Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi.
FOOD vendors in the Kumasi metropolis play crucial role in the lives of people who patronise their services.
Chop bar(traditional food joint) operators at Kejetia, ‘Atwemunum’, Central Market, the Asafo Neoplan Station and other areas, offer all kinds of indigenous food such as ampesi, fufu with all kinds of soup and fresh game (bush meat), as well as banku and tuozafi (TZ) to the public from dawn to dusk to keep body and soul together.
There are other food vendors, mostly women, who sell roasted plantain, yam , cocoyam, maize and bread along the principal streets in the metropolis.
While some of the food vendors in the metropolis operate in a clean environment, others operate in dirty surroundings that pose a health hazard to customers.
Some food vendors in the metropolis have specialised in selling food items very close to refuse dumps, public places of convenience, at the sides of dusty roads and other filthy environments.
Ironically, the city authorities and medical personnel seem to have shirked their responsibilities of ensuring that food is sold to the public in environmentally clean areas.
At the Central Market and Asafo, for example, some food vendors sell their food very close to choked gutters which attract houseflies that spread communicable diseases such as typhoid fever, cholera, dysentery and diarrhoea.
At other areas where the environment is a bit clean, the vendors wash the used plates and bowls in the same basin, using the same water from dawn to dusk without considering the health implications of their actions and inaction to the public.
It has also become the practice of some ‘chop bar’ operators to use the same napkin for their numerous customers to clean their hands.
Commenting on the filthy environment that some food vendors in the Kumasi metropolis operate in, Mr Kofi Abebrese, a Kumasi-based businessman, urged the Inspectorate Division of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly to intensify its activities to ensure that food sold to the public does not cause any health problems.
He pointed out that some of the food vendors were ignorant that their selling food in filthy areas could create health problems for their customers, hence the need for the Assembly to educate them regularly.
He said it was important for the Assembly to also ensure that food vendors in the metropolis were regularly educated for them to appreciate the need to sell at environmentally clean areas to prevent the spread of communicable diseases.
Mr Abebrese pointed out that the National Health Insurance Policy initiated by the government would not yield any positive result if the activities of food vendors create health problems for the consuming public, stressing that certain diseases could be prevented if the vendors created healthy environment for their customers.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
INDIVIDUAL DONATES GH¢25,000 TOWARDS GIRLS DOMITORY (Page 11)
Story: George Ernest Asare, Chiraa.
THE Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Kwadwo Adjei Darko, has presented a cheque for GH¢25,000 (¢250 million) to the Chiraa Traditional Council to facilitate the construction of a girls’ dormitory for the Chiraa Senior High School.
The Special Assistant to the Minister, Mr George Mireku Duka, presented the cheque on behalf of Mr Adjei Darko to Nana Yeboah Pene II, Queen of Chiraa, and Barima Minta Afari, the Chief of Chiraa, during a durbar organised to celebrate the 3rd anniversary of the enstoolment of Nana Yeboah Pene as the queen of Chiraa.
The project which is at the li ntel level was initiated by Nana Pene last year, when she celebrated the 2nd anniversary of her enstoolment.
In an address read on his behalf, Mr Adjei Darko commended Nana Pene for her sense of initiative and commitment to improving education at Chiraa.
He pointed out that the singular efforts of Nana Pene to initiate the girls’ dormitory at Chiraa was highly commendable and needed the support of all to ensure the completion of the project.
Mr Adjei Darko, who is also the Mem ber of Parliament for Sunyani West, says investing in the education of girls was quite necessary, because that builds their capacity to enable them contribute in diverse ways to a sustainable national development.
In his address, the Chief of Chiraa, Barimah Mintah Afari, also commended Nana Pene for her untiring efforts at supporting the development of Chiraa.
He pointed out that since she ascended the stool thr ee years ago, Nana Pene had always been at the forefront of initiating programmes and projects that had a positive impact on the lives of the people of Chiraa and urged her to sustain it.
