Five hundred and forty-nine fire outbreaks occurred in the Kumasi metropolis and its environs between January and August this year, and destroyed property estimated at GH¢3,743,343,9.
The highest figure of 117 fires recorded during that period occurred in January, and destroyed property estimated at GH¢2,613,259.90.
In February 104 fire outbreaks were recorded, which destroyed property estimated at GH¢204,784.
The Ashanti Regional Fire Officer, Mr Obeng D. Dwamena, told the Daily Graphic that a lot of property had been destroyed through fire outbreaks, and appealed to residents to take preventive measures to reduce the spate of fire outbreaks.
The interview was to draw the attention of the public to the dangers of fire outbreaks in recent times so that they could collaborate with personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) to bring the situation under control.
Mr Dwamena said notwithstanding the educational drive being undertaken by the GNFS 79 fire outbreaks which destroyed property estimated at GH¢79,840 were recorded in March this year but the number reduced to 59 in April, 2008, “however, property destroyed was estimated at GH¢349,095”.
He said in May this year a total of 61 fire outbreaks, which destroyed property estimated at Gh¢258,787, was also recorded, but the number reduced to 42 fire outbreaks in June. Property estimated at GH¢81,150 .
He said in July "a total of 44 fire outbreaks which destroyed property estimated at GH¢93,823 was destroyed were recorded in the Kumasi metropolis and its environs.
In August 43 fire outbreaks were recorded and property estimated at GH¢53,823, was destroyed.
According to Mr Dwamena, the highest domestic fire outbreaks were recorded between January and August. He put the figure at 248 domestic fire outbreaks, followed by 72 commercial fire outbreaks.
He said 62 vehicles were burnt and 59 bush fires also occured during the period under review.
The Regional Fire Officer noted that during the same period in 2007, 584 fire outbreaks which destroyed property estimated at GH¢3,984,918.9 were recorded in the Kumasi metropolis and its environs.
He said the highest figure of 94 fire outbreaks recorded last year was in March, and an estimated property of GH¢1,570,799 was totally destroyed.
February 2007 recorded 64 fire outbreaks, which was the second highest for the year, “and property estimated at GH¢189,427.7 were totally destroyed".
"August 2007 saw 50 fire outbreaks, but caused much damage because property worth GH¢304,398 were lost through fire outbreaks that month".
In 2008 when domestic fire outbreaks took the centre stage, as many as 303 domestic fire outbreaks were recorded between January and August last year because residents did not take precautionary measures to prevent fire outbreaks.
He said 99 bushfires, 52 vehicular fires with 48 and 37 commercial and industrial fires respectively were recorded last year.
He said in 2007 while two institutional fire outbreaks were recorded between January and August, this year 12 institutional fire outbreaks were recorded during the period under review.
Mr Dwamena said the GNFS would not relent in its effort to sensitise the public on the dangers of fire outbreaks, and had, therefore visited a number of basic schools to educate the pupils on preventive measures needed to be taken.
He said the pupils had also been sensitised to the measures that should be taken as soon as they detected any fire outbreak.
He said apart from educational institutions, they were also interacting with churches spread across the Kumasi metropolis to educate the congregation on what to do when the need arose. He urged corporate bodies, industries, firms and individuals to collaborate effectively with the personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service in their quest to sensitise the public to measures that should be taken to prevent fire outbreaks in the Kumasi metropolis and its environs.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Sunday, September 14, 2008
WATER COMPANY INAUGURATES METER REPAIR SHOP (PAGE 38)
THE Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) has inaugurated a newly refurbished meter repair facility at Suame in Kumasi to meet customer needs in the service area.
Customers in the northern sector of the country with faulty meters are expected to send them to the repair centre for replacement while the faulty ones would be repaired later.
The metre repair facility would also enhance efficient revenue generation by the GWCL.
The Ashanti Regional Public Affairs Officer of the GWCL, Mr Haruna Asogli, who briefed the media moments after the inauguration of the facility, said the facility was key to the development of the company because it would reduce the conflict associated with customers and staff of the company on the billing system.
He conceded that some of the company’s meters were faulty and, affected the efficient average consumption of water supply to customers and the billing system.
He pointed out that with the facility now in place, customers would be satisfied with their bills for the quantum of water they had consumed for a specific period.
"With the refurbishment of the facility and the commitment of staff to repair any faulty meter, it would accelerate water distribution and billing for customers, thereby enhancing revenue generation and the maintenance of our facilities," he explained, adding that "our target is to enhance efficiency and the provision of customer satisfaction".
Mr Haruna, however, expressed concern about the rampant stealing of meters in the Kumasi Metropolis and its environs, saying that “it undermined effective and efficient distribution of water and billing”.
He, therefore, appealed to residents in the Kumasi Metropolis and its environs to be vigilant and help the company to apprehend the perpetrators to reduce the stealing of meters in the metropolis.
Inaugurating the facility earlier, the Operations Director of Aqua Vitens Rands Limited (AVRL), Mr Martin Nijsse, commended the staff of the company for their commitment to duty and urged them to continue providing efficient services to customers.
