The Management of Subin Sub-metro Mutual Health Insurance Scheme moved a step further at bringing the scheme to the doorsteps of the ordinary Ghanaian when they went to Kajetia-the heart of Kumasi- on Thursday, to launch an educational campaign that enticed hundreds of porters to join the scheme.
This will enable the porters access quality health care at affordable cost.
By the end of the educational campaign which was attended by the Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive, Madam Patricia Appiagyei, and the Ashanti Regional Director of the National Health Insurance Authority, Mrs Leticia Osei Poku, as many as 1,500 porters had registered to join the scheme.
It is believed that as many as 25,000 porters, many of them female teenagers, are doing brisk business in Kumasi, but most of them do not belong to the scheme and, therefore, pay the full cost of their medication any time they are ill or seek medical care in the various hospitals within the Kumasi metropolis and its environs.
About four years ago, a head count of porters conducted by the Street Children Foundation- a Kumasi-based non-governmental organisation (NGO), estimated the total number of porters at 19,000 but the number is growing at a fast rate each passing day.
Most of the female porters who are in their teens have given birth to one or more children, making it difficult for them to make ends meet or access quality health care due to their meagre incomes.
Sources at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital indicate that most of the female porters who were on admission escaped from their hospital beds without paying their bills because they did not belong to the scheme.
This has made the hospital’s authorities to write off huge accumulated bills on regular basis but the management cannot ignore the porters when they seek medical care, especially when they are in labour.
According to the Manager of the Subin Sub-metro Mutual Health Scheme, Ms Esther Odoom, measures are being put in place to register all the 25,000 porters and their dependants to enable them to benefit from the government’s gesture to provide health care services to them when the need arises.
Each of the porters who registered paid the minimum premium of GH¢7.20, but those who proved that they were genuinely poor and could not pay their premium were registered free of charge.
Launching the educational campaign, Ms Odoom said the gesture to move to Kajetia to register the porters was to sensitise them to join the scheme for their own benefit.
She pointed out that more than two-thirds of the porters were located at the catchment area of the Subin Sub-metro Scheme, “but have no permanent abode and no parents to address their needs and concerns. They and their dependants always die of common diseases like malaria and diarrhoea because they find it difficult to access health care due to financial difficulties.”
She said it was to address such concerns that they decided to launch the campaign at Kajetia where most of the porters were engaged in their business.
That, she said, “ was to entice them to appreciate the need to join the scheme to reduce the burden they face in accessing quality health care at affordable cost all the time. This is to create the awareness that they are part of the scheme and also remove any doubt that the health insurance package is for the rich in the society,” she explained.
Ms Odoom urged the porters to patronise the scheme “ because it will give you easy access to better health care and you will also pay the least amount of GH¢7.20, even if you want to do so in instalments.”
She gave the assurance that all the porters who were pregnant and those below 18 years would be “registered free of charge” and that they would also be provided with the new National Health Insurance Card, which would enable them to access medical care at any public hospital across the country.
For her part, the Metropolitan Chief Executive, Madam Patricia Appiagyei, said the assembly was not only providing accommodation for the porters but was also building their capacity in diverse ways to make them employable. She said Kumasi was developing at a fast rate and that was encouraging the youth across the country to go there in their numbers to seek employment opportunities.
She indicated that measures would be put in place to provide health care, educational and employment avenues to address the needs of those who flocked to the metropolis.
She, therefore, urged the porters to build their capacity more effectively and efficiently to make their future bright and enable them contribute more meaningfully to the socio-economic development of the country.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
KUMASI RESIDENTS WANT MORE HEALTH EDUCATION FACILITIES (PAGE 29)
A section of residents in the Kumasi metropolis has at a People’s Assembly held at the Prempeh Assembly Hall in Kumasi last Friday, expressed concern about the inadequate health facilities in the Kumasi metropolis. This they claim, is creating massive congestion at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH).
They have expressed worry at the unsanitary conditions at the Dompoase Land fill site, which is causing severe health hazards among the public.
They also expressed concern about the massive congestion at the Kumasi Central Market and the deplorable conditions there. They also lamented the ineffective drainage system at the market which is not only undermining business transactions but is also the cause of regular flooding of the market.
The people’s assembly which was instituted by President John Agyekum Kufour seven years ago offers a unique opportunity for the ordinary Ghanaian, who would otherwise not have had any opportunity to meet the President and government officials.
