, using an Opel Vectra taxi to overtake their car, with registration number GT 524 F, heading towards Accra.
Right in the middle of the road, the two, including another accomplice who is on the run, rushed out of the taxi, with registration number GT 6327 S, and pulled out a machete, which they used to attack Mr Peprah before robbing him.
That was after the 45-year-old driver of the businessman, Eric Kwofie, was alleged to have deliberately slowed down to enable the vehicle of the robbers to overtake theirs.
The robbers, residents of Okorase near Koforidua, were first reported to have attacked the businessman to demand the money, while his driver whom he had worked with for the past six years stood by his master’s truck unconcerned.
Narrating the incident to the Daily Graphic, Mr Peprah said on July 8, 2009, he called his driver, Kwofie, also a resident of Okorase, to accompany him to Accra to purchase roofing sheets.
He said when they reached Brekuso, Kwofie slowed down during which the taxi, which was at top speed, overtook and crossed them right in the middle of the road at about 1.30 p.m.
One of the robbers, whose name was only given as Diggy, pulled out a machete and attempted to slash his right hand but he swerved and for fear of being killed he willingly gave out the bag containing the money and his mobile phone to Diggy.
He indicated that another robber also attacked his driver and demanded his mobile phone after which they sped off in the taxi.
Mr Peprah said soon after the robbers had left, a friend of his who was travelling from Aburi to Accra on the same stretch of road, arrived at the scene and he narrated to him the ordeal he had gone through.
He said he and the friend pursued the robbers at top speed in the friend’s four-wheel drive but their efforts proved futile after which he went back to Koforidua.
According to him, it was the following day, July 9, 2009, that his wife informed him that there were rumours speculating in town that his driver, Kwofie, orchestrated the robbery operation.
He, therefore, reported the matter to the New Juaben Municipal Police Command.
Corroborating the narration of the businessman, the New Juaben Municipal Police Commander, Superintendent John A. Naami, said about 1.30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 8, 2009, police intelligence gathered that some armed robbers who had robbed a businessman at Brekuso were sharing the booty in a house at Okorase.
Immediately, a team of policemen were dispatched to the area, where after thorough investigations they succeeded in apprehending two of the robbers and Kwofie, but Diggy managed to escape arrest.
The police then retrieved GH¢4,700 out of the GH¢6,000 and two mobile phones they took from the businessman.
Superintendent Naami said further investigations into the case had revealed that the driver of the businessman informed his accomplices of his master’s movement from Koforidua through Brekuso to Accra.
During interrogations, Asiedu and Mohammed told the police that Kwofie, who claimed that he was not well paid by his master, sought their assistance to rob Mr Peprah, whom he described as "frail and easy to be robbed".
AVOID SHORTCUTS (PAGE 34, JULY 13)
THE Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, has called on young policemen and women to guard against the temptation of seeking shortcuts in achieving success in the pursuit of their profession.
He said the cultivation of such desire could rather lead to a premature end to their future dreams of making it in life and in their career in general.
“Shortcuts may appear attractive today, but they are dangerous, since they can lead to an abrupt end to your desire to rise to top positions and achieve your ambitions,” Mr Ampofo stated.
At a church service to bid farewell to the immediate past Deputy Eastern Regional Police Commander, Rev. ACP David Ampah-Benin, at Koforidua last Sunday, Mr Ampofo said, “the only secured way to achieving lasting success in life is to serve with diligence, integrity, humility and patience in the discharge of your duty.”
The event was also used to seek God’s protection for ACP Ampah-Benin and his family and success in his new position as the Volta Regional Police Commander.
The regional minister said the Ghana Police Service was one of the noble institutions in the country that provided numerous avenues for its personnel to upgrade themselves with knowledge and skills to rise to higher positions in the profession.
In spite of this, he said, many young servicemen and women with promising future who allowed themselves to be tempted and became vulnerable to greed, corruption and extortion had failed to make it in the profession.
“Since you cannot use money to buy integrity, you must not allow yourselves to accept bribes and engage in nefarious social vices. You must rather be steadfast to virtues that will see your elevation to higher positions in the future.
“If you want shortcut to achieve success, you will also succeed in cutting short your career and life in general,” Mr Ampofo reminded young police personnel.
In a clear reference to the outgoing deputy regional commander, the regional minister urged young servicemen and women not to rush in seeking quick promotion to the top hierarchy of the profession but rather exercise patience “as in due time, your promotion will not be denied you”.
Sounding biblical, Mr Ampofo admonished police personnel to remain committed to their duty, saying “all things work good for those who wait upon the Lord to reward them”.
Preaching a sermon earlier, Rev. Peter Yiadom-Boakye, Chairman of the Koforidua Local Council of Churches, called on police personnel to remain committed to the profession and refrain from things that could destroy their future ambitions.
“Do not allow your future ambitions to be destroyed by evil things that you can resist today,” he stressed.
He particularly reminded young policemen and women of some of the inherent challenges that would confront them daily in the discharge of their duties, saying “in all things, you must seek God’s guidance and protection to overcome these challenges”.
He said the cultivation of such desire could rather lead to a premature end to their future dreams of making it in life and in their career in general.
“Shortcuts may appear attractive today, but they are dangerous, since they can lead to an abrupt end to your desire to rise to top positions and achieve your ambitions,” Mr Ampofo stated.
At a church service to bid farewell to the immediate past Deputy Eastern Regional Police Commander, Rev. ACP David Ampah-Benin, at Koforidua last Sunday, Mr Ampofo said, “the only secured way to achieving lasting success in life is to serve with diligence, integrity, humility and patience in the discharge of your duty.”
The event was also used to seek God’s protection for ACP Ampah-Benin and his family and success in his new position as the Volta Regional Police Commander.
The regional minister said the Ghana Police Service was one of the noble institutions in the country that provided numerous avenues for its personnel to upgrade themselves with knowledge and skills to rise to higher positions in the profession.
In spite of this, he said, many young servicemen and women with promising future who allowed themselves to be tempted and became vulnerable to greed, corruption and extortion had failed to make it in the profession.
“Since you cannot use money to buy integrity, you must not allow yourselves to accept bribes and engage in nefarious social vices. You must rather be steadfast to virtues that will see your elevation to higher positions in the future.
“If you want shortcut to achieve success, you will also succeed in cutting short your career and life in general,” Mr Ampofo reminded young police personnel.
In a clear reference to the outgoing deputy regional commander, the regional minister urged young servicemen and women not to rush in seeking quick promotion to the top hierarchy of the profession but rather exercise patience “as in due time, your promotion will not be denied you”.
Sounding biblical, Mr Ampofo admonished police personnel to remain committed to their duty, saying “all things work good for those who wait upon the Lord to reward them”.
Preaching a sermon earlier, Rev. Peter Yiadom-Boakye, Chairman of the Koforidua Local Council of Churches, called on police personnel to remain committed to the profession and refrain from things that could destroy their future ambitions.
“Do not allow your future ambitions to be destroyed by evil things that you can resist today,” he stressed.
He particularly reminded young policemen and women of some of the inherent challenges that would confront them daily in the discharge of their duties, saying “in all things, you must seek God’s guidance and protection to overcome these challenges”.