He announced that the company had 5,000 new meters for distribution in the southern and northern sectors of the country to facilitate adequate water billing.
Customers in the northern sector of the country with faulty meters are expected to send them to the repair centre for replacement while the faulty ones would be repaired later.
The metre repair facility would also enhance efficient revenue generation by the GWCL.
The Ashanti Regional Public Affairs Officer of the GWCL, Mr Haruna Asogli, who briefed the media moments after the inauguration of the facility, said the facility was key to the development of the company because it would reduce the conflict associated with customers and staff of the company on the billing system.
He conceded that some of the company’s meters were faulty and, affected the efficient average consumption of water supply to customers and the billing system.
He pointed out that with the facility now in place, customers would be satisfied with their bills for the quantum of water they had consumed for a specific period.
"With the refurbishment of the facility and the commitment of staff to repair any faulty meter, it would accelerate water distribution and billing for customers, thereby enhancing revenue generation and the maintenance of our facilities," he explained, adding that "our target is to enhance efficiency and the provision of customer satisfaction".
Mr Haruna, however, expressed concern about the rampant stealing of meters in the Kumasi Metropolis and its environs, saying that “it undermined effective and efficient distribution of water and billing”.
He, therefore, appealed to residents in the Kumasi Metropolis and its environs to be vigilant and help the company to apprehend the perpetrators to reduce the stealing of meters in the metropolis.
Inaugurating the facility earlier, the Operations Director of Aqua Vitens Rands Limited (AVRL), Mr Martin Nijsse, commended the staff of the company for their commitment to duty and urged them to continue providing efficient services to customers.
He announced that the company had 5,000 new meters for distribution in the southern and northern sectors of the country to facilitate adequate water billing.
TAXI DRIVER ROBS, ASSAULTS FEMALE PASSENGERS (MIRROR, PAGE 34)
From George Ernest Asare, Kumasi.
A Kumasi-based taxi driver who decided to celebrate the 2006 Christmas festivities in grand style at the expense of his female passengers is now in hot waters.
George Asaah, the driver, has now been sentenced to serve a 21-year jail term with hard labour.
The Kumasi High Court, presided over by Justice K.A. Pobih, found him guilty for indecently assaulting some of his female passengers during the 2006 Christmas festivities and robbing others of their cash and valuables at gun and knife-points.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges , but after more than a year’s trial, the court found him guilty of the offences and therefore jailed him.
In two separate incidents on December 27, 2006, Asaah, driving a taxi with registration number GT7635V, did not only force a female student who had boarded the taxi late on that eventual evening to undress while in the taxi, but also inserted his fingers into her private parts several times to satisfy his sexual desires before robbing her of her cash, mobile phone and a camera.
The convict, desirous to make the best out of the festivities, and with the aid of some accomplices, also attacked another female passenger at gunpoint and succeeded in robbing her of cash, mobile phone and other valuables. They pushed her out of the car and sped off.
The two victims made separate reports to the police and investigations led to the arrest of the convict, who denied vehemently that he had ever met the victims.
However, police investigations proved otherwise, and after his trial he was found guilty and therefore sentenced to serve 15 years in jail in the first case and another 21 years in the second case.
Both sentences are, however, to run concurrently. Earlier, the Principal State Attorney, Mr Richmond Osei Hwere, had told the court that the complainants, Sarah Boaduwaa, a trader, and Diana Mensah, a student, were the victims, while the convict was a taxi driver by profession.
Mr Osei Hwere said around 9pm on December 2006, Sarah Boaduwaah boarded the Opel Astra taxi with the convict in charge at Ashtown and directed the driver to take her to Abrepo Junction.
He said on reaching a spot near the St. Louis Training College, the passengers on board the taxi, together with the driver, attacked the lady and threatened her with a locally manufactured pistol and therefore succeeded in robbing her of a Sagem mobile phone valued GH¢60.00 and a handbag containing GH¢250.00, forced her out of the taxi and sped off.
According to the prosecutor a few days later, the convict used the same tricks to assault a student sexually and also robbed her of cash, a camera and other valuables.
Explaining ,the prosecutor said the convict picked the second victim from Ashtown towards Oforikrom, but he diverted the route to former Boakye Dankwah Hospital at Dichemso and at gunpoint collected her Vivi digital camera valued at GH¢120, Royale body spray valued at GH¢30.00 and GH¢25.00 cash.
The prosecutor said not satisfied with the booty, the convict, with the support of a female friend wielding a sharp knife , also ordered the victim to undress and after doing so, he inserted his fingers into her private part several times to satisfy his sexual desires before pushing her out of the car and sped off.
Mr Osei Hwere said the complainants, after making separate reports to the police , also identified their attacker when he was arrested on April 3, 2007.
Explaining, he said the police first arrested a driver in charge of the Opel Astra taxi which was used for the operation and the driver also led the police to arrest the convict as the one who was in charge of the vehicle on December 27, 2006.