The forum was a follow up to the one President Kufour held with a cross section of Ghanaians in Sekondi on January 15, 2008. The Prempeh Assembly Hall forum offered residents in the Kumasi metropolis in particular and Ashanti Region in general, the opportunity to interact with the Ashanti Regional Minister , the Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive , departmental heads and service commanders of the various state security agencies, for more than three hours.
Notwithstanding the fact that the forum started two hours late due to the late arrival of the officials, the residents comported themselves throughout the period it lasted, and created a conducive atmosphere that enhanced fruitful interactions.
After the regional minister, Mr Emmanuel A. Owusu Ansah, had opened the forum and
outlined the achievements of the government and its policies, which he said, were impacting positively on the lives of the ordinary Ghanaian, the floor was opened for the public to react by way of questions and comments.
The public’s reactions centred on the inadequate facilities in some public health institutions in the Kumasi metropolis which compelled the medical officers there to refer all cases to the KATH , thus creating massive congestion at the tertiary health facility and undue delays in accessing medical care.
According to them, facilities at the Agogo, Manhyia, Tafo and Sofoline hospitals were woefully inadequate, making it impossible for the residents to access medical care.
They said the population in the Kumasi metropolis and its environs was growing at a faster rate, without a corresponding growth in facilities at health care institutions, and that the delay of the government at expanding the facilities to accommodate patients was undermining health care , and defeating the primary health care policy of the government.
On sanitation, the residents expressed concern about the deplorable conditions at the Dompoase land fill site, where the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly dumped its waste.
They pointed out that since the KMA started dumping refuse at the site over four years ago, it had taken no initiative to improve upon the sanitary conditions there.
This, they said, had created an offensive odour and the invasion of their homes and workplaces, both during the day and night, by houseflies and other insects.
They, therefore, called on the KMA to re-engineer the Dompoase Land fill site to reduce the offensive odour.
They also called on the KMA to collaborate with the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to extend electricity to the Oti community, near the Dompoase Land Fill Site, to reduce attacks by armed robbers, who have taken advantage of the absence of electricity to terrorise the residents at night.
Contributors at the forum said the Kumasi Central Market had not seen any expansion since the market was built many years ago.
They said the drainage system at the market was also nothing to be enthused about, and that the massive congestion at the market and the inadequate drainage system impacted negatively on business transactions, especially during rains, and therefore appealed to the metropolitan chief executive to initiate policies and programmes that would ameliorate the plight of those who do business at the market.
Some of the residents also urged the KMA to develop educational infrastructure in some suburbs in the metropolis to enhance effective and efficient academic work.
They said at a time rural communities were being flooded with classroom facilities to boost teaching and learning, some suburbs in Kumasi, especially Atonsu-Agogo, lacked adequate classroom facilities.
This, they said, compelled some pupils at the basic school level to study under trees, and therefore were at the mercy of the weather everyday. They, therefore, urged the KMA to address the problem before it got out of hand.
They have expressed worry at the unsanitary conditions at the Dompoase Land fill site, which is causing severe health hazards among the public.
They also expressed concern about the massive congestion at the Kumasi Central Market and the deplorable conditions there. They also lamented the ineffective drainage system at the market which is not only undermining business transactions but is also the cause of regular flooding of the market.
The people’s assembly which was instituted by President John Agyekum Kufour seven years ago offers a unique opportunity for the ordinary Ghanaian, who would otherwise not have had any opportunity to meet the President and government officials.
The forum was a follow up to the one President Kufour held with a cross section of Ghanaians in Sekondi on January 15, 2008. The Prempeh Assembly Hall forum offered residents in the Kumasi metropolis in particular and Ashanti Region in general, the opportunity to interact with the Ashanti Regional Minister , the Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive , departmental heads and service commanders of the various state security agencies, for more than three hours.
Notwithstanding the fact that the forum started two hours late due to the late arrival of the officials, the residents comported themselves throughout the period it lasted, and created a conducive atmosphere that enhanced fruitful interactions.
After the regional minister, Mr Emmanuel A. Owusu Ansah, had opened the forum and
outlined the achievements of the government and its policies, which he said, were impacting positively on the lives of the ordinary Ghanaian, the floor was opened for the public to react by way of questions and comments.
The public’s reactions centred on the inadequate facilities in some public health institutions in the Kumasi metropolis which compelled the medical officers there to refer all cases to the KATH , thus creating massive congestion at the tertiary health facility and undue delays in accessing medical care.