3 SUSPECTED INDIAN HEMP DEALERS ARRESTED (PAGE 35, JULY 13)
THREE suspected criminals including two Togolese nationals who attempted to smuggle four maxi bags of dry leaves, suspected to be Indian hemp, from the country to Togo have been arrested by the police at Akropong Akuapem in the Eastern Region.
The Togolese are Dzorka Adu, 31, and Maths Ashabi, 35, and their driver, Kweku Wiafi, 21.
.They were said to have concealed the dried leaves in four big travelling bags and covered them with textiles.
The suspects doused the bags with a strong perfume to prevent the detection of the smell of the items, which they were conveying from Huhunya in the Upper Manya District to Accra.
Briefing the media at Akropong on Wednesday, the Akropong Divisional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Mina Ayim, said at about 12.30 p.m. on July 8, this year, personnel of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) on normal patrol duty along the Yensiso-Adawso road, had a tip-off that some people were conveying dried leaves to Accra.
She said a few minutes later, the patrol team intercepted a Mercedes Benz bus with registration number AS 6755 Z occupied by the two Togolese and the driver, Kweku Wiafi.
ACP Ayim said immediately Dzorka and Ashabi saw the police personnel, they fled into a nearby bush but luck evaded them when they fell into a deep valley and were arrested by the patrol team who were pursuing them.
She said during interrogation, the two suspects told the police that they purchased the substance at Huhunya and were taking it to Accra, on route to Togo for sale.
She warned criminals against using the area to carry out their nefarious activities, stressing that the police were prepared to clamp down on their activities.
ACP Ayim also cautioned landlords who gave out their lands for the cultivation of Indian hemp to desist from such practice, adding that anyone caught would be made to face the full rigours of the law.
The Togolese are Dzorka Adu, 31, and Maths Ashabi, 35, and their driver, Kweku Wiafi, 21.
.They were said to have concealed the dried leaves in four big travelling bags and covered them with textiles.
The suspects doused the bags with a strong perfume to prevent the detection of the smell of the items, which they were conveying from Huhunya in the Upper Manya District to Accra.
Briefing the media at Akropong on Wednesday, the Akropong Divisional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Mina Ayim, said at about 12.30 p.m. on July 8, this year, personnel of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) on normal patrol duty along the Yensiso-Adawso road, had a tip-off that some people were conveying dried leaves to Accra.
She said a few minutes later, the patrol team intercepted a Mercedes Benz bus with registration number AS 6755 Z occupied by the two Togolese and the driver, Kweku Wiafi.
ACP Ayim said immediately Dzorka and Ashabi saw the police personnel, they fled into a nearby bush but luck evaded them when they fell into a deep valley and were arrested by the patrol team who were pursuing them.
She said during interrogation, the two suspects told the police that they purchased the substance at Huhunya and were taking it to Accra, on route to Togo for sale.
She warned criminals against using the area to carry out their nefarious activities, stressing that the police were prepared to clamp down on their activities.
ACP Ayim also cautioned landlords who gave out their lands for the cultivation of Indian hemp to desist from such practice, adding that anyone caught would be made to face the full rigours of the law.
BEAUTY PAGEANT LAUNCHED AT KOFORIDUA (PAGE 23, JULY 11)
A BEAUTY pageant aimed at giving the country an opportunity to showcase and promote its tourist destinations and products to the world has been launched at Koforidua.
The event dubbed: “The Miss Tourism Beauty Pageant”,would seek to use the beauty of Ghanaian women to portray the various economic benefits of the country’s tourism industry.
It would be targeted at young and beautiful women aged between 18 and 30 who are single and have sound mind and possessed a minimum qualification of senior high school and above.
The first ever tourism beauty pageant would also aim at assessing the knowledge of the bevy of ladies about the Ghanaian culture, environment and tourist attractions.
Speaking at the launch, the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Mr Kwabena O. Akyeampong, stressed the need for Ghanaians to appreciate their culture and practice as part of their contribution to promote the country’s tourism industry.
He, therefore, encouraged the people to take delight in wearing Ghanaian clothing and accessories to all occasions,especially during the Miss Tourism Ghana this year.
“Since Ghanaian fabrics and ornaments form an integral part of Ghana’s culture and by nurturing and promoting it, we will be helping to preserve our culture for posterity as well as boost the economic benefits of tourism”, Mr Akyeampong stated.
He added, “The promotion of tourism will bring along economic dividends to our talented artisans through gainful employment opportunities and the creation of wealth”.
Given the relevance and importance of the event, the deputy minister was optimistic that corporate bodies, artisans, individuals and development partners would support it in order to make it a success.
The event organiser, Mrs Delphine Brew Hammond, said the ultimate winner who would be presented with a brand new car and GH¢5,000 cash, would also represent the country at the Miss Tourism Africa slated for South Africa next year.
“While the first runner-up will receive a laptop, a colour television set and GH¢10,000 cash, the second runner-up will receive GH¢5,000”, she stated.
The event dubbed: “The Miss Tourism Beauty Pageant”,would seek to use the beauty of Ghanaian women to portray the various economic benefits of the country’s tourism industry.
It would be targeted at young and beautiful women aged between 18 and 30 who are single and have sound mind and possessed a minimum qualification of senior high school and above.
The first ever tourism beauty pageant would also aim at assessing the knowledge of the bevy of ladies about the Ghanaian culture, environment and tourist attractions.
Speaking at the launch, the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Mr Kwabena O. Akyeampong, stressed the need for Ghanaians to appreciate their culture and practice as part of their contribution to promote the country’s tourism industry.
He, therefore, encouraged the people to take delight in wearing Ghanaian clothing and accessories to all occasions,especially during the Miss Tourism Ghana this year.
“Since Ghanaian fabrics and ornaments form an integral part of Ghana’s culture and by nurturing and promoting it, we will be helping to preserve our culture for posterity as well as boost the economic benefits of tourism”, Mr Akyeampong stated.
He added, “The promotion of tourism will bring along economic dividends to our talented artisans through gainful employment opportunities and the creation of wealth”.
Given the relevance and importance of the event, the deputy minister was optimistic that corporate bodies, artisans, individuals and development partners would support it in order to make it a success.
The event organiser, Mrs Delphine Brew Hammond, said the ultimate winner who would be presented with a brand new car and GH¢5,000 cash, would also represent the country at the Miss Tourism Africa slated for South Africa next year.
“While the first runner-up will receive a laptop, a colour television set and GH¢10,000 cash, the second runner-up will receive GH¢5,000”, she stated.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
FETISH PRIEST MURDERS COLLEAGUE (PAGE 23, MIRROR)
From Nana Konadu Agyeman, Koforidua
A 35-year-old fetish priest has been remanded in prison custody by the Koforidua Circuit Court on a charge of murder.
The accused, Okomfo Kwaku Opoku, was said to have thrown a knife at his junior colleague in the course of performing a ritual to demonstrate his mystical prowess.
However, the knife got stuck in the abdomen of his colleague, leading to his untimely death.
The incident occurred at a shrine at Asamang-Tamfoe, near Anyinam in the Eastern Region.
Okomfo Opoku, who was celebrating an Akwasidae festival at his shrine with three of his colleagues, had attempted to overwhelm them with that display, but luck was not on his side.
His plea has not been taken and would re-appear before the court on July 7, 2009.
