Story: Nana Konadu Agyeman, Nkawkaw
A 26-year-old armed robber suspected to have masterminded several robberies in a number of houses in Nkawkaw and its surrounding communities has been arrested by the Nkawkaw police.
The suspect, Gilbert Kissi, alias Short Man, who was said to have led different gangs of robbers not only to rob households but also assault and rape their victims, was arrested, together with his girlfriend, at his hideout at Madina in Accra at 12.30 p.m. on January 19, 2008.
The suspect, who was on the police wanted list in Nkawkaw and Accra, was, at the time of his arrest, in possession of a number of stolen items such as jewellery, mobile phones, a DVD player and a pair of shoes.
He was said to have told the police that he had stolen the items from one of his victims, a pastor, in Nkawkaw.
Briefing the Daily Graphic in Nkawkaw, the Nkawkaw Divisional Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Paul Awini, said the suspect was the architect of two robberies in two houses in Nkawkaw on December 30, last year, during which the gangsters made away with GH¢1,570 and other valuables.
He said although three of Kissi’s accomplices were arrested through the vigilance of one of the victims who alerted a police patrol team in Nkawkaw, Kissi himself managed to escape.
Chief Supt Awini said on December 4, last year, Kissi also led a four-member gang of armed robbers to rob one Rev Ohene Akuffo of the Nkawkaw branch of the International Central Gospel Church and made away with jewellery, a DVD player, pairs of shoes and travelling bags which were later identified by the reverend minister as those stolen from his house.
The Divisional Police Commander said Kissi’s arrest was made possible through a close collaboration between the Nkawkaw police and their counterparts at the Accra Central Police Station, with support from an informant.
Meanwhile, the suspect has been placed in police custody pending further investigations into the matter.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Monday, January 28, 2008
FARMER IN CUSTODY FOR KILLING WIFE (Page 34)
Story: Nana Konadu Agyeman, Koforidua
A 35-year-old farmer, Kofi Opata, who allegedly killed his wife by hitting her head with a pestle at Odomatta, a village near Asesewa in the Eastern Region, has been remanded in police custody by the Koforidua Circuit.
The accused, who was living with his wife, Agbamey Ayeshetu Tetteh, and their only child in the same house, was said to have struck the head of the woman several times on January 1, this year, until she died.
Opata's plea was not taken and the court, presided over by Mr Robert Adjei Gyan, adjourned the case to January 28, this year.
Presenting the facts of the case to the court, the prosecutor, ASP Theophilus Nyandu, said about 9 a.m. on January 1, 2008, a quarrel ensued between Opata and the wife, during which the suspect took a pestle and hit the head of the deceased several times until she died.
According to the prosecutor, neighbours reported the incident to the police, who went to the scene and found the deceased lying in a pool of blood, after which the accused was arrested.
He prayed the court to remand the accused in custody to enable the police to carry out further investigations into the matter.
A 35-year-old farmer, Kofi Opata, who allegedly killed his wife by hitting her head with a pestle at Odomatta, a village near Asesewa in the Eastern Region, has been remanded in police custody by the Koforidua Circuit.
The accused, who was living with his wife, Agbamey Ayeshetu Tetteh, and their only child in the same house, was said to have struck the head of the woman several times on January 1, this year, until she died.
Opata's plea was not taken and the court, presided over by Mr Robert Adjei Gyan, adjourned the case to January 28, this year.
Presenting the facts of the case to the court, the prosecutor, ASP Theophilus Nyandu, said about 9 a.m. on January 1, 2008, a quarrel ensued between Opata and the wife, during which the suspect took a pestle and hit the head of the deceased several times until she died.
According to the prosecutor, neighbours reported the incident to the police, who went to the scene and found the deceased lying in a pool of blood, after which the accused was arrested.
He prayed the court to remand the accused in custody to enable the police to carry out further investigations into the matter.
