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
Sunday, July 18, 2010
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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