The prosecutor said the convict admitted being the one in charge of the vehicle on that day, but vehemently denied attacking the complainants and robbing them of cash and other valuables and also indecently assaulting one of them.
He said investigations, however, proved otherwise, so he was charged with the offences.
A Kumasi-based taxi driver who decided to celebrate the 2006 Christmas festivities in grand style at the expense of his female passengers is now in hot waters.
George Asaah, the driver, has now been sentenced to serve a 21-year jail term with hard labour.
The Kumasi High Court, presided over by Justice K.A. Pobih, found him guilty for indecently assaulting some of his female passengers during the 2006 Christmas festivities and robbing others of their cash and valuables at gun and knife-points.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges , but after more than a year’s trial, the court found him guilty of the offences and therefore jailed him.
In two separate incidents on December 27, 2006, Asaah, driving a taxi with registration number GT7635V, did not only force a female student who had boarded the taxi late on that eventual evening to undress while in the taxi, but also inserted his fingers into her private parts several times to satisfy his sexual desires before robbing her of her cash, mobile phone and a camera.
The convict, desirous to make the best out of the festivities, and with the aid of some accomplices, also attacked another female passenger at gunpoint and succeeded in robbing her of cash, mobile phone and other valuables. They pushed her out of the car and sped off.
The two victims made separate reports to the police and investigations led to the arrest of the convict, who denied vehemently that he had ever met the victims.
However, police investigations proved otherwise, and after his trial he was found guilty and therefore sentenced to serve 15 years in jail in the first case and another 21 years in the second case.
Both sentences are, however, to run concurrently. Earlier, the Principal State Attorney, Mr Richmond Osei Hwere, had told the court that the complainants, Sarah Boaduwaa, a trader, and Diana Mensah, a student, were the victims, while the convict was a taxi driver by profession.
Mr Osei Hwere said around 9pm on December 2006, Sarah Boaduwaah boarded the Opel Astra taxi with the convict in charge at Ashtown and directed the driver to take her to Abrepo Junction.
He said on reaching a spot near the St. Louis Training College, the passengers on board the taxi, together with the driver, attacked the lady and threatened her with a locally manufactured pistol and therefore succeeded in robbing her of a Sagem mobile phone valued GH¢60.00 and a handbag containing GH¢250.00, forced her out of the taxi and sped off.
According to the prosecutor a few days later, the convict used the same tricks to assault a student sexually and also robbed her of cash, a camera and other valuables.
Explaining ,the prosecutor said the convict picked the second victim from Ashtown towards Oforikrom, but he diverted the route to former Boakye Dankwah Hospital at Dichemso and at gunpoint collected her Vivi digital camera valued at GH¢120, Royale body spray valued at GH¢30.00 and GH¢25.00 cash.
The prosecutor said not satisfied with the booty, the convict, with the support of a female friend wielding a sharp knife , also ordered the victim to undress and after doing so, he inserted his fingers into her private part several times to satisfy his sexual desires before pushing her out of the car and sped off.
Mr Osei Hwere said the complainants, after making separate reports to the police , also identified their attacker when he was arrested on April 3, 2007.
Explaining, he said the police first arrested a driver in charge of the Opel Astra taxi which was used for the operation and the driver also led the police to arrest the convict as the one who was in charge of the vehicle on December 27, 2006.
The prosecutor said the convict admitted being the one in charge of the vehicle on that day, but vehemently denied attacking the complainants and robbing them of cash and other valuables and also indecently assaulting one of them.
He said investigations, however, proved otherwise, so he was charged with the offences.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
ANGLOGOLD ASHANTI EMPOWERS THE YOUTH (PAGE 9)
THE need to economically empower the youth at the catchment areas of Anglogold Ashanti, Obuasi gold mines to enhance their social status and enable them to make meaningful contribution to sustainable national development has now taken the centre stage of the activities of the mining company’s management.
The beginning of 2008 has seen various initiatives by the management of the mines initiating various small and medium-scale industries within its catchment area as its contribution to offer viable employment avenues to a section of the youth, and so far, the initiative is yielding positive results.
Dubbed Small and Medium Enterprise Development Initiative (SMEDI) Projects, which is part of the company’s Local Economic Development (LED) Projects, Anglogold Ashanti Obuasi Mines has over the past one year established a garment, aquaculture, piggery, gold and jewellery projects aimed at creating job opportunities for the youth, and those who have been engaged are leaving nothing to chance to make the projects viable.
The Obuasi Garment factory — one of the initiatives of Anglogold Ashanti, Obuasi Mines — for example, which started operations in February this year and has now employed about 50 tailors, contracted to produce as many as 10,000 overalls per annum, for use by the workers at the mines, is on course.
A few months after it started operations, it has been able to supply almost 3500 overalls to the mining company, and indications are that, the garment factory, which is a collaboration between the mining company and the Obuasi Tailors Association and other private investors, would be able to meet its target, thereby sustaining the project to make life more meaningful to the employees and their dependants.