Prosecuting, Chief Inspector Moses Ayao of the Koforidua Police Headquarters told the court presided over by Ms Wilhelmina Hammond that on June 19, 2009, about 6.30 a.m, Okomfo Opoku was celebrating the festival with his three other fetish colleagues at his shrine.
He said while his subjects were singing and dancing to his honour, the suspect alleged that he had performed so many miracles which the gods he served aided him to accomplish.
According to the prosecutor, while the suspect was dancing to the tune of the music about 2.30 p.m, he asked the deceased, who was also his linguist, to go into the inner chamber of the shrine and bring him a hat, an order the victim obliged to.
The prosecutor stated that when the victim came out of the room and handed over the hat, the suspect, who was holding a knife and a whisk threw the knife, the hat and the whisk at him to catch, but the victim could not catch the items.
In the process, the knife got stuck into his abdomen, after which the victim himself removed the knife from his abdomen, the prosecutor added.
The deceased, who sustained a deep cut and was rushed to the Kyebi Government Hospital for treatment, however, died before arrival at the health facility.
A report was, therefore, made to the police who arrested the fetish priest.
A 35-year-old fetish priest has been remanded in prison custody by the Koforidua Circuit Court on a charge of murder.
The accused, Okomfo Kwaku Opoku, was said to have thrown a knife at his junior colleague in the course of performing a ritual to demonstrate his mystical prowess.
However, the knife got stuck in the abdomen of his colleague, leading to his untimely death.
The incident occurred at a shrine at Asamang-Tamfoe, near Anyinam in the Eastern Region.
Okomfo Opoku, who was celebrating an Akwasidae festival at his shrine with three of his colleagues, had attempted to overwhelm them with that display, but luck was not on his side.
His plea has not been taken and would re-appear before the court on July 7, 2009.
Prosecuting, Chief Inspector Moses Ayao of the Koforidua Police Headquarters told the court presided over by Ms Wilhelmina Hammond that on June 19, 2009, about 6.30 a.m, Okomfo Opoku was celebrating the festival with his three other fetish colleagues at his shrine.
He said while his subjects were singing and dancing to his honour, the suspect alleged that he had performed so many miracles which the gods he served aided him to accomplish.
According to the prosecutor, while the suspect was dancing to the tune of the music about 2.30 p.m, he asked the deceased, who was also his linguist, to go into the inner chamber of the shrine and bring him a hat, an order the victim obliged to.
The prosecutor stated that when the victim came out of the room and handed over the hat, the suspect, who was holding a knife and a whisk threw the knife, the hat and the whisk at him to catch, but the victim could not catch the items.
In the process, the knife got stuck into his abdomen, after which the victim himself removed the knife from his abdomen, the prosecutor added.
The deceased, who sustained a deep cut and was rushed to the Kyebi Government Hospital for treatment, however, died before arrival at the health facility.
A report was, therefore, made to the police who arrested the fetish priest.
NO PREGNANCY HERE...Oyokohene declares (PAGE 24, MIRROR)
From Nana Konadu Agyeman, Oyoko
ANY teenage girl who becomes pregnant and gives birth before marriage at Oyoko, in the New Juaben Municipality, will not be allowed to perform a naming ceremony for her child in the community, the traditional authorities of the area have cautioned.
The warning is aimed at discouraging the youth from engaging in pre-marital sex which might cause early pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), which would jeopardise their future and that of their children.
The Oyokohene, Nana Kodua Kesse II, who gave the caution said, “if we are serious in raising responsible future leaders who can contribute to our community’s rapid development, we should rather give priority to our children’s education and protect them against social vices that can destroy their future”.
Nana Kesse was speaking at the launch of the 30th anniversary of his enstoolment as the Adontenhene of New Juaben and the Oyokohene.
The event, themed: “30 Years of Progress and Development”, attracted a large gathering of people from all walks of life including the President of the Ghana Journalists Association, Mr Ransford Tetteh, who performed the launching, Nana Adjei Boateng, the immediate past Chief Executive of the New Juaben Municipality and many others.
The Oyokohene noted that teenage pregnancy had lately been on the increase in the community due to parents’ inability to exercise control over their children, particularly the girl-child who often fell prey to irresponsible men and boys.
This, he said, had often resulted in the birth of many children, some fatherless, who had become a burden on society and increased the population of the area.
“Not only should parents consider negligence of their responsibility over their children to result in early pregnancy but also how their inactions can make their children extremely vulnerable to various STIs, mainly HIV/AIDs”, Nana Kesse said.
“Since the youth are our only hope for the future, it is time we encouraged them to take their education seriously and refrain from all forms of social vices”, he added.
Nana Kesse also called on the people to strive to live in peace and unity to enable them to work as a team towards the rapid socio-economic progress of the area.
“Since we can never achieve any significant development without unity and peaceful co-existence as Oyokoman, we must resolve to put the past behind and forge ahead in unity as one people with a common focus”, the Oyokohene stated.
Nana Kesse mentioned the establishment of a clinic, a community centre, a model senior high school and the Adonten-Oyoko Education Trust Fund and many others as some of the achievements under his reign for the past three decades.
He used the occasion to express his personal appreciation to all those who had contributed meaningfully to the area’s rapid development.
ANY teenage girl who becomes pregnant and gives birth before marriage at Oyoko, in the New Juaben Municipality, will not be allowed to perform a naming ceremony for her child in the community, the traditional authorities of the area have cautioned.
The warning is aimed at discouraging the youth from engaging in pre-marital sex which might cause early pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), which would jeopardise their future and that of their children.
The Oyokohene, Nana Kodua Kesse II, who gave the caution said, “if we are serious in raising responsible future leaders who can contribute to our community’s rapid development, we should rather give priority to our children’s education and protect them against social vices that can destroy their future”.
Nana Kesse was speaking at the launch of the 30th anniversary of his enstoolment as the Adontenhene of New Juaben and the Oyokohene.
The event, themed: “30 Years of Progress and Development”, attracted a large gathering of people from all walks of life including the President of the Ghana Journalists Association, Mr Ransford Tetteh, who performed the launching, Nana Adjei Boateng, the immediate past Chief Executive of the New Juaben Municipality and many others.
The Oyokohene noted that teenage pregnancy had lately been on the increase in the community due to parents’ inability to exercise control over their children, particularly the girl-child who often fell prey to irresponsible men and boys.
This, he said, had often resulted in the birth of many children, some fatherless, who had become a burden on society and increased the population of the area.
“Not only should parents consider negligence of their responsibility over their children to result in early pregnancy but also how their inactions can make their children extremely vulnerable to various STIs, mainly HIV/AIDs”, Nana Kesse said.
“Since the youth are our only hope for the future, it is time we encouraged them to take their education seriously and refrain from all forms of social vices”, he added.
Nana Kesse also called on the people to strive to live in peace and unity to enable them to work as a team towards the rapid socio-economic progress of the area.
“Since we can never achieve any significant development without unity and peaceful co-existence as Oyokoman, we must resolve to put the past behind and forge ahead in unity as one people with a common focus”, the Oyokohene stated.
Nana Kesse mentioned the establishment of a clinic, a community centre, a model senior high school and the Adonten-Oyoko Education Trust Fund and many others as some of the achievements under his reign for the past three decades.
