TWO galamsey operators accused of attempting to carry out illegal mining in the Birim River at Ankaase in the Eastern Region have been sentenced to a GH¢700 fine each by the Anyinam Magistrate’s Court.
In default, Ishmael Donkokoa, 38, and Azekeh Zakaria, 32, will serve a one-year prison sentence with hard labour.
The two accused persons were committed to the fine on their own plea.
The two had pleaded for forgiveness from the court on the ground that they were only about to begin their operations in the river when they were arrested.
While passing sentence, the court, presided by Mr Joseph Twumasi, said the two convicts were quite youthful, first offenders and, therefore, should be spared custodian sentences.
The prosecution’s case was that the convicts, who are residents of Akwatia, went to Ankaase, near Anyinam, to carry out their illegal mining activities.
According to Detective Chief Inspector Martin Amofah, about 9 a.m. on April 22, 2010, the Okyeman Mining Task Force, led by the Chief of Enyiresi, Nana Kyei Sarfo Kantanka, spotted a boat-looking structure on the Birim River near Ankaase.
The members of the task force, who were on their routine patrol duties along the Birim River to check the activities of illegal mining, suspected that the structure was being used for illegal mining and, therefore, informed the Anyinam Police.
Detective Chief Inspector Amofah said a team of policemen was immediately sent to where the structure had been found on the river.
He said after thorough investigations, the two convicts claimed ownership of the structure.
"When the police took them to the Anyinam Police Station, they told the police during interrogations that they had just mounted the structure on the river when they were arrested," the prosecutor stated.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
AKUAPEM MAMPONG INSTALS NEW CHIEF (SPREAD, APRIL 27, 2010)
A 53-year-old businessman, Mr Otu Baah, was last Saturday installed as the new chief of Mampong-Akuapem.
Under the stool name Osabarima Kwame Otu Dartey III, the new chief succeeds the late chief of the town, Nana Otu Pabi IV, who died in 2008 after reining for 16 years.
At a colourful durbar of the chiefs and people of Mampong-Akuapem, the new chief was paraded through the main streets of the town, to the admiration of the townfolks who defied a heavy rainfall to witness and show solidarity during the installation of their chief.
The event drew a large gathering of people, including the Member of Parliament for Akropong, Mr William Ofori Boafo, and the District Chief Executive for Akuapem-North, Mr George Opare-Addo.
Swearing the oath of allegiance to the Amankrado of Mampong-Akuapem, Nana Anson Owura II, and the elders of the town, Osabarima Dartey expressed his gratitude to the people for the confidence reposed in him to be the new chief of the town.
He appealed to the people to unite and be truthful to one another to enable them to peacefully co-exist and contribute meaningfully to the town's development.
The chief also called on the people to give priority to the education of their children, saying, "it’s only by this that we can aspire to raise more learned people to serve our society and the country as a whole".
Osabarima Dartey, who advised the people to keep their surroundings clean in order to stay healthy, also advised them to register with the National Health Insurance Scheme to enable them to enjoy affordable health care being provided by the three health facilities in the area.
Under the stool name Osabarima Kwame Otu Dartey III, the new chief succeeds the late chief of the town, Nana Otu Pabi IV, who died in 2008 after reining for 16 years.
At a colourful durbar of the chiefs and people of Mampong-Akuapem, the new chief was paraded through the main streets of the town, to the admiration of the townfolks who defied a heavy rainfall to witness and show solidarity during the installation of their chief.
The event drew a large gathering of people, including the Member of Parliament for Akropong, Mr William Ofori Boafo, and the District Chief Executive for Akuapem-North, Mr George Opare-Addo.
Swearing the oath of allegiance to the Amankrado of Mampong-Akuapem, Nana Anson Owura II, and the elders of the town, Osabarima Dartey expressed his gratitude to the people for the confidence reposed in him to be the new chief of the town.
He appealed to the people to unite and be truthful to one another to enable them to peacefully co-exist and contribute meaningfully to the town's development.
The chief also called on the people to give priority to the education of their children, saying, "it’s only by this that we can aspire to raise more learned people to serve our society and the country as a whole".