HELP CURB CHIEFTAINCY DISPUTES — ASIEDU ...(Page 11)
Story: Nana Konadu Agyeman, Mamfe-Akuapem
PRESIDENT John Agyekum Kufuor last Saturday joined the chiefs and people of Mamfe-Akuapem in the Eastern Region in a grand durbar to climax their Ohum Festival, during which an appeal was made to king makers to help curb chieftaincy disputes in the region.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Affram Asiedu, who made the call, said although chiefs played an important role in the country's socio-economic development, it was unfortunate that the chieftaincy institution in the region had been plagued with disputes.
That development, together with land disputes, he said, posed a serious threat to development in the region and the country.
The event was on the theme, "The Chieftaincy Institution: A Partnership With National Development". The occasion was also used to climax the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the installation of Osabarima Ansah Sasraku as the Chief of Mamfe.
It was attended by dignitaries, including Mr Samson Kwaku Boafo, the Minister of Chieftaincy and Culture; Mr Samuel Owusu, the Minister of Public Sector Reforms; Mr Edward Adu Aboagye, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Akuapem North, and Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, the flag bearer of the Convention People's Party (CPP).
The regional minister said the chieftaincy institution had, since the colonial era, been a big partner in national development, as it was used as the pivot or channel for policy dissemination and implementation, as well as in the administration of the country, especially at the local level.
"Chiefs, apart from being custodians of our traditions and values, are the embodiment of the communities and, therefore, act as unifying forces for development, peace and unity," Mr Affram Asiedu said.
He said it was in recognition of the important role chiefs played in the country that the government set up the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture, the houses of chiefs, among others, to empower chiefs to play their roles in national development more effectively.
He, however, expressed deep worry over the high number of chieftaincy and land disputes, which he said posed a serious threat to the socio-economic development of the region in particular and the country as a whole.
"Litigation, in whatever form, wastes time, money and other resources which could alternatively be used to develop the communities. It also leads to enmity among ourselves," he said.
Mr Affram Asiedu, therefore, appealed to king makers in the region to nip issues that had the potential to generate into chieftaincy disputes in the bud.
The regional minister also expressed his displeasure at indiscipline in society, particularly with regard to the poor attitude towards the environment, immorality, abuse of traffic regulations, rioting by the youth and instant justice meted out to suspected criminals.
He, therefore, called on chiefs to join hands in the fight against those social evils to make society safe for all.
He also mentioned road rehabilitation, especially the Pantang-Mamfe road, and other projects in the educational, health, water and sanitation sectors, as some of the achievements of the government in the area.
For his part, Mr Boafo said since the relevance of the chieftaincy institution in the country's development could not be underestimated, it was time the institution "rid itself of archaic customs which retard progress to enable it to contribute effectively to the country's development aspirations".
To that end, he stressed the need for chiefs to be encouraged to explore funding to enable them to set up educational scholarships and carry out development projects to augment the government’s development process.
He called on the people, especially the youth, not to allow themselves to be manipulated by politicians to engage in violence for their selfish gain.
In his welcoming address, Osabarima Ansah Sasraku III, who dwelt extensively on the crucial role of chiefs in national development and the settling of disputes in society, expressed concern about the inability of chiefs to be involved in the day-to-day administration of their communities.
Osabarima Sasraku, who is also the Kyidomhene of the Akuapem Traditional Area, said since the role of the chieftaincy institution in the development process and governance of the country was ill-defined, it had severely limited the ability of chiefs to be effective leaders in terms of development in their respective communities and the country as a whole.
He, therefore, called for a review of the Chieftaincy Act to make room for the development of the leadership potential of chiefs, who should be seen as public officers to be held accountable and be given an appropriate role to become effective development agents in the country's decentralisation process.
Present at the ceremony were the Krontihene of Akuapem, Osahene Offei Kwasi Agyeman, the Nkosuohene of Asanteman, Nana Owusu Banahene, who chaired at the occasion, and the Eastern Regional Police Commander, DCOP Felix Asare-Darko.
PRESIDENT John Agyekum Kufuor last Saturday joined the chiefs and people of Mamfe-Akuapem in the Eastern Region in a grand durbar to climax their Ohum Festival, during which an appeal was made to king makers to help curb chieftaincy disputes in the region.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Affram Asiedu, who made the call, said although chiefs played an important role in the country's socio-economic development, it was unfortunate that the chieftaincy institution in the region had been plagued with disputes.