Barima Afari appealed to the people of Chiraa, both at home and abroad to support the queen in diverse ways to facilitate the completion of the Nana Yeboah Pene dormitory project.
For her part, the queen thanked Mr Adjei Darko in particular and th e other dignitaries who graced the occasion for their support and contributions which she said had made it possible for her to raise some funds to continue the project.
She explained that she initiated the project because female students in the school were accommodated in a hostel outside the school premises, which undermined their academic work.
She expressed the hope that the project would have a positive impact on the lives of the students and encouraged them to concentrate on their academic work.
Nana Pene used the occasion to honour some members of the Chiraa Community who contributed in diverse ways towards the development of Chiraa.
Among those honoured with certificates was a 76-year-old midwife, who had for the past 40 years, supervised the delivery of 6,000 babies at Chiraa
THE Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Kwadwo Adjei Darko, has presented a cheque for GH¢25,000 (¢250 million) to the Chiraa Traditional Council to facilitate the construction of a girls’ dormitory for the Chiraa Senior High School.
The Special Assistant to the Minister, Mr George Mireku Duka, presented the cheque on behalf of Mr Adjei Darko to Nana Yeboah Pene II, Queen of Chiraa, and Barima Minta Afari, the Chief of Chiraa, during a durbar organised to celebrate the 3rd anniversary of the enstoolment of Nana Yeboah Pene as the queen of Chiraa.
The project which is at the li ntel level was initiated by Nana Pene last year, when she celebrated the 2nd anniversary of her enstoolment.
In an address read on his behalf, Mr Adjei Darko commended Nana Pene for her sense of initiative and commitment to improving education at Chiraa.
He pointed out that the singular efforts of Nana Pene to initiate the girls’ dormitory at Chiraa was highly commendable and needed the support of all to ensure the completion of the project.
Mr Adjei Darko, who is also the Mem ber of Parliament for Sunyani West, says investing in the education of girls was quite necessary, because that builds their capacity to enable them contribute in diverse ways to a sustainable national development.
In his address, the Chief of Chiraa, Barimah Mintah Afari, also commended Nana Pene for her untiring efforts at supporting the development of Chiraa.
He pointed out that since she ascended the stool thr ee years ago, Nana Pene had always been at the forefront of initiating programmes and projects that had a positive impact on the lives of the people of Chiraa and urged her to sustain it.
Barima Afari appealed to the people of Chiraa, both at home and abroad to support the queen in diverse ways to facilitate the completion of the Nana Yeboah Pene dormitory project.
For her part, the queen thanked Mr Adjei Darko in particular and th e other dignitaries who graced the occasion for their support and contributions which she said had made it possible for her to raise some funds to continue the project.
She explained that she initiated the project because female students in the school were accommodated in a hostel outside the school premises, which undermined their academic work.
She expressed the hope that the project would have a positive impact on the lives of the students and encouraged them to concentrate on their academic work.
Nana Pene used the occasion to honour some members of the Chiraa Community who contributed in diverse ways towards the development of Chiraa.
Among those honoured with certificates was a 76-year-old midwife, who had for the past 40 years, supervised the delivery of 6,000 babies at Chiraa
REMOVE ILLEGAL TIMBER PROCESSING FACILITIES ...Minister (Page 20)
Story: George Ernest Asare, Achiaakrom
THE Minister of Lands, Forestry and Mines, Mrs Esther Obeng-Dapaah, has directed foreigners who have sited their timber processing facilities in plantation areas and forest reserves, without the requisite approval from the Forestry Commission, to remove them immediately.
She stated that siting the facilities in the forest reserves without approval contravened the existing legal provisions. The minister stressed that her ministry had directed the “Forestry Commission to ensure the full implementation of and compliance with Section Three of the Timber Resource Management (Amendment) Act 617 on the investment requirements”.
