Nine people perished on the outskirts of Nobewam near Konongo in the Ashanti Region on Sunday night when a Ford passenger mini bus travelling from Kumasi to Accra collided head-on with a KIA truck which was heading towards Kumasi from Accra.
The drivers of both vehicles and a child and her mother were among the dead, comprising three females and six males.
So far, only the driver of the Ford vehicle, with registration number AS1465-09, has been identified as Bob.
Eight other passengers also suffered various degrees of injury and were rushed to the Konongo Government Hospital for treatment.
Six of the injured passengers were on the Ford Mini bus while the other two were on the KIA truck.
According to the police, the accident occurred when the driver of the KIA truck, with registration number GR9321Q, veered onto the lane of the oncoming Ford.
The Ashanti Regional Police Motor Transport and Traffic Unit (MTTU) Commander, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Abraham Bansah, who briefed the Daily Graphic on the incident, said initial investigations revealed that both drivers were speeding in opposite directions on the Kumasi-Accra road, and the driver of the KIA truck did not observe road traffic regulation when he saw an articulated truck parked in its lane.
Explaining, he said an articulated truck, with registration number AS8103 S, which had broken down, was parked by the roadside without any warning triangle.
He said when the driver of the KIA truck reached the spot where the articulated truck was parked, he should have stopped to give way to the oncoming Ford mini bus but sped on.
To avoid hitting the articulated truck, he veered onto the lane of the Ford mini bus, which was coming from the opposite direction.
According to an eyewitness who spoke to the Daily Graphic, it took rescuers a lot of time to cut through the mangled vehicles to remove the bodies of both drivers from their respective vehicles.
He explained that the impact of the vehicles was so great that the drivers remained completely trapped in their front seats for over 30 minutes until firemen cut parts of the vehicles to remove their bodies.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Monday, January 4, 2010
STUDENT URGED TO BE MORALLY UPRIGHT (PAGE 11, JAN 4)
THE Kumasi Chaplaincy Board has intensified its outreach programme on evangelism in second cycle schools within the Kumasi metropolis and its environs, as a way of influencing students to adopt Godly lifestyles and morally upright attitudes.
This, according to the board, would enable students to become responsible adults in future.
The programme is also intended to influence students for them to interact positively with their peers to reduce the level of indiscipline that has characterised the youth in particular and society in general.
The Chairman of the KCB, Rev Oscar Amoah, who announced this during a media encounter in Kumasi, said the level of indiscipline that had permeated society had created a serious challenge to the church.
The programme was part of the launch of the 50th anniversary of the KCB, on the theme “transforming society through effective school Ministry: The role of Kumasi Chaplaincy Board”.
Rev Amoah who is also the Chaplain of the Kumasi Anglican Senior High School, noted that “our failure to mould and shape the youth who are future leaders of society will spell doom for the nation in the very near future”.
Explaining, he said “the rate of indiscipline and crime committed among the young generation has escalated, and is still increasing. Our society can now has more criminals than ever, and we are concerned about the unfortunate trend of affairs”.
He said concrete steps should be taken to address the level of indiscipline among the youth before it exploded into a chaotic situation that could undermine the survival of the country.
The school ministry, he said “concerns itself with carrying out the work of God in schools to take care of the spiritual and moral lives of the school community which will eventually impact positively on their academic and social lives” .
Explaining, he said the ministry involved the school community in the preaching of the word of God, praying for them and addressing their spiritual, emotional and other needs.
He said “an untrained child of today will destroy his future and that of others”.
He pointed out that apart from not fully appreciating what adolescence meant “peer pressure and the desire to experiment with a number of things expose their minds to a barrage of issues”.
He said there were also problems of conflict with parents “who are seen by these young ones as ‘not understanding’ and being domineering, the breakdown of family values, coupled with poor inter personal relationship between parents and their children”
These problems, he said resulted in “waywardness, drug abuse, alcoholism, gambling, sexual immorality , gangsterism, among other vices”.
Rev Fr Amoah said “the craze to become rich overnight, Internet fraud, occultism and other ritual means, popularly known as ‘sakawa’ , has also become widespread in recent times”.
He said the school ministry which was seen to be very strategic did not only complement and consolidate the efforts of the school authority in instilling discipline among students, but also “promote good spiritual and moral lives” stressing that “ the KCB is very convinced that society can be transformed through effective preaching of the Gospel of Christ”.
He called on the public to support the KCB in kind and in cash to enable it to sustain the outreach programme.
Apart from operating from the office of the Scripture Union, he said the KCB also “depends on voluntary contributions from preaching groups of the board which does not own a means of transport to facilitate its operations” and therefore appealed for support in that endeavour.
This, according to the board, would enable students to become responsible adults in future.
The programme is also intended to influence students for them to interact positively with their peers to reduce the level of indiscipline that has characterised the youth in particular and society in general.
The Chairman of the KCB, Rev Oscar Amoah, who announced this during a media encounter in Kumasi, said the level of indiscipline that had permeated society had created a serious challenge to the church.
