Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
About 392 people suffering from various eye defects in the Kumasi metropolis and its environs have benefited from the activities of a team of eye specialists from the University of Utah in the United States of America.
The patients, who had already been screened by the team, were among hundreds of patients who flocked the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) to take advantage of the eye surgery to enhance their vision.
The team, led by Dr Allan Crandall, is collaborating with the authorities of KATH to offer surgeries to correct the defects of the beneficiary patients, whose ages ranged between six months and 80 years.
Other members of the team included Dr Robert Hoffman, Dr Geoff Tabin, Dr Ashima Kumar, Dr Roger Furlong, Dr Greg Osmundson and Mrs Gladys Adjei Poku, a Ghanaian nurse resident in the USA. They will be at KATH for a period of two weeks to enable them to have sufficient time to attend to all the patients and also review their conditions after the surgical operations, before leaving for their base.
The KATH team, led by Dr Seth Lartey, is performing surgical operation for eye diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma, squint and would also undertake cornea transplant for the patients.
The collaboration between the Utah eye specialists and the KATH medical team dated back to 1997, and so far over 3,000 patients suffering from various eye diseases have benefited from their gesture. Dr Allan Crandall told the Daily Graphic in an interview that patients who belonged to the National Health Insurance Scheme were treated free of charge, but non-members paid a token fee of GH¢50 to cover laboratory and other expenses.
He said one of their primary objectives was to build the capacity of the KATH medical team to enhance their skills in performing surgical operations to correct eye defects for patients in the country and those from the West African sub-region.
He pointed out that their principal objective was to establish an eye centre of excellence at KATH, where quality medical service to correct eye defects would be offered to patients to enhance their vision.
He pointed out that by building the capacity of the KATH team, the team would be in the position to impart their skills to other doctors to enhance the treatment of patients suffering from eye defects.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
35 DRIVERS ARRESTED IN KUMASI METRO (PAGE 30)
Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
A special operation carried out by the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) at selected areas in Kumasi at the weekend led to the arrest of 35 trotro and taxi drivers.
According to the police, the operation was part of the effort to decongest the road network in parts of the metropolis, as a result of the activities of some recalcitrant drivers, and also reduce the spate of accidents which mostly occurred over the weekends as a result of recklessness on the part of some drivers.
The operation was carried out mainly at the Morocco Shoe House area, leading to Dr Mensah and the Manhyia Palace, the official residence of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
Other areas covered by the special exercise were the Anloga and Abrepo junctions, as well as the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) Roundabout, which trotro and taxi drivers use as parking spots to call passengers to join their vehicles.
The offending drivers have been charged with deliberately causing road obstruction and picking passengers anywhere, contrary to Section 19 of LI 952/74 of the road traffic regulations.
The suspects were being arraigned at the time of going to press.
Briefing the Daily Graphic on the operation, the Ashanti Regional MTTU Commander, Superintendent James Sarfo Peprah, said road obstruction by taxi and trotro drivers, especially at the weekend, was now getting out of hand.
He said notwithstanding the regular education and advice that the MTTU offered to drivers to desist from that negative attitude, the drivers still blocked parts of the road network, making it impossible for traffic to flow smoothly in Kumasi.
He said the Morocco Shoe House area, which connects the Manhyia Palace, was very sensitive because apart from linking the palace to Kejetia, it also connected KATH where emergency cases were rushed to.
He said the activities of the drivers put the lives of people with health problems at great risk, explaining that vehicles that transported sick people to KATH for medical care usually got stuck in traffic for hours.
He said apart from the Morocco Shoe House road network, areas such as the Anloga Junction, the KATH Roundabout and the Abrepo Junction were the other problem spots that commercial drivers had turned into mini stations to pick passengers with impunity.
Superintendent Sarfo Peprah said some drivers had the wrong perception that the police did not operate at the weekend so they ignored traffic regulations and drove recklessly, leading to fatal accidents and the loss of property.
He gave assurance that the police would be on their guard every weekend to flush out recalcitrant drivers to ensure the smooth flow of traffic and a reduction in the number of accidents during weekends.
That, he said, would go a long way to reduce the risk of commuting on the road network in the Kumasi metropolis.
He appealed to the courts to impose heavy fines on offending drivers to deter others from committing similar offences.
A special operation carried out by the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) at selected areas in Kumasi at the weekend led to the arrest of 35 trotro and taxi drivers.
According to the police, the operation was part of the effort to decongest the road network in parts of the metropolis, as a result of the activities of some recalcitrant drivers, and also reduce the spate of accidents which mostly occurred over the weekends as a result of recklessness on the part of some drivers.
The operation was carried out mainly at the Morocco Shoe House area, leading to Dr Mensah and the Manhyia Palace, the official residence of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
Other areas covered by the special exercise were the Anloga and Abrepo junctions, as well as the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) Roundabout, which trotro and taxi drivers use as parking spots to call passengers to join their vehicles.
The offending drivers have been charged with deliberately causing road obstruction and picking passengers anywhere, contrary to Section 19 of LI 952/74 of the road traffic regulations.
The suspects were being arraigned at the time of going to press.
Briefing the Daily Graphic on the operation, the Ashanti Regional MTTU Commander, Superintendent James Sarfo Peprah, said road obstruction by taxi and trotro drivers, especially at the weekend, was now getting out of hand.
He said notwithstanding the regular education and advice that the MTTU offered to drivers to desist from that negative attitude, the drivers still blocked parts of the road network, making it impossible for traffic to flow smoothly in Kumasi.
He said the Morocco Shoe House area, which connects the Manhyia Palace, was very sensitive because apart from linking the palace to Kejetia, it also connected KATH where emergency cases were rushed to.
He said the activities of the drivers put the lives of people with health problems at great risk, explaining that vehicles that transported sick people to KATH for medical care usually got stuck in traffic for hours.
He said apart from the Morocco Shoe House road network, areas such as the Anloga Junction, the KATH Roundabout and the Abrepo Junction were the other problem spots that commercial drivers had turned into mini stations to pick passengers with impunity.
Superintendent Sarfo Peprah said some drivers had the wrong perception that the police did not operate at the weekend so they ignored traffic regulations and drove recklessly, leading to fatal accidents and the loss of property.
He gave assurance that the police would be on their guard every weekend to flush out recalcitrant drivers to ensure the smooth flow of traffic and a reduction in the number of accidents during weekends.
That, he said, would go a long way to reduce the risk of commuting on the road network in the Kumasi metropolis.
He appealed to the courts to impose heavy fines on offending drivers to deter others from committing similar offences.
Monday, April 28, 2008
WORTHY CHAMPION NEEDED (NSEMPA, BACK PAGE)
By George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
The first round of the 2007/2008 Premier league was very competitive, and this created much interest among the sporting public.
The FA, Club administrators, match officials and more especially, the players from the various clubs, and spectators in particular, should be commended for contributing in diverse ways to create a healthy competition among the participating clubs.
As we begin the second round, my prayer is that hooliganism which often creates problems in the local league, should become a thing of the past, and the tempo of the league enhanced to ensure that a worthy champion is produced”.
Successful league
“A successful local league offer much experience for club administrators, enhance the market value of the players locally and internationally, enhance the image of the country abroad, and accelerate the pace of development of soccer in a country, so the need for all stakeholders to collaborate to make the second round premier league a success is very important”.
These were the final words of Nana Yaw Owusu, a former Vice President of the Ghana Football Association, (GFA) and the Mpaboahene to the Asantehene when he granted an exclusive interview to Graphic Nsempa.
Nana Owusu, who was a former player of the Porcupine Warriors, Kumasi Asante Kotoko, and a Vice Chairman of the club during the first term in office of Mr Sylvester Asare Owusu, also told Graphic Nsempa that, as a former player, club administrator and a former Vice President of the GFA, he has a lot to offer to the development of soccer in Ghana.
Comparison
He noted that comparing the previous leagues with that of the 2007/08 premier league in terms of organisation, attitude of players on and off the field of play, officiating and spectatoring, among others, the first round of the present league could be described as outstanding.
Explaining, he said, there were less rioting by soccer fans and confrontations by players on the field of play against match officials. He said bickering associated with the game and unnecessary criticisms by club administrators in terms of officiating and other problems, were also not recorded much at the various league centres.
Such negative attitudes, he said, mostly undermine the smooth running of the league and also reduce the interest of companies to sponsor the league .
Explaining why the first round generated keen interest among the participating teams in particular and soccer fans in general, Nana Yaw Owusu noted that “having stayed out of competition for quite a long time due to international commitments and wranglings among some soccer connoisseurs, the club administrators and players were hungry for honours when the league finally bounced back, hence the competitiveness of the league and the comportment of the soccer fans”.
Yearning
“All the clubs were yearning to get into the competition, so that they could generate revenue to finance their activities.
He said it was equally important for club officials to refrain from enticing referees with huge envelopes and other essentials for them to officiate in their favour “because rumour of influencing match officials seems to be one of the primary causes of hooliganism associated with soccer in the country in the past”.
On the GFA, Nana said, the association had to be fair, but firm, in all its dealings with the various clubs, explaining that “justice and fair play also play important roles in sustaining the interest and competitiveness of the game, thereby making the league a huge success”.
He said “It is always important for match officials to stamp their authority on the game, and the FA should also deal decisively with any club or player who brings the game into disrepute. This will ensure that the rules and regulations governing the game are strictly adhered to.
He attributed the absence of intimidation by a section of soccer fans during the first round of the premier league to the construction and refurbishment of the four stadia in the country. He pointed out that the facilities were adequately secured to prevent any fan from jumping onto the field to create any confusion.
He said the same trend was also being extended to the other league centres to enhance healthy competition.
He said another issue worth considering to sustain the tempo and interest of the premier league is “player discipline”.
Explaining, he said, “In Ghana, players confront match officials unnecessarily after the referee had already taken a decision, and this provokes the officials to caution them, or send them off the field”.
He said playing to the rules of the game, and respecting match officials, enabled players to develop their potential effectively, and also market themselves locally, and internationally to raise their value.
“He said it was only when players became more committed to the game and focused on developing their career along professional lines that they would attract local and foreign agents who would entice them with lucrative contracts to play for well endowed foreign clubs.
Nana Yaw Owusu suggested that for players to stay in the country to develop their potential more effectively and sustain the interest of soccer in the country, it was important for the GFA to come out with a policy which will bind all local players to play for a period of time.
The first round of the 2007/2008 Premier league was very competitive, and this created much interest among the sporting public.
The FA, Club administrators, match officials and more especially, the players from the various clubs, and spectators in particular, should be commended for contributing in diverse ways to create a healthy competition among the participating clubs.
As we begin the second round, my prayer is that hooliganism which often creates problems in the local league, should become a thing of the past, and the tempo of the league enhanced to ensure that a worthy champion is produced”.
Successful league
“A successful local league offer much experience for club administrators, enhance the market value of the players locally and internationally, enhance the image of the country abroad, and accelerate the pace of development of soccer in a country, so the need for all stakeholders to collaborate to make the second round premier league a success is very important”.
These were the final words of Nana Yaw Owusu, a former Vice President of the Ghana Football Association, (GFA) and the Mpaboahene to the Asantehene when he granted an exclusive interview to Graphic Nsempa.
Nana Owusu, who was a former player of the Porcupine Warriors, Kumasi Asante Kotoko, and a Vice Chairman of the club during the first term in office of Mr Sylvester Asare Owusu, also told Graphic Nsempa that, as a former player, club administrator and a former Vice President of the GFA, he has a lot to offer to the development of soccer in Ghana.
Comparison
He noted that comparing the previous leagues with that of the 2007/08 premier league in terms of organisation, attitude of players on and off the field of play, officiating and spectatoring, among others, the first round of the present league could be described as outstanding.
Explaining, he said, there were less rioting by soccer fans and confrontations by players on the field of play against match officials. He said bickering associated with the game and unnecessary criticisms by club administrators in terms of officiating and other problems, were also not recorded much at the various league centres.
Such negative attitudes, he said, mostly undermine the smooth running of the league and also reduce the interest of companies to sponsor the league .
Explaining why the first round generated keen interest among the participating teams in particular and soccer fans in general, Nana Yaw Owusu noted that “having stayed out of competition for quite a long time due to international commitments and wranglings among some soccer connoisseurs, the club administrators and players were hungry for honours when the league finally bounced back, hence the competitiveness of the league and the comportment of the soccer fans”.
Yearning
“All the clubs were yearning to get into the competition, so that they could generate revenue to finance their activities.
He said it was equally important for club officials to refrain from enticing referees with huge envelopes and other essentials for them to officiate in their favour “because rumour of influencing match officials seems to be one of the primary causes of hooliganism associated with soccer in the country in the past”.
On the GFA, Nana said, the association had to be fair, but firm, in all its dealings with the various clubs, explaining that “justice and fair play also play important roles in sustaining the interest and competitiveness of the game, thereby making the league a huge success”.
He said “It is always important for match officials to stamp their authority on the game, and the FA should also deal decisively with any club or player who brings the game into disrepute. This will ensure that the rules and regulations governing the game are strictly adhered to.
He attributed the absence of intimidation by a section of soccer fans during the first round of the premier league to the construction and refurbishment of the four stadia in the country. He pointed out that the facilities were adequately secured to prevent any fan from jumping onto the field to create any confusion.
He said the same trend was also being extended to the other league centres to enhance healthy competition.
He said another issue worth considering to sustain the tempo and interest of the premier league is “player discipline”.
Explaining, he said, “In Ghana, players confront match officials unnecessarily after the referee had already taken a decision, and this provokes the officials to caution them, or send them off the field”.
He said playing to the rules of the game, and respecting match officials, enabled players to develop their potential effectively, and also market themselves locally, and internationally to raise their value.
“He said it was only when players became more committed to the game and focused on developing their career along professional lines that they would attract local and foreign agents who would entice them with lucrative contracts to play for well endowed foreign clubs.
Nana Yaw Owusu suggested that for players to stay in the country to develop their potential more effectively and sustain the interest of soccer in the country, it was important for the GFA to come out with a policy which will bind all local players to play for a period of time.
WESLEY HIGH SCHOOL GETS NEW DORMITORY (PAGE 11)
Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
The Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) of the Wesley Senior High School at Bekwai in the Ashanti Region has constructed an eight-room boys dormitory block to reduce accommodation problems facing the students in the school.
The dormitory block, which was estimated at GH ¢50,000, is expected to accommodate about 50 students who are renting rooms exorbitantly at Korkyirekrom, a suburb of Bekwai, to enable them concentrate on their academic work.
The PTA has also provided accommodation for one of the teachers to enable him supervise the activities of the students to enhance effective teaching and learning.
The Chairman of the PTA, Mr Rockson H. Gyimah-Ankoannah, who briefed the members on the completion of the project during a general meeting held at the weekend, commended the members for their communal spirit.
He said it was their self-help spirit that made it possible for them to initiate a dinning hall project to enable the students have a decent place to take their meals.
Mr Gyimah-Ankoannah noted that already, the members had contributed in diverse ways by constructing classrooms and toilet facilities for the school.
He said the administration was also facing a transportation problem and appealed to the PTA to support the school authorities and other bodies to purchase a bus for the school.
Absenteeism, lateness to school, alcoholism, smoking of hard drugs, indecent dressing, indulging in pre-marital sex and the misuse of mobile phones during classes were some of the negative attitudes of students which undermined smooth academic work.
