Story: Kwame Asare Boadu, Kumasi
THE Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has outlined a list of incomes on which private schools in the country are expected to pay taxes as a statutory obligation.
It said apart from the normal school fees charged, profit on levies such as development levy, extra classes, bookshops, canteen, transportation, sale of uniform, evening classes, which was not charged directly under the regular school fees, were to be taxed.
Mr W.C. Sefah-Agyebeng, Assistant Commissioner in charge of training, who announced this at a day's workshop for private school proprietors in Accra, said fees charged during vacation classes, Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) donations, external support for the school, gifts and grants were also not exempt from taxes.
His announcement generated a heated debate between the proprietors and the IRS officials with the proprietors arguing that they did not make profits on the list of items mentioned.
Mr Sefah-Agyebeng, however, allayed the fears of the proprietors, saying that "the items we have listed will not be taxed unless the school had made gains out of any of them".
He said the IRS had embarked on the public education exercise to stress the need for private schools and other companies to file their tax returns on an annual basis.
The workshop was on the theme: "Your tax returns: A fair way of assessing your income tax".
He said the IRS would be compelled to enforce the law if the proprietors refused to give full declaration of their income and expenditures at any specified period of the year.
The Assistant Commissioner said there were penalties, including fines and imprisonment, for those who refused to honour their tax obligations and urged the proprietors not to do things that would make them fall foul of the law.
Mr Sefah-Agyebeng said it was also an obligation on the part of the employer to file tax returns for each member of staff at the end of every year.
"After doing so, the employers are also expected to give a copy of what has been presented to the IRS to the employee to verify the correctness of the amounts indicated against his/her name," he said.
That, he said, was to allow the employee to satisfy himself/herself that what was deducted by the employer had been duly paid to the IRS.
He said it was also an offence on the part of any employer to under-declare or make false declarations to the IRS.
Mr Sefah-Agyebeng said those who were caught to be aiding and abetting would also not be spared.
The participants expressed gratitude to the IRS for the education and asked for regular education on tax returns and obligations.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
KOTOKO FAILED ON TACTICS — BAAH-NUAKO (GRAPHIC SPORTS, BACK PAGE)
Story: Kwame Asare Boadu, Kumasi
Disappointment swept through the ambitious Asante Kotoko team last Sunday as they were hit with the unpleasant reality of playing the return CAF Confederation Cup tie against Nigeria’s Dolphins in Kumasi minus three of their trusted warriors including captain Emmanuel Osei Kuffour.
Kuffour, Osei Kwame Jr and Dan Acquah have attracted multiple yellow cards in the competition and are effectively ruled out of the second leg.
A real performer on the field, Kuffour is the master inspirer of the team that has many young players, and his absence cannot be taken lightly.
Confirming this in an interview with the Graphic Sports, club communications director, Kwame Baah-Nuako, said the situation was a challenge for Coach Bashir Hayford to vary his tactics in order to give the team the revenge they would crave for.
Mr Baah-Nuako, who spoke on phone from his base in Accra, was particularly not impressed with the technical approach of the team in the match against Dolphins in which they slumped to a 0-2 defeat.
“It was always a difficult match for us because of the coach’s game plan to be on the defensive”, the communications director said.
He said on realising the line-up for the team which featured Samuel Inkoom, Harrison Afful, Prince Anokye and Dan Acquah at the back four, with two other defence players, Osei Kwame and George Asare sitting in front of them, what came into his mind was that the team was too defensive-minded.
“This is not the style of Asante Kotoko and I was not surprised that Dolphins dominated the middle and put pressure on us for a greater part of the game especially in the second half”, Baah-Nuako said.
According to him, what he knew was that once a while, a defender was put in front of the back four, and not two defenders. “The coach adopted this strategy in the match against Wikki Tourists in Bauchi and it worked for us”.
The communica-tions director also had some verbal punches for the referee for contributing to the defeat of Kototo, saying, “that is Africa for you”.
Yet, Mr Baah-Nuako also blamed the players for relaxing after Dolphins’ first goal, perhaps thinking that one-goal deficit was okay for the team.
“The players were becoming comfortable with the one goal during the dying minutes of the game and we paid dearly for it”, the communications director stated.
But was full of hope for the team in the return leg. “Listening to radio commentary and other information from my colleagues who were in Nigeria, Dolphins is not the side that should qualify at the expense of Kotoko”.
Kotoko, he said, had scaled through challenges bigger than the Dolphins situation and was confident that the team would qualify for the next stage.
Disappointment swept through the ambitious Asante Kotoko team last Sunday as they were hit with the unpleasant reality of playing the return CAF Confederation Cup tie against Nigeria’s Dolphins in Kumasi minus three of their trusted warriors including captain Emmanuel Osei Kuffour.
Kuffour, Osei Kwame Jr and Dan Acquah have attracted multiple yellow cards in the competition and are effectively ruled out of the second leg.
A real performer on the field, Kuffour is the master inspirer of the team that has many young players, and his absence cannot be taken lightly.
Confirming this in an interview with the Graphic Sports, club communications director, Kwame Baah-Nuako, said the situation was a challenge for Coach Bashir Hayford to vary his tactics in order to give the team the revenge they would crave for.
Mr Baah-Nuako, who spoke on phone from his base in Accra, was particularly not impressed with the technical approach of the team in the match against Dolphins in which they slumped to a 0-2 defeat.
“It was always a difficult match for us because of the coach’s game plan to be on the defensive”, the communications director said.
He said on realising the line-up for the team which featured Samuel Inkoom, Harrison Afful, Prince Anokye and Dan Acquah at the back four, with two other defence players, Osei Kwame and George Asare sitting in front of them, what came into his mind was that the team was too defensive-minded.
“This is not the style of Asante Kotoko and I was not surprised that Dolphins dominated the middle and put pressure on us for a greater part of the game especially in the second half”, Baah-Nuako said.
According to him, what he knew was that once a while, a defender was put in front of the back four, and not two defenders. “The coach adopted this strategy in the match against Wikki Tourists in Bauchi and it worked for us”.
The communica-tions director also had some verbal punches for the referee for contributing to the defeat of Kototo, saying, “that is Africa for you”.
Yet, Mr Baah-Nuako also blamed the players for relaxing after Dolphins’ first goal, perhaps thinking that one-goal deficit was okay for the team.
“The players were becoming comfortable with the one goal during the dying minutes of the game and we paid dearly for it”, the communications director stated.
But was full of hope for the team in the return leg. “Listening to radio commentary and other information from my colleagues who were in Nigeria, Dolphins is not the side that should qualify at the expense of Kotoko”.
Kotoko, he said, had scaled through challenges bigger than the Dolphins situation and was confident that the team would qualify for the next stage.
Monday, April 28, 2008
POLICEMAN INTERDICTED FOR AIDING SUSPECT (PAGE 44)
Story: Kwame Asare Boadu, Kumasi
THE Police Administration has interdicted a serving sergeant who allegedly smuggled a hacksaw blade to a suspected armed robber who was in police custody to aid his escape.
The police would not name the policeman but gave the name of the suspect as Eric Alfred Zieme.
The suspect, described by the police as a notorious criminal, once made an attempt to escape from lawful custody and they believed the hacksaw blade was only meant to assist him to make another move to escape.
The Ashanti Deputy Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Bright Oduro, said in an interview that the interdiction of the sergeant was without prejudice to the outcome of the service enquiry into his conduct.
He said the sergeant had been released on bail pending the outcome of the service enquiry.
Zieme has been on remand in police custody for some time now following various robbery charges against him.
He was on the wanted list of the police until he was arrested upon a tip-off.
The police shot one of his legs to prevent him from escaping during investigations into some of his activities.
That was when he was leading police investigators on a search mission for some of his accomplices and the arms used in his operations.
THE Police Administration has interdicted a serving sergeant who allegedly smuggled a hacksaw blade to a suspected armed robber who was in police custody to aid his escape.
The police would not name the policeman but gave the name of the suspect as Eric Alfred Zieme.
The suspect, described by the police as a notorious criminal, once made an attempt to escape from lawful custody and they believed the hacksaw blade was only meant to assist him to make another move to escape.
The Ashanti Deputy Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Bright Oduro, said in an interview that the interdiction of the sergeant was without prejudice to the outcome of the service enquiry into his conduct.
He said the sergeant had been released on bail pending the outcome of the service enquiry.
Zieme has been on remand in police custody for some time now following various robbery charges against him.
He was on the wanted list of the police until he was arrested upon a tip-off.
The police shot one of his legs to prevent him from escaping during investigations into some of his activities.
That was when he was leading police investigators on a search mission for some of his accomplices and the arms used in his operations.
NANA YEABOAH — BOFOAKWA'S RISING DEFENDER (NSEMPA, BACK PAGE)
By Kwame Asare Boadu
ONE of the rising stars in the National Division One league no doubt is 19-year-old George Awisi-Yeboah of Bofoakwa Tano.
The player, better known as Nana Yeboah, is a no-nonsense defender whose intimidating presence puts fear in many attackers.
He is nicknamed Song after the great Cameroun captain Rigobert Song.
He plays in central defence and is ripe for any of the national teams.
The defender says he has a two-year contract with Bofoakwa.
He told Graphic Nsempa that he would decide the next move after the expiry of his current contract.
He played for Topsymore, Division One side before joining Bofoakwa.
Nana Yeboah said it was refreshing that the Division One league was receiving very good attention and added that he was determined to help Bofoakwa return to the premiership next season.
ONE of the rising stars in the National Division One league no doubt is 19-year-old George Awisi-Yeboah of Bofoakwa Tano.
The player, better known as Nana Yeboah, is a no-nonsense defender whose intimidating presence puts fear in many attackers.
He is nicknamed Song after the great Cameroun captain Rigobert Song.
He plays in central defence and is ripe for any of the national teams.
The defender says he has a two-year contract with Bofoakwa.
He told Graphic Nsempa that he would decide the next move after the expiry of his current contract.
He played for Topsymore, Division One side before joining Bofoakwa.
Nana Yeboah said it was refreshing that the Division One league was receiving very good attention and added that he was determined to help Bofoakwa return to the premiership next season.
DRIVER ARRESTED OVER DEATH OF LABOURER (PAGE 54)
Story: Kwame Asare Boadu, Kumasi
THE Kumasi police arrested and questioned the driver of a Nissan Urvan bus, Moses Duah, over the killing of a sanitation labourer of Freko FD Limited, Baba Salifu, alias Sualey, who was in charge of the Kejetia Bus Terminal.
Mr Seth Ofori, a security co-ordinator of Freko FD, told the Daily Graphic that Sualey was hit and killed instantly by the Urvan bus, which was being driven by Duah in the night of April 4, 2008 while Sualey was conveying a heap of rubbish he had cleared at the terminal around 11 p.m. to the refuse dump.
He was crossing the dual carriage in front of Adehyeman Gardens to dispose of the rubbish on the other side of the road when the accident occurred.
The police confirmed the arrest of Duah and said he had been released on bail, pending further investigations.
Mr Ofori appealed to drivers to always try to ensure the safety of passengers and members of the general public in and around the Kejetia Bus Terminal.
He said the staff of the company were working at the peril of their lives but said a little care on the part of drivers could make the difference in preventing avoidable accidents.
The security co-ordinator noted with concern that in spite of the risk involved in the execution of their duties, the public looked down on the staff of the company and accused them unnecessarily of harassment of traders and extorting monies from them.
He appealed to the general public to co-operate with Freko security personnel and employees to ensure absolute protection of the general public by ensuring the safety of all categories of users of the terminal,
He expressed the condolences of the management and staff of the company to the bereaved family. Sualey has since been buried.
