From George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
A 35-year-old man who claimed to be a security man, residing at the Race Course area in Kumasi has been convicted to serve a 35 year jail term for robbing a hairdresser at Barekese, near Kumasi.
The convict, Kwabena Gyan, 25, who pleaded guilty to a charge of robbery preferred against him was sentenced on his own plea when he appeared before a Kumasi Circuit court, presided over by Mr Lawrence Amo-Yartey.
He was arrested moments after he robbed the victim on June 2010.
This was after the victim had raised an alarm to attract sympathisers at a lonely place where she was walking.
Ms. R.D. Anita Wasse, who prosecuted told the court that around 7 am on June 19, 2010, the complainant- a head dresser who resides at Barekese- was walking on a footpath at the Barekese Dam site towards the main road to board a vehicle to Kumasi.
She said the convict trailed the complainant to a secluded area before grabbing her purse.
Ms Wasse said alarmed by the action of the convict, the complainant resisted and started struggling with him, but at that time, Gyan threatened the complainant, warning that he would severely assault her if she did not surrender the purse which contained a number of items, including cash and mobile phone.
She said as soon as the convict succeeded in snatching the purse, he dashed into the bush and at that time, the victim raised alarm attracting some sympathisers to the scene.
She said the sympathisers succeeded in arresting the convict, retrieved the purse and the mobile phone, but could not retrieve the cash which was in the purse.
The convict was therefore handed over to the police to assist in their investigations.
Friday, July 30, 2010
E. T's proposal to increase Premier League clubs..20-CLUB LEAGUE WON'T WORK' (GRAPHIC SPORTS, PAGE 11, JULY 30, 2010)
A soccer administrator and Chairman of Division Three Neoplan Stars, Mr Jonathan Pobee Abbey, has threatened to report the GFA to the world soccer governing body, FIFA, if it endorses the 20-league system advocated by the Minister of Employment and Social Welfare, Mr E.T Mensah
Speaking to the Graphic Sports when he called at the Kumasi Office of Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL), he questioned the essence of the proposal that seeks the commitment of members to endorse a 20-league system at a time the GFA had already endorsed the promotion and demotion of teams that participated in the last soccer season.
Mr Pobee pointed out that, the proposal, coming from The Minister of Employment and Social Welfare, Mr E.T. Mensah, should not be entertained because it would undermine the effective and efficient organisation of sports in the country”.
Mr Pobee said “politicians would gradually take over the administration of soccer in the country against FIFA directives if this proposal is endorsed This should not be encouraged because it would undermine the professional way of organising soccer in the country”.
Mr Pobee’s threat comes at a time Ghana Football Association (GFA) has issued a directive to summon the Executive Committee, Regional Football Associations, Premier and Division one League Clubs, and Constituent bodies to meet on August 18, 2010 to endorse the 20-team league system in the country during their “extra-ordinary session of congress”, ,.
The notice for the meeting, written and signed by the General Secretary of the GFA, Mr Kofi Nsiah, on July, 19, 2010, among others things, sought to discuss issues on accreditation, proposals for amendment of regulations and statues of the Ghana Football Association and any other business.
It was distributed to Executive Committee members, the Regional Football Associations, Premier and Division one League Clubs and Constituent bodies.
The proposal suggested the increase of “participating Clubs in the Premier League from 16 to 20, with effect from the 2010/2011 League season”
It said “the number of Clubs participating in the Division One League should be increased from 48 to 64, also with effect from 2010/2011 League season”.
It explained that “when endorsed by Congress, it will promote nationwide talent development and grass root football, and also ensure a fairer geographical representation and minimise skewness in favour of or against some regions”
The proposal further explained that “ the rationale behind the running of the reserve league is to give opportunity for clubs to develop young players who normally might not command first team place in the Regular League”.
In his reaction, Mr Pobee wondered why Mr E.T. Mensah should propose a 20-club Premier League when he rejected the same idea when he was the Minister for Youth and Sports.
“ When Mr E.T. Mensah was in charge of the Sports Ministry, he flatly rejected the idea that clubs should be increased from 16 to 20 at a time that Kumapim Stars and Brong Ahafo United had been relegated to division one, with the excuse that, it would undermine the professionalism of the league”, he noted.
Wondering why the Minister should make a complete ‘U-turn, and at a time the 16 participating teams are struggling to generate the needed financial resources to run their teams in a more professional way, as stipulated by the Minister when he was the substantive Sports Minister, Mr Pobee said “nothing has changed much when Mr Mensah was the Minister in charge of Sports to warrant the increase of participating clubs from 16 to 20”.
He also expressed concern about a statement made by Mr Mensah, at the Castle to the effect that “the three important clubs- Accra Great Olympics, Sekondi Eleven Wise and Hassacas”— which were relegated should be considered to avoid creating idleness at their stadia”
He said such a statement is very discriminatory, explaining that all the clubs relegated from the Premier league since Mr Mensah was in charge of Sports, were blessed with playing fields.
He mentioned Tema Youth, Afienya United, Akotex, Dumas, Kumasi Cornerstone Kumapim Stars , Brong Ahafo United, Tano Bofoakwa and Neoplan Stars, among others, as “teams that deserved to stay in the Premier league, but because their performances were not up to standard at certain points in time, they were booted out from the Premier league to pave way for new entrants.
He said apart from the problem of generating funds internally to run their clubs in an effective and efficient way, the “sponsorship packages needed to support the clubs are woefully inadequate even for the 16 participating clubs , so why should we add more at a time that we are struggling to run our league in a more professional manner”?
He pointed out that even with the 16 participating clubs, the GFA is struggling to meet the deadlines in CAF and FIFA programmes and, therefore, raised a strong objection to what he described as government interference to add more clubs to the existing ones.
He said the addition would greatly affect the GFA in meeting the deadlines of international competitions .
Mr Pobee also expressed concern about the proposal to start a reserve side as curtain raisers to the Premier league.
He said it would add to the financial woes of the 16 participating clubs, especially in areas of feeding, transportation, accommodation and bonuses .
He therefore suggested that instead, the GFA should use the division one clubs as curtain raisers during premier league matches, saying “ it would make the division one league more attractive,”
Speaking to the Graphic Sports when he called at the Kumasi Office of Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL), he questioned the essence of the proposal that seeks the commitment of members to endorse a 20-league system at a time the GFA had already endorsed the promotion and demotion of teams that participated in the last soccer season.
Mr Pobee pointed out that, the proposal, coming from The Minister of Employment and Social Welfare, Mr E.T. Mensah, should not be entertained because it would undermine the effective and efficient organisation of sports in the country”.
Mr Pobee said “politicians would gradually take over the administration of soccer in the country against FIFA directives if this proposal is endorsed This should not be encouraged because it would undermine the professional way of organising soccer in the country”.
Mr Pobee’s threat comes at a time Ghana Football Association (GFA) has issued a directive to summon the Executive Committee, Regional Football Associations, Premier and Division one League Clubs, and Constituent bodies to meet on August 18, 2010 to endorse the 20-team league system in the country during their “extra-ordinary session of congress”, ,.
The notice for the meeting, written and signed by the General Secretary of the GFA, Mr Kofi Nsiah, on July, 19, 2010, among others things, sought to discuss issues on accreditation, proposals for amendment of regulations and statues of the Ghana Football Association and any other business.
It was distributed to Executive Committee members, the Regional Football Associations, Premier and Division one League Clubs and Constituent bodies.
The proposal suggested the increase of “participating Clubs in the Premier League from 16 to 20, with effect from the 2010/2011 League season”
It said “the number of Clubs participating in the Division One League should be increased from 48 to 64, also with effect from 2010/2011 League season”.
It explained that “when endorsed by Congress, it will promote nationwide talent development and grass root football, and also ensure a fairer geographical representation and minimise skewness in favour of or against some regions”
The proposal further explained that “ the rationale behind the running of the reserve league is to give opportunity for clubs to develop young players who normally might not command first team place in the Regular League”.
In his reaction, Mr Pobee wondered why Mr E.T. Mensah should propose a 20-club Premier League when he rejected the same idea when he was the Minister for Youth and Sports.
“ When Mr E.T. Mensah was in charge of the Sports Ministry, he flatly rejected the idea that clubs should be increased from 16 to 20 at a time that Kumapim Stars and Brong Ahafo United had been relegated to division one, with the excuse that, it would undermine the professionalism of the league”, he noted.
Wondering why the Minister should make a complete ‘U-turn, and at a time the 16 participating teams are struggling to generate the needed financial resources to run their teams in a more professional way, as stipulated by the Minister when he was the substantive Sports Minister, Mr Pobee said “nothing has changed much when Mr Mensah was the Minister in charge of Sports to warrant the increase of participating clubs from 16 to 20”.
He also expressed concern about a statement made by Mr Mensah, at the Castle to the effect that “the three important clubs- Accra Great Olympics, Sekondi Eleven Wise and Hassacas”— which were relegated should be considered to avoid creating idleness at their stadia”
He said such a statement is very discriminatory, explaining that all the clubs relegated from the Premier league since Mr Mensah was in charge of Sports, were blessed with playing fields.
He mentioned Tema Youth, Afienya United, Akotex, Dumas, Kumasi Cornerstone Kumapim Stars , Brong Ahafo United, Tano Bofoakwa and Neoplan Stars, among others, as “teams that deserved to stay in the Premier league, but because their performances were not up to standard at certain points in time, they were booted out from the Premier league to pave way for new entrants.
He said apart from the problem of generating funds internally to run their clubs in an effective and efficient way, the “sponsorship packages needed to support the clubs are woefully inadequate even for the 16 participating clubs , so why should we add more at a time that we are struggling to run our league in a more professional manner”?
He pointed out that even with the 16 participating clubs, the GFA is struggling to meet the deadlines in CAF and FIFA programmes and, therefore, raised a strong objection to what he described as government interference to add more clubs to the existing ones.
He said the addition would greatly affect the GFA in meeting the deadlines of international competitions .
Mr Pobee also expressed concern about the proposal to start a reserve side as curtain raisers to the Premier league.
He said it would add to the financial woes of the 16 participating clubs, especially in areas of feeding, transportation, accommodation and bonuses .
He therefore suggested that instead, the GFA should use the division one clubs as curtain raisers during premier league matches, saying “ it would make the division one league more attractive,”
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
KATH APPEALS FOR SUPPORT...To complte maternal, child bocks (PAGE 11, JULY 27, 2010)
THE Chief Executive of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, (KATH) Professor Ohene Agyei has appeal to to the government, philanthropists, industries, and the general public to support the hospital to complete its Maternal and Child Health Blocks which has been under construction over the past 36 years.
Making the appeal in an interview with Daily Graphic, he said the continuous delay of work on the project, has resulted in severe congestion, at the Child Health and Maternity wings of the KATH due to inadequate space and facilities.
Expressing concern about the state of the hospital, Mr Agyei said, the Mother Baby Unit (MBU) of the KATH could be described as the most life threatening ward, as a result of the congestion at the unit and pointed out that the maternal and child mortality ratio at the hospital “ is still unacceptably high and continues to increase”.
He said, for instance, the Obstetrics and Gynaecology (O&G) unit has only 160 beds but admitted as much as 20,000 patients last year, which is more than 1,500 patients a month, adding that, “the percentage bed occupancy for the Directorate of Child Health in 2009 was 155.30 per cent, whilst that of the Directorate of Obstetrics and Gynaecology was 129.37 per cent”.
He said, sometimes two pregnant women share the same bed at the obstetrics and gynaecology unit, whilst some of them sleep on the floor, and pointed out that, the situation makes it difficult for clinicians to provide the best care to the expectant women.
Work on the construction of the block started in 1974 during the Supreme Military Council (SMC) regime, but the project is now about 65 per cent complete.
He pointed out that due to the congestion at the Mother and Baby Unit, newly-born babies, were crowded in babies’ cots, which he described as unhealthy, and totally against international practice and standards.
Referring to the nature of the MBU when it was established, Professor Adjei said in 1998, when the MBU started providing medical services to the people, between 40 and 60 babies were admitted at a time, making it possible for them to be provided with the needed care, attention and security from cross infections.
“Also, at that time, there were 73 baby cots at the MBU, so there were adequate space and spare cots that provided the needed comfort for the babies , putting them on course for full recovery from the various diseases afflicting them at birth” He noted.