Mrs Obeng-Dapaah, who gave the directive at the annual general meeting of the Ghana Timber Association (GTA) at Achiaakrom, near Ejisu, noted that to ensure the effective monitoring of logging, processing and export of timber products in the country, the ministry was installing a log tracking or validation of legal timber scheme in the timber industry.
The meeting, which coincided with the inauguration of a 20-member National Executive Council (NEC) of the GTA, was on the theme: “Helping to Build Ghana Through Conservation of our Forest”.
The executives who were sworn into office by the sector minister included Mr Boateng Poku, President; Nana Ohene Adututu, Second Vice-President; Mr George Kennedy, Ashanti Regional Chairman; Mr Kwame Asenso Agyare, Western Regional representative; Mr Yaw Opong, Central Regional; Mr Kwame Owusu, Organiser, and Mr Kwabena Affum, Deputy Treasurer.
Ms Obeng-Dapaah said the facility was being installed by the Forestry Commission through the active support of the European Union.
She expressed concern about the rate at which the forest cover in Ghana was being depleted, stressing that before independence, the country had a total forest area of eight million hectares but it had now reduced to less than two million hectares.
She said the “dwindling state of the natural forest due to unsustainable practices, such as over-logging by illegal chainsaw operators and timber contractors, excessive mining, conversion of the natural forest to agricultural land, annual wildfires, expansion of infrastructure and changes in land uses, should be a worry to all stakeholders”.
The minister said it was, therefore, important for her ministry to institute measures that would effectively address the problem of forest degradation, stressing that with such measures, illegal logging and waste control in logging and processing would reduce significantly.
Ms Obeng-Dapaah stated that the GTA had a big role to play in complementing the ministry’s efforts at conserving the forests and the wildlife resources of the country.
She said the measures that had been instituted to address the problem of illegal mining in forest resources would also go a long way to reduce the over-exploitation of timber, thereby increasing revenue for both the government and the private sector.
Ms Obeng-Dapaah urged the participants to intensify their efforts at plantation development, explaining that “as major traders of the wood resource, the GTA and the Ghana Timber Millers Organisation (GTMO) have a collective responsibility to ensure that we restore our degraded forests to their productive functions”.
In his inaugural address, the newly-elected President of the GTA, Mr Boateng Poku, called on the government to actively resource the GTA in its quest to practise forest conservation in the country.
He stated that the GTA should be used as a conduit and be provided with access to the requisite forest resources to enable it to conserve the forest in a more practical way.
Mr Boateng said the GTA also intended to establish a task force “to check its own members against illegal activities and help stem illegal chainsaw activities which deprive the government of the requisite revenue to develop the country”.
He said as part of its contribution to conserve the forest resources of the country, the GTA had established a 300-hectare teak plantation at Bumfuom in the Asante Akyem North District, while plans were far advanced to plant an additional 700 hectares of teak and other timber species in other parts of the Ashanti Region.
THE Minister of Lands, Forestry and Mines, Mrs Esther Obeng-Dapaah, has directed foreigners who have sited their timber processing facilities in plantation areas and forest reserves, without the requisite approval from the Forestry Commission, to remove them immediately.
She stated that siting the facilities in the forest reserves without approval contravened the existing legal provisions. The minister stressed that her ministry had directed the “Forestry Commission to ensure the full implementation of and compliance with Section Three of the Timber Resource Management (Amendment) Act 617 on the investment requirements”.
Mrs Obeng-Dapaah, who gave the directive at the annual general meeting of the Ghana Timber Association (GTA) at Achiaakrom, near Ejisu, noted that to ensure the effective monitoring of logging, processing and export of timber products in the country, the ministry was installing a log tracking or validation of legal timber scheme in the timber industry.
The meeting, which coincided with the inauguration of a 20-member National Executive Council (NEC) of the GTA, was on the theme: “Helping to Build Ghana Through Conservation of our Forest”.