That development, together with land disputes, he said, posed a serious threat to development in the region and the country.
The event was on the theme, "The Chieftaincy Institution: A Partnership With National Development". The occasion was also used to climax the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the installation of Osabarima Ansah Sasraku as the Chief of Mamfe.
It was attended by dignitaries, including Mr Samson Kwaku Boafo, the Minister of Chieftaincy and Culture; Mr Samuel Owusu, the Minister of Public Sector Reforms; Mr Edward Adu Aboagye, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Akuapem North, and Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, the flag bearer of the Convention People's Party (CPP).
The regional minister said the chieftaincy institution had, since the colonial era, been a big partner in national development, as it was used as the pivot or channel for policy dissemination and implementation, as well as in the administration of the country, especially at the local level.
"Chiefs, apart from being custodians of our traditions and values, are the embodiment of the communities and, therefore, act as unifying forces for development, peace and unity," Mr Affram Asiedu said.
He said it was in recognition of the important role chiefs played in the country that the government set up the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture, the houses of chiefs, among others, to empower chiefs to play their roles in national development more effectively.
He, however, expressed deep worry over the high number of chieftaincy and land disputes, which he said posed a serious threat to the socio-economic development of the region in particular and the country as a whole.
"Litigation, in whatever form, wastes time, money and other resources which could alternatively be used to develop the communities. It also leads to enmity among ourselves," he said.
Mr Affram Asiedu, therefore, appealed to king makers in the region to nip issues that had the potential to generate into chieftaincy disputes in the bud.
The regional minister also expressed his displeasure at indiscipline in society, particularly with regard to the poor attitude towards the environment, immorality, abuse of traffic regulations, rioting by the youth and instant justice meted out to suspected criminals.
He, therefore, called on chiefs to join hands in the fight against those social evils to make society safe for all.
He also mentioned road rehabilitation, especially the Pantang-Mamfe road, and other projects in the educational, health, water and sanitation sectors, as some of the achievements of the government in the area.
For his part, Mr Boafo said since the relevance of the chieftaincy institution in the country's development could not be underestimated, it was time the institution "rid itself of archaic customs which retard progress to enable it to contribute effectively to the country's development aspirations".
To that end, he stressed the need for chiefs to be encouraged to explore funding to enable them to set up educational scholarships and carry out development projects to augment the government’s development process.
He called on the people, especially the youth, not to allow themselves to be manipulated by politicians to engage in violence for their selfish gain.
In his welcoming address, Osabarima Ansah Sasraku III, who dwelt extensively on the crucial role of chiefs in national development and the settling of disputes in society, expressed concern about the inability of chiefs to be involved in the day-to-day administration of their communities.
Osabarima Sasraku, who is also the Kyidomhene of the Akuapem Traditional Area, said since the role of the chieftaincy institution in the development process and governance of the country was ill-defined, it had severely limited the ability of chiefs to be effective leaders in terms of development in their respective communities and the country as a whole.
He, therefore, called for a review of the Chieftaincy Act to make room for the development of the leadership potential of chiefs, who should be seen as public officers to be held accountable and be given an appropriate role to become effective development agents in the country's decentralisation process.
Present at the ceremony were the Krontihene of Akuapem, Osahene Offei Kwasi Agyeman, the Nkosuohene of Asanteman, Nana Owusu Banahene, who chaired at the occasion, and the Eastern Regional Police Commander, DCOP Felix Asare-Darko.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
TAXI DRIVERS SENTENCED 16 YEARS EACH (MIRROR, PAGE 23)
Story: Nana Konadu Agyeman, Nkawkaw
TWO TAXI drivers who stole two taxi cabs belonging to their colleague taxi drivers at Nkawkaw have been sentenced to 16 years' imprisonment each with hard labour by the Mpraeso Circuit Court.
The convicts, Yaw Antwi, alias Sammy, 25, a native of Pepease and Yaw Wiafe, 20, from Obomeng, were said to have gone to the houses of Michael Osei and Alex Ayim-Adu both at Domeabrah, suburb of Nkawkaw on January 2 and 4 and stolen two Daewoo Tico taxi cabs belonging to them.