He said it was equally important for parents to encourage their wards to concentrate on their academic work to enable them excel in their final examinations.
That, he said, would make it possible for students to gain admission to tertiary institutes and develop their capacity to acquire the requisite employable skills.
He said it was equally important for the teachers to be committed to their core business of providing quality teaching to the students to raise academic standards in the school.
The Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) of the Wesley Senior High School at Bekwai in the Ashanti Region has constructed an eight-room boys dormitory block to reduce accommodation problems facing the students in the school.
The dormitory block, which was estimated at GH ¢50,000, is expected to accommodate about 50 students who are renting rooms exorbitantly at Korkyirekrom, a suburb of Bekwai, to enable them concentrate on their academic work.
The PTA has also provided accommodation for one of the teachers to enable him supervise the activities of the students to enhance effective teaching and learning.
The Chairman of the PTA, Mr Rockson H. Gyimah-Ankoannah, who briefed the members on the completion of the project during a general meeting held at the weekend, commended the members for their communal spirit.
He said it was their self-help spirit that made it possible for them to initiate a dinning hall project to enable the students have a decent place to take their meals.
Mr Gyimah-Ankoannah noted that already, the members had contributed in diverse ways by constructing classrooms and toilet facilities for the school.
He said the administration was also facing a transportation problem and appealed to the PTA to support the school authorities and other bodies to purchase a bus for the school.
Absenteeism, lateness to school, alcoholism, smoking of hard drugs, indecent dressing, indulging in pre-marital sex and the misuse of mobile phones during classes were some of the negative attitudes of students which undermined smooth academic work.
He said it was equally important for parents to encourage their wards to concentrate on their academic work to enable them excel in their final examinations.
That, he said, would make it possible for students to gain admission to tertiary institutes and develop their capacity to acquire the requisite employable skills.
He said it was equally important for the teachers to be committed to their core business of providing quality teaching to the students to raise academic standards in the school.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
OKESS old students unhappy with encroachment on school land
April 19 (page 29)
Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
Old Students of Osei Kyeretwie Senior High School (Ahenemma) have expressed concern about the continuous encroachment on the school’s land, saying such activities are seriously undermining the expansion of the school as well as effective and efficient teaching and learning.
They pointed out that in spite of a court ruling against any form of encroachment on the land, some traditional authorities in the Kumasi metropolis are “ acting in concert with big people in high circles of our society to steal the school land”.
The old students have therefore called on the Board of Governors of the School, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, the Ghana Education Service, as well as traditional authorities in the Kumasi metropolis, the Ashanti Regional Security Council (RCC) and the law enforcement agencies to collaborate as a matter of urgency to stop further encroachment on the school’s land.
This, they said, would enhance the rapid expansion of the school to accelerate effective and efficient academic programmes.
The President of the association, Dr Kwabena Poku Adusei, who made the allegation on behalf of the members as part of their 70th anniversarycelebration stressed that the continuous encroachment on the school land, coupled with the inadequate infrastructure in the school were undermining effective academic work.
He wondered why Osei Kyeretwie Senior High School (OKESS) “ was left out of the upgrading of the one school in each district programme” initiated by the GETFund administrator.
He said the GETFund had been beneficial to some districts, because whilst more than two schools in some districts benefited from it, OKESS , which was running two campuses with its attendant academic and social problems, never benefited.
He said while the school was still facing the problem of limited educational facilities, its boys dormitory was “ razed down by fire last year to further compound their problems”.
Dr Opoku Adusei pointed out that OKESS could only recapture its enviable position as it was about 30 years ago in an atmosphere of peaceful co-existence by all interested groups, such as the teachers, administrators, the general staff, the board of governors, students and the parents teacher association.
He, therefore, urged such groups to collaborate effectively to enhance the development of the school.
He said it was equally important for the government to upgrade the sports infrastructure of the school to enhance the development of sports.
He explained that “OKESS is the only school that contributed two footballers to the Black Stars during the recent World Cup, and the Ghana 2008 tournament, in the persons of Sulley Ali Muntari and John Mensah, and in athletics, Vida Anim has also played an important role to market the country at the international level”.
“ OKESS has contributed immensely to the development of sports in this country that we deserve upgrading of sports facilities in the school, including a befitting sports stadium”, he stressed.
He pointed out that inadequate support by the government to provide the school with the requisite facilities was undermining the development of both academic work and sports, saying, “ we insist that both academic and sporting activities can co-exist, but our fortunes have fallen drastically within the last few years”.
He said over the years, the old students had
contributed immensely to the development of the school and mentioned a three classroom block estimated at GH¢30,000 that they handed over to the school in 2006 as some of the projects the old students had donated to their alma mater.
He said they were still collaborating to support the school in diverse ways to accelerate its development, and therefore urged the government and other stakeholders to assist them in that direction.
Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
Old Students of Osei Kyeretwie Senior High School (Ahenemma) have expressed concern about the continuous encroachment on the school’s land, saying such activities are seriously undermining the expansion of the school as well as effective and efficient teaching and learning.
They pointed out that in spite of a court ruling against any form of encroachment on the land, some traditional authorities in the Kumasi metropolis are “ acting in concert with big people in high circles of our society to steal the school land”.
The old students have therefore called on the Board of Governors of the School, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, the Ghana Education Service, as well as traditional authorities in the Kumasi metropolis, the Ashanti Regional Security Council (RCC) and the law enforcement agencies to collaborate as a matter of urgency to stop further encroachment on the school’s land.
This, they said, would enhance the rapid expansion of the school to accelerate effective and efficient academic programmes.
The President of the association, Dr Kwabena Poku Adusei, who made the allegation on behalf of the members as part of their 70th anniversarycelebration stressed that the continuous encroachment on the school land, coupled with the inadequate infrastructure in the school were undermining effective academic work.
He wondered why Osei Kyeretwie Senior High School (OKESS) “ was left out of the upgrading of the one school in each district programme” initiated by the GETFund administrator.
He said the GETFund had been beneficial to some districts, because whilst more than two schools in some districts benefited from it, OKESS , which was running two campuses with its attendant academic and social problems, never benefited.
He said while the school was still facing the problem of limited educational facilities, its boys dormitory was “ razed down by fire last year to further compound their problems”.
Dr Opoku Adusei pointed out that OKESS could only recapture its enviable position as it was about 30 years ago in an atmosphere of peaceful co-existence by all interested groups, such as the teachers, administrators, the general staff, the board of governors, students and the parents teacher association.
He, therefore, urged such groups to collaborate effectively to enhance the development of the school.
He said it was equally important for the government to upgrade the sports infrastructure of the school to enhance the development of sports.
He explained that “OKESS is the only school that contributed two footballers to the Black Stars during the recent World Cup, and the Ghana 2008 tournament, in the persons of Sulley Ali Muntari and John Mensah, and in athletics, Vida Anim has also played an important role to market the country at the international level”.
“ OKESS has contributed immensely to the development of sports in this country that we deserve upgrading of sports facilities in the school, including a befitting sports stadium”, he stressed.
He pointed out that inadequate support by the government to provide the school with the requisite facilities was undermining the development of both academic work and sports, saying, “ we insist that both academic and sporting activities can co-exist, but our fortunes have fallen drastically within the last few years”.
He said over the years, the old students had
contributed immensely to the development of the school and mentioned a three classroom block estimated at GH¢30,000 that they handed over to the school in 2006 as some of the projects the old students had donated to their alma mater.
He said they were still collaborating to support the school in diverse ways to accelerate its development, and therefore urged the government and other stakeholders to assist them in that direction.
Assembly elects presiding member
April 15, 2008
Story: George Ernest Asare, Kuntanase.
THE Bosomtwe District Assembly has elected a 51-year-old legal practitioner as its Presiding Member (PM) to steer the affairs of the assembly to accelerate the pace of socio-economic development in the district.
The newly elected PM, Mr J.K. Assuming, who has been the Assembly Member for the Worakose-Onwi Electoral Area since 1998, is also a Principal Inspector of Taxes at the Kumasi Office of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
He received the nod from 34 of the 37 assembly members, after two members — Messrs Richard Manu, the Assembly Member for Nyameani, and Asare Bediako, the Assembly Member for Oyoko — who were contesting the same position stepped down.
Mr Assuming has now replaced Mr Albert Marfo, who has moved to the newly created Atwima-Kwanwoma District Assembly which was carved out of the Bosomtwe-Atwima-Kwanwoma (BAK) District.
The election, which was supervised by the Electoral Commission took place in a peaceful environment in the presence of the Deputy Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Osei Asibey Antwi, and the Member of Parliament for Bosomtwe, Mr Simon Osei Mensah. This is the second time the assembly has honoured Mr Assuming with that position. He was first elected in 2001 and held on until 2005 when he resigned to further his education at the Ghana School of Law in Accra.
Story: George Ernest Asare, Kuntanase.
THE Bosomtwe District Assembly has elected a 51-year-old legal practitioner as its Presiding Member (PM) to steer the affairs of the assembly to accelerate the pace of socio-economic development in the district.
The newly elected PM, Mr J.K. Assuming, who has been the Assembly Member for the Worakose-Onwi Electoral Area since 1998, is also a Principal Inspector of Taxes at the Kumasi Office of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
He received the nod from 34 of the 37 assembly members, after two members — Messrs Richard Manu, the Assembly Member for Nyameani, and Asare Bediako, the Assembly Member for Oyoko — who were contesting the same position stepped down.
Mr Assuming has now replaced Mr Albert Marfo, who has moved to the newly created Atwima-Kwanwoma District Assembly which was carved out of the Bosomtwe-Atwima-Kwanwoma (BAK) District.
The election, which was supervised by the Electoral Commission took place in a peaceful environment in the presence of the Deputy Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Osei Asibey Antwi, and the Member of Parliament for Bosomtwe, Mr Simon Osei Mensah. This is the second time the assembly has honoured Mr Assuming with that position. He was first elected in 2001 and held on until 2005 when he resigned to further his education at the Ghana School of Law in Accra.
Kotoko sting Tourists to death
April 7, 2008
Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
Two goals by Kumasi Asante Kotoko’s goal poacher, Eric Bekoe, and one apiece by veteran Emmanuel Osei Kuffuor and Francis Coffie at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi yesterday provided the steam for the Porcupine Warriors to demolish Wikki Tourists 4-1 in their second leg CAF Confederation Cup.
Emmanuel Osei Kuffuor had set the stadium agog with an intelligent volley thatwhisked past the goalkeeper on the 19th minute for Kotoko’s opener.
Bekoe, who was heavily marked throughout the first half, finally shrugged off his atackers in the 54th minute and delivered a cracker outside the box when he pounced on a loose ball from the flanks. The ball first hit the cross bar before landing in the net for Kotoko’s second goal and his first in internatonal competition.
Ten minutes later, Bekoe was on hand again by weaving through two defenders to place the ball at the far corner of the net with goalkeeper Raymon Kotung Godwin completely stranded.
The Wikki Tourists lanky goalkeeper had earlier displayed much prowess and agility to deny Kotoko the opportunity for early goals on the sixth and seventh minutes. Before that Soulama Abdoulaye in post for Kotoko had also denied Aremu Tunde the opportunity to score on the third minute when he sprawled in the way of the attacker to save his goal-bound shot.
The 4-1 scoreline would doubless portray Kotoko the better team of the day, but their opponents were no push overs especially in the first half, when they carried the game to Kotoko, and pinnined them to their own half on most occasions but failed to utilise them.
The attacking duo of Abunarkar Ibrahim and Philip Auta combined beautifully upfront, creating the chances while ther midfielders made up of Emmanuel Sunday, Tunde Aremu and Gabriel Sunday succeeded in pushing their attackers forward on most occasions, causing havoc among the Kotoko defenders who struggled to keep them at bay.
Kotoko were a delight to watch as Samuel Inkoom, Jordan Opoku and Daniel Nii Adjei also pushed Bekoe and Kuffuor upfront but their opponents created a barrier, preventing Bekoe and Kuffour from causing any trouble.
Tourists, despite the heavy margin of defeat, never gave up. Their efforts paid off when they earned a penalty late in the game which was converted to give them some consolation.
Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
Two goals by Kumasi Asante Kotoko’s goal poacher, Eric Bekoe, and one apiece by veteran Emmanuel Osei Kuffuor and Francis Coffie at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi yesterday provided the steam for the Porcupine Warriors to demolish Wikki Tourists 4-1 in their second leg CAF Confederation Cup.
Emmanuel Osei Kuffuor had set the stadium agog with an intelligent volley thatwhisked past the goalkeeper on the 19th minute for Kotoko’s opener.
Bekoe, who was heavily marked throughout the first half, finally shrugged off his atackers in the 54th minute and delivered a cracker outside the box when he pounced on a loose ball from the flanks. The ball first hit the cross bar before landing in the net for Kotoko’s second goal and his first in internatonal competition.
Ten minutes later, Bekoe was on hand again by weaving through two defenders to place the ball at the far corner of the net with goalkeeper Raymon Kotung Godwin completely stranded.
The Wikki Tourists lanky goalkeeper had earlier displayed much prowess and agility to deny Kotoko the opportunity for early goals on the sixth and seventh minutes. Before that Soulama Abdoulaye in post for Kotoko had also denied Aremu Tunde the opportunity to score on the third minute when he sprawled in the way of the attacker to save his goal-bound shot.
The 4-1 scoreline would doubless portray Kotoko the better team of the day, but their opponents were no push overs especially in the first half, when they carried the game to Kotoko, and pinnined them to their own half on most occasions but failed to utilise them.
The attacking duo of Abunarkar Ibrahim and Philip Auta combined beautifully upfront, creating the chances while ther midfielders made up of Emmanuel Sunday, Tunde Aremu and Gabriel Sunday succeeded in pushing their attackers forward on most occasions, causing havoc among the Kotoko defenders who struggled to keep them at bay.
Kotoko were a delight to watch as Samuel Inkoom, Jordan Opoku and Daniel Nii Adjei also pushed Bekoe and Kuffuor upfront but their opponents created a barrier, preventing Bekoe and Kuffour from causing any trouble.
Tourists, despite the heavy margin of defeat, never gave up. Their efforts paid off when they earned a penalty late in the game which was converted to give them some consolation.
Friday, April 25, 2008
ERIC BEKOE: SOCCER'S NEW SENSATION (MIRROR, PAGE 3)
From George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
“My dream since infancy was to feature prominently for Kumasi Asante Kotoko, so it was a dream come true when I put on the Kotoko jersey for the first time in my life against my former club, Heart of Lions, in a friendly encounter at the El-Wak Sports Stadium. Just after the match, my father called and asked about how I fared in that match, and my response was that, wearing the Kotoko jersey for the first time was great.”
“Unlike some players who have complex in playing for Kotoko for the first time, I did not experience any complex and played very well, wining many fans to my side at the end of the match, and since then, I have not looked back. I want to give everything I have to the club, so that anytime I leave for future prospects, I will have nothing to regret about. This will go a long way to make the management, players, the numerous Kotoko fans and more especially the media, who have been instrumental in the support and encouragement, to appreciate my efforts and continue to pray for me.”