The programme was part of the launch of the 50th anniversary of the KCB, on the theme “transforming society through effective school Ministry: The role of Kumasi Chaplaincy Board”.
Rev Amoah who is also the Chaplain of the Kumasi Anglican Senior High School, noted that “our failure to mould and shape the youth who are future leaders of society will spell doom for the nation in the very near future”.
Explaining, he said “the rate of indiscipline and crime committed among the young generation has escalated, and is still increasing. Our society can now has more criminals than ever, and we are concerned about the unfortunate trend of affairs”.
He said concrete steps should be taken to address the level of indiscipline among the youth before it exploded into a chaotic situation that could undermine the survival of the country.
The school ministry, he said “concerns itself with carrying out the work of God in schools to take care of the spiritual and moral lives of the school community which will eventually impact positively on their academic and social lives” .
Explaining, he said the ministry involved the school community in the preaching of the word of God, praying for them and addressing their spiritual, emotional and other needs.
He said “an untrained child of today will destroy his future and that of others”.
He pointed out that apart from not fully appreciating what adolescence meant “peer pressure and the desire to experiment with a number of things expose their minds to a barrage of issues”.
He said there were also problems of conflict with parents “who are seen by these young ones as ‘not understanding’ and being domineering, the breakdown of family values, coupled with poor inter personal relationship between parents and their children”
These problems, he said resulted in “waywardness, drug abuse, alcoholism, gambling, sexual immorality , gangsterism, among other vices”.
Rev Fr Amoah said “the craze to become rich overnight, Internet fraud, occultism and other ritual means, popularly known as ‘sakawa’ , has also become widespread in recent times”.
He said the school ministry which was seen to be very strategic did not only complement and consolidate the efforts of the school authority in instilling discipline among students, but also “promote good spiritual and moral lives” stressing that “ the KCB is very convinced that society can be transformed through effective preaching of the Gospel of Christ”.
He called on the public to support the KCB in kind and in cash to enable it to sustain the outreach programme.
Apart from operating from the office of the Scripture Union, he said the KCB also “depends on voluntary contributions from preaching groups of the board which does not own a means of transport to facilitate its operations” and therefore appealed for support in that endeavour.
CSUC, ESTATE FINANCING COMPANY SIGN MOU...To build hostel complex (PAGE 11, JAN 4)
THE authorities of Christian Service University College (CSUC) in Kumasi have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Estate Financing Company of the United States of America for the construction of a hostel complex to ease the accommodation problem facing students.
The university would also use its internally generated funds to construct a five storey library, a computer centre and communication laboratory at the university campus this year.
The projects, which are part of the vision of the university to create a conducive atmosphere for teaching and learning, are also expected to enhance research work for both lecturers and students, and to sustain student intake, infrastructural development and improved academic standard.
The Chairman of the CSUC Council, Professor Sam Afrane, announced this during the 33rd graduation ceremony of the university last Saturday, and said the school had acquired 11-acres at Saben-Akrofuom on the Obuasi road to develop a new campus for the university.
“In order to ensure that we have adequate land to achieve the totality of our long-term vision, we have initiated the process of acquiring additional 10-15 more acres for the project,” he stressed.
In all, 391 students graduated from the university and out of the number, 31, including 12 females, obtained first class honours, 81 secured second class upper division, while 176 received second class lower division with 18 of them securing third class.
Professor Afrane explained that while the computer centre and communications laboratory, among other projects, would be financed through internally generated funds, that of the students’ hostel, designed to accommodate between 250 and 300 students, would be financed by Estate Financing Company.
On human resource development, he said starting from this year, “the university will institutionalise an ‘awards day’ to recognise and reward individuals who have excelled in the performance of their duties”.
Prof. Afrane said “CSUC is committed to the promotion of academic excellence and scholarship as enshrined in our vision. To this end, the council has increased the budget for staff research together with perks to motivate staff to intensify their research activities”.
Commending the graduates for their hard work, he said it was time the government introduced “appropriate policies and the necessary legislative reforms that will ensure access to the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) to support the development of private universities like CSUC”.
Hhe said, the provision of such funds would provide “avenues for manpower training of many young people who cannot access our few and over-stretched public universities”.
In her address, the Chief Executive of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Dr Joyce R. Aryee, urged the graduates who aspire to become public officials to eschew any tendency of using their positions to amass wealth at the expense of society which they intended to serve.
“The essence of being a public servant or aspiring to such a position was not for amassing wealth at the expense of the public good. Instead, it was service to mankind and to one’s country,” she noted.
She said “the cost of poor performance and corruption in the public service are too great to bear. This is true not only for the public service, but also for the entire public sector, political leadership and other strata of society”.
To extricate Ghana from “the terrible but self-imposed morass, there is now more than ever the need to demonstrate competence and higher regard for ethics in all our endeavours, especially in the provision of public services,” she noted.
Dr Aryee, however, expressed concern about the low remuneration and lack of opportunities for public servants and their families to enhance their advancement in society.
