Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
THE police at Juaso in the Ashanti Region have arrested a 38-year-old farmer suspected to have murdered his three-month-old baby girl in the bush at Bompata in the Ashanti Region.
The suspect, Abudu Razak, was alleged to have lured his wife, who is nursing the three-month-old baby girl, to their farm to harvest cassava, but pounced on her immediately they finished the harvesting, slashing every part of her body with a machete and in the process, hit the baby girl twice in the head with the weapon, resulting in her death.
Razak was alleged to have confessed to the police that he ignored the pleas of his wife to stop slashing her because he was obeying an inner voice that was ordering him to kill her.
The woman, Abena Mary, who was carrying the baby girl at her back, had several machete wounds on her neck and hands and fell unconscious covered with blood, and thinking that she was dead, Razak left her in the farm and fled to Duampompo, near Ejisu, where he sought refuge.
A day after the incident, two other children of the victim, who are six and nine years respectively, alerted the police that their mother was missing, and led the police to their farm where they found Abena Mary lying in a pool of blood unconscious, with the baby girl lying beside her dead from the machete wounds sustained from her father’s attack.
Mary was rushed to the Juaso Government Hospital, and was referred to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), where she is responding to treatment
The police mounted a search for the suspect and succeeded in arresting him from his hideout at Duampompo.
He is currently in police custody assisting in investigations.
Briefing the Daily Graphic on the incident, the Juaso District Police Commander, Superintendent Francis Aggrippa Oppong, said around 11.30 a.m. on January 3, 2008, the suspect lured Abena Mary, who was nursing a three-month-old baby girl, together with their two children, to their farm to harvest cassava.
He said as soon as they reached the farm, the suspect told the children to fetch fire wood at a distance from their farm while he and his wife concentrated on the cassava harvesting.
He said when they finished harvesting the cassava, Razak helped his wife to carry the basket full of cassava on her head but as soon as she carried the load, Razak pounced on her, slashing her with the machete in rapid succession.
He said the woman started screaming and pleading with Razak to leave her alone but her pleas fell on deaf ears.
Mr Oppong said in the process, the machete hit the baby girl twice in the head, causing her to fall down while bleeding profusely.
He said the machete also slashed the head, neck and hands of the victim, causing her to fall down unconscious and thinking that she was dead, Razak left her and the baby in a pool of blood and went and told the two children who were busily fetching the firewood that their mother had left for home so they should follow her, while he took a different route and went into hiding.
Superintendent Oppong said at home the children did not meet their mother and, therefore, waited patiently for her to return from the farm but when she failed to do so throughout the day and night, they alerted the Assembly Member in the community early the following morning, who also reported the case to the police.
He said the Chief of Bompata was also alerted, so he caused a gong to be beaten and a search party formed to look for the woman and her baby.
He said the search party found the victim and her baby lying in a pool of blood in their farm with the baby dead from the machete wounds while the woman was unconscious.
Supt Oppong said the police also mounted a search for the suspect and succeeded in arresting him from his hideout at Duampompo after which he confessed that he butchered his wife because he was obeying an inner voice which ordered him to do so.
He said investigations were ongoing and the suspect would be brought to trial as soon as investigations were completed.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
PHAROAHS TO BEAT THE CHIPOLOPOLO (Back Page)
Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
Kumasi soccer fans will have another opportunity to watch yet another beautiful game at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium where the free-scoring Pharoahs of Egypt who have so far won their two group matches encounter the Chipolopolo of Zambia tomorrow.
The Zambians, like the Lions of Cameroun, have three points, having beaten the whipping boys of the group, The Sudan, 3-0 in their first match.
The Pharoahs, who have scored seven goals in the two matches played and conceded only two goals, look poised to add Zambia to their victims as a way of entrenching their top position in the group and send a signal to all opponents that they are in Ghana to defend the trophy they won two years ago when they hosted the tournament.
In their first game against the Lions of Cameroun, the Pharaohs surprised the partisan fans in Kumasi when strikers Hosny Abd Rabo Abdel Motaleb and Mohamed Abdalla Mohamed Zidan scored two goals apiece to give the Lions a bitter pill to swallow. Not even the presence of world-class soccer icon, Samuel Eto’o Fils, who scored two goals for his side, could threaten the Pharoahs who were in a class of their own.
In their second match against The Sudan, which was described as the re-enactment of the Nile rivalry at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium last Saturday, the Pharoahs again survived the initial scare posed by the Sudanese and succeeded in running away with a 3-0 victory.
The goals, which came from Abdel Motaleb through a spot kick and substitute Mohamed Mohamed M. Abou Traika, indicated that the Pharoahs had a wide range of potent attackers who, on any good day, could cause a lot of havoc, especially when it comes to competitions of such high profile as Africa’s top soccer fiesta.
Notwithstanding the good tournament the Pharoahs have enjoyed so far, tomorrow’s match against the Zambians will be very thrilling, especially considering the fact that the Zambians who have three points and occupy the third spot in Group ‘C’, also stand the chance of qualifying if they succeed in defeating the Pharoahs.
This could be deduced from the fact that during the second group match between Egypt and The Sudan, the defenders of the Pharoahs were exposed in the early part of the game and it was only the agility of goalkeeper Esam Kamal Tawfik El Hadary which made it possible for Egypt to avoid conceding any goal to keep their aspiration of defending the trophy alive.
However, against Zambia tomorrow the situation may be different because the Zambians, who played a good game against Cameroun last Saturday but could not convert the chances that came their way, have put the past behind them and are eager to carry the game to their opponents to brighten their chances of getting to the next stage of the competition.
With players like James Chamanga, who won the best player award in their game against the Lions of Cameron, Felix Katongo who also displayed a lot of skills, and skipper Christopher Katango, on hand, Zambia could cause havoc if Egypt underrate them.
The other group match between Cameroun and The Sudan, which will be played at the Tamale Sports Stadium, will also be very dicey, but the determination of Cameroun gives them the upper hand to carry the day.
Kumasi soccer fans will have another opportunity to watch yet another beautiful game at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium where the free-scoring Pharoahs of Egypt who have so far won their two group matches encounter the Chipolopolo of Zambia tomorrow.
The Zambians, like the Lions of Cameroun, have three points, having beaten the whipping boys of the group, The Sudan, 3-0 in their first match.
The Pharoahs, who have scored seven goals in the two matches played and conceded only two goals, look poised to add Zambia to their victims as a way of entrenching their top position in the group and send a signal to all opponents that they are in Ghana to defend the trophy they won two years ago when they hosted the tournament.
In their first game against the Lions of Cameroun, the Pharaohs surprised the partisan fans in Kumasi when strikers Hosny Abd Rabo Abdel Motaleb and Mohamed Abdalla Mohamed Zidan scored two goals apiece to give the Lions a bitter pill to swallow. Not even the presence of world-class soccer icon, Samuel Eto’o Fils, who scored two goals for his side, could threaten the Pharoahs who were in a class of their own.
In their second match against The Sudan, which was described as the re-enactment of the Nile rivalry at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium last Saturday, the Pharoahs again survived the initial scare posed by the Sudanese and succeeded in running away with a 3-0 victory.
The goals, which came from Abdel Motaleb through a spot kick and substitute Mohamed Mohamed M. Abou Traika, indicated that the Pharoahs had a wide range of potent attackers who, on any good day, could cause a lot of havoc, especially when it comes to competitions of such high profile as Africa’s top soccer fiesta.
Notwithstanding the good tournament the Pharoahs have enjoyed so far, tomorrow’s match against the Zambians will be very thrilling, especially considering the fact that the Zambians who have three points and occupy the third spot in Group ‘C’, also stand the chance of qualifying if they succeed in defeating the Pharoahs.
This could be deduced from the fact that during the second group match between Egypt and The Sudan, the defenders of the Pharoahs were exposed in the early part of the game and it was only the agility of goalkeeper Esam Kamal Tawfik El Hadary which made it possible for Egypt to avoid conceding any goal to keep their aspiration of defending the trophy alive.
However, against Zambia tomorrow the situation may be different because the Zambians, who played a good game against Cameroun last Saturday but could not convert the chances that came their way, have put the past behind them and are eager to carry the game to their opponents to brighten their chances of getting to the next stage of the competition.
With players like James Chamanga, who won the best player award in their game against the Lions of Cameron, Felix Katongo who also displayed a lot of skills, and skipper Christopher Katango, on hand, Zambia could cause havoc if Egypt underrate them.
The other group match between Cameroun and The Sudan, which will be played at the Tamale Sports Stadium, will also be very dicey, but the determination of Cameroun gives them the upper hand to carry the day.
Monday, January 28, 2008
MP DID NOT INITIATE PROJECT ...(Page 16)
Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
THE Chairman for the Foundation for the Development of Rural Communities (FODERCOM), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), Mr John Ofori, has dismissed the claim by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bosome-Freho, Nana Yaw Ofori-Kuragu, to the effect that he (the MP) had constructed a hospital estimated at GH¢500, 000 at Dajanso in the Bosome-Freho Constituency to enhance the primary health care in rural communities.
Reacting to a story which appeared in the Daily Graphic on Wednesday, January 23, 2008, with a headline — Ofori-Kuragu launches campaign — which the MP, among other things, mentioned that during his tenure of office, he constructed “a number of development projects throughout the constituency, including a hospital at Dajanso constructed at the cost of GH¢500,000”, Mr Ofori said the MP was throwing dust into the eyes of the public, because the hospital he claimed to have constructed was rather the initiative of FODERCOM.
Mr Ofori, who was at the Kumasi Offices of the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) to react to the story, said the time had come for politicians to be guided by the truth and a sense of honesty in the discharge of their duty to win public confidence rather than resorting to deceit in their quest to entrench their positions, because the electorate were wide awake and would not allow anyone to take them for a ride .
“It was the NGO which constructed the yet-to-be opened hospital at a cost of $356,000 and, therefore, I was surprised to read in the Daily Graphic that the project was the initiative of the MP, who is now launching his political campaign in the hope of getting re-elected,” he stressed, adding that, “I would have kept quiet on the issue, but doing that would also undermine the work of the NGO, because our financiers abroad would not offer any future financial support if they get to know that the MP, who had never spent a pesewa on the project, was using the same project to enhance his political career.”
He mentioned one Richard Fowler of the United States of America as the sole financier of the hospital, and said apart from the hospital, Mr Fowler had earlier in 2005 supported the NGO to “construct a mechanised potable water system for two communities — Dajanso and Kusiase — at the cost of GH40, 000”.
THE Chairman for the Foundation for the Development of Rural Communities (FODERCOM), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), Mr John Ofori, has dismissed the claim by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bosome-Freho, Nana Yaw Ofori-Kuragu, to the effect that he (the MP) had constructed a hospital estimated at GH¢500, 000 at Dajanso in the Bosome-Freho Constituency to enhance the primary health care in rural communities.
Reacting to a story which appeared in the Daily Graphic on Wednesday, January 23, 2008, with a headline — Ofori-Kuragu launches campaign — which the MP, among other things, mentioned that during his tenure of office, he constructed “a number of development projects throughout the constituency, including a hospital at Dajanso constructed at the cost of GH¢500,000”, Mr Ofori said the MP was throwing dust into the eyes of the public, because the hospital he claimed to have constructed was rather the initiative of FODERCOM.
Mr Ofori, who was at the Kumasi Offices of the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) to react to the story, said the time had come for politicians to be guided by the truth and a sense of honesty in the discharge of their duty to win public confidence rather than resorting to deceit in their quest to entrench their positions, because the electorate were wide awake and would not allow anyone to take them for a ride .
“It was the NGO which constructed the yet-to-be opened hospital at a cost of $356,000 and, therefore, I was surprised to read in the Daily Graphic that the project was the initiative of the MP, who is now launching his political campaign in the hope of getting re-elected,” he stressed, adding that, “I would have kept quiet on the issue, but doing that would also undermine the work of the NGO, because our financiers abroad would not offer any future financial support if they get to know that the MP, who had never spent a pesewa on the project, was using the same project to enhance his political career.”
He mentioned one Richard Fowler of the United States of America as the sole financier of the hospital, and said apart from the hospital, Mr Fowler had earlier in 2005 supported the NGO to “construct a mechanised potable water system for two communities — Dajanso and Kusiase — at the cost of GH40, 000”.
PHAROAHS THRASH SUDAN 3-0 (Page 71)
Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
The Nile rivalry that has existed between Sudan and Egypt over the years in terms of soccer supremacy was re-enacted at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi last Saturday in their second group match of the Ghana 2008 tournament, with Sudan a scare to Egypt at the initial stages of the game. In the end, however, the versatility of the Pharaohs in attack fetched them a 3-0 victory.
On the few occasions that the Egyptian attackers of Mohammed Zidan, Abdelnaby Ibrahim and Abdel Motaleb made forays into the Sudanese territory, the Sudanese defence used the offside trap to render their attack impotent, and these tactics won them massive support and a false impression that Sudan would dim the lights of Egypt to stage a comeback as one of the group contenders.
As the Egyptians gradually warmed themselves into the game with counter-attacks and midfield supremacy, it became clear that Sudan were in the game of their lives and determination alone could not hold the Egyptians back to carry the day.
In one of their swift counter-attacks in the 27th minute, Abdel Motaleb pounced on a loose ball supplied by Zaky Mansour and entered the box, but as goalkeeper El Hadi Salem Akram dived to prevent any havoc, he fouled Motaleb to attract the wrath of referee Codjia Coffi from Benin who wasted no time at all to whistle for a penalty which was easily converted by Motaleb to give Egypt a 1-0 lead in that half.
Both teams resumed the second half full of furry with the Sudanese attacking in droves with the aim of redeeming their goal deficit while the Egyptians, having beaten the Lions of Cameroun 4-2 in their first group game, also multiplied in attack with the hope of increasing their tally to entrench their top position in their group.
The two sides made a series of changes as the game wore on, but it was Egypt who benefited as substitute Mohamed Abou Traika who combined beautifully with Zaky Mansour, increased the tally to two in the 77th minute after teasing the goalkeeper out of the post and planting the ball beautifully in the net.
With defeat staring them in the face and with nothing to lose, Sudan who like Nigeria are yet to score a goal in this tournament, surged forward with the aim of scoring at least one goal in their second group game and thus earn a point, but their defence was exposed and the Egyptians took advantage of that and added another goal through Abou Traika in the 82nd minute.
The Nile rivalry that has existed between Sudan and Egypt over the years in terms of soccer supremacy was re-enacted at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi last Saturday in their second group match of the Ghana 2008 tournament, with Sudan a scare to Egypt at the initial stages of the game. In the end, however, the versatility of the Pharaohs in attack fetched them a 3-0 victory.
