Monday, August 31, 2009

AMERICAN STUDENT SUPPORTS AGED AT ASAAMAN (GRAPHIC NSEMPA, PAGE 10)

By George Ernest Asare, Asaaman-Kokofu

A 21-year-old American Medical Student from the University of Minnesota displayed a real humanitarian gesture, when she distributed quantities of food items to selected needy people at Asaaman near Kokofu, in the Ashanti Region recently.
The student, Erin Nicole Ostrowski, who is offering Physical Therapy in the university, is in Ghana as part of her internship programme and decided to link up with her church and family to support the needy in the community.
On sighting the vehicle transporting the food items, the entire community rushed to the Asaaman palace where they converged in appreciation of the kind gesture of Nicole.
The food items distributed, were estimated at GH¢1,200 and included 12 bags of rice, 12 gallons of cooking oil, four cartons of Milo, a bag of sugar, boxes of tomato paste as well as biscuits and toffees.
In all, 10 selected families whose ages were above 80 benefited from the gesture. Each of them received a bag of rice, a gallon of cooking oil, quantities of milk and tomato pastes as well as two tins of Milo and two boxes of sugar.
The sub chiefs in the community were not left out as they received two bags of rice, together with some food items.
Almost all the children who thronged the Asaaman palace to witness the kind gesture of Nicole Ostrowski, also went home smiling as each of them received toffees and biscuits.
According to the philanthropist, two Parishes– St Mary and St James Churches in Amherst Wisconsin in the United States of America, as well as her family came together with the money that made it possible for her to buy the food items to support the livelihood of the beneficiaries.
Beaming with smiles, Nicole Ostrowski took pictures with each of the beneficiaries, many of them blind, as they received their gift.
She assured all of her determination to source for more financial assistance when she returns home, to support them.
On behalf of the beneficiaries, the Twafohene of Asaaman, Nana Kwabena Oppong II, expressed his gratitude to Nicole Ostrowski for selecting Asaaman as the recipient of the food items.
He also commended both St Mary and St James Churches as well and the Ostrowski family for displaying such kindness, saying it was the first of its kind in the community and would go a long way to energise the beneficiaries.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

KUMASI TAKES OVER...As Ghana's movie club (SHOWBIZ, BACK PAGE)

By George Ernest Asare

The Garden City is steadily becoming the brewing pot for local film production in the country, such that many actors and actresses as well as film producers and directors seem to have made Kumasi their base, where varieties of local films are produced weekly.
The serene atmosphere in Kumasi , coupled with its cosmopolitan nature, cultural attractions, traditional values and the adventurous attitude of the youth, have endeared the city to the movers and shakers of local film production who find it very convenient to shoot films here. About 80 percent of all films are now shot in Kumasi.
This year alone, films like Obra ye Oko, Pastors Club, Awurade Kasa, Nyame Akwan, Obaatan Pa, Agya Koo Sakawa, Agya Koo in Love, Odo Adaadaa Me, No Fears and Prophet One, which have been hits, were all produced in Kumasi.
Miss Gloria Agyemang, a Kumasi based actress who has been in the film industry for more than a decade, is one of the people who have been observing the trend and who has described it as a positive development. Thirty-year-old Gloria, popularly called Aso in movie circles is determined to make her mark in her acting career.
She told Showbiz last week that the use of Akan in many local movies has also contributed to making Kumasi the preferred location for film producers. “ Our audiences love to be communicated with in a language that they understand and they urge us on to do more of that. To me, this is an indication that, our audience have totally fallen in love with our handiwork.” She noted.
“With the feed back we are getting, we are gradually proving that we can also make it with our local language, so the sky should be our limit. If musicians can use local language to sell their brand of music, why can’t we in the film industry do the same?”
Gloria mentioned Miracle Films ,Three Unit Media, Holy Progress, Crystal Movies, Baffour Awuah Production, Osewus Ventures, Pedro House Ventures as well as Big Joe Production, Paykus Ventures, E &E Production, Liberty Films and B.K Films as some of the Kumasi based producers who are making Kumasi the centre of attraction in local film production.
Other Kumasi-based producers are Pat Thomas Ventures, My Time Production, Kingdom First Media, J&A Production, Trinity Production, Owoahene Production, One Stone Production and Great Monies.
She said beside the producers and directors, actresses and actors such as Naana Hayford, Nana Ama MacBrown, Emelia Brobbey, Mercy Asiedu, Portia Asare Boateng, Vivian Jill Lawrence, Ellen White, Awo Yaa Agyeiwaa, Benedicta Abgmobiase, Bernard Aduse, Poku, Bill Asamoah, Sabby Debrah and Kofi Adu, have all contributed their talents to bring local films to the high patronage that they enjoy now.
She mentioned Jackson Bentum, James Aboagye, Samuel Akwasi Nyamekye, James Agyemang, Asare Bediako, Frank Gabin and Ritchie as the directors whose professional touch had ignited interest in local film production in the Garden City. “Our directors are so good that they have become hotcakes for the many producers who are constantly on their neck to shoot one film or the other, “she noted.
Gloria was rather disappointed that in spite of the sacrifices actresses and actors are making to sustain interest in local film production they are not well paid. “We sacrifice a lot of our time because I am almost always out there shooting one film or the other and it is about time our efforts are appreciated and offered payment commensurate with the quantum of work we do”.
Gloria Agyemang, daughter of Madam Afia Yim and Mr Charles Amoah who are now based in France, was educated at the Prince of Peace Senior High School at South Suntreso after her basic school education at Bantama Presby and Mmofraturo. She also attended the Kumasi School of Languages. Gloria, who comes from Atwima Techiman near Denchemuoso, started acting with Kyerematen Playhouse in Kumasi in 1995 where she learnt all the rudiments in acting, playing drums and traditional dancing.
With a number of stage dramas such as Tears of Lucifer and Atobra behind her, Gloria took the advice when her director , Mr Daniel Appiagyei, encouraged her to join Miracle Films. She said she took the opportunity presented by Miracle Films and began warming herself into the game in 2000.
She mentioned the late Kwame Owusu Ansah and Santo, as well as veterans like Abusua Panin Judas, Grace Nortey, as those she met at Miracle Films where they produced films like Asem, Dabidabi, Choice, That Day, Mr HIPIC, Danfo Pa and Asew 419, among other interesting films.
“I love and cherish all my fans, so they should keep on buying made in Ghana films as a way of sustaining the industry” she noted.

KUMASI METROPOLIS RECORDS 133 MATERNAL DEATHS (PAGE 11)

health institutions in the Kumasi metropolis recorded a total of 133 maternal deaths last year as against 108 in 2007.
Out of the number, 121 maternal deaths occurred at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), with the rest occurring at the other health institutions in the metropolis.
Fifty-nine expectant mothers who died at KATH were residents of the metropolis, while the others were cases referred from the various districts and neighbouring regions to the hospital.
A Metro Heath Directorate annual report made available to the Daily Graphic indicated that apart from Kumasi, the other deceased persons were referred from some districts in the catchment area of the KATH, such as Bosomtwe, Ejisu, Amansie East, Sekyere East, Yeti, and Atwima Nwabiagya, as well as Asankragua and its surrounding communities.
According to the report, 109 maternal deaths were recorded in 2006 with 119 in 2005.
The report gave the direct causes of maternal deaths as severe anaemia, uterine rapture, septic abortion, ectopic pregnancy and shock. Other causes were severe anaemia and excessive bleeding.
The report indicated that renal failure, severe malaria, heart failure, chronic renal failure and HIV hepatic failure, as well as sickle cell crises, meningitis and pulmonary oedema, were some indirect causes of maternal death in the metropolis.
The report also indicated that 616 stillbirths were recorded in the various health institutions in the metropolis last year, and revealed that the figure was slightly lower than what was recorded in 2007, although the actual figure recorded in 2007 was not given.
On babies with low birth weight, the report indicated that a total of 2,651 fell in that category, stressing that it was 25 per cent higher than what was recorded in 2007.
The report said the increase in babies born with low births “ was not encouraging and more efforts should be put in place to educate mothers on maintaining good diet for their children and also to take the doses of intermittent preventive treatment (IPT) during antenatal visits to prevent them from getting malaria which might result in anaemia”.
The causes of maternal mortality, which is a major health problem in the developing world are numerous. They include lack of health facilities, particularly in rural communities, inadequate medical personnel, lack of education for expectant mothers, non-attendance of antenatal services by expectant mothers, unprofessional conduct of some medical personnel, traditional practices and many more.
In Ghana, the incidence of maternal mortality has warranted deep concern by the government, non-governmental organisations and the general public.
The 2007 Ghana Maternal Health Survey estimates that for every 100,000 live births, 451 women die of pregnancy-related complications. This means about 5,000 women die annually during pregnancy or around the time of childbirth.
In order to check the factors that contribute to the problem, to ensure the attainment of Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 5 of reducing maternal mortality by 75 per cent by 2015, the government has introduced free maternal care for expectant mothers, in addition to improved access to health care.
Pregnant women need to take advantage of this policy and innovative measures to reduce maternal mortality.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