“These conditions breed low morale and make corruption seem inevitable and a necessary evil. In areas where basic needs of citizens cannot be met, talking about professionalism and ethics seem a luxury, but we cannot allow survival to become our value,” she noted.
Stressing, she said “ when survival becomes our paramount value, corruption can become a way of life. I am certain everyone knows that when there is very little or no regard for law and order, extreme social dislocation occur, and the moral fabric of a society gets torn apart”.
In his address, the President of CSUC, Professor Emmanuel Frempong, said in line with their objectives, the university was preparing students “who are well trained and motivated spiritually, academically and professionally to serve the church and society in all spheres of life”.
“It is our duty to promote and encourage the formation of moral character and the application of biblical ethics to contemporary moral issues” he stressed.
He said the plan to introduce a BSc Nursing programme was also far advanced and gave the assurance that the authorities were working hard to secure accreditation to start the programme soon.
The university would also use its internally generated funds to construct a five storey library, a computer centre and communication laboratory at the university campus this year.
The projects, which are part of the vision of the university to create a conducive atmosphere for teaching and learning, are also expected to enhance research work for both lecturers and students, and to sustain student intake, infrastructural development and improved academic standard.
The Chairman of the CSUC Council, Professor Sam Afrane, announced this during the 33rd graduation ceremony of the university last Saturday, and said the school had acquired 11-acres at Saben-Akrofuom on the Obuasi road to develop a new campus for the university.
“In order to ensure that we have adequate land to achieve the totality of our long-term vision, we have initiated the process of acquiring additional 10-15 more acres for the project,” he stressed.
In all, 391 students graduated from the university and out of the number, 31, including 12 females, obtained first class honours, 81 secured second class upper division, while 176 received second class lower division with 18 of them securing third class.
Professor Afrane explained that while the computer centre and communications laboratory, among other projects, would be financed through internally generated funds, that of the students’ hostel, designed to accommodate between 250 and 300 students, would be financed by Estate Financing Company.
On human resource development, he said starting from this year, “the university will institutionalise an ‘awards day’ to recognise and reward individuals who have excelled in the performance of their duties”.
Prof. Afrane said “CSUC is committed to the promotion of academic excellence and scholarship as enshrined in our vision. To this end, the council has increased the budget for staff research together with perks to motivate staff to intensify their research activities”.
Commending the graduates for their hard work, he said it was time the government introduced “appropriate policies and the necessary legislative reforms that will ensure access to the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) to support the development of private universities like CSUC”.
Hhe said, the provision of such funds would provide “avenues for manpower training of many young people who cannot access our few and over-stretched public universities”.
In her address, the Chief Executive of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Dr Joyce R. Aryee, urged the graduates who aspire to become public officials to eschew any tendency of using their positions to amass wealth at the expense of society which they intended to serve.
“The essence of being a public servant or aspiring to such a position was not for amassing wealth at the expense of the public good. Instead, it was service to mankind and to one’s country,” she noted.
She said “the cost of poor performance and corruption in the public service are too great to bear. This is true not only for the public service, but also for the entire public sector, political leadership and other strata of society”.
To extricate Ghana from “the terrible but self-imposed morass, there is now more than ever the need to demonstrate competence and higher regard for ethics in all our endeavours, especially in the provision of public services,” she noted.
Dr Aryee, however, expressed concern about the low remuneration and lack of opportunities for public servants and their families to enhance their advancement in society.
“These conditions breed low morale and make corruption seem inevitable and a necessary evil. In areas where basic needs of citizens cannot be met, talking about professionalism and ethics seem a luxury, but we cannot allow survival to become our value,” she noted.
Stressing, she said “ when survival becomes our paramount value, corruption can become a way of life. I am certain everyone knows that when there is very little or no regard for law and order, extreme social dislocation occur, and the moral fabric of a society gets torn apart”.
In his address, the President of CSUC, Professor Emmanuel Frempong, said in line with their objectives, the university was preparing students “who are well trained and motivated spiritually, academically and professionally to serve the church and society in all spheres of life”.
“It is our duty to promote and encourage the formation of moral character and the application of biblical ethics to contemporary moral issues” he stressed.
He said the plan to introduce a BSc Nursing programme was also far advanced and gave the assurance that the authorities were working hard to secure accreditation to start the programme soon.
UT TO ROLL OUT MORE PRODUCTS (PAGE 39, JAN 4)
UT Financial Services has assured its customers of the introduction of innovative products that would make banking more attractive and meaninful to the ordinary Ghanaian in 2010 and beyond.
According to management, innovative products that would encourage customers to initiate small and medium-scale industries and also expand existing ones would be introduced this year to accelerate the pace of socio- economic development in the country.
The Area Manager of UT Financial Services, Mr Moses Agyemang, who gave the assurance in Kumasi last Friday during an end-of-year dinner for customers pointed out that the management of UT was in a process of redefining banking in the country to make it more attractive to the ordinary Ghanaian.