He said “today, the MBU admits as many as 120 babies at a time, and not less than three babies are crammed together in the same cot”.
According to him, the result is that, a radiant heater, supposed to cater for one or two babies in a cot, now caters for about four babies , “and with this trend, babies on admission are likely to infect each other, especially if they had any contagious disease”.
According to the KATH 2009 annual medical report , the MBU “ received referrals from almost all corners of Ghana, and occasionally even beyond our borders”
The report also indicated that “as there is nowhere else to refer such sick babies, we cannot refuse to admit such babies”.
The report further indicated that, with the present condition, where babies are jammed in a cot, “ there are times when mothers sit on the benches outside with their babies on their laps, waiting for a place, so that their babies could be attended to”.
The report also made it clear that “population growth, health insurance and increasing awareness about new-born diseases, have all contributed to the ever increasing numbers of babies filling up spaces at the MBU”,.
According to the annual report, authorities relocated the MBU in 2009 to give way for the place to be fumigated to enhance quality health care delivery, hoping that stakeholders would support the early completion of the Maternity and Child Health Blocks, which is a multi-storey structure with a five-storey paediatric wing.
The Obstetrics and Gynaecology wing is a six-storey while the theatre wing is housed in a six-storey block. The blocks have a-750 bed capacity and securing the needed funds for its early completion would go a long way to improve the capacity of the problem of congestion that undermines quality health care delivery.
When the sod cutting ceremony started 36 years ago, the indication was that it would be completed on schedule to complement facilities at the old block .
According to the management of the hospital, the issue of increased maternal mortality rates could be effectively addressed, if facilities at KATH in general and the Maternal and Child Health units are improved to enable the hospital, which serves as a referral centre.
Since KATH is located at the heart of the country, emergency cases from seven out of the 10 regions are regularly referred there, thus creating massive congestion.
The health authorities advised patients who are referred to the hospital, not to delay in getting to the hospital, adding that, for example, out of a total of 114 maternal deaths recorded in 2009, 68, representing 59.65 per cent died less than 48 hours after their arrival at the KATH.
Making the appeal in an interview with Daily Graphic, he said the continuous delay of work on the project, has resulted in severe congestion, at the Child Health and Maternity wings of the KATH due to inadequate space and facilities.
Expressing concern about the state of the hospital, Mr Agyei said, the Mother Baby Unit (MBU) of the KATH could be described as the most life threatening ward, as a result of the congestion at the unit and pointed out that the maternal and child mortality ratio at the hospital “ is still unacceptably high and continues to increase”.
He said, for instance, the Obstetrics and Gynaecology (O&G) unit has only 160 beds but admitted as much as 20,000 patients last year, which is more than 1,500 patients a month, adding that, “the percentage bed occupancy for the Directorate of Child Health in 2009 was 155.30 per cent, whilst that of the Directorate of Obstetrics and Gynaecology was 129.37 per cent”.
He said, sometimes two pregnant women share the same bed at the obstetrics and gynaecology unit, whilst some of them sleep on the floor, and pointed out that, the situation makes it difficult for clinicians to provide the best care to the expectant women.
Work on the construction of the block started in 1974 during the Supreme Military Council (SMC) regime, but the project is now about 65 per cent complete.
He pointed out that due to the congestion at the Mother and Baby Unit, newly-born babies, were crowded in babies’ cots, which he described as unhealthy, and totally against international practice and standards.
Referring to the nature of the MBU when it was established, Professor Adjei said in 1998, when the MBU started providing medical services to the people, between 40 and 60 babies were admitted at a time, making it possible for them to be provided with the needed care, attention and security from cross infections.
“Also, at that time, there were 73 baby cots at the MBU, so there were adequate space and spare cots that provided the needed comfort for the babies , putting them on course for full recovery from the various diseases afflicting them at birth” He noted.
He said “today, the MBU admits as many as 120 babies at a time, and not less than three babies are crammed together in the same cot”.
According to him, the result is that, a radiant heater, supposed to cater for one or two babies in a cot, now caters for about four babies , “and with this trend, babies on admission are likely to infect each other, especially if they had any contagious disease”.
According to the KATH 2009 annual medical report , the MBU “ received referrals from almost all corners of Ghana, and occasionally even beyond our borders”
The report also indicated that “as there is nowhere else to refer such sick babies, we cannot refuse to admit such babies”.
The report further indicated that, with the present condition, where babies are jammed in a cot, “ there are times when mothers sit on the benches outside with their babies on their laps, waiting for a place, so that their babies could be attended to”.
The report also made it clear that “population growth, health insurance and increasing awareness about new-born diseases, have all contributed to the ever increasing numbers of babies filling up spaces at the MBU”,.
According to the annual report, authorities relocated the MBU in 2009 to give way for the place to be fumigated to enhance quality health care delivery, hoping that stakeholders would support the early completion of the Maternity and Child Health Blocks, which is a multi-storey structure with a five-storey paediatric wing.
The Obstetrics and Gynaecology wing is a six-storey while the theatre wing is housed in a six-storey block. The blocks have a-750 bed capacity and securing the needed funds for its early completion would go a long way to improve the capacity of the problem of congestion that undermines quality health care delivery.
When the sod cutting ceremony started 36 years ago, the indication was that it would be completed on schedule to complement facilities at the old block .
According to the management of the hospital, the issue of increased maternal mortality rates could be effectively addressed, if facilities at KATH in general and the Maternal and Child Health units are improved to enable the hospital, which serves as a referral centre.
Since KATH is located at the heart of the country, emergency cases from seven out of the 10 regions are regularly referred there, thus creating massive congestion.
The health authorities advised patients who are referred to the hospital, not to delay in getting to the hospital, adding that, for example, out of a total of 114 maternal deaths recorded in 2009, 68, representing 59.65 per cent died less than 48 hours after their arrival at the KATH.
PASTOR COMMITS SUICIDE ...Family, friends totally devasted (LEAD STORY, JULY 27, 2010)
Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
A gentle life, described as one devoted to the service of God and man, ended in a most brutal fashion in Kumasi about 4 p.m. yesterday when a Head Pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church allegedly blew himself up with a gun.
The reasons for that bloody end still confounds the pastor’s family and friends who responded to the ‘boom’ of the gun by rushing to the bathroom, only to meet the horror of horrors.
The Daily Graphic was part of that early group of curious persons to see Rev Nicholas Opoku-Agyeman lying supine in a pool of blood.
Spotting a black singlet over a pair of green trousers, the body was lying face up in the bathroom, with blood oozing profusely from the chest where there was a big hole, apparently from the gunshot.
In no time, the entire Nzema community near Kwadaso Agric in Kumasi, where the pastor lived with his wife and their five children, was caught up in the frenzy and stampede to witness the incident.
In the outpour of sorrow and tears, many also recounted his calm nature and good deeds.
His wife, Mrs Charity Opoku-Agyeman, sobbed as she spoke fondly of her husband, recounting their activities till that fatal afternoon.
She said she had just returned from the market and was entering their bedroom when she heard a loud noise.
“I trembled and screamed, “Pastor!” and rushed to the bath house. When l entered, l saw him lying supine, with blood oozing from where the bullet had hit him,” she said.
According to Mrs Opoku-Agyeman, her husband had complained of sickness last Sunday, for which reason he could not attend church to perform his priestly function of preaching.
She said she had, therefore, gone to the church to inform the elders about her husband’s condition, after which she had taken him to the SDA Hospital at Kwadaso where he was treated and given some medication.
Before then, Mrs Opoku-Agyeman said the pastor had complained of some eye problems and, therefore, she had taken him to the Madam Catherine Herbal Clinic at South Suntreso where he had been given some concoctions to use.
She said her dear husband was told to return for further treatment, but that was not to be until yesterday’s tragedy.
As of the time of filing this report, the police had visited the crime scene and conveyed the body to the morgue at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.
A gentle life, described as one devoted to the service of God and man, ended in a most brutal fashion in Kumasi about 4 p.m. yesterday when a Head Pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church allegedly blew himself up with a gun.
The reasons for that bloody end still confounds the pastor’s family and friends who responded to the ‘boom’ of the gun by rushing to the bathroom, only to meet the horror of horrors.
The Daily Graphic was part of that early group of curious persons to see Rev Nicholas Opoku-Agyeman lying supine in a pool of blood.
Spotting a black singlet over a pair of green trousers, the body was lying face up in the bathroom, with blood oozing profusely from the chest where there was a big hole, apparently from the gunshot.
In no time, the entire Nzema community near Kwadaso Agric in Kumasi, where the pastor lived with his wife and their five children, was caught up in the frenzy and stampede to witness the incident.
In the outpour of sorrow and tears, many also recounted his calm nature and good deeds.
His wife, Mrs Charity Opoku-Agyeman, sobbed as she spoke fondly of her husband, recounting their activities till that fatal afternoon.
She said she had just returned from the market and was entering their bedroom when she heard a loud noise.
“I trembled and screamed, “Pastor!” and rushed to the bath house. When l entered, l saw him lying supine, with blood oozing from where the bullet had hit him,” she said.
According to Mrs Opoku-Agyeman, her husband had complained of sickness last Sunday, for which reason he could not attend church to perform his priestly function of preaching.
She said she had, therefore, gone to the church to inform the elders about her husband’s condition, after which she had taken him to the SDA Hospital at Kwadaso where he was treated and given some medication.
Before then, Mrs Opoku-Agyeman said the pastor had complained of some eye problems and, therefore, she had taken him to the Madam Catherine Herbal Clinic at South Suntreso where he had been given some concoctions to use.
She said her dear husband was told to return for further treatment, but that was not to be until yesterday’s tragedy.
As of the time of filing this report, the police had visited the crime scene and conveyed the body to the morgue at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.
Monday, July 26, 2010
ROBBERS FLUSHED OUT...After gun-battle with police (LEAD STORY, JULY 26, 2010)
Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
THE police at the weekend crushed what was believed to be an armed robbery training school at Atwima Koforidua, near Kumasi.
However, the exercise, which was undertaken in broad daylight by the Buffalo Unit of the Ashanti Regional Police Command, triggered a gun battle, as the over 20 robbers at the training school fiercely resisted arrest, resulting in the Regional Buffalo Commander, DSP Rev Samuel Adane–Ameyaw, sustaining gunshot wounds in the left leg, while one of the alleged robbers, identified only as Asante, was also shot dead.
The commander was rushed to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), where he was treated and discharged, while the body of the deceased has been deposited at the morgue of the hospital.
The police said the training school had been a no-go area for residents, as the robbers had warned that anyone found in the area would be shot.
Acting on a hint that the suspects had cleared a place to train suspected armed robbers, the police attempted to round them up about 2 p.m. last Friday.
Just as the police approached the area, the suspects allegedly dashed into the bush, retrieved a number of weapons that they had hidden there and opened fire on the police, who returned fire.
It was in the process of the gun battle that the commander of the team was hit in the left leg, while one of the suspects was hit in the neck, dying on the spot.
The police retrieved a locally manufactured pistol, a shotgun, a machete, as well as quantities of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp and dry gin from the scene.
About 10 suspects who were rounded up during the operation have, however, been released on police enquiry bail.
According to the Ashanti Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Chief Inspector Yusif Tanko, the suspects were released because initial investigations revealed that they were not connected with the incident.
Briefing the Daily Graphic on the incident, Chief Inspector Tanko said on October 24, 2009, a farmer, who was identified as Yaw Akoto, was shot and killed at Atwima Koforidua.
He said eyewitness accounts identified the killer as Kwaku Asante, who escaped police arrest and had since been on the police wanted list.
He said police intelligence reports proved that the fugitive had returned to Atwima Koforidua and organised a number of armed robbers to train them in weapon handling, a development which informed the police to intervene.
Chief Inspector Tanko said last Friday when the suspect and his gang were at the training ground, a team of police officers from the Buffalo Unit was dispatched to the place to effect their arrest but just when the police were closing in on them, the alleged robbers opened fire, hitting the commander of the team in the left leg.
He said the police returned fire, hitting Asante in the neck and killing him in the process.
He said the leader of the gang, Kwaku Asante, and some his accomplices, however, managed to escape.
THE police at the weekend crushed what was believed to be an armed robbery training school at Atwima Koforidua, near Kumasi.
