Friday, February 29, 2008

KUMASI RACE COURSE NEEDS POLICE POST (PAGE 30)

Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi

In terms of population density, the Race Course area of Bantama is one of the highest in the Kumasi Metropolis.
In the Kumasi Metropolis, the Race Course competes favourably with suburbs like Tafo, Moshie Zongo, Atonsu-Agogo and Anloga, where population is quite dense.
The Race Course was not meant to be a residential area because it was principally developed to promote horse racing in Kumasi and enhance sports development among the youth.
However, the demise of the sport in the area over the years created a vacuum, and people with no permanent residence in the metropolis took advantage of the situation and started putting up wooden structures for use as accommodation.
At the moment, many people who have been attracted to the Kumasi Metropolis for various reasons, especially those who want to break new grounds as part of their adventure, seem to have special interest at the Race Course, and so venture there in their numbers each passing day to swell up the population, making the place congested.
Sanitation is not the best at the Race Course area because unlike other suburbs in the metropolis where the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has provided public toilets and refuse dumps at vantage points to improve sanitation and prevent residents from dumping solid and liquid waste indiscriminately, the KMA is yet to provide any of such facilities there.
The haphazard construction of wooden structures at the Race Course and indiscriminate disposal of solid and liquid waste seem to have affected the drainage there, and this has made it difficult for streams to flow unimpeded.
It is, therefore, not surprising to find stagnant water, which serves as breeding grounds for mosquitoes, as well as choked gutters and mountains of refuse spread across the Race Course area and creating health problems for residents of the area, Bantama and its environs.
In case of any epidemic in the Kumasi Metropolis in the near future, the Race Course area of Bantama, as well as its immediate environs such as Mbrom, Suame, South and North Suntreso, Abrepo Junction and Adum, could be severely affected.
The Bantama Race Course has also assumed a notoriety for being a centre for the peddling of illicit drugs such as cocaine, marijuana and heroin.
The area now competes favourably with suburbs such as Dichemso, Krofrom, Allah Bar and Asawase in terms of drug trafficking and this is giving the Police Narcotics Unit sleepless nights.
Occasionally, the police conduct swoops at dawn to apprehend and prosecute some of the peddlers and dealers in hard drugs, including females, but this has not affected the trade in anyway.
With regard to such criminal activities as mobile phone snatching, rape, defilement and pick-pocketing, as well as armed robbery, the Race Course could aptly be described as the emerging force in the Kumasi Metropolis.
Previously, Dichemso, Krofrom, Sepe Buokrom, Asawase, Aboabo, Allah Bar and Akorem, all in the Kumasi Metropolis, were considered as “no go areas” , especially late in the night. Anyone who ventured into those areas at odd hours was likely to be attacked and robbed with guns and knives.
Women who found themselves in the midst of such social deviants at odd hours were likely to be raped and their valuable items and cash taken away from them.
A large number of criminals, including car snatchers and highway robbers, arrested by the police over the years were traced to some of these suburbs.
Of late, the Race Course is also getting its fair share of armed robberies and other violent criminal activities in Kumasi since police investigations of armed robberies sometimes implicate some of the residents there.
One particular case which readily comes to mind is that of Alfred Zieme, the armed robber who allegedly robbed his victims in broad daylight, using two AK 47 assault rifles.
His penchant for attacking victims in broad daylight created panic among the business community and the general public in the metropolis last year, and it was the collaboration between the public and the police which finally led to his arrest.
Since the Race Course area is becoming notorious for all aspects of criminal activities, it would be worthwhile for the police to acquire Zieme’s supermarket and turn it into a police station where they would station some of their men to provide a 24-hour security in the area.
Establishing a police post at the Race Course would be a giant step in the battle against criminal activities in the metropolis.

POLICE FOIL ANOTHER ARMS DEAL IN KUMASI (PAGE 3)

Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi

FOR the second time in three weeks, the police in Kumasi have arrested another group of suspects belonging to both the Mamprusi and Kusasi ethnic groups for attempting to buy AK 47 and G-3 assault rifles, as well as a number of action pump guns, ostensibly for onward transportation to the conflict area in Bawku.
A total of GH¢8,900, being the amount they intended using for the purchase of the weapons, has been retrieved from them.
All the eight suspects are in police custody assisting with investigations.
One of the suspects, who attempted to escape from the police after he had been arrested, was shot in the left leg and rushed to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital where he is responding to treatment.
The police did not disclose the names of the suspects for security reasons but gave the assurance that they were intensifying investigations to find out who their sponsors were.
The Ashanti Regional Police Public Affairs Officer, Inspector Yusif Mohammed Tanko, who briefed the media on the latest incident, said the suspect who was shot ignored police warning shots and took to his heels.
Inspector Tanko said earlier on February 5, 2008, three suspects had offered GH¢1,500 for an AK 47 assault rifle and a pump action gun for onward transportation to Bawku.
He said barely a week later, a 30-year-old man was also arrested after he had been supplied with five AK 47 assault rifles and he had paid GH¢3,400 to policemen who feigned interest in supplying the weapons.
Inspector Tanko said on Sunday, February 24, 2008, the police arrested four other suspects who offered GH¢4,000 for the purchase of three G-3 assault rifles.
He said two of the suspects resided at Aboabo and Asawasi, both suburbs of Kumasi, while the other two resided at Bawku, adding that they would be arraigned after investigations.
He appealed to the public to collaborate with the police to arrest and prosecute anyone who attempted to purchase weapons from Kumasi to intensify the Bawku conflict.

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

KUAMSI CENTRAL MARKET NEEDS MANAGEMENT C'TTEE (PAGE 29)

Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi

A section of fashion designers — Din-pa-ye Tailors Association — based at the Kumasi Central Market (KCM), have proposed to the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) to collaborate with it to establish a management committee that would manage the daily activities of the Kumasi Central Market. This is to help address the problem of perennial fire outbreaks, massive congestion and unsanitary conditions among other problems there.
According to the association, the establishment of “a management committee at the market to take over the daily management of sanitation, safety and security of the market infrastructure would bring enormous economic, social and health benefits to traders, shoppers, the KMA and the central government”.
At a press conference in Kumasi to outline their proposal, which had already been made available to the KMA, members of the association expressed concern about the massive congestion at the KCM and the unsanitary conditions there.
They said the dangers posed to traders and shoppers as a result of the careless wiring of structures at the market over the years also needed to be addressed as a matter of urgency.
Among those who attended the press conference were the Chairman of the association, Mr Daniel Osei; the Public Relations Officer, Mr J. K. Bonsu; the Financial Secretary, Mr Isaac Boateng; and the business Service Provider, Mr Barnabas Sefa-Boakye.
A statement read on behalf of the association by the chairman said “because of the careless wiring by unauthorised electricians, electric power connected to the stalls and storerooms are fire-prone, with bare and weak cables hanging loosely at certain points, thereby threatening the lives of the business community there”.
He further said explosives and inflammable items were also not properly stored in the market, adding that in view of the absence of toilet facilities, the sanitation situation was deplorable.
He said because of the massive congestion in the market, the business community was at the mercy of pickpockets “and the bad odour caused by indiscriminate disposal of solid and liquid waste on the open floor affects our health and undermines productivity”.
He said it was to address the numerous problems at the market that they proposed to the KMA to “endorse the establishment of stall-holders management committee at the market”.
He explained that under the management, the KCM would be divided into zones with each zone comprising 15 members who would identify problems that undermined business transactions in the market and initiate moves to address them.
He said the committee would also comprise a central committee, which would consist of two members each from each zone, as well as four ex-officio members from the Planning, Waste Management, City Engineers and Environmental Health Department of the KMA to effectively manage all activities at the KCM.