The aquaculture project, which was initiated by the company with an initial investment budget of $639,000, is also on course.
As of April this year, the company had spent more than $300,000 on the project, which involved landscaping and infrastructure developments.
As many as 30 cages are to be installed at Adubirem, where the pond is located, and so far, nine cages have been installed with eight of them fully stocked with 25,000 fingerlings, which are expected to be fully matured by the end of October this year.
A project is also underway to hatch the various fish to enhance adequate supply to the beneficiary communities, and when it becomes fully operational, many of the youth at the catchment area would either be employed directly or indirectly to reduce the poverty level associated in rural communities.
Apart from the hatchery, a three-unit work camps have also been completed to offer accommodation to about 50 youth who would be permanently employed when the project becomes fully operational.
So far, 15 local youth have been permanently employed at the aquaculture project.
The piggery project, which is a collaboration between the Municipal Assembly and the management of Anglogold Ashanti Obuasi Mines on the other hand, has a long-term vision of producing raw materials for the processing of pork into sausages and other products for the Obuasi Municipality and its environs.
The construction of a four-room pen each for 18 selected groups are progressing steadily, and when completed, four piglets would be donated by the company to make the project sustainable.
The Gold Jewellery project, initiated by the mining company, is also estimated to train as many as 100 youth in the catchment area over a five–year period.
This is to enable them to acquire the requisite skills to produce quality jewellery from which they would earn a meaningful living and contribute to sustainable national development.
So far, the mining company has completed an edifice that would be used for the jewellery project and the management are also in serious discussion with a private investor for partnership on how the project would begin.
Anglogold Ashanti, Obuasi Mines has also released 25 acres from its concessions for the construction of a mortuary to augment the facility at the AGA Hospital mortuary, which is almost always congested, forcing bereaved family members to send their corpses to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital mortuary at a greater cost and risk.
AS part of its commitment, the management has decided to donate two sets of 12-body capacity refrigerators to the Obuasi Municipal Assembly to be used as part of the Assembly's shares in the project.
They are also in consultation with Animwaah Medical Centre, located at Emena, near Kumasi, on how the project could start.
Apart from these initiatives, the management is considering a collaboration with the youth for the cultivation of oil palm plantation and the construction of mills for the processing of the oil palm that would be produced when the project starts, to accelerate income generation.
Also in serious consideration is the cultivation of citrus plantation through the collaborative efforts with the youth to feed the residents of the municipality and its environs.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic on the initiative by Anglogold Ashanti, Obuasi Mines, the Chief of Sanso, Nana Bawua Asiamoa Kotokuo, commended the management of Anglogold for their sense of initiative to build the capacity of the youth at the catchment area of the mines and empower them economically.
He pointed out that with these initiatives, and the potentials they offer, the industries would soon grow not only to absorb the teeming unemployed youth most of whom are engaged in social vices that constantly put them into trouble, but would also accelerate the pace of socio-economic development of the municipality.
Explaining, he said the Obuasi Garment Factory for example, of which he is the Managing Director, had much prospects because it had the potential of meeting the target of the mining company and source for other contractual agreement from corporate bodies.
"This is a new project which seeks to build the skills of the youth here in various ways, and with a little commitment from the youth, the poverty level would go down considerably," he stressed.
Nana Asiamoa Kotokuo, however, appealed to the management of Anglogold Ashanti to consider sponsoring some of the tailors in the company for further training in South Africa to enable them to acquire new skills that would enable them to develop their potential to the fullest.
"The company has a vision of expanding very fast to enable our production capacity to meet international level, and it is the further training in South Africa which will equip the tailors to acquire such skills, so I will use this opportunity to appeal to management to consider sponsoring some of the tailors to South Africa to begin such training," he pleaded.
He said when the project became fully operational, free training would be offered to junior high school graduates who had interest in fashion designs to enable them to also build their future and contribute to sustainable national development.
On their future prospects, he said, "We want to develop very fast, so the 50 members working directly with us would soon be increased to 100 to enable us to meet other potential targets, to increase revenue,” he hinted, adding that "this project is a springboard that would open other avenues for us if we maintain our quality and meet set targets, so we are not leaving anything to chance".
The beginning of 2008 has seen various initiatives by the management of the mines initiating various small and medium-scale industries within its catchment area as its contribution to offer viable employment avenues to a section of the youth, and so far, the initiative is yielding positive results.
Dubbed Small and Medium Enterprise Development Initiative (SMEDI) Projects, which is part of the company’s Local Economic Development (LED) Projects, Anglogold Ashanti Obuasi Mines has over the past one year established a garment, aquaculture, piggery, gold and jewellery projects aimed at creating job opportunities for the youth, and those who have been engaged are leaving nothing to chance to make the projects viable.
The Obuasi Garment factory — one of the initiatives of Anglogold Ashanti, Obuasi Mines — for example, which started operations in February this year and has now employed about 50 tailors, contracted to produce as many as 10,000 overalls per annum, for use by the workers at the mines, is on course.