In another incident, the Kumasi police are investigating the circumstances in which a macho-man by name Kwasi Owusu allegedly assaulted John Elu, a security man of Freko FD company, and attempted to snatch a rifle from a police officer who came to the rescue of the security man.
Three machomen, on April 10, 2008, were seen urinating in the open at the terminal instead of a urinal provided at the place.
When Elu questioned them they pounced on him.
A police sergeant went to the scene and tried to intervene but Owusu allegedly attempted to snatch the rifle from the policeman.
Elu re-organised himself and quickly went to the aid of the policeman after the other two had taken to their heels. Owusu was over-powered and arrested.
The company’s security co-ordinator, Mr Ofori, urged members of the public to be vigilant and report people with questionable character who loitered around the terminal.
THE Kumasi police arrested and questioned the driver of a Nissan Urvan bus, Moses Duah, over the killing of a sanitation labourer of Freko FD Limited, Baba Salifu, alias Sualey, who was in charge of the Kejetia Bus Terminal.
Mr Seth Ofori, a security co-ordinator of Freko FD, told the Daily Graphic that Sualey was hit and killed instantly by the Urvan bus, which was being driven by Duah in the night of April 4, 2008 while Sualey was conveying a heap of rubbish he had cleared at the terminal around 11 p.m. to the refuse dump.
He was crossing the dual carriage in front of Adehyeman Gardens to dispose of the rubbish on the other side of the road when the accident occurred.
The police confirmed the arrest of Duah and said he had been released on bail, pending further investigations.
Mr Ofori appealed to drivers to always try to ensure the safety of passengers and members of the general public in and around the Kejetia Bus Terminal.
He said the staff of the company were working at the peril of their lives but said a little care on the part of drivers could make the difference in preventing avoidable accidents.
The security co-ordinator noted with concern that in spite of the risk involved in the execution of their duties, the public looked down on the staff of the company and accused them unnecessarily of harassment of traders and extorting monies from them.
He appealed to the general public to co-operate with Freko security personnel and employees to ensure absolute protection of the general public by ensuring the safety of all categories of users of the terminal,
He expressed the condolences of the management and staff of the company to the bereaved family. Sualey has since been buried.
In another incident, the Kumasi police are investigating the circumstances in which a macho-man by name Kwasi Owusu allegedly assaulted John Elu, a security man of Freko FD company, and attempted to snatch a rifle from a police officer who came to the rescue of the security man.
Three machomen, on April 10, 2008, were seen urinating in the open at the terminal instead of a urinal provided at the place.
When Elu questioned them they pounced on him.
A police sergeant went to the scene and tried to intervene but Owusu allegedly attempted to snatch the rifle from the policeman.
Elu re-organised himself and quickly went to the aid of the policeman after the other two had taken to their heels. Owusu was over-powered and arrested.
The company’s security co-ordinator, Mr Ofori, urged members of the public to be vigilant and report people with questionable character who loitered around the terminal.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
ASSEMBLY TAKES STEPS TO SOLVE ACCOMODATION PROBLEM OF POLICE (PAGE 20)
Story: Kwame Asare Boadu, Manso Nkwanta
THE Amansie West District Assembly has initiated action to address the accommodation problems facing the police in the district.
Already, the assembly has renovated an old building for use by the district police commander, while a district police headquarters has been constructed at Manso Nkwanta, the district capital.
The District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Ben Kwakye-Adeefe, made this known at the handing over of the commander’s residence at a ceremony at Manso Nkwanta.
He stated that the assembly was committed to addressing some of the problems facing the police, especially accommodation, to enable them to have the peace of mind to work in the district.
He said the assembly had also renovated the police barracks at Manso Nkwanta and was constructing new offices at Detain and Keniago for the police personnel.
Mr Kwakye-Adeefe further disclosed that next year, the assembly would construct police stations at Antoakrom and Ahwerewa.
He gave the assurance that efforts were underway by the assembly to purchase a pick-up and a motorbike for the District Security Committee to facilitate its work.
The DCE lauded the good work of the security committee, especially with regard to the settling of disputes between the mining companies and some farmers.
The Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Seth Oteng, commended the assembly for its initiative and expressed the hope that other district assemblies would learn from it.
He appealed to the public to co-operate with the police to combat crime in the district.
ACP Oteng assured the assembly that the police would take proper care of the facilities provided them in the district.
The chief of Manso-Brofoyedru, Nana Kwabena Antwi, who represented the Omanhene of the Manso Nkwanta Traditional Area, Nana Bi-Kusi Appiah, noted that the police were not enemies of the public but partners in development.
He, therefore, stressed the need for the people to co-operate with them so that security would improve in the area.
THE Amansie West District Assembly has initiated action to address the accommodation problems facing the police in the district.
Already, the assembly has renovated an old building for use by the district police commander, while a district police headquarters has been constructed at Manso Nkwanta, the district capital.
The District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Ben Kwakye-Adeefe, made this known at the handing over of the commander’s residence at a ceremony at Manso Nkwanta.
He stated that the assembly was committed to addressing some of the problems facing the police, especially accommodation, to enable them to have the peace of mind to work in the district.
He said the assembly had also renovated the police barracks at Manso Nkwanta and was constructing new offices at Detain and Keniago for the police personnel.
Mr Kwakye-Adeefe further disclosed that next year, the assembly would construct police stations at Antoakrom and Ahwerewa.
He gave the assurance that efforts were underway by the assembly to purchase a pick-up and a motorbike for the District Security Committee to facilitate its work.
The DCE lauded the good work of the security committee, especially with regard to the settling of disputes between the mining companies and some farmers.
The Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Seth Oteng, commended the assembly for its initiative and expressed the hope that other district assemblies would learn from it.
He appealed to the public to co-operate with the police to combat crime in the district.
ACP Oteng assured the assembly that the police would take proper care of the facilities provided them in the district.
The chief of Manso-Brofoyedru, Nana Kwabena Antwi, who represented the Omanhene of the Manso Nkwanta Traditional Area, Nana Bi-Kusi Appiah, noted that the police were not enemies of the public but partners in development.
He, therefore, stressed the need for the people to co-operate with them so that security would improve in the area.
NEWLY CREATED DISTRICTS IN ASHANTI FACE CHALLENGES (PAGE 20)
Story: Kwame Asare Boadu, Kumasi
Ghana’s decentralisation programme is touted as one of the best, if not the best, in the whole of the African continent.
In fact, some African countries have had to come here to learn from our experience because they have seen the programme as tried and tested.
From the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) days that the decentralisation programme was launched, something positive had come out, and perhaps the future looks even more brighter for the nation.
President Kufuor recently created five new districts in the Ashanti Region with the view to accelerate the pace of development of the communities. This was done in line with the decentralisation process.
Creation of new districts is very important. Clearly, it has the potential to advance the cause of development and to a very large extent, address poverty.
But they also come with a lot of challenges, which need commitment, hard work and dedication from the people to complement what the government puts in place to achieve the ultimate objectives.
It is in this regard that the new districts, Sekyere Afram Plains, Afigya Kwabre, Atwima Kwanwoma, Offinso North and Adansi Central, would be putting in place effective measures to lift themselves up the development ladder as they take off.
It is a fact that successive governments played some key parts in bringing some level of development to the communities within the newly created districts.
Under the current government for instance, the rural communities in the region have seen development, perhaps unseen, in any other government of the country.
One can talk about roads, water, electricity, health and schools, just to mention a few. But the stark reality is that those are not enough to lift the communities from the poverty, disease and deprivation to expected heights.
In the new district of Sekyere Afram Plains for instance, the situation leaves much to be desired. The Afram Plains section of the district lacks several amenities, which poses a lot of challenges to the new district assembly.
The roads are virtually in a bad state. Sometimes, people travelling from the Afram Plains to Kumasi and Effiduase have to go through Atebubu in the Brong Ahafo Region before connecting. The distance thus becomes very long, and passengers have to pay more, apart from the other inconveniences.
Water is also a problem. A number of the communities do not have potable water for drinking, which poses problems for their health.
Even in districts like Afigya Kwabre and Atwima Kwanwoma, which are close to Kumasi, one can find serious developmental problems that need serious efforts to address.
Not long ago, when I was travelling through sections of the Atwima Kwanwoma District, I asked whether the national cake was being fairly shared. Poor roads infrastructure prevailed and any first visitor may not believe the area is so close to Kumasi.
Similar situations prevail in the other three districts, but it is refreshing that at least, the new districts were allocated part of the District Assemblies’ Common Fund to kick-start their development process.
Infrastructure for the district capitals is also lacking. New offices for the decentralised departments must be provided if the assemblies are to operate on a sound footing.
Besides, residential accommodation for officers posted to the districts is also required. Provision of those infrastructure need huge sums of money and it is clear that government resources alone cannot meet the demand.
The people must, therefore, rekindle their communal spirit to complement the government’s effort.
In the Sekyere Afram Plains District for instance, a number of the people have provided residential accommodation for some of the officers who would be working in the district capital, Kumawu.
This is what we expect from other districts so that officers of the decentralised departments would be attracted to their new places of work.
It is regrettable the way communal spirit has waned in many communities in the region. I believe that the chiefs would have to do something about that attitude because the new districts must progress at all cost.
Ghana’s decentralisation programme is touted as one of the best, if not the best, in the whole of the African continent.
In fact, some African countries have had to come here to learn from our experience because they have seen the programme as tried and tested.
From the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) days that the decentralisation programme was launched, something positive had come out, and perhaps the future looks even more brighter for the nation.
President Kufuor recently created five new districts in the Ashanti Region with the view to accelerate the pace of development of the communities. This was done in line with the decentralisation process.
Creation of new districts is very important. Clearly, it has the potential to advance the cause of development and to a very large extent, address poverty.
But they also come with a lot of challenges, which need commitment, hard work and dedication from the people to complement what the government puts in place to achieve the ultimate objectives.
It is in this regard that the new districts, Sekyere Afram Plains, Afigya Kwabre, Atwima Kwanwoma, Offinso North and Adansi Central, would be putting in place effective measures to lift themselves up the development ladder as they take off.
It is a fact that successive governments played some key parts in bringing some level of development to the communities within the newly created districts.
Under the current government for instance, the rural communities in the region have seen development, perhaps unseen, in any other government of the country.
One can talk about roads, water, electricity, health and schools, just to mention a few. But the stark reality is that those are not enough to lift the communities from the poverty, disease and deprivation to expected heights.
In the new district of Sekyere Afram Plains for instance, the situation leaves much to be desired. The Afram Plains section of the district lacks several amenities, which poses a lot of challenges to the new district assembly.
The roads are virtually in a bad state. Sometimes, people travelling from the Afram Plains to Kumasi and Effiduase have to go through Atebubu in the Brong Ahafo Region before connecting. The distance thus becomes very long, and passengers have to pay more, apart from the other inconveniences.
Water is also a problem. A number of the communities do not have potable water for drinking, which poses problems for their health.
Even in districts like Afigya Kwabre and Atwima Kwanwoma, which are close to Kumasi, one can find serious developmental problems that need serious efforts to address.
Not long ago, when I was travelling through sections of the Atwima Kwanwoma District, I asked whether the national cake was being fairly shared. Poor roads infrastructure prevailed and any first visitor may not believe the area is so close to Kumasi.
Similar situations prevail in the other three districts, but it is refreshing that at least, the new districts were allocated part of the District Assemblies’ Common Fund to kick-start their development process.
Infrastructure for the district capitals is also lacking. New offices for the decentralised departments must be provided if the assemblies are to operate on a sound footing.
Besides, residential accommodation for officers posted to the districts is also required. Provision of those infrastructure need huge sums of money and it is clear that government resources alone cannot meet the demand.
The people must, therefore, rekindle their communal spirit to complement the government’s effort.