KUMASI POLICE APPEAL FOR SUPPORT (PAGE 18)

The quest by the Police in the Kumasi metropolis and its environs to carry their fight against armed robbers a step further continues to receive tremendous public support. With the support coming from members of the public, it is expected that the incessant attacks on residents would reduce to enable law-abiding people undertake their economic ventures in a peaceful manner,.
Apathy by a section of the public in the Kumasi metropolis in offering useful information that would have enabled the peace officers to fish out hardened criminals from their dens has also given way to active information, making it possible for the police to apprehend suspected armed robbers in rapid succession.
The axiom that effective and efficient crime combat is a dual responsibility between the public and peace officers is gradually becoming a reality in the Kumasi metropolis, and the result is the recent breakthrough in the arrest of a number of alleged armed robbers and the gunning down of others alleged to have engaged the police in a gun battle at Anwiankwanta, near Bekwai.
The lead story in the July 15, 2009 issue of the Daily Graphic, captioned ‘Bloody night- 8 armed robbers killed in shoot-out with police’ stated in part that “ eight armed robbers, all believed to be of Fulani extraction, died on Monday night when they engaged a team from the Police Buffalo Unit in a shoot-out at Anwiankwanta on the Kumasi-Bekwai road in the Ashanti Region”.
The report also stated that “four others, believed to have sustained gunshot wounds, managed to escape into the bush, and the police have called on the public, especially those manning medical centres to be on the look-out for anyone with suspected gunshot wounds who may seek medical attention”.
Explaining the circumstances that led to the killing of the eight armed robbers, the paper noted that “the robbers had barricaded the road around 7p.m. and succeeded in robbing and molesting many travellers on the road when a detachment from the Police Buffalo Unit descended on them”
The story further indicated that moments after the bodies of the alleged robbers were dumped at the forecourt of the Kumasi Central Police Station “hundreds of people gathered within the precincts of the Ashanti Regional Police Headquarters and some of the crowd cursed them even in death”
The praises showered on the police after the Anwiankwanta gun battle and the continuous support by the public to provide the police with pieces of information that would enhance their crime combat readiness, is a manifestation of the confidence that the public have of late built in the police.
It was one of such information provided to the police a few days after the Anwiankwanta shoot-out that led to the killing of Sule Osmanu Gado, another suspected Kumasi-based armed robber described by the police as one of the most notorious in recent times.
This public co-operation with the police, leading to the arrest of many suspected armed robbers and the killing and maiming of those who engage the police in gun battles, has not only been acknowledged by the Regional Police Command, but has also been hailed by the Regional Co-ordinating Council as well.
It was such fruitful co-operation that saw the Regional Police Commander, DCOP Patrick Timbilla, coming on air not only to commend the public for lending tremendous support to the police, but also urging them to sustain the co-operation to enable the peace officers to go all out and flush out hardened criminals from the Kumasi metropolis and its environs.
In his comments on a local radio station on their effort to make armed robbery riskier, Mr Tambilla gave an assurance that the police would not only explore avenues that would facilitate the arrest and prosecution of hardened criminals, but would also continue to perform its responsibilities of maintaining law and order in a more professional way to enhance sanity in Kumasi.
Admitting that the police had a lot of challenges such as inadequate logistics to enhance efficiency in their operations, Mr Tambilla said the public had a lot to do to support them in such endeavours.
He said inadequate vehicles that would facilitate patrols at all the principal streets and every remote corner of the metropolis was one of the main challenges facing the police.
He said the public, especially those who lived on the outskirts of Kumasi, where there were no police stations and accessibility was also quite difficult, should pool resources and purchase vehicles for the police to be used for patrolling such areas.
Such a gesture, he said, would go a long way to motivate the police to put in extra effort to monitor their areas on a 24-hour basis to quell any form of robbery in their residential areas.
“ The police will appreciate such gesture and will use the vehicles solely for patrols around the residential areas to keep sanity for the people to live in comfort,” Mr Tambilla assured.
He said the public could also support the police with fuel to power their patrol vehicles, and therefore, called on the media to whip up public support in terms of revenue mobilisation towards the purchase of patrol vehicles and the supply of fuel to enable them carry out night patrols on a regular basis.
Another concern he raised was about inadequate accommodation for police to entice as many policemen as possible to accept postings to Kumasi and its environs.
The Regional Police Commander said because of inadequate accommodation, the over 300 police recruits who were trained at the Patasi Police Depot in Kumasi were posted to other parts of the country.
“We could have retained not less than 100 of the recruits in Kumasi to beef up our numbers to enhance effective policing, but because of accommodation problems, they were posted elsewhere,” he stressed.
Considering the passionate appeal of the regional police commander and many others before him, as well as the efforts they had made so far in combating armed robbery, I think it was time the public created a platform where all public institutions in the Ashanti Region, as well as top business tycoons , would meet to raise funds on an annual basis for the purchase of vehicles to beef up the police fleet to enhance night patrols .
Opinion leaders in the metropolis and its environs and top management personnel owe it a duty to join hands in addressing the insurgence of armed robbery, and that could only be done only when they actively support the police in diverse ways.
One thing is certain, and that is the fact that, Kumasi is fast expanding, and the few vehicles at the disposal of the police are woefully inadequate for their patrols to all the core areas of the metropolis and its peripherals which are springing up by the day.
It would be very exciting to see all the financial institutions in Kumasi coming together to raise revenue to enable them to purchase durable vehicles to support police patrols in Kumasi.
With such a platform, the oil marketing companies operating in the Kumasi metropolis and its environs could also arrange with the police to offer them sufficient quantities of fuel that would facilitate police patrols in Kumasi on a 24-hour basis.
The private land developers in the metropolis , many of whom have become victims of armed robbery attacks in recent past, could also be of help by providing accommodation that would entice authorities in the Police Service to post as many policemen as possible to Kumasi to maintain law and order..
The insurance companies had always received tremendous support from the police through regular motor checking of expired insurance.
With the presence of the police on the roads on a daily basis, and the fear of being arrested and prosecuted, motorists are often seen rushing to the insurance companies to renew their insurances, thereby beefing up the accounts of the insurance companies.
However, when it comes to supporting the police to enable them to continue carrying out their responsibilities, little or nothing is heard from the insurance companies.
It is, therefore, an opportune time for the insurance companies to prove their worth by taking advantage of Mr Timbilla’s appeal to join hands with other public and private institutions to raise funds that would enhance police operations in Kumasi .
One institution that can also help the police in their night patrols is the Department of Urban Roads.
The department has not lived up to its responsibilities by maintaining many of the roads in the metropolis, especially those at the new residential areas that have come under armed robbery attacks of late.
Armed robbers have always taken undue advantage of the poor nature of roads on the outskirts of Kumasi and easily get away with it from the crime scene before police make any inroads to close in on them.
It is, therefore, important for the Department of Urban Roads to put its house in order and begin to make the residents in Kumasi feel their presence more palpably .
With all hands on deck, and the police living up to its responsibility, the axiom that crime combat is a shared responsibility will eventually become a reality in Kumasi .
With that, the spate of armed robberies which has given residents nightmares in recent times will go down tremendously for civil society to have the peace of mind to undertake their economic ventures in an aura of peace and tranquillity.