On the few occasions that the Egyptian attackers of Mohammed Zidan, Abdelnaby Ibrahim and Abdel Motaleb made forays into the Sudanese territory, the Sudanese defence used the offside trap to render their attack impotent, and these tactics won them massive support and a false impression that Sudan would dim the lights of Egypt to stage a comeback as one of the group contenders.
As the Egyptians gradually warmed themselves into the game with counter-attacks and midfield supremacy, it became clear that Sudan were in the game of their lives and determination alone could not hold the Egyptians back to carry the day.
In one of their swift counter-attacks in the 27th minute, Abdel Motaleb pounced on a loose ball supplied by Zaky Mansour and entered the box, but as goalkeeper El Hadi Salem Akram dived to prevent any havoc, he fouled Motaleb to attract the wrath of referee Codjia Coffi from Benin who wasted no time at all to whistle for a penalty which was easily converted by Motaleb to give Egypt a 1-0 lead in that half.
Both teams resumed the second half full of furry with the Sudanese attacking in droves with the aim of redeeming their goal deficit while the Egyptians, having beaten the Lions of Cameroun 4-2 in their first group game, also multiplied in attack with the hope of increasing their tally to entrench their top position in their group.
The two sides made a series of changes as the game wore on, but it was Egypt who benefited as substitute Mohamed Abou Traika who combined beautifully with Zaky Mansour, increased the tally to two in the 77th minute after teasing the goalkeeper out of the post and planting the ball beautifully in the net.
With defeat staring them in the face and with nothing to lose, Sudan who like Nigeria are yet to score a goal in this tournament, surged forward with the aim of scoring at least one goal in their second group game and thus earn a point, but their defence was exposed and the Egyptians took advantage of that and added another goal through Abou Traika in the 82nd minute.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
OTUMFUO ORDERS ARREST OF ROYAL GUARD (Mirror Page 3)
From George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
A guard on duty at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, who violently attacked a policeman, also attached to the palace, causing severe injuries on his mouth and making him lose his tooth, was arrested on the orders of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, to enable justice take its rightful course.
The suspect, Baffour Adu Acheampong, was arrested on January 14, 2008, a day after he committed the alleged crime and was charged with assault and causing harm.
He has been remanded in police custody for two weeks to facilitate investigations into the case.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges when he appeared before a Kumasi Circuit Court presided over by Justice Ernest Yao Obimpeh on January 17, 2008.
The suspect was alleged to have ventured into a restricted area at the Manhyia Royal Palace, quaffing bottles of Guinness after the just ended Akwasidae festival which was attended by many dignitaries, including President John Agyekum Kufuor and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Patrick Kwarteng Acheampong.
When the policeman asked him to from the area, Acheampong allegedly became offended and violently attacked the policeman.
The victim, who was said to have become unconscious from the violent attack, was rushed to the Manyhia Hospital where he was revived, and later referred to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital where he was treated and discharged.
Giving the facts of the case, Chief Inspector Owusu Manu told the court that the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II celebrated an Akwasidae festival on Sunday, January 13, 2008, which was attended by many dignitaries including President John Agyekum Kufuor and the IGP, Mr Patrick K. Acheampong.
He said after the festival, the Asantehene provided drinks and other items to refresh those who attended the festival, and in the course of the refreshment, the policeman attached to the palace saw the suspect in the company of others, quaffing alcoholic beverages at the restricted area of the Manhyia Royal Palace.
Mr Manu said as part of his responsibility to ensure security at the palace, the policeman approached the suspect and others and politely asked them to leave the place they had gathered because it was a restricted area.
According to the prosecutor, the suspect became offended, and without any provocation, attacked the policeman, throwing a hefty punch at his mouth that sent the policeman sprawling and made his mouth to bleed profusely.
He said the blow also made policeman lose his tooth and become unconscious.
He said when Otumfuo Osei Tutu got wind of the incident, he ordered the arrest and prosecution of the suspect.
He said the suspect was subsequently arrested the following day and after initial investigations, he was charged with the offence.
A guard on duty at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, who violently attacked a policeman, also attached to the palace, causing severe injuries on his mouth and making him lose his tooth, was arrested on the orders of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, to enable justice take its rightful course.
The suspect, Baffour Adu Acheampong, was arrested on January 14, 2008, a day after he committed the alleged crime and was charged with assault and causing harm.
He has been remanded in police custody for two weeks to facilitate investigations into the case.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges when he appeared before a Kumasi Circuit Court presided over by Justice Ernest Yao Obimpeh on January 17, 2008.
The suspect was alleged to have ventured into a restricted area at the Manhyia Royal Palace, quaffing bottles of Guinness after the just ended Akwasidae festival which was attended by many dignitaries, including President John Agyekum Kufuor and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Patrick Kwarteng Acheampong.
When the policeman asked him to from the area, Acheampong allegedly became offended and violently attacked the policeman.
The victim, who was said to have become unconscious from the violent attack, was rushed to the Manyhia Hospital where he was revived, and later referred to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital where he was treated and discharged.
Giving the facts of the case, Chief Inspector Owusu Manu told the court that the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II celebrated an Akwasidae festival on Sunday, January 13, 2008, which was attended by many dignitaries including President John Agyekum Kufuor and the IGP, Mr Patrick K. Acheampong.
He said after the festival, the Asantehene provided drinks and other items to refresh those who attended the festival, and in the course of the refreshment, the policeman attached to the palace saw the suspect in the company of others, quaffing alcoholic beverages at the restricted area of the Manhyia Royal Palace.
Mr Manu said as part of his responsibility to ensure security at the palace, the policeman approached the suspect and others and politely asked them to leave the place they had gathered because it was a restricted area.
According to the prosecutor, the suspect became offended, and without any provocation, attacked the policeman, throwing a hefty punch at his mouth that sent the policeman sprawling and made his mouth to bleed profusely.
He said the blow also made policeman lose his tooth and become unconscious.
He said when Otumfuo Osei Tutu got wind of the incident, he ordered the arrest and prosecution of the suspect.
He said the suspect was subsequently arrested the following day and after initial investigations, he was charged with the offence.
PHIRI SURE OF VICTORY ... (Page 31)
Story: Goerge Ernest Asare, Kumasi
The Head Coach of the Zambian national team, Patrick Phiri, has stated emphatically that his side is well prepared to overcome Cameroun’s threat in today’s Group C decider and advance to the next stage of the competition.
He pointed out that notwithstanding the threat posed by Samuel Eto’o and his teammates, as well as the huge impact they have made on international competitions, Zambia cannot be brushed aside in the Ghana 2008 tournament because they came with a well-rehearsed strategy to qualify from their group.
At a press conference in Kumasi yesterday to thank Kumasi fans for their tremendous support during their match against Sudan last Friday, Coach Phiri expressed the hope that they would rally behind his side to enable them to dispose of Cameroun in their clash at the Baba Yara Stadium today.
“This is the time for Kumasi fans to offer us their unflinching support to enable us beat Cameroun before accounting for Egypt later. We are thinking of one match at a time, and after accounting for Cameroun, we will consider how to deal with the Egyptians”, he said.
On Samuel Eto’o, Coach Phiri said he is a great player and plays for one of the best teams in Europe, so he was aware of the danger he posed to their qualification. “But we have a plan to take care of him throughout the 90 minutes, and in doing that we will not forget his teammates because we have a strategy to do just that.
“My boys are more determined than ever to qualify from our group to win glory for themselves and their country, and no team can stand in our way. This is because we have a good team that is capable of doing justice to all our opponents”, he stated.
Coach Phiri, who looked composed and confident, therefore, appealed to Kumasi soccer fans to be at the Baba Yara Stadium in their numbers to cheer the Zambian national team on to victory today.
The Head Coach of the Zambian national team, Patrick Phiri, has stated emphatically that his side is well prepared to overcome Cameroun’s threat in today’s Group C decider and advance to the next stage of the competition.
He pointed out that notwithstanding the threat posed by Samuel Eto’o and his teammates, as well as the huge impact they have made on international competitions, Zambia cannot be brushed aside in the Ghana 2008 tournament because they came with a well-rehearsed strategy to qualify from their group.
At a press conference in Kumasi yesterday to thank Kumasi fans for their tremendous support during their match against Sudan last Friday, Coach Phiri expressed the hope that they would rally behind his side to enable them to dispose of Cameroun in their clash at the Baba Yara Stadium today.
“This is the time for Kumasi fans to offer us their unflinching support to enable us beat Cameroun before accounting for Egypt later. We are thinking of one match at a time, and after accounting for Cameroun, we will consider how to deal with the Egyptians”, he said.
On Samuel Eto’o, Coach Phiri said he is a great player and plays for one of the best teams in Europe, so he was aware of the danger he posed to their qualification. “But we have a plan to take care of him throughout the 90 minutes, and in doing that we will not forget his teammates because we have a strategy to do just that.
“My boys are more determined than ever to qualify from our group to win glory for themselves and their country, and no team can stand in our way. This is because we have a good team that is capable of doing justice to all our opponents”, he stated.
Coach Phiri, who looked composed and confident, therefore, appealed to Kumasi soccer fans to be at the Baba Yara Stadium in their numbers to cheer the Zambian national team on to victory today.
Friday, January 25, 2008
WE'LL SURELY ROAR — ETO'O (G/S Page 23)
Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
The icon of the Indomitable Lions of Cameroun, Samuel Eto’o Fils has dismissed speculations among soccer fans that their 2-4 defeat suffered at the hands of the Pharaohs of Egypt at the Baba Yara Stadium last Tuesday signifies that the Lions would crash out of the Ghana 2008 tournament earlier than expected at the preliminary stages.
“The Lions were wounded but not so fatal as to rule us out from the competition. We are surely going to win the next matches to qualify to the next stage. I am very serious about this, and you can surely bet on me and the entire team that we will qualify from our group”. These were the words of Samuel Eto’o Fills at a post-match conference at the Stadium minutes after the loss to Egypt .
The Lions who failed to roar in Kumasi despite the massive support they enjoyed from the thousands of soccer fans who filled the stadium went down 0-3 in the first half .
They, however, came back very strongly to redeem one of the goals when the second half was barely five minutes old, as Eto’o connected with a header, raising hopes among the fans that they were on a war path to claw back and conquer the Pharaohs. But it was the Egyptians who became more aggressive upfront with good interposition changes, fast moves on the ball during counter attacks , making it possible for them to add another goal before Eto’o could increase the tally for his side through a spot kick in the latter part of the game.
Having disappointed their fans who rooted for them at the stadium, and in various homes who watched the match via their television sets , and aware of the huge task ahead, especially with Zambia also humiliating Sudan 3-0 in the second match to occupy the top spot of group C, Eto’o, together with their head coach, Otto Pfister, emerged at the Post-match Press conference beaming with confidence to assure their numerous fans that “the competition had just begun and the Lions should not be ruled out as one of the favourites to win the trophy at stake” .
Explaining, Eto’o pointed out that in soccer, defeat of such magnitude occur, but taking the profile of the Indomitable Lions into consideration, “Cameroun can rise to the occasion and qualify to the next stage of the tournament”.
He pointed out that Cameroon did not have sufficient time to prepare adequately for the tournament, hence their humiliating defeat to Egypt in their opening game, but was full of confidence that “ we will surely bounce back in grand style to get to the quarter finals stage of the competition”.
He accepted the fact that Cameroun was deprived of the World cup due to a penalty loss to Egypt, but was quick to add that before then, they went to Cote d’ Iviore to beat them.
“ We have a very good team and we are more determined than ever to go past our next two opponents and qualify, so you should not rule us out completely because of the set back we suffered” .
When Mr Otto Pfister who looked very sober as a result of their defeat took his turn to explain what went wrong with his game plan, he said “ In actual fact, I do not know what went wrong, because this is part of soccer, but we shall make amends”.
Earlier, the Egyptians had told the media that their massive win over Cameroon was an indication that they were in Ghana to defend their trophy and add an historic sixth to their collections.
Two-goal hero Mohammed Zidan, who won the MTN man of the match trophy said they have the team to carry out their determination to defend the trophy to bring honours to themselves and Egypt as a nation.
“We are not in Ghana for mere sight seeing, but to defend the trophy we won two years ago, and we have the team to do the job, so all our opponents should watch out when they meet us”, he said confidently.
With the battle lines drawn in group C, especially with Zambia on the warpath and threatening to qualify from their group, the Lions threatening to roar louder than before to devour their next two opponents, and the Pharaohs in a class of their own, fans in Kumasi would be treated to a good match on Saturday, January, 26 2008, when Cameroun meet Zambia in their first match at the Baba Yara Stadium. The Egypt — Sudan encounter in the second match will also be dicey because the Sudanese would like to make amends in their 0-3 defeat at the hands of Zambia.
The icon of the Indomitable Lions of Cameroun, Samuel Eto’o Fils has dismissed speculations among soccer fans that their 2-4 defeat suffered at the hands of the Pharaohs of Egypt at the Baba Yara Stadium last Tuesday signifies that the Lions would crash out of the Ghana 2008 tournament earlier than expected at the preliminary stages.
“The Lions were wounded but not so fatal as to rule us out from the competition. We are surely going to win the next matches to qualify to the next stage. I am very serious about this, and you can surely bet on me and the entire team that we will qualify from our group”. These were the words of Samuel Eto’o Fills at a post-match conference at the Stadium minutes after the loss to Egypt .
The Lions who failed to roar in Kumasi despite the massive support they enjoyed from the thousands of soccer fans who filled the stadium went down 0-3 in the first half .
They, however, came back very strongly to redeem one of the goals when the second half was barely five minutes old, as Eto’o connected with a header, raising hopes among the fans that they were on a war path to claw back and conquer the Pharaohs. But it was the Egyptians who became more aggressive upfront with good interposition changes, fast moves on the ball during counter attacks , making it possible for them to add another goal before Eto’o could increase the tally for his side through a spot kick in the latter part of the game.
Having disappointed their fans who rooted for them at the stadium, and in various homes who watched the match via their television sets , and aware of the huge task ahead, especially with Zambia also humiliating Sudan 3-0 in the second match to occupy the top spot of group C, Eto’o, together with their head coach, Otto Pfister, emerged at the Post-match Press conference beaming with confidence to assure their numerous fans that “the competition had just begun and the Lions should not be ruled out as one of the favourites to win the trophy at stake” .
Explaining, Eto’o pointed out that in soccer, defeat of such magnitude occur, but taking the profile of the Indomitable Lions into consideration, “Cameroun can rise to the occasion and qualify to the next stage of the tournament”.