According to them, facilities at the Agogo, Manhyia, Tafo and Sofoline hospitals were woefully inadequate, making it impossible for the residents to access medical care.
They said the population in the Kumasi metropolis and its environs was growing at a faster rate, without a corresponding growth in facilities at health care institutions, and that the delay of the government at expanding the facilities to accommodate patients was undermining health care , and defeating the primary health care policy of the government.
On sanitation, the residents expressed concern about the deplorable conditions at the Dompoase land fill site, where the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly dumped its waste.
They pointed out that since the KMA started dumping refuse at the site over four years ago, it had taken no initiative to improve upon the sanitary conditions there.
This, they said, had created an offensive odour and the invasion of their homes and workplaces, both during the day and night, by houseflies and other insects.
They, therefore, called on the KMA to re-engineer the Dompoase Land fill site to reduce the offensive odour.
They also called on the KMA to collaborate with the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to extend electricity to the Oti community, near the Dompoase Land Fill Site, to reduce attacks by armed robbers, who have taken advantage of the absence of electricity to terrorise the residents at night.
Contributors at the forum said the Kumasi Central Market had not seen any expansion since the market was built many years ago.
They said the drainage system at the market was also nothing to be enthused about, and that the massive congestion at the market and the inadequate drainage system impacted negatively on business transactions, especially during rains, and therefore appealed to the metropolitan chief executive to initiate policies and programmes that would ameliorate the plight of those who do business at the market.
Some of the residents also urged the KMA to develop educational infrastructure in some suburbs in the metropolis to enhance effective and efficient academic work.
They said at a time rural communities were being flooded with classroom facilities to boost teaching and learning, some suburbs in Kumasi, especially Atonsu-Agogo, lacked adequate classroom facilities.
This, they said, compelled some pupils at the basic school level to study under trees, and therefore were at the mercy of the weather everyday. They, therefore, urged the KMA to address the problem before it got out of hand.
Monday, June 9, 2008
MALARIA HIGHEST CAUSE OF ADMISSSIONS IN KUMASI (PAGE 24)
AS many as 15,999 residents of the Kumasi Metropolis and its environs suffered from uncomplicated malaria between 2005 and 2007, and were admitted to various public hospitals in the Kumasi metropolis.
The total number of residents who were also admitted during the same period for contracting cholera, diarrhoea and dysentery was 3,858.
These were contained in the Kumasi Metropolitan Health Directorate annual report presented by the Ghana Health Services as part of their reviewed programme of action in 2008.
The report, which catalogued the top 10 causes of admissions in the Kumasi metropolis, among other issues, excluded patients who were admitted to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) during the period under review.
According to the report, uncomplicated malaria topped the list of the top 10 diseases listed by the Ghana Health Services, with 2,373 total admissions in 2005. The number of patients admitted increased to 6,175 the following year, before jumping to 7,451 last year.
Dysentery (diarrhoea with bleeding), which recorded 1,450 admissions last year at the various health institutions in the Kumasi metropolis and its environs, was second on the ladder.
In 2006, diarrhoea with no dehydration was second on the ladder with a total of 1,758 admissions.
Third on the list of the top 10 diseases in the metropolis in 2007 was hypertension. It recorded a total of 780 admissions.
In 2006 and 2005, severe malaria was third on the list of the top 10 diseases, recording 715 and 540 admissions respectively.
Severe malaria, which seems to be having a big toll on residents and had been undermining productivity over the years, was also recognised among the top 10 diseases that caused residents to be admitted to health institutions. The disease recorded a total of 594 admissions last year.
Acute urinary tract infection, which infected 407 residents last year, causing them to be admitted for treatment at some health institutions in the metropolis, was fifth on the list with typhoid fever taking the sixth position with a total of 394 admissions.
About 334 cases of uncomplicated pneumonia were admitted confirmed malaria, 324 admissions, anaemia, 310 admissions and asthma, 275 admissions, completed the list of the top 10 diseases by taking the seventh eighth, ninth and 10th positions respectively and resulted in the victims being admitted to health facilities in 2007.
According to the report, uncomplicated malaria topped the list of the top 10 that resulted in 6,175 patients being admitted in 2006 in the Kumasi metropolis and its environs, with diarrhoea with no
dehydration taking the second spot with a total of 1,758 admissions.