MAN, 50, ARRESTED FOR RAPE IN KUMASI (PAGE 21)

Barely a week after a 30-year-old man was sentenced to 30 years in prison for rape and robbery in Kumasi, a 50-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly raping a 17-year-old girl and infecting her with HIV virus.
The Kumasi office of the Domestic Victims and Violence Support Unit (DVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service arrested the suspect, Charles Kofi Atta, aka Adable, a native of Bolgatanga, who claims to be a Principal Technical Officer of the Kwadaso Agriculture College.
The suspect had earlier given his name to the police as Charles Kofi Kuuire. He initially told the police that he was a technical officer at the Crops Research Institute at Fumesua in Kumasi.
A medical examination conducted on the victim has revealed that she had the HIV virus.
She has consequently been referred to the Voluntary Counselling and Testing Unit of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.
The HIV Rapid Response Screening conducted at the Mediscience Laboratory Service at Bantama in Kumasi on August 19, 2009, proved positive.
Atta allegedly raped the victim four months ago and efforts by the police to arrest him proved futile until he was arrested last Thursday.
Police confirmed the arrest and told the Daily Graphic that the suspect would be arraigned as soon as investigations were completed.
Earlier, the victim told the Daily Graphic that the suspect, who had divorced his wife, used to be a family friend and had regularly advised her to refrain from indulging in any promiscuous lifestyle.
She said on the day in question, the suspect invited her to visit him at home for an urgent discussion, and considering the cordial relationship between them and the reputation he had built as a counsellor, she obliged.
She said when she reached the suspect’s residence, he quickly locked the door to the apartment, which is in a secluded area of Kokode in Kumasi, removed the keys, held her tightly and dragged her into his bedroom.
The victim said she protested vehemently when she got to know the amorous intentions of the suspect and drew his attention to the cordial relationship between them.
That notwithstanding, the suspect continued to hold her tightly and forcibly undressed her and had sex with her.
The victim added that she could not match the strength of the suspect and bled profusely from the sexual act.
She said because the incident took place in a secluded area, her continuous cry for help could not attract any attention, and this made it possible for the suspect to put her through a lengthy agony to satisfy his amorous instincts.
The girl said she informed her sister of her ordeal and she later reported the matter to the police, but efforts to arrest the suspect proved futile until last Thursday.
When the Ashanti Regional DOVVSU Police Commander, ASP George Appiah-Sakyi, was contacted, he confirmed that the suspect had been taken into police custody.
He said the police were considering conducting an HIV test on the suspect.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

MINISTRY EQUIPS INFORMATION CENTRE (PAGE 38)

THE Ministry of Information, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has presented a 29-inch colour television and a DVD player, estimated at GH¢650, to the Dompoase Community Information Centre (CIC) as their contribution to make information more accessible to rural communities.
The presentation, which was made by the Ashanti Regional Information Director, Mr Emanuel Opoku, on behalf of the Information Ministry and UNDP, also formed part of Ghana’s ICT policy for Accelerated Development (ICT4AD) to bring ICT closer to rural areas and deprived communities.
The project is expected to cover 170 district nation-wide.
In an address, Mr Opoku explained the functions of the Ministries of Information and Communication to the audience.
He pointed out that while the Ministry of Communication was directly responsible for the construction and provision of logistics in terms of personal computers and relevant equipment for the Community Information Centres, the Information Ministry was responsible for the content development and management of the CICs nation-wide.
He said since radio and television broadcasting was one of the prime responsibilities of the CICs, the donation would go a long way to facilitate their work, and gave the assurance that both the Ministry of Information and UNDP would continue to support them in diverse ways to enhance their operations and make them more efficient.
He mentioned Nkawie in the Atwima Nwabiagya District, Jamasi, Amoako and Boamang in the Sekyere South District and Dompoase in the Adansi North District as communities where the Ashanti Regional CICs had been established and therefore charged their various District Assemblies to support their operations to make them more relevant and effective to the people in their catchment areas.
The District Chief Executive for Adansi North, Alhaji Abudul Lateef Majdoub, who received the items on behalf of the Assembly, gave the assurance that the items would be used for their intended purpose as a way of promoting the development of the district.
He said it would also be used for educative programmes for the youth and therefore charged them to take advantage of the facilities to broaden their knowledge in ICT programmes.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

KATH ORGANISES SEMINAR ON BREAST CANCER (PAGE 11)

THE Oncology Department of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) has organised a seminar for a section of doctors and nurses in the northern sector of the country as a way of building their capacity to enhance early diagnoses of breast cancer and the efficient management of patients suffering from the disease.
The seminar, which was also aimed at equipping the skills of the participants to enable them to provide adequate feedback on breast cancer management in the country, was addressed by breast cancer experts from Ghana and the United States of America (USA).
Topics related to the disease such as its surgical management, Radiotherapy, as well as screening and early detection, were treated among other topics at the two day seminar.
Presenting an overview of the disease , the Head of the Oncology Directorate, of the KATH, Dr Baffour Awuah said, the disease accounts for 24 per cent of reported cancer cases at the department with majority of the patients in their reproductive age.
He pointed out that since the Oncology Department was established, it had been able to treat many patients suffering from the diseases, but said many of the patients reported late, making their management quite difficult.
He pointed out that the ignorance of the general public on the nature of the disease and health care practitioners , poverty , lack of effective screening and early detection facilities in the country, as well as late diagnoses affected the efficient management of the disease.
He also said the use of traditional medicine in treating the disease and delay in the release of pathology reports, compounded the problem.
He said the KATH Oncology Department, in collaboration with other supporting agencies, had been undertaking an outreach programme in churches, and other public places to create the requisite awareness among the public on the nature of the diseases and why it should be reported for early management.
He said the department had also trained rural health staff in breast cancer risk factors and also provided them with skills in screening to enhance early detection and prompt referral of patients health centres for diagnoses and treatment .
Dr Baffour Awuah pointed out that the Oncology Department was not only determined to build the capacity of the participants for them to acquire the requisite skills in managing the disease more efficiently to reduce the mortality rate, but also wanted them to work as a team to enhance effective co-ordination .
This, he said, would enable them to detect early infection and diagnoses of the disease , and refer patients to the appropriate health institution that can manage the disease to bring relief to them.
In his address, the Medical Director of the KATH, Dr Patrick E. Karikari said the time had come for the country to be proactive in breast cancer management to reduce the trauma victims went through.
“As a nation, we are not doing enough so far as breast cancer management is concerned. Health practitioners should be able to collaborate and come out with a mechanism on how to manage breast cancer in a more quicker and efficient manner,” he stressed.
He said it was equally important for them to pool resources to ensure that breast cancer issues were tackled with the zeal it required to make victims live with dignity and a more peaceful lifestyle.
“ We have a lot to do with breast cancer, and with effective collaboration, we can succeed as a nation in managing breast cancer,” he noted.

Monday, August 17, 2009

BECHEM, UNIVERSAL STARS DRAW (BACK PAGE)

Debutants Techiman Universal Stars held Bechem United to a 2-2 draw in their middle league encounter at the Wesley College Park in Kumasi yesterday.
It was Abdul Wahab who got the opener for Stars on the 15th minute when his low grounder in the box hit the back of the net, making it late for goal keeper Akwasi Peprah of Bechem United to react.
Stars increased the tally to two through Usman Sakora who headed home superbly from Thomas Obeng’s inswinger during time added on .
In the 50th minute, Universal’s goalie, Musah Yahaya was caught ball watching as a beautiful header from Quincy Osei hit the upper part of the net to give United a breather.
United succeeded in hitting the back of the net in the 62nd minute when Emmanuel Allan’s header beat Yahaya for the much needed equaliser.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

KUMASI POLICE FOIL ROBBERY OPERATION (PAGE 24, MIRROR)

From George Ernest Asare, Kumasi.
 
The vigilance of some police officers from the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU), Kumasi, has led to the arrest of a suspected armed robber who was allegedly luring a taxi driver to the outskirts of Kumasi to snatch his vehicle.
The suspect who was identified as Emmanuel Boakye is currently in police custody, helping in investigations, while his accomplice is on the run.
Unknown to the taxi driver who picked the suspected armed robber, together with his run-away accomplice, at Abrepo Junction around 1:00 a.m. enroute to Sepaase, the two had a loaded locally manufactured pistol hidden in a bag.
Also in the bag were quantities of dried leaves suspected to be Indian Hemp. One of them sat in the front passenger seat of the Opel Astra taxi-cab while the other relaxed in the back seat and engaged the driver in conversation.
The MTTU officers who were on duty around the Kumasi Campus of the University College of Education, Winneba (UCEW), stopped the taxi for inspection.
The suspect who was in the front passenger seat and was holding the bag containing the loaded gun, quickly passed it to his accomplice who was in the back seat.
One of the police officers who detected the quick transfer of the bag, demanded to know  what was in it, but out of the blue, the suspected robber in the front seat bolted from the vehicle.
However, with the help of the taxi driver who was identified as Kwadwo Obeng, the police managed to arrest the other, and retrieved the bag which contained the fully loaded locally manufactured pistol and the dried leaves from him.
Briefing The Mirror on the incident, the Acting Ashanti Regional MTTU Police Commander, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Abraham Bansah commended the taxi driver for his assistance and urged others to emulate his shining example.
He said that was the second time in less than two weeks that the MTTU had foiled an armed robbery operation in the area.
Mr Bansah said during a similar operation a few days earlier, the MTTU officers succeeded in arresting two robbers who had snatched a taxi-cab, stolen a bull and were transporting the animal to the Kumasi Abattoir for sale.
He said the bull was retrieved and handed over to its owner while the suspects were handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for further investigations.
He said the CID was also investigating the current case and assured the public of their continuous vigilance in the Kumasi metropolis and its environs to reduce armed robbery.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