He pointed out that Cameroon did not have sufficient time to prepare adequately for the tournament, hence their humiliating defeat to Egypt in their opening game, but was full of confidence that “ we will surely bounce back in grand style to get to the quarter finals stage of the competition”.
He accepted the fact that Cameroun was deprived of the World cup due to a penalty loss to Egypt, but was quick to add that before then, they went to Cote d’ Iviore to beat them.
“ We have a very good team and we are more determined than ever to go past our next two opponents and qualify, so you should not rule us out completely because of the set back we suffered” .
When Mr Otto Pfister who looked very sober as a result of their defeat took his turn to explain what went wrong with his game plan, he said “ In actual fact, I do not know what went wrong, because this is part of soccer, but we shall make amends”.
Earlier, the Egyptians had told the media that their massive win over Cameroon was an indication that they were in Ghana to defend their trophy and add an historic sixth to their collections.
Two-goal hero Mohammed Zidan, who won the MTN man of the match trophy said they have the team to carry out their determination to defend the trophy to bring honours to themselves and Egypt as a nation.
“We are not in Ghana for mere sight seeing, but to defend the trophy we won two years ago, and we have the team to do the job, so all our opponents should watch out when they meet us”, he said confidently.
With the battle lines drawn in group C, especially with Zambia on the warpath and threatening to qualify from their group, the Lions threatening to roar louder than before to devour their next two opponents, and the Pharaohs in a class of their own, fans in Kumasi would be treated to a good match on Saturday, January, 26 2008, when Cameroun meet Zambia in their first match at the Baba Yara Stadium. The Egypt — Sudan encounter in the second match will also be dicey because the Sudanese would like to make amends in their 0-3 defeat at the hands of Zambia.
OTUMFUO SURE OF EC'S CREDENTIALS (Page 15)
Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
THE Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has said he is very optimistic that the Electoral Commission (EC) would be equal to the task of conducting free and fair elections this year, to reinforce its credibility in both Ghana and the rest of Africa .
Recalling the successive credible and peaceful elections conducted by the EC since 1992 when Ghana was weaned off military regimes, Otumfuo Osei Tutu pointed out that “Ghanaians and Africa in general are expecting the EC to conduct credible elections in December this year”.
These comments were contained in a statement issued and signed by his Media Relations Manager at the Manhyia Palace, Mr G.B. Osei-Antwi, in Kumasi after the British High Commissioner designate, Mr Nicholas Wescott, had paid a courtesy call on Otumfuo Osei Tutu at the palace.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu pointed out that it was very important for the government to provide the needed level playing field that would ensure that transparent and incident free elections were conducted in the country to enable Ghanaians to enjoy sustainable peace and tranquillity.
He said as a traditional ruler, he was interested in the welfare of his people, and would, therefore, always preach peace and unity to his people.
He said to enable his people to live in sustainable peace and unity, he had developed interest in settling chieftaincy disputes out of court, and had given the assurance that that would be sustained to accelerate peaceful co-existence among his people.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu commended the British government for its tremendous budgetary support for the government of Ghana over the years, explaining that such financial support had “enabled the government to strengthen the economy”.
He said financial support by the British government had also “encouraged Ghana to pursue her democracy by improving her human rights record as well as allowing people to express themselves freely”.
In his remarks, Mr Nicholas Wescott, on the other hand, commended Ghanaians working in Britain for their sense of discipline and hard work, saying their contributions to the growth of the British economy was enormous.
He commended Otumfuo Osei Tutu for his leadership qualities and also extended a message from Queen Elizabeth II to Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
Mr Wescott assured Otumfuo of hard work and that he would also use his influence to strengthen the relationship between Ghana and Britain for their benefit.
THE Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has said he is very optimistic that the Electoral Commission (EC) would be equal to the task of conducting free and fair elections this year, to reinforce its credibility in both Ghana and the rest of Africa .
Recalling the successive credible and peaceful elections conducted by the EC since 1992 when Ghana was weaned off military regimes, Otumfuo Osei Tutu pointed out that “Ghanaians and Africa in general are expecting the EC to conduct credible elections in December this year”.
These comments were contained in a statement issued and signed by his Media Relations Manager at the Manhyia Palace, Mr G.B. Osei-Antwi, in Kumasi after the British High Commissioner designate, Mr Nicholas Wescott, had paid a courtesy call on Otumfuo Osei Tutu at the palace.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu pointed out that it was very important for the government to provide the needed level playing field that would ensure that transparent and incident free elections were conducted in the country to enable Ghanaians to enjoy sustainable peace and tranquillity.
He said as a traditional ruler, he was interested in the welfare of his people, and would, therefore, always preach peace and unity to his people.
He said to enable his people to live in sustainable peace and unity, he had developed interest in settling chieftaincy disputes out of court, and had given the assurance that that would be sustained to accelerate peaceful co-existence among his people.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu commended the British government for its tremendous budgetary support for the government of Ghana over the years, explaining that such financial support had “enabled the government to strengthen the economy”.
He said financial support by the British government had also “encouraged Ghana to pursue her democracy by improving her human rights record as well as allowing people to express themselves freely”.
In his remarks, Mr Nicholas Wescott, on the other hand, commended Ghanaians working in Britain for their sense of discipline and hard work, saying their contributions to the growth of the British economy was enormous.
He commended Otumfuo Osei Tutu for his leadership qualities and also extended a message from Queen Elizabeth II to Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
Mr Wescott assured Otumfuo of hard work and that he would also use his influence to strengthen the relationship between Ghana and Britain for their benefit.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
ECG ASSURES KUMASI OF STABLE POWER SUPPLY ..(Page 29)
Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has given the assurance of providing uninterrupted power supply to residents of the Kumasi Metropolis before, during and after the Ghana 2008 tournament to enable soccer fans in the metropolis enjoy every aspect of the tournament.
Briefing the Daily Graphic in an interview in Kumasi on the quality of power supply to residents, especially during the Ghana 2008 tournament, the Public Relations Officer of the company, Mr Williams Boateng, said the company had put structures in place to ensure that residents were provided with uninterrupted power during the tournament.
He said prior to the tournament, the company started a project to extend some of their underground cables, and this affected power supply to some suburbs in the metropolis.
He said since the project was planned, residents at the affected areas were given adequate notice to enable them to prepare for “ the planned power outages“
He said the affected areas were overloaded and that undermined the quality of power supply, hence their initiative to expand the underground cables network.
He said the project was yet to be completed, but because of the importance of the Ghana 2008 tournament and their desire to allow all residents to enjoy every aspect of the soccer fiesta, they had asked the contractor to suspend it and continue when the tournament was over.
“ We have done everything needed to be done to ensure that residents do not experience any power outages in the course of the tournament, because we cherish them . We are aware that the tournament would be played in the peak period of the evenings, so we have put two teams on duty during such periods so that they will readily attend to any fault reported”, he said.
Mr Boateng said previously, only one team attended to customers in the night “but we have now doubled it to ensure that they monitor the supply of power and attend to customers to reduce intervention time to the barest minimum”.
He said it was important for residents to contact the fault section of the company in case of any power outages for their power to be restored.
He stressed that “ customers should not think that the ECG will know when there is any power outage in their residential areas and that it is important for customers to notify us as soon as possible to ensure that they are readily attended to”.
“ This is an international assignment and the image of the company is at stake, so we are poised to be equal to the task by providing uninterrupted power supply to residents”, he said further.
He said it was important for residents to conserve power during the peak period by putting off electrical appliances that might not be needed during the period.
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has given the assurance of providing uninterrupted power supply to residents of the Kumasi Metropolis before, during and after the Ghana 2008 tournament to enable soccer fans in the metropolis enjoy every aspect of the tournament.
Briefing the Daily Graphic in an interview in Kumasi on the quality of power supply to residents, especially during the Ghana 2008 tournament, the Public Relations Officer of the company, Mr Williams Boateng, said the company had put structures in place to ensure that residents were provided with uninterrupted power during the tournament.
He said prior to the tournament, the company started a project to extend some of their underground cables, and this affected power supply to some suburbs in the metropolis.
He said since the project was planned, residents at the affected areas were given adequate notice to enable them to prepare for “ the planned power outages“
He said the affected areas were overloaded and that undermined the quality of power supply, hence their initiative to expand the underground cables network.
He said the project was yet to be completed, but because of the importance of the Ghana 2008 tournament and their desire to allow all residents to enjoy every aspect of the soccer fiesta, they had asked the contractor to suspend it and continue when the tournament was over.
“ We have done everything needed to be done to ensure that residents do not experience any power outages in the course of the tournament, because we cherish them . We are aware that the tournament would be played in the peak period of the evenings, so we have put two teams on duty during such periods so that they will readily attend to any fault reported”, he said.
Mr Boateng said previously, only one team attended to customers in the night “but we have now doubled it to ensure that they monitor the supply of power and attend to customers to reduce intervention time to the barest minimum”.
He said it was important for residents to contact the fault section of the company in case of any power outages for their power to be restored.
He stressed that “ customers should not think that the ECG will know when there is any power outage in their residential areas and that it is important for customers to notify us as soon as possible to ensure that they are readily attended to”.
“ This is an international assignment and the image of the company is at stake, so we are poised to be equal to the task by providing uninterrupted power supply to residents”, he said further.
He said it was important for residents to conserve power during the peak period by putting off electrical appliances that might not be needed during the period.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
PHARAOHS REJECT HOTEL?
Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
Players, technical men and team officials of the Egyptian national team who arrived in Kumasi last Friday to participate in the Ghana 2008 tournament are now moving from one hotel to the other in the Kumasi metropolis after they rejected the 3-star Miklin Hotel which was officially allocated to them.
In the space of three days between last Friday and Sunday, they had been accommodated in three different hotels within the Kumasi metropolis and its environs. From Miklin, they first moved to the Golden Tulip Kumasi City Hotel, but there was another controversy over the facilities there, compelling some of them to move to NODA, a 3-star plush hotel which was inaugurated a month ago.
While the Egyptian players are now being accommodated at the Golden Tulip Kumasi City Hotel, which was inaugurated by President Kufuor barely a week ago, the team officials and media men are lodging at NODA Hotel at Fumesua.
The Egyptians are in Group C and are paired against Cameroun, The Sudan and Zambia.
Sources close to the Kumasi Venue Organising Committee (KVOC) told the Graphic Sports that there was a serious argument between the players and the technical team over their accommodation at Miklin last Friday as soon as they arrived there.
According to the source, the technical men were of the opinion that as defending champions, they should have been accommodated at a five-star hotel and therefore saw no reason why they should be brought to Miklin.
Among the facilities at Miklin are a gymnasium, broad band internet facilities, presidential suites with room service, terrace bar and four conference halls, as well as a spacious car park and a restaurant.
The source said it was to avoid any controversy among the players and team officials that the KVOC agreed to swap the Egyptians with The Sudanese who had not arrived in Kumasi by then. But at the Golden Tulip they again had cause to complain, necessitating their move to NODA where the team officials and team are now lodging, while the players remain at Golden Tulip Kumasi City.
The source said as soon as they moved out from Miklin, the KVOC, which had initially agreed to accommodate the Sudanese team at the Golden Tulip, where the Zambians are also lodging, quickly arranged to accommodate The Sudan at Miklin.
It said the Sudanese team were very much in love with the facilities they saw at Miklin and had started their preparations in their open encounter with Egypt at the Baba Yara Stadium on Saturday January 26.
Players, technical men and team officials of the Egyptian national team who arrived in Kumasi last Friday to participate in the Ghana 2008 tournament are now moving from one hotel to the other in the Kumasi metropolis after they rejected the 3-star Miklin Hotel which was officially allocated to them.
In the space of three days between last Friday and Sunday, they had been accommodated in three different hotels within the Kumasi metropolis and its environs. From Miklin, they first moved to the Golden Tulip Kumasi City Hotel, but there was another controversy over the facilities there, compelling some of them to move to NODA, a 3-star plush hotel which was inaugurated a month ago.
While the Egyptian players are now being accommodated at the Golden Tulip Kumasi City Hotel, which was inaugurated by President Kufuor barely a week ago, the team officials and media men are lodging at NODA Hotel at Fumesua.
The Egyptians are in Group C and are paired against Cameroun, The Sudan and Zambia.
Sources close to the Kumasi Venue Organising Committee (KVOC) told the Graphic Sports that there was a serious argument between the players and the technical team over their accommodation at Miklin last Friday as soon as they arrived there.
According to the source, the technical men were of the opinion that as defending champions, they should have been accommodated at a five-star hotel and therefore saw no reason why they should be brought to Miklin.
Among the facilities at Miklin are a gymnasium, broad band internet facilities, presidential suites with room service, terrace bar and four conference halls, as well as a spacious car park and a restaurant.
The source said it was to avoid any controversy among the players and team officials that the KVOC agreed to swap the Egyptians with The Sudanese who had not arrived in Kumasi by then. But at the Golden Tulip they again had cause to complain, necessitating their move to NODA where the team officials and team are now lodging, while the players remain at Golden Tulip Kumasi City.
The source said as soon as they moved out from Miklin, the KVOC, which had initially agreed to accommodate the Sudanese team at the Golden Tulip, where the Zambians are also lodging, quickly arranged to accommodate The Sudan at Miklin.
It said the Sudanese team were very much in love with the facilities they saw at Miklin and had started their preparations in their open encounter with Egypt at the Baba Yara Stadium on Saturday January 26.
Monday, January 21, 2008
ECG ASSURES OF POWER SUPPLY ... (Page 53)
Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has given the assurance that there will be uninterrupted power supply to residents in the Kumasi metropolis before, during and after the Ghana 2008 tournament to enable soccer fans in the metropolis to enjoy every aspect of the tournament.
Briefing the Daily Graphic in an interview in Kumasi on the quality of power supply to residents, especially during the Ghana 2008 tournament, the Public Relations Officer of the company, Mr Williams Boateng, said the company had put structures in place to ensure that residents were provided with uninterrupted power during the tournament.
He pointed out that prior to the tournament, the company started a project to expand some of their underground cables, and this affected power supply to some suburbs in the metropolis.
He said since the project was planned, residents at the affected areas were given adequate notice to enable them to prepare for “the planned power outages”
Explaining, he said the affected areas were overloaded and this undermined quality power supply, hence their initiative to expand the underground cables.
He pointed out that the project was yet to be completed, but because of the importance of the Ghana 2008 tournament, and their desire to allow all residents to enjoy every aspect of the soccer fiesta, they had asked the contractor to suspend work and continue when the tournament was over.