However, the exercise, which was undertaken in broad daylight by the Buffalo Unit of the Ashanti Regional Police Command, triggered a gun battle, as the over 20 robbers at the training school fiercely resisted arrest, resulting in the Regional Buffalo Commander, DSP Rev Samuel Adane–Ameyaw, sustaining gunshot wounds in the left leg, while one of the alleged robbers, identified only as Asante, was also shot dead.
The commander was rushed to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), where he was treated and discharged, while the body of the deceased has been deposited at the morgue of the hospital.
The police said the training school had been a no-go area for residents, as the robbers had warned that anyone found in the area would be shot.
Acting on a hint that the suspects had cleared a place to train suspected armed robbers, the police attempted to round them up about 2 p.m. last Friday.
Just as the police approached the area, the suspects allegedly dashed into the bush, retrieved a number of weapons that they had hidden there and opened fire on the police, who returned fire.
It was in the process of the gun battle that the commander of the team was hit in the left leg, while one of the suspects was hit in the neck, dying on the spot.
The police retrieved a locally manufactured pistol, a shotgun, a machete, as well as quantities of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp and dry gin from the scene.
About 10 suspects who were rounded up during the operation have, however, been released on police enquiry bail.
According to the Ashanti Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Chief Inspector Yusif Tanko, the suspects were released because initial investigations revealed that they were not connected with the incident.
Briefing the Daily Graphic on the incident, Chief Inspector Tanko said on October 24, 2009, a farmer, who was identified as Yaw Akoto, was shot and killed at Atwima Koforidua.
He said eyewitness accounts identified the killer as Kwaku Asante, who escaped police arrest and had since been on the police wanted list.
He said police intelligence reports proved that the fugitive had returned to Atwima Koforidua and organised a number of armed robbers to train them in weapon handling, a development which informed the police to intervene.
Chief Inspector Tanko said last Friday when the suspect and his gang were at the training ground, a team of police officers from the Buffalo Unit was dispatched to the place to effect their arrest but just when the police were closing in on them, the alleged robbers opened fire, hitting the commander of the team in the left leg.
He said the police returned fire, hitting Asante in the neck and killing him in the process.
He said the leader of the gang, Kwaku Asante, and some his accomplices, however, managed to escape.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
GNAT, CTF ORGANISE WORKSHOP FOR TEACHERS IN ASHANTI (PAGE 22, JULY 24, 2010)
THE Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), in collaboration with the Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF), has organised an in-service workshop for selected teachers in the Ashanti Region.
The workshop was aimed at building the capacity of the participants in English, Mathematics, Science, French and Basic Design and Technology.
In all, about 202 teachers selected from the primary, junior and senior high schools participated in the seminar to make them more proficient in their subject areas as a way of raising academic standard in the region.
The programme will be organised in all regional capitals to offer teachers more room to expand their horizon in their subject areas.
Addressing the participants at the closing ceremony, the Deputy General Secretary of GNAT, Mr John Nyoagbe, said it was important for the planners in educational programmes to provide a curriculum that would make the youth assert themselves and rub shoulders with the best in terms of entrepreneurship, engineering, medicine and other modern pursuits.
He also urged the government and all stakeholders in the education sector to develop policies to reflect the development needs of the country.
Mr Nyoagbe stated that the country had over relied on educational policies which were prototype of the Western advanced economies, and said such policies were likely to create socio-economic problems for the country.
He said it was important for Ghana to draw lessons from both the developed world and the emerging economies of East and South-east Asia and adapt them to our circumstances.
“You should devise means that will attract and retain the best and committed persons to the teaching profession”. Mr Nyoagbe commended the CTF for its conscious efforts to support the GNAT to build the capacity of teachers in the country.
He urged the beneficiary teachers to share the knowledge and skills they had acquired with their colleagues who were not fortunate to benefit from the workshop.
The workshop was aimed at building the capacity of the participants in English, Mathematics, Science, French and Basic Design and Technology.
In all, about 202 teachers selected from the primary, junior and senior high schools participated in the seminar to make them more proficient in their subject areas as a way of raising academic standard in the region.
The programme will be organised in all regional capitals to offer teachers more room to expand their horizon in their subject areas.
Addressing the participants at the closing ceremony, the Deputy General Secretary of GNAT, Mr John Nyoagbe, said it was important for the planners in educational programmes to provide a curriculum that would make the youth assert themselves and rub shoulders with the best in terms of entrepreneurship, engineering, medicine and other modern pursuits.
He also urged the government and all stakeholders in the education sector to develop policies to reflect the development needs of the country.
Mr Nyoagbe stated that the country had over relied on educational policies which were prototype of the Western advanced economies, and said such policies were likely to create socio-economic problems for the country.
He said it was important for Ghana to draw lessons from both the developed world and the emerging economies of East and South-east Asia and adapt them to our circumstances.
“You should devise means that will attract and retain the best and committed persons to the teaching profession”. Mr Nyoagbe commended the CTF for its conscious efforts to support the GNAT to build the capacity of teachers in the country.
He urged the beneficiary teachers to share the knowledge and skills they had acquired with their colleagues who were not fortunate to benefit from the workshop.
Friday, July 23, 2010
LOTTO OPERATOR DEFILES GIRL, 7 (MIRROR, PAGE 20 JULY 24, 2010)
From George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
A Kumasi High Court presided over by Justice R.C Azumah has convicted a 35 year old lotto operator to serve seven a year jail term for sexually abusing a seven year old primary school pupil.
The convict, Gilbert Abeiku Ansah, who was arrested early in January 2009, was jailed after almost one and a half years’ trial.
After sexually molesting the girl , Abeiku Ansah sternly warned her not to disclose her ordeal to her mother who was a family friend.
A few days after her ordeal, the victim took ill, causing her mother to send her for a medical check up, a situation that caused the medical officer to detect that the girl had been sexually abused.
It was at this period that the girl disclosed the news to her mother who in turn reported to the police for them to arrest Abeiku Ansah who had by then gone into hiding.
A State Attorney, Mr Emmanuel Lawrence Otoo-Boison, who prosecuted, told the court that the victim who is seven years old and stays at Ahenema Kokoben, near Kumasi, is a close friend to the daughter of the convict.
He said as a result of the friendship, the victim and her friend had been visiting each other’s house at regular intervals, making it possible for the convict to take advantage to plan on how to sexually molest her.
He said one afternoon in January 2009, when the victim was returning from an errand, the convict saw her and invited her into his room and sexually molested her, warning her afterwards that she would die mysteriously if she revealed the ordeal she had gone through to her mother.
Mr Otoo-Boison said after her ordeal, the victim kept it to herself until her health started deteriorating at a faster rate, a situation that caused her mother to seek medical treatment.
He said it was at the hospital that the medical officer detected that the girl had been sexually molested, and prompted the mother to report to the police .
He said when the convict got wind that the victim had been admitted to the hospital, he went into hiding but the police succeeded in arresting him from his hide out and after investigations, he was charged with an offence of defiling a girl.
A Kumasi High Court presided over by Justice R.C Azumah has convicted a 35 year old lotto operator to serve seven a year jail term for sexually abusing a seven year old primary school pupil.
The convict, Gilbert Abeiku Ansah, who was arrested early in January 2009, was jailed after almost one and a half years’ trial.
After sexually molesting the girl , Abeiku Ansah sternly warned her not to disclose her ordeal to her mother who was a family friend.
A few days after her ordeal, the victim took ill, causing her mother to send her for a medical check up, a situation that caused the medical officer to detect that the girl had been sexually abused.
It was at this period that the girl disclosed the news to her mother who in turn reported to the police for them to arrest Abeiku Ansah who had by then gone into hiding.
A State Attorney, Mr Emmanuel Lawrence Otoo-Boison, who prosecuted, told the court that the victim who is seven years old and stays at Ahenema Kokoben, near Kumasi, is a close friend to the daughter of the convict.
He said as a result of the friendship, the victim and her friend had been visiting each other’s house at regular intervals, making it possible for the convict to take advantage to plan on how to sexually molest her.
He said one afternoon in January 2009, when the victim was returning from an errand, the convict saw her and invited her into his room and sexually molested her, warning her afterwards that she would die mysteriously if she revealed the ordeal she had gone through to her mother.
Mr Otoo-Boison said after her ordeal, the victim kept it to herself until her health started deteriorating at a faster rate, a situation that caused her mother to seek medical treatment.
He said it was at the hospital that the medical officer detected that the girl had been sexually molested, and prompted the mother to report to the police .
He said when the convict got wind that the victim had been admitted to the hospital, he went into hiding but the police succeeded in arresting him from his hide out and after investigations, he was charged with an offence of defiling a girl.
TWO ROBBERS JAILED 60 YEARS (MIRROR, PAGE 20, JULY 24, 2010)
From George Ernest Asare, Kumasi.
Two young men who conspired to rob three members of staff of the Home Finance Company (HFC) in Kumasi of a Toyota saloon car, mobile phones and assorted personal items have been convicted to serve 30 years in jail each with hard labour by a Kumasi High Court.
The convicts, Kwame Adu, 21, and Kwadwo Bright, 21, driving a stolen blue Toyota Hilux, with registration number GN 1520-09, succeeded in hijacking the Toyota saloon car, with registration number AW 686 Z, belonging to the three members of staff of the bank.
That was after the convicts, one of whom was brandishing a gun, had crossed the saloon car with their stolen pick up, forcing the car to stop abruptly. They then took over the car and sped off with it, leaving their victims stranded.
The incident occurred on the Asokore-Mampong road in Kumasi on February 25, 2010.
The Toyota saloon car, estimated at GH¢15,000, is yet to be retrieved from the convicts after they had been arrested by the police.
The police, however, succeeded in retrieving some of the personal items in a bag that was in the car.
Before judgement was passed, the convicts pleaded for leniency but the court ignored that plea and imposed a heavy punishment for the offence.
Giving the facts before the court, a Senior State Attorney, Mr Ernest Ofei Ayeh, said the convicts, together with two others, trailed the complainants after they had closed from work and succeeded in crossing their car on the Asokore- Mampong road.
He said moments after the car had stopped, Bright, who was wielding a locally manufactured gun, ordered all the people in it to come out.
He said moments afterwards, the convicts took over the car and sped off, taking along complainants’ bags and other valuables.
He said after lodging complaints with the police, the complainants were invited to the police station a few days later where some of the items in their bags, including their identity cards, were given to them.
Two young men who conspired to rob three members of staff of the Home Finance Company (HFC) in Kumasi of a Toyota saloon car, mobile phones and assorted personal items have been convicted to serve 30 years in jail each with hard labour by a Kumasi High Court.
The convicts, Kwame Adu, 21, and Kwadwo Bright, 21, driving a stolen blue Toyota Hilux, with registration number GN 1520-09, succeeded in hijacking the Toyota saloon car, with registration number AW 686 Z, belonging to the three members of staff of the bank.
That was after the convicts, one of whom was brandishing a gun, had crossed the saloon car with their stolen pick up, forcing the car to stop abruptly. They then took over the car and sped off with it, leaving their victims stranded.
The incident occurred on the Asokore-Mampong road in Kumasi on February 25, 2010.
The Toyota saloon car, estimated at GH¢15,000, is yet to be retrieved from the convicts after they had been arrested by the police.
The police, however, succeeded in retrieving some of the personal items in a bag that was in the car.
Before judgement was passed, the convicts pleaded for leniency but the court ignored that plea and imposed a heavy punishment for the offence.
Giving the facts before the court, a Senior State Attorney, Mr Ernest Ofei Ayeh, said the convicts, together with two others, trailed the complainants after they had closed from work and succeeded in crossing their car on the Asokore- Mampong road.
He said moments after the car had stopped, Bright, who was wielding a locally manufactured gun, ordered all the people in it to come out.
He said moments afterwards, the convicts took over the car and sped off, taking along complainants’ bags and other valuables.
He said after lodging complaints with the police, the complainants were invited to the police station a few days later where some of the items in their bags, including their identity cards, were given to them.
TWO CONVICTED TO SERVE 130 YEARS JAIL TERM (MIRROR, PAGE 19, JULY 24, 2010)
From George Ernest Asare.
Two young men, sentenced to serve a total of 120 years in jail by a Kumasi Circuit court three weeks ago for robbery, were in the news again at the weekend when they were convicted to serve another 130 years for a similar criminal offence committed at Ejura in the Ashanti Region last year.
Alim Yaao Dawuda, 23, and Mohammed Yussif, 25, described as incorrigible gangsters were at the weekend, convicted by a Kumasi court presided over by Mr Emmanuel Amoo-Yartey to serve an additional 65 year jail term each .