The executives who were sworn into office by the sector minister included Mr Boateng Poku, President; Nana Ohene Adututu, Second Vice-President; Mr George Kennedy, Ashanti Regional Chairman; Mr Kwame Asenso Agyare, Western Regional representative; Mr Yaw Opong, Central Regional; Mr Kwame Owusu, Organiser, and Mr Kwabena Affum, Deputy Treasurer.
Ms Obeng-Dapaah said the facility was being installed by the Forestry Commission through the active support of the European Union.
She expressed concern about the rate at which the forest cover in Ghana was being depleted, stressing that before independence, the country had a total forest area of eight million hectares but it had now reduced to less than two million hectares.
She said the “dwindling state of the natural forest due to unsustainable practices, such as over-logging by illegal chainsaw operators and timber contractors, excessive mining, conversion of the natural forest to agricultural land, annual wildfires, expansion of infrastructure and changes in land uses, should be a worry to all stakeholders”.
The minister said it was, therefore, important for her ministry to institute measures that would effectively address the problem of forest degradation, stressing that with such measures, illegal logging and waste control in logging and processing would reduce significantly.
Ms Obeng-Dapaah stated that the GTA had a big role to play in complementing the ministry’s efforts at conserving the forests and the wildlife resources of the country.
She said the measures that had been instituted to address the problem of illegal mining in forest resources would also go a long way to reduce the over-exploitation of timber, thereby increasing revenue for both the government and the private sector.
Ms Obeng-Dapaah urged the participants to intensify their efforts at plantation development, explaining that “as major traders of the wood resource, the GTA and the Ghana Timber Millers Organisation (GTMO) have a collective responsibility to ensure that we restore our degraded forests to their productive functions”.
In his inaugural address, the newly-elected President of the GTA, Mr Boateng Poku, called on the government to actively resource the GTA in its quest to practise forest conservation in the country.
He stated that the GTA should be used as a conduit and be provided with access to the requisite forest resources to enable it to conserve the forest in a more practical way.
Mr Boateng said the GTA also intended to establish a task force “to check its own members against illegal activities and help stem illegal chainsaw activities which deprive the government of the requisite revenue to develop the country”.
He said as part of its contribution to conserve the forest resources of the country, the GTA had established a 300-hectare teak plantation at Bumfuom in the Asante Akyem North District, while plans were far advanced to plant an additional 700 hectares of teak and other timber species in other parts of the Ashanti Region.
NGO LAUNCHES PILOT PROJECT ON ICT (Page 20)
Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
A NON GOVERNMENTAL Organisation (NGO) operating in the Ashanti region has launched a four year pilot project which seeks to use Information Communication Technology (ICT) to increase access to information and know-how on cardiovascular diseases among health workers in the Ashanti Region.
This is to enhnace their competence in providing education to the public on effective preventive measures that could be taken to reduce the disease.
The NGO- ProCor- which is based in the United States of America (USA) is collaborating with a cardiology Consultant at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) , Dr Bernard Nkum, to increase access to, and the application of useful information about cadio vascular disease prevention among the health workers in the Ashanti Region.
This is to enhance the promotion good health, especially among those in their productive years, thereby accelerating the pace of socio-economic development in the country.
According to the Programme Co-ordinator, Catherine Coleman, the Ashanti region has the highest number of cardiovascular disease reported cases at the out patient department, and pointed out that about 80 per cent of cardiovascular diseases “ can be prevented”.
At a round table conference in Kumasi with medical officers to outline the programme, Ms Catherine noted that engaging health workers who can effectively and efficiently play useful role in the prevention of Cardio Vascular Diseases (CVD) in the participatory process would enable the stakeholders “develop innovative, effective and sustainable communication strategies that will promote heart health”.
Explaining, she pointed out that CVD is the leading cause of death globally and “ in Ghana, heart disease and stroke are the top five and six causes of death respectively and their incidence is increasing rapidly”.
Stressing, Ms Coleman pointed out that “ the economic growth occurring in Ghana and many other countries around the world brings with it an increase in CVD risk factors”.