“We have done everything needed to be done to ensure that residents do not experience any power outages in the course of the tournament , because we cherish them . We are aware that the tournament would be played in the peak period of the evenings, so we have put two teams to be on duty during such periods so that they would readily attend to any fault reported,” he assured.
Mr Boateng explained that previously only one team attended to customers in the night “ but we have now doubled it to ensure that they monitor the supply of power and attend to customers to ensure that intervention time would be reduced to the barest minimum”.
He said it was important for residents to contact the fault section of the company in case of any power outages for their power to be restored.
Stressing, he said “customers should not think that when there is any power outage in their residence, the ECG would know, so it is important for them to notify us as soon as possible to ensure that they are readily attended to”.
“This is an international assignment and the image of the company is at stake, so we are poised to be equal to the task by providing uninterrupted power supply to residents,” he further assured.
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has given the assurance that there will be uninterrupted power supply to residents in the Kumasi metropolis before, during and after the Ghana 2008 tournament to enable soccer fans in the metropolis to enjoy every aspect of the tournament.
Briefing the Daily Graphic in an interview in Kumasi on the quality of power supply to residents, especially during the Ghana 2008 tournament, the Public Relations Officer of the company, Mr Williams Boateng, said the company had put structures in place to ensure that residents were provided with uninterrupted power during the tournament.
He pointed out that prior to the tournament, the company started a project to expand some of their underground cables, and this affected power supply to some suburbs in the metropolis.
He said since the project was planned, residents at the affected areas were given adequate notice to enable them to prepare for “the planned power outages”
Explaining, he said the affected areas were overloaded and this undermined quality power supply, hence their initiative to expand the underground cables.
He pointed out that the project was yet to be completed, but because of the importance of the Ghana 2008 tournament, and their desire to allow all residents to enjoy every aspect of the soccer fiesta, they had asked the contractor to suspend work and continue when the tournament was over.
“We have done everything needed to be done to ensure that residents do not experience any power outages in the course of the tournament , because we cherish them . We are aware that the tournament would be played in the peak period of the evenings, so we have put two teams to be on duty during such periods so that they would readily attend to any fault reported,” he assured.
Mr Boateng explained that previously only one team attended to customers in the night “ but we have now doubled it to ensure that they monitor the supply of power and attend to customers to ensure that intervention time would be reduced to the barest minimum”.
He said it was important for residents to contact the fault section of the company in case of any power outages for their power to be restored.
Stressing, he said “customers should not think that when there is any power outage in their residence, the ECG would know, so it is important for them to notify us as soon as possible to ensure that they are readily attended to”.
“This is an international assignment and the image of the company is at stake, so we are poised to be equal to the task by providing uninterrupted power supply to residents,” he further assured.
RESIDENTS URGED TO SUPPORT POLICE MAINTAIN SECURITY (Page 54)
Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
The Ashanti Regional Crime Officer, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Bright Oduro, has given the assurance that the police are poised to offer adequate protection to players and team officials of all the four teams vying for honours in the preliminary stages of the Ghana 2008 tournament in Kumasi.
He said they had also instituted adequate measures to ensure that criminals did not take advantage of the tournament in Kumasi to harass residents.
“We have withdrawn 400 men from other parts of the region to beef up security in Kumasi to conduct spot checks in all parts of the metropolis. Our men will also be positioned at vantage points where criminals are likely to operate to ensure that residents and the visitors receive maximum security during the tournament to enable soccer fans to enjoy every aspect of the soccer,” he said.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic in an interview on how the police were addressing the challenges they would face as far as the Ghana 2008 tournament was concerned — especially taking into consideration the fact that Kumasi was noted as one of the black spots of criminal activities in the country — Mr Oduro said the police were aware of the challenges facing them and would be equal to the task.
He said since all the four teams that would base in Kumasi — Egypt, Cameroun, Zambia and Sudan — were not West African countries, they might not enjoy maximum support from Kumasi and this was where soccer fans would struggle to fill the stadium in their numbers.
ACP Bright Oduro said the police had mapped out a strategy to provide a 24-hour security at the hotels of all the participating teams to ensure that the players got the peace to concentrate on their game plan.
He said the police had also identified all the entertaining spots where supporters were likely to have fun and would put men on standby to ensure that criminals did not cause any problems.
“Besides, we have also pencilled out some criminals who are on our wanted lists and are picking them one by one to prevent them from creating security problems for us,” he noted, adding that “we would also ensure that commercial sex workers do not indulge in any criminal activities and we would not hesitate to arrest and prosecute anyone with criminal intentions.
ACP Bright Oduro urged residents to be very vigilant and report any suspicious characters as part of their civic responsibilities.
He said it was only when residents were vigilant and supported the police in their battle against criminals that the crime wave in the metropolis would be curtailed for sustainable peace and tranquillity to prevail.
“We need the support and co-operation of the public to enhance effective and efficient policing because security is a shared responsibility.”
The Ashanti Regional Crime Officer, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Bright Oduro, has given the assurance that the police are poised to offer adequate protection to players and team officials of all the four teams vying for honours in the preliminary stages of the Ghana 2008 tournament in Kumasi.
He said they had also instituted adequate measures to ensure that criminals did not take advantage of the tournament in Kumasi to harass residents.
“We have withdrawn 400 men from other parts of the region to beef up security in Kumasi to conduct spot checks in all parts of the metropolis. Our men will also be positioned at vantage points where criminals are likely to operate to ensure that residents and the visitors receive maximum security during the tournament to enable soccer fans to enjoy every aspect of the soccer,” he said.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic in an interview on how the police were addressing the challenges they would face as far as the Ghana 2008 tournament was concerned — especially taking into consideration the fact that Kumasi was noted as one of the black spots of criminal activities in the country — Mr Oduro said the police were aware of the challenges facing them and would be equal to the task.
He said since all the four teams that would base in Kumasi — Egypt, Cameroun, Zambia and Sudan — were not West African countries, they might not enjoy maximum support from Kumasi and this was where soccer fans would struggle to fill the stadium in their numbers.
ACP Bright Oduro said the police had mapped out a strategy to provide a 24-hour security at the hotels of all the participating teams to ensure that the players got the peace to concentrate on their game plan.
He said the police had also identified all the entertaining spots where supporters were likely to have fun and would put men on standby to ensure that criminals did not cause any problems.
“Besides, we have also pencilled out some criminals who are on our wanted lists and are picking them one by one to prevent them from creating security problems for us,” he noted, adding that “we would also ensure that commercial sex workers do not indulge in any criminal activities and we would not hesitate to arrest and prosecute anyone with criminal intentions.
ACP Bright Oduro urged residents to be very vigilant and report any suspicious characters as part of their civic responsibilities.
He said it was only when residents were vigilant and supported the police in their battle against criminals that the crime wave in the metropolis would be curtailed for sustainable peace and tranquillity to prevail.
“We need the support and co-operation of the public to enhance effective and efficient policing because security is a shared responsibility.”
KUMASI FANS MOB ETO'O, OTTO PFISTER (Page 39)
Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
SOCCER fans in Kumasi besieged the Kumasi Airport yesterday in their numbers to virtually mob the Indomitable Lions of Cameroun who are expected to lock horns with Egypt on Tuesday in the preliminary rounds of the Ghana 2008 tournament.
The Lions who were expected to land at the Kumasi Airport in the morning finally arrived at 1:15 pm but the fans who were eager to catch a glimpse of the soccer stars from Cameroun, especially their idol, Samuel Eto’o, were not perturbed about the delay and waited patiently amid drumming and dancing.
And when the plane carrying the players, technical men and team officials touched down, the fans were simply ecstatic and could not be controlled by the security men who were also at the airport in their numbers to protect the visitors.
Unknown to Eto’o and his team -mates, the soccer fans have formed the Samuel Eto’o Fan Club, and with various placards to sing the praises of Eto’o, they attempted to break the security guards to enable them to shake hands with him and his team mates.
The Camerounians responded with the wave of their hands to signal that they were also in love with the fans and their hospitality.
Also mobbed was the former national Coach, Mr Otto Pfister, who is now the Head Coach of Cameroun.
The ever smiling Pfister who looked very cheerful also responded by waving at the crowd before joining the bus which took them to their hotel.
Both the players and team officials, however, declined to talk to the media. They indicated that they were weary and would offer an opportunity to the media for a fruitful encounter after a rest.
They are paired in Group C, together with Egypt, Zambia and Sudan. The Egyptians were expected to arrive in Accra late last night.
SOCCER fans in Kumasi besieged the Kumasi Airport yesterday in their numbers to virtually mob the Indomitable Lions of Cameroun who are expected to lock horns with Egypt on Tuesday in the preliminary rounds of the Ghana 2008 tournament.
The Lions who were expected to land at the Kumasi Airport in the morning finally arrived at 1:15 pm but the fans who were eager to catch a glimpse of the soccer stars from Cameroun, especially their idol, Samuel Eto’o, were not perturbed about the delay and waited patiently amid drumming and dancing.
And when the plane carrying the players, technical men and team officials touched down, the fans were simply ecstatic and could not be controlled by the security men who were also at the airport in their numbers to protect the visitors.
Unknown to Eto’o and his team -mates, the soccer fans have formed the Samuel Eto’o Fan Club, and with various placards to sing the praises of Eto’o, they attempted to break the security guards to enable them to shake hands with him and his team mates.
The Camerounians responded with the wave of their hands to signal that they were also in love with the fans and their hospitality.
Also mobbed was the former national Coach, Mr Otto Pfister, who is now the Head Coach of Cameroun.
The ever smiling Pfister who looked very cheerful also responded by waving at the crowd before joining the bus which took them to their hotel.
Both the players and team officials, however, declined to talk to the media. They indicated that they were weary and would offer an opportunity to the media for a fruitful encounter after a rest.
They are paired in Group C, together with Egypt, Zambia and Sudan. The Egyptians were expected to arrive in Accra late last night.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
BE HOSPITABLE BUT VIGILANT (Page 29)
Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
THE Ashanti Regional Director of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), Mr E. O. Lamptey, has urged residents of the Kumasi metropolis and its surrounding areas to extend their usual Ghanaian hospitality to all the players, team officials and supporters of the teams that will be hosted in Kumasi during the Ghana 2008 tournament to enhance its success.
He, however, cautioned them to be extra vigilant and collaborate with the security apparatus to ensure that the visitors who would troop into the metropolis would not take advantage of the prevailing serene atmosphere to commit crimes that would undermine internal security.
Egypt, Cameroun, Zambia and The Sudan will be based in Kumasi to vie for honours in the preliminary stages.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic in an interview on the challenges the security apparatus would face as Ghana hosted the continental soccer tournament, Mr Lamptey said security issues were a shared responsibility and urged the residents to be vigilant and not ignore anything that would undermine the internal security of the nation.
“In line with our motto — friendship with vigilance — I entreat residents of the metropolis to extend the proverbial Ghanaian hospitality to the visitors but they should also be very vigilant and report all people with questionable characters and behaviour to the security apparatus for decisive action to be taken,” he advised.
He stressed that projecting the country’s image through sports was very important, adding, “But we can neither sacrifice our internal security nor compromise it”.
He said some GIS officers from the districts in the region had been drafted to the Kumasi metropolis to augment the efforts of their compatriots in effectively and efficiently monitoring soccer fans who would be based in Kumasi.
He said they had also been provided with the necessary logistics and equipment which would enhance their operations and, therefore, gave the assurance that the officers would be positioned at all entry and vantage points within the metropolis to provide the visitors with adequate security.
“We will be at the entry points around the clock to check the number of visitors, their addresses and other documents that will enable us to monitor them effectively and ensure that they do not overstay their visit after the tournament,” he stressed.
“We have the mechanism to check visitors who will troop in from neighbouring countries but we need the assistance of the citizenry to monitor their activities to prevent any of them from committing any crime that will disturb internal stability and peace,” he said.
Mr Lamptey also urged hoteliers to keep proper records of all visitors who would lodge at their facilities to enable the security apparatus to effectively monitor and protect them.
He said the real challenge of the tournament would emerge at the end of the tournament because potential trouble makers would like to hide at secluded areas in the metropolis to commit crimes that could affect the prevailing peace, adding, “So we would step up security and flush out such people, for which reason we need your co-operation in that regard.”
THE Ashanti Regional Director of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), Mr E. O. Lamptey, has urged residents of the Kumasi metropolis and its surrounding areas to extend their usual Ghanaian hospitality to all the players, team officials and supporters of the teams that will be hosted in Kumasi during the Ghana 2008 tournament to enhance its success.
He, however, cautioned them to be extra vigilant and collaborate with the security apparatus to ensure that the visitors who would troop into the metropolis would not take advantage of the prevailing serene atmosphere to commit crimes that would undermine internal security.
Egypt, Cameroun, Zambia and The Sudan will be based in Kumasi to vie for honours in the preliminary stages.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic in an interview on the challenges the security apparatus would face as Ghana hosted the continental soccer tournament, Mr Lamptey said security issues were a shared responsibility and urged the residents to be vigilant and not ignore anything that would undermine the internal security of the nation.
“In line with our motto — friendship with vigilance — I entreat residents of the metropolis to extend the proverbial Ghanaian hospitality to the visitors but they should also be very vigilant and report all people with questionable characters and behaviour to the security apparatus for decisive action to be taken,” he advised.
He stressed that projecting the country’s image through sports was very important, adding, “But we can neither sacrifice our internal security nor compromise it”.
He said some GIS officers from the districts in the region had been drafted to the Kumasi metropolis to augment the efforts of their compatriots in effectively and efficiently monitoring soccer fans who would be based in Kumasi.
He said they had also been provided with the necessary logistics and equipment which would enhance their operations and, therefore, gave the assurance that the officers would be positioned at all entry and vantage points within the metropolis to provide the visitors with adequate security.
“We will be at the entry points around the clock to check the number of visitors, their addresses and other documents that will enable us to monitor them effectively and ensure that they do not overstay their visit after the tournament,” he stressed.
“We have the mechanism to check visitors who will troop in from neighbouring countries but we need the assistance of the citizenry to monitor their activities to prevent any of them from committing any crime that will disturb internal stability and peace,” he said.
Mr Lamptey also urged hoteliers to keep proper records of all visitors who would lodge at their facilities to enable the security apparatus to effectively monitor and protect them.
He said the real challenge of the tournament would emerge at the end of the tournament because potential trouble makers would like to hide at secluded areas in the metropolis to commit crimes that could affect the prevailing peace, adding, “So we would step up security and flush out such people, for which reason we need your co-operation in that regard.”