In the Sekyere Afram Plains District for instance, a number of the people have provided residential accommodation for some of the officers who would be working in the district capital, Kumawu.
This is what we expect from other districts so that officers of the decentralised departments would be attracted to their new places of work.
It is regrettable the way communal spirit has waned in many communities in the region. I believe that the chiefs would have to do something about that attitude because the new districts must progress at all cost.
FAMILY APPEALS TO POLICE ADMINISTRATION (PAGE 31)
Story: Kwame Asare Boadu, Kumasi
THE family of a 49-year-old clearing agent who was murdered in his house by unknown assailants in the early hours of Saturday, April 12, this year, has appealed to the Police administration to help bring the perpetrators to book.
Akwasi Oteng-Asamoah, who was the Managing Director of Decent Freight Limited in Accra, was killed in his bedroom around 2.00 a.m. that day by three masked men who broke into his house.
When the body was discovered, his legs had been tied with a wire and large wounds opened on the head.
Family members from Mampongteng in the Ashanti Region, led by the Oyokohene of the area, Nana Gyan Dehyee II, who made the appeal through the Daily Graphic in Kumasi on Friday, said they were upset by the way the killers butchered the deceased to death in his bedroom.
They consequently appealed to the police to help unravel the mystery to ensure that the perpetrators face justice.
According to them, a laptop was taken from the deceased’s bedroom but noted that it was difficult to tell whether money was stolen.
Nana Gyan, a younger brother of the deceased, who spoke on behalf of the family, said Oteng-Asamoah lived with his three children in his house at East Pantang.
He said around 2.00 a.m. on April 12, three masked men entered the house and went to the bedroom where the three children were sleeping.
They seized a mobile phone from the children and locked them up in the room.
Nana Gyan stated that the assailants then moved into his brother’s bedroom and tied him with a wire and inflicted several wounds on his head and other parts of the body.
He quoted the children of the deceased as saying that they had heard some noise in their father’s bedroom but they had been afraid to raise an alarm.
They told me that one had peeped through a hole in the door and seen the masked men moving away after killing his father,” Nana Gyan said.
According to the chief, they further told him that while the killers moved away, one of them said they had finished with the task and that they should go and wash their hands.
Nana Gyan said the Criminal Investigations Department of the Police Service was informed of the killing and its personnel went for the body, now at the morgue.
THE family of a 49-year-old clearing agent who was murdered in his house by unknown assailants in the early hours of Saturday, April 12, this year, has appealed to the Police administration to help bring the perpetrators to book.
Akwasi Oteng-Asamoah, who was the Managing Director of Decent Freight Limited in Accra, was killed in his bedroom around 2.00 a.m. that day by three masked men who broke into his house.
When the body was discovered, his legs had been tied with a wire and large wounds opened on the head.
Family members from Mampongteng in the Ashanti Region, led by the Oyokohene of the area, Nana Gyan Dehyee II, who made the appeal through the Daily Graphic in Kumasi on Friday, said they were upset by the way the killers butchered the deceased to death in his bedroom.
They consequently appealed to the police to help unravel the mystery to ensure that the perpetrators face justice.
According to them, a laptop was taken from the deceased’s bedroom but noted that it was difficult to tell whether money was stolen.
Nana Gyan, a younger brother of the deceased, who spoke on behalf of the family, said Oteng-Asamoah lived with his three children in his house at East Pantang.
He said around 2.00 a.m. on April 12, three masked men entered the house and went to the bedroom where the three children were sleeping.
They seized a mobile phone from the children and locked them up in the room.
Nana Gyan stated that the assailants then moved into his brother’s bedroom and tied him with a wire and inflicted several wounds on his head and other parts of the body.
He quoted the children of the deceased as saying that they had heard some noise in their father’s bedroom but they had been afraid to raise an alarm.
They told me that one had peeped through a hole in the door and seen the masked men moving away after killing his father,” Nana Gyan said.
According to the chief, they further told him that while the killers moved away, one of them said they had finished with the task and that they should go and wash their hands.
Nana Gyan said the Criminal Investigations Department of the Police Service was informed of the killing and its personnel went for the body, now at the morgue.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
DCE cautions aspirants
April 16
Story: Kwame Asare
Boadu, Tepa
THE District Chief Executive (DCE) for Ahafo Ano North in the Ashanti Region, Mr Eric Nana Agyeman Prempeh, has cautioned the seven New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary aspirants in the Ahafo Ano North Constituency against the use of vulgar language in their campaigns.
He said the NPP had a name to protect and so people vying for parliamentary seats must protect that name instead of destroying it.
The DCE, expressed regret at the way the campaign was becoming “dirty” in some respects and said “contestants should know that the party has a good name to protect”.
Nana Agyeman Prempeh told the Daily Graphic that as the political head of the district, he had a duty to ensure that the NPP maintained its hold on the constituency.
“I will, therefore, not sit down unconcerned as contestants for parliamentary seats traded insults, accusations and counter-accusations,” he said.
The seven aspirants vying for the ticket of the NPP are Nana Akua Asantewaa, the Nkosuohemaa of Tepa and executive committee member of the Ahafo Ano North District Assembly; Mr Kwame Owusu Frimpong, the incumbent MP; Mr Kingsley Nsiah Poku, an officer of the Food and Drugs Board; Mr Yaw Boadu Ayeboafo, a former TESCON President of the University of Ghana; Mr Bismarck Francis Osei, the Presiding Member of the Ahafo Ano District Assembly, and one Mr Adiyiah, who is based in the United Kingdom.
Nana Agyeman Prempeh said insults had no place in today’s politics because the people could read between the lines to find out the truth.
The DCE advised the aspirants to tell the delegates the good plans they had for the party and the constituency to help win their votes.
He said he would remain neutral in the primary but speak against abuses in the system.
Nana Agyeman Prempeh called on the delegates to look for the person who had the district at heart and vote for that person.
He stated that the NPP administration under President Kufuor had done a lot to move the nation forward and expressed the hope that the next government led by Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo would definitely build on that.
The DCE noted that the district had seen an appreciable level of development and pledged that the assembly and the government would pursue pragmatic policies with all seriousness.
Story: Kwame Asare
Boadu, Tepa
THE District Chief Executive (DCE) for Ahafo Ano North in the Ashanti Region, Mr Eric Nana Agyeman Prempeh, has cautioned the seven New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary aspirants in the Ahafo Ano North Constituency against the use of vulgar language in their campaigns.
He said the NPP had a name to protect and so people vying for parliamentary seats must protect that name instead of destroying it.
The DCE, expressed regret at the way the campaign was becoming “dirty” in some respects and said “contestants should know that the party has a good name to protect”.
Nana Agyeman Prempeh told the Daily Graphic that as the political head of the district, he had a duty to ensure that the NPP maintained its hold on the constituency.
“I will, therefore, not sit down unconcerned as contestants for parliamentary seats traded insults, accusations and counter-accusations,” he said.
The seven aspirants vying for the ticket of the NPP are Nana Akua Asantewaa, the Nkosuohemaa of Tepa and executive committee member of the Ahafo Ano North District Assembly; Mr Kwame Owusu Frimpong, the incumbent MP; Mr Kingsley Nsiah Poku, an officer of the Food and Drugs Board; Mr Yaw Boadu Ayeboafo, a former TESCON President of the University of Ghana; Mr Bismarck Francis Osei, the Presiding Member of the Ahafo Ano District Assembly, and one Mr Adiyiah, who is based in the United Kingdom.
Nana Agyeman Prempeh said insults had no place in today’s politics because the people could read between the lines to find out the truth.
The DCE advised the aspirants to tell the delegates the good plans they had for the party and the constituency to help win their votes.
He said he would remain neutral in the primary but speak against abuses in the system.
Nana Agyeman Prempeh called on the delegates to look for the person who had the district at heart and vote for that person.
He stated that the NPP administration under President Kufuor had done a lot to move the nation forward and expressed the hope that the next government led by Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo would definitely build on that.
The DCE noted that the district had seen an appreciable level of development and pledged that the assembly and the government would pursue pragmatic policies with all seriousness.
Make innovation core of financial intermediation—Says risk management consultant
April 16
Story: Kwame Asare Boadu, Kumasi
A CORPORATE investment and risk management consultant, Dr Samuel Frimpong Boateng, has urged banks in the country, particularly the public ones, to be innovative and creative in the delivery of financial services to ensure competition to reduce interests on credit.
He said it was time to move from a subsidy based operation to value-added processes to transform banks such as the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) from a mere market player to market leader and a benchmark for investment banking.
He said such innovations should take cognisance of the numerous challenges in providing capital and financial access to small- and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs), agribusiness and farmers in rural areas.
Dr Boateng, who is also the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Africa Investments and Development Group (AFRIDEG), a subsidiary of Global Investments and Corporate Solutions, London, told the Daily Graphic in Kumasi that “a more structured financial approach will offer the agribusiness and SME communities increased value and support the institutional development in the financial system”.
He indicated that “traditionally loan portfolios have been heavily subsidised with the original assumption that enhanced funding would encourage an increase in credit to farming, which is mostly concentrated in the primary sector”.
Dr Boateng stated that the effect of trade liberalisation on agriculture and commodities had increased risk perception in the banking sector.
“Lenders in the industry have priced this perception — greatly distanced from business reality — and sold finance to the poor farmer and other businesses at unacceptably high rates”, he said.
He emphasised that there was no way a business, whether farming or non-farming, could attain improved capital and investment productivity and business growth with the type of financial costs borne by businesses in Ghana.
“That summarises the reason why most businesses are still at the subsistence level while authorities shower praises on the ‘killers’ who can price financial products as high as seven per cent a month,” he stressed.
The consultant suggested that the ADB be moulded into a two-tier bank and managed by the Bank of Ghana, adding: “If there is a constitutional friction in terms of mandate then there has to be a revision or a government-funded entity should take up the challenge”.
Story: Kwame Asare Boadu, Kumasi
A CORPORATE investment and risk management consultant, Dr Samuel Frimpong Boateng, has urged banks in the country, particularly the public ones, to be innovative and creative in the delivery of financial services to ensure competition to reduce interests on credit.
He said it was time to move from a subsidy based operation to value-added processes to transform banks such as the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) from a mere market player to market leader and a benchmark for investment banking.
He said such innovations should take cognisance of the numerous challenges in providing capital and financial access to small- and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs), agribusiness and farmers in rural areas.
Dr Boateng, who is also the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Africa Investments and Development Group (AFRIDEG), a subsidiary of Global Investments and Corporate Solutions, London, told the Daily Graphic in Kumasi that “a more structured financial approach will offer the agribusiness and SME communities increased value and support the institutional development in the financial system”.
He indicated that “traditionally loan portfolios have been heavily subsidised with the original assumption that enhanced funding would encourage an increase in credit to farming, which is mostly concentrated in the primary sector”.
Dr Boateng stated that the effect of trade liberalisation on agriculture and commodities had increased risk perception in the banking sector.
“Lenders in the industry have priced this perception — greatly distanced from business reality — and sold finance to the poor farmer and other businesses at unacceptably high rates”, he said.
He emphasised that there was no way a business, whether farming or non-farming, could attain improved capital and investment productivity and business growth with the type of financial costs borne by businesses in Ghana.
“That summarises the reason why most businesses are still at the subsistence level while authorities shower praises on the ‘killers’ who can price financial products as high as seven per cent a month,” he stressed.
The consultant suggested that the ADB be moulded into a two-tier bank and managed by the Bank of Ghana, adding: “If there is a constitutional friction in terms of mandate then there has to be a revision or a government-funded entity should take up the challenge”.
Don’t focus too much on politics — Otumfuo
Story: Kwame Asare Boadu, Kumasi
April 7, 2008
THE Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has stated that even though the nation is in an election year, Ghanaians deserve something better from the media than the present over-concentration on party politics.