FILMMAKERS ARE THE WITCHES, NOT ME (SHOWBIX=Z, BACK PAGE)

By George Ernest Asare

The ingenuity of creating scenes of witches in Ghanaian movies has won the admiration of popular actress Akua Ataa, who plays witches roles in the much-talked-about series, Kyeiwaa.
Akua Ataa, popularly called Kyeiwaa, told Showbiz in Kumasi that she is often amazed at the many tricks that filmmakers use to make her appear to be doing supernatural things in movies.
“When people see these movies, many of them believe that I am really a witch”, she said. “The film directors are the real witches and wizards because they direct me on how I should act.
“Sometimes I am surprised to watch a film I have done and see myself flying because I cannot fly”. She explained.
In the 13-part movie series, Kyeiwaa and her team of witches prey on their victims and kill them or cause them to suffer various forms of social crises. “All such scenes”, she said, “come about as a result of the ingenuity of my film director and editor”.
“I do not fly as you are made to see, it is the directors and editors who manipulate their devices to create those scenes. They are very creative in their profession, and I marvel at how they do it.
“In one film, they asked me to sit on a horse and behave like a witch, but I told them that I was afraid to sit on a horse, so the director decided that I should sit on a table instead and behave as such. When the film was produced eventually, all I saw was that I was flying, holding my sword of office and behaving as a queen of witches”
Obviously, Kyeiwaa loves what she does. “I enjoy playing my role because it has now made me very popular, such that anywhere I go, people from all walks of life recognise me and offer me support and encouragement”.
Beaming with smiles, Kyeiwaa said, “I have come very far in film acting, and therefore I am prepared to offer my best to make my fans happy”.
Asked whether she was making enough money from her acting career, she said “I have no car but by the grace of God, I have my own three bedroom house in Accra, so I cannot say that I am doing badly. Besides, the genuine support I get from fans anywhere I go is valuable to me, so I am happy for what God has done in my life.
“There was a time in my life when I had to pray for my next meal, so I have cause to give thanks to God and the people who have made me what I am today” she said.
She promised to offer needed support to up-and-coming actresses and actors to accelerate the growth of the Ghanaian movie industry.
“We have a lot of potentials in the youth who are yet to come out. They have the talent which when nurtured effectively and efficiently would soon turn them into stars in future, so they need to be supported to enable them unearth their talents” she said.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

NOTORIOUS ROBBBERS JAILED 21 YEARS EACH (PAGE 30)

A Kumasi High Court, presided over by Justice K.A. Pobee, has convicted two robbers to serve 21 years’ jail term each with hard labour for robbing a taxi driver, a building contractor and a policeman at gunpoint.
The convicts, Ibrahim Saani, 26, alias Babanjida, who claimed to be a tailor from Aboabo in Kumasi, and Mutalar Muhammed, 25, said to be a trader — described by the police as notorious armed robbers — are also standing trial before the Kumasi High Court 5 for robbing some residents in Kumasi at gunpoint.
They pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to rob and robbing at gunpoint, but after the trial, which took about two years, the court found them guilty of the offence and convicted them accordingly.
One of their accomplices, who was identified only as Jahrule, is at large and police are looking for him .
Prosecuting, a State Attorney, Mr Emmanuel Lawrence Otoo-Boison, told the court that the complainants in the case, Muhammed Misbahu, Alfred Aboagye Frimpong and Benjamin Kumi, are a taxi driver, a building contractor and a police constable respectively.
He said around 8 p.m. on January 18, 2007, the convicts, who had concealed locally manufactured pistols in their clothes, approached the taxi driver at Asafo and hired him to drive them in his Opel Vectra with registration number BA 219 T to the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi.
He said around the Freeman Hotel junction at Asokwa, the convicts, together with their accomplice, Jahrule, who is at large, and Musah Abdul Mumuni, alias Apozo, now deceased, attacked the taxi driver with their concealed weapons and succeeded in robbing him of cash of GH¢35.
He said before robbing the taxi driver, the convicts and their accomplices fired series of warning shots, threatening to blow the head of their victim if he attempted to struggle with them.
He said moments after they had scared the victim with the warning shots, they pushed the driver away and Babanjida took control of the vehicle and drove to Manhyia around 9.00 pm
He said at Manhyia, the convicts and their accomplices attacked Alfred Aboagye Frimpong with their locally manufactured pistols and succeeded in snatching his red Golf private car with registration BA 7 X.
Mr Otoo-Boison said the convicts and their accomplices also robbed Aboagye Frimpong of his Motorola mobile phone and cash of GH¢40 and abandoned the taxi at the scene with Banbanjida taking control of the Golf and speeding off.
He said moments later, they went to Ashtown, where they again attacked Constable Benjamin Kumi of the Regional Police Headquarters with their weapons and succeeded in robbing him of his Motorola mobile phone.
He said after the action, the convicts fired series of warning shots to scare the victim, who was in mufti and armed with an official pistol.
He said the policeman returned fire and hit Musah Abdul Mumuni alias Apozo in his thigh, causing him to bleed profusely. He said the convicts managed to carry their injured accomplice in the Golf car to Aboabo but abandoned him in his house where he was found dead the following day.
He said investigation by the police led to the retrieval of the body and after post-mortem examination the body was released to his family for burial.
He said the convicts later abandoned the Golf car around the Kumasi Polytechnic and was retrieved and investigations later led to their arrest.
Mr Otoo-Boison said in their statements, the convicts admitted the offence and mentioned the deceased, Apozo, and Jahrule as their accomplice.

Monday, August 10, 2009

REPORT ARBITRARY ACTS IN POLICE TO CHRAJ (PAGE 46)

A Deputy Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has challenged personnel of the Ghana Police Service who are arbitrarily harassed, punished or denied promotion to challenge such wrongdoings by reporting the cases to CHRAJ.
Mr Richard Quayson pointed out that it was time personnel in the Ghana Police Service whose rights had been unjustly abused by their superior officers sought redress from the CHRAJ to enhance effective administration of justice in the country.
“A lot of cheating and arbitrariness of all forms take place in the Police Service, especially in the areas of denying some of you deserving promotions, wrongful transfers and disciplinary actions, but you have become subservient to the rules and regulations in the system and regard such actions as normal,” he noted.
Addressing a capacity-building seminar on human rights in Kumasi, Mr Quayson said “being subservient to such regulations undermines fairness so victims should test the law and CHRAJ would be ready to offer you the needed hearings and correct such injustices which seem to have gained roots in the Police Administration”.
The seminar, which is the second in a series for the station officers, was sponsored by CHRAJ, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Police Administration.
Among the topics treated were; Human rights provisions in the 1992 Constitution in relation to the police, Whistleblower Act, Public Event and Public Order Act, police investigator and human rights, crime scene processing and crime records, as well as human rights and police ethics, policing in an era of democratic and constitutional rule, upholding the rights of victims and offenders and police powers of arrest, use of force, detection, search and granting bail.
Other topics treated were: Concept of conflict of interest and its importance, gifts, gratitude and other benefits, impartiality in performing duties, abuse of office and dealing with conflict of interest situations.
Mr Quayson, who spoke on the topic ‘Human rights provisions in the 1992 Constitution in relation to the Police Service’, pointed out that the Police Administration which should have promoted the concept of the rights of citizens as enshrined in the Constitutions was itself guilty of abusing the rights of some of its staff.
“It was time some of you tested the law whenever your rights are abused by your superior officers by reporting such abuses to us. We at the CHRAJ will not allow you to suffer whenever you bring such cases before us. You can go outside the internal channels if that will not give you the requisite results and protection you need, but it seems you are afraid to challenge such wrongdoings in the service,” he stressed.
Mr Quayson explained that the nation could only achieve the best in her quest for promoting the rights of her citizens if people became aware of their rights and challenged individuals and institutions who deliberately abused their rights.
“ It is better to test the system to ensure fairness if your rights are being abused or violated,” he said.