KEK SUPPORTS KVOP (Page 29)
Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
As part of its corporate responsibilities and commitment to the success of the Ghana 2008 tournament, KEK Insurance Brokers Limited has presented a cheque for GH¢5,000 to the Kumasi Venue Organising Committee (KVOC) to enhance its operations during the tournament.
The company also gave the assurance that it would offer free consultancy services on insurance policies to the KVOC before and during the tournament to enhance its image.
The Northern Sector Area Manager of KEK Insurance Brokers, Mr Charles Bennin, presented the cheque on behalf of the company to the Chairman of the KVOC, Professor Kwasi Kwafo Adarkwa, during a short but impressive ceremony in Kumasi.
“The KEK is offering free insurance consultancy services to the KVOC to ensure that all hotels earmarked for the hosting of guests and officials for the tournament have in place relevant insurance policies, including public or product liability policies.
This will forestall any loophole likely to arise from the absence of any prescribed insurance in the event of accidental injury, poisoning of guests, more especially foreigners. This is because the reputation of the entire country will be at stake,” Mr Bennin said.
Mr Bennin said further that the company, which obtained its licence from the National Insurance Commission (NIC) in 1990, had succeeded in building a good corporate image, which made it possible for it to be adjudged the leading insurance broker in just two years after it started operations.
He said KEK Insurance Brokers was determined to support institutions and individuals with insurance policies that would facilitate their development.
He said the company’s decision to support the KVOC was in response to an appeal the KVOC made to it. He stressed that in spite of the hard work and commitment of members of the KVOC, they still faced challenges and, therefore, needed financial and material support to enable them to perform creditably.
Mr Bennin appealed to the business community in the metropolis to actively support the KVOC at this crucial moment to enable it to meet all its obligations. He said: “Giving at least a fraction of their profits generated from the region back to the community would ensure a continued and fascinating environment”.
Receiving the cheque, Professor Adarkwa commended KEK for its gesture and gave the assurance that the money would be used for the intended purpose.
He appealed to other corporate bodies, institutions, organisations and individuals to also support the KVOC in order for it to meet some of its challenges.
As part of its corporate responsibilities and commitment to the success of the Ghana 2008 tournament, KEK Insurance Brokers Limited has presented a cheque for GH¢5,000 to the Kumasi Venue Organising Committee (KVOC) to enhance its operations during the tournament.
The company also gave the assurance that it would offer free consultancy services on insurance policies to the KVOC before and during the tournament to enhance its image.
The Northern Sector Area Manager of KEK Insurance Brokers, Mr Charles Bennin, presented the cheque on behalf of the company to the Chairman of the KVOC, Professor Kwasi Kwafo Adarkwa, during a short but impressive ceremony in Kumasi.
“The KEK is offering free insurance consultancy services to the KVOC to ensure that all hotels earmarked for the hosting of guests and officials for the tournament have in place relevant insurance policies, including public or product liability policies.
This will forestall any loophole likely to arise from the absence of any prescribed insurance in the event of accidental injury, poisoning of guests, more especially foreigners. This is because the reputation of the entire country will be at stake,” Mr Bennin said.
Mr Bennin said further that the company, which obtained its licence from the National Insurance Commission (NIC) in 1990, had succeeded in building a good corporate image, which made it possible for it to be adjudged the leading insurance broker in just two years after it started operations.
He said KEK Insurance Brokers was determined to support institutions and individuals with insurance policies that would facilitate their development.
He said the company’s decision to support the KVOC was in response to an appeal the KVOC made to it. He stressed that in spite of the hard work and commitment of members of the KVOC, they still faced challenges and, therefore, needed financial and material support to enable them to perform creditably.
Mr Bennin appealed to the business community in the metropolis to actively support the KVOC at this crucial moment to enable it to meet all its obligations. He said: “Giving at least a fraction of their profits generated from the region back to the community would ensure a continued and fascinating environment”.
Receiving the cheque, Professor Adarkwa commended KEK for its gesture and gave the assurance that the money would be used for the intended purpose.
He appealed to other corporate bodies, institutions, organisations and individuals to also support the KVOC in order for it to meet some of its challenges.
Monday, January 14, 2008
740 POLICEMEN FOR KUMASI TOURNAMENT ....(Page 20)
Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
AS many as 500 specially trained policemen from the Rapid Deployment Force (RDF) of the Ghana Police Service will be deployed to patrol the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi and its environs during the Ghana 2008 tournament to prevent any crowd violence and criminal activities.
Two hundred others who will be in mufti will also be deployed to complement the activities of the RDF at the stadium and they will be positioned at vantage points to enhance adequate security within the metropolis and its environs.
The acting Ashanti Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Seth Oteng, who made this known during the annual media briefing in Kumasi on Tuesday, said in the course of the tournament, 40 police officers would be deployed to beef up security in Kumasi to ensure that soccer fans enjoyed every aspect of the fiesta.
“Our operational machinery will be in full motion as soon as officials, teams and supporters start arriving in Kumasi. Adequate security will be given to CAF, FIFA and all other officials connected to the tournament,” he said.
ACP Oteng also gave the assurance that “teams will be well protected during and after matches. Routes that lead to the hotels where teams, supporters and officials will lodge will be patrolled and the premises that house them will also be secured against any form of unwanted intrusion.
“Our resolve is to ensure that no criminal takes undue advantage of the number of people who will be coming from other parts of the world to witness the event. Criminals may rob people of their valuables in taxis and on their way to and from the stadium and in town,” he stated, adding that “some taxi drivers may want to swindle persons as those people may not be conversant with the new Ghana cedis”.
ACP Oteng further said the police were adequately prepared to meet such swindlers squarely and urged the public to “patronise taxi- cabs that have been embossed by the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), as it is easier to trace those taxis when need be”.
On the general crime situation in Kumasi, the acting Police Commander said from January to June last year, 448 robbery cases were recorded in the region, which made the Police Administration adjudge the region as the most crime prone in the country.
He said the intensity of crime-related cases in the Ashanti Region made the police to strategise to arrest the situation, adding that the Police Administration also deployed more policemen at vantage points and erected more checkpoints, as well as increased foot patrols at specific areas.
Those measures, he said, made a positive impact, as they reduced robbery cases between July and December last year to 147.
ACP Oteng said comparatively the 595 cases recorded between January and December last year were lower than the 828 recorded for the same period in 2006.
He said it was the prudent measures initiated which made it possible for residents of Kumasi to enjoy the Christmas festivities “without recording any significant number of violent crimes.
“We are going to do our best to ensure that we live up to the confidence reposed in us by the good people of this region, especially the challenges of 2008 regarding the Ghana 2008 tournament and the general election to elect new leaders to steer the affairs of the country,” ACP Oteng said.
He commended the public and the media for their active support for the police in their fight against crime and urged them to sustain that cordial relationship to enhance adequate security in the region.
AS many as 500 specially trained policemen from the Rapid Deployment Force (RDF) of the Ghana Police Service will be deployed to patrol the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi and its environs during the Ghana 2008 tournament to prevent any crowd violence and criminal activities.
Two hundred others who will be in mufti will also be deployed to complement the activities of the RDF at the stadium and they will be positioned at vantage points to enhance adequate security within the metropolis and its environs.
The acting Ashanti Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Seth Oteng, who made this known during the annual media briefing in Kumasi on Tuesday, said in the course of the tournament, 40 police officers would be deployed to beef up security in Kumasi to ensure that soccer fans enjoyed every aspect of the fiesta.
“Our operational machinery will be in full motion as soon as officials, teams and supporters start arriving in Kumasi. Adequate security will be given to CAF, FIFA and all other officials connected to the tournament,” he said.
ACP Oteng also gave the assurance that “teams will be well protected during and after matches. Routes that lead to the hotels where teams, supporters and officials will lodge will be patrolled and the premises that house them will also be secured against any form of unwanted intrusion.
“Our resolve is to ensure that no criminal takes undue advantage of the number of people who will be coming from other parts of the world to witness the event. Criminals may rob people of their valuables in taxis and on their way to and from the stadium and in town,” he stated, adding that “some taxi drivers may want to swindle persons as those people may not be conversant with the new Ghana cedis”.
ACP Oteng further said the police were adequately prepared to meet such swindlers squarely and urged the public to “patronise taxi- cabs that have been embossed by the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), as it is easier to trace those taxis when need be”.
On the general crime situation in Kumasi, the acting Police Commander said from January to June last year, 448 robbery cases were recorded in the region, which made the Police Administration adjudge the region as the most crime prone in the country.
He said the intensity of crime-related cases in the Ashanti Region made the police to strategise to arrest the situation, adding that the Police Administration also deployed more policemen at vantage points and erected more checkpoints, as well as increased foot patrols at specific areas.
Those measures, he said, made a positive impact, as they reduced robbery cases between July and December last year to 147.
ACP Oteng said comparatively the 595 cases recorded between January and December last year were lower than the 828 recorded for the same period in 2006.
He said it was the prudent measures initiated which made it possible for residents of Kumasi to enjoy the Christmas festivities “without recording any significant number of violent crimes.
“We are going to do our best to ensure that we live up to the confidence reposed in us by the good people of this region, especially the challenges of 2008 regarding the Ghana 2008 tournament and the general election to elect new leaders to steer the affairs of the country,” ACP Oteng said.
He commended the public and the media for their active support for the police in their fight against crime and urged them to sustain that cordial relationship to enhance adequate security in the region.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
THREE ARRESTED OVER CABLE THEFT ... (Page 23)
Story: George Ernest Asare, Obuasi
THE Management of AngloGold Ashanti heaved a sigh of relief when members of the Ahansonyewodea Community Watchdog committee in the Obuasi municipality succeeded in arresting three middle-aged persons suspected to belong to a gang that had been causing havoc to the mining company by setting fire to electric cables and destroying their facilities.
The suspects who were arrested around 2.30 am on Tuesday, January 8, 2008 during a night patrol by the members have already been handed over to the police to assist in their investigations.
They were identified as Kofi Mfum, 40, a painter and a native of Tutuka in Obuasi, Ibrahim Adams 48, who claims to be ‘galamseyer’ from Brahabebome, also in the Obuasi municipality, and Kwabena Frimpong, a 38-year-old native of Tutuka who claims also to be a farmer.
Briefing the Daily Graphic about the arrest, a police source said in the course of their patrols, the committee members saw the suspects carrying quantities of cables at a secluded area belonging to the mining company.
The source said before the members could make any move to arrest them, the suspects threw away the cables and other equipment suspected to have been stolen from the premises of the mining company.
According to the source, the sudden escape of the suspects raised the suspicion of the committee members so they did not pursue the suspects but rather laid ambush hoping that the suspects would return to take away their booty.
The source said the patience of the committee members paid off when after waiting for two hours, they saw the three suspects walking stealthily towards the area where they earlier dumped the cables and other equipment.
They said the members surrounded and arrested the three and when they searched Kofi Mfum who was carrying a sack, they saw a shifting spanner, a hoe, tester, tape-measure, a saw-blade, peeled copper and a shovel.
The police source said one of the suspects, Kwabena Frimpong attempted to bribe the member with GH¢13, but the members refused and took them to the mine security who after initial investigations handed them to the police.
Last week, unidentified men suspected to belong to a gang of galamseyers, set fire to electric cables of AngloGold Ashanti causing extensive damage to transformers and causing power cut to the deep mines where some miners were by then working.
The incident affected operations of the Adansi Shaft of the deep mines causing the shaft to break down and trapping 37 miners who were by then working 4000 feet underground.
After about 12 hours in the deep mines, the authorities of the mines succeeded in restoring power to rescue the miners amid jubilation by their family members who had by then gathered at the mining centre and praying for their safety.
The managing director of the company, Mr John Miller, at a news conference at Obuasi on Friday, January 4, 2008, estimated the cost of equipment damaged to be between $500,000 to $1 million.
THE Management of AngloGold Ashanti heaved a sigh of relief when members of the Ahansonyewodea Community Watchdog committee in the Obuasi municipality succeeded in arresting three middle-aged persons suspected to belong to a gang that had been causing havoc to the mining company by setting fire to electric cables and destroying their facilities.
The suspects who were arrested around 2.30 am on Tuesday, January 8, 2008 during a night patrol by the members have already been handed over to the police to assist in their investigations.
They were identified as Kofi Mfum, 40, a painter and a native of Tutuka in Obuasi, Ibrahim Adams 48, who claims to be ‘galamseyer’ from Brahabebome, also in the Obuasi municipality, and Kwabena Frimpong, a 38-year-old native of Tutuka who claims also to be a farmer.
Briefing the Daily Graphic about the arrest, a police source said in the course of their patrols, the committee members saw the suspects carrying quantities of cables at a secluded area belonging to the mining company.
The source said before the members could make any move to arrest them, the suspects threw away the cables and other equipment suspected to have been stolen from the premises of the mining company.
According to the source, the sudden escape of the suspects raised the suspicion of the committee members so they did not pursue the suspects but rather laid ambush hoping that the suspects would return to take away their booty.
The source said the patience of the committee members paid off when after waiting for two hours, they saw the three suspects walking stealthily towards the area where they earlier dumped the cables and other equipment.
They said the members surrounded and arrested the three and when they searched Kofi Mfum who was carrying a sack, they saw a shifting spanner, a hoe, tester, tape-measure, a saw-blade, peeled copper and a shovel.
The police source said one of the suspects, Kwabena Frimpong attempted to bribe the member with GH¢13, but the members refused and took them to the mine security who after initial investigations handed them to the police.
Last week, unidentified men suspected to belong to a gang of galamseyers, set fire to electric cables of AngloGold Ashanti causing extensive damage to transformers and causing power cut to the deep mines where some miners were by then working.
The incident affected operations of the Adansi Shaft of the deep mines causing the shaft to break down and trapping 37 miners who were by then working 4000 feet underground.
After about 12 hours in the deep mines, the authorities of the mines succeeded in restoring power to rescue the miners amid jubilation by their family members who had by then gathered at the mining centre and praying for their safety.
The managing director of the company, Mr John Miller, at a news conference at Obuasi on Friday, January 4, 2008, estimated the cost of equipment damaged to be between $500,000 to $1 million.
Friday, January 11, 2008
DRIVER, MATE BURNT TO DEATH ....(Page 23)
Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
A Driver and his mate were burnt to death at Breku, a town on the Konongo-Nkawkaw road, last Saturday when their articulated truck, loaded with cement, crashed into a stationary fuel tanker.
According to the police, the accident occurred when the driver ignored police signal to slow down at a spot at Breku where the fully loaded tanker had crashed into a stationary articulated truck.