A few months after it started operations, it has been able to supply almost 3500 overalls to the mining company, and indications are that, the garment factory, which is a collaboration between the mining company and the Obuasi Tailors Association and other private investors, would be able to meet its target, thereby sustaining the project to make life more meaningful to the employees and their dependants.
The aquaculture project, which was initiated by the company with an initial investment budget of $639,000, is also on course.
As of April this year, the company had spent more than $300,000 on the project, which involved landscaping and infrastructure developments.
As many as 30 cages are to be installed at Adubirem, where the pond is located, and so far, nine cages have been installed with eight of them fully stocked with 25,000 fingerlings, which are expected to be fully matured by the end of October this year.
A project is also underway to hatch the various fish to enhance adequate supply to the beneficiary communities, and when it becomes fully operational, many of the youth at the catchment area would either be employed directly or indirectly to reduce the poverty level associated in rural communities.
Apart from the hatchery, a three-unit work camps have also been completed to offer accommodation to about 50 youth who would be permanently employed when the project becomes fully operational.
So far, 15 local youth have been permanently employed at the aquaculture project.
The piggery project, which is a collaboration between the Municipal Assembly and the management of Anglogold Ashanti Obuasi Mines on the other hand, has a long-term vision of producing raw materials for the processing of pork into sausages and other products for the Obuasi Municipality and its environs.
The construction of a four-room pen each for 18 selected groups are progressing steadily, and when completed, four piglets would be donated by the company to make the project sustainable.
The Gold Jewellery project, initiated by the mining company, is also estimated to train as many as 100 youth in the catchment area over a five–year period.
This is to enable them to acquire the requisite skills to produce quality jewellery from which they would earn a meaningful living and contribute to sustainable national development.
So far, the mining company has completed an edifice that would be used for the jewellery project and the management are also in serious discussion with a private investor for partnership on how the project would begin.
Anglogold Ashanti, Obuasi Mines has also released 25 acres from its concessions for the construction of a mortuary to augment the facility at the AGA Hospital mortuary, which is almost always congested, forcing bereaved family members to send their corpses to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital mortuary at a greater cost and risk.
AS part of its commitment, the management has decided to donate two sets of 12-body capacity refrigerators to the Obuasi Municipal Assembly to be used as part of the Assembly's shares in the project.
They are also in consultation with Animwaah Medical Centre, located at Emena, near Kumasi, on how the project could start.
Apart from these initiatives, the management is considering a collaboration with the youth for the cultivation of oil palm plantation and the construction of mills for the processing of the oil palm that would be produced when the project starts, to accelerate income generation.
Also in serious consideration is the cultivation of citrus plantation through the collaborative efforts with the youth to feed the residents of the municipality and its environs.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic on the initiative by Anglogold Ashanti, Obuasi Mines, the Chief of Sanso, Nana Bawua Asiamoa Kotokuo, commended the management of Anglogold for their sense of initiative to build the capacity of the youth at the catchment area of the mines and empower them economically.
He pointed out that with these initiatives, and the potentials they offer, the industries would soon grow not only to absorb the teeming unemployed youth most of whom are engaged in social vices that constantly put them into trouble, but would also accelerate the pace of socio-economic development of the municipality.
Explaining, he said the Obuasi Garment Factory for example, of which he is the Managing Director, had much prospects because it had the potential of meeting the target of the mining company and source for other contractual agreement from corporate bodies.
"This is a new project which seeks to build the skills of the youth here in various ways, and with a little commitment from the youth, the poverty level would go down considerably," he stressed.
Nana Asiamoa Kotokuo, however, appealed to the management of Anglogold Ashanti to consider sponsoring some of the tailors in the company for further training in South Africa to enable them to acquire new skills that would enable them to develop their potential to the fullest.
"The company has a vision of expanding very fast to enable our production capacity to meet international level, and it is the further training in South Africa which will equip the tailors to acquire such skills, so I will use this opportunity to appeal to management to consider sponsoring some of the tailors to South Africa to begin such training," he pleaded.
He said when the project became fully operational, free training would be offered to junior high school graduates who had interest in fashion designs to enable them to also build their future and contribute to sustainable national development.
On their future prospects, he said, "We want to develop very fast, so the 50 members working directly with us would soon be increased to 100 to enable us to meet other potential targets, to increase revenue,” he hinted, adding that "this project is a springboard that would open other avenues for us if we maintain our quality and meet set targets, so we are not leaving anything to chance".
Sunday, September 7, 2008
KATH INVESTIGATES COLLECTION OF ILLEGAL FEES (PAGE 28)
Authorities at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) last Wednesday initiated investigations into a case involving some radiologists at the Polyclinic of the KATH who allegedly pocketed various sums of money from patients taking X-ray without issuing them receipts.
The attention of the hospital authorities was drawn to the illegal collection of fees from the X-ray department when a number of fresh students from the Christian Service University College (CSUC) in Kumasi went there to take an X-ray as part of their admission formalities.