The end-of-year dinner offered the opportunity for the management and customers of the financial institution to interact in a fruitful manner and shared ideas that would promote their respective interests .
Mr Agyemang pointed out that 2010 was going to be a year of action, explaining that, having come out of the credit crunch unscathed and overcome the challenges of the change of government last year, “ we are now ready to take banking to a higher level in the country to accelerate socio-economic development
We are going to redefine banking in Ghana and take it to a different level to enhance accelerated development ”.
He said the bank was also going to introduce products that would encourage its customers to venture into productive ventures that would enhance income generation and accelerated development.
“ We had a lot of challenges last year, but we have used them as springboards that would enhance a lot of successes in 2010” he noted.
Mr Agyemang said management of the bank would also create an atmosphere that would encourage customers to air their views on issues that undermine their operations.
“ We are now going to listen to our customers more and would also not relent in our effort of creating an enabling environment that would make their business thrive”. he assured.
He said management would also be committed to the implementation of all initiatives, especially those involved on how to be successful in achieving results.
Such actions, he said, would place the bank in a higher standard and therefore, appealed to customers to collaborate with management for them to realise their objectives.
According to management, innovative products that would encourage customers to initiate small and medium-scale industries and also expand existing ones would be introduced this year to accelerate the pace of socio- economic development in the country.
The Area Manager of UT Financial Services, Mr Moses Agyemang, who gave the assurance in Kumasi last Friday during an end-of-year dinner for customers pointed out that the management of UT was in a process of redefining banking in the country to make it more attractive to the ordinary Ghanaian.
The end-of-year dinner offered the opportunity for the management and customers of the financial institution to interact in a fruitful manner and shared ideas that would promote their respective interests .
Mr Agyemang pointed out that 2010 was going to be a year of action, explaining that, having come out of the credit crunch unscathed and overcome the challenges of the change of government last year, “ we are now ready to take banking to a higher level in the country to accelerate socio-economic development
We are going to redefine banking in Ghana and take it to a different level to enhance accelerated development ”.
He said the bank was also going to introduce products that would encourage its customers to venture into productive ventures that would enhance income generation and accelerated development.
“ We had a lot of challenges last year, but we have used them as springboards that would enhance a lot of successes in 2010” he noted.
Mr Agyemang said management of the bank would also create an atmosphere that would encourage customers to air their views on issues that undermine their operations.
“ We are now going to listen to our customers more and would also not relent in our effort of creating an enabling environment that would make their business thrive”. he assured.
He said management would also be committed to the implementation of all initiatives, especially those involved on how to be successful in achieving results.
Such actions, he said, would place the bank in a higher standard and therefore, appealed to customers to collaborate with management for them to realise their objectives.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
KATH CHOIR IN THANKSGIVING CONCERT (PAGE 21, JAN 2)
MEMBERS of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) Choir suspended their regular services at the hospital for a few hours last Wednesday and replaced them with melodious singing at the forecourt of the hospital to mark the end of a successful year.
Overwhelmed by the enormous talent displayed by the KATH Choir during the two-hour annual KATH Thanksgiving programme, the acting Chief Executive of KATH, Professor Ohene Adjei, noted, “Our choir has proved that they have the talent and ability to represent KATH at any choral concert anytime and anywhere around the globe”.
The KATH choir is comprises medical staff: nurses, doctors and ward assistants of the hospital.
Agya Nyame, Nyame Ye Odo, I Will Lift Up Your Name High and Anwanwa Do were some of the songs that moved the gathering to give the choir a standing ovation.
The other nurses, doctors, ward assistants and laboratory technicians who were not particularly gifted in singing took to the floor and displayed rare dancing skills which earned them considerable applause from the gathering.
In an address, the Regional Minister, Mr Kofi Opoku Manu, who was the guest of honour, appealed to the KATH medical staff to do away with all attitudes that undermine delivery of quality health care.
“May your hearts and minds be touched and filled with mercy as we enter a new year to enable your offer quality health care for the numerous clients who troop to the hospital daily,” he said.
“You should resolve to offer the best of services to patients for them to appreciate your effort, so that even in death, they would admire and acknowledge that you did your best to save their lives”.
For his part, the Professor Ohene Adjeicommended the staff for their commitment to duty and appealed to them to use internal mechanisms of addressing their problems instead of resorting to industrial action.
He pointed out that resorting to industrial action to address their grievances overshadowed the sacrifices they made to save the lives of their patients.
Overwhelmed by the enormous talent displayed by the KATH Choir during the two-hour annual KATH Thanksgiving programme, the acting Chief Executive of KATH, Professor Ohene Adjei, noted, “Our choir has proved that they have the talent and ability to represent KATH at any choral concert anytime and anywhere around the globe”.
The KATH choir is comprises medical staff: nurses, doctors and ward assistants of the hospital.
Agya Nyame, Nyame Ye Odo, I Will Lift Up Your Name High and Anwanwa Do were some of the songs that moved the gathering to give the choir a standing ovation.