The police said the collision resulted in a fire, killing the driver and his mate.
Briefing the Daily Graphic on the accident, the Ashanti Regional Commander of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU), DSP James Sarfo Peprah, said the first accident on the night occurred when the tanker ran into the stationary truck at about 2 a.m.
He said a few minutes after the accident, the police got to the scene and started directing traffic to prevent any carnage, and while they were busily performing their duty, they saw the truck coming from the opposite direction and signalled the driver to slow down.
DSP Peprah said the driver ignored the police signal and drove past before crashing into the tanker, which immediately caught fire.
He said the impact was such that both the driver of the truck loaded with cement and his mate were trapped, making it impossible for them to come out or be rescued, which resulted in their death.
The bodies of the deceased, which are yet to be identified, have been deposited at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) mortuary awaiting autopsy.
A Driver and his mate were burnt to death at Breku, a town on the Konongo-Nkawkaw road, last Saturday when their articulated truck, loaded with cement, crashed into a stationary fuel tanker.
According to the police, the accident occurred when the driver ignored police signal to slow down at a spot at Breku where the fully loaded tanker had crashed into a stationary articulated truck.
The police said the collision resulted in a fire, killing the driver and his mate.
Briefing the Daily Graphic on the accident, the Ashanti Regional Commander of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU), DSP James Sarfo Peprah, said the first accident on the night occurred when the tanker ran into the stationary truck at about 2 a.m.
He said a few minutes after the accident, the police got to the scene and started directing traffic to prevent any carnage, and while they were busily performing their duty, they saw the truck coming from the opposite direction and signalled the driver to slow down.
DSP Peprah said the driver ignored the police signal and drove past before crashing into the tanker, which immediately caught fire.
He said the impact was such that both the driver of the truck loaded with cement and his mate were trapped, making it impossible for them to come out or be rescued, which resulted in their death.
The bodies of the deceased, which are yet to be identified, have been deposited at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) mortuary awaiting autopsy.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
PROVIDE SECURITY IN ANGLOGOLD CONCESSIONS ....(Page 39)
Story: George Ernest Asare, Obuasi
THE General Secretary of the Ghana Mines Workers Union, Prince Ankrah, has called on the government to consider providing security in Anglogold Ashanti concessions to complement the efforts of the company’s security in combating the activities of illegal miners, known in local parlance as “galamsey” operators.
He said the union might be compelled to emabrk on an industrial action to drum home the threat they faced in their work and the need for the authorities to take measures to address it.
He said considering the important role that AngloGold played towards sustainable socio-economic development in the country, and the fact that its security apparatus was inadequate to meet the activities of the galamsey operators, it would not be out of place for the government to come in to support.
Addressing journalists after 37 miners who were trapped 4,000 feet deep in the Adansi Shaft of the Obuasi Mines had been rescued, Mr Ankrah expressed concern about the safety of the miners, specially the physical and mental torture they went through any time they were attacked and threatened by the fully armed galamsey operators in the course of their operations underground.
In an attempt to steal cables at the concession of AngloGold Ashanti last Thursday, a gang of illegal miners set fire to electrical cables that connected the Adansi Shaft and succeeded in causing the shaft to break down, making it impossible for the 37 miners who were at the time 4,000 feet in the deep mines to come out.
The traumatised miners have been given days off to recover from the shock they went through.
The incident, which occurred around 2 p.m. on January 4, 2008, created panic among the family members of the trapped miners and the general public and it was not until about 10.40 p.m. that they were finally rescued after the management had been able to restore power to the mines.
Apart from a number of cables that were destroyed as a result of the fire that triggered off, about 20 transformers were also set ablaze, making it impossible for any electrical equipment at the northern section of the mines to function.
The facilities destroyed were estimated at $1 million, and it was also estimated that the loss to the company in terms of production between last Thursday when the incident occurred and Sunday when production resumed was estimated at $1 million.
Mr Ankrah said the miners could not continue to risk their lives to support the national economy to grow, while a few disgruntled individuals always had a field day through illegal mining.
He said the time had come for the government to intervene by using state machinery to flush out the illegal miners.
“The industrial action we would embark upon is not about the issue of pay, but a serious problem concerning the safety of the miners,” he stressed, adding that “the interference of the ‘galamseyers’ in the operations of the miners is now getting out of hand, and it is time the government stepped in to restore sanity for the miners to go about their lawful duties”.
Earlier the outgoing General Manager for Sustainable Development of AngloGold Ashanti, Mr Yiadom Boakye Amponsah, had told journalists that efforts to ward off the illegal mines over the years had not yielded any positive results.
He said the company had initiated viable employment programmes in some communities as a way of empowering the youth economically.
He said apart from projects such as classrooms, hospitals, roads and bridges and free supply of power and the implementation of the malarial control programme to reduce the rate of malarial infection within the Obuasi municipality and its environs, the company had also introduced aqua culture, gold jewellery, garment, bricks and lime projects to enhance income generation among the youth.
Mr Amponsah said the company was facilitating arrangements for the ‘galamseyers’ to acquire their own concession to enable them to undertake small-scale mining.
He said with such initiatives, it was their expectation that galamsey activities on their concession would end to create a conducive atmosphere for the miners to operate.
THE General Secretary of the Ghana Mines Workers Union, Prince Ankrah, has called on the government to consider providing security in Anglogold Ashanti concessions to complement the efforts of the company’s security in combating the activities of illegal miners, known in local parlance as “galamsey” operators.
He said the union might be compelled to emabrk on an industrial action to drum home the threat they faced in their work and the need for the authorities to take measures to address it.
He said considering the important role that AngloGold played towards sustainable socio-economic development in the country, and the fact that its security apparatus was inadequate to meet the activities of the galamsey operators, it would not be out of place for the government to come in to support.
Addressing journalists after 37 miners who were trapped 4,000 feet deep in the Adansi Shaft of the Obuasi Mines had been rescued, Mr Ankrah expressed concern about the safety of the miners, specially the physical and mental torture they went through any time they were attacked and threatened by the fully armed galamsey operators in the course of their operations underground.
In an attempt to steal cables at the concession of AngloGold Ashanti last Thursday, a gang of illegal miners set fire to electrical cables that connected the Adansi Shaft and succeeded in causing the shaft to break down, making it impossible for the 37 miners who were at the time 4,000 feet in the deep mines to come out.
The traumatised miners have been given days off to recover from the shock they went through.
The incident, which occurred around 2 p.m. on January 4, 2008, created panic among the family members of the trapped miners and the general public and it was not until about 10.40 p.m. that they were finally rescued after the management had been able to restore power to the mines.
Apart from a number of cables that were destroyed as a result of the fire that triggered off, about 20 transformers were also set ablaze, making it impossible for any electrical equipment at the northern section of the mines to function.
The facilities destroyed were estimated at $1 million, and it was also estimated that the loss to the company in terms of production between last Thursday when the incident occurred and Sunday when production resumed was estimated at $1 million.
Mr Ankrah said the miners could not continue to risk their lives to support the national economy to grow, while a few disgruntled individuals always had a field day through illegal mining.
He said the time had come for the government to intervene by using state machinery to flush out the illegal miners.
“The industrial action we would embark upon is not about the issue of pay, but a serious problem concerning the safety of the miners,” he stressed, adding that “the interference of the ‘galamseyers’ in the operations of the miners is now getting out of hand, and it is time the government stepped in to restore sanity for the miners to go about their lawful duties”.
Earlier the outgoing General Manager for Sustainable Development of AngloGold Ashanti, Mr Yiadom Boakye Amponsah, had told journalists that efforts to ward off the illegal mines over the years had not yielded any positive results.
He said the company had initiated viable employment programmes in some communities as a way of empowering the youth economically.
He said apart from projects such as classrooms, hospitals, roads and bridges and free supply of power and the implementation of the malarial control programme to reduce the rate of malarial infection within the Obuasi municipality and its environs, the company had also introduced aqua culture, gold jewellery, garment, bricks and lime projects to enhance income generation among the youth.
Mr Amponsah said the company was facilitating arrangements for the ‘galamseyers’ to acquire their own concession to enable them to undertake small-scale mining.
He said with such initiatives, it was their expectation that galamsey activities on their concession would end to create a conducive atmosphere for the miners to operate.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
FIRE, SECURITY AGENTS AND MEDICS TEST COMBAT READINESS (Page 29)
Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
Medical officers, the security apparatus, Fire Service personnel and other stakeholders in crowd management and control in the Kumasi metropolis have staged a mock exercise at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium to test their combat readiness on disaster management and control, as the Ghana 2008 draws nearer.
The exercise, which started early on Monday, climaxes a week’s training programme to sharpen the skills of the medical officers, police, Fire Service persons and the Ambulance Team, who will be directly involved in any mishap that occurs at the stadium before, during or after the tournament.
About 117 medical officers, made up of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, anaesthetists and physiotherapists were involved in the exercise.
They were drawn from the KATH, the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Hospital, the Manhyia and Suntreso hospitals.
About 80 trainees nurse were also used as sports fans who had been injured from crowd violence and police action, with 20 of them sustaining very serious injuries and, therefore, needing urgent medical attention to save their lives.
The injuries ranged from burns, fractures, cuts at the various parts of their bodies and bleeding profusely
Briefing the media about the significance of the exercise, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Dr Anthony Nsiah-Asare, said during tournaments of such magnitude, there was the need to prepare adequately for any eventuality.
“It is also necessary to address any challenge effectively and efficiently, hence the exercise to test the combat readiness of the team prior to the tournament, “ Dr Nsiah-Asare said.
He recalled the May 9, 2001 disaster at the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium in Accra, where crowd violence and police response led to the death of 126 sports fans, and stressed the need for all stakeholders to prepare adequately on crowd management to prevent future occurrences.
Dr Nsiah-Asare said the simulation exercise involved the management of injuries, especially the provision of first aid to sports fans before they were evacuated to the hospitals.
He said they also timed the period first aid was provided to the affected fans and their evacuation to the hospital to note how efficient or otherwise they were.
Dr Nsiah-Asare said in the course of the tournament a number of ambulances would be ready to transport injured players and sports fans to the hospital.
“ As many as five ambulances will not only be ready at any time but the drivers are also conversant with the route to take while the police will also help to control traffic in order that we will be able to get patients to hospital on time for them to get the best of treatment”, he stressed.
He said others would also be positioned at vantage points to support the team in case of any emergency.
Medical officers, the security apparatus, Fire Service personnel and other stakeholders in crowd management and control in the Kumasi metropolis have staged a mock exercise at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium to test their combat readiness on disaster management and control, as the Ghana 2008 draws nearer.
The exercise, which started early on Monday, climaxes a week’s training programme to sharpen the skills of the medical officers, police, Fire Service persons and the Ambulance Team, who will be directly involved in any mishap that occurs at the stadium before, during or after the tournament.
About 117 medical officers, made up of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, anaesthetists and physiotherapists were involved in the exercise.
They were drawn from the KATH, the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Hospital, the Manhyia and Suntreso hospitals.
About 80 trainees nurse were also used as sports fans who had been injured from crowd violence and police action, with 20 of them sustaining very serious injuries and, therefore, needing urgent medical attention to save their lives.
The injuries ranged from burns, fractures, cuts at the various parts of their bodies and bleeding profusely
Briefing the media about the significance of the exercise, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Dr Anthony Nsiah-Asare, said during tournaments of such magnitude, there was the need to prepare adequately for any eventuality.
“It is also necessary to address any challenge effectively and efficiently, hence the exercise to test the combat readiness of the team prior to the tournament, “ Dr Nsiah-Asare said.
He recalled the May 9, 2001 disaster at the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium in Accra, where crowd violence and police response led to the death of 126 sports fans, and stressed the need for all stakeholders to prepare adequately on crowd management to prevent future occurrences.
Dr Nsiah-Asare said the simulation exercise involved the management of injuries, especially the provision of first aid to sports fans before they were evacuated to the hospitals.
He said they also timed the period first aid was provided to the affected fans and their evacuation to the hospital to note how efficient or otherwise they were.
Dr Nsiah-Asare said in the course of the tournament a number of ambulances would be ready to transport injured players and sports fans to the hospital.
“ As many as five ambulances will not only be ready at any time but the drivers are also conversant with the route to take while the police will also help to control traffic in order that we will be able to get patients to hospital on time for them to get the best of treatment”, he stressed.
He said others would also be positioned at vantage points to support the team in case of any emergency.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
ASSEMBLY MEMBER COMMENDS DCE ...(Page 20)
Story: George Ernest Asare
THE Assembly Member for Atwima Koforidua Electoral Area in the Ashanti Region, Mr Stephen Amankwa, has commended the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Atwima, Mr Thomas Ofori Donkoh, for his prompt response to the sanitation problems that confronted Atwima Koforidua in recent times.
He said an appeal to the DCE to evacuate refuse that had piled up over the years in the central part of Atwima Koforidua yielded positive response as the DCE mobilised the requisite equipment and funds to evacuate the mountain of refuse without any cost to the community.
He said the gesture by Mr Ofori Donkoh went a long way to create a hygienic atmosphere in the community and reduce the spread of communicable diseases that threatened the residents.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic to express his profound appreciation to the DCE, Mr Amankwa pointed out that the refuse started piling up in the Atwima Koforidua community years back before he was elected as Assembly member a few years ago.
He explained that the dump, which was located close to residential areas, created health hazards for the residents because contaminated liquid materials from the dump flowed to nearby houses.
He said because of its neglect for a long time, multitudes of houseflies that settled on the contaminated materials at the dump easily flew to houses in the community and settled on food items, creating health problems for the residents.
Mr Amankwa said as a result of residents setting fire to the dump in the dry season, smoke also puffed out of the refuse to houses far and near, creating intense irritation to the eyes of residents and making breathing very difficult all day long, especially in the night.
According to the Assembly member, the stench from the dump also polluted the otherwise healthy atmosphere, creating serious health problems for residents and eventually undermining productivity.
He said it was the health hazards the refuse dump was creating that made him to approach the Atwima District Assembly to evacuate it, thereby controlling the spread of communicable diseases to enhance productivity.
He said with the sanitation problem now addressed through the support of the District Assembly, the community was focusing on educational development to build the capacity of the youth to enhance their market value.
He said their focus was on Information Communication Technology (ICT) and would therefore build a computer centre at the Atwima Koforidua Junior High School to enhance the training of the students in that area.
Mr Amankwa said already, a patriotic citizen from Atwima Koforidua, one Mr Asante, had donated three computers and accessories to the school and efforts were being made to solicit support from well endowed residents to donate more computers and accessories to enable them to begin the programme.