These were the words of Kotoko’s prodigy, Eric Kwabena Bekoe, the unassuming soccer icon, when he granted an exclusive interview to The Mirror at his residence in Kumasi last Thursday. Bekoe, who is now carving a niche for himself, so far as goal scoring is concerned, also told The Mirror that “I am just an ordinary player taking my first step in my football career so sometimes become overwhelmed about the praises that soccer fans heap on me about my exploits, but in all things I give thanks to God for bringing me to this level at this tender age, and my prayer is that, He will continue to direct me to enable me leave a legacy with my dream team which would inspire future players of Kotoko to strive for the best all the time”.
“There are two things I want to do in life — to build an orphanage to give back what I have gained to the needy, down-trodden and the deprived to glorify God, and also to be a soccer icon, who will inspire future stars — and I am praying that God will give me the strength to realise such dreams,” he prayed.
Bekoe, who is 21 years old, said his father was totally married to Accra Hearts of Oak “but now that I am playing for Kotoko and winning many fans to my side, my father has also become a Kotoko fan and always pray that we win our matches”.
The player, who is yet to be married, has a two-year-old beautiful daughter “but for religious beliefs I could not marry her mother, so I am taking my time to get a partner who will appreciate my life and beliefs to take very good care of my two-year-old daughter”, he revealed.
On how he started his football career, Bekoe said “I am just an ordinary player striving to make it big at the local and international arena”.
Bekoe, who holds a diploma in Graphic Designs, started his basic education at Kotobabi 17 Basic School in Accra, before entering the Uncle College of Art at Kanda where he offered Visual Arts to obtain a diploma certificate but branched into soccer soon afterwards to take it as a career.
In school, Eric did not delve much into soccer “because my colleagues were always taunting us that Visual Arts students were academically bankrupt, so I wanted to prove to them that we were as brilliant as they were, but had individual interests so far as life is concerned, hence my decision to play soccer after school where I made the grades” .
Very religious, down to earth and ready to give praises and thanks to God for any success in life, Eric said “without God I would not have been able to come this far, and with God as my backbone, I am certain that I will be able to realise all my goals in life by not only leaving a legacy as a soccer icon in future just like my mentor, George Oppong Weah, but would also be able to establish the orphanage which is my childhood dream of helping the needy and the downtrodden in society”.
Bekoe started his football career with the defunct Antwerp Babies in Accra at Dzorwulu before being spotted by the junior side of Tudu Mighty Jets, King Dogo FC, where his instincts for goals created a lot of problems for opposing goalkeepers and defenders.
From there, he was promoted to the senior side where his exploits attracted the technical men of the national Under 17 team, the Black Starlets, where he
featured prominently.
One defender who always found Bekoe a hard nut to crack even at his tender age was Daniel Coleman, the Accra Hearts of Oak rock. They first met some years ago when Bekoe was featuring for Mighty Jets, while the latter was featuring prominently for Power FC.
“When we met for the first time, I gave him a lot of problems, scoring two great goals against his side, and after the game, he congratulated me, saying, I have a bright future, and later advised that, I should concentrate on the game. We have been very good friends since then, but he always told his mates to put an eye on me when I am playing against them, saying I am a deadly striker, and that was exactly what he did when Kotoko played against Hearts in our last league match.”
According to Bekoe, the match he would like to forget quickly was that last premier encounter between Kotoko and Hearts of Oak in Accra, where he had it tough and could not score for Kotoko to please the fans, “who had placed much confidence in me”.
Bekoe also played for Liberty Professionals and was later loaned to Kpando Heart of Lions where his instincts for goals attracted the technical men of Kumasi Asante Kotoko.
“When I got the signal that my dream team, Kumasi Asante Kotoko, wanted to sign me, I thanked God for answering my prayers at long last. You will not believe if I tell you that I played for Kotoko for some time before I later appended my signature to a contract form. At that time, Heart Of Lions had purchased a brand new Golf for me in addition to a handsome amount of money to entice me to extend my contract for just another year, but I politely declined the offer, and accepted that of Kotoko,” he revealed.
On how he was able to fit into the Kotoko set-up as soon as he joined the team, Bekoe said it was the Grace of God and the massive assistance from his senior colleagues like Nana Arhin Duah, Stephen Oduro, Daniel Acquah, Emmanuel Osei Kuffour, coupled with the encouragement from the numerous Kotoko fans and more especially, the media hype “that has brought me to this level”.
Bekoe, whose hobby is driving, also told The Mirror that as a soccer star “I have now become a public figure, so I need a lady who will welcome every friend I will have in life, and also adequately cater for my two-year-old girl. This is because it is friends who make my life, and failure to appreciate such things can mar an otherwise healthy relationships”.
“My dream since infancy was to feature prominently for Kumasi Asante Kotoko, so it was a dream come true when I put on the Kotoko jersey for the first time in my life against my former club, Heart of Lions, in a friendly encounter at the El-Wak Sports Stadium. Just after the match, my father called and asked about how I fared in that match, and my response was that, wearing the Kotoko jersey for the first time was great.”
“Unlike some players who have complex in playing for Kotoko for the first time, I did not experience any complex and played very well, wining many fans to my side at the end of the match, and since then, I have not looked back. I want to give everything I have to the club, so that anytime I leave for future prospects, I will have nothing to regret about. This will go a long way to make the management, players, the numerous Kotoko fans and more especially the media, who have been instrumental in the support and encouragement, to appreciate my efforts and continue to pray for me.”
These were the words of Kotoko’s prodigy, Eric Kwabena Bekoe, the unassuming soccer icon, when he granted an exclusive interview to The Mirror at his residence in Kumasi last Thursday. Bekoe, who is now carving a niche for himself, so far as goal scoring is concerned, also told The Mirror that “I am just an ordinary player taking my first step in my football career so sometimes become overwhelmed about the praises that soccer fans heap on me about my exploits, but in all things I give thanks to God for bringing me to this level at this tender age, and my prayer is that, He will continue to direct me to enable me leave a legacy with my dream team which would inspire future players of Kotoko to strive for the best all the time”.
“There are two things I want to do in life — to build an orphanage to give back what I have gained to the needy, down-trodden and the deprived to glorify God, and also to be a soccer icon, who will inspire future stars — and I am praying that God will give me the strength to realise such dreams,” he prayed.
Bekoe, who is 21 years old, said his father was totally married to Accra Hearts of Oak “but now that I am playing for Kotoko and winning many fans to my side, my father has also become a Kotoko fan and always pray that we win our matches”.
The player, who is yet to be married, has a two-year-old beautiful daughter “but for religious beliefs I could not marry her mother, so I am taking my time to get a partner who will appreciate my life and beliefs to take very good care of my two-year-old daughter”, he revealed.
On how he started his football career, Bekoe said “I am just an ordinary player striving to make it big at the local and international arena”.
Bekoe, who holds a diploma in Graphic Designs, started his basic education at Kotobabi 17 Basic School in Accra, before entering the Uncle College of Art at Kanda where he offered Visual Arts to obtain a diploma certificate but branched into soccer soon afterwards to take it as a career.
In school, Eric did not delve much into soccer “because my colleagues were always taunting us that Visual Arts students were academically bankrupt, so I wanted to prove to them that we were as brilliant as they were, but had individual interests so far as life is concerned, hence my decision to play soccer after school where I made the grades” .
Very religious, down to earth and ready to give praises and thanks to God for any success in life, Eric said “without God I would not have been able to come this far, and with God as my backbone, I am certain that I will be able to realise all my goals in life by not only leaving a legacy as a soccer icon in future just like my mentor, George Oppong Weah, but would also be able to establish the orphanage which is my childhood dream of helping the needy and the downtrodden in society”.
Bekoe started his football career with the defunct Antwerp Babies in Accra at Dzorwulu before being spotted by the junior side of Tudu Mighty Jets, King Dogo FC, where his instincts for goals created a lot of problems for opposing goalkeepers and defenders.
From there, he was promoted to the senior side where his exploits attracted the technical men of the national Under 17 team, the Black Starlets, where he
featured prominently.
One defender who always found Bekoe a hard nut to crack even at his tender age was Daniel Coleman, the Accra Hearts of Oak rock. They first met some years ago when Bekoe was featuring for Mighty Jets, while the latter was featuring prominently for Power FC.
“When we met for the first time, I gave him a lot of problems, scoring two great goals against his side, and after the game, he congratulated me, saying, I have a bright future, and later advised that, I should concentrate on the game. We have been very good friends since then, but he always told his mates to put an eye on me when I am playing against them, saying I am a deadly striker, and that was exactly what he did when Kotoko played against Hearts in our last league match.”
According to Bekoe, the match he would like to forget quickly was that last premier encounter between Kotoko and Hearts of Oak in Accra, where he had it tough and could not score for Kotoko to please the fans, “who had placed much confidence in me”.
Bekoe also played for Liberty Professionals and was later loaned to Kpando Heart of Lions where his instincts for goals attracted the technical men of Kumasi Asante Kotoko.
“When I got the signal that my dream team, Kumasi Asante Kotoko, wanted to sign me, I thanked God for answering my prayers at long last. You will not believe if I tell you that I played for Kotoko for some time before I later appended my signature to a contract form. At that time, Heart Of Lions had purchased a brand new Golf for me in addition to a handsome amount of money to entice me to extend my contract for just another year, but I politely declined the offer, and accepted that of Kotoko,” he revealed.
On how he was able to fit into the Kotoko set-up as soon as he joined the team, Bekoe said it was the Grace of God and the massive assistance from his senior colleagues like Nana Arhin Duah, Stephen Oduro, Daniel Acquah, Emmanuel Osei Kuffour, coupled with the encouragement from the numerous Kotoko fans and more especially, the media hype “that has brought me to this level”.
Bekoe, whose hobby is driving, also told The Mirror that as a soccer star “I have now become a public figure, so I need a lady who will welcome every friend I will have in life, and also adequately cater for my two-year-old girl. This is because it is friends who make my life, and failure to appreciate such things can mar an otherwise healthy relationships”.
THREE DIE IN ACCIDENT (PAGE 31)
Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
Two members of a family at Barekese in the Ashanti Region who were transporting their sick sister to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) for medical care were killed along with their sick sister when their car was involved in an accident on Wednesday.
The deceased were identified as Kwasi Mfum, 38; Kwadwo Adubofour, 43, and Yaa Pokuah.
The driver of the car, Kofi Bour, who sustained multiple injuries, is said to be in a coma and is on admission at KATH.
Briefing the Daily Graphic on the incident, the Ashanti Regional Commander of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU), Superintendent James Sarfo Peprah, said the deceased, using an unregistered Golf saloon car, had gone to Offinso to pick Yaa Pokuah to send her to hospital.
He said on their way to the hospital, the car was involved in an accident at Abrekuma, near Barekese, killing the three.
According to Supt Peprah, the driver, who was trapped in the car, had multiple fractures in both legs and bled profusely from the injuries sustained.
He said the accident occurred in the night of Wednesday, April 23, 2008, but it was at dawn the following day that a farmer discovered the bodies of the deceased on the roadside and raised an alarm, which drew sympathisers to the accident scene to retrieve the injured driver from the wreck.
Two members of a family at Barekese in the Ashanti Region who were transporting their sick sister to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) for medical care were killed along with their sick sister when their car was involved in an accident on Wednesday.
The deceased were identified as Kwasi Mfum, 38; Kwadwo Adubofour, 43, and Yaa Pokuah.
The driver of the car, Kofi Bour, who sustained multiple injuries, is said to be in a coma and is on admission at KATH.
Briefing the Daily Graphic on the incident, the Ashanti Regional Commander of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU), Superintendent James Sarfo Peprah, said the deceased, using an unregistered Golf saloon car, had gone to Offinso to pick Yaa Pokuah to send her to hospital.
He said on their way to the hospital, the car was involved in an accident at Abrekuma, near Barekese, killing the three.
According to Supt Peprah, the driver, who was trapped in the car, had multiple fractures in both legs and bled profusely from the injuries sustained.
He said the accident occurred in the night of Wednesday, April 23, 2008, but it was at dawn the following day that a farmer discovered the bodies of the deceased on the roadside and raised an alarm, which drew sympathisers to the accident scene to retrieve the injured driver from the wreck.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
ARCHBISHOP SARPONG URGES CHURCHES TO FOCUS ON SALVATION (PAGE 21)
Story: George Ernest Asare
The Metropolitan Catholic Archbishop Emeritus of Kumasi, Most Reverend Peter Akwasi Sarpong, has expressed concern about the commercialisation of churches in the country at the expense of the salvation of mankind.
“Instead of preaching to the congregation for them to change their lifestyles and negative attitudes which undermine their Christian faith and principles and winning them for the kingdom of God, pastors have rather become “professionals” in miracles, claiming to heal all kinds of diseases, accusing many others of being witches and wizards and extorting money from them to enrich themselves,” he stressed.
“ By their fruits you should know them. This is because the Christ we follow never accused anyone of being a witch or wizard, and He also never demanded money from people for consultation before healing them, but rather cast out demons from people, preached to them to give them salvation and brought relief to the poor {improving} their lives and standard of living,” he explained.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic in his office at the Catholic Secretariat at Santasi-Anyinam in Kumasi, Archbishop Sarpong pointed out that “ over-commercialisation of the church had now become predominant in Ghana, with some religious leaders taking advantage of the ignorance of their congregation to exploit them.
The interview was meant to seek his opinion on issues pertaining to his principles in life, experience as a religious leader, the challenges that confronted him during his career as a priest, his opinion on the church and politics, as well as his contribution to the socio-economic development of the country since he assumed a leadership position.
Most Rev. Sarpong, who retired from active service barely a month ago, after 38 years of dedicated service to God, noted that the over-exploitation in some churches should now become a matter of concern to opinion leaders in the country, stressing “some people who claim to be religious leaders have now become more interested in using dubious ways to exploit their congregation to amass wealth by not only buying very expensive vehicles for themselves and family members but also building mansions while their members live in abject poverty”.
Expressing concern about the trend of religious activities in the country where the crave for money by some religious leaders is on the ascendancy, Most Rev. Sarpong said it was the ignorance of some Christians that had made it possible for their leaders to milk them dry, while they enjoyed the best of life.
He said one of the biggest challenges as a leader in the Catholic faith was to provide educational and health facilities to communities that lacked them to build the capacity of the youth.
This, he said, was to give them the opportunity to source for quality health care delivery at an affordable cost to enhance productivity and better standard of living.
He said it was also a challenge for him to offer the requisite spiritual fulfilment to the church and expand it.
He said apart from initiating the construction of many basic and second cycle schools, his office also addressed the health problems of many communities through the construction of hospitals and clinics.
“ I come from a rural community where hunting and farming was the order of the day, so I know what extreme poverty and diseases are and their effect on society, hence my initiative to build the capacity of the youth through education, to enable them acquire the requisite employable skills to fend for themselves and their dependants, as well as provide them with health care facilities to address their health problems when necessary”, he explained.
Most Rev. Sarpong also noted that he inherited only one diocese in Kumasi, “ but at the time that I retired, five other dioceses: Konongo-Mampong, Goaso, Sunyani, Obuasi and Techiman- had been added to the Kumasi archdiocese, indicating that the church has grown astronomically”.
He said it was the duty of religious leaders to provide the spiritual needs of their congregation and prepare them for the Kingdom of God and solve their problems and that of their communities as directed by Jesus Christ; they should not exploit them.
The Metropolitan Catholic Archbishop Emeritus of Kumasi, Most Reverend Peter Akwasi Sarpong, has expressed concern about the commercialisation of churches in the country at the expense of the salvation of mankind.