This was after the court had found them guilty for attacking an Ejura based businessman deep in the night on May 26, 2009 thereby robbing him of an amount of GH¢680.
The convicts also attacked and wounded their victim by firing sporadically in his compound after they had used a heavy metal to force his gates open.
It was in the course of the sporadic gun shots that the victim was hit in the left palm .
After entering their apartment and robbing them of a total of GH¢680 , the convicts again shot the victim in the leg, causing him to bleed profusely.
He was rushed to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital for treatment after the convicts had escaped .
The convicts pleaded not guilty to the charges of conspiracy to rob and robbery when they appeared before the court, but after the trial which had lasted for over a year, the court found them guilty of the offence and convicted them accordingly.
The court has issued a warrant for the arrest of their accomplice, who was identified as Monzil Alhassan for him to face justice.
Giving an account of the incident during the trial, a Senior State Attorney, Mr Richmond Osei Hwere said around 1:30 am on May 26, 2009, when the business man, who resides at Ejura Gonja Line was asleep, he heard sporadic gun fire in his compound, creating a state of panic .
He said in the course of the gun fire, the convicts ordered the victim to open his door, warning that, they would shoot him if he failed to open the door.
Mr Osei Hwere said they ignored the threats , causing the convicts to fire directly into their apartment.
This, he said, caused some of the pellets to hit the left palm of the complainant, a situation that made it possible for Alim Yaao Dawuda to force the door open, and at gun point, ordered the complainants to surrunder all their money, and that if they failed their heads would be blown off completely.
Mr Osei Hwere said after succeeding in robbing the victims of an amount of GH¢680, the convicts who were not satisfied with the booty, shot directly the legs of the businessman, causing him to bleed profusely.
Two young men, sentenced to serve a total of 120 years in jail by a Kumasi Circuit court three weeks ago for robbery, were in the news again at the weekend when they were convicted to serve another 130 years for a similar criminal offence committed at Ejura in the Ashanti Region last year.
Alim Yaao Dawuda, 23, and Mohammed Yussif, 25, described as incorrigible gangsters were at the weekend, convicted by a Kumasi court presided over by Mr Emmanuel Amoo-Yartey to serve an additional 65 year jail term each .
This was after the court had found them guilty for attacking an Ejura based businessman deep in the night on May 26, 2009 thereby robbing him of an amount of GH¢680.
The convicts also attacked and wounded their victim by firing sporadically in his compound after they had used a heavy metal to force his gates open.
It was in the course of the sporadic gun shots that the victim was hit in the left palm .
After entering their apartment and robbing them of a total of GH¢680 , the convicts again shot the victim in the leg, causing him to bleed profusely.
He was rushed to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital for treatment after the convicts had escaped .
The convicts pleaded not guilty to the charges of conspiracy to rob and robbery when they appeared before the court, but after the trial which had lasted for over a year, the court found them guilty of the offence and convicted them accordingly.
The court has issued a warrant for the arrest of their accomplice, who was identified as Monzil Alhassan for him to face justice.
Giving an account of the incident during the trial, a Senior State Attorney, Mr Richmond Osei Hwere said around 1:30 am on May 26, 2009, when the business man, who resides at Ejura Gonja Line was asleep, he heard sporadic gun fire in his compound, creating a state of panic .
He said in the course of the gun fire, the convicts ordered the victim to open his door, warning that, they would shoot him if he failed to open the door.
Mr Osei Hwere said they ignored the threats , causing the convicts to fire directly into their apartment.
This, he said, caused some of the pellets to hit the left palm of the complainant, a situation that made it possible for Alim Yaao Dawuda to force the door open, and at gun point, ordered the complainants to surrunder all their money, and that if they failed their heads would be blown off completely.
Mr Osei Hwere said after succeeding in robbing the victims of an amount of GH¢680, the convicts who were not satisfied with the booty, shot directly the legs of the businessman, causing him to bleed profusely.
ASANTEHENE WORRIED ABOUT LAND DISPUTES (PAGE 22, JULY 23, 2010)
THE Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu has expressed concern about the numerous disputes arising in the traditional areas as a result of the multiple sale of stool lands.
He has therefore advocated the prosecution of chiefs who indulge in such actions.
Interacting with the Management of Mckeown Investment Company, real estate developers who paid a courtesy call on him at the Manhyia palace, Otumfuo Osei Tutu said it was very important for traditional rulers to seek the services of professional surveyors to demarcate their stool lands properly.
He said that would not tempt them to sell one to plot to two or more people.
The Asantehene stated that some chiefs did not only indulge in the multiple sale of stool lands, but also refused to provide documents covering the sale of such lands, warning that such criminal attitude would not be tolerated.
A statement issued from the Manhyia Palace and signed by the Media Relations Manager, Mr G.B. Osei-Antwi, quoted Otumfuo Osei Tutu as cautioning traditional rulers who failed to support the development initiatives in their communities and those who refused to account for the numerous lands sold to developers to turn over a new leaf.
“Some chiefs sell stool lands and pocket the money without leaving part of the amount received for the development of their communities,” the statement said, adding “such monies are used by chiefs as chop money, which they cannot account for at any point in time.”
It said it was the multiple sales of stool lands that had contributed to the numerous land disputes in the traditional areas, warning that the Asantehene would no more tolerate “any chief who cannot account for the sale of stool lands when he appears before him.”
The statement noted with concern the effects of disposing lands without any benefit to their subjects.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu said the present and future generations were likely to suffer from the greed of chiefs who sold land without investing the monies accrued from the sales.
Commending the Management of Mckeown Real Estate Developers for their sense of initiative, Otumfuo Osei Tutu urged traditional rulers to partner them to provide houses to people in their respective communities to reduce the accommodation problems facing them.
“You can release large tracts of land for such a project by using your lands as equity to collaborate with estate developers which will benefit communities in future,” he stressed.
Earlier, the Chief Executive of Mckeown Estate Developers, Mr Clement Wilkinson gave the assurance that they were ready to partner chiefs to initiate housing projects to ease the accommodation problems facing Ghanaians.
He said after acquiring the land, they provided facilities like roads, electricity, police stations and schools for the communities.
He has therefore advocated the prosecution of chiefs who indulge in such actions.
Interacting with the Management of Mckeown Investment Company, real estate developers who paid a courtesy call on him at the Manhyia palace, Otumfuo Osei Tutu said it was very important for traditional rulers to seek the services of professional surveyors to demarcate their stool lands properly.
He said that would not tempt them to sell one to plot to two or more people.
The Asantehene stated that some chiefs did not only indulge in the multiple sale of stool lands, but also refused to provide documents covering the sale of such lands, warning that such criminal attitude would not be tolerated.
A statement issued from the Manhyia Palace and signed by the Media Relations Manager, Mr G.B. Osei-Antwi, quoted Otumfuo Osei Tutu as cautioning traditional rulers who failed to support the development initiatives in their communities and those who refused to account for the numerous lands sold to developers to turn over a new leaf.
“Some chiefs sell stool lands and pocket the money without leaving part of the amount received for the development of their communities,” the statement said, adding “such monies are used by chiefs as chop money, which they cannot account for at any point in time.”
It said it was the multiple sales of stool lands that had contributed to the numerous land disputes in the traditional areas, warning that the Asantehene would no more tolerate “any chief who cannot account for the sale of stool lands when he appears before him.”
The statement noted with concern the effects of disposing lands without any benefit to their subjects.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu said the present and future generations were likely to suffer from the greed of chiefs who sold land without investing the monies accrued from the sales.
Commending the Management of Mckeown Real Estate Developers for their sense of initiative, Otumfuo Osei Tutu urged traditional rulers to partner them to provide houses to people in their respective communities to reduce the accommodation problems facing them.
“You can release large tracts of land for such a project by using your lands as equity to collaborate with estate developers which will benefit communities in future,” he stressed.
Earlier, the Chief Executive of Mckeown Estate Developers, Mr Clement Wilkinson gave the assurance that they were ready to partner chiefs to initiate housing projects to ease the accommodation problems facing Ghanaians.
He said after acquiring the land, they provided facilities like roads, electricity, police stations and schools for the communities.
WORKSHOP ON TOLERANCEFOR ZONGO COMMUNITIES (PAGE 13, JULY 23, 2010)
THE National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has organised a training workshop on tolerance and conflict prevention for the Zongo Community at Effiduase in the Ashanti Region.
This is also to conscientise the community to develop a culture of tolerance to enhance peaceful coexistence.
The workshop was meant to debunk the perception which tagged people in the Zongo community as being violent, armed robbers, backward illiterate among others.
Speaking on the topic: ‘Tolerance and conflict prevention for successful district level election in 2010 at Effiduase” the Ashanti Regional Director of the NCCE, Mr Alhassan Yakubu, noted that “tolerance is a culture whereby individuals or groups of different ideological and religious backgrounds agree to disagree on issues without resorting to verbal or physical violence”.
He noted that “tolerance allows for competition of ideas to enhance development and social advancement”.
Mr Yakubu, who dilated extensively on conflicts, causes, consequences, as well as prevention and peace building, pointed out that in society, “ we cannot avoid conflicts as they are natural occurrences, we should endeavour to prevent conflicts from erupting into violence, destruction, chaos and loss of lives”.
Earlier, the Chairman of the NCCE, Mr Larry Bimi called for peaceful co-existence among members of the Zongo communities and traditional landowners to foster sustainable peace and development.
Mr Bimi said it was equally important for them to tolerate and respect one another as a way of deepening social relationship among them.
This, he said, would go a long way to” avoid violence and confrontations that leads to conflict”.
Mr Bimi, who made the appeal when he offered to mediate for an amicable settlement and resolution of a land dispute between the traditional rulers and the Zongo community, pointed out that “the Commission has a constitutional mandate to create and sustain awareness of constitutional democracy for the achievement of political, social and economic stability for national development”.
He pointed out that sustainable national development cannot take place in an “ atmosphere of mistrust, fear and apprehension among neighbours who are at loggerheads.”
He explained that he offered to mediate in the conflict in the area based on the reports he received from the regional and district officers and assured that he would support them to establish positive reportage.
He appealed to them to eschew any tendency likely to “escalate into violence and aggravate the situation,” stressing: “It is important for you to exercise a high sense of tolerance and circumspection”.
He assured to study their grievances “very closely and chart a way forward.”
As part of resolving the conflict amicably, Mr Bimi paid a courtesy call on the Effiduasehene, Nana Adu Ameyaw, the District Chief Executive , Mr Kwadwo Addae and the Chief of the Zongo Community, Malam Abdul-n Aziz Adam .
He also had fruitful interactions with a section of the youth, women leaders and opinion leaders and advised them to maintain peace and tranquillity as the district level election draws nearer.
This is also to conscientise the community to develop a culture of tolerance to enhance peaceful coexistence.
The workshop was meant to debunk the perception which tagged people in the Zongo community as being violent, armed robbers, backward illiterate among others.
Speaking on the topic: ‘Tolerance and conflict prevention for successful district level election in 2010 at Effiduase” the Ashanti Regional Director of the NCCE, Mr Alhassan Yakubu, noted that “tolerance is a culture whereby individuals or groups of different ideological and religious backgrounds agree to disagree on issues without resorting to verbal or physical violence”.
He noted that “tolerance allows for competition of ideas to enhance development and social advancement”.
Mr Yakubu, who dilated extensively on conflicts, causes, consequences, as well as prevention and peace building, pointed out that in society, “ we cannot avoid conflicts as they are natural occurrences, we should endeavour to prevent conflicts from erupting into violence, destruction, chaos and loss of lives”.
Earlier, the Chairman of the NCCE, Mr Larry Bimi called for peaceful co-existence among members of the Zongo communities and traditional landowners to foster sustainable peace and development.
Mr Bimi said it was equally important for them to tolerate and respect one another as a way of deepening social relationship among them.
This, he said, would go a long way to” avoid violence and confrontations that leads to conflict”.
Mr Bimi, who made the appeal when he offered to mediate for an amicable settlement and resolution of a land dispute between the traditional rulers and the Zongo community, pointed out that “the Commission has a constitutional mandate to create and sustain awareness of constitutional democracy for the achievement of political, social and economic stability for national development”.
He pointed out that sustainable national development cannot take place in an “ atmosphere of mistrust, fear and apprehension among neighbours who are at loggerheads.”