“Ghana is not all about politics,” the Asantehene said, and pointed out that there were a lot of pressing issues that the media had a duty to focus attention on to help make life a bit comfortable for the people.
Receiving a delegation from the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) at the Manhyia Palace last Friday, the Asantehene mentioned issues such as employment, health care, water, electricity and education as some of the national concerns that needed media attention, as against the over-concentration on party politics.
“I am challenging you, the media, to try to strike a perfect balance between party politics and crucial national issues that have the tendency to derail national development,” the Asantehene told the GCGL delegation, which was led by the General Manager in charge of Newspapers, Mr Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh.
Other members of the delegation were Mr Kwasi Owusu Asare, the General Manager in charge of Marketing and Public Affairs; Mrs Cecilia Davis, Solicitor Secretary; Mr Albert Sam, the Public Affairs Manager; Alhaji Hashim Amissah, the Zonal Manager for Ashanti and Brong Ahafo, and Nii Adokwei Moffat, the Editor of the Graphic Nsempa.
The delegation was at Manhyia to inform the Asantehene about the upcoming first year anniversary of the Graphic Nsempa, the first regional newspaper of the GCGL with a focus on the Ashanti and Brong Ahafo regions. The anniversary is scheduled for May this year.
Emphasising the importance of the media in national development, the Asantehene expressed strong sentiments about the fact that the media was giving too much attention to politics to the neglect of other important national issues.
Ghanaians, he said, were crying for better health care, reduction in unemployment, improvement in water and electricity supply, for instance, but unfortunately the media was not paying much attention to these crucial national issues.
The Asantehene also spoke about the numerous research reports that continued to remain on the shelves without appropriate action by the authorities and asked whether the media could not put pressure on the authorities to act.
Even Parliament and the judiciary faced one problem or another other that must be brought to light, he said, and challenged the media to place some emphasis on such issues.
He commended the paper for persistently advocating peace in the land, which is what all media institutions have to follow.
He further stated that even though GCGL was state-owned, it had ensured fairness and balance in their reportage, which is a plus to the company.
“You may have faltered once or twice but that is normal with any human institution,” he said,
He recalled the visit by the Managing Director of the Company, Mr Ibrahim Awal, to Manhyia last year to inform him about the birth of Graphic Nsempa and commended him and the company for always keeping him informed about such developments.
“I have since been reading the Graphic Nsempa and I think it is a very good newspaper, which will facilitate the development of the two regions,” the Asantehene said.
Earlier, Mr Boadu-Ayeboafoh said Otumfuo’s pieces of advice given during the MD’s visit at Manhyia last year had contributed immensely to moving the company forward.
He recalled the compliments Otumfuo gave to Graphic Nsempa last year, which had gone a long way to build on the image of the paper resulting in improved sales.
Mr Boadu- Ayeboafoh said the company’s line of newspapers were ready to correct their mistakes if any was brought to their attention.
On behalf of the company, he presented GH¢ 5,000 to the Otumfuo Education Fund, while drinks, and some products of the company were also given to Otumfuo.
The Akyempimhene, Oheneba Adusei Poku, received the donation on behalf of Otumfuo.
April 7, 2008
THE Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has stated that even though the nation is in an election year, Ghanaians deserve something better from the media than the present over-concentration on party politics.
“Ghana is not all about politics,” the Asantehene said, and pointed out that there were a lot of pressing issues that the media had a duty to focus attention on to help make life a bit comfortable for the people.
Receiving a delegation from the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) at the Manhyia Palace last Friday, the Asantehene mentioned issues such as employment, health care, water, electricity and education as some of the national concerns that needed media attention, as against the over-concentration on party politics.
“I am challenging you, the media, to try to strike a perfect balance between party politics and crucial national issues that have the tendency to derail national development,” the Asantehene told the GCGL delegation, which was led by the General Manager in charge of Newspapers, Mr Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh.
Other members of the delegation were Mr Kwasi Owusu Asare, the General Manager in charge of Marketing and Public Affairs; Mrs Cecilia Davis, Solicitor Secretary; Mr Albert Sam, the Public Affairs Manager; Alhaji Hashim Amissah, the Zonal Manager for Ashanti and Brong Ahafo, and Nii Adokwei Moffat, the Editor of the Graphic Nsempa.
The delegation was at Manhyia to inform the Asantehene about the upcoming first year anniversary of the Graphic Nsempa, the first regional newspaper of the GCGL with a focus on the Ashanti and Brong Ahafo regions. The anniversary is scheduled for May this year.
Emphasising the importance of the media in national development, the Asantehene expressed strong sentiments about the fact that the media was giving too much attention to politics to the neglect of other important national issues.
Ghanaians, he said, were crying for better health care, reduction in unemployment, improvement in water and electricity supply, for instance, but unfortunately the media was not paying much attention to these crucial national issues.
The Asantehene also spoke about the numerous research reports that continued to remain on the shelves without appropriate action by the authorities and asked whether the media could not put pressure on the authorities to act.
Even Parliament and the judiciary faced one problem or another other that must be brought to light, he said, and challenged the media to place some emphasis on such issues.
He commended the paper for persistently advocating peace in the land, which is what all media institutions have to follow.
He further stated that even though GCGL was state-owned, it had ensured fairness and balance in their reportage, which is a plus to the company.
“You may have faltered once or twice but that is normal with any human institution,” he said,
He recalled the visit by the Managing Director of the Company, Mr Ibrahim Awal, to Manhyia last year to inform him about the birth of Graphic Nsempa and commended him and the company for always keeping him informed about such developments.
“I have since been reading the Graphic Nsempa and I think it is a very good newspaper, which will facilitate the development of the two regions,” the Asantehene said.
Earlier, Mr Boadu-Ayeboafoh said Otumfuo’s pieces of advice given during the MD’s visit at Manhyia last year had contributed immensely to moving the company forward.
He recalled the compliments Otumfuo gave to Graphic Nsempa last year, which had gone a long way to build on the image of the paper resulting in improved sales.
Mr Boadu- Ayeboafoh said the company’s line of newspapers were ready to correct their mistakes if any was brought to their attention.
On behalf of the company, he presented GH¢ 5,000 to the Otumfuo Education Fund, while drinks, and some products of the company were also given to Otumfuo.
The Akyempimhene, Oheneba Adusei Poku, received the donation on behalf of Otumfuo.
Friday, April 25, 2008
CHIEF APPEALS TO CUSTOMERS OF ATOBIASE BANK (PAGE 21)
Story: Kwame Asare Boadu, Adansi Atobiase
THE Chief of Adansi Atobiase in the Ashanti Region, Nana Taaka Ababio, has appealed to customers of the distressed Atobiase Rural Bank to exercise restraint while authorities consider measures to resuscitate the bank.
He said founding members and the board of directors of the bank were fully aware of the concerns of the customers over their locked deposits due to the recent challenges confronting the bank, and gave the assurance that the bank would soon bounce back to normal operations.
Nana Ababio, who is a founding member of the bank, denied allegations that the bank had run out of capital and would soon collapse.
He said when he received information about the state of the bank at his base in the United States, he contacted some financial institutions with the view to finding a strategic investor to help recapitalise the bank.
“As the chief of Atobiase, I will do everything possible to ensure the survival of the bank to save the image of my town and people,” he stressed.
Nana Ababio further promised to embark on an investment drive to woo some international investors to invest in his traditional area in order to create jobs for the people.
He stated that he was considering setting up an information technology centre to train the youth in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to enhance development.
The chief, therefore, called on the sons and daughters of Atobiase living at home and abroad to contribute their quota towards the rapid development of the town.
THE Chief of Adansi Atobiase in the Ashanti Region, Nana Taaka Ababio, has appealed to customers of the distressed Atobiase Rural Bank to exercise restraint while authorities consider measures to resuscitate the bank.
He said founding members and the board of directors of the bank were fully aware of the concerns of the customers over their locked deposits due to the recent challenges confronting the bank, and gave the assurance that the bank would soon bounce back to normal operations.
Nana Ababio, who is a founding member of the bank, denied allegations that the bank had run out of capital and would soon collapse.
He said when he received information about the state of the bank at his base in the United States, he contacted some financial institutions with the view to finding a strategic investor to help recapitalise the bank.
“As the chief of Atobiase, I will do everything possible to ensure the survival of the bank to save the image of my town and people,” he stressed.
Nana Ababio further promised to embark on an investment drive to woo some international investors to invest in his traditional area in order to create jobs for the people.
He stated that he was considering setting up an information technology centre to train the youth in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to enhance development.
The chief, therefore, called on the sons and daughters of Atobiase living at home and abroad to contribute their quota towards the rapid development of the town.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
RPD IN TALKS WITH ALAN (PAGE 16)
Story: Kwame Asare Boadu, Kumasi
THE Founder of the Reform Patriotic Democrats (RPD), Mr Kwabena Adjei, has disclosed that the party is taking advantage of Mr Alan Kyerematen’s resignation from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to rope him into the RPD.
“He is a big politician we cannot afford to miss and we are talking with him to join the party,” he said.
Mr Adjei, popularly known as Bambata, told the Daily Graphic in Kumasi that so far the signs of Mr Kyerematen joining the party were very positive and that an announcement could be made in due course.
He said the reasons that led members of the RPD to break away from the NPP also informed Mr Kyerematen’s resignation from the NPP.
“It shows that we are all fighting from a common angle and can move together under the RPD to change the face of politics in the country,” Adjei said.
He said the RPD was aware of manoeuvres by the NPP to get Mr Kyerematen back but said it would be a great political miscalculation for the former NPP presidential aspirant to go back to the party.
Mr Adjei indicated that Mr Kyerematen resigned on principle, saying that he was confident that the former aspirant would keep to his stand.
He said the RPD was poised to make an impact in the 2008 elections but said in the event of the party going into an alliance with any party, it was Mr Kyerematen who would have to lead the negotiations.
Mr Adjei said it was not only Mr Kyerematen who would be joining the RPD but other big names from the NPP, with members of the other political parties following.
He gave the assurance that the party would contest all the parliamentary seats in the country.
The founder said from next week regional congresses would begin, to be followed by the election of parliamentary candidates and a presidential candidate.
“We have capable persons in the constituencies who are ready to represent the party in the parliamentary elections,” Mr Adjei said.
THE Founder of the Reform Patriotic Democrats (RPD), Mr Kwabena Adjei, has disclosed that the party is taking advantage of Mr Alan Kyerematen’s resignation from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to rope him into the RPD.
“He is a big politician we cannot afford to miss and we are talking with him to join the party,” he said.
Mr Adjei, popularly known as Bambata, told the Daily Graphic in Kumasi that so far the signs of Mr Kyerematen joining the party were very positive and that an announcement could be made in due course.
He said the reasons that led members of the RPD to break away from the NPP also informed Mr Kyerematen’s resignation from the NPP.
“It shows that we are all fighting from a common angle and can move together under the RPD to change the face of politics in the country,” Adjei said.
He said the RPD was aware of manoeuvres by the NPP to get Mr Kyerematen back but said it would be a great political miscalculation for the former NPP presidential aspirant to go back to the party.
Mr Adjei indicated that Mr Kyerematen resigned on principle, saying that he was confident that the former aspirant would keep to his stand.
He said the RPD was poised to make an impact in the 2008 elections but said in the event of the party going into an alliance with any party, it was Mr Kyerematen who would have to lead the negotiations.
Mr Adjei said it was not only Mr Kyerematen who would be joining the RPD but other big names from the NPP, with members of the other political parties following.
He gave the assurance that the party would contest all the parliamentary seats in the country.
The founder said from next week regional congresses would begin, to be followed by the election of parliamentary candidates and a presidential candidate.