They were said to have removed the back seat of Ayim-Adu's vehicle and abandoned it at the outskirts of Nkawkaw while Osei's vehicle was found parked at Wiafe's house at Aburi.
The two pleaded guilty to the charges of conspiracy to commit crime and stealing in the case involving the theft of Osei's vehicle and were sentenced to eight years' imprisonment on their own pleas.
They however pleaded innocent to similar charges involving Ayim-Adu's car theft but were found guilty based on sufficient evidence adduced to implicate them and sentenced to another eight year's imprisonment.
Briefing the Daily Graphic at Nkawkaw yesterday (21/01), the Nkawkaw Police District Commander, DSP Thomas Osei said on January 4, 2008, Michael Osei, the first complainant reported to the Nkawkaw Police that his taxi cab Tico Daewoo with registration number GE 242V, which was parked in his house could not be found stolen when he woke up in the morning.
DSP Osei said the complainant suspected the convicts as those who might have stolen his car, which he used the previous day after which he led the police to Antwi’s house at Nkawkaw where the convicts were arrested.
He said when the police conducted a search in the bedroom of Antwi, two car seats which were hidden under the bed were retrieved but the convicts, who claimed ownership of the items, told the police that they purchased the seats from somebody, whom they could not name.
While investigations were underway, Alex Ayim-Adu heard of the arrest of the two and came to the police station to identify the car seats as that of his stolen taxi cab.
According to the Nkawkaw District Commander, in the course of investigations, both Antwi and Wiafe admitted to stealing Osei's vehicle which according to them was driven to Wiafe's house at Aburi, where it was retrieved by the police.
They however denied ever stealing the taxi cab belonging to Ayim-Adu.
TWO TAXI drivers who stole two taxi cabs belonging to their colleague taxi drivers at Nkawkaw have been sentenced to 16 years' imprisonment each with hard labour by the Mpraeso Circuit Court.
The convicts, Yaw Antwi, alias Sammy, 25, a native of Pepease and Yaw Wiafe, 20, from Obomeng, were said to have gone to the houses of Michael Osei and Alex Ayim-Adu both at Domeabrah, suburb of Nkawkaw on January 2 and 4 and stolen two Daewoo Tico taxi cabs belonging to them.
They were said to have removed the back seat of Ayim-Adu's vehicle and abandoned it at the outskirts of Nkawkaw while Osei's vehicle was found parked at Wiafe's house at Aburi.
The two pleaded guilty to the charges of conspiracy to commit crime and stealing in the case involving the theft of Osei's vehicle and were sentenced to eight years' imprisonment on their own pleas.
They however pleaded innocent to similar charges involving Ayim-Adu's car theft but were found guilty based on sufficient evidence adduced to implicate them and sentenced to another eight year's imprisonment.
Briefing the Daily Graphic at Nkawkaw yesterday (21/01), the Nkawkaw Police District Commander, DSP Thomas Osei said on January 4, 2008, Michael Osei, the first complainant reported to the Nkawkaw Police that his taxi cab Tico Daewoo with registration number GE 242V, which was parked in his house could not be found stolen when he woke up in the morning.
DSP Osei said the complainant suspected the convicts as those who might have stolen his car, which he used the previous day after which he led the police to Antwi’s house at Nkawkaw where the convicts were arrested.
He said when the police conducted a search in the bedroom of Antwi, two car seats which were hidden under the bed were retrieved but the convicts, who claimed ownership of the items, told the police that they purchased the seats from somebody, whom they could not name.
While investigations were underway, Alex Ayim-Adu heard of the arrest of the two and came to the police station to identify the car seats as that of his stolen taxi cab.
According to the Nkawkaw District Commander, in the course of investigations, both Antwi and Wiafe admitted to stealing Osei's vehicle which according to them was driven to Wiafe's house at Aburi, where it was retrieved by the police.