He explained that he offered to mediate in the conflict in the area based on the reports he received from the regional and district officers and assured that he would support them to establish positive reportage.
He appealed to them to eschew any tendency likely to “escalate into violence and aggravate the situation,” stressing: “It is important for you to exercise a high sense of tolerance and circumspection”.
He assured to study their grievances “very closely and chart a way forward.”
As part of resolving the conflict amicably, Mr Bimi paid a courtesy call on the Effiduasehene, Nana Adu Ameyaw, the District Chief Executive , Mr Kwadwo Addae and the Chief of the Zongo Community, Malam Abdul-n Aziz Adam .
He also had fruitful interactions with a section of the youth, women leaders and opinion leaders and advised them to maintain peace and tranquillity as the district level election draws nearer.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
BOSOMTWE RURAL BANK MATCHES ON (PAGE , GRAPHIC NSEMPA, JULY 19, 2010)
By George Ernest Asare, Kokofu
THE inauguration of the Kokofu branch of Bosomtwe Rural Bank on Tuesday, July 6, 2010, marked another landmark in the bank’s forward match to becoming one of the best financial institutions in the country.
The ceremony, which coincided with the 20th annual general meeting of the bank, attracted a large number of dignitaries, including the Paramount Chief of Kokofu Traditional Area, Barima Offe Kwasi Okogyeasuo, who cut the tape to inaugurate the bank.
The inauguration of the new branch brought to eight the total number of agencies operated by the bank as a way of taking the culture of banking to the doorsteps of the ordinary Ghanaian.
With its headquarters, located at Kuntanase the Bosomtwe Rural Bank, which was inaugurated in 1983, has other bracnhes at Jachie, Atonsu, Dadiesoaba, Atwima Amanfriom, Ahenema Kokoben and Trede
The bank also operates one mobilisation centre at Atonsu Bokro, which would soon be upgraded into an agency to facilitate efficiency in its operations for the customers at the area.
In a speech read on his behalf during the inaugural ceremony, the Chairman of the Board of Governors, Mr Simon Osei-Mensah, assured all that Bosomtwe Rural Bank, which was rated in March this year as the best among all Rural and Community banks by the Apex Bank, “Will continue with its prudent strategies and policies aimed at sustaining growth and development”.
“The bank will intensify loans recovery, deposit mobilisation and maintain quality assets to increase profitability,” he stressed, adding, “Human resource development will again continue to be high on the bank’s agenda”.
He said to enhance efficiency in their operations, the bank had now computerised all their agencies, assuring that all agencies “would be connected to a wide area network so that a customer at any of our branches, can access his or her accounts at any branch”.
While commending the management and staff for their sense of professionalism in discharging their duties, he charged them to continue to be committed and dedicated to the operations of the bank.
This, he said, would enable them to realise their objective of sustaining the welfare of the people in their catchment areas and also sustain its goal as the best Rural Bank in the country.
THE inauguration of the Kokofu branch of Bosomtwe Rural Bank on Tuesday, July 6, 2010, marked another landmark in the bank’s forward match to becoming one of the best financial institutions in the country.
The ceremony, which coincided with the 20th annual general meeting of the bank, attracted a large number of dignitaries, including the Paramount Chief of Kokofu Traditional Area, Barima Offe Kwasi Okogyeasuo, who cut the tape to inaugurate the bank.
The inauguration of the new branch brought to eight the total number of agencies operated by the bank as a way of taking the culture of banking to the doorsteps of the ordinary Ghanaian.
With its headquarters, located at Kuntanase the Bosomtwe Rural Bank, which was inaugurated in 1983, has other bracnhes at Jachie, Atonsu, Dadiesoaba, Atwima Amanfriom, Ahenema Kokoben and Trede
The bank also operates one mobilisation centre at Atonsu Bokro, which would soon be upgraded into an agency to facilitate efficiency in its operations for the customers at the area.
In a speech read on his behalf during the inaugural ceremony, the Chairman of the Board of Governors, Mr Simon Osei-Mensah, assured all that Bosomtwe Rural Bank, which was rated in March this year as the best among all Rural and Community banks by the Apex Bank, “Will continue with its prudent strategies and policies aimed at sustaining growth and development”.
“The bank will intensify loans recovery, deposit mobilisation and maintain quality assets to increase profitability,” he stressed, adding, “Human resource development will again continue to be high on the bank’s agenda”.
He said to enhance efficiency in their operations, the bank had now computerised all their agencies, assuring that all agencies “would be connected to a wide area network so that a customer at any of our branches, can access his or her accounts at any branch”.
While commending the management and staff for their sense of professionalism in discharging their duties, he charged them to continue to be committed and dedicated to the operations of the bank.
This, he said, would enable them to realise their objective of sustaining the welfare of the people in their catchment areas and also sustain its goal as the best Rural Bank in the country.
GAWU EXPRESSES CONCERN ABOUT AGRO-CHEMICAL DEALERS (PAGE 22, JULY 17, 2010)
THE Ashanti Regional Officer of the General Agriculture Workers’ Union (GAWU), Mr Clement Alosebuno Kaba, has expressed concern about the operations of agro chemical dealers and food sellers within the same vicinity at the Kajetia lorry terminal.
He explained that the grouping of both agro-chemical dealers and food sellers “very close to each other at the terminal has the tendency of creating health hazards because the chemicals could easily poison the food items most of which are exposed”.
A release signed by Mr Alosebuno Kaba said it was important for the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) to appreciate the magnitude of the health hazard being created at the terminal and initiated moves to totally separate the agro chemical dealers from food sellers.
“We are calling on KMA to ensure that agro chemical and food sellers are not located in the same vicinity. Their stores should be in separate areas, especially at Kajetia, because it can lead to contamination and food poisoning ,” he pleaded.
Mr Alosebuno Kaba also called on the government to engage more agriculture extension officers and motivate them to advise farmers on how to use modern practices to enhance increased food production and income generation.
He pointed out that because of the wide gap between farmers and extension officers, farmers continue to disregard modern ways of farming.
“There is the need for the government to engage more agric extension staff to bridge the gap between farmers and extension officers because most farmers do not have access to the services of agric extension officers ,” he noted
Explaining further, he said the current ratio of one extension officer to 1500 farmers was very deplorable, saying “normally the ratio should have been one officer to 500 farmers”.
Mr Alosebuno Kaba also pleaded with the government to equip all Agricultural Colleges in the country to enable the colleges “produce highly qualified and well- trained agriculturists”.
He explained that the grouping of both agro-chemical dealers and food sellers “very close to each other at the terminal has the tendency of creating health hazards because the chemicals could easily poison the food items most of which are exposed”.
A release signed by Mr Alosebuno Kaba said it was important for the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) to appreciate the magnitude of the health hazard being created at the terminal and initiated moves to totally separate the agro chemical dealers from food sellers.
“We are calling on KMA to ensure that agro chemical and food sellers are not located in the same vicinity. Their stores should be in separate areas, especially at Kajetia, because it can lead to contamination and food poisoning ,” he pleaded.
Mr Alosebuno Kaba also called on the government to engage more agriculture extension officers and motivate them to advise farmers on how to use modern practices to enhance increased food production and income generation.
He pointed out that because of the wide gap between farmers and extension officers, farmers continue to disregard modern ways of farming.
“There is the need for the government to engage more agric extension staff to bridge the gap between farmers and extension officers because most farmers do not have access to the services of agric extension officers ,” he noted
Explaining further, he said the current ratio of one extension officer to 1500 farmers was very deplorable, saying “normally the ratio should have been one officer to 500 farmers”.
Mr Alosebuno Kaba also pleaded with the government to equip all Agricultural Colleges in the country to enable the colleges “produce highly qualified and well- trained agriculturists”.
MOTHER OF QUADRUPLETS APPEALS FOR HELP (PAGE 11, JULY 17, 2010)
A 35-year old mother of three, Ama Guebuaa , who gave birth to quadruplets three months ago has appealed to Ghanaians to support her in cash or kind to enable her cater for the babies.
Making the appeal when she visited the Kumasi Office of the Graphic Communications Group, she said since she gave birth to the quadruplets- a girl and three boys- at the Emena Hospital in April this year, it had been difficult to cater for their needs, in terms of feeding , medical care and clothing them. She already has three children, aged 15, 13 and 11.
She pointed out that the ‘new arrivals’ have not only crippled her financially, but also affecting her health, “ because breastfeeding them is very demanding, and as a subsistence farmer, I do not earn anything to enable me meet our demands”.
Madam Gyebuaa who now resides at Bomso, a Kumasi suburb, came to the office with her mother and other children who were supporting her to carry the four babies.
She said her husband did not earn much income because he was a labourer and had to work in farms to earn just a little income to support the family.
She explained that she took the decision to seek support through the Daily Graphic based on a decision with her husband, Thomas Arko, who was now farming at Sefwi.
“I am pleading with Ghanaians to come to our aid to enable us take very good care of the babies for them to grow up to become responsible citizens in future” she pleaded
Making the appeal when she visited the Kumasi Office of the Graphic Communications Group, she said since she gave birth to the quadruplets- a girl and three boys- at the Emena Hospital in April this year, it had been difficult to cater for their needs, in terms of feeding , medical care and clothing them. She already has three children, aged 15, 13 and 11.
She pointed out that the ‘new arrivals’ have not only crippled her financially, but also affecting her health, “ because breastfeeding them is very demanding, and as a subsistence farmer, I do not earn anything to enable me meet our demands”.
Madam Gyebuaa who now resides at Bomso, a Kumasi suburb, came to the office with her mother and other children who were supporting her to carry the four babies.
She said her husband did not earn much income because he was a labourer and had to work in farms to earn just a little income to support the family.
She explained that she took the decision to seek support through the Daily Graphic based on a decision with her husband, Thomas Arko, who was now farming at Sefwi.
“I am pleading with Ghanaians to come to our aid to enable us take very good care of the babies for them to grow up to become responsible citizens in future” she pleaded
ANOTHER GALAMSEY TRAGEDY...12 Trapped to death (1b, JULY 17, 2010)
WITH the embers of the Dunkwa–on-Offin galamsey tragedy yet to be smothered, another calamity has occurred at Attaso, near Kotokuom in the Ashanti Region, with at least 12 galamsey operators trapped in a collapsed pit.
An eyewitness, Mr Rocky Ofori, said nine bodies had so far been retrieved from the pit, with only one being identified as Kwaku Yeboah, aka G-12, a 20-year-old resident of Agogo, near Nkawie. The rest are yet to be identified.
He said all the bodies had been conveyed to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) mortuary by officers of the Ghana National Fire Service at Nkawie for autopsy and identification.
Four others sustained serious injuries in the incident which occurred on Thursday when the pit in which the miners were prospecting for gold collapsed on them.
Two of the injured were identified as Issah Mohammed, 22, and Wisdom Tsowule, 24.
The incident has created panic at Attaso, Agogo, Kotokuom and Kwanfifi where most of the galamsey operators hail from.
Ofori, a resident of Nkawie, told the Daily Graphic that the victims took advantage of a severe rainfall the previous day to enter the pit and mine for gold.
He said about 12 noon the people of Attaso heard a loud noise and when they followed up they discovered that a disaster had occurred at the site, popularly known as the ‘World Bank’ due to its richness in gold ore.
The Ashanti Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Chief Inspector Yusif Tanko, said the police had not yet determined the number of people trapped in the pit, adding that rescue efforts were being thwarted by the presence of large volumes of water in the area from the River Offin, which had overflowed its banks due to a severe rainfall last Wednesday.
He told the Daily Graphic that the police were still waiting for the river to subside to enable them to join NADMO and other rescuers to ascertain the real magnitude of the disaster.
“It is not possible for the police to move to the scene now due to the nature of the road,” he said, stressing, “The police have not been able to assess the situation on the ground because the River Offin and other rivers have overflowed their banks, making the road inaccessible.”
Chief Inspector Tanko, however, said information gathered so far indicated that the pit was shallow and so the victims could be retrieved within a short time.
END
An eyewitness, Mr Rocky Ofori, said nine bodies had so far been retrieved from the pit, with only one being identified as Kwaku Yeboah, aka G-12, a 20-year-old resident of Agogo, near Nkawie. The rest are yet to be identified.
He said all the bodies had been conveyed to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) mortuary by officers of the Ghana National Fire Service at Nkawie for autopsy and identification.