“We have capable persons in the constituencies who are ready to represent the party in the parliamentary elections,” Mr Adjei said.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Kotoko begin seasonal haul...IT'S SWAG CUP NO. 11 (GRAPHIC SPORTS, LEAD STORY)
Story: Kwame Asare Boadu, Kumasi
AFTER solidifying their place in history last Sunday with the eleventh SWAG Cup, Kumasi Asante Kotoko have strengthened their resolve to achieve the double this season.
A massive performance so far in the domestic premiership, and the CAF Confederations Cup in which they play away to Nigeria’s Dolphins FC in a preliminary game this weekend, give testimony to a team with strength in depth and ready to sweep past every opponent.
Bouncing back from a 29th minute leader by Ashanti Gold to win 2-1 last Sunday at Baba Yara Stadium, further powerfully carried Kotoko’s message that they will never allow any team, not even fiercest rivals, Hearts of Oak, to come close to their winning streak in the prestigious SWAG Cup.
Kotoko are drawing on a wealth of talent to prosecute their agenda locally and in Africa but Dolphins could be a big stumbling block if underrated.
To conserve their stature as favourites for qualification for the next stage of the Confederations Cup, the Porcupine Warriors will have to go for a good result against Dolphins in Nigeria as they did against another Nigerian side, Wikki Tourists with whom they drew 2-2 in Bauchi.
Coach Bashir Hayford said of the team after last Sunday victory over Ashgold: “ I am proud of this team”.
“They played to instructions especially in the second half and we deservedly won the match”, Hayford said.
The coach was stating the reality. Even though they had problems in the initial stages of the game, Kotoko were superior in the second part of the match in which they attacked in droves.
But Ashgold coach, Mohammed Gargo who complained about the strange decisions by referee William Agbovi against his side in the match, was less impressed with the way the Kotoko attack failed to convert some good chances that came their way in the second half.
For a side that is so bent on making it big in Africa, Kotoko could take something from Gargo and devise the right strategies to advance their campaign in Africa.
SWAG president, Mr Ackah Anthony, was impressed with the high standard of play exhibited by Asante Kotoko and Ashanti Gold at the Baba Yara Stadium last Sunday.
“For me it was one the best games witnessed in the SWAG Cup in its long history and it is good for the national game”, he said.
“Our only concern was the unimpressive attendance”, the SWAG president added.
The 40, 231, capacity stadium was just about one-third full in spite of the huge publicity given the match.
In spite of the high standard of football displayed, it was the victors, Asante Kotoko, who had something to cheer about having exorcised the ghost that had haunted them in SWAG cup matches against Ashgold.
Skipper Emmanuel Osei Kuffour and his colleagues beamed with smiles when the regional minister for Ashanti, Mr Emmanuel Owusu-Ansah, presented the cup to him.
While Ashgold complained bitterly about the penalty awarded Kotoko just before half time, Kotoko also had a beef with the referee when he ignored what they thought was a penalty for them in the second half.
The Ashgold attack, anchored by the workaholic Alex Asamoah, looked threatening in the first half but faded out a bit in the second half, when the striker started running out of breath after having some rough time with Richard Manu in the heart of the Kotoko defence.
Full of confidence, Ashgold were in full gear in the first half, no wonder they shot into the lead after 29 minutes.
Kotoko missed the striking services of Eric Bekoe but he will be fit for the Africa game against Dolphins.
AFTER solidifying their place in history last Sunday with the eleventh SWAG Cup, Kumasi Asante Kotoko have strengthened their resolve to achieve the double this season.
A massive performance so far in the domestic premiership, and the CAF Confederations Cup in which they play away to Nigeria’s Dolphins FC in a preliminary game this weekend, give testimony to a team with strength in depth and ready to sweep past every opponent.
Bouncing back from a 29th minute leader by Ashanti Gold to win 2-1 last Sunday at Baba Yara Stadium, further powerfully carried Kotoko’s message that they will never allow any team, not even fiercest rivals, Hearts of Oak, to come close to their winning streak in the prestigious SWAG Cup.
Kotoko are drawing on a wealth of talent to prosecute their agenda locally and in Africa but Dolphins could be a big stumbling block if underrated.
To conserve their stature as favourites for qualification for the next stage of the Confederations Cup, the Porcupine Warriors will have to go for a good result against Dolphins in Nigeria as they did against another Nigerian side, Wikki Tourists with whom they drew 2-2 in Bauchi.
Coach Bashir Hayford said of the team after last Sunday victory over Ashgold: “ I am proud of this team”.
“They played to instructions especially in the second half and we deservedly won the match”, Hayford said.
The coach was stating the reality. Even though they had problems in the initial stages of the game, Kotoko were superior in the second part of the match in which they attacked in droves.
But Ashgold coach, Mohammed Gargo who complained about the strange decisions by referee William Agbovi against his side in the match, was less impressed with the way the Kotoko attack failed to convert some good chances that came their way in the second half.
For a side that is so bent on making it big in Africa, Kotoko could take something from Gargo and devise the right strategies to advance their campaign in Africa.
SWAG president, Mr Ackah Anthony, was impressed with the high standard of play exhibited by Asante Kotoko and Ashanti Gold at the Baba Yara Stadium last Sunday.
“For me it was one the best games witnessed in the SWAG Cup in its long history and it is good for the national game”, he said.
“Our only concern was the unimpressive attendance”, the SWAG president added.
The 40, 231, capacity stadium was just about one-third full in spite of the huge publicity given the match.
In spite of the high standard of football displayed, it was the victors, Asante Kotoko, who had something to cheer about having exorcised the ghost that had haunted them in SWAG cup matches against Ashgold.
Skipper Emmanuel Osei Kuffour and his colleagues beamed with smiles when the regional minister for Ashanti, Mr Emmanuel Owusu-Ansah, presented the cup to him.
While Ashgold complained bitterly about the penalty awarded Kotoko just before half time, Kotoko also had a beef with the referee when he ignored what they thought was a penalty for them in the second half.
The Ashgold attack, anchored by the workaholic Alex Asamoah, looked threatening in the first half but faded out a bit in the second half, when the striker started running out of breath after having some rough time with Richard Manu in the heart of the Kotoko defence.
Full of confidence, Ashgold were in full gear in the first half, no wonder they shot into the lead after 29 minutes.
Kotoko missed the striking services of Eric Bekoe but he will be fit for the Africa game against Dolphins.
Monday, April 21, 2008
KOTOKO WIN SWAG CUP (BACK PAGE)
Story: Kwame Asare Boadu, Kumasi
KUMASI Asante Kotoko staged an astonishing recovery to overcome Ashanti Gold 2-1 in the H.P. Nyemitei Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) Cup match. It was Kotoko’s 11th win of the Cup.
The victory, on a sunny afternoon at the Baba Yara Stadium yesterday, was a revenge of a sort for Kotoko who had previously been beaten on three occasions by their opponents for the prestigious SWAG Cup.
Typical of any Ashgold– Kotoko match, tension prevailed throughout the game, while the combatants produced some fine football to whet the appetite of the fans.
The opening minutes were terrifying with both sides charging forward to hit the ball towards goal.
Ashgold made the first serious attempt at goal in the fourth minute when defender Gariba Umar’s tricky shot came close to finding the net. Gariba was to be booked two minutes later for a dangerous tackle.
While Ashgold took charge of the attacking wings with Alex Asamoah and Owusu Ansah displaying magnificent footwork, Kotoko showed industry in the middle of the game as Jordan Opoku and Daniel Nii Adjei fed the attack with some nice balls.
The industrious Samuel Inkoom came up with his typical runs from the right side of defence and in the 13th minute, he crossed beautifully for Emmanuel Osei Kuffour but the captain’s connection from close range went off target.
When the central department of the Kotoko defence started flirting with trouble, Ashgold capitalised on it to fetch the opener.
Strong running forward Alex Asamoah wrestled free from new signing defender Julius Adjabeng and with the defence opened he made light work of Richard Manu before sweeping the ball past advancing Soulama Abdulai in post. It was a typical striker’s goal.
Adjabeng, who struggled to find his feet in the game, was pulled out for Prince Anokye five minutes later as Kotoko struck a strategy to cut out Ashgold from the flanks.
The outstanding Harrison Afful played masterfully and pushed up his attack, which saw Kojo Poku replacing the clumsy Kwabena Yaro in the 37th minute, from the left side of defence.
Kotoko levelled up on the stroke of half time after referee William Agbovi judged Osei Kuffour to have been fouled in the box.
After a brief protest from Ashgold, which saw Mr Kofi Manu, alias Blue Boy, the special assistant to the CEO of the club, leading the protest, Francis Coffie stepped up to beat Fatau Dauda in post.
Kotoko played the aggressors on restart, spraying passes accross the field and firing shots at goal, but Fatau proved unyielding in post.
Twice in the 46th and 54th minutes, Kojo Poku and Coffie found themselves in scoring range but messed up the opportunities.
In the 66th minute, Agbovi received boos from the crowd when he ignored a penalty appeal from Kotoko after Kojo Poku appeared to have been fouled in the box.
The winning goal arrived after 83 minutes. Once again it was Coffie who fired the ball in after Osei Kuffuor had created the chance for him in the box. Coffie could have hit a hat-trick but failed to make good use of the chance three minutes into injury time.
KUMASI Asante Kotoko staged an astonishing recovery to overcome Ashanti Gold 2-1 in the H.P. Nyemitei Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) Cup match. It was Kotoko’s 11th win of the Cup.
The victory, on a sunny afternoon at the Baba Yara Stadium yesterday, was a revenge of a sort for Kotoko who had previously been beaten on three occasions by their opponents for the prestigious SWAG Cup.
Typical of any Ashgold– Kotoko match, tension prevailed throughout the game, while the combatants produced some fine football to whet the appetite of the fans.
The opening minutes were terrifying with both sides charging forward to hit the ball towards goal.
Ashgold made the first serious attempt at goal in the fourth minute when defender Gariba Umar’s tricky shot came close to finding the net. Gariba was to be booked two minutes later for a dangerous tackle.
While Ashgold took charge of the attacking wings with Alex Asamoah and Owusu Ansah displaying magnificent footwork, Kotoko showed industry in the middle of the game as Jordan Opoku and Daniel Nii Adjei fed the attack with some nice balls.
The industrious Samuel Inkoom came up with his typical runs from the right side of defence and in the 13th minute, he crossed beautifully for Emmanuel Osei Kuffour but the captain’s connection from close range went off target.
When the central department of the Kotoko defence started flirting with trouble, Ashgold capitalised on it to fetch the opener.
Strong running forward Alex Asamoah wrestled free from new signing defender Julius Adjabeng and with the defence opened he made light work of Richard Manu before sweeping the ball past advancing Soulama Abdulai in post. It was a typical striker’s goal.
Adjabeng, who struggled to find his feet in the game, was pulled out for Prince Anokye five minutes later as Kotoko struck a strategy to cut out Ashgold from the flanks.
The outstanding Harrison Afful played masterfully and pushed up his attack, which saw Kojo Poku replacing the clumsy Kwabena Yaro in the 37th minute, from the left side of defence.
Kotoko levelled up on the stroke of half time after referee William Agbovi judged Osei Kuffour to have been fouled in the box.
After a brief protest from Ashgold, which saw Mr Kofi Manu, alias Blue Boy, the special assistant to the CEO of the club, leading the protest, Francis Coffie stepped up to beat Fatau Dauda in post.
Kotoko played the aggressors on restart, spraying passes accross the field and firing shots at goal, but Fatau proved unyielding in post.
Twice in the 46th and 54th minutes, Kojo Poku and Coffie found themselves in scoring range but messed up the opportunities.