Severe malaria, with 715 admissions in 2006 came third on the list in the metropolis, and hypertension, with 607 admissions in 2006 was fourth on the list.
Others among the top 10 diseases in 2006 in their order of severity were anaemia, 400 admissions; diarrhoea with some dehydration, 333 admissions; confirmed malaria, 328; typhoid fever, 324; pneumonia, 304; and acute urinary tract infection, 281.
The total number of residents who were also admitted during the same period for contracting cholera, diarrhoea and dysentery was 3,858.
These were contained in the Kumasi Metropolitan Health Directorate annual report presented by the Ghana Health Services as part of their reviewed programme of action in 2008.
The report, which catalogued the top 10 causes of admissions in the Kumasi metropolis, among other issues, excluded patients who were admitted to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) during the period under review.
According to the report, uncomplicated malaria topped the list of the top 10 diseases listed by the Ghana Health Services, with 2,373 total admissions in 2005. The number of patients admitted increased to 6,175 the following year, before jumping to 7,451 last year.
Dysentery (diarrhoea with bleeding), which recorded 1,450 admissions last year at the various health institutions in the Kumasi metropolis and its environs, was second on the ladder.
In 2006, diarrhoea with no dehydration was second on the ladder with a total of 1,758 admissions.
Third on the list of the top 10 diseases in the metropolis in 2007 was hypertension. It recorded a total of 780 admissions.
In 2006 and 2005, severe malaria was third on the list of the top 10 diseases, recording 715 and 540 admissions respectively.
Severe malaria, which seems to be having a big toll on residents and had been undermining productivity over the years, was also recognised among the top 10 diseases that caused residents to be admitted to health institutions. The disease recorded a total of 594 admissions last year.
Acute urinary tract infection, which infected 407 residents last year, causing them to be admitted for treatment at some health institutions in the metropolis, was fifth on the list with typhoid fever taking the sixth position with a total of 394 admissions.
About 334 cases of uncomplicated pneumonia were admitted confirmed malaria, 324 admissions, anaemia, 310 admissions and asthma, 275 admissions, completed the list of the top 10 diseases by taking the seventh eighth, ninth and 10th positions respectively and resulted in the victims being admitted to health facilities in 2007.
According to the report, uncomplicated malaria topped the list of the top 10 that resulted in 6,175 patients being admitted in 2006 in the Kumasi metropolis and its environs, with diarrhoea with no
dehydration taking the second spot with a total of 1,758 admissions.
Severe malaria, with 715 admissions in 2006 came third on the list in the metropolis, and hypertension, with 607 admissions in 2006 was fourth on the list.
Others among the top 10 diseases in 2006 in their order of severity were anaemia, 400 admissions; diarrhoea with some dehydration, 333 admissions; confirmed malaria, 328; typhoid fever, 324; pneumonia, 304; and acute urinary tract infection, 281.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
KATH EMERGENCY UNIT TO BE COMPLETED SOON (PAGE 25)
The Accident Emergency Unit of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), now under construction, will be completed by the end of June to offer quality care to patients in the northern sector of the country as well as those from the West African sub-region.
The unit, which is the biggest in the sub-region, has facilities such as operating theatres, accident units, consulting rooms, X-ray units, pharmacies, recovery wards, a mortuary and a helipad, where helicopters can take off and land to enhance the transportation of accident victims to the centre.
A maternity and children’s block, which will help reduce the pressure on the current one, is also under construction and 25 per cent complete.
When completed, the block will comprise children’s and maternity wards, out-patient departments, offices for doctors, a pharmacy, among others.
The Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr E. A. Owusu-Ansah, who announced this last Friday, during the People’s Assembly held at the Prempeh Assembly Hall, pointed out that a block of 49 flats to accommodate doctors at the KATH is also being constructed.
He said already, 24 of the flats had been completed and handed over.
The People’s Assembly was initiated by President John Agyekum Kufuor to offer ordinary Ghanaians the opportunity to interact fruitfully with the Presidency and government officials to enhance the democratic dispensation and firmly entrench the rule of law in the country.
Mr Owusu Ansah said the numerous projects lined up at the KATH over the last few years were the initiatives of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government to improve facilities there and enhance quality health care delivery.
He said already, the first phase of a block of 32 flats for medical officers at the hospital, built at the cost of GH¢29,718,217.60, had been completed.