After the exercise the students, who were more than 200 in number, were made to pay between GH¢10.00 and GH¢15.00. When they demanded receipts the radiologists flatly refused to issue them.
The latest victim, Ms Adwoa Tiwaa Adjie, who went to take her X-ray around 3:15 p.m. on September 2, 2008, as demanded by the university authorities, was made to cough up GH¢15.00 before she could be issued with a receipt.
This was after she had paid the GH¢10.00 demanded by one of the radiologists at the polyclinic. Unable to stand the cheating, she lodged a formal complaint with the complaints unit of the KATH and demanded an explanation as to why a section of the staff collect fees from patients without any form of accountability.
When The Daily Graphic contacted the Chief Executive of the KATH, Dr Anthony Nsiah Asare, on the allegation of illegal collection of fees by a section of his staff, he said his attention had already been drawn to the issue and had therefore initiated investigations into the case.
He expressed concern about the alleged collection of illegal fees and said it undermined the positive image of the hospital, especially coming at a time when the authorities were on course regarding their vision of achieving a reputation as a centre of international excellence.
He said his administration would never condone such attitude and would therefore get to the bottom of the allegations and punish those found culpable.
Earlier, Ms Tiwaa Adjie told Daily Graphic that after taking the X-ray and after having been given the film, “a gentleman asked me to pay GH¢10.00, and I told him that elsewhere at the Kumasi South Hospital, such services attracted GH¢5.00, but he insisted on GH¢10.00, so I paid it and demanded a receipt to cover the amount paid”.
She said the gentleman refused and rather directed her to see a fair-coloured middle- aged lady in the other room at the department. “When I went, the lady told me to pay an additional GH¢5.00 if I needed the receipt”, she added.
She remarked that coming at a time when other tertiary students in Kumasi are also required to take an X-ray as part of their admission formalities, the hospital stands to lose substantial amounts of money to some greedy and selfish staff.
The attention of the hospital authorities was drawn to the illegal collection of fees from the X-ray department when a number of fresh students from the Christian Service University College (CSUC) in Kumasi went there to take an X-ray as part of their admission formalities.
After the exercise the students, who were more than 200 in number, were made to pay between GH¢10.00 and GH¢15.00. When they demanded receipts the radiologists flatly refused to issue them.
The latest victim, Ms Adwoa Tiwaa Adjie, who went to take her X-ray around 3:15 p.m. on September 2, 2008, as demanded by the university authorities, was made to cough up GH¢15.00 before she could be issued with a receipt.
This was after she had paid the GH¢10.00 demanded by one of the radiologists at the polyclinic. Unable to stand the cheating, she lodged a formal complaint with the complaints unit of the KATH and demanded an explanation as to why a section of the staff collect fees from patients without any form of accountability.
When The Daily Graphic contacted the Chief Executive of the KATH, Dr Anthony Nsiah Asare, on the allegation of illegal collection of fees by a section of his staff, he said his attention had already been drawn to the issue and had therefore initiated investigations into the case.
He expressed concern about the alleged collection of illegal fees and said it undermined the positive image of the hospital, especially coming at a time when the authorities were on course regarding their vision of achieving a reputation as a centre of international excellence.
He said his administration would never condone such attitude and would therefore get to the bottom of the allegations and punish those found culpable.
Earlier, Ms Tiwaa Adjie told Daily Graphic that after taking the X-ray and after having been given the film, “a gentleman asked me to pay GH¢10.00, and I told him that elsewhere at the Kumasi South Hospital, such services attracted GH¢5.00, but he insisted on GH¢10.00, so I paid it and demanded a receipt to cover the amount paid”.
She said the gentleman refused and rather directed her to see a fair-coloured middle- aged lady in the other room at the department. “When I went, the lady told me to pay an additional GH¢5.00 if I needed the receipt”, she added.
She remarked that coming at a time when other tertiary students in Kumasi are also required to take an X-ray as part of their admission formalities, the hospital stands to lose substantial amounts of money to some greedy and selfish staff.
SUBIN INSURANCE SCHEME REGISTERS PRISONERS (PAGE 25)
THE Management and staff of the Subin Mutual Health Insurance Scheme in Kumasi last Wednesday registered all inmates serving various sentences at the Kumasi Central Prisons to enable them to enjoy quality health care.
As many as 1,908 inmates, including 55 females at the Kumasi Central Prisons, have benefited from the scheme.
This is the second time, in less than three months, that the management and staff of the Subin Mutual Health Insurance Scheme have brought health insurance to the doorsteps of the ordinary Ghanaian.
In their first exercise, they went to the Kejetia Terminal, in the heart of Kumasi, and registered porters, most of whom were females carrying babies.
As many as 10,000 members were registered during the exercise, and that was to enhance quality health delivery among the porters.
According to the Ashanti Regional Prisons Commander, Mr Ambrose Imoro Salifu, the exercise at the Central Prisons, which was a collaboration between the Government of Ghana and the management of the Subin Mutual Insurance Scheme, would also benefit all officers at the Central Prisons, their spouses as well as their dependants.