Monday, February 25, 2008

ASSIST TEACHERS TO MAINTAIN DISCIPLINE (SPREAD)

Story: George Ernest Asare, Konongo

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Mines and Technology, Professor Daniel Mireku-Gyimah, has urged parents and civil society to actively complement the efforts of teachers at strengthening discipline in schools.
This, he said, would enable students to work very hard and diligently “to achieve our national development goals”.
Addressing the 35th Speech and Prize-giving day of Konongo Odumasi Senior High School (SHS) at Konongo last Saturday, Prof. Mireku-Gyimah noted that lack of discipline in society could be attributed to “lack of basic moral education at home and also by civil society, which continues to impede their mental and physical training at the basic, secondary and tertiary levels of education”.
Explaining further, Professor Mireku-Gyimah pointed out that the symptoms of indiscipline among students appeared in the form of truancy, use of hard drugs, immorality, examination malpractices, falsification of certificates, practice of occultism, unnecessary demands and complaints, as well as disrespect for authority, wanton destruction of public property and poor academic performance.
He stated that while indiscipline was an impediment to quality education and undermined sustainable national development, studies had shown that the best students were those who had had good moral education from their infancy and said such students stood the chance of initiating programmes that could impact positively on sustainable national development.
Speaking on the theme: ”Discipline, the bedrock for quality education and national development”, the vice chancellor, who is also an old student of the school, noted that Ghana could not realise her vision of becoming a middle-income country by 2015 if people who took decisions and implemented policies were not disciplined.
“A fundamental tool by which we can achieve our national development goals is good governance, and the bedrock of this tool is indeed discipline,” he stressed, adding that “our ability and willingness to make intelligent decisions have respect for the rule of law, and the capability to work diligently can only be achieved through a well-disciplined society”.
Prof. Mireku-Gyimah pointed out that one major problem confronting the nation about which everybody was expressing concern “is the falling standard of education”.
This, he said, was also affecting productivity because “our graduates are unable to perform at the workplace as expected, and employers have to spend huge sums of money to retrain them”.
He said it was equally important for teachers to be disciplined to enable them to become role models to their students.
“Studies have shown that the best schools are those whose teachers and students are disciplined because discipline is the bedrock of quality education,” Prof. Mireku-Gyimah stated.
In his address, the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, gave the assurance that the government would sustain its policy of providing infrastructure at all levels of educational institutions in the country to facilitate the delivery of quality education.
He said the policy of the government in turning 31 less-endowed schools in the various districts in Ghana into model schools was yielding positive results because students from the beneficiary schools were enjoying good facilities, making it possible for them to rob shoulders with their counterparts in the well-endowed schools.
“Many projects have sprung up since we took that decision four years ago, and this has made it possible for students to study in conducive atmosphere to improve their standard of education,” he stressed, adding that “the government wants to take infrastructural development in basic, secondary and tertiary educational institutions to a higher level to enhance teaching and learning”.
He commended old students of Konongo Odumase Senior High School for their tremendous contribution to infrastructural development in the school and urged them to sustain it.
In his report, the headmaster of the school, Mr A.A. Amoantwi, commended the government “for its development-oriented policies that had so immensely impacted positively on the school”, but appealed for further assistance to enhance academic performance.
He said for the past 15 years, the school had not been able to use the Science Laboratory because of its deplorable state and, therefore, appealed to the government to assist in renovating it.
Mr Amoantwi said the school also needed a new boys’ dormitory and a 12-unit three bedroom flats to accommodate the boys and teachers respectively to enhance teaching and learning.
He said inadequate number of classrooms was also undermining effective academic work and appealed to the government to construct an 18-unit classroom block to cater for the students in the school.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

ASHANTI GJA GETS PRESS CENTRE (PAGE 29)

Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi

THE Ashanti Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) is to assist the Ashanti Regional branch of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) to establish a regional press centre in Kumasi as part of the council's efforts at facilitating the work of journalists to enable them to honour their obligations under the current democratic dispensation.
At the weekend, during an end-of-year press soiree organised by the RCC, the Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Emmanuel A. Owusu-Ansah, said the RCC was considering allocating an office for a press centre in Kumasi to the GJA. Mr Owusu-Ansah pointed out that allocation of a press centre to the association in this election year would not only enable it address the challenges affecting its practice, but would also facilitate things for its members to be able to educate the public in a more effective and efficient way, adding that it would also help them to appreciate the need to tolerate each other’s views.
This, he said, would go a long way to sustain the peace being enjoyed in the country, and further entrench our democratic dispensation.
The press soiree created a platform for Mr Owusu Ansah, his deputy, Mr Osei-Asibey Antwi, and many others to interact with the journalists in the region. It also offered the opportunity for the two sides to assess their strengths and weaknesses over the years, and the challenges that 2008 elections would pose.
The minister said like their counterparts in the Western Region who were provided with a press centre, journalists in the Ashanti Region deserved a better befitting press centre where they could constantly meet in a conducive atmosphere to take stock of their activities and chart a cause that would enhance their reportage.
He commended them for their tremendous contribution to marketing the investment potential of the region. This, he said, was having a positive impact as it was accelerating development and, therefore, urged them to sustain it.
According to the minister, journalism as a profession was very challenging, and in journalists' quest to educate, inform and entertain the public, they sometimes committed mistakes just as it happened to every human institution.
He said in assessing the work of the media towards a sustainable socio-economic development, the mistakes they committed were relatively trivial, and should not be used as a yardstick to condemn them.
He, therefore, urged journalists to focus on their core business of educating the public. He said this would help them appreciate the need to be tolerant, especially in this election year, so as to make the elections violence-free.
Mr Owush Ansah pointed out that elections were all about marketing candidates who wanted to hold public office, but said there was bound to be winners and losers, so campaigns and polling stations should not be used as launch pads for causing mayhem.
He explained that such negative practices could also undermine the gains chalked up over the years.
The minister said the absence of anything that would create confusion before, during and after the elections would make Ghanaians accept the results as credible and also cause the international community to appreciate the fact that Ghana had come of age so far as democracy was concerned.
"The challenges of 2007 should guide us to set a pace in 2008 as a way of deepening the democracy that would carry us through the years ahead," he stressed.
Mr Owusu-Ansah said his administration would also collaborate with the media in the region to initiate a monthly meet-the-press series as well as an open-day programme where the investment potential of the region would be showcased.
He also stressed that the initiative would make it possible for district chief executives in the region and the regional co-ordinating council (RCC) to interact frequently with the media and outline their programmes and policies as well as their achievements.
The acting Chairman of the Ashanti Regional branch of the GJA, Nana Yaw Osei, commended the RCC for recognising the contributions of the media towards the socio-economic development of the region.
He said over the years, the desire of the media to contribute more meaningful towards sustainable development was hampered by inadequate facilities, especially a press centre.
The acting regional chairman stated that while those in the Greater Accra and Western regions had well-equipped press centres, those in the Ashanti Region had no permanent place to meet regularly to take stock of their strengths and weaknesses to enable them to devise means of strengthening their capacity to meet the aspirations of the public.
He, therefore, appealed to the RCC to support the association to acquire a press centre to enhance their reportage.