“Instead of preaching to the congregation for them to change their lifestyles and negative attitudes which undermine their Christian faith and principles and winning them for the kingdom of God, pastors have rather become “professionals” in miracles, claiming to heal all kinds of diseases, accusing many others of being witches and wizards and extorting money from them to enrich themselves,” he stressed.
“ By their fruits you should know them. This is because the Christ we follow never accused anyone of being a witch or wizard, and He also never demanded money from people for consultation before healing them, but rather cast out demons from people, preached to them to give them salvation and brought relief to the poor {improving} their lives and standard of living,” he explained.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic in his office at the Catholic Secretariat at Santasi-Anyinam in Kumasi, Archbishop Sarpong pointed out that “ over-commercialisation of the church had now become predominant in Ghana, with some religious leaders taking advantage of the ignorance of their congregation to exploit them.
The interview was meant to seek his opinion on issues pertaining to his principles in life, experience as a religious leader, the challenges that confronted him during his career as a priest, his opinion on the church and politics, as well as his contribution to the socio-economic development of the country since he assumed a leadership position.
Most Rev. Sarpong, who retired from active service barely a month ago, after 38 years of dedicated service to God, noted that the over-exploitation in some churches should now become a matter of concern to opinion leaders in the country, stressing “some people who claim to be religious leaders have now become more interested in using dubious ways to exploit their congregation to amass wealth by not only buying very expensive vehicles for themselves and family members but also building mansions while their members live in abject poverty”.
Expressing concern about the trend of religious activities in the country where the crave for money by some religious leaders is on the ascendancy, Most Rev. Sarpong said it was the ignorance of some Christians that had made it possible for their leaders to milk them dry, while they enjoyed the best of life.
He said one of the biggest challenges as a leader in the Catholic faith was to provide educational and health facilities to communities that lacked them to build the capacity of the youth.
This, he said, was to give them the opportunity to source for quality health care delivery at an affordable cost to enhance productivity and better standard of living.
He said it was also a challenge for him to offer the requisite spiritual fulfilment to the church and expand it.
He said apart from initiating the construction of many basic and second cycle schools, his office also addressed the health problems of many communities through the construction of hospitals and clinics.
“ I come from a rural community where hunting and farming was the order of the day, so I know what extreme poverty and diseases are and their effect on society, hence my initiative to build the capacity of the youth through education, to enable them acquire the requisite employable skills to fend for themselves and their dependants, as well as provide them with health care facilities to address their health problems when necessary”, he explained.
Most Rev. Sarpong also noted that he inherited only one diocese in Kumasi, “ but at the time that I retired, five other dioceses: Konongo-Mampong, Goaso, Sunyani, Obuasi and Techiman- had been added to the Kumasi archdiocese, indicating that the church has grown astronomically”.
He said it was the duty of religious leaders to provide the spiritual needs of their congregation and prepare them for the Kingdom of God and solve their problems and that of their communities as directed by Jesus Christ; they should not exploit them.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
SUBIN HEALTH INSURANCE BOARD INAUGURATED (PAGE 29)
Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
A NINE-MEMBER board of directors was inaugurated last Friday to supervise the activities of the Subin Sub-Metro Mutual Health Insurance Scheme in Kumasi to ensure efficiency in its operations.
The inauguration of the board was also to encourage the management of the scheme to a devise means of expanding their operations to enable as many residents as possible to join the scheme, and source for quality and affordable health care delivery.
The board is yet to elect its chairman because two of them could not attend the inaugural ceremony. The two were the Presiding Member for the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), Nana Baffour Kesse, who represents the traditional rulers in the Kumasi Metropolis and Mrs Adobea Addo, a banker.
Those who were sworn in by Justice Solomon Kofi Achina, a High Court Judge, after they had been introduced to the management and staff of the Subin Sub-Metro Mutual Health Insurance Scheme were Reverend Appiah Kubi (Christian representative); Alhaji Audu Musah (Muslim representative); Ms Joyce Serwaa Asiboah (Assembly Member for Anlo-Nfante-Newtown); Sir Dennis Agyei (a Legal Practitioner); Dr Eric Quashie and Dr Danso Abiam (medical officers); and Mr Daniel Nkrumah, the Subin Metro Administrator.
In her welcoming address, the Ashanti Regional Manager of the National Health Insurance Authority, Mrs Leticia Osei Poku, urged the board to initiate policies and programmes that would streamline efficiency in the financial activities of the scheme as a way of sustaining its operations.
She pointed out that as a board, they were not to assume a day to day supervisory role but were mandated to analyse the annual budget of the scheme and approve it, as well as supervise the operations of the scheme to enhance the smooth transaction of business.
Mrs Osei Poku said that the gains of the scheme since it started operations a few years ago had now become a testimony to the public, and this had encouraged people to join the scheme in their numbers.
She said with the expectations of the people now soaring in terms of the quality and affordable health care delivery they would receive as members of the scheme, it was important for the board to ensure that there was efficiency in the operations of the scheme as a way of retaining those who would join.
This, she said, would entice as many Ghanaians as possible to become members of the scheme.
Explaining, Mrs Osei Poku said it was important for everybody to join the health insurance scheme because with quality health care delivery, the health of the people would improve, thereby enhancing productivity and a high standard of living.
A NINE-MEMBER board of directors was inaugurated last Friday to supervise the activities of the Subin Sub-Metro Mutual Health Insurance Scheme in Kumasi to ensure efficiency in its operations.
The inauguration of the board was also to encourage the management of the scheme to a devise means of expanding their operations to enable as many residents as possible to join the scheme, and source for quality and affordable health care delivery.
The board is yet to elect its chairman because two of them could not attend the inaugural ceremony. The two were the Presiding Member for the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), Nana Baffour Kesse, who represents the traditional rulers in the Kumasi Metropolis and Mrs Adobea Addo, a banker.
Those who were sworn in by Justice Solomon Kofi Achina, a High Court Judge, after they had been introduced to the management and staff of the Subin Sub-Metro Mutual Health Insurance Scheme were Reverend Appiah Kubi (Christian representative); Alhaji Audu Musah (Muslim representative); Ms Joyce Serwaa Asiboah (Assembly Member for Anlo-Nfante-Newtown); Sir Dennis Agyei (a Legal Practitioner); Dr Eric Quashie and Dr Danso Abiam (medical officers); and Mr Daniel Nkrumah, the Subin Metro Administrator.
In her welcoming address, the Ashanti Regional Manager of the National Health Insurance Authority, Mrs Leticia Osei Poku, urged the board to initiate policies and programmes that would streamline efficiency in the financial activities of the scheme as a way of sustaining its operations.
She pointed out that as a board, they were not to assume a day to day supervisory role but were mandated to analyse the annual budget of the scheme and approve it, as well as supervise the operations of the scheme to enhance the smooth transaction of business.
Mrs Osei Poku said that the gains of the scheme since it started operations a few years ago had now become a testimony to the public, and this had encouraged people to join the scheme in their numbers.
She said with the expectations of the people now soaring in terms of the quality and affordable health care delivery they would receive as members of the scheme, it was important for the board to ensure that there was efficiency in the operations of the scheme as a way of retaining those who would join.
This, she said, would entice as many Ghanaians as possible to become members of the scheme.
Explaining, Mrs Osei Poku said it was important for everybody to join the health insurance scheme because with quality health care delivery, the health of the people would improve, thereby enhancing productivity and a high standard of living.
58 DIE IN ACCIDENTS IN KUMASI ...Between Jan & March (PAGE 29)
Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
A total of 58 people were killed through motor accidents in the Kumasi Metropolis and its environs between January and March this year. As many as 24 of the victims were knocked down by speeding drivers near traffic lights in the metropolis.
The Ashanti Regional Police Commander of the Motor Transport and Traffic Unit (MTTU), Superintendent James Sarfo Peprah, who disclosed this to the Daily Graphic in an interview, pointed out that as many as 463 vehicles were involved in accidents during the period under review, stressing that 75 of the accidents were fatal, while the minor ones were 183.
He said 305 people were also involved in accidents, and sustained various degrees of injury, making it impossible for them to make any meaningful contribution towards sustainable national development.
Mr Peprah said in January alone, 18 people died through motor accidents, while a total of 20 people were killed in February with March.
On those who sustained injuries through motor accidents, Mr Peprah said 127 injuries were recorded in January while those who sustained various degrees of injury through motor accidents in February totalled 68.
He said in March, as many as 110 people who were involved in accidents sustained various degrees of injury.
Mr Sarfo Peprah attributed the rampant accident cases in and around the metropolis to the disregard of traffic regulations by drivers and said the police would continue to monitor their activities and apprehend those who flout the regulations.
He said the fact that 24 people were knocked down and died around traffic lights, show that some drivers “ have no respect for road traffic regulations, and jump red lights, which is a serious offence”.
He pointed out that a lot of drivers do not only speed in town, but also drive through when the red traffic lights are showing and pedestrians are crossing. He, therefore, advised drivers to respect road traffic regulations to enhance sanity on the road and make travelling enjoyable.
He said some of the offending drivers had been arrested and were helping the police in their investigations.
A total of 58 people were killed through motor accidents in the Kumasi Metropolis and its environs between January and March this year. As many as 24 of the victims were knocked down by speeding drivers near traffic lights in the metropolis.
The Ashanti Regional Police Commander of the Motor Transport and Traffic Unit (MTTU), Superintendent James Sarfo Peprah, who disclosed this to the Daily Graphic in an interview, pointed out that as many as 463 vehicles were involved in accidents during the period under review, stressing that 75 of the accidents were fatal, while the minor ones were 183.
He said 305 people were also involved in accidents, and sustained various degrees of injury, making it impossible for them to make any meaningful contribution towards sustainable national development.
Mr Peprah said in January alone, 18 people died through motor accidents, while a total of 20 people were killed in February with March.
On those who sustained injuries through motor accidents, Mr Peprah said 127 injuries were recorded in January while those who sustained various degrees of injury through motor accidents in February totalled 68.
He said in March, as many as 110 people who were involved in accidents sustained various degrees of injury.
Mr Sarfo Peprah attributed the rampant accident cases in and around the metropolis to the disregard of traffic regulations by drivers and said the police would continue to monitor their activities and apprehend those who flout the regulations.
He said the fact that 24 people were knocked down and died around traffic lights, show that some drivers “ have no respect for road traffic regulations, and jump red lights, which is a serious offence”.
He pointed out that a lot of drivers do not only speed in town, but also drive through when the red traffic lights are showing and pedestrians are crossing. He, therefore, advised drivers to respect road traffic regulations to enhance sanity on the road and make travelling enjoyable.
He said some of the offending drivers had been arrested and were helping the police in their investigations.
KUMASI ENTERPRISES PROJECT LAUNCHED (PAGE 29)
Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
THE Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry, PSD and PSI, Mrs Gifty Ohene-Konadu, has launched the Micro, Small, Medium and Enterprises (MSME) project in the Kumasi Metropolis as part of government’s initiative to provide essential financing and technical support to the business community in the Ashanti Region to accelerate the development of the industrial sector.
The project, which is the collaboration of the Ghana Government and the World Bank, seeks to support the MSME’s in the country with a total of $118.90 million to facilitate their growth to enable the country to achieve middle-income status by 2015.
It is one of the 10 pilot projects that had already been launched at Accra, Cape Coast, Sekondi -Takoradi, Tamale, Bolgatanga, Wa and Sunyani.
It also seeks to provide a comprehensive range of integrated interventions to address the major constraints that affect the growth of MSME’s in Ghana, and is designed to benefit firms and business associations as well as financial institutions, business development and service providers.
According to Mrs Ohene- Konadu, the project “ is also seen as one of the major vehicles needed to mobilise and harness the potentials of the MSME sector, which already accounts for more than 90 per cent of all registered companies in Ghana”. Launching the project, Mrs Ohene-Konadu called on the private sector to take advantage of the opportunities offered them by the government and explore the sector further to facilitate its growth.
She noted that the project “ is well designed to make our MESE’s more competitive and more efficient in their operations and also encourage managerial discipline in carrying out their day-to-day activities”
Stressing on the fact that it also “seeks to facilitate access to finance and markets as well as providing business advisory services, infrastructure and entrepreneurship development and technology improvement to the business community”.
She pointed out that the Ashanti Region abounds in a lot of products and natural resources that were yet to be developed for both domestic use and export.
She therefore challenged them to “aggressively pursue and avail themselves of the unprecedented opportunities being offered as an intervention to develop a vibrant and productive MSME sector”.
She explained that it was when the government recognised the challenges that confronted the MSME’s that it came out with such a timely intervention. She noted that by coming out with the intervention, the sector would be well focused to achieve rapid growth and poverty reduction goals in line with government’s objectives.
“ It is clear that a focused and tailored-made assistance to the SME sector will make a significant impact on the transformation of the economy of Ghana from low income economy to middle level income society in 2015,” she stressed.
Mrs Konadu also urged Metropolitan and District Chief Executives and other government appointees in the various agencies in the region “ to own this project
and provide the needed support and maximum commitment to the realisation of the laudable objectives set by the government”.
In his presentation, the Finance Access Manager of the MSME, Mr Abra Appiah, made an assurance that the project “ will support the establishment of business incubators and the creation of Common Services Centres (CSC) to enhance economic opportunities for MSME’s”.
He said among the facilities that would be established by the project were an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) park, a Furniture City, a clothing technology and Training Centre and Projects involving the creation of common service centres.
THE Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry, PSD and PSI, Mrs Gifty Ohene-Konadu, has launched the Micro, Small, Medium and Enterprises (MSME) project in the Kumasi Metropolis as part of government’s initiative to provide essential financing and technical support to the business community in the Ashanti Region to accelerate the development of the industrial sector.
The project, which is the collaboration of the Ghana Government and the World Bank, seeks to support the MSME’s in the country with a total of $118.90 million to facilitate their growth to enable the country to achieve middle-income status by 2015.
It is one of the 10 pilot projects that had already been launched at Accra, Cape Coast, Sekondi -Takoradi, Tamale, Bolgatanga, Wa and Sunyani.
It also seeks to provide a comprehensive range of integrated interventions to address the major constraints that affect the growth of MSME’s in Ghana, and is designed to benefit firms and business associations as well as financial institutions, business development and service providers.
According to Mrs Ohene- Konadu, the project “ is also seen as one of the major vehicles needed to mobilise and harness the potentials of the MSME sector, which already accounts for more than 90 per cent of all registered companies in Ghana”. Launching the project, Mrs Ohene-Konadu called on the private sector to take advantage of the opportunities offered them by the government and explore the sector further to facilitate its growth.
She noted that the project “ is well designed to make our MESE’s more competitive and more efficient in their operations and also encourage managerial discipline in carrying out their day-to-day activities”
Stressing on the fact that it also “seeks to facilitate access to finance and markets as well as providing business advisory services, infrastructure and entrepreneurship development and technology improvement to the business community”.
She pointed out that the Ashanti Region abounds in a lot of products and natural resources that were yet to be developed for both domestic use and export.
She therefore challenged them to “aggressively pursue and avail themselves of the unprecedented opportunities being offered as an intervention to develop a vibrant and productive MSME sector”.
She explained that it was when the government recognised the challenges that confronted the MSME’s that it came out with such a timely intervention. She noted that by coming out with the intervention, the sector would be well focused to achieve rapid growth and poverty reduction goals in line with government’s objectives.