“The second phase of the same project, which is currently underway, is about 85 per cent complete. It consists of 32 flats and is estimated at GH¢650,000.00”, he stressed.
Mr Owusu-Ansah said apart from the facilities at the KATH, the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) was also progressing steadily in the Kumasi metropolis and its environs.
He said so far, the scheme had registered a total of 1,816,65 people, representing 40 per cent of the projected population of 4,565,683 in the Ashanti Region.
Mr Owusu-Ansah said out of the total number of registered members, as many as 1,608,488, representing 89 per cent “are ID card bearers who are accessing free medicare from a total of 251 accredited public health facilities and private providers across the length and breath of the region”.
On energy, he said the region had a fair share of the energy crises which undermined the operations of industries and institutions, and added that the government had now “invested huge sums of money in the provision of transformers and sub-stations to improve on power supply for both domestic and commercial use.”
The unit, which is the biggest in the sub-region, has facilities such as operating theatres, accident units, consulting rooms, X-ray units, pharmacies, recovery wards, a mortuary and a helipad, where helicopters can take off and land to enhance the transportation of accident victims to the centre.
A maternity and children’s block, which will help reduce the pressure on the current one, is also under construction and 25 per cent complete.
When completed, the block will comprise children’s and maternity wards, out-patient departments, offices for doctors, a pharmacy, among others.
The Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr E. A. Owusu-Ansah, who announced this last Friday, during the People’s Assembly held at the Prempeh Assembly Hall, pointed out that a block of 49 flats to accommodate doctors at the KATH is also being constructed.
He said already, 24 of the flats had been completed and handed over.
The People’s Assembly was initiated by President John Agyekum Kufuor to offer ordinary Ghanaians the opportunity to interact fruitfully with the Presidency and government officials to enhance the democratic dispensation and firmly entrench the rule of law in the country.
Mr Owusu Ansah said the numerous projects lined up at the KATH over the last few years were the initiatives of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government to improve facilities there and enhance quality health care delivery.
He said already, the first phase of a block of 32 flats for medical officers at the hospital, built at the cost of GH¢29,718,217.60, had been completed.
“The second phase of the same project, which is currently underway, is about 85 per cent complete. It consists of 32 flats and is estimated at GH¢650,000.00”, he stressed.
Mr Owusu-Ansah said apart from the facilities at the KATH, the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) was also progressing steadily in the Kumasi metropolis and its environs.
He said so far, the scheme had registered a total of 1,816,65 people, representing 40 per cent of the projected population of 4,565,683 in the Ashanti Region.
Mr Owusu-Ansah said out of the total number of registered members, as many as 1,608,488, representing 89 per cent “are ID card bearers who are accessing free medicare from a total of 251 accredited public health facilities and private providers across the length and breath of the region”.
On energy, he said the region had a fair share of the energy crises which undermined the operations of industries and institutions, and added that the government had now “invested huge sums of money in the provision of transformers and sub-stations to improve on power supply for both domestic and commercial use.”
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
KUMASI SECURITY AGENCIES COMMENDED FOR THEIR VIGILANCE (PAGE 30)
THE Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Emmanuel A. Owusu-Ansah, has commended the Ashanti Regional Security agencies for their vigilance, gallantry and professionalism in combating crime in the Kumasi metropolis and its environs.
He pointed out that it was the professional readiness of the security agencies that made it possible for them to contain the menace of armed robbery and other criminal activities that had engulfed various parts of the metropolis last year.
He said the effort of the security agencies was very much appreciated, because it did not only bring sanity into the region, but also has made it possible for the people to enjoy relative peace.
Mr Owusu-Ansah pointed out that in spite of the vigilance of the security agents, "there were some isolated cases of car snatching, pick-pocketing, defilement and fraud," and, therefore, called on the public to "continue to assist the security agencies by volunteering information on activities of criminals to help curb the menace".
Addressing a section of residents in the Kumasi metropolis and its environs during a People's Assembly held at the Prempeh Assembly Hall in Kumasi, Mr Owusu-Ansah said it was only when the public collaborated effectively with the security agencies that the high rate of criminal activities could be curbed to enable residents have their peace to concentrate on their economic ventures.
He said one of such cases which caused public outcry was the gruesome murder of the late Samuel Best Enin, who was the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the Ghana Journalist Association (GJA), and gave the assurance that with the investigations into the case completed, the culprits would be brought to book.