In the 66th minute, Agbovi received boos from the crowd when he ignored a penalty appeal from Kotoko after Kojo Poku appeared to have been fouled in the box.
The winning goal arrived after 83 minutes. Once again it was Coffie who fired the ball in after Osei Kuffuor had created the chance for him in the box. Coffie could have hit a hat-trick but failed to make good use of the chance three minutes into injury time.
ANDANI, ABUDU FACTIONS CLASH (PAGE 3)
Story: Kwame Asare Boadu, Kumasi
SUPPORTERS of the two royal gates of Dagbon clashed at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi on Saturday when the Committee of Eminent Chiefs, led by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, met with leaders of the feuding royal gates to find a lasting solution to the chieftaincy dispute in the area.
It took the police about 15 minutes to quell the disturbances, which saw the supporters, who had massed up at the precincts of the palace, fight with stones and other missiles.
Some vehicles were damaged, as they were hit by stones or ran into each other while the occupants were fleeing the scene of the incident.
One person was arrested, but according to the Commander of the Zongo District Police, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Gabriel Magamsi, he was released on bail to prevent the escalation of the disturbances.
The committee of eminent chiefs had met on the first of a three-day deliberation on the late Ya Na Mahamadu Abdulai’s funeral, which has been planned to take place at the Gbewaa Palace.
The funeral of the late Ya Na Abdulai is another stage on the road map to ensuring lasting peace in the troubled Dagbon area.
While the Abudus were determined to hold the funeral at the palace, the Andanis were opposed to any such move, claiming that Na Mahamadu did not die as a Ya Na.
As the meeting was going on behind closed doors, scores of supporters of both gates also gathered at separate points outside the palace.
ASP Magamsi told the Daily Graphic that it was the Abudus who were asked to leave first after the meeting had ended around 5 p.m., but before they boarded their vehicles, supporters of the Andanis started hooting at them.
The district commander said the Abudus entered their vehicles, but as they tried to drive out of the last gate to enter the main road in front of the palace, stones started flying from the Andani end.
He said the Abudu supporters, who had also gathered at the extreme end, responded to the stone throwing.
“The scene became dangerous and people started running away to safe areas,” Mr Magamsi said.
Security was expected to be tightened at the Palace yesterday as the deliberations entered the second day.
SUPPORTERS of the two royal gates of Dagbon clashed at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi on Saturday when the Committee of Eminent Chiefs, led by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, met with leaders of the feuding royal gates to find a lasting solution to the chieftaincy dispute in the area.
It took the police about 15 minutes to quell the disturbances, which saw the supporters, who had massed up at the precincts of the palace, fight with stones and other missiles.
Some vehicles were damaged, as they were hit by stones or ran into each other while the occupants were fleeing the scene of the incident.
One person was arrested, but according to the Commander of the Zongo District Police, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Gabriel Magamsi, he was released on bail to prevent the escalation of the disturbances.
The committee of eminent chiefs had met on the first of a three-day deliberation on the late Ya Na Mahamadu Abdulai’s funeral, which has been planned to take place at the Gbewaa Palace.
The funeral of the late Ya Na Abdulai is another stage on the road map to ensuring lasting peace in the troubled Dagbon area.
While the Abudus were determined to hold the funeral at the palace, the Andanis were opposed to any such move, claiming that Na Mahamadu did not die as a Ya Na.
As the meeting was going on behind closed doors, scores of supporters of both gates also gathered at separate points outside the palace.
ASP Magamsi told the Daily Graphic that it was the Abudus who were asked to leave first after the meeting had ended around 5 p.m., but before they boarded their vehicles, supporters of the Andanis started hooting at them.
The district commander said the Abudus entered their vehicles, but as they tried to drive out of the last gate to enter the main road in front of the palace, stones started flying from the Andani end.
He said the Abudu supporters, who had also gathered at the extreme end, responded to the stone throwing.
“The scene became dangerous and people started running away to safe areas,” Mr Magamsi said.
Security was expected to be tightened at the Palace yesterday as the deliberations entered the second day.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
New jute factory for Kumasi
April 1
AN Indian company, Ganges Jute Pvt Limited, is to establish a plant for the production of jute sacks in Kumasi.
When established, Ghana would stop the importation of jute sacks, Mr Isaac Osei, the Chief Executive of Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), made this known when he led the Chief Executive of Ganges Jute Limited, Mr Abhishek Poddar, to call on the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II at the Manhyia Palace.
Mr Osei said his outfit was giving all assistance to the company to establish the plant. A release from the Manhyia palace signed by the Media Relations Manager, Mr G.B. Osei-Antwi, said the Indian company would not be able to use the old jute factory because the cost of dismantling the abandoned plant and refurbishing it would be huge and would also take a long time to complete.
The release said Mr Osei pointed out that a number of companies in India were contacted by COCOBOD to establish a plant in Kumasi and Ganges took the offer.
Mr Poddar, according to the statement, explained that the company was coming to Ghana to produce jute sacks for the entire West African market and added that plans were far advanced to start production by the end of this year.
He pointed out that the factory was being sited in the Ashanti Region because it was a major cocoa-producing region.
The Otumfuo, for his part, noted the important role cocoa plays in building the Ghanaian economy and said it was proper for COCOBOD to go out looking for a partner to promote the industry.
He recalled the first jute factory established by Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, which employed hundreds of Ghanaians but which was later closed down due to mismanagement.
The Asantehene expressed concern that COCOBOD had to rely on the importation of jute sacks using the country’s scarce resources for the purpose.
He stressed that it was important that the nation had that kind of factory to help correct the anomaly.
AN Indian company, Ganges Jute Pvt Limited, is to establish a plant for the production of jute sacks in Kumasi.
When established, Ghana would stop the importation of jute sacks, Mr Isaac Osei, the Chief Executive of Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), made this known when he led the Chief Executive of Ganges Jute Limited, Mr Abhishek Poddar, to call on the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II at the Manhyia Palace.
Mr Osei said his outfit was giving all assistance to the company to establish the plant. A release from the Manhyia palace signed by the Media Relations Manager, Mr G.B. Osei-Antwi, said the Indian company would not be able to use the old jute factory because the cost of dismantling the abandoned plant and refurbishing it would be huge and would also take a long time to complete.
The release said Mr Osei pointed out that a number of companies in India were contacted by COCOBOD to establish a plant in Kumasi and Ganges took the offer.
Mr Poddar, according to the statement, explained that the company was coming to Ghana to produce jute sacks for the entire West African market and added that plans were far advanced to start production by the end of this year.
He pointed out that the factory was being sited in the Ashanti Region because it was a major cocoa-producing region.
The Otumfuo, for his part, noted the important role cocoa plays in building the Ghanaian economy and said it was proper for COCOBOD to go out looking for a partner to promote the industry.
He recalled the first jute factory established by Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, which employed hundreds of Ghanaians but which was later closed down due to mismanagement.
The Asantehene expressed concern that COCOBOD had to rely on the importation of jute sacks using the country’s scarce resources for the purpose.
He stressed that it was important that the nation had that kind of factory to help correct the anomaly.
Security improvesat Kejetia
April
THE security situation at the Kejetia terminal, once a den of criminals, has improved tremendously, thanks to effective collaboration between the police and the security department of Freko FD Limited, managers of the terminal.
There is now a conducive environment for drivers and passengers alike to move about without any fear of attacks and harassment from criminals.
The police and management of the company confirmed that law and order was prevailing at the terminal, considered the biggest lorry park in West Africa, as pickpockets and other criminals were finding it difficult to operate.
The police hailed security personnel of Freko Limited for effectively complementing their efforts to check crime at the lorry park ever since the police post was established.
Chief Inspector S.A. Asamoah, the station officer at the Kejetia Police Post, said the crime rate had reduced tremendously and that only 25 per cent of the cases reported at the station were from the terminal while the remaining 75 per cent came from the Race Course end.
He said law and order was essential in ensuring effective administration of the terminal and that was what the Freko security personnel were assisting the police to do.
Chief Inspector Asamoah said checking crime was essential for such a huge area like Kejetia, and this called for co-operation between the police and the general public.
He spoke against instant justice and said the situation normally prevented the police from conducting investigations into various crimes.
He underscored the importance of handing over suspects to the police to deal with the situation.
Chief Inspector Asamoah dismissed allegations about brutalities on suspects by security personnel of Freko Limited at the Kejetia terminal, explaining that to the best of his knowledge no case of brutality or extortion had come before them.
He stressed the need for the public to encourage the Freko security personnel to do their work with all seriousness rather than discouraging them.
The Chief Inspector advised the security personnel to go about their duties without fear or favour and always ensure that they keep within the laws of the land to enable them to continue to win the confidence of the police and the general public.
The General Manager of Freko Limited, Mr Asante Boahen, in an interview, said the company’s security personnel were there to protect drivers, travellers, traders and other people who go to the terminal daily. Recent allegations in a section of the media that the security personnel were engaged in some negative acts were therefore untrue.
He noted that it was not the duty of the security personnel to collect money for the company, and that it would be difficult for anybody to claim that the security personnel were collecting money from them.
He said the mandate of the security personnel was clearly defined. It included traffic control, patrol duties and general operations relating to preventing criminals from operating at the terminal.
Mr Boahen said in most cases it was security personnel rather who came under attack by traders as they tried to enforce law and order at the terminal.
He stated that the company had made sure that only their revenue staff collected revenues, and act on behalf of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) by enforcing its bye-laws on hawkers who would flout the laws.
Mr Boahen maintained that trading and hawking were illegal at the terminal and gave the assurance that every effort would be made to ensure that such practices ceased.
The Managing Director of Freko FD Limited, Ms Freda Darko, for her part, urged the public to co-operate with the company and report any case of harassment by staff of the company to management for appropriate action. She said the company would ensure that the terminal remained a much better place for the various operations.
THE security situation at the Kejetia terminal, once a den of criminals, has improved tremendously, thanks to effective collaboration between the police and the security department of Freko FD Limited, managers of the terminal.
There is now a conducive environment for drivers and passengers alike to move about without any fear of attacks and harassment from criminals.
The police and management of the company confirmed that law and order was prevailing at the terminal, considered the biggest lorry park in West Africa, as pickpockets and other criminals were finding it difficult to operate.
The police hailed security personnel of Freko Limited for effectively complementing their efforts to check crime at the lorry park ever since the police post was established.
Chief Inspector S.A. Asamoah, the station officer at the Kejetia Police Post, said the crime rate had reduced tremendously and that only 25 per cent of the cases reported at the station were from the terminal while the remaining 75 per cent came from the Race Course end.
He said law and order was essential in ensuring effective administration of the terminal and that was what the Freko security personnel were assisting the police to do.
Chief Inspector Asamoah said checking crime was essential for such a huge area like Kejetia, and this called for co-operation between the police and the general public.
He spoke against instant justice and said the situation normally prevented the police from conducting investigations into various crimes.
He underscored the importance of handing over suspects to the police to deal with the situation.
Chief Inspector Asamoah dismissed allegations about brutalities on suspects by security personnel of Freko Limited at the Kejetia terminal, explaining that to the best of his knowledge no case of brutality or extortion had come before them.
He stressed the need for the public to encourage the Freko security personnel to do their work with all seriousness rather than discouraging them.
The Chief Inspector advised the security personnel to go about their duties without fear or favour and always ensure that they keep within the laws of the land to enable them to continue to win the confidence of the police and the general public.
The General Manager of Freko Limited, Mr Asante Boahen, in an interview, said the company’s security personnel were there to protect drivers, travellers, traders and other people who go to the terminal daily. Recent allegations in a section of the media that the security personnel were engaged in some negative acts were therefore untrue.
He noted that it was not the duty of the security personnel to collect money for the company, and that it would be difficult for anybody to claim that the security personnel were collecting money from them.