EX-SSNIT MAN DIES IN ACCIDENT (PAGE 3)

A 65-YEAR-OLD retired staff of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) died on the spot when a Mitsubishi 4x4 vehicle crashed into an Opel Astra caravan in which he was travelling.
The accident occurred around 4:30 pm on Friday, August 8, 2009 at Yakwei, near Konongo in the Ashanti Region.
The deceased who was identified as Mr Osei Asibey suffered multiple head and body injuries from the impact of the accident.
He was at the passenger seat of the Opel Astral ‘caravan’ with registration number GT 1585 Y.
The drivers of both vehicles and three other passengers in their respective vehicles who suffered various degrees of injury were rushed to the Agogo Presbyterian Hospital in a taxi.
An eyewitness told the Daily Graphic that the Mitsubishi 4x4, with registration number GE 4600Z, was overtaking a taxi on the Konongo-Yakwei stretch of the Accra-Kumasi road when it crashed into the oncoming Opel caravan, head-on.
Moments after the crash, the Mitsubishi veered off the left lane it had entered and landed a few metres away from the main road.
The deceased was said to have visited his wife at Juaso, a few kilometres away, and was returning to his base at Konongo when he met his untimely death.

Sunday, August 9, 2009

HEALTH IMPLICATIONS OF DUMPING REFUSE AT DAM'S CATCHMENT AREA (PAGE 18)

Barely a week ago, the Ghana Water Company (GWCL) in Kumasi threatened to stop the production and supply of potable water to parts of the Kumasi Metropolis if the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) continued to flout the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) directive to stop dumping solid and liquid waste at the catchment area of the Owabi dam.
Since October last year, the KMA and Zoomlion, a waste management agency, have been dumping solid and liquid waste into valleys within the Owabi dam’s catchment area, most of which flows into the dam, especially when it rains.
This has resulted in massive pollution of one of the main sources of water supply to residents in the Kumasi Metropolis and its environs, which has become the concern of the GWCL.
The dumping of solid and liquid waste in some communities within the catchment area of the dam for almost a year now does not only threaten the production of potable water from the dam as indicated by the GWCL, but also undermines the primary health care programme of the Ghana Health Services.
This is because the stench from the dump sites all day long, coupled with its continuous breeding of mosquitoes that attack Amanfrom and Ohwim residents day and night, as well as the nuisance created by houseflies attracted to the dumping ground, are enough evidence of the health hazards the people are exposed to.
When the activities of the KMA and Zoomlion were first detected by the Daily Graphic in November last year, the need to contact the EPA became paramount.
This is because the agency is seen as an institution that holds the disciplinary rod to correct and promote good sanitation in the area
However, when the activities of the KMA were brought to the attention of the EPA, the agency failed to live up to expectation by taking the KMA and its collaborators to task when its officials failed to prevent them from continuing to dump garbage at a sensitive area as the Owabi dam’s catchment area.
Like a toothless bulldog, the EPA only barked by threatening to send the KMA to court, if the assembly refused to cover the mess it collaborated with Zoomlion to create.
According to the EPA, some of the materials that had been dumped at the area contained some poisonous chemicals, which would be very difficult to treat when the dam was polluted.
Explaining the stance of the EPA, the Ashanti Regional Director of the EPA, Mrs Philomina Boakye Appiah, told the Daily Graphic that apart from the danger of polluting the dam and thereby increasing the cost of treatment, the solid waste also posed serious health hazards to residents of Ohwim and Amanfrom.
“The stench that fills their homes, coupled with the insects they
attracted and their health implications informed us to stop the KMA from dumping refuse at the place and completely seal off what they had dumped to avoid any menace,” he said.
She stressed that ironically, for more than eight months after the EPA had issued out the threat, the agency failed to put words into action, thus confirming the perception that it was a weak institution which was unable to carry out its mandate more effectively.
The failure of the EPA to enforce its rules and regulations regarding environmental issues reinforced President Barack Obama’s advice of building strong institutions in the country to facilitate accelerated socio-economic development.
One also wonders when the KMA will be sensitive enough to appreciate the magnitude of the problems they are creating for the very people they are mandated to serve and protect.
In reality, the assembly is not only duty-bound to initiate programmes and projects that will accelerate the socio-economic development of residents in its jurisdiction, but is also to ensure a clean environment in order to promote the good health of the people.
By dumping solid and liquid waste with impunity in the Owabi dam catchment area, the KMA has displayed double standards in respect of the concept of sanitation in its area of jurisdiction.
This is because one of the by-laws of the KMA on littering at unauthorised places is emphatic that “no person shall place, deposit, throw and leave or cause to be placed, deposit, thrown down and left refuse, offensive materials, unwholesome or dangerous materials in any street, park, recreation ground or other public or open space to which the public have access, or any ditch, water course, gutter or drain”.
The by-laws signed by the then Metropolitan Co-ordinating Director in December 1995 and approved by the then Regional Co-ordinating Director states that “ nobody should convey any filth, dust, ashes, refuse or litter the streets with offensive matter or liquid, or deposit any material into streets, drains, and gutter.” The by-laws go further to state that “ if during conveyance of any filth, dust, ashes, refuse or litter, some falls on the street, pavement or ground, the person undertaking such conveyance shall cause same to be removed and clean the place on which such filth, dust, ashes or litter falls”.
The by-laws provide that “any person who contravenes or fails to comply with any of them will be guilty of an offence, and shall on conviction by a court or Community Tribunal be liable to a fine not exceeding ¢50,000.00? [GH¢5.00]? or imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months”.
The above directive by the KMA proves that the assembly has the responsibility of ensuring a clean environment in the Kumasi Metropolis and its environs in order to promote good health among residents.
Knowing the sensitive nature of the Owabi dam, one is at a loss as to the role the KMA played towards the sustenance of life, when it continuously reneged on its primary responsibility of ensuring that the area was rigidly protected.
The question is what informed the decision of the KMA to cause solid and liquid waste to be dumped in the area, knowing very well that the garbage contained dangerous chemicals.
Is the KMA not aware of the health hazards it is creating for people who live in the area and will it support the treatment of polluted water from the dam?
What will the assembly do if their action creates serious pollution to the extent that the GWCL will not be able to treat the water in view of the high cost involved in the treatment of the highly polluted water, and therefore stops the production of potable water for supply to a section of residents in the Kumasi Metropolis as is being speculated by the GWCL?
These and many other questions readily come to mind whenever people who are concerned about the environment consider the actions of the KMA and Zoomlion and their ramifications.
According to the Communications Officer of the GWCL office in Kumasi, Mr Haruna Asogli, “the deliberate dumping of refuse in the catchment area of the Owabi Dam since October last year is not only creating heavy pollution, but is also making the cost of treatment extremely high”.
“To enhance the supply of quality water to residents in Kumasi, the water company is forced to increase the amount of chemicals used to treat the polluted water, but if this continues, in future, we will be forced to stop operating. This is because we cannot use more than the required chemicals even if the pollution level is extremely high”. When the company uses more than the requisite chemicals to treat the polluted water, this would eventually poison the dam, and force it to shut down and stop production,” he said.
The Director of Waste Management of the KMA, Mr Tony Mensah, said he was aware of the health hazards their operations were creating for the residents of Ohwim and Amanfrom, and as usual, gave the assurance that the KMA would cover the site as early as possible.
When one considers the negative attitude of the KMA towards the people in the Owabi catchment area, one only has to question the moral rights the assembly has in monitoring the sanitary conditions in parts of the Kumasi Metropolis.
Since the EPA had proved that it is incapable of bringing the KMA to order so far as the efficient disposal of waste is concerned, civil society has to rise up to the occasion before KMA goes berserk.
This is because if being in a desperate situation can induce a body like the KMA to collaborate with Zoomlion — a company considered in the media circles as giants in waste disposal — to dump solid waste indiscriminately, disregarding its effects on the health of the people, then they could collaborate to do worse things in future to create health hazards for residents in the Kumasi Metropolis and its environs.

Friday, August 7, 2009

APPRENTICE JAILED 19 YEARS FOR ROBBERY (MIRROR, PAGE 19)

From: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi.

A 25-year-old man who conspired with three others to rob a Kumasi-based taxi driver of his car, money and other personal items at gunpoint, has been jailed 18 years by the Kumasi High Court.
Maxwell Chibsah, alias Ebo, who claimed to be a Heavy Duty Operator apprentice together with the accomplices who were identified as Buckman, Redbone and Cyborg Killer, now at large, armed with locally manufactured pistols and knives, attacked the driver, Mr Kwaku Appiah and robbed him of his car, a cell phone valued at GH¢20 and GH¢35 cash.
Chibsah however, pleaded not guilty to the charges of conspiracy to rob and robbery when he appeared before the court, presided over by Justice K.A. Pobee.
Presenting the facts, a State Attorney, Mr Emmanuel Lawrence Otoo-Boison, told the court that on January 31, 2007 at about 8:30 p.m., Chibsah and his accomplices hired the taxi at Tafo and directed the driver to take them to Moshie Zongo. On reaching the Komfo Anokye Senior High School, the passengers asked the driver to stop for them to alight.
He said as soon as the driver stopped, the convict pulled the ignition key while one of his accomplices pulled out a locally manufactured pistol, warning the driver he would blow his head if he made any noise.
Mr Otoo- Boison said before the taxi driver could react, one of the accomplices hit him on the eye and they pulled him out from the vehicle and beat him mercilessly, after which Chibsah took control of the vehicle and sped off.
He said they took away the driver’s sales of GH¢35 and the phone.
The prosecutor said they used the vehicle to rob about 23 others of their mobile phones, cash and other personal items.
He said the gang encountered a Police Patrol Team at Dechemso and in an attempt to arrest the robbers, an exchange of gun fire ensued, resulting in the death of one of the robbers, identified as Muhammed Muntari, alias Sofo.
Mr Otoo-Boison said just then, Chibsah abandoned the taxi and together with his accomplices, managed to escape from the scene.
A search conducted in the vehicle by the police retrieved 25 assorted mobile phones and two locally manufactured pistols.
He said police investigations led to the arrest of Chibsah on May 19, 2009.