“ It is clear that a focused and tailored-made assistance to the SME sector will make a significant impact on the transformation of the economy of Ghana from low income economy to middle level income society in 2015,” she stressed.
Mrs Konadu also urged Metropolitan and District Chief Executives and other government appointees in the various agencies in the region “ to own this project
and provide the needed support and maximum commitment to the realisation of the laudable objectives set by the government”.
In his presentation, the Finance Access Manager of the MSME, Mr Abra Appiah, made an assurance that the project “ will support the establishment of business incubators and the creation of Common Services Centres (CSC) to enhance economic opportunities for MSME’s”.
He said among the facilities that would be established by the project were an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) park, a Furniture City, a clothing technology and Training Centre and Projects involving the creation of common service centres.
TB, HIV CASES IN K'SI REDUCE (PAGE 30)
Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
The number of tuberculosis (TB) cases reported to the various health institutions in the Kumasi Metropolis, excluding the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), reduced from 1,034 in 2006 to 960 last year.
In 2005, as many as 1,187 people suffering from tuberculosis were reported to have visited health institutions in the metropolis for treatment.
The Medical Director in charge of the Kumasi Metropolis, Dr Joseph Oduro, who confirmed this during an interview with the Daily Graphic, pointed out that the Kumasi Metropolitan Health Directorate was putting adequate measures in place to ensure that all patients suffering from the disease sourced for comprehensive treatment, thereby reducing the rate of infection.
Explaining, he said it was only when infected people reported for treatment and rigidly followed the prescription and requisite period for treatment that they would be completely cured.
Dr Oduro pointed out that the treatment of TB was free and that the Ministry of Health also catered for the feeding and transport fares of patients to enable them attend hospitals regularly for review.
He said a number of volunteers had also been trained to visit victims of the disease to supervise and encourage them as they took their drugs. This, he said, enabled the victims to complete the period for treatment, He therefore urged people who had traces of the disease to visit hospitals to receive treatment and reduce the spread of the disease.
On the number of HIV-positive cases diagnosed over the period, Dr Oduro said in 2005, 812 cases were diagnosed in the various health institutions, excluding the KATH, but the number reduced to 599 the following year.
He said last year, as many as 1,215 HIV-positive cases were diagnosed in the metropolis, and out of the number, 250 of them regularised their visits to health institutions to receive treatment.
He said in 2006, only 13 out of the 599 people who tested positive for the dreadful HIV diseases in the metropolis sought treatment and expressed concern about the low turnout.
Dr Oduro said in 2005, as many as 18,657 people suffering from cardiovascular diseases reported for treatment but the number reduced to 17,680 in 2006.
He said last year, hypertension cases reported to the various health institutions in the metropolis, excluding that of the KATH, shot up to 33,050. He attributed the rapid increase of the disease to lifestyles adopted by the people. He said eating fatty and
more nutritious food without adequate exercise put people at the risk of contracting cardiovascular diseases.
He said the disease was now among the top 10 killers which should be taken seriously and, therefore, advised the public to make time and exercise daily to enhance blood circulation. He said it was equally important for the public to eat more fruits and vegetables to reduce risk of acquiring diseases.
The number of tuberculosis (TB) cases reported to the various health institutions in the Kumasi Metropolis, excluding the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), reduced from 1,034 in 2006 to 960 last year.
In 2005, as many as 1,187 people suffering from tuberculosis were reported to have visited health institutions in the metropolis for treatment.
The Medical Director in charge of the Kumasi Metropolis, Dr Joseph Oduro, who confirmed this during an interview with the Daily Graphic, pointed out that the Kumasi Metropolitan Health Directorate was putting adequate measures in place to ensure that all patients suffering from the disease sourced for comprehensive treatment, thereby reducing the rate of infection.
Explaining, he said it was only when infected people reported for treatment and rigidly followed the prescription and requisite period for treatment that they would be completely cured.
Dr Oduro pointed out that the treatment of TB was free and that the Ministry of Health also catered for the feeding and transport fares of patients to enable them attend hospitals regularly for review.
He said a number of volunteers had also been trained to visit victims of the disease to supervise and encourage them as they took their drugs. This, he said, enabled the victims to complete the period for treatment, He therefore urged people who had traces of the disease to visit hospitals to receive treatment and reduce the spread of the disease.
On the number of HIV-positive cases diagnosed over the period, Dr Oduro said in 2005, 812 cases were diagnosed in the various health institutions, excluding the KATH, but the number reduced to 599 the following year.
He said last year, as many as 1,215 HIV-positive cases were diagnosed in the metropolis, and out of the number, 250 of them regularised their visits to health institutions to receive treatment.
He said in 2006, only 13 out of the 599 people who tested positive for the dreadful HIV diseases in the metropolis sought treatment and expressed concern about the low turnout.
Dr Oduro said in 2005, as many as 18,657 people suffering from cardiovascular diseases reported for treatment but the number reduced to 17,680 in 2006.
He said last year, hypertension cases reported to the various health institutions in the metropolis, excluding that of the KATH, shot up to 33,050. He attributed the rapid increase of the disease to lifestyles adopted by the people. He said eating fatty and
more nutritious food without adequate exercise put people at the risk of contracting cardiovascular diseases.
He said the disease was now among the top 10 killers which should be taken seriously and, therefore, advised the public to make time and exercise daily to enhance blood circulation. He said it was equally important for the public to eat more fruits and vegetables to reduce risk of acquiring diseases.
Monday, April 21, 2008
ST MARY'S CATHOLIC CHURCH OUTDOORS BUS (NSEMPA, PAGE 22)
By George Ernest Asare, Kumasi.
THE Parish Priest of St Mary’s Immaculate Catholic Diocese Church at South Suntreso, in Kumasi, Rev Fr. Dominic Asiedu Fosu, has recieved the keys of a 33 seater Tata bus purchased by the members of the church to facilitate transportation of the church members.
The president of the transport committee, Mr J B Adade, handed the keys of the Tata bus to the parish priest, after he had blessed the bus and prayed for the safety of anyone who would board it for future programmes.
The new bus, which was estimated at GH¢41,300 was outdoored on Sunday April 13, 2008, after the morning’s church service. It was acquired through annual harvest and fund raising activities initiated by the executives of the church.
The committee’s president, told Graphic Nsempa in an interview that the need for the church to acquire its own bus to attend programmes was very important since it would reduce the cost of future transactions involving members of the church.
He said the bus would also enable the church to expand its outreach programmes on evangelism, thereby winning more souls for the Kingdom of God.
He explained that as the church was growing, there was also the need for them to attend social activities such as weddings, and funerals in and around the Kumasi Metropolis and its environs to meet the needs of the members.
The Parish Priest, Rev Dominic Asiedu Fosu commended the transport committee for their invaluable services to the church and urged them to sustain it. He urged them to outline how the bus would be used by the members of the congregation to enhance efficiency and longspan.
He said it was equally important for the Transport Committee to take good care of the vehicle and maintain it regularly to ensure a long life-span.
THE Parish Priest of St Mary’s Immaculate Catholic Diocese Church at South Suntreso, in Kumasi, Rev Fr. Dominic Asiedu Fosu, has recieved the keys of a 33 seater Tata bus purchased by the members of the church to facilitate transportation of the church members.
The president of the transport committee, Mr J B Adade, handed the keys of the Tata bus to the parish priest, after he had blessed the bus and prayed for the safety of anyone who would board it for future programmes.
The new bus, which was estimated at GH¢41,300 was outdoored on Sunday April 13, 2008, after the morning’s church service. It was acquired through annual harvest and fund raising activities initiated by the executives of the church.
The committee’s president, told Graphic Nsempa in an interview that the need for the church to acquire its own bus to attend programmes was very important since it would reduce the cost of future transactions involving members of the church.
He said the bus would also enable the church to expand its outreach programmes on evangelism, thereby winning more souls for the Kingdom of God.
He explained that as the church was growing, there was also the need for them to attend social activities such as weddings, and funerals in and around the Kumasi Metropolis and its environs to meet the needs of the members.
The Parish Priest, Rev Dominic Asiedu Fosu commended the transport committee for their invaluable services to the church and urged them to sustain it. He urged them to outline how the bus would be used by the members of the congregation to enhance efficiency and longspan.
He said it was equally important for the Transport Committee to take good care of the vehicle and maintain it regularly to ensure a long life-span.
REVELATIONS AT ATHLETICS MEET ...New talents unearthed (NSEMPA, BACK PAGE)
By George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
“CATCHING them young and nurturing their potentials with the requisite technical expertise to ensure that they fully blossom to become national stars,” was how the Chief Executive of the National Sports Council, (NSC) Mr Prince Oduro Mensah, described a 13- year-old girl, who put up a splendid performance at the just ended National Athletics Championships, held at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on April 11 and 12, 2008.
Young Talent
It was an advice Mr Oduro Mensah gave to the coaches handling the national athletes, who converged at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi last week. This was after he had witnessed an outstanding performance, by some of the young athletes, including that teenager, during the meet.
The girl, Miss Sarah Owu, who attends John Bosco Primary at Winneba, dismissed the bluff of her older competitors and became the toast of sports fans, when she defied all odds to win silver medals at both the 1500 and 5000 meter events.
When she joined her bigger competitors on the tracks for the beginning of the race, considering the fact that both the 1500 and 5000 meters were meant for athletes with big hearts, abundant stamina and sheer bravado, the spectators started murmuring, wondering how she would fit into the system, but she proved in the end that, in matters of sports, age and size play no role.
Success
Running for the first time on a tartan track and without any spikes to aid her, Sarah showed no complex, and succeeded in brushing aside all forms of opposition to win the hearts of the sports fans, including the executive members of the NSC and the Ghana Amateur Athletics Association (GAAA).
Millicent Boadi who had been in the competition for about a decade had to ran the race of her life, before winning both races, but it was only her experience acquired over the years on the tracks that gave her the advantage over the teenager, to win gold both the1500 and 5000 events.
The performance of Sarah Owu, was simply phenomenal, and it was therefore not surprising that she received a standing ovation and cash donations as a way of encouraging her, to fully develop her potentials for her own good and that of the nation.
Potential
Apart from Sarah, Okatakyie Afrifa of GUSA, who won the 100 meters event with a time of 10.35 seconds, was another youngster who showed a lot of potential in all the races that he took part in, and proved that, given the chance and encouragement, he would soon take Africa and the world by storm.
Lack of Competition
Other athletes like Shepherd Agbeko, Emmanuel Appiah-Kusi, Gifty Addy, Elizabeth Amolofo, Nathan Kpegbah and Victor Togo among others, also showed prominence in their respective races by winning medals and sent a strong message to the sports governing body that, like their compatriots abroad, they also needed a lot of competitions at home and exposure at the international level, to give them what it takes to market Ghana at the international arena.
Speaking in an interview with some of the athletes after the two day-competition, they were of the same accord that “ lack of local competitions were the main hindrance to their forward match to stardom.
“ We need a lot of competitions to enable us develop our potentials, but in Ghana, competitions are organised once a while, making it difficult for us to keep pace with our compatriots abroad who are always offered the chance to compete to enhance their performance.”
They pointed out that, the likes of Ohene Karikari (Sahara), Mike Ahey, Alice Anum (Baby Jet), J.A Addy, Joshua Owusu, Stanley Allotey, George Daniels, (strong bow legged) Rose Hart, Christiana Boateng, (flying queen) Hannah Afriyie, Grace Bakari and Rose Asieduwaa, among others, who distinguished themselves and won many medals at international competitions, “ came into the limelight due to the numerous local competitions organised for them in the country,”
Championships
“In their days, not less than five or six local competitions were organised in a year for them to out do each other and this always kept them in shape and regularised their training, but in our time, we are suffering from organisational hiccups, and this affects our performance,” they complained.
2,They said unlike the past where inadequate facilities in the country were used as the main excuse for not organising athletics competitions for the locally based athletes, “ the country now boasts of many facilities at Essipon, Tamale and Kumasi, so they have no excuse to deny us the chance to compete and keep ourselves in shape.”
Budget
The athletes pointed out that just like soccer, the government should show commitment by coming out with a budgetary requirement that would support the development of athletics in a more effective and efficient way.
This, they said, would ensure that the youth who had an interest in the sport would have the opportunity to develop their potentials before they got to their prime. They also urged the sports authorities to come out with a programme that would make it possible for both the local and foreign based athletes to compete regularly.
Sponsorship
According to the athletes, companies in the country seem to be in love with soccer to the detriment of other sporting disciplines in the country.
“ If companies that support soccer divert a little of their time, energy and resources to athletics and actively support its organisation on regular basis, this nation would come out with athletes who would be able to compete favourably with those with big names at the international scene,” they assured, adding, “ We have the potentials as you saw during this competition and we are only waiting for sponsorship in diverse ways from The Nestles, Guinness’s, Tigo’s, One Touch, SIC’s, ADB’s, Barclays’ Stanbic’s, ECOBANK’s and SGSSB’s among others, to market Ghana abroad, and we hope they will respond positively to our pleas.”
Commendation
In his closing remarks, Mr Oduro Mensah, commended the athletes for their outstanding performances and urged them to train regularly to keep themselves in good shape for future events.
He said it was equally important for their coaches, to develop the requisite techniques that would enable the athletes, develop their potentials in an efficient way to enhance their performances, especially at the international level.
With the right facilities in the country and the huge potentials among the youth spread across every hamlet in the country, the onus lay on the government, companies and individuals, to collaborate to help them nurture and develop their potentials to blossom, instead of idling around and wasting their time on unproductive ventures that mostly lead them into trouble.
“CATCHING them young and nurturing their potentials with the requisite technical expertise to ensure that they fully blossom to become national stars,” was how the Chief Executive of the National Sports Council, (NSC) Mr Prince Oduro Mensah, described a 13- year-old girl, who put up a splendid performance at the just ended National Athletics Championships, held at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on April 11 and 12, 2008.
Young Talent
It was an advice Mr Oduro Mensah gave to the coaches handling the national athletes, who converged at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi last week. This was after he had witnessed an outstanding performance, by some of the young athletes, including that teenager, during the meet.
The girl, Miss Sarah Owu, who attends John Bosco Primary at Winneba, dismissed the bluff of her older competitors and became the toast of sports fans, when she defied all odds to win silver medals at both the 1500 and 5000 meter events.
When she joined her bigger competitors on the tracks for the beginning of the race, considering the fact that both the 1500 and 5000 meters were meant for athletes with big hearts, abundant stamina and sheer bravado, the spectators started murmuring, wondering how she would fit into the system, but she proved in the end that, in matters of sports, age and size play no role.
Success
Running for the first time on a tartan track and without any spikes to aid her, Sarah showed no complex, and succeeded in brushing aside all forms of opposition to win the hearts of the sports fans, including the executive members of the NSC and the Ghana Amateur Athletics Association (GAAA).
Millicent Boadi who had been in the competition for about a decade had to ran the race of her life, before winning both races, but it was only her experience acquired over the years on the tracks that gave her the advantage over the teenager, to win gold both the1500 and 5000 events.
The performance of Sarah Owu, was simply phenomenal, and it was therefore not surprising that she received a standing ovation and cash donations as a way of encouraging her, to fully develop her potentials for her own good and that of the nation.