He used the occasion to express his personal appreciation to all those who had contributed meaningfully to the area’s rapid development.
2 STUDENTS OF POPE JOHN SHS DROWN (PAGE 3)
TWO first-year students of the Pope John Senior High School in Koforidua who benefited from a free exeat given by the school authorities on Republic Day got drowned in the Birim River, near Anyinam.
The two, Marino Sharverli, 15, and Carl Nyarko, 16, together with Jerry Danso, 16, also a first-year student, went to the river on that fateful day at about 2.30 p.m.
Marino, who allegedly deceived his classmates to join him to enjoy a swimming pool close to his parents’ house at Anyinam, first walked into the water after removing his school uniform and wearing a swimming spectacle.
A few minutes after entering the overflowing river, he started drowning and shouted for help.
The drowning Marino was said to have screamed out the name of Nyarko anytime he emerged from beneath the river and this compelled Nyarko to rush to his aid but he ended up drowning with him.
Danso, who was then standing at the bank of the river and witnessed the ordeal Marino was going through, first advised Nyarko not to go into the river to rescue Marino but he ignored the advice resulting in the death of the two classmates.
Narrating the incident to the Daily Graphic, Danso, who could not control his tears, said on Wednesday, at about 12.30 p.m. after they had finished a clean-up exercise on the school campus, Marino told him and Nyarko that there was a swimming pool near his parents’ house at Anyinam.
According to him, the three boarded an Anyinam-bound commercial vehicle from Koforidua and on arrival at their destination, Marino paid the fares.
“To our utter surprise, when we got down from the vehicle, Marino took us to the Birim River, which he claimed that he and other colleagues swam in a few days ago,” Danso stated.
He indicated that before they got close to the river, three men met them and advised them (the students) not to go near or swim in the river, since it was overflowing.
“Marino, however, paid no heed to the advice of the men and jumped into the river where he almost immediately started drowning.
He said while he ran to seek help, Nyarko dived into the river and before he (Danso) returned with a good Samaritan “Marino and Nyarko were nowhere to be found”.
Immediately, Danso stated, the good Samaritan dived into the river in a bid to search for the two classmates, but his efforts proved futile after which he left for school.
When the Daily Graphic contacted the Headmaster of the school, Mr Isaac Larweh Odonten, he confirmed the incident, saying immediately the school authorities heard of the unfortunate incident, delegations were sent to the areas to search for the two students.
Meanwhile at the time of filing this report, the headmaster had confirmed that the bodies of the two had been retrieved from the river in the early hours of yesterday.
The two, Marino Sharverli, 15, and Carl Nyarko, 16, together with Jerry Danso, 16, also a first-year student, went to the river on that fateful day at about 2.30 p.m.
Marino, who allegedly deceived his classmates to join him to enjoy a swimming pool close to his parents’ house at Anyinam, first walked into the water after removing his school uniform and wearing a swimming spectacle.
A few minutes after entering the overflowing river, he started drowning and shouted for help.
The drowning Marino was said to have screamed out the name of Nyarko anytime he emerged from beneath the river and this compelled Nyarko to rush to his aid but he ended up drowning with him.
Danso, who was then standing at the bank of the river and witnessed the ordeal Marino was going through, first advised Nyarko not to go into the river to rescue Marino but he ignored the advice resulting in the death of the two classmates.
Narrating the incident to the Daily Graphic, Danso, who could not control his tears, said on Wednesday, at about 12.30 p.m. after they had finished a clean-up exercise on the school campus, Marino told him and Nyarko that there was a swimming pool near his parents’ house at Anyinam.
According to him, the three boarded an Anyinam-bound commercial vehicle from Koforidua and on arrival at their destination, Marino paid the fares.
“To our utter surprise, when we got down from the vehicle, Marino took us to the Birim River, which he claimed that he and other colleagues swam in a few days ago,” Danso stated.
He indicated that before they got close to the river, three men met them and advised them (the students) not to go near or swim in the river, since it was overflowing.
“Marino, however, paid no heed to the advice of the men and jumped into the river where he almost immediately started drowning.
He said while he ran to seek help, Nyarko dived into the river and before he (Danso) returned with a good Samaritan “Marino and Nyarko were nowhere to be found”.
Immediately, Danso stated, the good Samaritan dived into the river in a bid to search for the two classmates, but his efforts proved futile after which he left for school.
When the Daily Graphic contacted the Headmaster of the school, Mr Isaac Larweh Odonten, he confirmed the incident, saying immediately the school authorities heard of the unfortunate incident, delegations were sent to the areas to search for the two students.
Meanwhile at the time of filing this report, the headmaster had confirmed that the bodies of the two had been retrieved from the river in the early hours of yesterday.
Friday, July 3, 2009
INVOLVE CHIEFS IN GOVERNANCE (SPREAD, JULY 2)
THE President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mr Ransford Tetteh, has called for the active involvement of traditional rulers in national governance and development.
That, he said, was to enable them to complement the efforts of the government.
The active involvement of chiefs, he said, would also help traditional leaders to mobilise their people for social change and settle protracted land and stool disputes that continued to retard development.
“As traditional leaders, chiefs are an integral part of our society and therefore they are better placed to help deal with the development challenges of today,” Mr Tetteh said.
Mr Tetteh, who is also the Editor of the Daily Graphic, was speaking at the 30th anniversary of the enstoolment of the Oyokohene, Nana Kodua Kesse II, who is also the Adontenhene of New Juaben.
The event, which was on the theme; “30 Years of Progress and Development”, attracted a large number of people from diverse backgrounds to Oyoko on Monday.
The GJA President said although the Constitution barred chiefs from participating in active politics, their role in the country’s decentralisation process and in nation-building could not be overlooked.
He further indicated that the chieftaincy institution, more than ever before, was today leading the crusade for changing the face of development process in the country and the attitudes of the people.
Mr Tetteh, therefore, stressed the need for the people to reduce their over reliance on the central government for their needs to be met at all times.
“If it is leadership that is required to mobilise the people to take their destiny into their own hands, then a lot abounds in our traditional authorities, a reasonable number of whom are not only well educated but are globally exposed and highly development minded,” he added.
According to him, the development mindedness of traditional leaders had spurred many to establish educational funds and enstool development chiefs in their communities.
Mr Tetteh said there were many chiefs who trained as teachers, lawyers, engineers, among other professions, who could mobilise their people for social change.
He, however, reminded chiefs to recognise that they were indispensable agents in the country’s development process and should, therefore, make themselves more relevant in society today.
“If our chiefs make themselves very relevant in society, they will be consulted regularly on key development issues in the country, particularly at the local level,” he explained.
He again reminded chiefs that since culture was dynamic they and the people in general should accept such development dynamics by focusing not only on big infrastructural developments but also on little things that impacted positively on the lives of the people.
On accountability of chiefs to their people, the GJA President debunked the school of thought that chiefs, unlike politicians, were not accountable to their people, a system that had made the chieftaincy institution undemocratic.
“We will appreciate that the democratic values inherent in the chieftaincy institution subject the nomination and installation processes of a chief to a democratic process where kingmakers have the right to reject the nominees of the queen”, he explained.