He said the government was also putting adequate measures in place to support private initiatives by providing micro-finance and small loans to the public.
He said so far, as much as GH¢2,098,000 had been disbursed to 776 beneficiaries, including 363 females under the small loans, while a total of 7,891 people, including 2,956 females, had also benefited from a loan of GH¢2,297,900 under the micro credit.
On urban roads projects, Mr Owusu Ansah said between January 2001 and March 2008, a total of 179.89 kilometre of road projects estimated at GH¢14,321,398.54 had been completed.
He mentioned the Suame-Kropo, Suame-Kotoko, Daban, Kwadaso Nsuom, Tarkwa Maakro, Gyinyase and Asuoboa as some of the beneficiary suburbs of the road projects.
He said a total of 253 culverts, estimated at GH¢3,341,819.84, were also constructed at such areas as the Suame Magazine, Daban, Atasemanso, Breman, Tanoso, Kromoase, Pankrono, Bohyen, Ayigya and Atonsu.
On the rehabilitation of roads in the metropolis, Mr Owusu-Ansah said a total of 110.82 kilometre of road networks was rehabilitated at GH¢15,773,372.36.
He said suburbs which benefited from the projects included North Kwadaso, Adoato, the Asuoyeboah township, Nyakyenease, Tafo Hospital, Asokore-Mampong, Krofrom area roads and Sobodo.
He pointed out that it was the professional readiness of the security agencies that made it possible for them to contain the menace of armed robbery and other criminal activities that had engulfed various parts of the metropolis last year.
He said the effort of the security agencies was very much appreciated, because it did not only bring sanity into the region, but also has made it possible for the people to enjoy relative peace.
Mr Owusu-Ansah pointed out that in spite of the vigilance of the security agents, "there were some isolated cases of car snatching, pick-pocketing, defilement and fraud," and, therefore, called on the public to "continue to assist the security agencies by volunteering information on activities of criminals to help curb the menace".
Addressing a section of residents in the Kumasi metropolis and its environs during a People's Assembly held at the Prempeh Assembly Hall in Kumasi, Mr Owusu-Ansah said it was only when the public collaborated effectively with the security agencies that the high rate of criminal activities could be curbed to enable residents have their peace to concentrate on their economic ventures.
He said one of such cases which caused public outcry was the gruesome murder of the late Samuel Best Enin, who was the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the Ghana Journalist Association (GJA), and gave the assurance that with the investigations into the case completed, the culprits would be brought to book.
He said the government was also putting adequate measures in place to support private initiatives by providing micro-finance and small loans to the public.
He said so far, as much as GH¢2,098,000 had been disbursed to 776 beneficiaries, including 363 females under the small loans, while a total of 7,891 people, including 2,956 females, had also benefited from a loan of GH¢2,297,900 under the micro credit.
On urban roads projects, Mr Owusu Ansah said between January 2001 and March 2008, a total of 179.89 kilometre of road projects estimated at GH¢14,321,398.54 had been completed.
He mentioned the Suame-Kropo, Suame-Kotoko, Daban, Kwadaso Nsuom, Tarkwa Maakro, Gyinyase and Asuoboa as some of the beneficiary suburbs of the road projects.
He said a total of 253 culverts, estimated at GH¢3,341,819.84, were also constructed at such areas as the Suame Magazine, Daban, Atasemanso, Breman, Tanoso, Kromoase, Pankrono, Bohyen, Ayigya and Atonsu.
On the rehabilitation of roads in the metropolis, Mr Owusu-Ansah said a total of 110.82 kilometre of road networks was rehabilitated at GH¢15,773,372.36.
He said suburbs which benefited from the projects included North Kwadaso, Adoato, the Asuoyeboah township, Nyakyenease, Tafo Hospital, Asokore-Mampong, Krofrom area roads and Sobodo.
Monday, June 2, 2008
JUJU MAN, ACCOMPLICE IN COURT FOR FRAUD (PAGE 53)
The spiritual prowess of a juju man and his accomplice totally deserted them in court in Kumasi when the Presiding Judge of the Circuit Court, Mr Ernest Yao Obimpeh, asked them to display their powers to conjure money.
The suspects were alleged to have collected GH¢5,100 from a Kumasi-based fashion designer, assuring her that they could conjure as much as GH¢300,000 for her.