They however denied ever stealing the taxi cab belonging to Ayim-Adu.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
AVOID CHILD LABOUR ON COCOA FARMS ...(Page 20)
Story: Nana Konadu Agyeman, Koforidua
THE Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Ofosu Asamoah, has advised cocoa farmers against the use of child labour on their farms.
Mr Asamoah said since cocoa farming was labour-intensive, the farmers should rely on adults for such services, instead of children.
He said that would not only enhance the country’s image on the international scene, but also boost the sale of its cocoa on the international market to improve the country's economy.
Mr Asamoah made the call at this year’s Eastern Regional Best Cocoa and Workers' Day celebration at Suhum.
He said “we are not against your children helping you on your farms occasionally, but child labour on cocoa farms, at the expense of their education and other rights, are unacceptable and frowned upon at the international level”.
The event, which was organised by the Produce Buying Company (PBC) on the theme: “The PBC and the Farmer—A Better Future,” was used to honour 94 cocoa farmers and staff of the PBC.
Mr Abraham Adusei was adjudged the overall best cocoa farmer in the region.
The award winners were given items such as Wellington boots, cooking utensils, cutlasses and Ghana@50 cloths.
Mr Asamoah stated that since cocoa played an important role in the country’s economy, especially in foreign exchange earning, employment generation and infrastructural development, the government, through the PBC, decided to set aside a special day to reward cocoa farmers in the country.
He said the government would continue to support cocoa farmers through the payment of better prices and bonuses, free spraying of cocoa farms and other initiatives to boost production.
“I wish to advise that while you continue to take good care of your farms, you should also take good care of your children’s education to enable them to become responsible adults and assume high positions in the future,” Mr Asamoah stressed.
He urged cocoa farmers to take full advantage of the various interventions by the government in the education sector such as the Cocoa Board Scholarship Scheme, the Capitation Grant and the School Feeding Programme to educate their children.
In an address read on his behalf, the Managing Director of the PBC, Mr Anthony Osei Boakye, said the award scheme, which was set up seven years ago, was to reward hardworking cocoa farmers who were contributing tremendously to the growth of the country’s economy.
THE Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Ofosu Asamoah, has advised cocoa farmers against the use of child labour on their farms.
Mr Asamoah said since cocoa farming was labour-intensive, the farmers should rely on adults for such services, instead of children.
He said that would not only enhance the country’s image on the international scene, but also boost the sale of its cocoa on the international market to improve the country's economy.
Mr Asamoah made the call at this year’s Eastern Regional Best Cocoa and Workers' Day celebration at Suhum.
He said “we are not against your children helping you on your farms occasionally, but child labour on cocoa farms, at the expense of their education and other rights, are unacceptable and frowned upon at the international level”.
The event, which was organised by the Produce Buying Company (PBC) on the theme: “The PBC and the Farmer—A Better Future,” was used to honour 94 cocoa farmers and staff of the PBC.
Mr Abraham Adusei was adjudged the overall best cocoa farmer in the region.
The award winners were given items such as Wellington boots, cooking utensils, cutlasses and Ghana@50 cloths.
Mr Asamoah stated that since cocoa played an important role in the country’s economy, especially in foreign exchange earning, employment generation and infrastructural development, the government, through the PBC, decided to set aside a special day to reward cocoa farmers in the country.
He said the government would continue to support cocoa farmers through the payment of better prices and bonuses, free spraying of cocoa farms and other initiatives to boost production.
“I wish to advise that while you continue to take good care of your farms, you should also take good care of your children’s education to enable them to become responsible adults and assume high positions in the future,” Mr Asamoah stressed.
He urged cocoa farmers to take full advantage of the various interventions by the government in the education sector such as the Cocoa Board Scholarship Scheme, the Capitation Grant and the School Feeding Programme to educate their children.
In an address read on his behalf, the Managing Director of the PBC, Mr Anthony Osei Boakye, said the award scheme, which was set up seven years ago, was to reward hardworking cocoa farmers who were contributing tremendously to the growth of the country’s economy.
NEW JUABEN NHIS MAKES PROGRESS ...(Page 20)
Story: Nana Konadu Agyeman, Koforidua
The New Juaben Mutual Health Insurance Scheme (NJMHIS) has increased registration of its members.