To buttress his call for the active involvement of chiefs in national development, Mr Tetteh described the achievements of the Oyokohene over three decades as “a watershed” and expressed the hope that he would continue with the good works.
For his part, Nana Kesse called for unity and peaceful co-existence among the people to enable them to join hands with the traditional authority to develop the area.
That, he said, was to enable them to complement the efforts of the government.
The active involvement of chiefs, he said, would also help traditional leaders to mobilise their people for social change and settle protracted land and stool disputes that continued to retard development.
“As traditional leaders, chiefs are an integral part of our society and therefore they are better placed to help deal with the development challenges of today,” Mr Tetteh said.
Mr Tetteh, who is also the Editor of the Daily Graphic, was speaking at the 30th anniversary of the enstoolment of the Oyokohene, Nana Kodua Kesse II, who is also the Adontenhene of New Juaben.
The event, which was on the theme; “30 Years of Progress and Development”, attracted a large number of people from diverse backgrounds to Oyoko on Monday.
The GJA President said although the Constitution barred chiefs from participating in active politics, their role in the country’s decentralisation process and in nation-building could not be overlooked.
He further indicated that the chieftaincy institution, more than ever before, was today leading the crusade for changing the face of development process in the country and the attitudes of the people.
Mr Tetteh, therefore, stressed the need for the people to reduce their over reliance on the central government for their needs to be met at all times.
“If it is leadership that is required to mobilise the people to take their destiny into their own hands, then a lot abounds in our traditional authorities, a reasonable number of whom are not only well educated but are globally exposed and highly development minded,” he added.
According to him, the development mindedness of traditional leaders had spurred many to establish educational funds and enstool development chiefs in their communities.
Mr Tetteh said there were many chiefs who trained as teachers, lawyers, engineers, among other professions, who could mobilise their people for social change.
He, however, reminded chiefs to recognise that they were indispensable agents in the country’s development process and should, therefore, make themselves more relevant in society today.
“If our chiefs make themselves very relevant in society, they will be consulted regularly on key development issues in the country, particularly at the local level,” he explained.
He again reminded chiefs that since culture was dynamic they and the people in general should accept such development dynamics by focusing not only on big infrastructural developments but also on little things that impacted positively on the lives of the people.
On accountability of chiefs to their people, the GJA President debunked the school of thought that chiefs, unlike politicians, were not accountable to their people, a system that had made the chieftaincy institution undemocratic.
“We will appreciate that the democratic values inherent in the chieftaincy institution subject the nomination and installation processes of a chief to a democratic process where kingmakers have the right to reject the nominees of the queen”, he explained.
To buttress his call for the active involvement of chiefs in national development, Mr Tetteh described the achievements of the Oyokohene over three decades as “a watershed” and expressed the hope that he would continue with the good works.
For his part, Nana Kesse called for unity and peaceful co-existence among the people to enable them to join hands with the traditional authority to develop the area.
BUKUNOR LANDOWNERS APPEAL FOR COMPENSATION (PAGE 22, JULY 1)
TWENTY-FOUR landowners at Bukunor in the Upper Manya District who were affected by the construction of the treatment plant for the Koforidua Water Project have appealed to the government to prevail on the Ghana Water Company (GWC) to pay them their compensation.
That, they said, would reduce the economic hardship they were currently facing, since they had no land to cultivate.
Making their grievances known to the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, last Tuesday, the spokesperson for the group, Mr Moses Ayertey, said, “In no way should we be made to face unbearable economic hardship after sacrificing our lands in the interest of the nation.”
According to him, in spite of several deliberations with the GWC to pay the landowners, their due compensation had not been paid since the company acquired the land for the water project in 2006 despite several demands.
“In spite of the fact that the Ghana Land Valuation Board has valued the land and approved an amount of GH¢232,854 as payment of compensation since April 28, 2009, the money is yet to be paid,” Mr Ayertey stated.
He said at a time the landowners were informed that the money for the compensation had been released for GWC to pay them, but the company failed to effect the payment of the claims and later informed them that their names had been submitted to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning to effect the payment.
“We are now hungry and our petition now is to appeal to the Eastern Regional Minister to present our case to the government to release the money to the GWC to pay our claims to avert our sufferings,” the spokesperson stressed.
He added, “We expect our claims to be paid by the end of June, this year, failure of which we will advise ourselves.”
Corroborating the claims of the 24 landowners, the Regional Land Valuer, Mr Benjamin Osafo, said while payment had been made for the crops on the land which was destroyed, efforts were being made to pay the due compensation it.
Responding, Mr Ofosu Ampofo, who commended the landowners for sacrificing their land for the water project, however, urged them to exercise patience since he was personally prepared to facilitate the payment of the compensation to them.
That, they said, would reduce the economic hardship they were currently facing, since they had no land to cultivate.
Making their grievances known to the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, last Tuesday, the spokesperson for the group, Mr Moses Ayertey, said, “In no way should we be made to face unbearable economic hardship after sacrificing our lands in the interest of the nation.”
According to him, in spite of several deliberations with the GWC to pay the landowners, their due compensation had not been paid since the company acquired the land for the water project in 2006 despite several demands.
“In spite of the fact that the Ghana Land Valuation Board has valued the land and approved an amount of GH¢232,854 as payment of compensation since April 28, 2009, the money is yet to be paid,” Mr Ayertey stated.
He said at a time the landowners were informed that the money for the compensation had been released for GWC to pay them, but the company failed to effect the payment of the claims and later informed them that their names had been submitted to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning to effect the payment.
“We are now hungry and our petition now is to appeal to the Eastern Regional Minister to present our case to the government to release the money to the GWC to pay our claims to avert our sufferings,” the spokesperson stressed.
He added, “We expect our claims to be paid by the end of June, this year, failure of which we will advise ourselves.”
Corroborating the claims of the 24 landowners, the Regional Land Valuer, Mr Benjamin Osafo, said while payment had been made for the crops on the land which was destroyed, efforts were being made to pay the due compensation it.
Responding, Mr Ofosu Ampofo, who commended the landowners for sacrificing their land for the water project, however, urged them to exercise patience since he was personally prepared to facilitate the payment of the compensation to them.
ADJENA, PESSEH VENT ANGER OF VRA (PAGE 22, JULY 1)
THE chiefs and people of Adjena and Pesse, two farming communities in the Asuogyaman District, have vented their anger on the Volta River Authority (VRA) for persistently refusing to pay adequate compensation to persons whose lands and buildings were submerged in water during the construction of the Akosombo Dam.
They have also pointed accusing fingers at the VRA for failing to fulfil its obligation of providing them with the basic social amenities such as decent houses, a junior high school, potable drinking water, accessible roads and a clinic to improve their living standards.
“While the VRA has been providing scholarships to their own children and those from well-resourced communities, not even a single brilliant, needy student from our villages has ever enjoyed such scholarships for the past 46 years that we were resettled”, they said.
Otwasuom Osae Nyampong III, the Kamenahene and Nana Okorwaa Asifrom, Queen of Adjena, expressed her concern when the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, and his Deputy, Baaba Jamal, as well as the District Chief Executive for the area, Mr Johnson Ahiakpor, held a meeting with the people in the two communities and some officials of the VRA.
They said “what motivated us to give out our lands in the interest of the nation has now kept us in sheer poverty and hardship”.