The other nurses, doctors, ward assistants and laboratory technicians who were not particularly gifted in singing took to the floor and displayed rare dancing skills which earned them considerable applause from the gathering.
In an address, the Regional Minister, Mr Kofi Opoku Manu, who was the guest of honour, appealed to the KATH medical staff to do away with all attitudes that undermine delivery of quality health care.
“May your hearts and minds be touched and filled with mercy as we enter a new year to enable your offer quality health care for the numerous clients who troop to the hospital daily,” he said.
“You should resolve to offer the best of services to patients for them to appreciate your effort, so that even in death, they would admire and acknowledge that you did your best to save their lives”.
For his part, the Professor Ohene Adjeicommended the staff for their commitment to duty and appealed to them to use internal mechanisms of addressing their problems instead of resorting to industrial action.
He pointed out that resorting to industrial action to address their grievances overshadowed the sacrifices they made to save the lives of their patients.
KONONGO HONOURS RABIU MOHAMMED (PAGE 31, JAN 2)
The Chiefs and people of Konongo in the Asante Akim North District of Ashanti have organised a grand durbar in honour of Rabiu Alhassan Muhammed for his heroic feat during the World Under-20 tournament in Egypt which saw Ghana making history by winning the trophy at stake .
The National Under-20 midfielder, who now plays for Sampdoria in Italy, was decorated with a kente and native sandals during the ceremony in appreciation of the honour he brought to his native community – Konongo- where he started his football career.
The Chief of Konongo, Nana Batafo Akyeampong Nti II, also donated a plot of land to Rabiu.
The ceremony, which attracted a large number of people from Konongo and its environs, was also used to honour Sulley Ali Muntari, a member of the Senior national team. Nana Batafo Akyeampong also donated a kente and a parcel of land to Muntari who could not attend the ceremony.
The queen mother of Konongo, Nana Asantewaa Twumwaa Bankoni, the Ashanti Regional Co-ordinating Director, Mr Kusi Appiah, the Parish Priest of Konongo Catholic Diocese, Rev Fr Ofosu Amoako, the parents of Rabiu, Alhaji Mansu and Hajia Akosua Nyarko, his grandmother, Madam Ama Tenewaa, and the Imam of Konongo, Alhaji Ousman, were among the dignitaries who graced the ceremony dubbed ‘Homecoming’.
Overwhelmed by the large gathering and the enthusiasm shown in escorting him to the Konongo palace where the durbar was held, Rabiu shed tears of joy and joined the youth in displaying his skills in dancing to show his appreciation .
When he was given the opportunity to speak to the large audience, Rabiu said he would work harder than before to bring more honours to the Konongo community.
“ I am going to train harder than before to enable me break into the Sampdoria first team to entice the national coach to invite me to feature prominently for the Black Stars”, he assured.
Earlier, Nana Akyeampong Nti had commended Rabiu for his sense of discipline and commitment during the tournament and charged him to be more dedicated to national programmes .
He said it was only discipline and hard work which would enable the rising star develop his potentials and become a world- acclaimed football icon.
The Konongo chief said the feat of Rabiu had now made him a role model for the youth, and therefore, charged him to interact with Muntari for them to initiate programmes that would entice the youth at Konongo to focus on their academic work and develop their potentials for them to acquire skills that would make them contribute more meaningfully to the socio-economic development of the community.
The Ashanti Regional Co-ordinating Director, Mr Kusi Appiah, who chaired the programme, commended Nana Akyeampong Nti for honouring Rabiu.
He said the ceremony would not only encourage the youngster to fully develop his potentials, but would also motivate the youth of Konongo and its environs to be more dedicated to issues that would bring them into the limelight .
The National Under-20 midfielder, who now plays for Sampdoria in Italy, was decorated with a kente and native sandals during the ceremony in appreciation of the honour he brought to his native community – Konongo- where he started his football career.
The Chief of Konongo, Nana Batafo Akyeampong Nti II, also donated a plot of land to Rabiu.
The ceremony, which attracted a large number of people from Konongo and its environs, was also used to honour Sulley Ali Muntari, a member of the Senior national team. Nana Batafo Akyeampong also donated a kente and a parcel of land to Muntari who could not attend the ceremony.
The queen mother of Konongo, Nana Asantewaa Twumwaa Bankoni, the Ashanti Regional Co-ordinating Director, Mr Kusi Appiah, the Parish Priest of Konongo Catholic Diocese, Rev Fr Ofosu Amoako, the parents of Rabiu, Alhaji Mansu and Hajia Akosua Nyarko, his grandmother, Madam Ama Tenewaa, and the Imam of Konongo, Alhaji Ousman, were among the dignitaries who graced the ceremony dubbed ‘Homecoming’.
Overwhelmed by the large gathering and the enthusiasm shown in escorting him to the Konongo palace where the durbar was held, Rabiu shed tears of joy and joined the youth in displaying his skills in dancing to show his appreciation .
When he was given the opportunity to speak to the large audience, Rabiu said he would work harder than before to bring more honours to the Konongo community.