The sheme has so far registered 94,964 persons.
The figure represents 70 per cent of the municipality's population of 136,768.
The Board Chairman of the scheme, Nana Kwame Oppong III, who made this known at the scheme’s second annual general meeting at Koforidua, said as of November 30,2007 the scheme had collected GH¢524,000 as premium and paid bills of approximately GH¢180,000 to the various designated health facilities.
According to the Board Chairman, the scheme received GH¢2.31 million support from the National Health Insurance Council (NHIC) to supplement payment of claims for those exempted from paying premium and to cater for administrative expenses.
Nana Kwame Oppong expressed appreciation to the NHIC for providing the scheme with one Toyota Pick-up and a motorbike, which he said had enhanced the mobility of the scheme's staff. He also thanked DANIDA and the New Juaben Municipal Assembly for their support.
The Board Chairman, who is also the chief of Jumapo, mentioned poor conditions of service for the management and staff, frivolous use of service by clients at the various designated health facilities and low staff strength as some of the challenges facing the scheme and called on stakeholders to help address such issues.
The Executive Secretary of the NHIC, Mr Ras Boateng, said the scheme, which had achieved a 50 per cent coverage in 143 districts across the country and was instituted as one of the key pillars to reducing poverty in the country, had 62 per cent of its members accessing free healthcare services.
He noted that although the rate at which the people were registering with the scheme and accessing healthcare services were encouraging, it had posed a serious challenge to the NHIC, since it had to pay huge bills of approximately GH¢32.4 million to schemes in the districts for the settlement of their indebtedness.
Mr Boateng said as part of efforts to address such challenges, a 15-member council had been inaugurated to oversee the smooth and efficient operation of the scheme, adding that zonal offices, which would serve as links between the council and the district mutual insurance schemes, had been established to monitor their operations.
For his part, the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Affram- Asiedu, expressed satisfaction with the rate at which people in the region were registering with the scheme, adding that as of September this year 1,060,970, representing 58 per cent of the region's population of 2,106,696, had registered while a total premium of GH¢2.67 million had also been collected.
To sustain the scheme, he advised the various service providers to charge realistic fees in order not to jeopardise its sustainability.
He commended the management of the various schemes, health providers and premium collectors for contributing immensely to the success of the scheme in the region.
The New Juaben Mutual Health Insurance Scheme (NJMHIS) has increased registration of its members.
The sheme has so far registered 94,964 persons.
The figure represents 70 per cent of the municipality's population of 136,768.
The Board Chairman of the scheme, Nana Kwame Oppong III, who made this known at the scheme’s second annual general meeting at Koforidua, said as of November 30,2007 the scheme had collected GH¢524,000 as premium and paid bills of approximately GH¢180,000 to the various designated health facilities.
According to the Board Chairman, the scheme received GH¢2.31 million support from the National Health Insurance Council (NHIC) to supplement payment of claims for those exempted from paying premium and to cater for administrative expenses.
Nana Kwame Oppong expressed appreciation to the NHIC for providing the scheme with one Toyota Pick-up and a motorbike, which he said had enhanced the mobility of the scheme's staff. He also thanked DANIDA and the New Juaben Municipal Assembly for their support.
The Board Chairman, who is also the chief of Jumapo, mentioned poor conditions of service for the management and staff, frivolous use of service by clients at the various designated health facilities and low staff strength as some of the challenges facing the scheme and called on stakeholders to help address such issues.
The Executive Secretary of the NHIC, Mr Ras Boateng, said the scheme, which had achieved a 50 per cent coverage in 143 districts across the country and was instituted as one of the key pillars to reducing poverty in the country, had 62 per cent of its members accessing free healthcare services.
He noted that although the rate at which the people were registering with the scheme and accessing healthcare services were encouraging, it had posed a serious challenge to the NHIC, since it had to pay huge bills of approximately GH¢32.4 million to schemes in the districts for the settlement of their indebtedness.