Commenting on the exercise, Mr Salifu, who described the registration of the inmates as very laudable, said it came at a time his administration was finding it very difficult to settle its debts, which the institution owed Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH).
“We owe KATH authorities as much as GH¢400,000.00, and this has forced them to threaten denying the inmates any more services, but in spite of the threats, we continued to send them there for medical services, because we had no other alternative,” Mr Salifu said.
He said the situation got to a stage where they had to use their internally generated funds to buy drugs for the inmates, "because after attending to the inmates at the hospital, prescriptions were written for us to buy drugs, and this has affected our operations".
"The authorities at the KATH had been doing their best, because some doctors sometimes come here to provide medical services to some of our inmates, and so it is unfortunate that we sometimes fail to honour our debts.
“With this new development, there would be a healthy relationship between us, and the inmates also would be offered the best of services when the need arises to keep them healthy as we also do our best to reform them," Mr Salifu said.
Mr Salifu commended the government for the gesture and gave the assurance that the institution would provide the necessary support to facilitate the registration of all the inmates.
The Public Relations Officer of the Subin Mutual Health Insurance Scheme, Mr Joseph Sarkodie, also told the Daily Graphic that the initiative by the government was to enhance health delivery for the ordinary Ghanaian.
" Just as we did for the porters and registered many of them free of charge, we are doing the same for the inmates to enable them to access quality health care when the need arise,” he assured.
He said the initiative was subject to renewal, especially in respect of those who were serving long sentences.
Mr Sarkodie appealed to corporate bodies, institutions and firms to take a cue from the government’s initiative and also register their workers to enable them to benefit from quality health care delivery.
This, he said, would increase productivity at all levels, explaining that such a gesture would boost the morale of the workers.
As many as 1,908 inmates, including 55 females at the Kumasi Central Prisons, have benefited from the scheme.
This is the second time, in less than three months, that the management and staff of the Subin Mutual Health Insurance Scheme have brought health insurance to the doorsteps of the ordinary Ghanaian.
In their first exercise, they went to the Kejetia Terminal, in the heart of Kumasi, and registered porters, most of whom were females carrying babies.
As many as 10,000 members were registered during the exercise, and that was to enhance quality health delivery among the porters.
According to the Ashanti Regional Prisons Commander, Mr Ambrose Imoro Salifu, the exercise at the Central Prisons, which was a collaboration between the Government of Ghana and the management of the Subin Mutual Insurance Scheme, would also benefit all officers at the Central Prisons, their spouses as well as their dependants.
Commenting on the exercise, Mr Salifu, who described the registration of the inmates as very laudable, said it came at a time his administration was finding it very difficult to settle its debts, which the institution owed Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH).
“We owe KATH authorities as much as GH¢400,000.00, and this has forced them to threaten denying the inmates any more services, but in spite of the threats, we continued to send them there for medical services, because we had no other alternative,” Mr Salifu said.
He said the situation got to a stage where they had to use their internally generated funds to buy drugs for the inmates, "because after attending to the inmates at the hospital, prescriptions were written for us to buy drugs, and this has affected our operations".
"The authorities at the KATH had been doing their best, because some doctors sometimes come here to provide medical services to some of our inmates, and so it is unfortunate that we sometimes fail to honour our debts.
“With this new development, there would be a healthy relationship between us, and the inmates also would be offered the best of services when the need arises to keep them healthy as we also do our best to reform them," Mr Salifu said.
Mr Salifu commended the government for the gesture and gave the assurance that the institution would provide the necessary support to facilitate the registration of all the inmates.
The Public Relations Officer of the Subin Mutual Health Insurance Scheme, Mr Joseph Sarkodie, also told the Daily Graphic that the initiative by the government was to enhance health delivery for the ordinary Ghanaian.
" Just as we did for the porters and registered many of them free of charge, we are doing the same for the inmates to enable them to access quality health care when the need arise,” he assured.
He said the initiative was subject to renewal, especially in respect of those who were serving long sentences.
Mr Sarkodie appealed to corporate bodies, institutions and firms to take a cue from the government’s initiative and also register their workers to enable them to benefit from quality health care delivery.
This, he said, would increase productivity at all levels, explaining that such a gesture would boost the morale of the workers.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
ANOTHER ARMED ROBBER CONFESSES, PLEADS FOR FORGIVENESS (MIRROR, LEAD STORY)
From George Ernest Asare, Kumasi.
A suspected armed robber who was standing trial at a Kumasi High Court for robbing a Kumasi based businesswoman together with three accomplices at gunpoint made startling revelations in court.
The robber not only confessed his crime and explained the role he played in the robbery attack, but also promised to turn a new leaf by leading a descent lifestyle after serving his punishment.
Fredrick Owusu Kodua, who was convicted to serve 15 years jail term after changing his plea from not guilty to guilty, told the court that he received a booty of GH¢250.00 from the GH¢1500 they robbed from their victim at a gunpoint.