“ I am going to train harder than before to enable me break into the Sampdoria first team to entice the national coach to invite me to feature prominently for the Black Stars”, he assured.
Earlier, Nana Akyeampong Nti had commended Rabiu for his sense of discipline and commitment during the tournament and charged him to be more dedicated to national programmes .
He said it was only discipline and hard work which would enable the rising star develop his potentials and become a world- acclaimed football icon.
The Konongo chief said the feat of Rabiu had now made him a role model for the youth, and therefore, charged him to interact with Muntari for them to initiate programmes that would entice the youth at Konongo to focus on their academic work and develop their potentials for them to acquire skills that would make them contribute more meaningfully to the socio-economic development of the community.
The Ashanti Regional Co-ordinating Director, Mr Kusi Appiah, who chaired the programme, commended Nana Akyeampong Nti for honouring Rabiu.
He said the ceremony would not only encourage the youngster to fully develop his potentials, but would also motivate the youth of Konongo and its environs to be more dedicated to issues that would bring them into the limelight .
Friday, January 1, 2010
MUM, 6, CHILDREN BURNT TO DEATH (PAGE 34, MIRROR, JAN 2)
From George Ernest Asare, Kumasi.
Atease, a farming community near Barekese in the Atwima District of Ashanti, was turned into mourning grounds when a 38-year-old nursing mother and her six children, including a set of twins, were burnt beyond recognition at the weekend.
According to the police, the room in which the deceased, Helena Nsiah, and her children were sleeping last Sunday caught fire and all efforts to put it out proved futile.
The bodies of the deceased have been deposited at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital for autopsy.
The children were identified as Achiaa, 17; Naomi Boakye, 14; Gabriel Boakye, 12; Lydia Boakye, 7, and the set of female twins who were seven months old.
The police arrested Helena’s husband, who was identified as Samuel Nsiah, but he has been released on bail, pending further investigations.
The Ashanti Regional Police Public Affairs Officer, Chief Inspector Muhammad Tanko, who briefed the Mirror on the incident, said Helena and her children were sleeping in a single room, while her 70-year-old mother, who had paid them a visit, was in another room.
He explained that the deceased was sleeping with her husband on the day of the incident but around 10 p.m. Samuel left them with the explanation that he was going to sleep in his cottage about two kilometres away.
He said it was at that time that the room caught fire, prompting the 70-year-old lady to shout for help. But those who were attracted to the scene could not put out the fire due to its intensity.
Chief Inspector Tanko said following the incident, the police arrested the husband for questioning but released him on bail to assist in further investigations.
Atease, a farming community near Barekese in the Atwima District of Ashanti, was turned into mourning grounds when a 38-year-old nursing mother and her six children, including a set of twins, were burnt beyond recognition at the weekend.
According to the police, the room in which the deceased, Helena Nsiah, and her children were sleeping last Sunday caught fire and all efforts to put it out proved futile.
The bodies of the deceased have been deposited at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital for autopsy.
The children were identified as Achiaa, 17; Naomi Boakye, 14; Gabriel Boakye, 12; Lydia Boakye, 7, and the set of female twins who were seven months old.
The police arrested Helena’s husband, who was identified as Samuel Nsiah, but he has been released on bail, pending further investigations.
The Ashanti Regional Police Public Affairs Officer, Chief Inspector Muhammad Tanko, who briefed the Mirror on the incident, said Helena and her children were sleeping in a single room, while her 70-year-old mother, who had paid them a visit, was in another room.
He explained that the deceased was sleeping with her husband on the day of the incident but around 10 p.m. Samuel left them with the explanation that he was going to sleep in his cottage about two kilometres away.
He said it was at that time that the room caught fire, prompting the 70-year-old lady to shout for help. But those who were attracted to the scene could not put out the fire due to its intensity.
Chief Inspector Tanko said following the incident, the police arrested the husband for questioning but released him on bail to assist in further investigations.
3 ATTEMPT TO BRIBE KUMASI MTU (PAGE 34, MIRROR, JAN 2)
From George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
Three middle-aged men who allegedly attempted to bribe some officials of the Police Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) in Kumasi who have impounded a Nissan Urvan bus carrying quantities of leaves suspected to be Indian Hemp are in trouble with the law.
According to MTTU officials, Atta Kofi, 38, from Akrowa; Kwaku Oppong, 47, from Kodie, and Hamdu Mohamed, 40, also a resident at Kodie, went to the MTTU on December 17, 2009 with the GH¢800.00 bribe and were arrested to help in investigations.
The trio have been remanded in prison custody.
The Ashanti Regional MTTU Commander, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Abraham Bansah, who briefed The Mirror, said the case had been referred to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) for further investigations while the dry leaves had also been handed over to the narcotics control unit for further investigations.
Explaining the circumstances that led to the arrest of the suspects, Mr Bansah said the MTTU officials spotted the vehicle heading towards Kumasi around 2:30 a.m. on December 17, 2009, while on their usual motor checks at Buoho, on the Kumasi-Offinso road.