Four others sustained serious injuries in the incident which occurred on Thursday when the pit in which the miners were prospecting for gold collapsed on them.
Two of the injured were identified as Issah Mohammed, 22, and Wisdom Tsowule, 24.
The incident has created panic at Attaso, Agogo, Kotokuom and Kwanfifi where most of the galamsey operators hail from.
Ofori, a resident of Nkawie, told the Daily Graphic that the victims took advantage of a severe rainfall the previous day to enter the pit and mine for gold.
He said about 12 noon the people of Attaso heard a loud noise and when they followed up they discovered that a disaster had occurred at the site, popularly known as the ‘World Bank’ due to its richness in gold ore.
The Ashanti Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Chief Inspector Yusif Tanko, said the police had not yet determined the number of people trapped in the pit, adding that rescue efforts were being thwarted by the presence of large volumes of water in the area from the River Offin, which had overflowed its banks due to a severe rainfall last Wednesday.
He told the Daily Graphic that the police were still waiting for the river to subside to enable them to join NADMO and other rescuers to ascertain the real magnitude of the disaster.
“It is not possible for the police to move to the scene now due to the nature of the road,” he said, stressing, “The police have not been able to assess the situation on the ground because the River Offin and other rivers have overflowed their banks, making the road inaccessible.”
Chief Inspector Tanko, however, said information gathered so far indicated that the pit was shallow and so the victims could be retrieved within a short time.
END
Friday, July 16, 2010
DRAMA IN KUMASI PRISON (PAGE 20, MIRROE, JULY 17, 2010)
From George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
Drama, which unfolded in the Kumasi Central Prison yard on June 17, 2010, between two inmates, resulting in accusations and counter accusation, finally led to the re-arrest of one of them, tried and sentenced to serve 30 more years with hard labour.
The drama was between Awuni Anaba, 32, who is serving a 21 year jail term for robbery, and Stephen Yorose 24, who was being escorted into the prison yard, to begin a month jail term for defecating at a public place.
Moments after Anaba spotted Yorose who was his accomplice in a robbery case committed four years ago, he raised alarm, accusing him (Yorose) of reneging on his promise to support him (Awuni) while in prison .
According to Awuni, Yorose, and one Zakaria, now at large, were his accomplices in a robbery case where the three conspired to rob some residents at gun-point at Trede, near Kumasi.
Explaining his action, Awuni who was filled with revenge for what he termed as unfair treatment by his colleague in crime, said during their attack, they succeeded in depriving their victims of a mobile phone and cash, and after the robbery, Yorose and Zakaria managed to escape, while he (Anaba) was arrested, charged with robbery, tried and sentenced to serve a 21 year jail term with hard labour.
Awuni who testified in court, presided over by Mr Lawrence Amoo-Yartey said following his arrest, both Yorose and Zakaria pleaded with him to keep their act secret, assuring that they would make his stay in prison very conducive, comfortable and enjoyable by providing all his needs , but moments after his conviction, they deserted him because he never saw, nor heard from the two again.
It was while Anaba had accepted his fate, and was counting the cost of his actions that he spotted Yorose being escorted into the same yard to begin a month jail term.
Earlier in his presentation of the facts , a State Attorney, Mr Emmanuel Lawrence Otoo-Boison, said on September 7, 2006, the convicts, together with one Zakaria who is at large, attacked some tenants with locally manufactured pistols and robbed them of a Motorola mobile phone and cash of GH¢25.
He said the robbery took place at 12;30 a.m. that day when the complainants were asleep.
Explaining, Mr. Otoo-Boison said while the tenants were asleep, the convicts forced opened their door with heavy metals, and armed with the pistols, they started firing indiscriminately when they had entered their apartment, scaring the complainants in the process and therefore succeeded in robbing them of a Motorola mobile phone and cash before escaping .
He said in the course of the investigations, Awuni Anaba was arrested and convicted to serve a 21 year jail term in hard labour.
He said on June 2010, while Anaba was strolling around the Kumasi Central Prison Yard, he spotted Yorose and therefore raised alarm , leading to his arrest.
He explained that moments after Anaba spotted Yorose and confronted him, he pleaded that Anaba should not reveal his identity, assuring that this time he would honour his promise of taking very good care of him as soon as he finished serving his one month jail term.
However, the pleading of Yorose infuriated Anana who attempted to heckle him, drawing people to them.
. Following the revelation, Yorose was arrested in the Prison Yard, this time , charged with an offence of robbery, tried and convicted to serve a 30 year jail term .
Drama, which unfolded in the Kumasi Central Prison yard on June 17, 2010, between two inmates, resulting in accusations and counter accusation, finally led to the re-arrest of one of them, tried and sentenced to serve 30 more years with hard labour.
The drama was between Awuni Anaba, 32, who is serving a 21 year jail term for robbery, and Stephen Yorose 24, who was being escorted into the prison yard, to begin a month jail term for defecating at a public place.
Moments after Anaba spotted Yorose who was his accomplice in a robbery case committed four years ago, he raised alarm, accusing him (Yorose) of reneging on his promise to support him (Awuni) while in prison .
According to Awuni, Yorose, and one Zakaria, now at large, were his accomplices in a robbery case where the three conspired to rob some residents at gun-point at Trede, near Kumasi.
Explaining his action, Awuni who was filled with revenge for what he termed as unfair treatment by his colleague in crime, said during their attack, they succeeded in depriving their victims of a mobile phone and cash, and after the robbery, Yorose and Zakaria managed to escape, while he (Anaba) was arrested, charged with robbery, tried and sentenced to serve a 21 year jail term with hard labour.
Awuni who testified in court, presided over by Mr Lawrence Amoo-Yartey said following his arrest, both Yorose and Zakaria pleaded with him to keep their act secret, assuring that they would make his stay in prison very conducive, comfortable and enjoyable by providing all his needs , but moments after his conviction, they deserted him because he never saw, nor heard from the two again.
It was while Anaba had accepted his fate, and was counting the cost of his actions that he spotted Yorose being escorted into the same yard to begin a month jail term.
Earlier in his presentation of the facts , a State Attorney, Mr Emmanuel Lawrence Otoo-Boison, said on September 7, 2006, the convicts, together with one Zakaria who is at large, attacked some tenants with locally manufactured pistols and robbed them of a Motorola mobile phone and cash of GH¢25.
He said the robbery took place at 12;30 a.m. that day when the complainants were asleep.
Explaining, Mr. Otoo-Boison said while the tenants were asleep, the convicts forced opened their door with heavy metals, and armed with the pistols, they started firing indiscriminately when they had entered their apartment, scaring the complainants in the process and therefore succeeded in robbing them of a Motorola mobile phone and cash before escaping .
He said in the course of the investigations, Awuni Anaba was arrested and convicted to serve a 21 year jail term in hard labour.
He said on June 2010, while Anaba was strolling around the Kumasi Central Prison Yard, he spotted Yorose and therefore raised alarm , leading to his arrest.
He explained that moments after Anaba spotted Yorose and confronted him, he pleaded that Anaba should not reveal his identity, assuring that this time he would honour his promise of taking very good care of him as soon as he finished serving his one month jail term.
However, the pleading of Yorose infuriated Anana who attempted to heckle him, drawing people to them.
. Following the revelation, Yorose was arrested in the Prison Yard, this time , charged with an offence of robbery, tried and convicted to serve a 30 year jail term .
Thursday, July 15, 2010
TIME — HOW EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE ARE GHANAIANS MANAGING IT? (PAGE 10, JULY 15, 2010)
On Friday, July 9, 2010, I attended a programme that should have started at 9a.m., but after arriving at the venue on schedule, the programme started at 11.45a.m., almost three hours later.
The occasion was the inauguration of one of the branches of a rural bank at Kronom Abuohia, a Kumasi suburb.
Between 7a.m. and 8a.m. that day, the media representative of the bank started harassing a section of the media with telephone calls, urging us to rush to the venue on time, explaining that the programme was about to start.
At that time, I was in the office, putting finishing touches to a story I was writing.
Having reached the office at 7:15 a.m., I was hoping to finish the story and mail it to Accra before attending the programme, which I knew from experience would not start on schedule.
However, the urgency of the telephone calls from the media representative, forced me to suspend the story and, together with my colleague, rush to Kronom Abuohia, expecting to meet a sizeable number of invited guests at the venue, perform our official responsibilities, and return to the office by 11 a.m. to complete the earlier story.
To my surprise, not a single soul was at the venue where the ceremony was taking place.
Apart from the music that was in full blast, threatening to tear our ear drums apart, only one female was at the venue, decorating the tables and canopy to make the place a little more attractive.
When we drew the attention of the media representative of the bank to the harm he had caused us, and its rippling effect on me and my company, he smiled apologetically, assuring us that the programme would start exactly in 15 minutes .
Eventually, the 15 minutes turned out to be two hours 45 minutes.
This was because the programme finally got underway at 11:45 am.
After the prayers , which has become part and parcel of every programme in the country, the next item, which was the introduction of invited guests and dignitaries, took as much as 45 minutes.
As if the programme was a beauty contest, designed to market personalities, almost everybody was mentioned, and they responded by standing up, showing the designs of their costumes.
While the introduction was going on, the lady who was charged with that responsibility continued to coax the audience to clap incessantly for the personalities being introduced as she admired their costumes, thus prolonging the programme and causing those who know the essence of time to constantly look at their wristwatches.
By the time the introduction ended and the Chief Executive of the bank got the opportunity to give his welcoming address, it was exactly 12:30 p.m.
His speech and other items on the programme held us to ransom, compelling us to finally depart around 2:20 p.m.
With the heavy vehicular traffic associated with the Kronom-Abuohia- Suame corridor of the Kumasi road network, we finally reached the office at 3:40 p.m.
At that time, there was nothing we could do as newsmen by way of sending any story to Accra.
This was because the paper had already gone to bed.
The implication was that we wasted a whole day for a story which could have taken less than two hours to complete.
Ironically, the programme was organised by a bank which prides itself as a member of the Ghana Club 100 and aspires to be one of the best financial institutions in the country.
With time as one of the most important factors of production, one wonders why a reputable bank used almost a whole day to organise a programme that could have taken just a few hours.
One institution that has also become synonymous with time wasting is the Ghana Police Service.
For more than ten years that I have practised Journalism in the Ashanti Region, not a single programme organised by the police has started on schedule.
From organised media encounters through briefing journalists on numerous criminal cases, to durbar and passing out parades, the police, regarded as partners in the discharge of our responsibilities, always succeed in wasting precious time.
A programme that is supposed to start at 9a.m., is likely to begin at 11:30 a.m.
If the Police Public Relations Officer asks journalists to converge at the Regional Commander’s office at noon, they would count themselves as blessed if the programme begins at 3 p.m.
As if time does not apply in their profession, journalists always converge at the reception hours before they put news items supposed to be the core business of the day together.
By the time they finish and make the necessary corrections, those who always arrive on schedule would be dozing out of boredom.
Ironically, messages inviting the media to attend such programmes are sent 48 hours early, so it baffles some of us why journalists are made to waste precious time on each occasion that scheduled meetings are organised.
Not even the Ghana Armed Forces, perceived as one of the most disciplined institutions in several aspects, is blameless when it comes to time wastage.
One event organised by the Armed Forces which almost caused a stir in the media circle was when the Chief of Defence Staff paid a maiden visit to Kumasi this year.
As usual, the media were asked to converge at the headquarters at 9 a.m. for briefing, but for over three hours, journalists kept on waiting in a room where we had been ushered into, thus bringing into question the seriousness of Ghanaians on efficient and effective time management.
When the meeting finally got underway, some journalists who had other nuts to crack had reluctantly left.
For politicians, the little said about them for their wanton disregard for time, the better.
Seldom do politicians attend programmes on schedule, and no matter the venue, the nature of the programme and how close it is to their offices and constituencies, politicians, irrespective of the office they hold, are sure to arrive two or more hours late.
Incidentally, it is politicians who have been shouting very loud since 1957 that they have the dream, ability and capacity of propelling this country to achieve a middle-income status within the possible shortest time, forgetting that irrespective of the resources, it is the prudent management of time that makes it possible for dreamers to eventually realise their goals.
While wasting precious time all day long— a commodity which is the most important factor of production— Ghanaians, especially politicians, always tout the Asian Tigers, singing their praises and making empty promises that they would harness the needed resources to take this country to their level.