Potential
Apart from Sarah, Okatakyie Afrifa of GUSA, who won the 100 meters event with a time of 10.35 seconds, was another youngster who showed a lot of potential in all the races that he took part in, and proved that, given the chance and encouragement, he would soon take Africa and the world by storm.
Lack of Competition
Other athletes like Shepherd Agbeko, Emmanuel Appiah-Kusi, Gifty Addy, Elizabeth Amolofo, Nathan Kpegbah and Victor Togo among others, also showed prominence in their respective races by winning medals and sent a strong message to the sports governing body that, like their compatriots abroad, they also needed a lot of competitions at home and exposure at the international level, to give them what it takes to market Ghana at the international arena.
Speaking in an interview with some of the athletes after the two day-competition, they were of the same accord that “ lack of local competitions were the main hindrance to their forward match to stardom.
“ We need a lot of competitions to enable us develop our potentials, but in Ghana, competitions are organised once a while, making it difficult for us to keep pace with our compatriots abroad who are always offered the chance to compete to enhance their performance.”
They pointed out that, the likes of Ohene Karikari (Sahara), Mike Ahey, Alice Anum (Baby Jet), J.A Addy, Joshua Owusu, Stanley Allotey, George Daniels, (strong bow legged) Rose Hart, Christiana Boateng, (flying queen) Hannah Afriyie, Grace Bakari and Rose Asieduwaa, among others, who distinguished themselves and won many medals at international competitions, “ came into the limelight due to the numerous local competitions organised for them in the country,”
Championships
“In their days, not less than five or six local competitions were organised in a year for them to out do each other and this always kept them in shape and regularised their training, but in our time, we are suffering from organisational hiccups, and this affects our performance,” they complained.
2,They said unlike the past where inadequate facilities in the country were used as the main excuse for not organising athletics competitions for the locally based athletes, “ the country now boasts of many facilities at Essipon, Tamale and Kumasi, so they have no excuse to deny us the chance to compete and keep ourselves in shape.”
Budget
The athletes pointed out that just like soccer, the government should show commitment by coming out with a budgetary requirement that would support the development of athletics in a more effective and efficient way.
This, they said, would ensure that the youth who had an interest in the sport would have the opportunity to develop their potentials before they got to their prime. They also urged the sports authorities to come out with a programme that would make it possible for both the local and foreign based athletes to compete regularly.
Sponsorship
According to the athletes, companies in the country seem to be in love with soccer to the detriment of other sporting disciplines in the country.
“ If companies that support soccer divert a little of their time, energy and resources to athletics and actively support its organisation on regular basis, this nation would come out with athletes who would be able to compete favourably with those with big names at the international scene,” they assured, adding, “ We have the potentials as you saw during this competition and we are only waiting for sponsorship in diverse ways from The Nestles, Guinness’s, Tigo’s, One Touch, SIC’s, ADB’s, Barclays’ Stanbic’s, ECOBANK’s and SGSSB’s among others, to market Ghana abroad, and we hope they will respond positively to our pleas.”
Commendation
In his closing remarks, Mr Oduro Mensah, commended the athletes for their outstanding performances and urged them to train regularly to keep themselves in good shape for future events.
He said it was equally important for their coaches, to develop the requisite techniques that would enable the athletes, develop their potentials in an efficient way to enhance their performances, especially at the international level.
With the right facilities in the country and the huge potentials among the youth spread across every hamlet in the country, the onus lay on the government, companies and individuals, to collaborate to help them nurture and develop their potentials to blossom, instead of idling around and wasting their time on unproductive ventures that mostly lead them into trouble.
CHIEF PAYS NHIS FEES FOR HIS PEOPLE (PAGE 29)
Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
THE residents of Nsema, a suburb of Kumasi, last Friday realised their dream of getting access to quality health care when their chief, Nana Nkansa Boadu Ayeboafo, offered to pay GH¢15,000 as their health insurance premium for the year.
The gesture by the chief was his contribution to make the residents healthy to enable them to engage in productive ventures to adequately cater for their dependants and also contribute to sustainable national development.
Prior to their registration on Friday, April 11, 2008, many of the residents had not registered to join the Mutual Health Insurance Scheme (MHIS) and the few who had registered had also not renewed their insurance after it expired.
Initially, Nana Boadu Ayeboafo intended to pay the premium of the aged, widows and single parents in the community, but when he realised that majority of them had not registered to join the scheme, he directed the management of the Bantama Sub-Mutual Insurance Scheme which was registering the beneficiaries to extend the gesture to the entire Nsema community.
When the Daily Graphic visited the registration centre at the chief’s palace at Nsema, the youth, who constituted the greater percentage of the community, were in a long queue jostling one another to get their pictures taken and to fill documents to join the scheme.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic, Nana Boadu Ayeboafo said, “I took that decision of sponsoring the registration of the entire Nsema community when I realised that almost all of them do not benefit from the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) because of financial difficulties.
“Initially I wanted to support only the aged, widows and single parents to join the scheme to enable them to access quality health care anytime they fall sick, but later I got to know that almost the entire community, including the youth, had not registered, hence my decision to pay for everybody at Nsema.”
He noted that he had not got a seal on the total amount of money he was using to register the entire community, adding, “But I think that GH¢15,000 will be enough to pay for the premium of the Nsema community. If business thrives, I will renew it for them next year.”
He said to enhance their registration, he contacted the Regional Manager of the National Health Insurance Authority, Mrs Leticia Osei Poku, who directed the scheme manager of the Bantama sub-metro to move to Nsema to register the entire community.
“This is my contribution to make the people of Nsema healthy to enable them to embark on productive ventures,” he noted.
Nana Boadu Ayeboafo expressed concern over the lackadaisical attitude of some of the residents towards issues of national importance, saying it was such an attitude that had prevented some of them from joining the mutual health scheme.
“But they are able to get money to buy expensive cloths to attend funerals every weekend,” he lamented.
For her part, Mrs Osei Poku commended Nana Boadu Ayeboafo for his gesture, saying, “This is the first time a chief has spent so much to pay for the premium of an entire community for them to join the health insurance scheme.”
She pointed out that since the health insurance scheme played a key role in productivity, chiefs should support the people in their communities who faced financial difficulties in paying their premium to enable them to 0access quality health delivery.
“People should not get sick before they pay their premiums because it could cost them their lives,” she advised.
THE residents of Nsema, a suburb of Kumasi, last Friday realised their dream of getting access to quality health care when their chief, Nana Nkansa Boadu Ayeboafo, offered to pay GH¢15,000 as their health insurance premium for the year.
The gesture by the chief was his contribution to make the residents healthy to enable them to engage in productive ventures to adequately cater for their dependants and also contribute to sustainable national development.
Prior to their registration on Friday, April 11, 2008, many of the residents had not registered to join the Mutual Health Insurance Scheme (MHIS) and the few who had registered had also not renewed their insurance after it expired.
Initially, Nana Boadu Ayeboafo intended to pay the premium of the aged, widows and single parents in the community, but when he realised that majority of them had not registered to join the scheme, he directed the management of the Bantama Sub-Mutual Insurance Scheme which was registering the beneficiaries to extend the gesture to the entire Nsema community.
When the Daily Graphic visited the registration centre at the chief’s palace at Nsema, the youth, who constituted the greater percentage of the community, were in a long queue jostling one another to get their pictures taken and to fill documents to join the scheme.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic, Nana Boadu Ayeboafo said, “I took that decision of sponsoring the registration of the entire Nsema community when I realised that almost all of them do not benefit from the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) because of financial difficulties.
“Initially I wanted to support only the aged, widows and single parents to join the scheme to enable them to access quality health care anytime they fall sick, but later I got to know that almost the entire community, including the youth, had not registered, hence my decision to pay for everybody at Nsema.”
He noted that he had not got a seal on the total amount of money he was using to register the entire community, adding, “But I think that GH¢15,000 will be enough to pay for the premium of the Nsema community. If business thrives, I will renew it for them next year.”
He said to enhance their registration, he contacted the Regional Manager of the National Health Insurance Authority, Mrs Leticia Osei Poku, who directed the scheme manager of the Bantama sub-metro to move to Nsema to register the entire community.
“This is my contribution to make the people of Nsema healthy to enable them to embark on productive ventures,” he noted.
Nana Boadu Ayeboafo expressed concern over the lackadaisical attitude of some of the residents towards issues of national importance, saying it was such an attitude that had prevented some of them from joining the mutual health scheme.
“But they are able to get money to buy expensive cloths to attend funerals every weekend,” he lamented.
For her part, Mrs Osei Poku commended Nana Boadu Ayeboafo for his gesture, saying, “This is the first time a chief has spent so much to pay for the premium of an entire community for them to join the health insurance scheme.”
She pointed out that since the health insurance scheme played a key role in productivity, chiefs should support the people in their communities who faced financial difficulties in paying their premium to enable them to 0access quality health delivery.
“People should not get sick before they pay their premiums because it could cost them their lives,” she advised.
KUMASI MTTU BAGS GH¢13,000 (PAGE 55)
Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
A five-day special operation carried out by the Police Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) in the Kumasi metropolis and its environs to check irregularities on road traffic and other traffic offences generated GH¢13,000 for the state.
On hundred and twenty drivers who committed various traffic offences were arrested during the special operations that started on April 1, 2008 and ended five days later.
Out of the number of drivers arrested during the period, 90 of them were arraigned and 65 were convicted by the Kumasi Circuit Court presided over by Justice Ernest Yao Obimpeh and fined between GH¢400 and GH¢500.
The Ashanti Regional Commander of the MTTU of the Ghana Police Service, DSP James Sarfo Peprah, told the Daily Graphic that the police were investigating the cases of 25 other suspects who were arrested during the exercise.
He said among the offences committed by the drivers were use of expired driving licences, road worthiness certificates and insurance, speeding, wrong overtaking, driving under the influence of alcohol and overloading of vehicles.
Mr Sarfo Peprah said the exercise was carried out mainly on the Kumasi-Obuasi road, where commercial and private car users were known to flout road traffic regulations.
He pointed out that many of the offending drivers used 207 Mercedes Benz buses and when their vehicles were inspected, it was noticed that their insurance and roadworthiness certificates had either expired, or had faulty brakes or overloaded their vehicles.
He said some of the drivers had also taken alcohol beyond the required limit, and therefore expressed concern about the continuous flouting of traffic regulations by drivers in spite of the numerous road safety campaigns.
He said those arrested and prosecuted included drivers who plied the Kumasi-Elubo, Kumasi-Takoradi, Kumasi-Obuasi, Kumasi Mankessim and Kumasi-Dunkwa and Bekwai routes.
He pointed out that most of the fatal accidents had not only occurred on that particular road, but also involved 207 Mercedes Benz drivers.
He wondered why some drivers continued to disregard road traffic regulations at the peril of their lives and those of passengers, whose lives were entrusted to them in the course of their journey.
Mr Sarfo Peprah also expressed concern about the behaviour of some passengers during the exercise, saying that there was the need for passengers to co-operate with the police when such operations were being carried out because it was in their own interest.
“Passengers sometimes go to the extent of insulting the police for wasting their time during such operations, but kept quiet when drivers were speeding and driving recklessly, putting their lives at great risk,” he complained.
“It is my plea that passengers should always co-operate with the police whenever we are carrying out such exercises. This is because it is our civic responsibility to ensure that there is sanity on the road to make travelling more enjoyable and comfortable,” he added.
A five-day special operation carried out by the Police Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) in the Kumasi metropolis and its environs to check irregularities on road traffic and other traffic offences generated GH¢13,000 for the state.
On hundred and twenty drivers who committed various traffic offences were arrested during the special operations that started on April 1, 2008 and ended five days later.
Out of the number of drivers arrested during the period, 90 of them were arraigned and 65 were convicted by the Kumasi Circuit Court presided over by Justice Ernest Yao Obimpeh and fined between GH¢400 and GH¢500.
The Ashanti Regional Commander of the MTTU of the Ghana Police Service, DSP James Sarfo Peprah, told the Daily Graphic that the police were investigating the cases of 25 other suspects who were arrested during the exercise.
He said among the offences committed by the drivers were use of expired driving licences, road worthiness certificates and insurance, speeding, wrong overtaking, driving under the influence of alcohol and overloading of vehicles.
Mr Sarfo Peprah said the exercise was carried out mainly on the Kumasi-Obuasi road, where commercial and private car users were known to flout road traffic regulations.
He pointed out that many of the offending drivers used 207 Mercedes Benz buses and when their vehicles were inspected, it was noticed that their insurance and roadworthiness certificates had either expired, or had faulty brakes or overloaded their vehicles.
He said some of the drivers had also taken alcohol beyond the required limit, and therefore expressed concern about the continuous flouting of traffic regulations by drivers in spite of the numerous road safety campaigns.
He said those arrested and prosecuted included drivers who plied the Kumasi-Elubo, Kumasi-Takoradi, Kumasi-Obuasi, Kumasi Mankessim and Kumasi-Dunkwa and Bekwai routes.
He pointed out that most of the fatal accidents had not only occurred on that particular road, but also involved 207 Mercedes Benz drivers.
He wondered why some drivers continued to disregard road traffic regulations at the peril of their lives and those of passengers, whose lives were entrusted to them in the course of their journey.
Mr Sarfo Peprah also expressed concern about the behaviour of some passengers during the exercise, saying that there was the need for passengers to co-operate with the police when such operations were being carried out because it was in their own interest.
“Passengers sometimes go to the extent of insulting the police for wasting their time during such operations, but kept quiet when drivers were speeding and driving recklessly, putting their lives at great risk,” he complained.
“It is my plea that passengers should always co-operate with the police whenever we are carrying out such exercises. This is because it is our civic responsibility to ensure that there is sanity on the road to make travelling more enjoyable and comfortable,” he added.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
KUMASI LADIES CRY FOR HELP...Don't board white KIA Pride taxi (MIRROR, PAGE 34)
From George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
A gang of mobile phone snatchers, operating in a white KIA Pride taxi in parts of the Kumasi metropolis, has succeeded in robbing a number of ladies of their mobile phones and money at gunpoint over the past three weeks.
Some of the victims, who spoke to The Mirror when they called at the Kumasi office last Tuesday, expressed concern about the mode of operation of the robbers and therefore appealed to the Kumasi Metropolitan Police Command to intensify their patrols in the evenings.
They also warned the travelling public to be wary when they see three young men as occupants in a white KIA Pride taxi, who speak Hausa and incoherent Akan, adding, “They entice passengers, especially women, and rob them at gunpoint in secluded areas in the Kumasi metropolis.”
They could, however, not recollect the registration number of the white KIA Pride, but were emphatic that “that particular taxi had been used to rob a number of women including the five of us”.
According to the ladies, the occupants in the taxi who were mostly three in number, enticed them to board the vehicle, and after taking them to a point in the course of the journey, they would pounce on them, assault them at gunpoint and rob them of their money, mobile phones and other valuables.
They added that immediately after robbing them, the robbers would temporarily blind their victims by rubbing ointment on their eyes before dumping them in a secluded area, then speed off.
The ladies made individual reports to the police after their ordeal but so far the police have not made any arrest.
Their spokesperson, a 33-year-old lady, Ms Georgina Smeldley, who is a secretary in one of the industries in Kumasi, told The Mirror that they were attacked in separate areas in Kumasi and at different times “but it seems they use the same vehicle and mode of operation”.