After changing his plea, the convict also told the Kumasi High Court, presided over by Justice K.A, Pobih, that they diverted the route from the Neoplan Station where their victim was to alight and rather drove her to a secluded area at Atonsu where they attacked and robbed her of the money she was to use to transact her business.
Moments after his confession, Owusu Kodua turned to the victim who was in court and asked for forgiveness, giving the assurance that he was now a changed person but deserved to be punished for bringing much pain to his victims.
After his plea, the court sentenced him to a 15-year jail term to end a trial that started almost four years ago.
Prosecuting , a Principal State Attorney, Mr Richmond Osei Ahwere, told the court that around 1am on December 23, 2004, the complainant, one Abena Kyerewaa, who is a resident at Adum in Kumasi, and a trader by profession, boarded a taxi with registration number AS 6636 U being driven by Kwabena Agyei.
He said when the complainant boarded the taxi, Owusu Boateng, Danzumah Ajona and Fredrick Owusu Kodua were already in the car.
The prosecutor said the complainant after boarding the car, told the driver that she was going to the Neoplan Station in Kumasi, but the driver diverted the route and drove towards the Atonsu area, and on reaching a point, the occupants in the car, who were equipped with locally manufactured pistols, attacked the complainant and succeeded in robbing her of a total of GH¢1500.00.
The prosecutor said after the robbery, the suspects dumped the complainant at a secluded area and drove off towards the Kajetia route.
He said the complainant reported to the police at the Railway Police Station.
Mr Osei Ahwere said the following day, the complainant spotted Kwabena Agyei, who was visiting his girlfriend at Adum, and after identifying him, she raised an alarm and caused his arrest.
He said moments after Kwabena Agyei was arrested, he threw away a mobile phone he was holding but police investigations led to the arrest of the girlfriend, one Afua Ataa.
The prosecutor said when she was searched a total of GH¢164.00 wrapped in a paper from the Dunkirk branch of the Adansi Rural Bank, where the victim withdrew her money, were found.
Mr Osei Ahwere said Ataa confessed that the money was given to her by Kwabena Agyei, who later led the police to arrest Owusu Boateng, Danozumah and Fredrick Owusu Kodua to assist in their investigations and were charged with the offence afterwards.
A suspected armed robber who was standing trial at a Kumasi High Court for robbing a Kumasi based businesswoman together with three accomplices at gunpoint made startling revelations in court.
The robber not only confessed his crime and explained the role he played in the robbery attack, but also promised to turn a new leaf by leading a descent lifestyle after serving his punishment.
Fredrick Owusu Kodua, who was convicted to serve 15 years jail term after changing his plea from not guilty to guilty, told the court that he received a booty of GH¢250.00 from the GH¢1500 they robbed from their victim at a gunpoint.
After changing his plea, the convict also told the Kumasi High Court, presided over by Justice K.A, Pobih, that they diverted the route from the Neoplan Station where their victim was to alight and rather drove her to a secluded area at Atonsu where they attacked and robbed her of the money she was to use to transact her business.
Moments after his confession, Owusu Kodua turned to the victim who was in court and asked for forgiveness, giving the assurance that he was now a changed person but deserved to be punished for bringing much pain to his victims.
After his plea, the court sentenced him to a 15-year jail term to end a trial that started almost four years ago.
Prosecuting , a Principal State Attorney, Mr Richmond Osei Ahwere, told the court that around 1am on December 23, 2004, the complainant, one Abena Kyerewaa, who is a resident at Adum in Kumasi, and a trader by profession, boarded a taxi with registration number AS 6636 U being driven by Kwabena Agyei.
He said when the complainant boarded the taxi, Owusu Boateng, Danzumah Ajona and Fredrick Owusu Kodua were already in the car.
The prosecutor said the complainant after boarding the car, told the driver that she was going to the Neoplan Station in Kumasi, but the driver diverted the route and drove towards the Atonsu area, and on reaching a point, the occupants in the car, who were equipped with locally manufactured pistols, attacked the complainant and succeeded in robbing her of a total of GH¢1500.00.
The prosecutor said after the robbery, the suspects dumped the complainant at a secluded area and drove off towards the Kajetia route.
He said the complainant reported to the police at the Railway Police Station.
Mr Osei Ahwere said the following day, the complainant spotted Kwabena Agyei, who was visiting his girlfriend at Adum, and after identifying him, she raised an alarm and caused his arrest.
He said moments after Kwabena Agyei was arrested, he threw away a mobile phone he was holding but police investigations led to the arrest of the girlfriend, one Afua Ataa.
The prosecutor said when she was searched a total of GH¢164.00 wrapped in a paper from the Dunkirk branch of the Adansi Rural Bank, where the victim withdrew her money, were found.
Mr Osei Ahwere said Ataa confessed that the money was given to her by Kwabena Agyei, who later led the police to arrest Owusu Boateng, Danozumah and Fredrick Owusu Kodua to assist in their investigations and were charged with the offence afterwards.
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