The meeting was to address the heightening tension that triggered a demonstration by the people against the VRA recently. The demonstration was used by the people to vent their frustration over VRA, which they accused of reneging on its pledges to support the resettled communities.
“Until the VRA shows commitment to fulfilling its promises by providing us with the basic social amenities and paying the due compensation to persons affected by the construction of the dam, even the aged with walking sticks will rise up against the VRA and never shall we pay our electricity bills,” the people threatened.
The traditional authorities maintained that prior to the resettlement of the people to their present location, they were living a comfortable life in their own houses, where they had access to fertile lands, houses, potable water, among others.
“Our cocoa, plantain and yam farms as well as other sources of livelihood were all destroyed during the construction of the dam,” Otwasuom Osae Nyampong said.
He added “compensation due us for our submerged houses and lands have not yet been paid by the VRA”.
The Kamenahene also stated “since we were relocated, lack of basic amenities has made us live in poor houses without lands to farm on, no access to good drinking water and roads”.
“We are not asking the VRA to put up decent houses for us at once, but it should endeavour to provide us the basic amenities to raise the living standard of the resettled communities,” the queen of Adjena, for her part, stated.
Reacting to the concerns of the people, the Town Manager of the VRA, Mr Meister Afriyie, said when the VRA Trust Fund was established in 2005, the authorities asked the people affected in the 52 resettled communities to furnish them with the necessary document for compensation to be paid, but only a handful of them did so.
“Many people who came forward could not prove authentic ownership of the houses and the lands for which they wanted to be compensated”, Mr Afriyie said.
Responding, Mr Ofosu Ampofo, did not mince words by rebuking VRA for failing to provide the resettled communities with such basic amenities over the past years.
“If you truly claim these particular two communities as your landlords, then why have you not treated them fairly over the years, even by giving a scholarship to a single brilliant student in the area?” The minister asked.
Mr Ampofo called on the VRA and the Asuogyaman District Assembly to collaborate in providing the needs of the two communities.
He also pledged to forward the grievances of the resettled communities to the government to ensure that they were immediately redressed.
Mr Ampofo, therefore, appealed to the chiefs and people of the communities to pay their electricity bills, while measures were being instituted to address their concerns.
They have also pointed accusing fingers at the VRA for failing to fulfil its obligation of providing them with the basic social amenities such as decent houses, a junior high school, potable drinking water, accessible roads and a clinic to improve their living standards.
“While the VRA has been providing scholarships to their own children and those from well-resourced communities, not even a single brilliant, needy student from our villages has ever enjoyed such scholarships for the past 46 years that we were resettled”, they said.
Otwasuom Osae Nyampong III, the Kamenahene and Nana Okorwaa Asifrom, Queen of Adjena, expressed her concern when the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, and his Deputy, Baaba Jamal, as well as the District Chief Executive for the area, Mr Johnson Ahiakpor, held a meeting with the people in the two communities and some officials of the VRA.
They said “what motivated us to give out our lands in the interest of the nation has now kept us in sheer poverty and hardship”.
The meeting was to address the heightening tension that triggered a demonstration by the people against the VRA recently. The demonstration was used by the people to vent their frustration over VRA, which they accused of reneging on its pledges to support the resettled communities.
“Until the VRA shows commitment to fulfilling its promises by providing us with the basic social amenities and paying the due compensation to persons affected by the construction of the dam, even the aged with walking sticks will rise up against the VRA and never shall we pay our electricity bills,” the people threatened.
The traditional authorities maintained that prior to the resettlement of the people to their present location, they were living a comfortable life in their own houses, where they had access to fertile lands, houses, potable water, among others.
“Our cocoa, plantain and yam farms as well as other sources of livelihood were all destroyed during the construction of the dam,” Otwasuom Osae Nyampong said.
He added “compensation due us for our submerged houses and lands have not yet been paid by the VRA”.
The Kamenahene also stated “since we were relocated, lack of basic amenities has made us live in poor houses without lands to farm on, no access to good drinking water and roads”.
“We are not asking the VRA to put up decent houses for us at once, but it should endeavour to provide us the basic amenities to raise the living standard of the resettled communities,” the queen of Adjena, for her part, stated.
Reacting to the concerns of the people, the Town Manager of the VRA, Mr Meister Afriyie, said when the VRA Trust Fund was established in 2005, the authorities asked the people affected in the 52 resettled communities to furnish them with the necessary document for compensation to be paid, but only a handful of them did so.
“Many people who came forward could not prove authentic ownership of the houses and the lands for which they wanted to be compensated”, Mr Afriyie said.
Responding, Mr Ofosu Ampofo, did not mince words by rebuking VRA for failing to provide the resettled communities with such basic amenities over the past years.
“If you truly claim these particular two communities as your landlords, then why have you not treated them fairly over the years, even by giving a scholarship to a single brilliant student in the area?” The minister asked.
Mr Ampofo called on the VRA and the Asuogyaman District Assembly to collaborate in providing the needs of the two communities.
He also pledged to forward the grievances of the resettled communities to the government to ensure that they were immediately redressed.
Mr Ampofo, therefore, appealed to the chiefs and people of the communities to pay their electricity bills, while measures were being instituted to address their concerns.
BEADS MAKERS IN ER WANT PERMANENT MARKET (PAGE 22, JULY 1)
FOR many years, beads have become attractive ornaments used by almost every culture in the world, thus being considered as one of the greatest tourist attractions in areas where they abound.
Being small, round objects made of wood, shell, bone, seed, metal, stone, glass or plastic, beads are usually worn for decorative purposes, especially to proudly express one’s cultural and ethnic background; it is a symbolic embodiment of curative power in some cultures.
As a cultural heritage, beads are not only used as adornment, but also to express a religious belief as done by some tribes such as the Krobos, the Ewes, the Guans, the Akuapems, the Akyems and the Akans in general, who are the dominant tribes in the Eastern Region.
Therefore, the exciting renaissance of beads craftsmanship taking place today has made them become a source of livelihood for hundreds of people of all ages.
Additionally, the adorning nature of the ornaments has made them gain enormous economic potential as they have now become one of the most tourist attractions in the region besides the Akosombo Dam, the Kwahu Mountains, the Volta Lake, the Aburi Botanical Gardens and the numerous beautiful waterfalls such as the Boti Falls.
As a further illustration, especially in Koforidua, there is no particular day in the region which attracts tourists to the area than Thursdays, which is a market day when more than 300 traders dealing in the commodity display their wares at a temporary marketplace — the Jackson Park.
Foreign tourists, who mostly patronise the items on such days, are often dazzled at their striking beauty and charming appearances, a visit to the beads market has often revealed.
However, in spite of the huge economic potential of beads to earn the country foreign exchange and provide employment avenues for its people, lack of a permanent market to enable craftsmen and women to exhibit their products in the Eastern Region has been non-existent.
This unfortunate situation is seriously hampering efforts to increase high patronage of beads in the region, where local materials are easily obtained to produce the commodity.
Unlike in the past, where beads producers and retailers in the region were allowed to display their wares at the Koforidua Central Market, which ensured a high patronage, their temporary relocation to the Jackson Park has posed a serious threat to the business.