She pointed out that statistics on CVD’s in the country indicate that 29 per cent of adult Ghanaians are hypertensive, 14 per cent are obese and six per cent are diabetic”.
She attributed the increase in cardio vascular diseases among people in their productive years to the lifestyles such as physical inactivity, a salt-rich diet with processed and fatty foods, as well as increase in alcoholic and tobacco intake among others.
She said the disease which was peculiar to the developed countries is now “ spreading at an alarming rate from the developed countries to emerging economies in Asia and Africa.
Ms Coleman noted further that educating the public on preventive measures of the CVD’s “ can save millions of lives for whom treatment would be unaffordable on either an individual or a national level”.
She said lack of adequate resources in low-and middle income countries also results in lack of access to relevant and timely information”.
“ Providing reliable health information for health workers in developing countries is potentially the single most cost effective and achievable strategy for sustainable improvement in health care”, she noted.
A NON GOVERNMENTAL Organisation (NGO) operating in the Ashanti region has launched a four year pilot project which seeks to use Information Communication Technology (ICT) to increase access to information and know-how on cardiovascular diseases among health workers in the Ashanti Region.
This is to enhnace their competence in providing education to the public on effective preventive measures that could be taken to reduce the disease.
The NGO- ProCor- which is based in the United States of America (USA) is collaborating with a cardiology Consultant at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) , Dr Bernard Nkum, to increase access to, and the application of useful information about cadio vascular disease prevention among the health workers in the Ashanti Region.
This is to enhance the promotion good health, especially among those in their productive years, thereby accelerating the pace of socio-economic development in the country.
According to the Programme Co-ordinator, Catherine Coleman, the Ashanti region has the highest number of cardiovascular disease reported cases at the out patient department, and pointed out that about 80 per cent of cardiovascular diseases “ can be prevented”.
At a round table conference in Kumasi with medical officers to outline the programme, Ms Catherine noted that engaging health workers who can effectively and efficiently play useful role in the prevention of Cardio Vascular Diseases (CVD) in the participatory process would enable the stakeholders “develop innovative, effective and sustainable communication strategies that will promote heart health”.
Explaining, she pointed out that CVD is the leading cause of death globally and “ in Ghana, heart disease and stroke are the top five and six causes of death respectively and their incidence is increasing rapidly”.
Stressing, Ms Coleman pointed out that “ the economic growth occurring in Ghana and many other countries around the world brings with it an increase in CVD risk factors”.
She pointed out that statistics on CVD’s in the country indicate that 29 per cent of adult Ghanaians are hypertensive, 14 per cent are obese and six per cent are diabetic”.
She attributed the increase in cardio vascular diseases among people in their productive years to the lifestyles such as physical inactivity, a salt-rich diet with processed and fatty foods, as well as increase in alcoholic and tobacco intake among others.
She said the disease which was peculiar to the developed countries is now “ spreading at an alarming rate from the developed countries to emerging economies in Asia and Africa.
Ms Coleman noted further that educating the public on preventive measures of the CVD’s “ can save millions of lives for whom treatment would be unaffordable on either an individual or a national level”.
She said lack of adequate resources in low-and middle income countries also results in lack of access to relevant and timely information”.
“ Providing reliable health information for health workers in developing countries is potentially the single most cost effective and achievable strategy for sustainable improvement in health care”, she noted.
PILOT PROJECT ON LAND ADMINISTRATION ESTABLISHED (Page 20)
Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
THE Ministry of Lands and Forestry has established a pilot project designed to strengthen land administration and security in the land tenure system in the Ashanti Region.
The project is dubbed: “Land Administration Policy (LAP)”, which is embodied in the National Land Policy (NLP) programme.
It is designed to develop the human resource base for both the customary and public land delivery system in a more effective and efficient way to enhance easy access to land and its management in the region in particular and the country in general.
The project, which is also intended to simplify the process for accessing land, is being implemented through a long-term land administration programme designed to reduce land litigation and its social and economic implications, stimulate economic development, reduce poverty and promote social stability.