KUMASI POLICE ARREST FOUR FOR ILLEGAL ARMS DEAL (BACK PAGE)

Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi

FOUR persons have been arrested by the police in Kumasi for allegedly attempting to buy assault rifles for onward supply at Bawku.
The Officer in charge of the Police Public Affairs Unit, Inspector Mohammed Tanko, who briefed the Daily Graphic, said upon a tip-off that the suspects wanted to buy assault rifles, the police feigned interest and supplied the weapons to them.
He said the suspects paid GH¢5,500 for six pieces of AK47 assault rifles and a pump action gun they intended to purchase.
Three of the suspects were arrested on February 5, 2008, when they offered GH¢1,500 for an AK 47 assault rifle and a pump action gun they intended to buy for onward transportation to Bawku.
He said the fourth suspect, a 30-year-old man, was arrested on February 13, 2008, after he had been supplied with five pieces of AK 47 assault rifles and he had paid GH¢4000 to plain-clothes policemen who had shown interest in supplying the weapons to him.
The police did not disclose the names of the suspects, who are currently in police custody, for security reasons, but gave the assurance that they would be arraigned soon.

Monday, February 18, 2008

WOMEN SEEK EARLY MEDICAL CARE (PAGE 17)

Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi

The President of Breast Care International (BCI), Dr Mrs Beatrice Wiafe Addai, has advised women to be conscious of their health by reporting any form of abnormality in any part of their body, especially their breast to medical officers for prompt diagnosis to be made.
This, she said, would reduce any risk of cancerous diseases in their breast to promote healthy lives.
She said it was equally important for women, especially those above the age of 40 not only to undertake mammogram but also examine their breast monthly to enable them to detect any form of abnormality at the early stages for prompt medication to be made.
Dr Mrs Wiafe Addai gave the advice at Bomfa-Achiase in the Ashanti Region as part of her breast cancer awareness campaign.
The exercise — which was organised by BCI, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), in collaboration with a Kumasi-based philanthropist, Mr Kofi Nti, and Peace and Love Hospital also in Kumasi — was meant to provide them with the requisite skills of detecting any form of abnormality in their breast at the early stages and report to the hospital, thereby saving them the risk of losing their lives or the cost of treating the disease when it had reached an advanced stage.
It was also meant to sensitise women in the Ashanti Region in particular and other parts of the country in general to the dangers associated with breast cancer and the need for them to appreciate the importance of examining their breast monthly.
About 800 women, including those in their middle ages and those in their teens, benefited from the exercise.
Dr Mrs Wiafe Addai, who educated them on the causes and effect of breast cancer, expressed concern about the myth surrounding the disease and pointed out that some people connected it to curses and other forms of superstition.
She stressed that “the discovery of a suspicious lump in the breast is a traumatic experience among women, most of whom equate it to a death warrant” and pointed out that nine out of every 10 of such cases were not cancerous, but in any case, many cancers, including breast cancer, were treatable, especially when it was diagnosed early.
She said for women to notice any form of abnormality in their breast at the early stages “it is mandatory for every woman to examine her breast on monthly basis”.
She also took them through the dangers associated with Hepatitis B and the need for them to get tested and vaccinated, especially those who tested negative.
Explaining, she said Hepatitis B was more infectious than the dreaded HIV/AIDS, so in order to prevent its spread, there was the need for Ghanaians, irrespective of age, status and gender, to undertake voluntary testing and either be vaccinated against the disease when tested negative or seek immediate medical treatment when tested positive.
Explaining further, Dr Mrs Wiafe Addai said “infection with the Hepatitis B virus lead to cirrhosis of the liver, liver failure and liver cancer”.
She said about 80 per cent of liver cancer was caused by chronic Hepatitis B virus infection and indicated that the most important means to reduce its spread was voluntary testing and vaccination.
She said unlike HIV/AIDS infection, the Hepatitis B virus could be treated, especially if the disease was reported and said it could be prevented when those who tested negative were vaccinated against the disease.

Friday, February 15, 2008

ACCIDENT CLAIMS 8 LIVES (Back Page)

Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi

EIGHT people died on the spot at Atwedie, on the Konongo-Nkawkaw road on Wednesday night, when a Kumasi bound Accra bus crashed into the Nissan Largo mini bus in which all the eight were travelling.
The bus, with registration number ER 2653 U, and fully loaded with passengers, was said to be avoiding a stationary cargo DAF truck, belonging to the Ghana Education Service (GES), when it collided head-on with the mini bus with registration number GT 5659 Q, killing the eight passengers which included three females and five males.
The only surviving passenger on the bus, a baby girl aged 18 months, was on admission at the Juaso Hospital, and was said to be responding to treatment.
The bodies of the deceased, which are yet to be identified, have been deposited at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) for autopsy and the police have mounted a search for the driver of the bus to assist in their investigations.
The Ashanti Regional Commander of the Police Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU), DSP James Sarfo Peprah, who briefed the Daily Graphic, said the incident occurred when the driver of the bus drove past two vehicles, including a Kumasi bound bus and a DAF cargo truck with registration number GV 9127 C, which had broken down on the road.
He explained that prior to the incident, a driver of another bus who attempted to overtake the stationary bus saw the Nissan Largo approaching from the opposite direction, so he stopped to give way to the oncoming vehicle.
DSP Sarfo-Peprah said at that time, the bus, which was following closely, overtook both the bus which was ahead and the stationary DAF, and in the process, collided head-on with the Nissan Largo bus, killing the eight passengers on board.
He said the driver of the bus vanished from the accident scene and was yet to report to the police.
The MTTU commander stated that they had, therefore, mounted a search to arrest him to assist in their investigations.