With almost everybody in Ghana consciously or unconsciously wasting somebody’s time with impunity without any national programme to holistically address the issue, one wonders how this country can make any headway to match the Asian Tigers we have become so much enthused about.
What Ghanaians should appreciate is that, the Asian Tigers got this far partly because everybody, including high office holders, became mindful of the value of time, and therefore channelled all their energies to manage it in an effective and efficient manner, thereby facilitating the needed accelerated development.
From the dream of attaining a middle-income status in the year 2000, Ghanaians were assured that water, accommodation, power for domestic consumption and health, among other social amenities, would be readily accessible for all, and poverty would be a thing of the past. Politicians and opinion leaders are now pushing for the attainment of these social values in the year 2020.
This was after they realised that, like the year 2000, the year 2015, which was targeted for the attainment of a middle-income status for Ghana, is just around the corner, and that their goal was not achievable due to the disregard and mismanagement of time which has become a national syndrome.
In his book, ‘The seven Principles of success and Wealth Creation’ the author, Dr Michael Agyekum Addo, expounded that it is important for leaders to be at “functions early to set good examples to bring a change into society.”
Explaining the value of time, the author was of the view that it was important to “be at the right place at the right time and for the right reason stressing, “do not keep people waiting for you unnecessarily.
Do not follow the crowd and assume that people will be late because of their adherence to Ghana or African Time and be late yourself too.”
The author, who said his strict adherence to time had made it possible for him to generate adequate resources that have transformed him from a salary worker to a shrewd business tycoon, was also of the view that “when people are able to identify you as a punctual person, they will ensure that they are punctual anytime they have to meet or see you. This will save you a lot of time. Remember time is money.”
It is very important for Ghanaians, irrespective of status, age, gender and ethnic background, to read the book because we stand to gain as a nation to be orientated from its content.
It would also help us value certain principles, including efficient time management, hard work, honesty, discipline and truthfulness, among others, as essential commodities which should be factored into our national agenda to create wealth for sustainable socio-economic development to take place.
One thing is certain, and that is the fact that until Ghanaians, including our political leaders, heads of financial institutions, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil servants, the security apparatus, and the media, among others, recognise the essence and value of time and let it play the right role it in our daily activities, Ghana will continue to mark time, and the national dream of realising a middle- income status would always be a mirage.
The occasion was the inauguration of one of the branches of a rural bank at Kronom Abuohia, a Kumasi suburb.
Between 7a.m. and 8a.m. that day, the media representative of the bank started harassing a section of the media with telephone calls, urging us to rush to the venue on time, explaining that the programme was about to start.
At that time, I was in the office, putting finishing touches to a story I was writing.
Having reached the office at 7:15 a.m., I was hoping to finish the story and mail it to Accra before attending the programme, which I knew from experience would not start on schedule.
However, the urgency of the telephone calls from the media representative, forced me to suspend the story and, together with my colleague, rush to Kronom Abuohia, expecting to meet a sizeable number of invited guests at the venue, perform our official responsibilities, and return to the office by 11 a.m. to complete the earlier story.
To my surprise, not a single soul was at the venue where the ceremony was taking place.
Apart from the music that was in full blast, threatening to tear our ear drums apart, only one female was at the venue, decorating the tables and canopy to make the place a little more attractive.
When we drew the attention of the media representative of the bank to the harm he had caused us, and its rippling effect on me and my company, he smiled apologetically, assuring us that the programme would start exactly in 15 minutes .
Eventually, the 15 minutes turned out to be two hours 45 minutes.
This was because the programme finally got underway at 11:45 am.
After the prayers , which has become part and parcel of every programme in the country, the next item, which was the introduction of invited guests and dignitaries, took as much as 45 minutes.
As if the programme was a beauty contest, designed to market personalities, almost everybody was mentioned, and they responded by standing up, showing the designs of their costumes.
While the introduction was going on, the lady who was charged with that responsibility continued to coax the audience to clap incessantly for the personalities being introduced as she admired their costumes, thus prolonging the programme and causing those who know the essence of time to constantly look at their wristwatches.
By the time the introduction ended and the Chief Executive of the bank got the opportunity to give his welcoming address, it was exactly 12:30 p.m.
His speech and other items on the programme held us to ransom, compelling us to finally depart around 2:20 p.m.
With the heavy vehicular traffic associated with the Kronom-Abuohia- Suame corridor of the Kumasi road network, we finally reached the office at 3:40 p.m.
At that time, there was nothing we could do as newsmen by way of sending any story to Accra.
This was because the paper had already gone to bed.
The implication was that we wasted a whole day for a story which could have taken less than two hours to complete.
Ironically, the programme was organised by a bank which prides itself as a member of the Ghana Club 100 and aspires to be one of the best financial institutions in the country.
With time as one of the most important factors of production, one wonders why a reputable bank used almost a whole day to organise a programme that could have taken just a few hours.
One institution that has also become synonymous with time wasting is the Ghana Police Service.
For more than ten years that I have practised Journalism in the Ashanti Region, not a single programme organised by the police has started on schedule.
From organised media encounters through briefing journalists on numerous criminal cases, to durbar and passing out parades, the police, regarded as partners in the discharge of our responsibilities, always succeed in wasting precious time.
A programme that is supposed to start at 9a.m., is likely to begin at 11:30 a.m.
If the Police Public Relations Officer asks journalists to converge at the Regional Commander’s office at noon, they would count themselves as blessed if the programme begins at 3 p.m.
As if time does not apply in their profession, journalists always converge at the reception hours before they put news items supposed to be the core business of the day together.
By the time they finish and make the necessary corrections, those who always arrive on schedule would be dozing out of boredom.
Ironically, messages inviting the media to attend such programmes are sent 48 hours early, so it baffles some of us why journalists are made to waste precious time on each occasion that scheduled meetings are organised.
Not even the Ghana Armed Forces, perceived as one of the most disciplined institutions in several aspects, is blameless when it comes to time wastage.
One event organised by the Armed Forces which almost caused a stir in the media circle was when the Chief of Defence Staff paid a maiden visit to Kumasi this year.
As usual, the media were asked to converge at the headquarters at 9 a.m. for briefing, but for over three hours, journalists kept on waiting in a room where we had been ushered into, thus bringing into question the seriousness of Ghanaians on efficient and effective time management.
When the meeting finally got underway, some journalists who had other nuts to crack had reluctantly left.
For politicians, the little said about them for their wanton disregard for time, the better.
Seldom do politicians attend programmes on schedule, and no matter the venue, the nature of the programme and how close it is to their offices and constituencies, politicians, irrespective of the office they hold, are sure to arrive two or more hours late.
Incidentally, it is politicians who have been shouting very loud since 1957 that they have the dream, ability and capacity of propelling this country to achieve a middle-income status within the possible shortest time, forgetting that irrespective of the resources, it is the prudent management of time that makes it possible for dreamers to eventually realise their goals.
While wasting precious time all day long— a commodity which is the most important factor of production— Ghanaians, especially politicians, always tout the Asian Tigers, singing their praises and making empty promises that they would harness the needed resources to take this country to their level.
With almost everybody in Ghana consciously or unconsciously wasting somebody’s time with impunity without any national programme to holistically address the issue, one wonders how this country can make any headway to match the Asian Tigers we have become so much enthused about.
What Ghanaians should appreciate is that, the Asian Tigers got this far partly because everybody, including high office holders, became mindful of the value of time, and therefore channelled all their energies to manage it in an effective and efficient manner, thereby facilitating the needed accelerated development.
From the dream of attaining a middle-income status in the year 2000, Ghanaians were assured that water, accommodation, power for domestic consumption and health, among other social amenities, would be readily accessible for all, and poverty would be a thing of the past. Politicians and opinion leaders are now pushing for the attainment of these social values in the year 2020.
This was after they realised that, like the year 2000, the year 2015, which was targeted for the attainment of a middle-income status for Ghana, is just around the corner, and that their goal was not achievable due to the disregard and mismanagement of time which has become a national syndrome.
In his book, ‘The seven Principles of success and Wealth Creation’ the author, Dr Michael Agyekum Addo, expounded that it is important for leaders to be at “functions early to set good examples to bring a change into society.”
Explaining the value of time, the author was of the view that it was important to “be at the right place at the right time and for the right reason stressing, “do not keep people waiting for you unnecessarily.
Do not follow the crowd and assume that people will be late because of their adherence to Ghana or African Time and be late yourself too.”
The author, who said his strict adherence to time had made it possible for him to generate adequate resources that have transformed him from a salary worker to a shrewd business tycoon, was also of the view that “when people are able to identify you as a punctual person, they will ensure that they are punctual anytime they have to meet or see you. This will save you a lot of time. Remember time is money.”
It is very important for Ghanaians, irrespective of status, age, gender and ethnic background, to read the book because we stand to gain as a nation to be orientated from its content.
It would also help us value certain principles, including efficient time management, hard work, honesty, discipline and truthfulness, among others, as essential commodities which should be factored into our national agenda to create wealth for sustainable socio-economic development to take place.
One thing is certain, and that is the fact that until Ghanaians, including our political leaders, heads of financial institutions, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil servants, the security apparatus, and the media, among others, recognise the essence and value of time and let it play the right role it in our daily activities, Ghana will continue to mark time, and the national dream of realising a middle- income status would always be a mirage.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
BOSOMTWE BANK ASSISTS TEACHERS (PAGE 35, JULY 15, 2010)
THE management of the Bosomtwe Rural Bank in Ashanti has rolled out a product that seeks to provide adequate financial support for professional teachers in the Bosomtwe and Atwima Kwanwoma Districts to further their education.
The objective of the product is to help the teachers to offer quality education for the youth in their area.
The product dubbed: “Sandwich loan”, which has been in operation since the beginning of the year, has been hailed by teachers, many of whom are now taking advantage of it to develop their potentials.
The bank has also provided GH¢11,269.90 to support some educational institutions and communities in its catchment areas for them to initiate development projects to improve standards at the basic and second cycle levels.
The Chairman of the Board of Directors of bank, Mr Simon Osei-Mensah announced this at the bank’s 20th annual general meeting held at Kokofu.
He stated that the bank was determined to improve sanitation, health care and the welfare of the people to enable them to venture into productive ventures.
He said that would enable them to invest in projects that impact positively on their lives or expand existing ones to enhance adequate income generation.
The annual general meeting coincided with the inauguration of the Kokofu branch of the bank.
Mr Osei-Mensah said there had been increase in the bank’s profits and other financial operations, adding that while total deposits increased from GH¢7,612,049.69 in 2008 to GH¢9,756,121.30 last year, total advance decreased from GH¢5,354,606.05 to GH¢5,304,923.48 during the same period.
He said both the profit margins and assets of the bank however increased tremendously during the period under review, adding “total profit rose from GH¢395,694.21 in 2008 to GH¢576,235.37 last year”.
According to him, total assets of the bank also increased from GH¢9,621,062.58 in 2008 to GH¢12,283,360.38. last year, with the total capital increasing from GH¢355,842.03 in 2008 to GH¢401,792.75 last year .
Mr Osei-Mensah stated that the bank which was rated in March this year as the best among all rural and community banks in the country by the Apex Bank, “will continue with its prudent strategies and policies aimed at sustaining growth and development.”
“The bank will intensify loans recovery, deposit mobilisation and maintain quality assets to increase profitability,” he stressed, adding “human resource development will again continue to be high on the bank’s agenda.”
Mr Osei-Mensah said to enhance efficiency in their operations, the bank had now computerised all its agencies, adding that all agencies would be connected to a wide area network so that a customer at any of our branches, could access his or her accounts at any branch.
While commending the management and staff of the bank for their sense of professionalism in discharging their duties, he charged them to continue to be committed and dedicated to the operations of the bank.
The objective of the product is to help the teachers to offer quality education for the youth in their area.
The product dubbed: “Sandwich loan”, which has been in operation since the beginning of the year, has been hailed by teachers, many of whom are now taking advantage of it to develop their potentials.
The bank has also provided GH¢11,269.90 to support some educational institutions and communities in its catchment areas for them to initiate development projects to improve standards at the basic and second cycle levels.
The Chairman of the Board of Directors of bank, Mr Simon Osei-Mensah announced this at the bank’s 20th annual general meeting held at Kokofu.