Throwing more light on the project during an interview, the National Facilitator of the Customary Land Administration Unit, Mr Mark Kakraba-Ampeh, stated that under the project, Customary Land Secretariats (CLSs) were being established in the various traditional areas in the Ashanti Region.
“This is to ensure that customary land in the region becomes accessible, effective, equitable and accountable, to create the enabling environment which will encourage further investment in land and sustainable resource management,” he added.
Mr Kakraba-Ampeh said the CLSs were also to ensure that the “diversity of different customary land tenure system in Ghana are recognised”.
Mr Kakraba-Ampeh said CLSs collated information on the right of ownership of land in the traditional areas in the region and made them public to ensure the right of ownership of customary land.
He added that the CLSs would also keep and maintain accurate and up-to-date land records, and keep records of all fees and charges associated with land grants.
He said the CLSs would in addition receive all correspondence on behalf of the land committee and serve as link between the land owning community and the public sector land agencies such as the assemblies, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency.
The Thematic Facilitator of the Unit, Mr George Nti, for his part, told the Daily Graphic that the project was a demand-driven approach, which would be adopted for the selection of traditional areas for assistance.
He said so far, about 11 traditional areas in the Ashanti Region — Juaben, Ejisu, Bekwai, Adansi, Obogu, Ofoase, Mampong, Manso Nkwanta, Agogo, Nkawie and Toase — had expressed interest to be part of the project.
Mr Nti said a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) would soon be signed between the government and customary authorities on the project.
He explained that under the MoU, the obligations of the parties involved in the project would be laid bare, but hinted that the Land Administration Project would provide computer and accessories at all secretariats to be established.
THE Ministry of Lands and Forestry has established a pilot project designed to strengthen land administration and security in the land tenure system in the Ashanti Region.
The project is dubbed: “Land Administration Policy (LAP)”, which is embodied in the National Land Policy (NLP) programme.
It is designed to develop the human resource base for both the customary and public land delivery system in a more effective and efficient way to enhance easy access to land and its management in the region in particular and the country in general.
The project, which is also intended to simplify the process for accessing land, is being implemented through a long-term land administration programme designed to reduce land litigation and its social and economic implications, stimulate economic development, reduce poverty and promote social stability.
Throwing more light on the project during an interview, the National Facilitator of the Customary Land Administration Unit, Mr Mark Kakraba-Ampeh, stated that under the project, Customary Land Secretariats (CLSs) were being established in the various traditional areas in the Ashanti Region.
“This is to ensure that customary land in the region becomes accessible, effective, equitable and accountable, to create the enabling environment which will encourage further investment in land and sustainable resource management,” he added.
Mr Kakraba-Ampeh said the CLSs were also to ensure that the “diversity of different customary land tenure system in Ghana are recognised”.
Mr Kakraba-Ampeh said CLSs collated information on the right of ownership of land in the traditional areas in the region and made them public to ensure the right of ownership of customary land.
He added that the CLSs would also keep and maintain accurate and up-to-date land records, and keep records of all fees and charges associated with land grants.
He said the CLSs would in addition receive all correspondence on behalf of the land committee and serve as link between the land owning community and the public sector land agencies such as the assemblies, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency.
The Thematic Facilitator of the Unit, Mr George Nti, for his part, told the Daily Graphic that the project was a demand-driven approach, which would be adopted for the selection of traditional areas for assistance.
He said so far, about 11 traditional areas in the Ashanti Region — Juaben, Ejisu, Bekwai, Adansi, Obogu, Ofoase, Mampong, Manso Nkwanta, Agogo, Nkawie and Toase — had expressed interest to be part of the project.
Mr Nti said a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) would soon be signed between the government and customary authorities on the project.
He explained that under the MoU, the obligations of the parties involved in the project would be laid bare, but hinted that the Land Administration Project would provide computer and accessories at all secretariats to be established.