Thursday, February 14, 2008

SEEK EARLY MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR CANCER ... (Page 17)

Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi

THE fear of a 42-year-old woman in seeking medical treatment at a hospital for breast cancer which had just started developing in her right breast nearly cost her her life, especially when she, instead went in for a herbal treatment at Ankaase near Bekwai.
After using the herbs to treat the seemingly painless boil on her breast without any positive results, resulting in the widespread of the cancer at an alarming rate, family members had to rush her to Peace and Love Hospital at Kentinkrono in Kumasi where she is now responding to treatment.
The woman, a trader who lives at Ahwiaa in Kumasi, said, “I developed the disease almost a year ago when a small boil appeared in my right breast, and thinking that it was just an ordinary boil, I applied some ointments, hoping that it would disappear, but it worsened, compelling me to seek herbal treatment.”
The woman (name withheld), told the Daily Graphic in Kumasi that her fear of refusing to seek medical treatment at the hospital at the initial stages of the disease was that her mother had a similar problem about seven years ago and was operated upon when she sought for medical treatment at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.
She said even though, “My mother survived the operation, I developed a certain fear, from which I am yet to recover, so when I was diagnosed as suffering from breast cancer, I remembered my mother’s predicament and, therefore, decided never to seek any treatment from the hospital. I, therefore, went to Ankaase near Bekwai for herbs, and that eventually worsened the situation,” she explained.
She explained that at the village where she sought herbal treatment, hot water was used to clean the wound that had developed on her breast before the herbs were applied; and after using the drug for some time, she found out that the disease was getting worse everyday and the pains were becoming unbearable.
The woman said she saw that her continuous presence at the herbal centre could cost her her life, but she was also afraid to go to the hospital. Eventually, her daughter had to intervene, and was given the assurance that her mother would not be operated upon.
“I was virtually carried to this hospital, because I could not walk at the time, and the pains were very intense, but as you can see now, I walked here myself today and the sore that developed in my breast is also healing very fast. I thank God for that,” she said.
She said she was recovering very fast and appealed to women who might encounter similar problems to seek early treatment at hospitals instead of seeking herbal treatment, because they risked losing their lives.
She pointed out that waiting for the cancer to reach an advanced stage before seeking medical treatment was also very costly.
“As soon as you notice any boil, seek medical treatment to reduce cost of treatment and to enhance early recovery, because anything short of that could affect the treatment in terms of cost and early recovery,” she cautioned

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

SUBIN SUB-METRO MHIS MAKES PROGRESS (PAGE 29)

STORY: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi

Out of an estimated population of 176,307 people in the Subin Constituency in Kumasi, as many as 115,999 have registered with the Subin Sub-metro Mutual Health Insurance Scheme, (MHIS) to afford them the opportunity to access quality health care at an affordable cost.
All the registered members have been issued with Identity Cards, making it possible for them to access healthcare service at the various health centres within the Kumasi metropolis and its environs.
The Scheme Manager, Ms Esther Odoom, told the Daily Graphic in Kumasi that a total of GH¢310,000 was generated as premium from its clients last year with the National Health Council supporting them with GH¢470,000.
She, however, said last year, as much as GH¢1,041,698.98 was paid as claims to the various healthcare centres which provided medical care to the 126,693 clients who accessed medical services in the various healthcare centres in the Kumasi metropolis and its environs.
Ms Odoom said it was the National Health Council that supported the scheme with subsidies that enabled them to honour the claims, stressing that an average of GH¢18.22 was paid as claims for each of the clients who accessed medical care at the health institutions.
She said the Subin MHIS had introduced a system where clients paid a flat rate of GH¢15 as premium with students paying a flat rate of GH¢12 to access quality healthcare delivery.
Ms Odoom said the flat rate was to entice all potential clients to join the scheme to enable them to benefit from quality and affordable health care.
She said national service personnel were made to move from office to office to collect the necessary documents from workers and use them to register.
She said the exercise was working perfectly because it also enabled all potential clients to obtain their identity cards without moving from their offices.
On the challenges that confronted the scheme, Ms Odoom said clients were abusing the system “with their multiple hospital attendance".
She said the multiple hospital attendance rather compounded their problems because the medical officers provided almost the same treatment to the clients which led to drug abuse and increased cost of treatment.

257,076 METRIC TONNES OF FOOD LOST IN NORTHERN FLOODS (Page 14)

Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi

Farmers in the three northern regions whose farms were affected by heavy rainfall that flooded vast areas of farmlands last year lost cereals and other food items estimated at 257,076 metric tonnes.
Livestock — goats, sheep, cattle and fowls — were also killed during the heavy downpour, causing huge financial loss to livestock farmers.
It is also estimated that 97,244 hectares of farms were totally destroyed by the rains, which also destroyed as many as 39 irrigation dams and a number of wells, leaving crop farmers in the region poorer than before.
The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr Ernest A. Debrah, who announced this in a speech read on his behalf during the performance review workshop for directors of the ministry in Kumasi, pointed out that the flood also washed off many roads and bridges that linked farming communities.
Mr Debrah expressed concern about the economic loss to farmers in the three northern regions due to the heavy downpour and, therefore, urged the directors of the sector, and policy makers and those implementing agricultural programmes in the region “to judiciously and effectively utilise all resources to the benefit of the affected farmers”.
He gave the assurance that the government “together with our development partners and other stakeholders are determined to bring life in the three regions back to normalcy”.
He pointed out that through the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the government was revising the Food and Agriculture Sector policy (FASDEP) “to meet the current challenges in the sector”, stressing that “the aim is to modernise agriculture and provide the critical linkage between agriculture and industry, based on the application of science and technology and sustainable land management and environmental practices”.
Mr Debrah said there was the need for the private sector to partner the government in a more effective way to enable it to achieve its objective of diversifying the sector to enhance increased exportation of processed agriculture products such as fruits and vegetables.
“There is the need for our best farmers, farmer-based organisations and other private sector actors to collaborate with the government and the related sector ministries, departments and agencies to constantly review significant challenges and formulate interventions that will be required to raise significantly the contribution and growth of the agricultural sector,” he stressed.
Mr Debrah said notwithstanding the challenges that had faced the sector over the years, it had experienced significant growth.
He said the growth rate of the agriculture sector increased from 2.1 per cent in 2000 to 4.4 per cent in 2002, stressing that in 2004, the growth rate was 6.5 per cent. This, he said, made it possible for the country to achieve self-sufficiency in the production of staple crops such as cassava, yam, maize and plantain.
He gave the assurance that the ministry was doing everything possible to further increase growth in agriculture to enable the country to achieve self-sufficiency in rice, meat and fish.
He commended development partners of the country in particular and farmers for their invaluable contribution to the growth of the sector and noted that the African Development Bank, for example, supported the sector with $168.8 million last year, bringing its total support to $300 million.
In his remarks, the Chief Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Dr Gyiele Nurah, noted that interventions such as “agricultural technology generation, and application, leading to new ways of farming, stand the best chance of generating significant improvements in agricultural outputs and income.”
He said investments were also needed in order to promote the most suitable agricultural technology.
This, he said, would enable the sector to raise productivity and embark on environmentally friendly farming activities.
He said it would also enable the country to take advantage of the new opportunities offered by world trade to strengthen the sector.