Osabarima Dartey, who advised the people to keep their surroundings clean in order to stay healthy, also advised them to register with the National Health Insurance Scheme to enable them to enjoy affordable health care being provided by the three health facilities in the area.
Monday, April 26, 2010
ROTARY CLUB ASSISSTS NGO AT KOFORIDUA (PAGE 43, APRIL 26, 2010)
THE Rotary Club of Accra Airport has presented a cheque for GH¢15,730 to the Matthew Chapter 25 House, a Koforidua-based Christian non-governmental organisation, which caters for persons living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHAs).
The donation formed part of the club's annual support to the House to cater for the medical expenses, feeding, school fees and educational materials for orphans and PLWHAs.
The donation comprised a cheque for GH¢3,000 to offset the accumulated debt owed by the PLWHAs of the House to the Eastern Regional Hospital at Koforidua and a cheque for GH¢5,200 as scholarships for three senior high school female students.
Orphans living with the disease were also presented with a cheque for GH¢900 to cater for the educational material needs.
Additionally, a cheque for GH¢7,000 was also given to the House to pay for drugs for the PLWHAs and another cheque for GH¢4,000 to enable the House to pay for expenses incurred on their feeding.
Presenting the cheques, the President of the club, Mr Ebow Acquah, said members of the club decided to donate the cheques as part of its yearly support for the good work being done by Matthew Chapter 25 for PLWHAs in Koforidua and its environs.
"The members of the club have over the past four years found the good work being done by the Director of the House, Rev. Fr Alex Bobby Benson, and his staff as effective and dedicated to alleviating the plight of PLWHAs who come from various backgrounds," he stated.
According to him, not long ago, the club donated 20 mattresses and some medical equipment to the House, paid the school fees of a number of students and medical treatment of the PLWHAs at the House.
Receiving the items, Rev. Fr. Benson thanked the members of the Rotary Club of Accra Airport for their support.
He said that was a great relief to the cause being pursued by the House in catering for food, medical and educational expenses for adults, students and orphans at the House.
The donation formed part of the club's annual support to the House to cater for the medical expenses, feeding, school fees and educational materials for orphans and PLWHAs.
The donation comprised a cheque for GH¢3,000 to offset the accumulated debt owed by the PLWHAs of the House to the Eastern Regional Hospital at Koforidua and a cheque for GH¢5,200 as scholarships for three senior high school female students.
Orphans living with the disease were also presented with a cheque for GH¢900 to cater for the educational material needs.
Additionally, a cheque for GH¢7,000 was also given to the House to pay for drugs for the PLWHAs and another cheque for GH¢4,000 to enable the House to pay for expenses incurred on their feeding.
Presenting the cheques, the President of the club, Mr Ebow Acquah, said members of the club decided to donate the cheques as part of its yearly support for the good work being done by Matthew Chapter 25 for PLWHAs in Koforidua and its environs.
"The members of the club have over the past four years found the good work being done by the Director of the House, Rev. Fr Alex Bobby Benson, and his staff as effective and dedicated to alleviating the plight of PLWHAs who come from various backgrounds," he stated.
According to him, not long ago, the club donated 20 mattresses and some medical equipment to the House, paid the school fees of a number of students and medical treatment of the PLWHAs at the House.
Receiving the items, Rev. Fr. Benson thanked the members of the Rotary Club of Accra Airport for their support.
He said that was a great relief to the cause being pursued by the House in catering for food, medical and educational expenses for adults, students and orphans at the House.
KWAEBIBIREM ASSEMBLY ACQUIRES GRADER (PAGE 43, APRIL 26, 2010)
THE Kwaebibirem District Assembly has acquired a grader to enable it to undertake minor road construction projects in the district which is a major producer of oil palm in the country.
The grader, which costs GH¢385,843, will be paid for by the assembly over the next two years under a hire purchase arrangement with the management of J.A. Plant Pool (Ghana), to support district assemblies to improve on the road networks in their respective areas.
Taking delivery of the equipment, the Municipal Chief Executive for Kwaebibirem, Mr George Agyeman Duah, said the district was endowed with many suitable farmlands, tourist sites and other natural resources which could be developed for the benefit of the people.
"However, one major problem confronting this district is the poor road network as most of the roads are not tarred and, therefore, hardly possible to drive on during the rainy season," the DCE said.