Friday, November 23, 2007
ARMED ROBBER ON HUNGER STRIKE (Back Page)
Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
REPORTS from the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), say the suspected lone armed robber, Alfred Eric Zieme, had been on hunger strike prior to his discharge last Wednesday.
The suspect was shot in the legs last week when he attempted to escape from lawful custody and had since been on admission at the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital. He refused to take any meals but had not given any reasons for his action.
Described as a violent robber with a penchant for robbing and killing his victims in broad daylight, the 25-year-old man was shot by the police when he attempted to escape at Fufuo, near Barekese, after he had led the police there as part of their investigations.
The suspect, whose legs were in a plaster of Paris (pop), was told to come for review regularly.
He is now in police custody to assist them in their investigations.
A source close to the KATH told the Daily Graphic that prior to his discharge, Zieme revealed that because of his links with top officials, he would be eventually set free even if he spent two years on remand.
“He boldly told me that he has links in parts of the country so no matter how long he spends on remand, he would be set free, so we should prepare for the worst,” the source hinted.
The source, which described the suspect as one of the most dangerous criminals in the country in recent times, also said the suspect confided in him that he succeeded in robbing one of his victims to the tune of GH¢100,000 (¢1 billion) and another of GH¢50,000 (¢500 million) and invested them in his project at the Race Course area at Bantama in Kumasi.
The suspect, who was under heavy police guard for the period he spent at the ICU, is alleged to have robbed every major fuel station along the Kumasi-Sunyani road.
According to the police, investigations into his operations were ongoing, and that he would be arraigned soon.
REPORTS from the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), say the suspected lone armed robber, Alfred Eric Zieme, had been on hunger strike prior to his discharge last Wednesday.
The suspect was shot in the legs last week when he attempted to escape from lawful custody and had since been on admission at the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital. He refused to take any meals but had not given any reasons for his action.
Described as a violent robber with a penchant for robbing and killing his victims in broad daylight, the 25-year-old man was shot by the police when he attempted to escape at Fufuo, near Barekese, after he had led the police there as part of their investigations.
The suspect, whose legs were in a plaster of Paris (pop), was told to come for review regularly.
He is now in police custody to assist them in their investigations.
A source close to the KATH told the Daily Graphic that prior to his discharge, Zieme revealed that because of his links with top officials, he would be eventually set free even if he spent two years on remand.
“He boldly told me that he has links in parts of the country so no matter how long he spends on remand, he would be set free, so we should prepare for the worst,” the source hinted.
The source, which described the suspect as one of the most dangerous criminals in the country in recent times, also said the suspect confided in him that he succeeded in robbing one of his victims to the tune of GH¢100,000 (¢1 billion) and another of GH¢50,000 (¢500 million) and invested them in his project at the Race Course area at Bantama in Kumasi.
The suspect, who was under heavy police guard for the period he spent at the ICU, is alleged to have robbed every major fuel station along the Kumasi-Sunyani road.
According to the police, investigations into his operations were ongoing, and that he would be arraigned soon.
Saturday, November 17, 2007
GALAMSEY AGAIN (05/11/07 PAGE 7)
Story: George Ernest Asare, Obuasi.
SIX illegal gold miners trapped in the Obuasi mine of Anglogold Ashanti have made a dramatic escape by launching an attack on security personnel who had gone to effect their arrest.
The six galamsey operators, trapped 2300 feet underground at the Adansi Shaft and armed with explosives, knives, machetes and other dangerous weapons, attacked the security men on guard in the underground mines and succeeded in escaping through some of the channels around 7:30 pm last Sunday.
This came barely a week after the illegal miners battled security men at Obuasi and escaped from the deep mines where they had been trapped for some days.
Prior to that, the operators had thrown stones at the security men, officials of Anglogold and media men who had gone underground around 12:30 pm to investigate.
The illegal operators were holed up in an obscure corner in a rock at the time the officials and journalists arrived in the deep mines and they threatened the life of anyone who attempted getting close to them, insisting that they should be allowed to carry their booty away to enable them to recoup what they considered to be the huge investment they had made.