He said the officials signalled it to stop for the usual inspection, but moments after the vehicle had stopped, the driver and the two passengers alighted and took to their heels, leaving the key behind.
A search in the vehicle revealed the dry leaves and the vehicle was driven to the MTTU headquarters.
Mr Bansah said around 10 a.m the same day, he was told that the suspects had come to the station in an attempt to bribe the officials for the release of the vehicle and its contents.
The commander, therefore, directed some of his men to feign interest and the suspects were nabbed after giving out the money.
Three middle-aged men who allegedly attempted to bribe some officials of the Police Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) in Kumasi who have impounded a Nissan Urvan bus carrying quantities of leaves suspected to be Indian Hemp are in trouble with the law.
According to MTTU officials, Atta Kofi, 38, from Akrowa; Kwaku Oppong, 47, from Kodie, and Hamdu Mohamed, 40, also a resident at Kodie, went to the MTTU on December 17, 2009 with the GH¢800.00 bribe and were arrested to help in investigations.
The trio have been remanded in prison custody.
The Ashanti Regional MTTU Commander, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Abraham Bansah, who briefed The Mirror, said the case had been referred to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) for further investigations while the dry leaves had also been handed over to the narcotics control unit for further investigations.
Explaining the circumstances that led to the arrest of the suspects, Mr Bansah said the MTTU officials spotted the vehicle heading towards Kumasi around 2:30 a.m. on December 17, 2009, while on their usual motor checks at Buoho, on the Kumasi-Offinso road.
He said the officials signalled it to stop for the usual inspection, but moments after the vehicle had stopped, the driver and the two passengers alighted and took to their heels, leaving the key behind.
A search in the vehicle revealed the dry leaves and the vehicle was driven to the MTTU headquarters.
Mr Bansah said around 10 a.m the same day, he was told that the suspects had come to the station in an attempt to bribe the officials for the release of the vehicle and its contents.
The commander, therefore, directed some of his men to feign interest and the suspects were nabbed after giving out the money.
MAN 21, NABBED FOR STEALING (MIRROR, PAGE 34, JAN 2)
From George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
An attempt by a 21-year-old man to allegedly use foul means to raise money to celebrate Christmas backfired as he was arrested by the Kumasi Central Motor Traffic and Transport Unit Police (MTTU) before he could put his plans into action.
The man, Andrews Agyemang Baah was arrested by some residents of Mampongteng , near Kumasi when he attempted to run away after the MTTU had stopped a vehicle carrying a generator he had allegedly stolen from Asenua, near Mamponteng.
The suspect was allegedly taking the generator to Yeji to sell to raise money to celebrate the Christmas festivities, but he was arrested half way through the journey.
Moments after the police had stopped the Nissan Urvan carrying the suspect, some passengers and the stolen generator, the suspect jumped through a window on the vehicle and took to his heels, compelling the driver and the police to give him a hot chase.
Some residents of Mampongteng who were attracted by the shouts joined the chase, managed to arrest the suspect and handed him over to the police.
His accomplice, Peter Gyamfi, 25, however managed to escape arrest and the police have mounted a search to arrest him to help in their investigations.
Briefing The Mirror on the incident, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Abraham Bansah said at about 4 a.m. on Monday, December 22, 2009, while the Central MTTU were on their usual rounds to check vehicles, they stopped a Nissan Urvan with registration number AS 1972 X, carrying a generator and some passengers and therefore demanded to know the owner of the generator.
He said moments after the driver of the vehicle had pointed to the suspect and his accomplice as the owners of the generator, the two jumped from the vehicle and took to their heels, compelling the driver and the police to shout to attract the youth to help chase them.
Mr Bansah said a few minutes later, the youth succeeded in arresting the suspect, but his accomplice managed to escape.
He said the MTTU had handed the suspect over to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to investigate and prosecute the suspect.
An attempt by a 21-year-old man to allegedly use foul means to raise money to celebrate Christmas backfired as he was arrested by the Kumasi Central Motor Traffic and Transport Unit Police (MTTU) before he could put his plans into action.
The man, Andrews Agyemang Baah was arrested by some residents of Mampongteng , near Kumasi when he attempted to run away after the MTTU had stopped a vehicle carrying a generator he had allegedly stolen from Asenua, near Mamponteng.
The suspect was allegedly taking the generator to Yeji to sell to raise money to celebrate the Christmas festivities, but he was arrested half way through the journey.
Moments after the police had stopped the Nissan Urvan carrying the suspect, some passengers and the stolen generator, the suspect jumped through a window on the vehicle and took to his heels, compelling the driver and the police to give him a hot chase.
Some residents of Mampongteng who were attracted by the shouts joined the chase, managed to arrest the suspect and handed him over to the police.
His accomplice, Peter Gyamfi, 25, however managed to escape arrest and the police have mounted a search to arrest him to help in their investigations.