Monday, February 11, 2008

GIVE PEACE A CHANCE AT BAWKU (Page 15)

Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi

THE Chief of the Kusauk Community in the Ashanti Region, E. Azumah Ndagu, has appealed to all factions in the Bawku Traditional Area embroiled in the Bawku Chieftaincy dispute to use dialogue to address all outstanding issues.
He said they must not destroy lives and property as was witnessed recently and added that using a social and scientific approach to address the issue was the key for sustainable peace to prevail in the traditional area, thereby enhancing peaceful co-existence and productivity.
In a press conference held in Kumasi at the weekend to underscore his point, Chief Azumah Ndagu pointed out that using violence as a tool to settle disputes the world over had never yielded any positive results, and, therefore, expressed dismay at the disruption of the relative peace being enjoyed by the entire traditional area.
“ Bawku Traditional Area has suffered so much in terms of instability and underdevelopment since the era of the last Governor-General of the Gold Coast in the 1950s and we believe that most of the inhabitants of the traditional area are now sick and tired of this monstrous canker which seems to have political undertones and erupts seasonally,” he stressed.
In a statement issued to the press during the conference, Chief Azumah Ndagu said the violence at Bawku, coming weeks after the recent heavy flooding that claimed many lives and property in the area, was unfortunate and unproductive because the issue had already been addressed by the Supreme Court.
He said with the ruling of the Supreme Court, “ we suggest that one way of solving the issue is for the government to come out openly with a White Paper to back the decision of the Supreme Court and put the whole matter to rest.”
Recalling the events in South Africa during the apartheid regime where the White Minority used illegitimate means to perpetuate their rule, Chief Azumah Ndagu pointed out that the obnoxious apartheid regime only gave way to a democratic regime through dialogue and not violence. He, therefore, saw no reason why the use of dialogue should not be the guiding principle, so far as the Bawku chieftaincy dispute was concerned.
He wondered why the Bawku Traditional Area, which boasts of numerous intellectuals, politicians, and individuals of high social standing and who had achieved much in life would continue to suffer violence through chieftaincy disputes while prominent citizens “ sit on the fence and allow short-sighted, ignorant and colonial-minded confusionists to misguide and create mayhem for innocent, peace-loving citizens”.
Stressing his point, Chief Ndagu said it was time such high-profile people from the traditional area teamed up to help solve the problem.
“We the citizens of the Bawku Traditional Area should have realised by now that no wars but jaw-jaw has achieved the much-needed peace since the 1950s, hence the need for a collective and socio-scientific approach to the problem by all stakeholders.”
He also made a passionate appeal to all the factions to exercise restraint “in the midst of these difficult times because violence has never been known to have permanently resolved any issue successfully. It rather exacerbates the problem, resulting in the destruction of precious human life, hard-earned property, businesses and stagnates development”.
Chief Azumah Ndagu also pointed out that it was equally important for politicians believed to be fanning the dispute “to leave the poor people of Bawku Traditional Area alone, instead of continuously deceiving and fanning the wishful thinking of these poor and innocent people of the area, only for them to hope against hope each time.”

'I WAS EQUALLY DISAPPOINTED' .. ..(Page 3)

Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi

Just like the millions of soccer fans in the country who are yet to get over the 0-1 loss which the Black Stars suffered in their semi-final encounter with the Indomitable Lions of Cameroun, Coach Claude Le Roy is still at a loss as to what denied the Stars a date with defending champions, Egypt, in the grand finale.
Minutes after the Black Stars and their technical team had been decorated with bronze medals after their outstanding second half performance against the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire in the third-place match, Coach Le Roy declared at a post-match press conference that he was as disappointed as all Ghanaian soccer fans for the loss to Cameroun.
“We did not deserve to lose to them, but that is football and sometimes it is difficult to explain certain issues,” he declared.
When quizzed by the media to prove whether or not he was disappointed by not winning the trophy, in line with the “host-and-win” slogan, Le Roy said he was sad that the Stars lost to Cameroun.
He explained that the Stars deserved to win that match because the players played their hearts out, adding, “But in soccer anything can happen and sometimes it is not the best side that wins.”
On the match against the Elephants, he said the odds had heavily been against the Black Stars because some of the key players such as Michael Essien, John Mensah and Baffour Gyan had not been fully fit so when the Stars went down 1-2 in the first half, it became very difficult for them to claw back.
“During recess, I told the players to do everything to kill the game. However, I was not very sure that they would equalise and win the match, but eventually they did well to win. So I am happy for what they did,” he declared.
The Black Stars beat the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire 4-2 to place third in the tournament at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi last Saturday.
The Cote d’Ivoire coach, Mr Gili Gerard, who was well composed during the media encounter, commended the Black Stars and Coach Le Roy for the well deserved victory.
“I was not disappointed that we lost to the Stars because they did very well in the second half by putting intense pressure on my players, making it possible for them to equalise and take the lead,” he conceded, adding, “We tried our best to come back but we did not succeed because of the pressure mounted on us.”

Sunday, February 10, 2008

WOARAKOSE CELEBRATES KOHWE-KOSE FESTIVAL (PAGE 23)

Story: Ernest George Asare, Woarakose

THE people of Woarakose in the Bosomtwe-Atwima-Kwanwoma District of the Ashanti Region have celebrated their Kohwe-Kose festival. The occasion was also used to raise funds to support development projects initiated by the community.
The festival that was instituted 10 years ago, has become the main platform for citizens both home and abroad to meet annually to discuss the welfare of the community.
The community has been able to construct classrooms, tarred their streets, rehabilitated public toilets to improve sanitation and is now constructing a community centre with funds raised from previous festivals.
The community centre, which started a few years ago, has reached an advanced stage of completion, but the people need to generate about GH¢50,000 before they can complete it.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Chief of Woarakose, Nana Kwame Agyei II, urged the youth in the community to actively participate in the festival.
He also advised them to work hard to earn a living instead of indulging in dubious business which in the long run could dent their image or ruin their lives.
Nana Agyei urged the youth of the town to refrain from premarital sex and concentrate on their academic work to enable them to earn decent living in the future.
In his welcoming address, the assembly member for the Woarakose-Onwi Electoral Area, Mr J.K. Asuming, advised citizens who were yet to join the Health Insurance Scheme to do so and receive quality health care.
He urged parents to invest in their children’s education to enable them become responsible future leaders.

Thursday, February 7, 2008

BANTAMA SUB-METRO HEALTH INSURANCE MAKES PROGRESS (Page 25)

Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi

The Bantama Sub-metro Mutual Health Insurance Scheme in Kumasi (MHIS) generated a total of GH¢821, 246.08 as premium from its clients between 2005 and 2007.
In January this year, the scheme collected a total of GH ¢60,605 as premium.
The scheme, however, paid as much as GH¢2,339,555.84 as claims for the health care provided its clients by health care service providers during the same period.
In January this year, as much as GH¢1,411,089.74 had already been paid as service claims.
As many as 198,388 clients have so far been registered by the scheme in the past two years to enable them to receive quality heath care service. Out of that number 134,942 have already received their identity (ID) cards.
The Scheme Manager, Mr Stephen P. Jalulah, told the Daily Graphic that between 2005 and 2006, the scheme registered a total of 102,028 clients and generated GH¢320,091.70 as premium.
Last year, the scheme also collected GH¢440,546.38 from its clients as premium and that the management was devising the requisite strategies that would encourage as many people as possible from the Bantama Sub-metro to join the scheme.
Mr Jalulah expressed concern about the undue delay in releasing subsidies for the payment of claims and said the delay usually brought them on collision course with the health care providers, something that did not augur well for quality health care delivery.
He suggested that the National Health Insurance Council should release the subsidies to the scheme managers ahead of every quarter to enable them to pay their claims on schedule.
According to Mr Jalulah, the Bantama Sub-metro Mutual Health Insurance Scheme paid average monthly claims to the tune of GH¢80,000.00 to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) alone for the services it provided its clients. He said because the KATH was very close to Bantama and was the only referral hospital in the Ashanti Region and its environs, clients from the northern sector always sought quality health care there, compelling the hospital authorities to send all their bills to the sub-metro for payment before their sister schemes later reimbursed it.
He said the scheme’s operations were mostly affected by the huge claims it paid monthly for its clients and clients from sister schemes in the northern sector who sought medical care from the KATH, and the undue delay in getting reimbursed.
He appealed for prompt reimbursement to enable the schemes to respond to the needs of their service providers as quickly as possible.
Mr Jalulah also expressed concern about the multiple hospital attendance by clients instead of focusing on a particular healthcare facility in the metropolis.
He said the multiple hospital attendance did not only undermine its operations due to the number of cards used for the and the increased cost of treatment for the clients, but also affected the treatment of the clients due to the multiple drugs provided for the treatment of the same disease.
He appealed to the clients to stick to a particular healthcare provider to enable the medical officers to appreciate the history of their illness and offer the right prescription and treatment that would enhance their speedy recovery.
He said information reaching his outfit also indicated that some medical officers were abusing the system by using the ID cards of some clients to prescribe drugs for close friends and relatives.
He said they were adopting a mechanism to track down such unpatriotic citizens, arrest and prosecute them and advised such people to put an end to their negative practices before they were arrested and prosecuted.
Mr Jalulah said the Bantama Sub-metro scheme had employed 15 permanent workers, who attended to their numerous clients and said the number was woefully inadequate.
He suggested that the strength of permanent staff be increased to 30 to enable the scheme to attend to its clients in a more effective and efficient way.

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

PORTER REMANDED FOR DEFILEMENT (PAGE 30)

Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi

A Kumasi Circuit Court presided over by Justice Ernest Yao Obimpeh, has remanded a 25-year-old porter in police custody for two weeks to facilitate investigations into a case in which the suspect is alleged to have defiled a six-year-old girl at a secluded area of the Kumasi Central Market last week.
The suspect, Charles Akwasi Annor, who is a native of Begoro, but resides in Kumasi, was alleged to have lured the six year old girl into the secluded area at the market, and after sexually abusing her , warned her not to disclosed what happened to anybody or risk being killed.
A few hours after her ordeal, the girl started experiencing severe pains in her vagina while some whitish fluid also started flowing from her vagina and this alarmed her grandmother.
When her grandmother questioned her, the girl mentioned the name of the suspect as the one who sexually abused her, so the grandmother reported the incident to the police.
A medical form was issued to the victim to attend hospital and the report proved that she had been sexually abused. The police then arrested the suspect and after investigations charged him with defiling the six-year-old girl.
The plea of Charles Akwasi Annor was not taken when he appeared before the Circuit Court, and the court remanded him in police custody for two weeks to enable the police to continue their investigations into the case.
Chief Inspector Owusu Manu, who prosecuted the case told the court that, the mother of the victim was a porter at the Central Market, where the suspect also worked as a porter.
He said on December 14, 2007, the victim was left in the care of her grandmother when her mother went out to transact business, and in the course of the day, the suspect was seen playing with the girl.
He added that the suspect took advantage of his interaction with the little girl and later lured her into a secluded area in the market where he was alleged to have sexually abused her.
Chief Inspector Owusu Manu said immediately after the act, the suspect sternly warned the victim never to disclose what had happened to anyone because she would surely die if she did.
He said around 7p.m. the same day, while the grandmother was bathing the victim, she detected that the little girl was in severe pains and some whitish fluid was flowing from her vagina. When she questioned the victim she mentioned the name of the suspect as the one who sexually abused her.
He said armed with this information, the grandmother reported the case to the police who issued her with a form for medical examination.
Mr Manu said when the medical report confirmed that the little girl had been sexually molested, the police arrested the suspect and after investigations, he was charged with the offence.

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

EGYPT BOOK SEMI-FINAL SLOT

Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi

In the other quarter-final match played yesterday, George Ernest Asare, reports that Angola’s dream of having a semi-final berth in the ongoing Ghana 2008 tournament ended at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi when they succumbed 1-2 to the might of Egypt giving the Egyptians a ticket to the semi-finals and keeping their dreams of defending the trophy they won two years ago on course.
Angola who had a massive support at the Kumasi Stadium equalised a few minutes through Manucho after Egypt had opened the scores through a spot kick by Hosny Abd Rabou.
They gave the Egyptians a cheap goal through a defensive blunder in the 38th minute when Carlos Alonso’s attempt to clear a ball hit Egypt’s Amr Zaki and bounced into the net with goalkeeper Luis Joao stranded.
Egypt could have registered a cricket scoreline, especially in the second half, where they created a lot of chances but brilliant goalkeeping by Luis Joao ensured that Angola went home as gallant losers.
Inexperience cost the Angolans rather than the might of Egypt as they took the game to their opponents and created chances but squandered them to the surprise of the partisan Kumasi soccer fans who were urging them on.
While Egypt relied on long balls with swift inter positional changes and fast runs to outwit their opponents, Angola massed up in defence where Airosa Marco, Alonso Carlos, Joao Yamba and Amado Flavio formed a barrier to prevent the hungry Egyptian attackers from scoring an early goal.
In one of their movements in the 10th minute, Mohamed Abdel Nabi Ibrahim succeeded in outwitting the unyielding Egyptian defence and entered the box, but with the keeper at his mercy he found his touch sweep past the area.
Egypt took charge of the midfield where Abdrabou Abdel Moteleb, Mohamed Shawky Aly Salam and Mohamed Mohamed Abou Trika operated, pushing their attackers forward, and succeeded in earning a spot kick after Moteleb’s shot hit the hand of an opponent. Moteleb converted the kick to give Egypt the lead. But the referee ignored a similar offence when a hard pressed Egyptian defender also handled the ball in his area.
Undaunted,the Angolans started mounting attack and their efforts yielded dividend in the 28th minute Mateus Alberto sent an intelligent volley which hit the back of the net before skipper Kamal Tawfik El Hadary in post for Egypt could react.
Mateus Alberto picked the ball midway in the area of Egypt, beat two defenders before sending a 25-metre volley to bring the scores at par to give Kumasi fans something to jubilate about.
Angola continued the attack, hoping to increase the score line but always fumbled in the area of Egypt and sometimes gave faulty passes.
The Egyptians who relied on counter attacks increased the tally in the 38th minute when Carlos Alonso saw his clearance in the area hit Amr Hasan Zakry Mansour for the second goal for Egypt.
Just after resumption, Alberto Mateus of Angola had an opportunity to bring Angola on level terms but his touch missed the post by inches to the relief of the Egyptians.
As the game progressed Angola gained confidence and initiated series of attacks in an attempt to equalize but they always fumbled or allowed the Egyptian defenders to clear the ball to safety, making it impossible for them to realise their dreams of having a semi final berth.