He said the mandate of the security personnel was clearly defined. It included traffic control, patrol duties and general operations relating to preventing criminals from operating at the terminal.
Mr Boahen said in most cases it was security personnel rather who came under attack by traders as they tried to enforce law and order at the terminal.
He stated that the company had made sure that only their revenue staff collected revenues, and act on behalf of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) by enforcing its bye-laws on hawkers who would flout the laws.
Mr Boahen maintained that trading and hawking were illegal at the terminal and gave the assurance that every effort would be made to ensure that such practices ceased.
The Managing Director of Freko FD Limited, Ms Freda Darko, for her part, urged the public to co-operate with the company and report any case of harassment by staff of the company to management for appropriate action. She said the company would ensure that the terminal remained a much better place for the various operations.
Security improvesat Kejetia
April
THE security situation at the Kejetia terminal, once a den of criminals, has improved tremendously, thanks to effective collaboration between the police and the security department of Freko FD Limited, managers of the terminal.
There is now a conducive environment for drivers and passengers alike to move about without any fear of attacks and harassment from criminals.
The police and management of the company confirmed that law and order was prevailing at the terminal, considered the biggest lorry park in West Africa, as pickpockets and other criminals were finding it difficult to operate.
The police hailed security personnel of Freko Limited for effectively complementing their efforts to check crime at the lorry park ever since the police post was established.
Chief Inspector S.A. Asamoah, the station officer at the Kejetia Police Post, said the crime rate had reduced tremendously and that only 25 per cent of the cases reported at the station were from the terminal while the remaining 75 per cent came from the Race Course end.
He said law and order was essential in ensuring effective administration of the terminal and that was what the Freko security personnel were assisting the police to do.
Chief Inspector Asamoah said checking crime was essential for such a huge area like Kejetia, and this called for co-operation between the police and the general public.
He spoke against instant justice and said the situation normally prevented the police from conducting investigations into various crimes.
He underscored the importance of handing over suspects to the police to deal with the situation.
Chief Inspector Asamoah dismissed allegations about brutalities on suspects by security personnel of Freko Limited at the Kejetia terminal, explaining that to the best of his knowledge no case of brutality or extortion had come before them.
He stressed the need for the public to encourage the Freko security personnel to do their work with all seriousness rather than discouraging them.
The Chief Inspector advised the security personnel to go about their duties without fear or favour and always ensure that they keep within the laws of the land to enable them to continue to win the confidence of the police and the general public.
The General Manager of Freko Limited, Mr Asante Boahen, in an interview, said the company’s security personnel were there to protect drivers, travellers, traders and other people who go to the terminal daily. Recent allegations in a section of the media that the security personnel were engaged in some negative acts were therefore untrue.
He noted that it was not the duty of the security personnel to collect money for the company, and that it would be difficult for anybody to claim that the security personnel were collecting money from them.
He said the mandate of the security personnel was clearly defined. It included traffic control, patrol duties and general operations relating to preventing criminals from operating at the terminal.
Mr Boahen said in most cases it was security personnel rather who came under attack by traders as they tried to enforce law and order at the terminal.
He stated that the company had made sure that only their revenue staff collected revenues, and act on behalf of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) by enforcing its bye-laws on hawkers who would flout the laws.
Mr Boahen maintained that trading and hawking were illegal at the terminal and gave the assurance that every effort would be made to ensure that such practices ceased.
The Managing Director of Freko FD Limited, Ms Freda Darko, for her part, urged the public to co-operate with the company and report any case of harassment by staff of the company to management for appropriate action. She said the company would ensure that the terminal remained a much better place for the various operations.
THE security situation at the Kejetia terminal, once a den of criminals, has improved tremendously, thanks to effective collaboration between the police and the security department of Freko FD Limited, managers of the terminal.
There is now a conducive environment for drivers and passengers alike to move about without any fear of attacks and harassment from criminals.
The police and management of the company confirmed that law and order was prevailing at the terminal, considered the biggest lorry park in West Africa, as pickpockets and other criminals were finding it difficult to operate.
The police hailed security personnel of Freko Limited for effectively complementing their efforts to check crime at the lorry park ever since the police post was established.
Chief Inspector S.A. Asamoah, the station officer at the Kejetia Police Post, said the crime rate had reduced tremendously and that only 25 per cent of the cases reported at the station were from the terminal while the remaining 75 per cent came from the Race Course end.
He said law and order was essential in ensuring effective administration of the terminal and that was what the Freko security personnel were assisting the police to do.
Chief Inspector Asamoah said checking crime was essential for such a huge area like Kejetia, and this called for co-operation between the police and the general public.
He spoke against instant justice and said the situation normally prevented the police from conducting investigations into various crimes.
He underscored the importance of handing over suspects to the police to deal with the situation.
Chief Inspector Asamoah dismissed allegations about brutalities on suspects by security personnel of Freko Limited at the Kejetia terminal, explaining that to the best of his knowledge no case of brutality or extortion had come before them.
He stressed the need for the public to encourage the Freko security personnel to do their work with all seriousness rather than discouraging them.
The Chief Inspector advised the security personnel to go about their duties without fear or favour and always ensure that they keep within the laws of the land to enable them to continue to win the confidence of the police and the general public.
The General Manager of Freko Limited, Mr Asante Boahen, in an interview, said the company’s security personnel were there to protect drivers, travellers, traders and other people who go to the terminal daily. Recent allegations in a section of the media that the security personnel were engaged in some negative acts were therefore untrue.
He noted that it was not the duty of the security personnel to collect money for the company, and that it would be difficult for anybody to claim that the security personnel were collecting money from them.
He said the mandate of the security personnel was clearly defined. It included traffic control, patrol duties and general operations relating to preventing criminals from operating at the terminal.
Mr Boahen said in most cases it was security personnel rather who came under attack by traders as they tried to enforce law and order at the terminal.
He stated that the company had made sure that only their revenue staff collected revenues, and act on behalf of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) by enforcing its bye-laws on hawkers who would flout the laws.
Mr Boahen maintained that trading and hawking were illegal at the terminal and gave the assurance that every effort would be made to ensure that such practices ceased.
The Managing Director of Freko FD Limited, Ms Freda Darko, for her part, urged the public to co-operate with the company and report any case of harassment by staff of the company to management for appropriate action. She said the company would ensure that the terminal remained a much better place for the various operations.
Service personnel must see themselves as role models
April 1,
AN orientation programme has been organised for prospective national service personnel in the Kumasi metropolis with a call on service personnel to see themselves as role models in the communities in which they operate.
They were therefore called upon to lead lives that would portray a good image of themselves and the National Service Scheme (NSS). Mr Kwesi Quainoo, the Ashanti Regional Director of the Scheme, said at the orientation that “one of our major objectives is to ensure that personnel develop the right habits and attitudes to work to enhance their potentials as far as job opportunities are concerned”.
He admitted the fact that personnel went through some difficulties but observed that sacrifice and hard work were the only answer to a successful future.
“The National Service Scheme has both challenges and opportunities to help personnel have cross-cultural experience, which would enable them to learn new things and thus be in a better position to make informed decisions in the future”, Mr Quainoo said.
The regional co-ordinator says one of the noble objectives of the NSS is to serve as a vehicle to foster national cohesion and integration to help personnel gain knowledge and skills in various aspects of life.
Mr Quainoo gave the assurance that his outfit would ensure a convenient posting exercise this year and therefore called on the prospective service personnel to co-operate with the secretariat for a successful exercise.
He noted that last year there was so much congestion at the secretariat in Kumasi, which made the work very tedious for the staff.
The secretariat therefore set up a registration centre at the Kwame NKrumah University of Science and Technology and the Kumasi Technical Institute to ensure sanity in the programme.
Mr Quainoo advised personnel, especially those who would be in the classrooms to avoid dressing shabbily to work, in order to paint a good picture of themselves.
On the payment of allowances, Mr Quainoo said the system had improved over the years and gave the assurance that everything would be done to ensure that personnel were paid promptly.
He warned against personnel deserting their post and going to the secretariat at the end of the month to collect their allowances.
The regional co-ordinator continued that a monitoring team would be dispatched to the various departments and other points of work to see how personnel were discharging their duties.
He also advised the personnel to register for the National Health Insurance Scheme to access affordable and quality health care.
AN orientation programme has been organised for prospective national service personnel in the Kumasi metropolis with a call on service personnel to see themselves as role models in the communities in which they operate.
They were therefore called upon to lead lives that would portray a good image of themselves and the National Service Scheme (NSS). Mr Kwesi Quainoo, the Ashanti Regional Director of the Scheme, said at the orientation that “one of our major objectives is to ensure that personnel develop the right habits and attitudes to work to enhance their potentials as far as job opportunities are concerned”.
He admitted the fact that personnel went through some difficulties but observed that sacrifice and hard work were the only answer to a successful future.
“The National Service Scheme has both challenges and opportunities to help personnel have cross-cultural experience, which would enable them to learn new things and thus be in a better position to make informed decisions in the future”, Mr Quainoo said.
The regional co-ordinator says one of the noble objectives of the NSS is to serve as a vehicle to foster national cohesion and integration to help personnel gain knowledge and skills in various aspects of life.
Mr Quainoo gave the assurance that his outfit would ensure a convenient posting exercise this year and therefore called on the prospective service personnel to co-operate with the secretariat for a successful exercise.
He noted that last year there was so much congestion at the secretariat in Kumasi, which made the work very tedious for the staff.
The secretariat therefore set up a registration centre at the Kwame NKrumah University of Science and Technology and the Kumasi Technical Institute to ensure sanity in the programme.
Mr Quainoo advised personnel, especially those who would be in the classrooms to avoid dressing shabbily to work, in order to paint a good picture of themselves.
On the payment of allowances, Mr Quainoo said the system had improved over the years and gave the assurance that everything would be done to ensure that personnel were paid promptly.
He warned against personnel deserting their post and going to the secretariat at the end of the month to collect their allowances.
The regional co-ordinator continued that a monitoring team would be dispatched to the various departments and other points of work to see how personnel were discharging their duties.
He also advised the personnel to register for the National Health Insurance Scheme to access affordable and quality health care.
Goaso citizens hail Justice Baffoe-Bonnie’s nomination
March 28
Story: Kwame Asare Boadu, Kumasi
GOASO citizens in Kumasi have congratulated Mr Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie on his nomination to the position of a Justice of the Supreme Court of Ghana.
A spokesman of the citizens, Mr Stephen Owusu-Gyamfi, also known as Glabus, said it was an honour for them and indeed the entire people of Goaso and Ahafo that for the first time a native of the area was about to assume the high position of a Justice of the Supreme Court.
Mr Owusu-Gyamfi, who is an accountant with the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) at Asante Mampong, said, “Justice Baffoe-Bonnie has proved over the years that he understands the profession in which he is and it is not surprising that his performance has been recognised by the President of the Republic.”
He was full of commendation for President Kufuor for nominating Mr Justice Baffoe-Bonnie to the enviable position and said that also showed that the President recognised hard work and dedication.
Mr Owusu-Gyamfi was confident that Justice Baffoe-Bonnie would scale through the parliamentary vetting to enable him to assume the position he so deserved.
He stated that from the very beginning of his education at Goaso through the Konongo Odumase Secondary School to the University of Ghana, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie showed signs of “a genius” and it is no wonder that he is about to assume that high position.
The spokesman said the eminent Justice’s father, Opanin Baffoe Bonnie of blessed memory, was one of the few people at Goaso in his life time who took great interest in his children’s education, and no wonder, most of his children had become prominent men and women in their chosen fields of endeavour.
Mr Owusu-Gyamfi expressed the hope that Justice Baffoe-Bonnie would continue to do what he knew best — administering justice without fear or favour — when he assumed his new role as a Justice of the Supreme Court.