This situation is gradually taking away the livelihood of hundreds of people, the majority who travel from Somanya, Krobo-Odumase and other districts to Koforidua on every Thursday with their wares to carry out their business activities.
This kind of development needs immediate attention in order not to kill the interest of the people in the beads trade.
Currently, the temporary relocation of beads traders to the Jackson Park has placed their fate at the mercy of public events and the weather.
Any time the park is to be used as a venue for any public event, the traders are prevented from using the place to sell their wares.
Additionally, business activities on the park, on a market day, almost comes to a halt whenever there is a heavy downpour, which causes the traders to run helter-skelter to protect their wares from destruction.
Most of the traders who shared their concerns with the Daily Graphic stated that the allocation of a permanent market would ensure a high patronage of the products and increase foreign tourists’ visit to the region, which would also boost the economy in the area.
“We are constantly faced with fears of being asked to relocate anytime by the New Juaben Municipal Assembly which controls the Jackson Park,” said an 84-year-old beads seller, Madam Ama Donkor from Somanya.
“We live in perpetual fear that we might be asked to vacate the premises permanently, and this will definitely end the source of livelihood for most of us,” said Madam Joyce Tetteh, a 72-year-old beads seller from Krobo Odumase.
The fears of the two aged beads sellers were also shared by many of their counterparts, including the Chairman of the Beads Sellers Association in the region, Mr Alhassan Mohammed.
He said, “Besides the rains disrupting our business, moving our products to and from the temporary marketplace is costly and cumbersome”.
“A trade that has been in existence and has been a major check to rural-urban migration for so many generations is at risk of dying off if no steps are taken to rectify the situation,” he added.
In their view, allocation of a permanent market by the New Juaben Municipal Assembly would “ensure maximum patronage of beads from the public, leading to an increase in sales and expansion of our business”.
It is for these reasons that intervention by the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, to assist the association to secure a permanent market at the Centre for National Culture in Koforidua came as welcome news.
The permanent market would enable the traders to exhibit their commodities in a conducive environment which would ensure increased patronage of the products by both local and international tourists.
It is believed that that would, in the long term, make Koforidua in particular and the region in general favourable tourism destinations locally and internationally.
Being small, round objects made of wood, shell, bone, seed, metal, stone, glass or plastic, beads are usually worn for decorative purposes, especially to proudly express one’s cultural and ethnic background; it is a symbolic embodiment of curative power in some cultures.
As a cultural heritage, beads are not only used as adornment, but also to express a religious belief as done by some tribes such as the Krobos, the Ewes, the Guans, the Akuapems, the Akyems and the Akans in general, who are the dominant tribes in the Eastern Region.
Therefore, the exciting renaissance of beads craftsmanship taking place today has made them become a source of livelihood for hundreds of people of all ages.
Additionally, the adorning nature of the ornaments has made them gain enormous economic potential as they have now become one of the most tourist attractions in the region besides the Akosombo Dam, the Kwahu Mountains, the Volta Lake, the Aburi Botanical Gardens and the numerous beautiful waterfalls such as the Boti Falls.
As a further illustration, especially in Koforidua, there is no particular day in the region which attracts tourists to the area than Thursdays, which is a market day when more than 300 traders dealing in the commodity display their wares at a temporary marketplace — the Jackson Park.
Foreign tourists, who mostly patronise the items on such days, are often dazzled at their striking beauty and charming appearances, a visit to the beads market has often revealed.
However, in spite of the huge economic potential of beads to earn the country foreign exchange and provide employment avenues for its people, lack of a permanent market to enable craftsmen and women to exhibit their products in the Eastern Region has been non-existent.
This unfortunate situation is seriously hampering efforts to increase high patronage of beads in the region, where local materials are easily obtained to produce the commodity.
Unlike in the past, where beads producers and retailers in the region were allowed to display their wares at the Koforidua Central Market, which ensured a high patronage, their temporary relocation to the Jackson Park has posed a serious threat to the business.
This situation is gradually taking away the livelihood of hundreds of people, the majority who travel from Somanya, Krobo-Odumase and other districts to Koforidua on every Thursday with their wares to carry out their business activities.
This kind of development needs immediate attention in order not to kill the interest of the people in the beads trade.
Currently, the temporary relocation of beads traders to the Jackson Park has placed their fate at the mercy of public events and the weather.
Any time the park is to be used as a venue for any public event, the traders are prevented from using the place to sell their wares.
Additionally, business activities on the park, on a market day, almost comes to a halt whenever there is a heavy downpour, which causes the traders to run helter-skelter to protect their wares from destruction.
Most of the traders who shared their concerns with the Daily Graphic stated that the allocation of a permanent market would ensure a high patronage of the products and increase foreign tourists’ visit to the region, which would also boost the economy in the area.
“We are constantly faced with fears of being asked to relocate anytime by the New Juaben Municipal Assembly which controls the Jackson Park,” said an 84-year-old beads seller, Madam Ama Donkor from Somanya.
“We live in perpetual fear that we might be asked to vacate the premises permanently, and this will definitely end the source of livelihood for most of us,” said Madam Joyce Tetteh, a 72-year-old beads seller from Krobo Odumase.
The fears of the two aged beads sellers were also shared by many of their counterparts, including the Chairman of the Beads Sellers Association in the region, Mr Alhassan Mohammed.
He said, “Besides the rains disrupting our business, moving our products to and from the temporary marketplace is costly and cumbersome”.
“A trade that has been in existence and has been a major check to rural-urban migration for so many generations is at risk of dying off if no steps are taken to rectify the situation,” he added.
In their view, allocation of a permanent market by the New Juaben Municipal Assembly would “ensure maximum patronage of beads from the public, leading to an increase in sales and expansion of our business”.
It is for these reasons that intervention by the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, to assist the association to secure a permanent market at the Centre for National Culture in Koforidua came as welcome news.
The permanent market would enable the traders to exhibit their commodities in a conducive environment which would ensure increased patronage of the products by both local and international tourists.
It is believed that that would, in the long term, make Koforidua in particular and the region in general favourable tourism destinations locally and internationally.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
JOIN HANDS TO FAST-TRACK DEVELOPMENT — PREZ MILLS (PAGE 15, JUNE 30)
THE President, Professor John Evans Atta Mills, has called on Ghanaians to put aside their political and ethnic affiliations and join hands with the government to fast-track the development aspirations of the country.
He said without such a collective national resolve, all efforts by the government to work with all stakeholders to improve the economy and raise the living standards of the people would not yield any better outcome.
“Now that elections are over, more than ever before we must show true love and unity towards one another to enable us to work together and also sustain the peace prevailing in the country,” he said.
The President made the call at the 16th anniversary of the Mount Horeb Prayer Centre at Mamfe in the Akuapem North District in the Eastern Region on Sunday.
The event, on the theme, “A Child of Destiny For Our Generation”, was also attended by the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, his deputy, Baba Jamal, and a number of district chief executives in the region.
According to the President, the best legacy any government could leave for its people and posterity was to ensure teamwork among all stakeholders for the country to witness meaningful socio-economic development.
For that reason, he admonished Ghanaians to lay aside partisan politics and ethnicity, which he indicated had the tendency to create disunity and acrimony among them.