POLICE ARREST 17 FOR DANGEROUS DRIVING (MIRROR, PAGE 27)

The Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) in Kumasi have arrested 17 ‘trotro’ drivers for committing various traffic offences.
Moments after their arrest, they were arraigned and charged with various road traffic offences that ranged from dangerous driving, parking at unauthorised places, picking passengers at the wrong places and driving without the requisite driving licence among others.
They pleaded guilty to the charges when they appeared before a Circuit Court, presided over by Mr G.T.W Amedor and were convicted to pay a total fine of GH¢5,250. The fines ranged between GH¢300 and GH¢600.
Briefing The Mirror about the exercise, the Acting Ashanti Regional MTTU Police Commander, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Abraham Bansah, said the exercise was meant to reduce the numerous accidents that had plagued the metropolis.
He said the use of worn-out tyres by commercial drivers was also a major concern to the MTTU because they create fatal accidents that destroy lives and property, stressing that the MTTU would not hesitate to arrest and prosecute drivers who use such tyres.
He pointed out that notwithstanding, the numerous road safety educational campaigns carried out by the MTTU, in collaboration with officers of the National Road Safety Commission, drivers continue to flout the regulations thus putting the lives of pedestrians and passengers at risk.
He said the exercise  which was concentrated at the Central Business District in Kumasi would be extended to other parts of the metropolis to ensure sanity on the roads.
Mr Bansah commended the Judiciary for the speedy trial of motor traffic offences and assured that the police would be up to the task of creating a conducive atmosphere on the road network in Kumasi to make travelling more comfortable and enjoyable.

BE COMMITTED TO YOUR PROFESSION — SOBOTIE (PAGE 11)

THE Principal of the Kumasi Campus of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), Professor Steve Sobotie, has urged teachers to be innovative and committed to their profession.
That, he said, would enable them to address the numerous challenges facing the educational sector to enhance accelerated socio-economic development.
Addressing delegates to the third Ashanti Regional quadrennial conference in Kumasi, Prof Sobotie said it was equally important for the government to initiate prudent measures that would produce more competent and qualified professional teachers to meet national demands.
About 450 delegates from the region attended the three-day conference, which was on the theme, “The teacher, the pivot of human capital and national development — His professional and socio-economic challenges”.
Prof Sobotie stressed the need for the government to develop adequate academic facilities and expand existing ones that would effectively accommodate students at all levels.
The principal urged teachers to realise that their place in society was of vital importance so they should act as a pivot for the transmission of intellectual traditions and technical skills from generation to generation.
“You can never truly be a teacher unless you allow the skills of learning philosophies burn its own flame continuously,” he advised.
Prof Sobotie noted that since many teachers might have difficulty in understanding all the changes, challenges and policies that were taking place in the educational sector, there was the need for their mother associations to continuously build their capacities and expand their horizons to put their members in a better position to meet all challenges.
He advised GNAT “to make compromises that will allow teacher unions to move things in the direction they wish, while at the same time being able to make concessions”.
In his address, the Vice-Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Prof Kwasi Kwafo Adarkwa, challenged teachers to adopt innovative measures that would make it possible for them to find “an antidote to the spate of student indiscipline which is gaining currency in some of our institutions”.
He said teachers could meet such challenges to bring students on course and nurture them to develop their potential because teachers had the know-how to inspire students and impart knowledge that could mould the characters of students from different social backgrounds .
He said since the teaching profession was very challenging, it was important for teachers not only to be patient to enable them to deliver but they should also inspire and rekindle academic interest among their students for them to appreciate their value in society and work towards that.
In an address read on his behalf, the Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Kofi Opoku Adusei, said since teachers served as role models for students in the socialisation process, it was important for them to devise means that would always draw their students closer to them as a way of creating sustainable harmonious relationship.

Nana Yaw Owusu appeals to FA Congress...REVIEW THIS ACT (GRAPHIC SPORTS, BACK PAGE)

A former Vice Chairman of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Nana Yaw Owusu, has appealed to the FA Congress to take a second look at the deduction of points from clubs which use unqualified players as a form of punishment.
He pointed out that such a form of punishment undermines the value of determining the strength and weaknesses of teams that win league trophies, and those that are demoted to the lower division.
He noted that it was important for Congress to devise a better way of punishing teams that go contrary to its rules and regulation instead of deducting points from such teams.
Once a player is given a card duly certified by the GFA that he could take part in soccer matches in the country, it is unimaginable for the same body to declare the certified player as unqualified”, he noted, adding “ this game of deducting points from teams has gone on for sometime, and it was time the GFA devised a better way of punishing teams affiliated to the body”.
Speaking to Graphic Sports in an interview on the fallout of the just-ended Premier and First Division leagues in Ghana, Nana Yaw Owusu said some teams were punished unjustly after working so hard to earn points on the field of play.
He explained that deducting points from such teams gives undue advantage to the weaker teams to place respectable positions on the league table, thus ridiculing the rationale behind the objectives of bringing teams together to compete for a league trophy.
“ I wonder why at this stage of football development, we should still use points deduction, or added points, in respect of matches already played on the pitch to determine the placement of teams on the league table “. Nana Yaw Owusu bemoaned.
He suggested to the GFA to institute a research committee that would verify the background of newly transferred players from the lower divisions to the premier clubs and their eligibility or otherwise.
“ If this is done and a card is issued to the player, there should be no further question arising that such a player could be declared unqualified”, he noted.
Nana Yaw Owusu, however, commended the GFA for its decision to honour past Chairmen of the body.
“ It is very innovative, and the GFA President and his lieutenants should be commended for their action”.
He said honouring men who played useful roles in soccer development in the past was not only commendable, but also a way of encouraging others who have the desire to serve the country to offer their services in future.
He, however, urged the GFA to invite past Vice Chairmen to grace the occasion and offer them the opportunity to offer moral support to their past colleagues during the occasion.
He said even though some of the past Chairmen are now deceased, many are alive, and having their Vice Chairmen around when receiving such national honours would ignite their past relationship to make the ceremony a memorable one.

Thursday, August 6, 2009

MAN, 24, HELD OVER MURDER (PAGE 47)

THE police in Kumasi have arrested a 24-year-old man who is believed to have conspired with an accomplice to lure a business partner to a secluded area in Kumasi, and allegedly murdered him.
The deceased, identified as Atta Obiri Yeboah, 45, was believed to have been shot with a pump action gun at the back from close range in a Golf saloon car in which he was seated, killing him on the spot.
The suspect, identified as Prince Adu Boakye, and his accomplice, identified only as Francis, took an unspecified amount of money from the deceased before dumping his body at Apre in Kumasi.
A total of GH¢54,000 was retrieved from Prince Boakye after he was arrested.
He told the police that his accomplice took the lion’s share of the booty before escaping.
The suspect was alleged to have convinced the deceased, who dealt in currencies on the black market, to join a car that he (suspect) had borrowed from a friend to change some cedis into dollars.
It was on their way to change the cedis that they picked the accomplice, who allegedly shot the deceased with a pump action gun that he had concealed in his bag.
The body of the deceased, who is survived by a wife and four children, has already been deposited at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital mortuary for autopsy.
Briefing newsmen on the incident, Chief Inspector Muhammad Yusif Tanko of the Police Public Affairs Unit in Kumasi said it occurred around 4 p.m. on August 4, 2009.
He said after the deceased had been shot at close range, the suspect and his accomplice allegedly put the body at the back seat of the Golf saloon car, with registration number AS5188 A, and drove it through some principal streets of Kumasi with the view to getting a secluded area to dump it.
He said after driving for about an hour through Atasemanso, Santasi and other places, they finally dumped the body at Apre before sharing the booty.
Explaining the circumstances that led to the murder of the deceased, Chief Inspector Tanko said around 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, August 4, one Eric Gyamfi gave GH¢3,600 to the deceased and his friend, identified as Akwasi Agyei, to change into dollars.
He said the deceased and Agyei went to a friend at a timber firm in Kumasi, with the intention of changing the cedis into dollars and while they were there, the suspect joined them.
He said before that, Agyei had had an emergency call and left them.
He said the suspect, who also knew the timber merchant, collected a cheque from him (the timber merchant) and told the deceased that he should join a car he (suspect) had borrowed for them to cash the dollars from a bank.
He said on the way, the suspect had a telephone call from the accomplice and they hatched a plan to kill the deceased who had a lot of cedis on him.