He therefore called on all residents of Atwima Koforidua at home and abroad to support the initiative and make the ICT programme a reality.
Mr Amankwa also expressed concern about the lack of accommodation for teachers at the Junior High School and said that undermined effective teaching and learning. He said efforts would therefore be made to construct bungalows for teachers to ease their accommodation problems to enable them to offer their best for the students to raise the standard of education in the community.
This, he said, would enable the students to develop their potential to the fullest to enable them to contribute more meaningfully to the socio-economic development of the country in the near future.
He therefore appealed to institutions, organisations, individuals and residents of the community to contribute generously to the project as soon it began.
THE Assembly Member for Atwima Koforidua Electoral Area in the Ashanti Region, Mr Stephen Amankwa, has commended the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Atwima, Mr Thomas Ofori Donkoh, for his prompt response to the sanitation problems that confronted Atwima Koforidua in recent times.
He said an appeal to the DCE to evacuate refuse that had piled up over the years in the central part of Atwima Koforidua yielded positive response as the DCE mobilised the requisite equipment and funds to evacuate the mountain of refuse without any cost to the community.
He said the gesture by Mr Ofori Donkoh went a long way to create a hygienic atmosphere in the community and reduce the spread of communicable diseases that threatened the residents.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic to express his profound appreciation to the DCE, Mr Amankwa pointed out that the refuse started piling up in the Atwima Koforidua community years back before he was elected as Assembly member a few years ago.
He explained that the dump, which was located close to residential areas, created health hazards for the residents because contaminated liquid materials from the dump flowed to nearby houses.
He said because of its neglect for a long time, multitudes of houseflies that settled on the contaminated materials at the dump easily flew to houses in the community and settled on food items, creating health problems for the residents.
Mr Amankwa said as a result of residents setting fire to the dump in the dry season, smoke also puffed out of the refuse to houses far and near, creating intense irritation to the eyes of residents and making breathing very difficult all day long, especially in the night.
According to the Assembly member, the stench from the dump also polluted the otherwise healthy atmosphere, creating serious health problems for residents and eventually undermining productivity.
He said it was the health hazards the refuse dump was creating that made him to approach the Atwima District Assembly to evacuate it, thereby controlling the spread of communicable diseases to enhance productivity.
He said with the sanitation problem now addressed through the support of the District Assembly, the community was focusing on educational development to build the capacity of the youth to enhance their market value.
He said their focus was on Information Communication Technology (ICT) and would therefore build a computer centre at the Atwima Koforidua Junior High School to enhance the training of the students in that area.
Mr Amankwa said already, a patriotic citizen from Atwima Koforidua, one Mr Asante, had donated three computers and accessories to the school and efforts were being made to solicit support from well endowed residents to donate more computers and accessories to enable them to begin the programme.
He therefore called on all residents of Atwima Koforidua at home and abroad to support the initiative and make the ICT programme a reality.
Mr Amankwa also expressed concern about the lack of accommodation for teachers at the Junior High School and said that undermined effective teaching and learning. He said efforts would therefore be made to construct bungalows for teachers to ease their accommodation problems to enable them to offer their best for the students to raise the standard of education in the community.
This, he said, would enable the students to develop their potential to the fullest to enable them to contribute more meaningfully to the socio-economic development of the country in the near future.
He therefore appealed to institutions, organisations, individuals and residents of the community to contribute generously to the project as soon it began.
Monday, January 7, 2008
37 NEW YEAR BABES BORN AT KATH...... (Page 290
Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
A total of 37 babies were delivered at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in the Kumasi metropolis during the new year.
Fifteen of them were males and 22 females. They were all born on the New Year day.
According to the Public Relations Officer of the hospital, Mr Kwame Frimpong, all the babies were very healthy at the time of delivery.
He said the first baby was a boy and was delivered at exactly 12:10a.m. by one Ms Linda Debra, who resided at Atonsu S- Line, a suburb of Kumasi.
Mr Frimpong told the Daily Graphic that while 25 of the babies were born through spontaneous vagina deliveries (SVDs), 12 were through Caesarian sections and that the babies and their mothers were very healthy.
He said on Christmas day, December 25, 2007, a total of 42 deliveries were also recorded at the hospital.
Mr Frimpong said two of the deliveries on Christmas day were a set of twins. The first set of twins, who were a baby boy and girl, were delivered by one Ms Nages Ibrahim, who was 28 years old, and lived at Asokore Mampong in Kumasi.
He said another set of twins who were all males were delivered later in the day by Ms Ajala Adama, 22, who resided at Bomso, also in Kumasi.
He said 25 years old Hagar Owusu was delivered of the first baby on December 25, 2007 at exactly 12;05a.m.
A total of 37 babies were delivered at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in the Kumasi metropolis during the new year.
Fifteen of them were males and 22 females. They were all born on the New Year day.
According to the Public Relations Officer of the hospital, Mr Kwame Frimpong, all the babies were very healthy at the time of delivery.
He said the first baby was a boy and was delivered at exactly 12:10a.m. by one Ms Linda Debra, who resided at Atonsu S- Line, a suburb of Kumasi.
Mr Frimpong told the Daily Graphic that while 25 of the babies were born through spontaneous vagina deliveries (SVDs), 12 were through Caesarian sections and that the babies and their mothers were very healthy.
He said on Christmas day, December 25, 2007, a total of 42 deliveries were also recorded at the hospital.
Mr Frimpong said two of the deliveries on Christmas day were a set of twins. The first set of twins, who were a baby boy and girl, were delivered by one Ms Nages Ibrahim, who was 28 years old, and lived at Asokore Mampong in Kumasi.
He said another set of twins who were all males were delivered later in the day by Ms Ajala Adama, 22, who resided at Bomso, also in Kumasi.
He said 25 years old Hagar Owusu was delivered of the first baby on December 25, 2007 at exactly 12;05a.m.
KATH TO BE MEDICAL TOURISM CENTRE ...(Page 29)
Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
Authorities of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) have set 2013 as the period to achieve KATH’s set target of becoming a medical tourist centre which offers quality and affordable health care to patients in the country, the sub-region and other parts of the world.
According to the Chief Executive of the KATH, Dr Anthony Nsiah Asare, the medical tourist centre, when established, would be a conducive place for patients from every corner of the world to converge and access excellent health care delivery services.
That, he said, would enable the country to generate sufficient foreign exchange for sustainable socio-economic development to raise the living standards of Ghanaians.
Speaking to journalists in Kumasi on Monday as part of his end-of-year annual encounter with the media, Dr Nsiah Asare said the KATH was on course in its efforts to achieve a centre of excellence of international repute.
The annual media interaction has been instituted by the authorities of KATH to offer a platform for journalists in Kumasi for them to have fruitful discussions on the challenges facing the hospital and the way forward.
Dr Nsiah Asare said the initiative to position KATH as a centre of excellence of international repute was mooted about four years ago and it was 95 per cent complete.
He said projects such as the Accident Emergency Unit and the modern mortuary would be inaugurated by the end of April.
He said while the Accident Emergency Unit would offer quality service to accident victims in the Kumasi metropolis and its environs, the mortuary would be able to preserve bodies very well.
Dr Asare said already the Oncology Department, which was designed to offer quality health care service to cancer patients and the Physiotherapy Department, which rehabilitates patients, are already providing excellent services.
The chief executive said the KATH authorities were poised to address all the challenges facing the tertiary hospital to enable it become attractive and unique to patients in terms of quality health care delivery.
He also said the maternity and children’s blocks, which were currently under construction, were the other projects which would enhance the operations of the hospital when they were completed, to reduce the congestion at those two sections.
He commended the government for the financial support it had provided the hospital over the years which he said had made it possible for the hospital to be in the present condition.
Dr Asare also commended the media for their collaboration and urged them to sustain the relationship to enable the hospital realise its dreams.
The Regional Editor of the Ghana News Agency, Mrs Elizabeth Kankam Boadu, commended the authorities for the achievements chalked up by the hospital so far, but urged them to supervise some of their medical staff very well to enhance quality health care delivery.
She said while some of the medical officers and nurses treated patients with compassion, and helped them to recover speedily, the attitude of others left much to be desired.
Such negative attitude, Mrs Boadu said, sometimes compounded the problems of patients and sent them to their graves prematurely.
She said it would be worthwhile if KATH authorities organised regular workshops for the nurses, especially on how to cater adequately for patients in order to improve the relationship between patients and the medical staff.
Authorities of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) have set 2013 as the period to achieve KATH’s set target of becoming a medical tourist centre which offers quality and affordable health care to patients in the country, the sub-region and other parts of the world.
According to the Chief Executive of the KATH, Dr Anthony Nsiah Asare, the medical tourist centre, when established, would be a conducive place for patients from every corner of the world to converge and access excellent health care delivery services.
That, he said, would enable the country to generate sufficient foreign exchange for sustainable socio-economic development to raise the living standards of Ghanaians.
Speaking to journalists in Kumasi on Monday as part of his end-of-year annual encounter with the media, Dr Nsiah Asare said the KATH was on course in its efforts to achieve a centre of excellence of international repute.
The annual media interaction has been instituted by the authorities of KATH to offer a platform for journalists in Kumasi for them to have fruitful discussions on the challenges facing the hospital and the way forward.
Dr Nsiah Asare said the initiative to position KATH as a centre of excellence of international repute was mooted about four years ago and it was 95 per cent complete.
He said projects such as the Accident Emergency Unit and the modern mortuary would be inaugurated by the end of April.
He said while the Accident Emergency Unit would offer quality service to accident victims in the Kumasi metropolis and its environs, the mortuary would be able to preserve bodies very well.
Dr Asare said already the Oncology Department, which was designed to offer quality health care service to cancer patients and the Physiotherapy Department, which rehabilitates patients, are already providing excellent services.
The chief executive said the KATH authorities were poised to address all the challenges facing the tertiary hospital to enable it become attractive and unique to patients in terms of quality health care delivery.
He also said the maternity and children’s blocks, which were currently under construction, were the other projects which would enhance the operations of the hospital when they were completed, to reduce the congestion at those two sections.
He commended the government for the financial support it had provided the hospital over the years which he said had made it possible for the hospital to be in the present condition.
Dr Asare also commended the media for their collaboration and urged them to sustain the relationship to enable the hospital realise its dreams.
The Regional Editor of the Ghana News Agency, Mrs Elizabeth Kankam Boadu, commended the authorities for the achievements chalked up by the hospital so far, but urged them to supervise some of their medical staff very well to enhance quality health care delivery.
She said while some of the medical officers and nurses treated patients with compassion, and helped them to recover speedily, the attitude of others left much to be desired.
Such negative attitude, Mrs Boadu said, sometimes compounded the problems of patients and sent them to their graves prematurely.
She said it would be worthwhile if KATH authorities organised regular workshops for the nurses, especially on how to cater adequately for patients in order to improve the relationship between patients and the medical staff.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
ACTIVITIES OF GALAMSEY OPERATORS TO AFFECT MINE ...(Page 22)
Story: George Ernest Asare, Obuasi
THE Manager for Planning and Development of AngloGold Ashanti, Mr Bashiru Ahmed, has cautioned that the activities of illegal miners in the concessions of the company may lead to the collapse of the mine.
He said the rate at which the illegal miners had intensified their operations, especially the blasting of the strategic rocks underground as well as the stealing of cables and other facilities would greatly affect the company and also undermine the sustainable growth of the national economy.
Mr Ahmed was speaking to the Daily Graphic to outline the recent blasting of the Adansi Shaft of the mines by a section of illegal miners and its effect on their operations and future expansions.
He said “the year 2007 would go down in history as the period where illegal gold miners nearly succeeded in wresting the concession of AngloGold Ashanti from the hands of management to enable them assume full control of the mines without any obligations to the state and the communities in our catchment area”.
“ It is very unfortunate that the galamseyers have now taken their operations in deep mines, and at areas that are very strategic to us”, he bemoaned adding, “ the blasting of the Adansi Shaft a few months ago is very dangerous because the rocks which could be described as the soul of the mines form pillars that hold the underground mining together, and any attempt to blast it would cause the mines to collapse” .
He said the need to protect the Adansi Shaft was very important and key to sustainable operations of underground mining.
He said efforts to control the illegal miners at the Adansi Shaft and other strategic areas had proved futile because unlike their workers who are not armed, the galamseyers are always fully armed.
He said apart from the Adansi Shaft, the galamseyers had also taken their operations to the Kodo area of the upper mines reserved for future operations and Sanso where they are blasting concrete walls protecting any form of flooding to the mines and communities in their catchment area.
He said the continuous operations of the galamseyers in those areas could break the concrete walls and “ in case of any heavy rainfall it could lead to heavy flooding to destroy lives and property”.
Barely two months ago, six illegal gold miners, trapped in the deep at the Obuasi mine of AngloGold Ashanti, made a dramatic escape after launching an attack on security personnel who had gone down 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.
This came barely a week after the illegal miners battled security men at Obuasi and escaped from the deep mines where they were trapped for some days.
Prior to their escape, the galamseyers had pelted security men, officials of AngloGold and media men who had gone underground to investigate with stones.
Apart from the numerous cable theft carried out by the galamseyers at the concession areas that undermined the operations of the company, the galamseyers also carried their operation deep down into the underground area to below 2300 feet, and succeeded in blasting some of the pillars at the Adansi Shaft regarded as the soul of the mines .
According to the miners, the pillars blasted by the galamseyers at the Adansi Shaft is very rich in gold ore, but had been left untouched because any attempt to blast it would lead to the collapse of the underground mines.
Less than two weeks after the blast of the Adansi Shaft, other galamseyers armed with explosives and assorted weapons were more ferocious and deadly when they again attacked the stock-pad area of AngloGold Ashanti.
Armed with locally manufactured pistols, machetes, clubs and assorted hammers, about 100 of them who had laid ambush at the site, struck with precision at the stock-pad area where rocks rich in gold ore are dumped and subjected 12 Ghanatta Private Security men guarding the ore to severe beatings before carrying tonnes of the ore away in sacks.
They left in their trail six of the private security men severely injured with two of them in very critical condition.
Apart from attacking the security men and carrying away their booty on Friday, November 23, 2007, some of the galamseyers also damaged one of the transmitters that supplied power to the southern section of AngloGold Obuasi when they attempted to cut away cables that supplied power to the area which affected power supply at sections of the mines thus undermining productivity.
These and many other criminal activities are some of the havoc being meted out to the management and staff of AngloGold Obuasi in the name of galamsey while the major stakeholders look on unconcerned.