“As one blood, we must continue to pray to God to enable us to live in unity and peace at all times so that we can work as a team for our own good,” President Mills stated.
He also urged Ghanaians to be grateful to God for the peaceful conduct of the last general election in the country, which had enhanced the nation’s democratic credentials.
“We must also remember to pray for God’s grace, wisdom, guidance, blessings and humility, since without these we can never on our own accomplish the task ahead,” he added.
For his part, Mr Ofosu-Ampofo stressed the need for Ghanaians to yearn to lead righteous lives and pray for their leaders to also do same, saying, “When a righteous man leads a nation, heavenly grace is always abundant.”
The Founder and General Overseer of the church, Prophet Paul Nii Okine, used the occasion to appeal to the government and other stakeholders to assist good prayer centres that provided accommodation and healing for mental patients in the country.
Responding to the appeal, Mr Ofosu-Ampofo announced that the government would donate 50 bags of rice, 200 bags of cement and 20 packets of roofing sheets to the church to enable it to expand and cater for the needs of inmates there.
He said without such a collective national resolve, all efforts by the government to work with all stakeholders to improve the economy and raise the living standards of the people would not yield any better outcome.
“Now that elections are over, more than ever before we must show true love and unity towards one another to enable us to work together and also sustain the peace prevailing in the country,” he said.
The President made the call at the 16th anniversary of the Mount Horeb Prayer Centre at Mamfe in the Akuapem North District in the Eastern Region on Sunday.
The event, on the theme, “A Child of Destiny For Our Generation”, was also attended by the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, his deputy, Baba Jamal, and a number of district chief executives in the region.
According to the President, the best legacy any government could leave for its people and posterity was to ensure teamwork among all stakeholders for the country to witness meaningful socio-economic development.
For that reason, he admonished Ghanaians to lay aside partisan politics and ethnicity, which he indicated had the tendency to create disunity and acrimony among them.
“As one blood, we must continue to pray to God to enable us to live in unity and peace at all times so that we can work as a team for our own good,” President Mills stated.
He also urged Ghanaians to be grateful to God for the peaceful conduct of the last general election in the country, which had enhanced the nation’s democratic credentials.
“We must also remember to pray for God’s grace, wisdom, guidance, blessings and humility, since without these we can never on our own accomplish the task ahead,” he added.
For his part, Mr Ofosu-Ampofo stressed the need for Ghanaians to yearn to lead righteous lives and pray for their leaders to also do same, saying, “When a righteous man leads a nation, heavenly grace is always abundant.”
The Founder and General Overseer of the church, Prophet Paul Nii Okine, used the occasion to appeal to the government and other stakeholders to assist good prayer centres that provided accommodation and healing for mental patients in the country.
Responding to the appeal, Mr Ofosu-Ampofo announced that the government would donate 50 bags of rice, 200 bags of cement and 20 packets of roofing sheets to the church to enable it to expand and cater for the needs of inmates there.
POPE JOHN'S PTA INAUGURATES BIOGAS PROJECTS (PAGE 110
THE Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) of the Pope John Senior High School in Koforidua has put up a GH¢60,000 20-seater Puxin biogas place of convenience for the school.
The project will also provide some of the energy needs of the school as the biogas to be generated will be fed to the school kitchen for cooking.
Measures are in place to expand the project to generate enough biogas to also power a standby generator capable of providing electricity for the entire school in the event of a power outage.
At a ceremony to inaugurate the project, the PTA Chairman, Mr David Nibi, said the initiative was to demonstrate the association’s commitment, not only as a stakeholder, but also a development partner of the school.
For his part, the Headmaster of the school, Mr Isaac Larweh, thanked the association for its support to the school over the years, and appealed to the government and other stakeholders to go to the aid of the school to enable it to address some of the problems facing it.
The Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Baba Jamal, commended the PTA for its support, and called on other associations and institutions to emulate the gesture to reduce the country’s over-dependence on hydro power.
The project will also provide some of the energy needs of the school as the biogas to be generated will be fed to the school kitchen for cooking.
Measures are in place to expand the project to generate enough biogas to also power a standby generator capable of providing electricity for the entire school in the event of a power outage.
At a ceremony to inaugurate the project, the PTA Chairman, Mr David Nibi, said the initiative was to demonstrate the association’s commitment, not only as a stakeholder, but also a development partner of the school.
For his part, the Headmaster of the school, Mr Isaac Larweh, thanked the association for its support to the school over the years, and appealed to the government and other stakeholders to go to the aid of the school to enable it to address some of the problems facing it.
The Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Baba Jamal, commended the PTA for its support, and called on other associations and institutions to emulate the gesture to reduce the country’s over-dependence on hydro power.
CORN MILLER DEFILES GIRL, 7 (MIRROR, PAGE 34, JUNE 27)
From Nana Konadu Agyeman, Koforidua
A circuit court in Koforidua has sentenced a 25-year-old corn mill operator, Ebenezer Agbodzi, to 20 years imprisonment with hard labour for defiling a seven-year-old girl.
The convict pleaded guilty to the charge of defilement.
Prosecuting, Chief Inspector Moses Ayao told the court, presided over by Ms Wilhelmina Hammond, that the convict and the victim and her parents stayed in the same vicinity at Apenkwa, a suburb of Koforidua.
According to him, on May 26, this year, the mother of the kindergarten pupil, as usual, sent her to the convict’s corn mill to grind corn for her.
On reaching the shop, the victim met only Agbodzi, who assisted her to put down the bowl of corn she was carrying. He later put her on a bench in the shop and had carnal knowledge of her.
Agbodzi, after defiling the victim, milled the corn for her and sent her home.
On reaching the house, the victim’s mother interrogated her as to why she had kept so long, after which the girl narrated the ordeal she had been subjected to by the convict, the prosecutor stated.
The mother immediately reported the case to the police, who issued her with a medical form to send the young girl for medical examination and treatment at the Eastern Regional Hospital.
Chief Inspector Ayao said when the convict was later arrested, he denied ever having sex with the victim, saying that he only inserted his finger into her private part for a brief period.
A circuit court in Koforidua has sentenced a 25-year-old corn mill operator, Ebenezer Agbodzi, to 20 years imprisonment with hard labour for defiling a seven-year-old girl.
The convict pleaded guilty to the charge of defilement.
Prosecuting, Chief Inspector Moses Ayao told the court, presided over by Ms Wilhelmina Hammond, that the convict and the victim and her parents stayed in the same vicinity at Apenkwa, a suburb of Koforidua.
According to him, on May 26, this year, the mother of the kindergarten pupil, as usual, sent her to the convict’s corn mill to grind corn for her.
On reaching the shop, the victim met only Agbodzi, who assisted her to put down the bowl of corn she was carrying. He later put her on a bench in the shop and had carnal knowledge of her.
Agbodzi, after defiling the victim, milled the corn for her and sent her home.
On reaching the house, the victim’s mother interrogated her as to why she had kept so long, after which the girl narrated the ordeal she had been subjected to by the convict, the prosecutor stated.
The mother immediately reported the case to the police, who issued her with a medical form to send the young girl for medical examination and treatment at the Eastern Regional Hospital.
Chief Inspector Ayao said when the convict was later arrested, he denied ever having sex with the victim, saying that he only inserted his finger into her private part for a brief period.
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