Egypt
1.Kamal Tawfik El Hadary, 5. Mohamed Abdel Fattah Ragad, 6. Mohamed Said Gad, 7. Fathy Abdel Meneim Ibrahim, 8. Abdrabou  Abdel Moteleb, 10. Mohamed Abdel Nabi Ibrahim, 11. Mohamed Shawky Aly Salam, 14. Said Moawad Abdel/2. Fathalla Abdou Ibrahim Wahed, 19. Amr Hasan Zakry Mansour/17. Hasan Kamel, 20. Wael Gomaa Kamel Elhawty, 22. Mohamed Mohamed Abou Trika.
Angola
1.     Joao Luis, 2. Airosa Marco, 5. Alonso Carlos, 6. Joao Yamba, 8. Macanga Andre, 10. Mulenessa Norberto 9. Mateus Costa, 11. Amaral Felisberto, 15. Marques Rui, 16. Amado Flavio/Antonio Mendonca, 17. Baptista Nsimba, 23. Alberto Mateus

Sunday, February 3, 2008

BANTAMA MARKET BURNT DOWN ...Page 29)

Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi

On Sunday, January 13, 2008, a section of the business community at Bantama in the Kumasi metropolis was hit by another fire disaster when the Bantama main market was gutted down and as many as 460 stalls filled with assorted products were totally destroyed.
In addition to the large number of property that were totally consumed by the fire which left behind significant economic losses, and the cost refurbishing the market, the fire also claimed the life of a pregnant woman.
The deceased, who was identified as Cynthia Ayamga, and her male partner, Isor Ayamga, were alleged to be sleeping in one of the stalls when the fire started, and while the male partner managed to escape, the deceased was trapped in the stall that had been converted into a bedroom and burnt beyond recognition.
Isor Ayamga also sustained severe burns and is currently on admission at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital where he is receiving treatment.
Fire outbreaks in the Kumasi metropolis, especially at satellite markets, including the Asafo Market and the main Kumasi Central Market, regarded as the biggest in the West African sub-region, seem to have become an annual ritual as each year a market in the metropolis is gutted by fire for reasons very difficult to comprehend.
Daily Graphic investigations have revealed that the markets have become residential apartments for residents who have no permanent abode and in the night, the residents do not only prepare their meals on coal pots and other gadgets to keep body and soul together, but also use candles as sources of lights in the stalls which they use as makeshift accommodation facilities.
The investigations further revealed that the Bantama market fire outbreak was the result of a candle used by the deceased and her partner as their main source of light during the night, which caught fire in their makeshift bedroom and consumed them before spreading quickly to other parts of the market completely destroying products worth millions of Ghana cedis.
Apart from the Bantama Market fire outbreak this year, part of the Kumasi Central Market also caught fire a few days ago, destroying quantities of property belonging to a section of the business community in the metropolis.
Information made available to the Daily Graphic by the Ghana National Fire Service indicated that in 2006 for example, a total of 570 fire outbreaks occurred in the Kumasi metropolis and other parts of the Ashanti Region. According to the source, property estimated at GH¢1.632,150 was totally destroyed during the fire outbreaks. Last year, as many as 778 fire outbreaks were recorded in Kumasi and other parts of the region.
The source said the economic loss from the fire outbreaks to the victims in Kumasi and its environs was enormous because property estimated at GH¢39,379,232 were totally destroyed.
Ironically, fire outbreaks in the Kumasi metropolis and its environs over the years mostly occurred at the beginning of the year.
In January 2006, as many as 60 fire outbreaks were recorded and the figure increased to 156 in January last year. While property estimated at GH¢1,232,978 was destroyed through fire outbreaks in January 2006 alone, and as much as GH¢4,433,179 worth of property was lost through fire outbreaks in January 2007.
Apart from the satellite markets in the metropolis where fire outbreaks have become predominant, domestic fire outbreaks that have occurred in the Kumasi metropolis are also overwhelming, as in 2006 alone 310 domestic fire outbreaks were recorded in Kumasi and its environs, and this increased to 396 in 2007.
The pains, mental agony and economic impact that victims of the fire outbreaks went through were very devastating, because while some of the victims were so traumatised and never recovered from the financial loss, others died from the shock of seeing their life-long property consumed by fire within a short period of time.
The Assistant Chief Fire Officer (ACFO), Mr Obeng D. Dwamena, told the Daily Graphic that it was important for residents to take precautionary measures to reduce the incidence of fire outbreaks and avoid the loss of lives and property.
Mr Dwamena, who is the Ashanti Regional Fire Officer, noted with concern the rate at which fire outbreaks were undermining effective and efficient socio-economic development of the metropolis and called on residents to take preventive measures against outbreak of fire in marketplaces, residential areas, industries and institutions, among others.
He said apart from the economic effect of fire outbreaks, they also caused the death of people. In 2006 for example a total of 85 people died from fire outbreaks and last year fire outbreaks claimed the lives of 41 people.
He said the rampant fire outbreaks in marketplaces within the metropolis for example could be attributed to the lackadaisical manner that a section of the business community in particular and those who used the markets as places of abode used items that could easily spark off fire.
He said some of the women cooked in the market without ensuring that members in their coal pots were completely put out.
He said those who used the stalls as residential apartments also resorted to the use of candles as sources of lights without creating fire belts and the candles sometimes caught fire when they were asleep and with the aid of any slight wind, it spread to other areas destroying lives and property.
Mr Dwamena said notwithstanding the numerous campaigns carried out by personnel of the Fire Service on the negative impact that fire outbreaks created in society, the outbreaks had intensified.
That, he said, was undermining sustainable socio-economic development because of the economic loss they brought.
He also expressed concern about the number of false calls that a section of the public made to the personnel of the service.
He said last year for example as many as 26 false calls were made and in 2006, the service recorded 48 false calls.
That, he said, did not only affect their operations but also diverted attention, and therefore urged those involved in making false calls to put an end to it or face prosecution when they were traced and arrested.
He said that the Fire Service had acquired the necessary gadgets to trace such people and would soon put up mechanisms to trace and prosecute them if they continued to indulge in such negative practices.