While some of the galamseyers die from rocks that fall on them in the course of their operations, others are maimed for life but in the end it is their sponsors who get the lions share of their booty and squander them without any form of taxes to the state to sustain the socio-economic development.
Mr Bashiru said apart from the numerous projects AngloGold had splashed out to the communities such as the provision of schools, hospitals, roads and bridges, potable water and power supply, it had also implemented a malaria control programme and solid waste management to prevent the spread of malaria and create hygienic environment that enhances the health status of residents of the Obuasi Municipality and its environs.
He said last year alone the company spent as much as $1,501,966 on projects to improve education, sanitation, community development projects as well as malaria control and art culture and heritage.
Mr Bashiru said it was time the government machinery intervened to remove illegal miners from the mine to prevent them from the deliberate destruction of company property.
The Managing Director of AngloGold Ashanti, Mr John Miller, also expressed concern about the rampant destruction of the company’s facilities by the galamseyers over the years and said apart from the huge cost of repairing the facilities, it also made it difficult for the company to sustain the development projects in the communities.
“ It takes us a lot of money to put back the facilities to enable us resume operation, and this should raise concern among all stakeholders,” he noted.
THE Manager for Planning and Development of AngloGold Ashanti, Mr Bashiru Ahmed, has cautioned that the activities of illegal miners in the concessions of the company may lead to the collapse of the mine.
He said the rate at which the illegal miners had intensified their operations, especially the blasting of the strategic rocks underground as well as the stealing of cables and other facilities would greatly affect the company and also undermine the sustainable growth of the national economy.
Mr Ahmed was speaking to the Daily Graphic to outline the recent blasting of the Adansi Shaft of the mines by a section of illegal miners and its effect on their operations and future expansions.
He said “the year 2007 would go down in history as the period where illegal gold miners nearly succeeded in wresting the concession of AngloGold Ashanti from the hands of management to enable them assume full control of the mines without any obligations to the state and the communities in our catchment area”.
“ It is very unfortunate that the galamseyers have now taken their operations in deep mines, and at areas that are very strategic to us”, he bemoaned adding, “ the blasting of the Adansi Shaft a few months ago is very dangerous because the rocks which could be described as the soul of the mines form pillars that hold the underground mining together, and any attempt to blast it would cause the mines to collapse” .
He said the need to protect the Adansi Shaft was very important and key to sustainable operations of underground mining.
He said efforts to control the illegal miners at the Adansi Shaft and other strategic areas had proved futile because unlike their workers who are not armed, the galamseyers are always fully armed.
He said apart from the Adansi Shaft, the galamseyers had also taken their operations to the Kodo area of the upper mines reserved for future operations and Sanso where they are blasting concrete walls protecting any form of flooding to the mines and communities in their catchment area.
He said the continuous operations of the galamseyers in those areas could break the concrete walls and “ in case of any heavy rainfall it could lead to heavy flooding to destroy lives and property”.
Barely two months ago, six illegal gold miners, trapped in the deep at the Obuasi mine of AngloGold Ashanti, made a dramatic escape after launching an attack on security personnel who had gone down 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.
This came barely a week after the illegal miners battled security men at Obuasi and escaped from the deep mines where they were trapped for some days.
Prior to their escape, the galamseyers had pelted security men, officials of AngloGold and media men who had gone underground to investigate with stones.
Apart from the numerous cable theft carried out by the galamseyers at the concession areas that undermined the operations of the company, the galamseyers also carried their operation deep down into the underground area to below 2300 feet, and succeeded in blasting some of the pillars at the Adansi Shaft regarded as the soul of the mines .
According to the miners, the pillars blasted by the galamseyers at the Adansi Shaft is very rich in gold ore, but had been left untouched because any attempt to blast it would lead to the collapse of the underground mines.
Less than two weeks after the blast of the Adansi Shaft, other galamseyers armed with explosives and assorted weapons were more ferocious and deadly when they again attacked the stock-pad area of AngloGold Ashanti.
Armed with locally manufactured pistols, machetes, clubs and assorted hammers, about 100 of them who had laid ambush at the site, struck with precision at the stock-pad area where rocks rich in gold ore are dumped and subjected 12 Ghanatta Private Security men guarding the ore to severe beatings before carrying tonnes of the ore away in sacks.
They left in their trail six of the private security men severely injured with two of them in very critical condition.
Apart from attacking the security men and carrying away their booty on Friday, November 23, 2007, some of the galamseyers also damaged one of the transmitters that supplied power to the southern section of AngloGold Obuasi when they attempted to cut away cables that supplied power to the area which affected power supply at sections of the mines thus undermining productivity.
These and many other criminal activities are some of the havoc being meted out to the management and staff of AngloGold Obuasi in the name of galamsey while the major stakeholders look on unconcerned.
While some of the galamseyers die from rocks that fall on them in the course of their operations, others are maimed for life but in the end it is their sponsors who get the lions share of their booty and squander them without any form of taxes to the state to sustain the socio-economic development.
Mr Bashiru said apart from the numerous projects AngloGold had splashed out to the communities such as the provision of schools, hospitals, roads and bridges, potable water and power supply, it had also implemented a malaria control programme and solid waste management to prevent the spread of malaria and create hygienic environment that enhances the health status of residents of the Obuasi Municipality and its environs.
He said last year alone the company spent as much as $1,501,966 on projects to improve education, sanitation, community development projects as well as malaria control and art culture and heritage.
Mr Bashiru said it was time the government machinery intervened to remove illegal miners from the mine to prevent them from the deliberate destruction of company property.
The Managing Director of AngloGold Ashanti, Mr John Miller, also expressed concern about the rampant destruction of the company’s facilities by the galamseyers over the years and said apart from the huge cost of repairing the facilities, it also made it difficult for the company to sustain the development projects in the communities.
“ It takes us a lot of money to put back the facilities to enable us resume operation, and this should raise concern among all stakeholders,” he noted.
Friday, January 4, 2008
KATH TO CORRECT CONGENITAL MALFORMATIONS (Page 28)
Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
A surgical team from the International Volunteers in Urology (IVU) of the United States of America (USA) will arrive in Kumasi on January 11, 2008 to join their counterparts from the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) to provide free surgery for children suffering from abnormal genital organs and other congenital malformations in their genitourinary tracts.
During the one-week programme, surgical operations would be performed to correct abnormalities in children who are born with both sex organs (hermaphrodites) and others with genital malformations, including penile hypospadia, hypertropy of the clitoris, bladder extrophy and epispadia.
About 40 children with such abnormalities would benefit from the programme and pay a token fee for the test that would be conducted. Those who have registered under the National Health Insurance will not pay anything.
A statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the KATH, Mr Kwame Frimpong and made available to the Daily Graphic indicated that Dr Ken Aboah, who is in charge of the Urology Unit of the Surgery Directorate of the KATH would be in charge of the KATH team that would partner their USA counterparts for the free surgical operations.
The statement said that a screening exercise to select beneficiaries for the surgery would be held at the Radium Centre of the hospital’s Oncology Directorate from Monday, January 7, 2008 to Saturday January 12, 2008 at 8:30 am each day.
According to the statement, it was important for parents whose children had malformed sex organs “to take advantage of the free reconstructive surgeries to bring them to the KATH for screening”.
Hospitals and midwifery homes that had also come across such babies should refer them for the screening”.
“The KATH’s collaboration with the IVU is to make the otherwise expensive inter-sex and genital abnormality reconstructive surgeries accessible to needy children in the country,” the statement added.
It stressed that “normally, one genitourinary tract reconstructive surgery could cost over GH¢1,000 in the country, an amount most parents cannot afford but with our collaboration with such partners as the IVU, such surgeries could be provided for just a token fee”.
A surgical team from the International Volunteers in Urology (IVU) of the United States of America (USA) will arrive in Kumasi on January 11, 2008 to join their counterparts from the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) to provide free surgery for children suffering from abnormal genital organs and other congenital malformations in their genitourinary tracts.
During the one-week programme, surgical operations would be performed to correct abnormalities in children who are born with both sex organs (hermaphrodites) and others with genital malformations, including penile hypospadia, hypertropy of the clitoris, bladder extrophy and epispadia.
About 40 children with such abnormalities would benefit from the programme and pay a token fee for the test that would be conducted. Those who have registered under the National Health Insurance will not pay anything.
A statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the KATH, Mr Kwame Frimpong and made available to the Daily Graphic indicated that Dr Ken Aboah, who is in charge of the Urology Unit of the Surgery Directorate of the KATH would be in charge of the KATH team that would partner their USA counterparts for the free surgical operations.
The statement said that a screening exercise to select beneficiaries for the surgery would be held at the Radium Centre of the hospital’s Oncology Directorate from Monday, January 7, 2008 to Saturday January 12, 2008 at 8:30 am each day.
According to the statement, it was important for parents whose children had malformed sex organs “to take advantage of the free reconstructive surgeries to bring them to the KATH for screening”.
Hospitals and midwifery homes that had also come across such babies should refer them for the screening”.
“The KATH’s collaboration with the IVU is to make the otherwise expensive inter-sex and genital abnormality reconstructive surgeries accessible to needy children in the country,” the statement added.
It stressed that “normally, one genitourinary tract reconstructive surgery could cost over GH¢1,000 in the country, an amount most parents cannot afford but with our collaboration with such partners as the IVU, such surgeries could be provided for just a token fee”.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
ARSENAL SHOCK KESSBEN (Back Page)
Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
Berekum Arsenals descended on the Abrankese Sports Stadium to ditch home team Kessben FC by a lone goal in their premier league encounter yesterday.
The lone goal, scored by Prince Atakora Gyima in the 19th minute, was from a counter attack seconds after Kessben had failed to open the scores in one of their numerous attacks.
Berekum Arsenals descended on the Abrankese Sports Stadium to ditch home team Kessben FC by a lone goal in their premier league encounter yesterday.
The lone goal, scored by Prince Atakora Gyima in the 19th minute, was from a counter attack seconds after Kessben had failed to open the scores in one of their numerous attacks.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
RURAL BANK'S SPONSORED PROJECT INAUGURATED AT AHODWO ROUNDABOUT (Page 29)
Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
The Atwima Kwanwoma Rural Bank (AKRB) in collaboration with the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has inaugurated the Ahodwo Roundabout project as their contribution to the beautification of the Kumasi metropolis.
The roundabout which has a huge horse in its middle signifies war, journey, defence, swiftness and pace setting.
It was sponsored by the bank at a cost of GH¢31,700 (¢317 million) as part of its social responsibility.
Explaining why the bank selected a horse as the symbol at the Ahodwo Roundabout during the ceremony, the Chief Executive Officer of the AKRB, Mr Godfried Odame Asare, said their choice was based on the fact that the horse as an animal had unique characteristics which were all very helpful to the development of mankind.
He said like the horse, the AKRB had been waging war against diseases since its establishment in 1983, and that explained why over the years, it had made various contributions in the form of cash donations, hospital equipment, furniture, electronic appliances and building materials, among others, to hospitals and communities. Some of them are the Dominase SDA Hospital, the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital , the Old Tafo Electoral Area and the Santasi Electoral Area.
He said the gesture was to ensure effective and efficient health care delivery at the hospitals and also improve sanitation in the communities to reduce the spread of communicable diseases.
Mr Odame Asare said just like the horse, the AKRB was also waging war against ignorance by not only sponsoring the education of brilliant needy students in its catchment area, but was in the process of building a model senior high school as a way of building the capacity of the youth to enable them to contribute more meaningfully towards sustainable and socio-economic development in future.
He said apart from spending as much as GH¢150,000 (¢1.5 billion) on the first phase of the project, the bank had also provided furniture, books and building materials to various schools in the catchment area to enhance teaching and learning .
He said the AKRB which had five branches at Santasi, Old Tafo, New Tafo, Ayigya and Atonsu was also helping to reduce poverty by providing soft loans to people who engaged in small scale businesses.
He said so far, as much as GH¢1,603 (¢16.03 billion) had been advanced as loans to 1,111 clients.
He said the AKRB continued to set the pace in terms of growth, and was now considered to be the leading rural bank in the country, stressing that “ out of the 100 best companies in Ghana, our bank placed 10th in the Ghana Club 100 rankings and in the banking category we also placed first, putting behind all the major banks”.
He said in the Rural Banking category, the AKRB again placed first among the 124 rural banks in the country, which indicated that the bank was setting the pace for others to follow.
The Atwima Kwanwoma Rural Bank (AKRB) in collaboration with the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has inaugurated the Ahodwo Roundabout project as their contribution to the beautification of the Kumasi metropolis.
The roundabout which has a huge horse in its middle signifies war, journey, defence, swiftness and pace setting.
It was sponsored by the bank at a cost of GH¢31,700 (¢317 million) as part of its social responsibility.
Explaining why the bank selected a horse as the symbol at the Ahodwo Roundabout during the ceremony, the Chief Executive Officer of the AKRB, Mr Godfried Odame Asare, said their choice was based on the fact that the horse as an animal had unique characteristics which were all very helpful to the development of mankind.
He said like the horse, the AKRB had been waging war against diseases since its establishment in 1983, and that explained why over the years, it had made various contributions in the form of cash donations, hospital equipment, furniture, electronic appliances and building materials, among others, to hospitals and communities. Some of them are the Dominase SDA Hospital, the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital , the Old Tafo Electoral Area and the Santasi Electoral Area.
He said the gesture was to ensure effective and efficient health care delivery at the hospitals and also improve sanitation in the communities to reduce the spread of communicable diseases.
Mr Odame Asare said just like the horse, the AKRB was also waging war against ignorance by not only sponsoring the education of brilliant needy students in its catchment area, but was in the process of building a model senior high school as a way of building the capacity of the youth to enable them to contribute more meaningfully towards sustainable and socio-economic development in future.
He said apart from spending as much as GH¢150,000 (¢1.5 billion) on the first phase of the project, the bank had also provided furniture, books and building materials to various schools in the catchment area to enhance teaching and learning .
He said the AKRB which had five branches at Santasi, Old Tafo, New Tafo, Ayigya and Atonsu was also helping to reduce poverty by providing soft loans to people who engaged in small scale businesses.
He said so far, as much as GH¢1,603 (¢16.03 billion) had been advanced as loans to 1,111 clients.
He said the AKRB continued to set the pace in terms of growth, and was now considered to be the leading rural bank in the country, stressing that “ out of the 100 best companies in Ghana, our bank placed 10th in the Ghana Club 100 rankings and in the banking category we also placed first, putting behind all the major banks”.
He said in the Rural Banking category, the AKRB again placed first among the 124 rural banks in the country, which indicated that the bank was setting the pace for others to follow.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)