He stated that the bank was determined to improve sanitation, health care and the welfare of the people to enable them to venture into productive ventures.
He said that would enable them to invest in projects that impact positively on their lives or expand existing ones to enhance adequate income generation.
The annual general meeting coincided with the inauguration of the Kokofu branch of the bank.
Mr Osei-Mensah said there had been increase in the bank’s profits and other financial operations, adding that while total deposits increased from GH¢7,612,049.69 in 2008 to GH¢9,756,121.30 last year, total advance decreased from GH¢5,354,606.05 to GH¢5,304,923.48 during the same period.
He said both the profit margins and assets of the bank however increased tremendously during the period under review, adding “total profit rose from GH¢395,694.21 in 2008 to GH¢576,235.37 last year”.
According to him, total assets of the bank also increased from GH¢9,621,062.58 in 2008 to GH¢12,283,360.38. last year, with the total capital increasing from GH¢355,842.03 in 2008 to GH¢401,792.75 last year .
Mr Osei-Mensah stated that the bank which was rated in March this year as the best among all rural and community banks in the country by the Apex Bank, “will continue with its prudent strategies and policies aimed at sustaining growth and development.”
“The bank will intensify loans recovery, deposit mobilisation and maintain quality assets to increase profitability,” he stressed, adding “human resource development will again continue to be high on the bank’s agenda.”
Mr Osei-Mensah said to enhance efficiency in their operations, the bank had now computerised all its agencies, adding that all agencies would be connected to a wide area network so that a customer at any of our branches, could access his or her accounts at any branch.
While commending the management and staff of the bank for their sense of professionalism in discharging their duties, he charged them to continue to be committed and dedicated to the operations of the bank.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
2 ROBBERS TO SERVE 60 YEARS EACH (PAGE 20, MIRROR, JULY 10, 2010)
From George Ernest Asare, Kumasi.
After a year’s trial of two armed robbers, who shot and killed a young farmer at Ejura in the Ashanti Region, causing the mother of the victim to also die out of shock, a Kumasi Circuit Court presided over by Mr Emmanuel Amoo-Yartey, has convicted the robbers to serve 60-year jail term each with hard labour.
They were found guilty of conspiracy to rob and robbing.
The convicts, Alim Yaao Dawuda, 23, and Abdul Kadri Adam, alias Soldier, 25, who were arrested in their various hide outs after escaping from the robbing scene, attacked and shot one Yaw Asante at Ejura on May 26, 2009.
Before shooting the deceased with a locally manufactured pistol, the convicts had also attacked some tenants in the same house at Ejura, robbing them of a total of GH¢3,500.00 and two mobile phones valued GH¢300.00
Moments after their arrest last year, some of the victims who survived the ordeal, identified them during an identification parade, making it possible for the police to intensify their investigation and arraigning them before court .
The police are still hunting for an accomplice who was identified as Walidu Bilyaminu.
A State Attorney, Mr Richmond Osei-Hwere, who gave the facts during the trial, said Alim Yao Dawuda and Abdul Kadri Adam, together with their accomplice at large , who lived in Ejura, constituted themselves into a gang of robbers, armed with locally manufactured guns and stormed the house of the deceased, molesting them before robbing them of various households items and cash.
He said in the course of the attack, the convicts shot Yaw Asante, an inmate of the house, causing him to bleed profusely .
According to Mr Osei- Hwere, Asante who was rushed to the hospital, died from the gun shot wounds, a situation which also caused his mother to die out of shock when she heard the news.
He said the convicts escaped from the house before police arrived at the scene, but investigations later led to their arrest at various hide outs.
He said during an identification parade, some of the victims identified the convicts as part of the gang who robbed them, and during investigations, Dawuda admitted the offence in his statement to the police and named Kadri Adam and Bilyaminu as his accomplices.
After a year’s trial of two armed robbers, who shot and killed a young farmer at Ejura in the Ashanti Region, causing the mother of the victim to also die out of shock, a Kumasi Circuit Court presided over by Mr Emmanuel Amoo-Yartey, has convicted the robbers to serve 60-year jail term each with hard labour.
They were found guilty of conspiracy to rob and robbing.
The convicts, Alim Yaao Dawuda, 23, and Abdul Kadri Adam, alias Soldier, 25, who were arrested in their various hide outs after escaping from the robbing scene, attacked and shot one Yaw Asante at Ejura on May 26, 2009.
Before shooting the deceased with a locally manufactured pistol, the convicts had also attacked some tenants in the same house at Ejura, robbing them of a total of GH¢3,500.00 and two mobile phones valued GH¢300.00
Moments after their arrest last year, some of the victims who survived the ordeal, identified them during an identification parade, making it possible for the police to intensify their investigation and arraigning them before court .
The police are still hunting for an accomplice who was identified as Walidu Bilyaminu.
A State Attorney, Mr Richmond Osei-Hwere, who gave the facts during the trial, said Alim Yao Dawuda and Abdul Kadri Adam, together with their accomplice at large , who lived in Ejura, constituted themselves into a gang of robbers, armed with locally manufactured guns and stormed the house of the deceased, molesting them before robbing them of various households items and cash.
He said in the course of the attack, the convicts shot Yaw Asante, an inmate of the house, causing him to bleed profusely .
According to Mr Osei- Hwere, Asante who was rushed to the hospital, died from the gun shot wounds, a situation which also caused his mother to die out of shock when she heard the news.
He said the convicts escaped from the house before police arrived at the scene, but investigations later led to their arrest at various hide outs.
He said during an identification parade, some of the victims identified the convicts as part of the gang who robbed them, and during investigations, Dawuda admitted the offence in his statement to the police and named Kadri Adam and Bilyaminu as his accomplices.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
PRIEST CONDEMNS SALE OF FAITH HEALING (PAGE 22, JULY 6, 2010)
A Catholic Priest, Rev. Monsignor Dominic Asiedu Fosu, has condemned the use of miraculous healing to commercialise the church on radio and television.
He pointed out that advertising healings on radio and television is diversionary from the primary aim of preaching and teaching the congregation to accept the word of God and eschew all forms of sins as portrayed by Jesus Christ.
In a sermon at St. Mary’s Parish at South Suntreso in Kumasi on Sunday, Rev. Monsignor Fosu, who is the Parish Priest, pointed out that the time had come for Priests to preach the word of God to their congregation for them to repent from their sins and have faith in God “ so that they would have eternal life”.
He pointed out that instead of sowing the seed of faith in Christians for them to appreciate the divine powers of Jesus Christ, some people who claim to have special anointing powers to heal all sorts of diseases, “are commercialising the Church by advertising their so called miraculous healings on radio and television”.
He said being a Christian does not mean that one would not be afflicted with problems such as diseases, barreness, poverty and job insecurity among others.
He said such problems are part of the cross likely to be borne by every Christian, but it was only when one was able to carry the cross in a dignified way that he or she would be accepted and honoured among the greats and have a share in the kingdom of God.
He explained that Priests have the responsibility of sowing the seed of faith in Christians for them to value the divine powers in Jesus Christ.
This, he noted, would make it possible for those afflicted with diseases to have faith that they could be completely cured of the diseases afflicting them, stressing, “ no Priest has the exclusive powers to heal any disease”.
“ Christianity is not about advertising that you can heal all kinds of diseases on radio and television, but about preaching the word to the people for them to appreciate that divine healing rests solely in Jesus Christ” He admonished
Stressing, he noted, “ preaching the word to the congregation for them to lead Godly lifestyles should be the goal of every Priest .
The so-called miraculous healings being advertised on radio and television daily to entice the public to patronise your services are undermining Christianity .
This is because your actions do not appeal to the people for them to repent from their sins to enable them have eternal life”.
He said it was, therefore, important for Priests to always emphasise the need for their congregation to eschew all forms of sins and make the kingdom of God their primary objectives in life
He pointed out that Christians who do not crumble under the weight of their problems, eventually emerge victorious and become role models in society and also have a share in the Kingdom of God.
“ There is therefore the need for you to fight to have eternal life no matter the difficulties you encounter, because that is the most valuable thing in life” he advised.
He pointed out that advertising healings on radio and television is diversionary from the primary aim of preaching and teaching the congregation to accept the word of God and eschew all forms of sins as portrayed by Jesus Christ.
In a sermon at St. Mary’s Parish at South Suntreso in Kumasi on Sunday, Rev. Monsignor Fosu, who is the Parish Priest, pointed out that the time had come for Priests to preach the word of God to their congregation for them to repent from their sins and have faith in God “ so that they would have eternal life”.
He pointed out that instead of sowing the seed of faith in Christians for them to appreciate the divine powers of Jesus Christ, some people who claim to have special anointing powers to heal all sorts of diseases, “are commercialising the Church by advertising their so called miraculous healings on radio and television”.
He said being a Christian does not mean that one would not be afflicted with problems such as diseases, barreness, poverty and job insecurity among others.
He said such problems are part of the cross likely to be borne by every Christian, but it was only when one was able to carry the cross in a dignified way that he or she would be accepted and honoured among the greats and have a share in the kingdom of God.
He explained that Priests have the responsibility of sowing the seed of faith in Christians for them to value the divine powers in Jesus Christ.
This, he noted, would make it possible for those afflicted with diseases to have faith that they could be completely cured of the diseases afflicting them, stressing, “ no Priest has the exclusive powers to heal any disease”.
“ Christianity is not about advertising that you can heal all kinds of diseases on radio and television, but about preaching the word to the people for them to appreciate that divine healing rests solely in Jesus Christ” He admonished
Stressing, he noted, “ preaching the word to the congregation for them to lead Godly lifestyles should be the goal of every Priest .
The so-called miraculous healings being advertised on radio and television daily to entice the public to patronise your services are undermining Christianity .
This is because your actions do not appeal to the people for them to repent from their sins to enable them have eternal life”.
He said it was, therefore, important for Priests to always emphasise the need for their congregation to eschew all forms of sins and make the kingdom of God their primary objectives in life
He pointed out that Christians who do not crumble under the weight of their problems, eventually emerge victorious and become role models in society and also have a share in the Kingdom of God.
“ There is therefore the need for you to fight to have eternal life no matter the difficulties you encounter, because that is the most valuable thing in life” he advised.
ASANTEMAN ASSOCIATION DONATES TO KOMFO ANOKYE (PAGE 22, JULY 3, 2010)
MEMBERS of the Asanteman Association in Belgium have donated five wheelchairs and other medical items to the A 3 ward of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital as part of their desire to promote quality medical care at the hospital.
The items,which were estimated at GH¢2000, also included five digital thermometers and 10 BP apparatus.
The Queen of the Asanteman Association of Ghana, Nana Tiwaa Mmorosa, donated the items on behalf of the association.
The association, which adopted the A3 ward 10 years ago as part of its desire to support quality health care delivery, has over the years presented a number of items including refrigerators, television sets, bed sheets, curtains and stoves to the hospital administration.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic after the donation, Nana Mmorosa said the association adopted the ward to provide support to management in its quest to provide quality healthcare delivery for pregnant women.
She said this was not only to encourage pregnant women to feel comfortable and relaxed when on admission but also to motivate the nurses to work hard, thereby, reducing maternal mortality.
She gave the assurance that the members would continue to collaborate with the hospital administrations in diverse ways to enhance quality health care delivery.
The acting Director of Nursing Services at the Hospital, Ms Gifty Fanila Abankwa, who received the items on behalf of the hospital, commended the association for the continued support to the hospital.
The items,which were estimated at GH¢2000, also included five digital thermometers and 10 BP apparatus.
The Queen of the Asanteman Association of Ghana, Nana Tiwaa Mmorosa, donated the items on behalf of the association.
The association, which adopted the A3 ward 10 years ago as part of its desire to support quality health care delivery, has over the years presented a number of items including refrigerators, television sets, bed sheets, curtains and stoves to the hospital administration.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic after the donation, Nana Mmorosa said the association adopted the ward to provide support to management in its quest to provide quality healthcare delivery for pregnant women.
She said this was not only to encourage pregnant women to feel comfortable and relaxed when on admission but also to motivate the nurses to work hard, thereby, reducing maternal mortality.
She gave the assurance that the members would continue to collaborate with the hospital administrations in diverse ways to enhance quality health care delivery.
The acting Director of Nursing Services at the Hospital, Ms Gifty Fanila Abankwa, who received the items on behalf of the hospital, commended the association for the continued support to the hospital.
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