Elaborating, Ms Smedley said she in particular was attacked on Saturday, April 5, 2008 when she boarded a white KIA Pride taxi at the Timber Gardens in Kumasi.
“After boarding the taxi which already had three occupants including the driver around 6:15 p.m., I noticed that the driver locked the doors and instead of using the Atonsu road where I was going, the driver branched off the Kaase road. Just then the one at the front seat quickly jumped to the back seat to join his colleague and I was sandwiched between them before they assaulted me at gunpoint while the driver sped off”.
She said to prevent her from shouting to attract public attention or struggle with them, they pinned her head down, tied her hands and threatened to blow off her head if she dared make any noise.
Ms Smeldley said after succeeding in robbing her of her two mobile phones, GH¢400 and some personal items, they took out a hot ointment and rubbed it into her eyes to temporarily blind her before dumping her in an isolated area which she later identified as the outskirts of Kaase.
She said it was when she reported to the police after receiving medical care that she got to know that four other ladies had also been robbed using such a taxi with three young men who spoke Hausa and incoherent Akan.
“I managed to contact them and we decided to come here to warn the public, especially women, about the danger of boarding a white KIA Pride cab in the evening”.
The others corroborated her story and said they had also been robbed at gunpoint in different parts of Kumasi after they boarded the taxi.
They mentioned the outskirts of TUC, Santasi roundabout, Ahwodwo and Ahensan Estate as areas where they were dumped after their attackers had robbed them of their mobile phones, money and other valuables. They appealed to the police to intensify their patrols in the evenings to arrest the criminals.
A gang of mobile phone snatchers, operating in a white KIA Pride taxi in parts of the Kumasi metropolis, has succeeded in robbing a number of ladies of their mobile phones and money at gunpoint over the past three weeks.
Some of the victims, who spoke to The Mirror when they called at the Kumasi office last Tuesday, expressed concern about the mode of operation of the robbers and therefore appealed to the Kumasi Metropolitan Police Command to intensify their patrols in the evenings.
They also warned the travelling public to be wary when they see three young men as occupants in a white KIA Pride taxi, who speak Hausa and incoherent Akan, adding, “They entice passengers, especially women, and rob them at gunpoint in secluded areas in the Kumasi metropolis.”
They could, however, not recollect the registration number of the white KIA Pride, but were emphatic that “that particular taxi had been used to rob a number of women including the five of us”.
According to the ladies, the occupants in the taxi who were mostly three in number, enticed them to board the vehicle, and after taking them to a point in the course of the journey, they would pounce on them, assault them at gunpoint and rob them of their money, mobile phones and other valuables.
They added that immediately after robbing them, the robbers would temporarily blind their victims by rubbing ointment on their eyes before dumping them in a secluded area, then speed off.
The ladies made individual reports to the police after their ordeal but so far the police have not made any arrest.
Their spokesperson, a 33-year-old lady, Ms Georgina Smeldley, who is a secretary in one of the industries in Kumasi, told The Mirror that they were attacked in separate areas in Kumasi and at different times “but it seems they use the same vehicle and mode of operation”.
Elaborating, Ms Smedley said she in particular was attacked on Saturday, April 5, 2008 when she boarded a white KIA Pride taxi at the Timber Gardens in Kumasi.
“After boarding the taxi which already had three occupants including the driver around 6:15 p.m., I noticed that the driver locked the doors and instead of using the Atonsu road where I was going, the driver branched off the Kaase road. Just then the one at the front seat quickly jumped to the back seat to join his colleague and I was sandwiched between them before they assaulted me at gunpoint while the driver sped off”.
She said to prevent her from shouting to attract public attention or struggle with them, they pinned her head down, tied her hands and threatened to blow off her head if she dared make any noise.
Ms Smeldley said after succeeding in robbing her of her two mobile phones, GH¢400 and some personal items, they took out a hot ointment and rubbed it into her eyes to temporarily blind her before dumping her in an isolated area which she later identified as the outskirts of Kaase.
She said it was when she reported to the police after receiving medical care that she got to know that four other ladies had also been robbed using such a taxi with three young men who spoke Hausa and incoherent Akan.
“I managed to contact them and we decided to come here to warn the public, especially women, about the danger of boarding a white KIA Pride cab in the evening”.
The others corroborated her story and said they had also been robbed at gunpoint in different parts of Kumasi after they boarded the taxi.
They mentioned the outskirts of TUC, Santasi roundabout, Ahwodwo and Ahensan Estate as areas where they were dumped after their attackers had robbed them of their mobile phones, money and other valuables. They appealed to the police to intensify their patrols in the evenings to arrest the criminals.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Refrain from polarising state — Nana Appau
28th March
Story: George Ernest
Asare, Bekwai
THE Paramount Chief of Bekwai Traditional Area, Nana Karikari Appau, has reiterated the need for Ghanaians to refrain from actions that could polarise the state in the run up to the December general election.
He pointed out that elections were not meant for the electorate to antagonise each other to create a state of anarchy that can impede accelerated and sustainable national development, but a process of choosing people with leadership qualities to manage state affairs in a more effective and efficient way .
He said it was therefore very important for political parties in the country and their supporters to collaborate effectively with the Electoral Commission (EC) to create a conducive atmosphere in the run up to the December general election to firmly sustain the peace being enjoyed.
This, he said, would provide avenues for the EC to conduct free and fair elections that would not only win the confidence of the electorate, but would also sustain the respect the country enjoyed from the international community.
Nana Karikari Appau gave the advice during the annual fund raising harvest in Bekwai at the weekend.
The fund raising harvest had created a platform for citizens of Bekwai at home and abroad to interact in a more fruitful manner and also support the development initiatives of the traditional authorities of Bekwai for accelerated socio-economic development to take place.
Monies raised over the years had gone into the development of educational infrastructure, health care facilities and the provision of scholarship schemes to support the education of brilliant needy students in the Bekwai traditional area to enable them to focus on their academic work.
This years’ fund raising was meant to raise adequate resources to develop the Gyamfi Park at Bekwai which is in a deplorable state. This was to enable the youth who have interest in sports to nurture them into fruition for their benefits and that of the state.
Nana Karikari Appau, commended the people of Bekwai for their communal spirit and urged them to sustain it as a way of complementing the government’s quest of initiating programmes and policies that would enhance accelerated development of the traditional area.
An Accra based business consultant, Mr Kofi Mensah, who chaired the function donated GH¢1000 towards the project and commended Nana Karikari Appau for his sense of initiative.
He urged all well endowed citizens of Bekwai and its environs to support the annual fund raising programme as a way of nurturing communal spirit as a legacy for the youth to emulate.
He said with effective educational infrastructure and quality health care facilities at Bekwai, the youth in particular would be encouraged to focus on their academic work and develop their potentials very well.
This, he said, would enable them to acquire employable skills and become responsible citizens, ready to contribute their quota towards future development of the community.
In his address, the Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Richard Aboagye, assured them that the assembly would fence the entire Gyamfi Park as its contribution to the early completion of the project.
He said with the fencing of the park, any money raised by the Bekwai community could be used to develop other facilities for the early completion of the project.
Story: George Ernest
Asare, Bekwai
THE Paramount Chief of Bekwai Traditional Area, Nana Karikari Appau, has reiterated the need for Ghanaians to refrain from actions that could polarise the state in the run up to the December general election.
He pointed out that elections were not meant for the electorate to antagonise each other to create a state of anarchy that can impede accelerated and sustainable national development, but a process of choosing people with leadership qualities to manage state affairs in a more effective and efficient way .
He said it was therefore very important for political parties in the country and their supporters to collaborate effectively with the Electoral Commission (EC) to create a conducive atmosphere in the run up to the December general election to firmly sustain the peace being enjoyed.
This, he said, would provide avenues for the EC to conduct free and fair elections that would not only win the confidence of the electorate, but would also sustain the respect the country enjoyed from the international community.
Nana Karikari Appau gave the advice during the annual fund raising harvest in Bekwai at the weekend.
The fund raising harvest had created a platform for citizens of Bekwai at home and abroad to interact in a more fruitful manner and also support the development initiatives of the traditional authorities of Bekwai for accelerated socio-economic development to take place.
Monies raised over the years had gone into the development of educational infrastructure, health care facilities and the provision of scholarship schemes to support the education of brilliant needy students in the Bekwai traditional area to enable them to focus on their academic work.
This years’ fund raising was meant to raise adequate resources to develop the Gyamfi Park at Bekwai which is in a deplorable state. This was to enable the youth who have interest in sports to nurture them into fruition for their benefits and that of the state.
Nana Karikari Appau, commended the people of Bekwai for their communal spirit and urged them to sustain it as a way of complementing the government’s quest of initiating programmes and policies that would enhance accelerated development of the traditional area.
An Accra based business consultant, Mr Kofi Mensah, who chaired the function donated GH¢1000 towards the project and commended Nana Karikari Appau for his sense of initiative.
He urged all well endowed citizens of Bekwai and its environs to support the annual fund raising programme as a way of nurturing communal spirit as a legacy for the youth to emulate.
He said with effective educational infrastructure and quality health care facilities at Bekwai, the youth in particular would be encouraged to focus on their academic work and develop their potentials very well.
This, he said, would enable them to acquire employable skills and become responsible citizens, ready to contribute their quota towards future development of the community.
In his address, the Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Richard Aboagye, assured them that the assembly would fence the entire Gyamfi Park as its contribution to the early completion of the project.
He said with the fencing of the park, any money raised by the Bekwai community could be used to develop other facilities for the early completion of the project.
Police look for runaway driver
March 25
Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
THE police in Kumasi are hunting for a taxi driver who was alleged to have knocked down a Community Police Officer, killing him in the process after the deceased had sustained severe head and leg injuries.
According to an eyewitness, the taxi driver, who is yet to be identified, first hit the deceased who was at that time directing traffic at the Patasi Estate in Kumasi, and he fell on the bonnet of the taxi.
The eyewitness said while the deceased was still on the bonnet and struggling to hold firmly on to the side windows, the driver ignored public outcry and sped off for more than three kilometres and finally dumped him in a trench, causing him to suffer severe head injuries.
He died before he could receive medical care at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, where he was rushed to.
The body has been deposited in the mortuary for autopsy, while the police are looking for the suspect who was alleged to have vanished as soon as the taxi plunged into the trench.
Mr Michael Owusu Gyamfi, who was on duty together with the deceased, told the Daily Graphic that while directing traffic at the Patasi Estate Junction, around 8:30 a.m., they spotted a cargo truck fully loaded with bags of cement coming from Patasi towards Sofoline, so they flagged vehicles from Patasi Estate to stop to give way to the cargo truck.
He said as the truck came close, they realised that the driver of the KIA Pride taxi, with registration number AS 7687 Y had ignored their directive and recklessly crossing the path of the cargo truck.
According to Mr Gyamfi, he attempted noting down the registration number of the taxi while his deceased colleague went to advise the driver to behave on the road to avoid any accident.
He said just at that time, the driver suddenly turned the car and hit the deceased on the pavement, causing him to fall on the bonnet, and sped off while he was still on the bonnet struggling to hold firmly on to the windows.
Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
THE police in Kumasi are hunting for a taxi driver who was alleged to have knocked down a Community Police Officer, killing him in the process after the deceased had sustained severe head and leg injuries.
According to an eyewitness, the taxi driver, who is yet to be identified, first hit the deceased who was at that time directing traffic at the Patasi Estate in Kumasi, and he fell on the bonnet of the taxi.
The eyewitness said while the deceased was still on the bonnet and struggling to hold firmly on to the side windows, the driver ignored public outcry and sped off for more than three kilometres and finally dumped him in a trench, causing him to suffer severe head injuries.
He died before he could receive medical care at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, where he was rushed to.
The body has been deposited in the mortuary for autopsy, while the police are looking for the suspect who was alleged to have vanished as soon as the taxi plunged into the trench.
Mr Michael Owusu Gyamfi, who was on duty together with the deceased, told the Daily Graphic that while directing traffic at the Patasi Estate Junction, around 8:30 a.m., they spotted a cargo truck fully loaded with bags of cement coming from Patasi towards Sofoline, so they flagged vehicles from Patasi Estate to stop to give way to the cargo truck.
He said as the truck came close, they realised that the driver of the KIA Pride taxi, with registration number AS 7687 Y had ignored their directive and recklessly crossing the path of the cargo truck.
According to Mr Gyamfi, he attempted noting down the registration number of the taxi while his deceased colleague went to advise the driver to behave on the road to avoid any accident.
He said just at that time, the driver suddenly turned the car and hit the deceased on the pavement, causing him to fall on the bonnet, and sped off while he was still on the bonnet struggling to hold firmly on to the windows.
Student stabbed to death
Story: George Ernest Asare,
Kumasi
Tuesday March 25, 2008
A FORM two student of the Konongo Odumasi Senior High School met his untimely death when he was stabbed last week.
The deceased, Gabriel Ntim, together with two of his schoolmates, was confronted by 15 gangsters in front of a shop near the Baba Yara Stadium, where they were seeking shelter from a rainstorm.
The students, who were participating in the just-ended Super Zonal Athletics Competition involving senior high schools in the Ashanti Region, were alleged to have been ordered by the gangsters, who had disguised themselves with black headgear, to surrender all items on them.
Just as the deceased was about to hand over his bag and its contents to the gang, one of the gangsters pulled a knife and stabbed him in the chest.
When the police arrived at the crime scene after the other two students had called for help, the gangsters had vanished from the scene with the deceased’s bag and mobile phone.
Ntim reportedly died before he could receive medical care at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital where he was rushed to by the police.
The Ashanti Regional Police Commander, ACP Seth Charles Oteng, who confirmed the story, said that no arrest had been made but gave the assurance that the police had intensified their investigations.
He said an autopsy on the deceased revealed that he died as a result of excessive bleeding.
He appealed to members of the public to assist the police in their investigations for the arrest of the gangsters.
Kumasi
Tuesday March 25, 2008
A FORM two student of the Konongo Odumasi Senior High School met his untimely death when he was stabbed last week.
The deceased, Gabriel Ntim, together with two of his schoolmates, was confronted by 15 gangsters in front of a shop near the Baba Yara Stadium, where they were seeking shelter from a rainstorm.
The students, who were participating in the just-ended Super Zonal Athletics Competition involving senior high schools in the Ashanti Region, were alleged to have been ordered by the gangsters, who had disguised themselves with black headgear, to surrender all items on them.
Just as the deceased was about to hand over his bag and its contents to the gang, one of the gangsters pulled a knife and stabbed him in the chest.
When the police arrived at the crime scene after the other two students had called for help, the gangsters had vanished from the scene with the deceased’s bag and mobile phone.
Ntim reportedly died before he could receive medical care at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital where he was rushed to by the police.
The Ashanti Regional Police Commander, ACP Seth Charles Oteng, who confirmed the story, said that no arrest had been made but gave the assurance that the police had intensified their investigations.
He said an autopsy on the deceased revealed that he died as a result of excessive bleeding.
He appealed to members of the public to assist the police in their investigations for the arrest of the gangsters.
Friday, April 18, 2008
TUC WORRIED OVER POVERTY LEVELS (PAGE 54)
Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
The acting Secretary- General of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Mr Kofi Asamoah, has expressed concern about the poverty level of majority of workers in Ghana as a result of low salaries and wages paid them over the years.
He has therefore called on all sister unions in the country to forge a united front and fight for the welfare of workers to enable them to enjoy the fruits of their labour.