Briefing The Mirror on the incident, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Abraham Bansah said at about 4 a.m. on Monday, December 22, 2009, while the Central MTTU were on their usual rounds to check vehicles, they stopped a Nissan Urvan with registration number AS 1972 X, carrying a generator and some passengers and therefore demanded to know the owner of the generator.
He said moments after the driver of the vehicle had pointed to the suspect and his accomplice as the owners of the generator, the two jumped from the vehicle and took to their heels, compelling the driver and the police to shout to attract the youth to help chase them.
Mr Bansah said a few minutes later, the youth succeeded in arresting the suspect, but his accomplice managed to escape.
He said the MTTU had handed the suspect over to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to investigate and prosecute the suspect.
GAWU PRESENTS SPRAYING MACHINES TO FARMERS (PAGE 22, DEC 31)
THE executive of the General Agricultural Workers’ Union (GAWU) in the Ashanti Region have presented a number of spraying machines and pesticides to some farmers in the region.
The gesture was meant to reduce post harvest losses of food crops in the region.
The executives also donated quantities of tarpaulins to the farmers to enable them to dry their cereals and other crops effectively to improve their quality and market value.
About 300 farmers from five communities in the region are to benefit from the gesture and according to the regional officer of the union, “ our main objective is to enhance income generation of the beneficiary farmers to encourage the youth to venture into agriculture, and thereby reduce unemployment among them”.
The beneficiary communities are Kyereyaase, Nerebehi, Foase, Afrancho and Kokoben.
The Regional Officer of GAWU, Mr Clement Alosebuno Kaba, told the Daily Graphic that the union’s collaboration with the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) made it possible for it to source for the items for the beneficiary farmers.
He said farmers in the region always worried about post harvest losses which undermined their income generation effort and thereby made it impossible for them to expand their farms.
“Our gesture is a project dubbed strategic intervention from the Canadian Empowerment programme to reduce post harvest losses of crops like maize, cowpea, rice, cassava, plantain and yams among others, and thereby enhance income-generation efforts of farmers. It is also to encourage them to expand their farms and ensure adequate food security,”, he stressed.
He said since the project was introduced about a year ago, many farmers had benefited from it and gave the assurance that many more would benefit from the gesture to minimise post harvest losses.
Mr Kaba expressed concern about the farmers not being able to have easy access to agricultural extension officers and that only a “ few extension officers are on the field attending to many farmers, so the officers are not able to reach out to as many farmers as possible and teach them modern techniques of farming to enhance food security “
He appealed to the government to employ graduates from the agricultural colleges and universities for them to fill the gap and offer the requisite technical know-how to farmers for them to adopt modern ways of farming to enhance food security in the country”.
Mrs Beatrice Duku Frimpong Boateng, who received the items on behalf of the beneficiary farmers, commended GAWU and CIDA for their wonderful gesture.
“ With the items, we would be able to combat pests effectively and use the tarpaulins to dry our crops to improve their quality and thereby enhance their market values”.
She gave the assurance that the items would be maintained to encourage the donors to support them in other areas.
The gesture was meant to reduce post harvest losses of food crops in the region.
The executives also donated quantities of tarpaulins to the farmers to enable them to dry their cereals and other crops effectively to improve their quality and market value.
About 300 farmers from five communities in the region are to benefit from the gesture and according to the regional officer of the union, “ our main objective is to enhance income generation of the beneficiary farmers to encourage the youth to venture into agriculture, and thereby reduce unemployment among them”.
The beneficiary communities are Kyereyaase, Nerebehi, Foase, Afrancho and Kokoben.
The Regional Officer of GAWU, Mr Clement Alosebuno Kaba, told the Daily Graphic that the union’s collaboration with the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) made it possible for it to source for the items for the beneficiary farmers.
He said farmers in the region always worried about post harvest losses which undermined their income generation effort and thereby made it impossible for them to expand their farms.
“Our gesture is a project dubbed strategic intervention from the Canadian Empowerment programme to reduce post harvest losses of crops like maize, cowpea, rice, cassava, plantain and yams among others, and thereby enhance income-generation efforts of farmers. It is also to encourage them to expand their farms and ensure adequate food security,”, he stressed.
He said since the project was introduced about a year ago, many farmers had benefited from it and gave the assurance that many more would benefit from the gesture to minimise post harvest losses.
Mr Kaba expressed concern about the farmers not being able to have easy access to agricultural extension officers and that only a “ few extension officers are on the field attending to many farmers, so the officers are not able to reach out to as many farmers as possible and teach them modern techniques of farming to enhance food security “
He appealed to the government to employ graduates from the agricultural colleges and universities for them to fill the gap and offer the requisite technical know-how to farmers for them to adopt modern ways of farming to enhance food security in the country”.
Mrs Beatrice Duku Frimpong Boateng, who received the items on behalf of the beneficiary farmers, commended GAWU and CIDA for their wonderful gesture.
“ With the items, we would be able to combat pests effectively and use the tarpaulins to dry our crops to improve their quality and thereby enhance their market values”.
She gave the assurance that the items would be maintained to encourage the donors to support them in other areas.
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