“ We would only come out if the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, comes here to intervene. After coming so close to having access to three quality rocks, we cannot just leave them behind to make the huge investments made go to waste and get home empty handed, so allow us to carry our booty away, ” one of them shouted.
The incident came to light last Saturday when security men at Anglogold discovered that the illegal mtners had used explosives to gain access into one of their strategic rocks at the Adansi Shaft.
Briefing newsmen on the incident at Obuasi, the Mine Manager, Mr Ahmed Bashiri, said last Saturday, they heard unusual noises at some of their strategic areas within the Adansi Shaft and during investigations, they realised that about six illegal miners had entered the deep mines and exploiting some of their strategic rocks “which had been left purposely to hold the deep mines together”.
He said all attempts to flush them out since last Saturday proved futile and the situation was creating security concerns to the mines.
He expressed concern about the operations of the illegal miners, especially coming at a time Anglogold was planning to undertake further operations underground.
“ We are planning to undertake further operations underground, but these illegal miners are creating danger by destroying the pillars that hold the mines together, and if it continues, the mines would finally collapse to create a big problem for the company and the state,” he noted.
Explaining. Mr Bashiri said it was the strategically located Adansi Shaft which would be used to create avenues for further underground mining, “ but the rate at which these illegal miners are destroying the shaft can cause the collapse of the mines”.
He therefore appealed to all stakeholders to collaborate with the management of Anglogold to flush out the illegal miners to protect and secure the mines to enhance their operations.
END
SIX illegal gold miners trapped in the Obuasi mine of Anglogold Ashanti have made a dramatic escape by launching an attack on security personnel who had gone to effect their arrest.
The six galamsey operators, trapped 2300 feet underground at the Adansi Shaft and armed with explosives, knives, machetes and other dangerous weapons, attacked the security men on guard in the underground mines and succeeded in escaping through some of the channels around 7:30 pm last Sunday.
This came barely a week after the illegal miners battled security men at Obuasi and escaped from the deep mines where they had been trapped for some days.
Prior to that, the operators had thrown stones at the security men, officials of Anglogold and media men who had gone underground around 12:30 pm to investigate.
The illegal operators were holed up in an obscure corner in a rock at the time the officials and journalists arrived in the deep mines and they threatened the life of anyone who attempted getting close to them, insisting that they should be allowed to carry their booty away to enable them to recoup what they considered to be the huge investment they had made.
“ We would only come out if the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, comes here to intervene. After coming so close to having access to three quality rocks, we cannot just leave them behind to make the huge investments made go to waste and get home empty handed, so allow us to carry our booty away, ” one of them shouted.
The incident came to light last Saturday when security men at Anglogold discovered that the illegal mtners had used explosives to gain access into one of their strategic rocks at the Adansi Shaft.
Briefing newsmen on the incident at Obuasi, the Mine Manager, Mr Ahmed Bashiri, said last Saturday, they heard unusual noises at some of their strategic areas within the Adansi Shaft and during investigations, they realised that about six illegal miners had entered the deep mines and exploiting some of their strategic rocks “which had been left purposely to hold the deep mines together”.
He said all attempts to flush them out since last Saturday proved futile and the situation was creating security concerns to the mines.
He expressed concern about the operations of the illegal miners, especially coming at a time Anglogold was planning to undertake further operations underground.
“ We are planning to undertake further operations underground, but these illegal miners are creating danger by destroying the pillars that hold the mines together, and if it continues, the mines would finally collapse to create a big problem for the company and the state,” he noted.
Explaining. Mr Bashiri said it was the strategically located Adansi Shaft which would be used to create avenues for further underground mining, “ but the rate at which these illegal miners are destroying the shaft can cause the collapse of the mines”.
He therefore appealed to all stakeholders to collaborate with the management of Anglogold to flush out the illegal miners to protect and secure the mines to enhance their operations.
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