He pointed out that many workers who had served the nation for years were not only working under very poor conditions, and facing income insecurity, but also continued to receive salaries and wages that ranked among the lowest on the continent.
Addressing District and Regional executives of the Ashanti Region at the first executive meeting in Kumasi, Mr Asamoah noted that the need for workers to join or form different unions as enshrined in their constitution was to enhance leadership qualities that would ensure accountability and efficiency to fight for workers’ rights and welfare.
He, however, pointed out that the challenges of globalisation “ in which giant corporations still see the need to merge, pose the task of greater unity among the union movement”, stressing that “splits are not the way to face numerous challenges facing the union movement. Splits are an indication of disunity, and no union will thrive on disunity, particularly in a globalised economy”.
“We cannot deal with these challenges if we do not strengthen the labour front,” he stressed, adding, “We need to continually be guided by the cardinal principle of unity and solidarity. That is the only way we can achieve fairness for our members and Ghanaian workers generally.”
According to Mr Asamoah, there are over 600,000 public sector workers providing various services in very important areas such as health, education, water, sanitation, electricity and security as a way of propelling Ghana to achieve economic stabilisation.
“These are the people who keep Ghana going,” he noted, adding, “Without the public service and public sector workers, the private sector, which is regarded as the engine of growth, cannot perform. And without public sector workers, the trade union movement will not be as strong and vibrant as it is today, because the public sector constitutes 70 per cent of trade union membership in Ghana.”
On the various reforms initiated to address the disparities in wages and salaries of workers in the country, Mr Asamoah said, they had not been successful because of “over-reliance on external consultants who do not have adequate knowledge of the challenges confronting the public sector”.
He said for the reforms to be successful, it was equally important for the authorities in charge of the implementation of such reforms to ensure that “the public servants in managing the reform have solid understanding of all the elements of the reform, and that time and resources are budgeted to build commitment of all stakeholders in the reform through dialogue”.
Mr Asamoah expressed the hope that the ongoing public sector reform would address the unfairness that characterised public sector pay and also appealed to the government to “pay public sector workers well and motivate them enough for increased productivity”.
On the December general election, Mr Asamoah expressed the hope that it would be as peaceful as the previous ones.
He urged political party leaders and their members “to exercise decorum in their electioneering, and refrain from actions that can inflame passions unnecessarily, thereby leading to chaos in the country”.
The acting Secretary- General of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Mr Kofi Asamoah, has expressed concern about the poverty level of majority of workers in Ghana as a result of low salaries and wages paid them over the years.
He has therefore called on all sister unions in the country to forge a united front and fight for the welfare of workers to enable them to enjoy the fruits of their labour.
He pointed out that many workers who had served the nation for years were not only working under very poor conditions, and facing income insecurity, but also continued to receive salaries and wages that ranked among the lowest on the continent.
Addressing District and Regional executives of the Ashanti Region at the first executive meeting in Kumasi, Mr Asamoah noted that the need for workers to join or form different unions as enshrined in their constitution was to enhance leadership qualities that would ensure accountability and efficiency to fight for workers’ rights and welfare.
He, however, pointed out that the challenges of globalisation “ in which giant corporations still see the need to merge, pose the task of greater unity among the union movement”, stressing that “splits are not the way to face numerous challenges facing the union movement. Splits are an indication of disunity, and no union will thrive on disunity, particularly in a globalised economy”.
“We cannot deal with these challenges if we do not strengthen the labour front,” he stressed, adding, “We need to continually be guided by the cardinal principle of unity and solidarity. That is the only way we can achieve fairness for our members and Ghanaian workers generally.”
According to Mr Asamoah, there are over 600,000 public sector workers providing various services in very important areas such as health, education, water, sanitation, electricity and security as a way of propelling Ghana to achieve economic stabilisation.
“These are the people who keep Ghana going,” he noted, adding, “Without the public service and public sector workers, the private sector, which is regarded as the engine of growth, cannot perform. And without public sector workers, the trade union movement will not be as strong and vibrant as it is today, because the public sector constitutes 70 per cent of trade union membership in Ghana.”
On the various reforms initiated to address the disparities in wages and salaries of workers in the country, Mr Asamoah said, they had not been successful because of “over-reliance on external consultants who do not have adequate knowledge of the challenges confronting the public sector”.
He said for the reforms to be successful, it was equally important for the authorities in charge of the implementation of such reforms to ensure that “the public servants in managing the reform have solid understanding of all the elements of the reform, and that time and resources are budgeted to build commitment of all stakeholders in the reform through dialogue”.
Mr Asamoah expressed the hope that the ongoing public sector reform would address the unfairness that characterised public sector pay and also appealed to the government to “pay public sector workers well and motivate them enough for increased productivity”.
On the December general election, Mr Asamoah expressed the hope that it would be as peaceful as the previous ones.
He urged political party leaders and their members “to exercise decorum in their electioneering, and refrain from actions that can inflame passions unnecessarily, thereby leading to chaos in the country”.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
WOMEN ACTIVISTS CAUTION STUDENTS (PAGE 29)
Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
The Kumasi branch of Soroptimist International, an NGO, has called on final-year students at Junior High Schools in the country to refrain from actions that
are likely to jeopardise their academic work and future prospects as they prepare to enter a new stage of life.
According to the NGO, immorality, indiscipline and laziness seem to becoming the hallmark of a section of the youth today, making them neglect their books and indulge in negative practices that eventually cripple their lives.
Soroptimist International is a worldwide organisation of professional women and women in management working through service projects to advance human rights and the status of women, children and the deprived in society.
It strives to maintain high ethical standards in business, promote human rights for all people, develop the spirit of friendship and unity among its members across the globe, quicken the spirit of service and human understanding, and contribute more meaningfully to international understanding and universal friendship to enhance peaceful co-existence among mankind.
The organisation, which is open to women who have distinguished themselves in various fields, also strives to support and improve the living conditions of women and children worldwide.
It was formed in 1921 in California and now has over 3000 clubs worldwide in about 120 countries.
Addressing final-year students of Ridge International Junior High School in Kumasi on Tuesday, the President of the Kumasi branch, Mrs Betty Ayeh, urged the students to be respectful, honest law-abiding and concentrate on their academic work, to enable them to realise their dreams of becoming responsible citizens in future.
Speaking on the topic: “Promoting morality and discipline amongst JHS students in the Kumasi metropolis”, Mrs Ayeh said when people respected the rules and regulations governing society, a conducive atmosphere and aura of peace that enhanced socio-economic development was created.
She said poor upbringing of children due to laxity of supervision by parents caused children to live in their own world, where they resort to adventurous activities that eventually led them into trouble.
She pointed out that parents should not only guide their children always in their daily activities, but should also supervise them to ensure that they did the right things, and abided by the rules of law.
“Some children are over-pampered at home, making them enjoy too much freedom, and this eventually affect their lives,” she complained.
She said out of boredom and peer pressure, some of the children also indulged in sex, smoking of cigarettes, and the sniffing of cocaine, which destroyed their lives.
She therefore urged them to plan their lives in a way that would make it possible for them to realise their ambition of becoming responsible citizens in future.
For her part, the past President of the organisation, Mrs Ruth Brenya, said there was always a standard for good behaviour that the youth were supposed to follow.
She said whilst the youth had the liberty to enjoy their youthful days, they should not be tempted to do things that were strictly practised by adults.
“Inappropriate behaviours have bad consequences, so you should always refrain from them,” she advised.
The Kumasi branch of Soroptimist International, an NGO, has called on final-year students at Junior High Schools in the country to refrain from actions that
are likely to jeopardise their academic work and future prospects as they prepare to enter a new stage of life.
According to the NGO, immorality, indiscipline and laziness seem to becoming the hallmark of a section of the youth today, making them neglect their books and indulge in negative practices that eventually cripple their lives.
Soroptimist International is a worldwide organisation of professional women and women in management working through service projects to advance human rights and the status of women, children and the deprived in society.
It strives to maintain high ethical standards in business, promote human rights for all people, develop the spirit of friendship and unity among its members across the globe, quicken the spirit of service and human understanding, and contribute more meaningfully to international understanding and universal friendship to enhance peaceful co-existence among mankind.
The organisation, which is open to women who have distinguished themselves in various fields, also strives to support and improve the living conditions of women and children worldwide.
It was formed in 1921 in California and now has over 3000 clubs worldwide in about 120 countries.
Addressing final-year students of Ridge International Junior High School in Kumasi on Tuesday, the President of the Kumasi branch, Mrs Betty Ayeh, urged the students to be respectful, honest law-abiding and concentrate on their academic work, to enable them to realise their dreams of becoming responsible citizens in future.
Speaking on the topic: “Promoting morality and discipline amongst JHS students in the Kumasi metropolis”, Mrs Ayeh said when people respected the rules and regulations governing society, a conducive atmosphere and aura of peace that enhanced socio-economic development was created.
She said poor upbringing of children due to laxity of supervision by parents caused children to live in their own world, where they resort to adventurous activities that eventually led them into trouble.
She pointed out that parents should not only guide their children always in their daily activities, but should also supervise them to ensure that they did the right things, and abided by the rules of law.
“Some children are over-pampered at home, making them enjoy too much freedom, and this eventually affect their lives,” she complained.
She said out of boredom and peer pressure, some of the children also indulged in sex, smoking of cigarettes, and the sniffing of cocaine, which destroyed their lives.
She therefore urged them to plan their lives in a way that would make it possible for them to realise their ambition of becoming responsible citizens in future.
For her part, the past President of the organisation, Mrs Ruth Brenya, said there was always a standard for good behaviour that the youth were supposed to follow.
She said whilst the youth had the liberty to enjoy their youthful days, they should not be tempted to do things that were strictly practised by adults.
“Inappropriate behaviours have bad consequences, so you should always refrain from them,” she advised.
ASANTEMAN TO SUPPORT KATH HEART FOUNDATION (PAGE 30)
Published on March 18)
Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has given the assurance that Asanteman will support the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital’s(KATH) Heart Foundation launched last year to enable the teaching hospital to establish a cardiothoracic centre to address cardio related problems in the northern sector of the country efficiently and effectively.
He said with cardio diseases increasing in their numbers and the cost of treatment soaring, establishing a cardiothoracic centre at the KATH would complement what was available at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital and to reduce the cost of travelling to access medical care there.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu gave the assurance when the Chief Executive Officer of the KATH, Dr Anthony Nsiah Asare, and his management team , together with a team of cardio surgeons from the Boston’s Children’s Hospital in the United States of America (USA), led by Dr Fynn Thompson paid a courtesy call on him at the Manhyia Palace at the weekend.
Dr Nsiah Asare took the opportunity to brief Otumfuo Osei Tutu about the effective collaboration between the KATH and the US surgeons over the last couple of years which had made it possible for them to perform free open heart surgeries on 19 children suffering from cardio vascular diseases at the KATH .
He explained that eight children benefited from the initiative in October last year when the KATH made history by performing the first ever open heart surgery during the visit by the surgeons from the Boston Children’s Hospital.
He said when the team arrived in Kumasi last week, they screened as many as 100 patients who were suffering from cardio related diseases but they managed to perform free open heart surgeries on 11 of them.
He said the cost of performing an open heart surgery for each patient was between $ 50,000 and $55, 000.
In addition to the free open heart surgeries, the team also donated the equipment used for the operation to the hospital .
According to Dr Nsiah Asare, the long term plans between the KATH and the US surgical team was to establish a cardiothoracic centre in Kumasi to address emerging cardio diseases.
That, he said, would be in line with the hospital’s vision of becoming a medical tourist centre of international repute, and thereby generating wealth , especially from patients from the West African sub-region as its contribution to the accelerated and sustainable socio-economic development of the country.
He said it was to realise the hospital’s vision within the next two years that management launched the cardio fund to solicit financial support from institutions, organisations, the business community and individuals, and therefore, appealed to the Asantehene to support their initiative to enhance quality health care delivery at the KATH.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu commended the management of the KATH for initiating the project in Kumasi, and called on the business community, institutions, organisations and individuals in the country to actively support the initiatives of the KATH management.
He said traditional authorities in Asanteman would also provide the requisite support in cash and kind for the establishment of the centre within its time frame to enhance quality health care delivery.
He also commended Dr Fynn Thompson and his team for performing the free open heart surgeries for the beneficiaries by giving them the chance to live as normal human beings.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu said without that opportunity, their parents would not have been able to raise money to treat them.
He said building the capacity of medical officers at the KATH to enable them to take full control of the centre when it was established was also important and, therefore, urged Dr Nsiah Asare to address that concern to enable surgeons at the KATH to acquire the requisite skills for the task ahea
Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has given the assurance that Asanteman will support the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital’s(KATH) Heart Foundation launched last year to enable the teaching hospital to establish a cardiothoracic centre to address cardio related problems in the northern sector of the country efficiently and effectively.
He said with cardio diseases increasing in their numbers and the cost of treatment soaring, establishing a cardiothoracic centre at the KATH would complement what was available at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital and to reduce the cost of travelling to access medical care there.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu gave the assurance when the Chief Executive Officer of the KATH, Dr Anthony Nsiah Asare, and his management team , together with a team of cardio surgeons from the Boston’s Children’s Hospital in the United States of America (USA), led by Dr Fynn Thompson paid a courtesy call on him at the Manhyia Palace at the weekend.
Dr Nsiah Asare took the opportunity to brief Otumfuo Osei Tutu about the effective collaboration between the KATH and the US surgeons over the last couple of years which had made it possible for them to perform free open heart surgeries on 19 children suffering from cardio vascular diseases at the KATH .
He explained that eight children benefited from the initiative in October last year when the KATH made history by performing the first ever open heart surgery during the visit by the surgeons from the Boston Children’s Hospital.
He said when the team arrived in Kumasi last week, they screened as many as 100 patients who were suffering from cardio related diseases but they managed to perform free open heart surgeries on 11 of them.
He said the cost of performing an open heart surgery for each patient was between $ 50,000 and $55, 000.
In addition to the free open heart surgeries, the team also donated the equipment used for the operation to the hospital .
According to Dr Nsiah Asare, the long term plans between the KATH and the US surgical team was to establish a cardiothoracic centre in Kumasi to address emerging cardio diseases.
That, he said, would be in line with the hospital’s vision of becoming a medical tourist centre of international repute, and thereby generating wealth , especially from patients from the West African sub-region as its contribution to the accelerated and sustainable socio-economic development of the country.
He said it was to realise the hospital’s vision within the next two years that management launched the cardio fund to solicit financial support from institutions, organisations, the business community and individuals, and therefore, appealed to the Asantehene to support their initiative to enhance quality health care delivery at the KATH.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu commended the management of the KATH for initiating the project in Kumasi, and called on the business community, institutions, organisations and individuals in the country to actively support the initiatives of the KATH management.
He said traditional authorities in Asanteman would also provide the requisite support in cash and kind for the establishment of the centre within its time frame to enhance quality health care delivery.
He also commended Dr Fynn Thompson and his team for performing the free open heart surgeries for the beneficiaries by giving them the chance to live as normal human beings.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu said without that opportunity, their parents would not have been able to raise money to treat them.
He said building the capacity of medical officers at the KATH to enable them to take full control of the centre when it was established was also important and, therefore, urged Dr Nsiah Asare to address that concern to enable surgeons at the KATH to acquire the requisite skills for the task ahea
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