He was, therefore, happy that the acquisition of the grader would help the assembly to undertake minor road constructional works to facilitate the transportation of people and agricultural produce.
Mr Duah said the assembly had set up a seven-member management committee chaired by the District Co-ordinating Director to ensure the effective use of the grader.
Inaugurating the equipment, the Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Elvis Afriyie-Ankrah, urged the assembly to ensure that the grader would be used for the purpose for which it was acquired.
The grader, which costs GH¢385,843, will be paid for by the assembly over the next two years under a hire purchase arrangement with the management of J.A. Plant Pool (Ghana), to support district assemblies to improve on the road networks in their respective areas.
Taking delivery of the equipment, the Municipal Chief Executive for Kwaebibirem, Mr George Agyeman Duah, said the district was endowed with many suitable farmlands, tourist sites and other natural resources which could be developed for the benefit of the people.
"However, one major problem confronting this district is the poor road network as most of the roads are not tarred and, therefore, hardly possible to drive on during the rainy season," the DCE said.
He was, therefore, happy that the acquisition of the grader would help the assembly to undertake minor road constructional works to facilitate the transportation of people and agricultural produce.
Mr Duah said the assembly had set up a seven-member management committee chaired by the District Co-ordinating Director to ensure the effective use of the grader.
Inaugurating the equipment, the Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Elvis Afriyie-Ankrah, urged the assembly to ensure that the grader would be used for the purpose for which it was acquired.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
IDENTIFY LOCAL ECONOMIC POTENTIALS FOR DEVELOPMENT (PAGE 14, APRIL 24, 2010)
THE Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, has called on metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs) in the country to identify their local economic potentials and make investment in those areas a priority.
That, he said, would boost their ability to create wealth and more jobs for the people and thereby become less dependent on the common fund from the central government.
Speaking at the second ordinary meeting of the Kwaebibirem District Assembly in the Eastern Region, Mr Ankrah said, "It is no longer prudent for assemblies to exist only as administrative and political entities; they should also make investment in their local economies a priority to become financially empowered."
He noted that with the emergence of the new concept of local economic development and empowerment, there was the need for a paradigm shift in the pursuit of the development agenda by district assemblies.
He said instead of district assemblies heavily relying on the Common Fund for development, such as the provision of social amenities, they should rather identify and invest in the economic potentials of their areas.
He called on the Kwaebibirem District Assembly to take advantage of the vast tracts of suitable land for the cultivation of oil palm in the area and offer the needed incentives to farmers in order to make oil palm cultivation a lucrative venture for the people, especially the youth.
"As the fulcrum of development, you must not be so myopic in the pursuit of your development programmes; you must diversify in investment projects that can create wealth and employment and address other socio-economic challenges facing your development," he said.
He reminded district assemblies to take advantage of the agro-processing and small-scale enterprises programmes launched by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, the Ministry of Trade and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, to improve on their agro-processing capacity to stimulate their local economies.
For his part, the District Chief Executive for Kwaebibirem, Mr George Agyeman Duah, highlighted various development achievements such as the construction of a number of classrooms, the rehabilitation of roads in the area and the supply of assorted educational materials to basic schools in the area.
That, he said, would boost their ability to create wealth and more jobs for the people and thereby become less dependent on the common fund from the central government.
Speaking at the second ordinary meeting of the Kwaebibirem District Assembly in the Eastern Region, Mr Ankrah said, "It is no longer prudent for assemblies to exist only as administrative and political entities; they should also make investment in their local economies a priority to become financially empowered."
He noted that with the emergence of the new concept of local economic development and empowerment, there was the need for a paradigm shift in the pursuit of the development agenda by district assemblies.
He said instead of district assemblies heavily relying on the Common Fund for development, such as the provision of social amenities, they should rather identify and invest in the economic potentials of their areas.
He called on the Kwaebibirem District Assembly to take advantage of the vast tracts of suitable land for the cultivation of oil palm in the area and offer the needed incentives to farmers in order to make oil palm cultivation a lucrative venture for the people, especially the youth.