Mumuni Iddrisu, the juju man, surrounded by his talisman and various spiritistic items purportedly used in conjuring money, created much suspense in the court when news about his potency to conjure money spread like savanna wild fire.
Some anxious residents in the Kumasi metropolis filled the courtroom, expecting Mumuni to display his prowess. He, however, told the court after failing to conjure any money that he was not supposed to display openly so he would not conjure money at that particular time.
Mumuni and his accomplice, Richard Agyapong, a tailor, have been remanded in prison custody, charged with conspiracy to defraud and defrauding by false pretences.
They pleaded not guilty to the charges and would appear in court in a week’s time.
The two, together with an accomplice at large, were alleged to have defrauded the fashion designer, one Huda Kabalan of GH¢5,100, in March 2008, assuring her that they would use the money to conjure a lot of money for her to boost her business, but they failed to do so.
The police are hunting for their accomplice in the case, Alhaji Aziz, who is now at large.
Presenting the facts, the prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Regina Kesewa, told the court that the designer, a resident of Gyenyaase in Kumasi, was approached by Agyepong that he knew a spiritualist who could conjure money for her.
The prosecutor said after convincing the complainant about the prowess of the juju man, Agyepong brought Alhaji Aziz to Huda as the juju man.
The prosecutor said to convince the complainant that they meant business, Richard and Aziz brought Mumuni as their assistant in the juju business and the special assistant to Aziz.
She said a few days later, the three went to the complainant’s house, assuring her that they were there to conjure the money into a chop box for her.
She said after the alleged conjuring of the supposed money into the chop box, they collected GH¢5,100 from her under the pretext of using it to buy some items to purify the conjured money to enable her to use it without difficulty.
She said after waiting for some days without the suspects showing up, the complainant got alarmed and therefore opened the box. To her dismay, there was absolutely nothing in the box. She therefore reported the matter to the police.
Consequently Agyepong was arrested and he took the police to Techiman in the Brong Ahafo Region, where Mumuni was also arrested at a time he was in the process of displaying his purported juju prowess on another victim with the intention to defraud him.
The prosecutor said when Iddrisu was arrested, the police seized the talisman and other items alleged to be used in conjuring money, but Aziz managed to escape.
The suspects were alleged to have collected GH¢5,100 from a Kumasi-based fashion designer, assuring her that they could conjure as much as GH¢300,000 for her.
Mumuni Iddrisu, the juju man, surrounded by his talisman and various spiritistic items purportedly used in conjuring money, created much suspense in the court when news about his potency to conjure money spread like savanna wild fire.
Some anxious residents in the Kumasi metropolis filled the courtroom, expecting Mumuni to display his prowess. He, however, told the court after failing to conjure any money that he was not supposed to display openly so he would not conjure money at that particular time.
Mumuni and his accomplice, Richard Agyapong, a tailor, have been remanded in prison custody, charged with conspiracy to defraud and defrauding by false pretences.
They pleaded not guilty to the charges and would appear in court in a week’s time.
The two, together with an accomplice at large, were alleged to have defrauded the fashion designer, one Huda Kabalan of GH¢5,100, in March 2008, assuring her that they would use the money to conjure a lot of money for her to boost her business, but they failed to do so.
The police are hunting for their accomplice in the case, Alhaji Aziz, who is now at large.
Presenting the facts, the prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Regina Kesewa, told the court that the designer, a resident of Gyenyaase in Kumasi, was approached by Agyepong that he knew a spiritualist who could conjure money for her.
The prosecutor said after convincing the complainant about the prowess of the juju man, Agyepong brought Alhaji Aziz to Huda as the juju man.
The prosecutor said to convince the complainant that they meant business, Richard and Aziz brought Mumuni as their assistant in the juju business and the special assistant to Aziz.
She said a few days later, the three went to the complainant’s house, assuring her that they were there to conjure the money into a chop box for her.
She said after the alleged conjuring of the supposed money into the chop box, they collected GH¢5,100 from her under the pretext of using it to buy some items to purify the conjured money to enable her to use it without difficulty.
She said after waiting for some days without the suspects showing up, the complainant got alarmed and therefore opened the box. To her dismay, there was absolutely nothing in the box. She therefore reported the matter to the police.
Consequently Agyepong was arrested and he took the police to Techiman in the Brong Ahafo Region, where Mumuni was also arrested at a time he was in the process of displaying his purported juju prowess on another victim with the intention to defraud him.