Monday, August 3, 2009

WITCHCRAFT...Prophet concerned over undue publicity by churches (GRAPHIC NSEMPA PAGE 15)

By George Ernest Asare

PROPHET Stephen Adom Kyei-Duah of Believers Worship Centre at Anwomaso in Kumasi, has expressed concern about the confusion being created in society through the promotion of witchcraft by some churches.
“God is not an author of confusion but this is exactly what is taking place in society now.”
“Many pastors went to Bible School to be teachers and preachers of the word of God but now they have turned into prophets, prophesying falsehood and claiming to have the power to cast out principalities, deities and demons from people.”
Confusion
“Such Prophets are creating so much confusion in the society by labelling innocent people as witches and wizards, chaining many in their churches and succeeding in creating divisions among some family members and breaking them apart” He lamented.
Speaking to Graphic Nsempa in an interview in reaction to the spate of labelling of some people as witches and wizards by some Charismatic Churches, Prophet Kyei-Duah noted, “such accusations are not only blasphemous, but are creating confusion by bringing divisions into otherwise caring families.”
He pointed out that, while such false accusations were creating divisions among some family members, others were resorting to divorce to settle personal scores while some have resorted to threats of death, rancour and vengeance to settle scores.
“In the medical arena, there are many medical officers but each of them have different roles to play in bringing medical relief to their patients. While some are well versed in orthopaedic medicine, others are masters in gynaecology, pathology, paediatrics and dentistry among others.”
Examples
“In the teaching field, there are also many teachers but to ensure effective teaching and learning, there are subject teachers in the areas of mathematics, English, science, technical Skills and the social sciences, and that is what is expected in the Church,” he pointed out.
He explained that in First Corinthians 12:27, it was made clear that in the Church, there are apostles, teachers, prophets and leaders among others, who combined to bring the word of God to mankind in many ways “but for reasons very difficult to understand, almost every leader in the Church has become a prophet, claiming to have powers to cast out demons, principalities, deities and wizards; experts in seeking visas for their congregations as well as proficient in contracting marriages and employment opportunities for them”.
Prophet Adom Kyei-Duah further stressed that evangelists, teachers, apostles and other leaders in the Church who should have made the teachings of God their prime concern by preaching the word for their congregation to turn over new leaves, had all become prophets, prophesising falsehood and claiming to be experts in the performance of miracles.
He explained that it was only by preaching the word of God to their congregations and pointing out their wrong doings that those who were committing various sins, would turn away from their sins and accept Christ as their personal Saviour for them to receive salvation that would Glorify God.
Problem
“The problem in the Church is not about who is a witch or wizard and what powers they had to bewitch others, but preaching the word to the congregation for them to turn away from their sins and appreciate the need to live Godly lifestyles, for peace to reign supreme on earth,” he advised.
To the congregation Prophet Adom Kyei Duah advised, “don’t listen to the voice that prophesy falsehood onto you, for they tell you things of their own mind and not the word of God”
He pointed out that “as Christians, problems are bound to occur in our lives in one way or the other but such problems are meant to glorify God, especially if we are able to surmount them.”
“Jesus Christ never accused anyone of being a witch or wizard before healing those who came to Him, so I wonder why those who claim to be miracle performers use the name of Jesus to create confusion by accusing many of possessing demonic spirits when performing their so called miracle healings”.
He explained that after healing the sick, Jesus always admonished them to go and sin no more, “but now it is this or that person who is responsible for your illness, so instead of people repenting from their sins, they rather attribute the causes of their illnesses to innocent people in their homes, workplaces, communities and others areas”.
“It seems to me that in our modern world, anything that afflicts somebody is caused by a third person, and that man no more suffers from his or her own devilish ways.
False prophets
“ The blind are now leading the blind in our world, hence we are bound to fall together,” he lamented, stressing that “many prophets, pastors, apostles, and evangelists are themselves very blind and know next to nothing about salvation, but they claim to know all about man’s salvation and are leading many astray.
All these are modern ways of practising fetish in the church, but very soon, such activities would come to an end, and the glory of God would be revealed to his chosen ones” he assured.
He pointed out that the Church was also drifting from its main objective of saving lives for the Kingdom of God and supporting the poor in society, and rather concentrating on rewarding the well- to-do irrespective of how they acquired their wealth.
Such divergence, he said was not only encouraging massive corruption in the society but had been a contributory factor to encouraging the youth to use every means to acquire wealth so as to be recognised.
Prophet Kyei-Duah noted that “instead of the church rewarding those who were totally committed to the principles of Christianity and the promotion of social values as a way of sustaining good morals, the main focus of the leadership in many Churches now, is for them to recognise the wealthy in society, to the detriment of the life they are expected to save for God’s kingdom”.
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“The Church seems to be focused on the promotion of the affluent in society as well as seeking their selfish interest of amassing wealth, but this is not what Jesus Christ came to die for”.
“Their congregations, especially the poor among them are always overburdened financially with regular Church harvests, offertory, building projects and pastors appreciation support fund among others. And in all these, it is those who are able to meet such demands who are recognised, so why should the youth not indulge in Sakawa and other corrupt businesses so as to be recognised in their Churches and communities as a reward in society as well?” he questioned.
Prophet Kyei Dua disclosed that because those church leaders wanted to be seen as powerful for many people to rush to worship with them in their Churches, the so-called pastors, apostles, evangelists and bishops have now turned to advertisements on radio and television on a daily basis, claiming to be able to get visas for their congregations, have the power to cast out demons and healers of chronic diseases.
He continued that they were deceiving themselves and advised them that if they were really the shepherds, ready to seek the lost sheep of God, then they should join hands to preach the word of God to their congregation.

WITCHCRAFT...Prophet concerned over undue publicity by churches (PAGE 15)