Friday, February 1, 2008

ZAMBIA EXPOSE EGYPT (G/S Page 5)

Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi

Zambia bowed out of the Ghana 2008 tournament last Wednesday with pride after exposing the Pharaohs defence at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi and collecting a point in their last group match.
After defeating the whipping boys in group C, The Sudan, 3-0 in their opening match and succumbing 1-5 to the might of the Indomitable Lions of Cameroun in the second match, the Zambians stormed the Baba Yara Stadium last Wednesday more refreshed than ever and put up a splendid performance against the P haraohs of Egypt to win the hearts of Kumasi soccer fans who rooted for them throughout. In the end, the two teams shared the points at stake with a 1-1 draw forcing Zambia to pack out with four points.
The Chipolopolo displayed abundant skills, fighting spirit and stamina throughout the game to prove that the Pharaohs need more than determination to successfully defend the trophy.
In midfield where Felix Katongo, Clive Hachilenga and skipper Christopher Katongo operated, the Chipolopolos were a delight to watch as they won almost all the 50-50 balls, carried the game to their opponents and punctured holes in their defence to lay intelligent passes for Jacob Mulenga and Lan Bakala to score, but the two attackers looked jittery and squandered all the chances that came their way.
Like the Sudanese who failed to utilise all the chances created after exposing the Pharaohs defence in their second group match, the Zambians also exposed the Egyptian defence to prove that any team with potent attackers can destroy the Pharaohs.
It was, therefore, not surprising when Coach Patrick Phiri in a post-match press conference, expressed disappointment at his attackers for their failure to score as many goals as possible from the numerous chances created.
“In our game against the Lions of Cameroun, we won the game for them because our defence was not the best. They gave the Lions the leeway to score cheap goals, but against the Pharaohs, we proved equal to the task and did not only expose their defence as being ordinary, but also created numerous chances which should have been converted to win us the game to enable us to qualify to the next stage of the competition. However, the attackers failed miserably to utilise the chances, and now we are going home with only four points”, he bemoaned.
Skipper Christopher Katongo, who won the MTN man of the match award, also expressed similar sentiments over Zambia’s inability to carry the day, stressing that they played as individuals instead of a team and assured that “we are going home to work on all our mistakes and make sure that we qualify for the next tournament, especially the World Cup in South Africa to prove to the world that Zambia has come of age in terms of quality display of artistic soccer”.
In a lame defence for their poor performance against the Chipolopolos, an official of Egypt told the media that their intention was to avoid injuries in their last game and also ensure that they topped the group.
The man who represented coach Hassan Shehata at the post-match press conference pointed out that with Egypt topping their group as planned with all their players in good physical condition, Egypt was poised to defend the trophy won on home soil two years ago and, therefore, warned all opposing teams to prepare adequately before meeting his team.
He could, however, not explain why the Pharaohs’ performance was also not the best against The Sudan. In that match, Egypt could have been down by not less than three goals in the first 20 minutes, and a different story would have been told with regard to the team which was supposed to top Group C.

DRIVERS RUN AWAY FROM COURT (Page 30)

Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi

Drama unfolded at the Kumasi Circuit Court presided over by Mr Justice Ernest Yao Obimpeh on Monday, January 28, 2008, when seven taxi and ‘trotro’ drivers arrested by the police and charged with obstruction of traffic took to their heels moments after the court had convicted five of their colleagues who had appeared before the court.
Minutes after the court had convicted their colleagues to a fine of GH¢300 each for similar offences, the seven suspects took to their heels before the court could hear their cases.
The court has issued a warrant for the arrest of the seven suspects including Thomas Agyemang, Yaw Effah, Joseph Mensah and Kwabena Gyimah.
The Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service has impounded their vehicles for them to assist in investigations.
The Ashanti Regional MTTU Police Commander, Mr James Sarfo Peprah, told the Daily Graphic that following a tip-off that a section of trotro and taxi drivers had deliberately obstructed a road at the Unicorn House area of the Central Business District (CBD) of Adum in Kumasi, some policemen from the MTTU were dispatched to restore sanity and allow for the free flow of traffic.
He said since the Ghana 2008 tournament started, the police had always been alert to ensure that motorists respected traffic regulations and avoid any incidents that could create vehicular congestion.
Mr Peprah said in the course of investigations, the police detected that 12 taxi and trotro drivers had obstructed the road with their vehicles and their action did not only impede the free flow of vehicles but also created a chaotic situation.
He said the police arrested the drivers and after investigations, they were arraigned and charged with obstruction.
Mr Peprah further said since the dock in the court could not take all the 12 suspects, they appeared in batches and the first five were convicted and fined GH¢300.00 each.
He said moments after the first batch had been convicted the others vanished. When the court became convinced that they had escaped, it issued a warrant for their arrest.

SENEGAL, SOUTH AFRICA CRASH OUT (Back Page)

Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi

The host of the 2010 World Cup, South Africa, and El Hadji Diouf’s Terranga Lions of Senegal crashed out of the Ghana 2008 tournament when they settled for 1-1 draw in their last group match played at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi yesterday.
Both teams settled for only two points apiece out of the three matches played in Group D, and subsequently ceded the qualification slots to group winners, Tunisia, and runners-up, Angola.
South Africa scored early, but surrendered the lead before the break as Senegal staged a brave comeback.
Determined to score an early goal to unsettle their opponents, South Africa took control of the game by capturing the midfield where Siphwe Tshabalala, El Rio Heerden Van and Teko Modise operated.
Their efforts yielded dividend when in the 15th minute Teko Modise collected a ball at the left flank, disposed of two markers and sent an intelligent volley for Zuma to connect beautifully with a low grounder into the far corner of the net to give South Africa the lead.
Skipper Diatta Lamine, Abdoulaye Faye, Diayara Souleymane and Faye Ibrahima in defence for Senegal formed a barrier to prevent more goals from their opponents, while Niang Mamadou H, Sall Moustapha Bayal and Pape Bouba Diop, in midfield for Senegal, also neutralised the South Africans dominance, and enabled the attackers to make incursions into the vital area of South Africa.
As the game progressed to the half hour mark, the South Africans gained more confidence and their defenders of Masilela Tsepo, Aaron Mokoena, Nasief Morris and Kagisho Dikgacoi formed a barrier to ward off the Senegal attackers .
Senegal mixed physical play with counter attacks and succeeded in getting the equalizer in the 36th minute when Henri Camara capitalized on a defensive blunder and swept the ball past goalkeeper Moneeb Josephs.
Both teams resumed the second half full of vigour with their attackers pouring into each other’s territory, hoping to increase their tally, but it was Senegal who became more businesslike as they besieged the territory of the Bafana Bafana, pinning their defence to the wall, while the South Africans relied on their speed for operational counter attacks.
But the ding-dong affair that followed remained wasteful as the drab game wore on to a close with the other pair sweepng through from the group to the quarter-finals.
Senegal
5. Diawara Souleymane, 6. Faye Ibrahima, 7. Camara Henri, 8. Niang Mamadou H, 12. Sall Moustapha Bayal, 13. Diatta Lamine (captain), 15. Diomansy Kamara, 19. Pape Bouba Diop, 20. Diagne Abdoulaye Diagne, 22. Malick Papa Ba, 23. Bouna Coundoul (GK).
South Africa
3.Tsepo Masilela, 4. Aaron Mokoena, 5. Nasief Morris, 8. Siphwe Tshabalala, 9. Surprise Moriri, 11. El Rio Heerden Van, 12. Teko Modise, 15. Sibusiso Zuma, 16. Moneeb Josephs, 19, Bryce Moon, 22. Kagisho Dikgacoi,