"As the fulcrum of development, you must not be so myopic in the pursuit of your development programmes; you must diversify in investment projects that can create wealth and employment and address other socio-economic challenges facing your development," he said.
He reminded district assemblies to take advantage of the agro-processing and small-scale enterprises programmes launched by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, the Ministry of Trade and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, to improve on their agro-processing capacity to stimulate their local economies.
For his part, the District Chief Executive for Kwaebibirem, Mr George Agyeman Duah, highlighted various development achievements such as the construction of a number of classrooms, the rehabilitation of roads in the area and the supply of assorted educational materials to basic schools in the area.
Monday, April 19, 2010
DON'T SUBMIT FICTITIOUS CLAIMS - VEEP (SPREAD, APRIL 19, 2010)
THE Vice-President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, has appealed to healthcare providers to refrain from submitting fictitious huge claims for payment to prevent a possible collapse of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
He said proper management of the scheme could help generate enough revenue that would not only take care of the health of the people, but could also improve health infrastructure across the country and provide health facilities in areas that lacked them.
"Huge claims, a lot of which were fictitious, were being made and if we had not put in place the necessary processes and weeded out such claims, as well as ensure that there is accountability in the system, the scheme would have collapsed one day," the Vice-President said.
Speaking at the 50th anniversary celebration of the Ghana Nurses' Association in Koforidua on Saturday, Mr Mahama said "the scheme was on the verge of collapse because we have not been accountable in the handling of the scheme since its implementation".
The event, which was on the theme, "Moving Nursing and Midwifery to a Professional Excellence", was also used to inaugurate a GH¢935,000 four-storey building, which is the association's second hostel complex in the country.
The edifice would serve as an accommodation and offices for the members of the association.
The second phase of the project would involve the construction of a conference hall and a library complex soon.
The event was also used to honour 10 nurses from all the regions who had distinguished themselves in the profession over the years.
He recalled that when the government assumed office last year, many healthcare providers threatened not to offer services to NHIS card holders any longer because of the huge debt of the scheme.
He, however, gave an assurance that the government had put in place a more accountable system to ensure that when claims were made, they would be met promptly.
On the one-time premium payment, the Vice-President gave an assurance that the government was feverishly working on it.
The Vice-President also appealed to trained nurses to accept posting to rural parts of the country in order to make healthcare delivery more accessible to the people.
He, however, assured them of the government’s commitment to enhance their conditions of service and remunerate them appropriately so as to encourage them to stay in the country and contribute their quota towards its development.
Mr Mahama commended the members of the association for their distinguished services to the nation in the past 50 years and expressed the hope that they would upgrade themselves to enable them to show more professionalism in the discharge of their duties.
For his part, the Deputy Minister of Health, Mr Rojo Mettle-Nunoo, expressed worry over the lack of health personnel in certain parts of the country and suggested the recruitment of retired nurses to complement the few health professionals in the affected areas to improve healthcare delivery.
He also appealed to nurses to be vigilant and help reduce the corruption associated with the NHIS, saying "you must ensure that all claims are verified before they are submitted for payment".
The President of the GRNA, Mrs Alice D. Asare-Allotey, said since the establishment of the association, there had been a unification of all nursing and midwifery professionals, who had demonstrated true professionalism in the discharge of their services to the country.
The president called on stakeholders to help improve the conditions of service of the nurses to enable them to stay in the country and contribute to quality healthcare delivery.
He said proper management of the scheme could help generate enough revenue that would not only take care of the health of the people, but could also improve health infrastructure across the country and provide health facilities in areas that lacked them.
"Huge claims, a lot of which were fictitious, were being made and if we had not put in place the necessary processes and weeded out such claims, as well as ensure that there is accountability in the system, the scheme would have collapsed one day," the Vice-President said.
Speaking at the 50th anniversary celebration of the Ghana Nurses' Association in Koforidua on Saturday, Mr Mahama said "the scheme was on the verge of collapse because we have not been accountable in the handling of the scheme since its implementation".
The event, which was on the theme, "Moving Nursing and Midwifery to a Professional Excellence", was also used to inaugurate a GH¢935,000 four-storey building, which is the association's second hostel complex in the country.
The edifice would serve as an accommodation and offices for the members of the association.