By George Ernest Asare

PROPHET Stephen Adom Kyei-Duah of Believers Worship Centre at Anwomaso in Kumasi, has expressed concern about the confusion being created in society through the promotion of witchcraft by some churches.
“God is not an author of confusion but this is exactly what is taking place in society now.”
“Many pastors went to Bible School to be teachers and preachers of the word of God but now they have turned into prophets, prophesying falsehood and claiming to have the power to cast out principalities, deities and demons from people.”
Confusion
“Such Prophets are creating so much confusion in the society by labelling innocent people as witches and wizards, chaining many in their churches and succeeding in creating divisions among some family members and breaking them apart” He lamented.
Speaking to Graphic Nsempa in an interview in reaction to the spate of labelling of some people as witches and wizards by some Charismatic Churches, Prophet Kyei-Duah noted, “such accusations are not only blasphemous, but are creating confusion by bringing divisions into otherwise caring families.”
He pointed out that, while such false accusations were creating divisions among some family members, others were resorting to divorce to settle personal scores while some have resorted to threats of death, rancour and vengeance to settle scores.
“In the medical arena, there are many medical officers but each of them have different roles to play in bringing medical relief to their patients. While some are well versed in orthopaedic medicine, others are masters in gynaecology, pathology, paediatrics and dentistry among others.”
Examples
“In the teaching field, there are also many teachers but to ensure effective teaching and learning, there are subject teachers in the areas of mathematics, English, science, technical Skills and the social sciences, and that is what is expected in the Church,” he pointed out.
He explained that in First Corinthians 12:27, it was made clear that in the Church, there are apostles, teachers, prophets and leaders among others, who combined to bring the word of God to mankind in many ways “but for reasons very difficult to understand, almost every leader in the Church has become a prophet, claiming to have powers to cast out demons, principalities, deities and wizards; experts in seeking visas for their congregations as well as proficient in contracting marriages and employment opportunities for them”.
Prophet Adom Kyei-Duah further stressed that evangelists, teachers, apostles and other leaders in the Church who should have made the teachings of God their prime concern by preaching the word for their congregation to turn over new leaves, had all become prophets, prophesising falsehood and claiming to be experts in the performance of miracles.
He explained that it was only by preaching the word of God to their congregations and pointing out their wrong doings that those who were committing various sins, would turn away from their sins and accept Christ as their personal Saviour for them to receive salvation that would Glorify God.
Problem
“The problem in the Church is not about who is a witch or wizard and what powers they had to bewitch others, but preaching the word to the congregation for them to turn away from their sins and appreciate the need to live Godly lifestyles, for peace to reign supreme on earth,” he advised.
To the congregation Prophet Adom Kyei Duah advised, “don’t listen to the voice that prophesy falsehood onto you, for they tell you things of their own mind and not the word of God”
He pointed out that “as Christians, problems are bound to occur in our lives in one way or the other but such problems are meant to glorify God, especially if we are able to surmount them.”
“Jesus Christ never accused anyone of being a witch or wizard before healing those who came to Him, so I wonder why those who claim to be miracle performers use the name of Jesus to create confusion by accusing many of possessing demonic spirits when performing their so called miracle healings”.
He explained that after healing the sick, Jesus always admonished them to go and sin no more, “but now it is this or that person who is responsible for your illness, so instead of people repenting from their sins, they rather attribute the causes of their illnesses to innocent people in their homes, workplaces, communities and others areas”.
“It seems to me that in our modern world, anything that afflicts somebody is caused by a third person, and that man no more suffers from his or her own devilish ways.
False prophets
“ The blind are now leading the blind in our world, hence we are bound to fall together,” he lamented, stressing that “many prophets, pastors, apostles, and evangelists are themselves very blind and know next to nothing about salvation, but they claim to know all about man’s salvation and are leading many astray.
All these are modern ways of practising fetish in the church, but very soon, such activities would come to an end, and the glory of God would be revealed to his chosen ones” he assured.
He pointed out that the Church was also drifting from its main objective of saving lives for the Kingdom of God and supporting the poor in society, and rather concentrating on rewarding the well- to-do irrespective of how they acquired their wealth.
Such divergence, he said was not only encouraging massive corruption in the society but had been a contributory factor to encouraging the youth to use every means to acquire wealth so as to be recognised.
Prophet Kyei-Duah noted that “instead of the church rewarding those who were totally committed to the principles of Christianity and the promotion of social values as a way of sustaining good morals, the main focus of the leadership in many Churches now, is for them to recognise the wealthy in society, to the detriment of the life they are expected to save for God’s kingdom”.
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“The Church seems to be focused on the promotion of the affluent in society as well as seeking their selfish interest of amassing wealth, but this is not what Jesus Christ came to die for”.
“Their congregations, especially the poor among them are always overburdened financially with regular Church harvests, offertory, building projects and pastors appreciation support fund among others. And in all these, it is those who are able to meet such demands who are recognised, so why should the youth not indulge in Sakawa and other corrupt businesses so as to be recognised in their Churches and communities as a reward in society as well?” he questioned.
Prophet Kyei Dua disclosed that because those church leaders wanted to be seen as powerful for many people to rush to worship with them in their Churches, the so-called pastors, apostles, evangelists and bishops have now turned to advertisements on radio and television on a daily basis, claiming to be able to get visas for their congregations, have the power to cast out demons and healers of chronic diseases.
He continued that they were deceiving themselves and advised them that if they were really the shepherds, ready to seek the lost sheep of God, then they should join hands to preach the word of God to their congregation.

Sunday, August 2, 2009

TWO ROBBERS JAILED 21 YEARS (PAGE 19)

A Kumasi High Court, presided over by Justice K.A. Pobee, has convicted two robbers to serve 21 years’ jail term each with hard labour for robbing a taxi driver, a building contractor and a policeman at gunpoint.
The convicts, Ibrahim Saani, 26, alias Babanjida, who claimed to be a tailor from Aboabo in Kumasi, and Mutalar Muhammed, 25, said to be a trader — described by the police as notorious armed robbers — are also standing trial before the Kumasi High Court 5 for robbing some residents in Kumasi at gunpoint.
They pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to rob and robbing at gunpoint, but after the trial, which took about two years, the court found them guilty of the offence and convicted them accordingly.
One of their accomplices, who was identified only as Jahrule, is at large and police are searching for him.
Prosecuting, a State Attorney, Mr Emmanuel Lawrence Otoo-Boison, told the court that the complainants in the case, Muhammed Misbahu, Alfred Aboagye Frimpong and Benjamin Kumi, are a taxi driver, a building contractor and a police constable respectively.
He said around 8 pm on January 18, 2007, the convicts, who had concealed locally manufactured pistols in their clothes, approached the taxi driver at Asafo and hired him to drive them in his Opel Vectra, with registration number BA 219 T, to the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi.
He said around the Freeman Hotel junction at Asokwa, the convicts, together with their accomplice, Jahrule, who is at large, and Musah Abdul Mumuni, alias Apozo, now deceased, attacked the taxi driver with their concealed weapons and succeeded in robbing him of GH¢35.
He said before robbing the taxi driver, the convicts and their accomplices fired series of warning shots, threatening to blow the head of their victim if he attempted to struggle with them.
He said moments after they had scared the victim with the warning shots, they pushed the driver away and Babanjida took control of the vehicle and drove to Manhyia around 9.00 p.m.
He said at Manhyia, the convicts and their accomplices attacked Alfred Aboagye Frimpong with their locally manufactured pistols and succeeded in snatching his red Golf private car with registration BA 7 X.
Mr Otoo-Boison said the convicts and their accomplices also robbed Aboagye Frimpong of his Motorola mobile phone and cash of GH¢40 and abandoned the taxi at the scene with Banbanjida taking control of the Golf and speeding off.
He said moments later, they went to Ashtown, where they again attacked Constable Benjamin Kumi of the Regional Police Headquarters with their weapons and succeeded in robbing him of his Motorola mobile phone.
He said after the action, the convicts fired series of warning shots to scare the victim, who was in mufti and armed with an official pistol.
He said the policeman returned fire and hit Musah Abdul Mumuni alias Apozo in his thigh, causing him to bleed profusely. He said the convicts managed to carry their injured accomplice in the Golf car to Aboabo but abandoned him in his house where he was found dead the following day.
He said investigation by the police led to the retrieval of the body and after post-mortem examination the body was released to his family for burial.
He said the convicts later abandoned the Golf car around the Kumasi Polytechnic and was retrieved and investigations later led to their arrest.

STOP FOOT DRAGGING OVER PENSION — GNAT (PAGE 19)

THE Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has expressed concern over the foot dragging by the government in the implementation of the national pension scheme.
It pointed out that the undue delay was not only irritating, but likely to affect the welfare of thousands of dedicated and committed teachers who had sacrificed to train the human resource that the country needed for its development.
The President of GNAT, Mr Joseph Kweku Adjei, who expressed the concern, pointed out that the foot dragging was a bother to teachers who were suffering under the SSNIT Pension Scheme.
He said teachers should not be made to weep when they go on retirement, adding that “the foot dragging on the part of government on the launch of the National Pension Scheme will not augur well for labour relations in Ghana”.
In a speech read on his behalf at the third Ashanti Regional quadrennial GNAT delegates conference in Kumasi, Mr Adjei pointed out that it took teachers series of demonstrations to get the previous government’s attention to replace the existing SSNIT pension scheme and it would be unwise for teachers to sit by and watch the old scheme rolling month after month and aggravating their plight.
About 450 delegates attended the conference, which was on the theme, “The teacher, the pivot of human capital and national development — his professional and socio-economic challenges.”
On the implementation of the Single Spine Salary Structure, Mr Kweku Adjei said GNAT was aware that the Fair Wages Commission had already submitted a memorandum to the Cabinet.
He said the Executive of GNAT had proposed to meet the Minister of Education and the Director–General of the Ghana Education Service to deliberate on issues affecting the welfare of teachers.
Mr Adjei also expressed concern about the shortage of teachers in areas such as the Sciences, English Language and Technical subjects, and therefore urged the sector ministry to exclude such subjects from the quota system that regulates study leave for teachers.
This, he said, would enable as many teachers as possible who had the know-how in these specialised fields to be trained to address the shortage of such teachers.
He advised members not to allow political persuasions to divide their ranks, stressing that “governments come and governments go but the profession remains”.
In his welcoming address, the regional chairman, Mr Augustine Mensah, said since the wealth of any nation totally depended on its human resources who were trained by teachers, the teaching profession should be accorded the requisite status.
This, he said, would go a long way to motivate teachers and also ginger them to continue working hard to sustain the production of the nation’s human resources.
“Human resource development is a life-long process. It requires an articulate vision and mission and commitment of every nation to make a great investment in its people in order to make life meaningful for them.