Mr Boateng said as part of efforts to address such challenges, a 15-member council had been inaugurated to oversee the smooth and efficient operation of the scheme, adding that zonal offices, which would serve as links between the council and the district mutual insurance schemes, had been established to monitor their operations.
For his part, the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Affram- Asiedu, expressed satisfaction with the rate at which people in the region were registering with the scheme, adding that as of September this year 1,060,970, representing 58 per cent of the region's population of 2,106,696, had registered while a total premium of GH¢2.67 million had also been collected.
To sustain the scheme, he advised the various service providers to charge realistic fees in order not to jeopardise its sustainability.
He commended the management of the various schemes, health providers and premium collectors for contributing immensely to the success of the scheme in the region.
Monday, January 21, 2008
2 PORTERS JAILED FOR THEFT (Page 16)
Story: Nana Konadu Agyeman, Koforidua
TWO young porters who outwitted their Lebanese employer and stole GH¢5,000 belonging to him have been sentenced to five years’ imprisonment each with hard labour by a Koforidua circuit court.
The convicts, Kwasi Ayembi, 21, and Michael Ayari, 22, were said to have hidden another porter, Kofi Dada, 21, currently on the run, under a table in the shop of their employer who, unknowingly, locked up the shop at the close of the day and went home.
Dada then managed to break the safe and stole the money.
The convicts, who were charged with conspiracy to steal, unlawful entry and stealing, pleaded guilty to the charges and were sentenced on their own pleas.
Presenting the facts of the case, ASP Theophilus Nyandu told the court, presided over by Mr Robert Adjei Gyan, that on December 19, 2007, the complainant, Mr Ali Khawajale, the Lebanese employer, reported to the police that his shop, which contained assorted food items, had been broken into by some people who made away with GH¢5,000.
According to ASP Nyandu, Mr Khawajale said after close of work on December 18, last year, he locked up the shop and went home but when he opened it the following day, he detected the loss of the money and suspected the two convicts, Ayembi and Ayari, to be the people who might have broken into the store.
The prosecutor related that the police immediately caused the arrest of the two convicts and when a search was conducted in their room, the police retrieved GH¢580.
In their caution statement, according to ASP Nyandu, Ayembi and Ayari said that Dada was made to hide under a table in the shop after close of work on December 18, last year, thereby enabling him to have access to the safe from which he stole the GH¢5,000.
Passing sentence, the court was of the view that the action of the convicts could have severely undermined the ability of their employer to raise sufficient money to pay the salaries of other employees of his enterprise.
TWO young porters who outwitted their Lebanese employer and stole GH¢5,000 belonging to him have been sentenced to five years’ imprisonment each with hard labour by a Koforidua circuit court.
The convicts, Kwasi Ayembi, 21, and Michael Ayari, 22, were said to have hidden another porter, Kofi Dada, 21, currently on the run, under a table in the shop of their employer who, unknowingly, locked up the shop at the close of the day and went home.
Dada then managed to break the safe and stole the money.
The convicts, who were charged with conspiracy to steal, unlawful entry and stealing, pleaded guilty to the charges and were sentenced on their own pleas.
Presenting the facts of the case, ASP Theophilus Nyandu told the court, presided over by Mr Robert Adjei Gyan, that on December 19, 2007, the complainant, Mr Ali Khawajale, the Lebanese employer, reported to the police that his shop, which contained assorted food items, had been broken into by some people who made away with GH¢5,000.
According to ASP Nyandu, Mr Khawajale said after close of work on December 18, last year, he locked up the shop and went home but when he opened it the following day, he detected the loss of the money and suspected the two convicts, Ayembi and Ayari, to be the people who might have broken into the store.
The prosecutor related that the police immediately caused the arrest of the two convicts and when a search was conducted in their room, the police retrieved GH¢580.
In their caution statement, according to ASP Nyandu, Ayembi and Ayari said that Dada was made to hide under a table in the shop after close of work on December 18, last year, thereby enabling him to have access to the safe from which he stole the GH¢5,000.
Passing sentence, the court was of the view that the action of the convicts could have severely undermined the ability of their employer to raise sufficient money to pay the salaries of other employees of his enterprise.
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