The prosecutor said when Iddrisu was arrested, the police seized the talisman and other items alleged to be used in conjuring money, but Aziz managed to escape.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
EPILEPTIC DRIVER IN ACCIDENT (PAGE 35, MIRROR)
From George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
A Kumasi-based Nissan Urvan bus driver, apparently seized by epilepsy during a journey between Kejetia and Santansi, and at a time that his leg was right on the accelerator, drove directly into a tree, causing severe damage to the vehicle and seriously injuring himself and three passengers.
The driver, George Adjei, who also sustained multiple head and body injuries, together with the three passengers, is on admission at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.
The passengers who sustained injuries and are said to be in critical condition, have been identified as Abena Gyamfua, Charles Frimpong and Samuel Owusu.
Police investigations revealed that the driver had the epileptic seizure at a time he was descending a hill and his right leg directly on top of the accelerator pedal.
According to the police although the bus was fully loaded, it was only the driver and the three passengers who were seriously injured, while the others had minor injuries and were treated and discharged when they were rushed to hospital.
The Ashanti Regional Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) Police Commander, Superintendent James Sarfo Pepra, who briefed The Mirror about the incident, said Adjei with 15 years’ driving experience, was given the minibus barely a week ago, and prior to that, the owner had inspected his license and only gave the vehicle to him when she was convinced that he had enough driving experience.
He said the driver was very healthy when he set off at Kejetia around 12.20 p.m. on May 21, 2008, and it was moments after he had negotiated the Bekwai roundabout and was descending the hill between the Parks and Gardens and the Electricity Company of Ghana office that he had the epileptic seizure.
“His leg was by then right on the accelerator, so the vehicle was moving very fast, causing the vehicle to veer off the road and run into the big tree”, he added.
Commenting on the incident, the medical officer in charge of the Sofoline Government Hospital, Dr Kwabena Opoku Adusei, said cases of such nature occur on the highways occasionally.
He pointed out that most of such accidents are fatal, leading also to the loss of property, adding that to address it, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) should as a matter of urgency, initiate the policy of verifying the health status of drivers anytime they issue them a license or renew it.
He says testing the sight of drivers is not enough in the issuance of a licence. “They ought to be medically examined fully to ensure that they are very healthy before the licence is issued. This is because those who have such problems put their lives and those of other road users at great risk”, he pointed out.
A Kumasi-based Nissan Urvan bus driver, apparently seized by epilepsy during a journey between Kejetia and Santansi, and at a time that his leg was right on the accelerator, drove directly into a tree, causing severe damage to the vehicle and seriously injuring himself and three passengers.
The driver, George Adjei, who also sustained multiple head and body injuries, together with the three passengers, is on admission at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.
The passengers who sustained injuries and are said to be in critical condition, have been identified as Abena Gyamfua, Charles Frimpong and Samuel Owusu.
Police investigations revealed that the driver had the epileptic seizure at a time he was descending a hill and his right leg directly on top of the accelerator pedal.
According to the police although the bus was fully loaded, it was only the driver and the three passengers who were seriously injured, while the others had minor injuries and were treated and discharged when they were rushed to hospital.
The Ashanti Regional Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) Police Commander, Superintendent James Sarfo Pepra, who briefed The Mirror about the incident, said Adjei with 15 years’ driving experience, was given the minibus barely a week ago, and prior to that, the owner had inspected his license and only gave the vehicle to him when she was convinced that he had enough driving experience.
He said the driver was very healthy when he set off at Kejetia around 12.20 p.m. on May 21, 2008, and it was moments after he had negotiated the Bekwai roundabout and was descending the hill between the Parks and Gardens and the Electricity Company of Ghana office that he had the epileptic seizure.
“His leg was by then right on the accelerator, so the vehicle was moving very fast, causing the vehicle to veer off the road and run into the big tree”, he added.
Commenting on the incident, the medical officer in charge of the Sofoline Government Hospital, Dr Kwabena Opoku Adusei, said cases of such nature occur on the highways occasionally.
He pointed out that most of such accidents are fatal, leading also to the loss of property, adding that to address it, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) should as a matter of urgency, initiate the policy of verifying the health status of drivers anytime they issue them a license or renew it.
He says testing the sight of drivers is not enough in the issuance of a licence. “They ought to be medically examined fully to ensure that they are very healthy before the licence is issued. This is because those who have such problems put their lives and those of other road users at great risk”, he pointed out.
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