The second phase of the project would involve the construction of a conference hall and a library complex soon.
The event was also used to honour 10 nurses from all the regions who had distinguished themselves in the profession over the years.
He recalled that when the government assumed office last year, many healthcare providers threatened not to offer services to NHIS card holders any longer because of the huge debt of the scheme.
He, however, gave an assurance that the government had put in place a more accountable system to ensure that when claims were made, they would be met promptly.
On the one-time premium payment, the Vice-President gave an assurance that the government was feverishly working on it.
The Vice-President also appealed to trained nurses to accept posting to rural parts of the country in order to make healthcare delivery more accessible to the people.
He, however, assured them of the government’s commitment to enhance their conditions of service and remunerate them appropriately so as to encourage them to stay in the country and contribute their quota towards its development.
Mr Mahama commended the members of the association for their distinguished services to the nation in the past 50 years and expressed the hope that they would upgrade themselves to enable them to show more professionalism in the discharge of their duties.
For his part, the Deputy Minister of Health, Mr Rojo Mettle-Nunoo, expressed worry over the lack of health personnel in certain parts of the country and suggested the recruitment of retired nurses to complement the few health professionals in the affected areas to improve healthcare delivery.
He also appealed to nurses to be vigilant and help reduce the corruption associated with the NHIS, saying "you must ensure that all claims are verified before they are submitted for payment".
The President of the GRNA, Mrs Alice D. Asare-Allotey, said since the establishment of the association, there had been a unification of all nursing and midwifery professionals, who had demonstrated true professionalism in the discharge of their services to the country.
The president called on stakeholders to help improve the conditions of service of the nurses to enable them to stay in the country and contribute to quality healthcare delivery.
ACCRA-AIRPORT ROTARY SUPPORTS TUTU PRESBY SCHOOL (PAGE 11, APRIL 19, 2010)
THE Rotary Club of Accra-Airport has presented assorted reading materials to the Tutu Presbyterian Junior High School in the Akuapem North District of the Eastern Region.
The materials included those of science, mathematics, environmental and social studies, information and communication studies, as well as novels.
The donation of the books, which formed part of activities to mark the club's 10th anniversary, was meant to inculcate reading habit among the students of the school.
Handing over the materials to the school, the President of the club, Mr Ebow Acquah, said the members of the club decided to make the donation as part of their contribution towards assisting the students to improve on their academic performance.
"It is our firm belief that the presentation of these reading materials will motivate the students to read wide and acquire knowledge that will help them improve their academic work," he stated.
As part of activities to mark the club's anniversary, he said the members of the club had also selected a number of public basic schools which would be supported in diverse ways including the provision of educational materials and the renovation of school buildings.
Receiving the items, the headmistress of the school, Mrs Grace M. 0safo, thanked the members of the club for their support to the school, and said for many years "we have been yearning for such a philanthropic gesture".
According to her, the school had been in existence for about 150 years and had produced many influential people who were currently serving in various capacities in society.
"However, the school cannot boast of any modern logistics to meet the demands of the educational reform as it lacks electricity, a computer laboratory, a library and a staff common room," she added.
The materials included those of science, mathematics, environmental and social studies, information and communication studies, as well as novels.
The donation of the books, which formed part of activities to mark the club's 10th anniversary, was meant to inculcate reading habit among the students of the school.
Handing over the materials to the school, the President of the club, Mr Ebow Acquah, said the members of the club decided to make the donation as part of their contribution towards assisting the students to improve on their academic performance.
"It is our firm belief that the presentation of these reading materials will motivate the students to read wide and acquire knowledge that will help them improve their academic work," he stated.
As part of activities to mark the club's anniversary, he said the members of the club had also selected a number of public basic schools which would be supported in diverse ways including the provision of educational materials and the renovation of school buildings.
Receiving the items, the headmistress of the school, Mrs Grace M. 0safo, thanked the members of the club for their support to the school, and said for many years "we have been yearning for such a philanthropic gesture".
According to her, the school had been in existence for about 150 years and had produced many influential people who were currently serving in various capacities in society.
"However, the school cannot boast of any modern logistics to meet the demands of the educational reform as it lacks electricity, a computer laboratory, a library and a staff common room," she added.
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