Story: Kwame Asare Boadu, Kumasi
GOASO citizens in Kumasi have congratulated Mr Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie on his nomination to the position of a Justice of the Supreme Court of Ghana.
A spokesman of the citizens, Mr Stephen Owusu-Gyamfi, also known as Glabus, said it was an honour for them and indeed the entire people of Goaso and Ahafo that for the first time a native of the area was about to assume the high position of a Justice of the Supreme Court.
Mr Owusu-Gyamfi, who is an accountant with the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) at Asante Mampong, said, “Justice Baffoe-Bonnie has proved over the years that he understands the profession in which he is and it is not surprising that his performance has been recognised by the President of the Republic.”
He was full of commendation for President Kufuor for nominating Mr Justice Baffoe-Bonnie to the enviable position and said that also showed that the President recognised hard work and dedication.
Mr Owusu-Gyamfi was confident that Justice Baffoe-Bonnie would scale through the parliamentary vetting to enable him to assume the position he so deserved.
He stated that from the very beginning of his education at Goaso through the Konongo Odumase Secondary School to the University of Ghana, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie showed signs of “a genius” and it is no wonder that he is about to assume that high position.
The spokesman said the eminent Justice’s father, Opanin Baffoe Bonnie of blessed memory, was one of the few people at Goaso in his life time who took great interest in his children’s education, and no wonder, most of his children had become prominent men and women in their chosen fields of endeavour.
Mr Owusu-Gyamfi expressed the hope that Justice Baffoe-Bonnie would continue to do what he knew best — administering justice without fear or favour — when he assumed his new role as a Justice of the Supreme Court.
Use ADR to free courts of workload
Story: Kwame Asare Boadu,
Mamponteng
THE District Magistrate at Mamponteng in the Ashanti Region, Mrs Aliata Saeed, has called on litigants to make use of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) to free the courts of their huge workload.
She expressed regret that very trivial cases, some of them involving debts of GH¢50, continued to flock the courts, when they could have been handled through the ADR system without much delay and financial drain.
Mrs Saeed, who was speaking at the inauguration of the refurbished district court building at Mamponteng in the Kwabre District, said “it is not every time that the court is the place to settle disputes”.
“We have to realise that the pressure on the courts is too much and as such cases that are not serious must be settled through arbitration,” she said.
The refurbishment of the building, which also houses the district post office, cost GH¢23,000, and was financed by the district assembly.
Mrs Saeed noted that it was most often antagonistic to have cases settled by the courts, but very friendly when handled through the ADR.
She commended the district assembly for releasing funds to renovate the building, which was seriously crying for attention.
The District Chief Executive (DCE), Alhaji Kwasi Yeboah, said it was important for the people to take good care of government property to ensure their longer lifespan.
He said the government and the assembly were determined to improve on their development activities so that people in the remotest parts of the district enjoy decent living.
Alhaji Yeboah disclosed that 15 kilometres of roads in the district were to be rehabilitated this year under a special presidential package, adding that five kilometres of the entire project would be undertaken at Mamponteng, the district capital.
The DCE also touched on the water project at Mamponteng and expressed the hope that the new management board of the project would ensure that it was maintained properly.
Alhaji Yeboah called on the people to be wary of opposition politicians, who were only out to spread false information about the government.
“We must not give in to the machinations of such people because they have nothing good for the nation,” he said.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Kwabre East, Mr Kofi Frimpong, urged the people to continue to rally behind the government to ensure accelerated development.
He also asked them to open their eyes very wide and look out for politicians whose weapon was misinforming the electorate about the government, as the general election approached.
The Chief of Ahwiaa, Nana Kusi Asiamah Yeboah, chaired the ceremony.
Mamponteng
THE District Magistrate at Mamponteng in the Ashanti Region, Mrs Aliata Saeed, has called on litigants to make use of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) to free the courts of their huge workload.
She expressed regret that very trivial cases, some of them involving debts of GH¢50, continued to flock the courts, when they could have been handled through the ADR system without much delay and financial drain.
Mrs Saeed, who was speaking at the inauguration of the refurbished district court building at Mamponteng in the Kwabre District, said “it is not every time that the court is the place to settle disputes”.
“We have to realise that the pressure on the courts is too much and as such cases that are not serious must be settled through arbitration,” she said.
The refurbishment of the building, which also houses the district post office, cost GH¢23,000, and was financed by the district assembly.
Mrs Saeed noted that it was most often antagonistic to have cases settled by the courts, but very friendly when handled through the ADR.
She commended the district assembly for releasing funds to renovate the building, which was seriously crying for attention.
The District Chief Executive (DCE), Alhaji Kwasi Yeboah, said it was important for the people to take good care of government property to ensure their longer lifespan.
He said the government and the assembly were determined to improve on their development activities so that people in the remotest parts of the district enjoy decent living.
Alhaji Yeboah disclosed that 15 kilometres of roads in the district were to be rehabilitated this year under a special presidential package, adding that five kilometres of the entire project would be undertaken at Mamponteng, the district capital.
The DCE also touched on the water project at Mamponteng and expressed the hope that the new management board of the project would ensure that it was maintained properly.
Alhaji Yeboah called on the people to be wary of opposition politicians, who were only out to spread false information about the government.
“We must not give in to the machinations of such people because they have nothing good for the nation,” he said.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Kwabre East, Mr Kofi Frimpong, urged the people to continue to rally behind the government to ensure accelerated development.
He also asked them to open their eyes very wide and look out for politicians whose weapon was misinforming the electorate about the government, as the general election approached.
The Chief of Ahwiaa, Nana Kusi Asiamah Yeboah, chaired the ceremony.
Businessman puts up computer
Story: Kwame Asare Boadu, Kwamang
March 27, 2008
A native of Kwamang in the Ashanti Region, Mr Joseph Kwaku Duku, has financed the construction of a GH¢100,000 computer and library complex for the local Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Schools.
The facility, which was inaugurated by the Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr E.A. Owusu-Ansah, would also be used by students from other schools in the community.
Mr Duku, who is a businessman, said the decision to put up the complex was a means of repaying the community that had made him what he was today.
He stated that he saw education as the bedrock of national development, and therefore, felt fufilled for being able to accomplish his dream of supporting educational development in his native Kwamang.
Mr Duku advised children in the area to take advantage of the facility to broaden their knowledge.
Inaugurating the complex, Mr Owusu-Ansah said the world was witnessing an unprecedented change and anything short of quality education would not be in the interest of the nation.
“It is for this reason that we urge philanthropists and non-governmental organisations to team up with the government in the provision of basic infrastructure to improve the quality of teaching and learning in our schools,” he said.
The regional minister observed that quality education offered children the opportunity to seek knowledge that would impact on the body, mind and characters of the children.
He entreated citizens of various communities in the region both at home and abroad to give a little back to their towns and villages which brought them up.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Nsuta-Kwamang-Beposo, Mr Kwame Osei Prempeh, said Ghana needed people like Mr Duku to advance its development agenda.
He promised to build another library for the town to ease pressure on the already existing facilities.
Mr Osei Prempeh said the government had created opportunities for people to go about their businesses freely and, therefore, urged the people to support the government for it to do more for them.
The Omanhene of Kwamang, Barima Abeyie Ntori Nimpa II, said parents had the responsibility to take care of their children’s education.
March 27, 2008
A native of Kwamang in the Ashanti Region, Mr Joseph Kwaku Duku, has financed the construction of a GH¢100,000 computer and library complex for the local Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Schools.
The facility, which was inaugurated by the Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr E.A. Owusu-Ansah, would also be used by students from other schools in the community.
Mr Duku, who is a businessman, said the decision to put up the complex was a means of repaying the community that had made him what he was today.
He stated that he saw education as the bedrock of national development, and therefore, felt fufilled for being able to accomplish his dream of supporting educational development in his native Kwamang.
Mr Duku advised children in the area to take advantage of the facility to broaden their knowledge.
Inaugurating the complex, Mr Owusu-Ansah said the world was witnessing an unprecedented change and anything short of quality education would not be in the interest of the nation.
“It is for this reason that we urge philanthropists and non-governmental organisations to team up with the government in the provision of basic infrastructure to improve the quality of teaching and learning in our schools,” he said.
The regional minister observed that quality education offered children the opportunity to seek knowledge that would impact on the body, mind and characters of the children.
He entreated citizens of various communities in the region both at home and abroad to give a little back to their towns and villages which brought them up.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Nsuta-Kwamang-Beposo, Mr Kwame Osei Prempeh, said Ghana needed people like Mr Duku to advance its development agenda.
He promised to build another library for the town to ease pressure on the already existing facilities.
Mr Osei Prempeh said the government had created opportunities for people to go about their businesses freely and, therefore, urged the people to support the government for it to do more for them.
The Omanhene of Kwamang, Barima Abeyie Ntori Nimpa II, said parents had the responsibility to take care of their children’s education.
How the 2007 National Best Farmer rose to fame
Story: Kwame Asare Boadu, Kumasi
March 27, 2008
THE reigning national best farmer, Alhaji Abdul-Salaam Akate, is someone who always seeks for fresh challenges in his chosen career.
The award, conferred on him in December, 2007, seems to have gingered him to enter into other bigger activities in his farming business.
Just three months after being crowned the best farmer, 54-year-old Ahaji Akate has taken a giant step to enter into serious mechanised farming to widen his production base.
He has ordered a combine harvester and more tractors from Europe to beef up the company’s stock to facilitate a major mechanised crop farming on a three-mile square land he has acquired at Amantin in the Brong Ahafo Region.
“I am not resting at all. This award (best farmer), which I received, has re-ignited my spirit and I am going to work even harder to improve agriculture in this country,” Alhaji Akate stated.
“I have encouraged my workers to see the award as theirs so that the company will grow from strength to strength,” he said.
When this reporter visited the main offices of the Akate Farms in Kumasi, Alhaji Akate, in the company of his wife, Mariam, a journalist by profession and now an administrator of the company, was busily putting heads together on the new initiatives of the company.
He recalled that momentous day, Friday, December 7, 2007, when he won the coveted award at Wa, and stressed that “when my name was mentioned, I became emotional, especially as everybody on the dias wanted to touch me”.
“It was a proud moment for me, as it happened in my home region before a huge assembly of dignitaries, including the Vice-President and some respected citizens of my region”, Alhaji Akate said.
Alhaji Akate hails from Bawiesibe in the Upper West Region.
His prize was a fully-furnished three-bedroom house to be constructed at a place of his choice. Alhaji Akate has decided that the building, to be financed by the Agricultural Development Bank, be put up in Kumasi for use by some of his workers.
The decision is borne by the fact that it was in Kumasi that it all started and it is also appropriate that the workers who have supported him in building the company enjoy the fruits.
Tracing the history behind his successful story as a farmer, Alhaji Akate said some people erronously thought that he received the prestigious prize on a silver platter.
“It is a long history of a terrible beginning, tough and hard,” he stressed.
Alhaji Akate, who lost his father when he was in primary two, had to abandon his education to join his aunt at Asante Bekwai. He could not continue schooling anywhere, neither could he learn any trade.
Between 1973 and 1974 he joined the then Cocoa Marketing Board (CMB) as a labourer at Bekwai and was later transferred to Obuasi.
While with CMB, Alhaji Akate was doing some petty trading in cigarretes but later his employment with the CMB was cut short and he had to concentrate on his private business.
Eager to venture into other areas of business, Alhaji Akate said he bought the land where the main company yard is located in Kumasi, in 1981, at a cost of GH¢700 and started his poultry business with 1,500 layers, whilst continuing with his cigarrete business.
Today the poultry section of the farms has as many as 450,000 birds.
Despite his little knowledge in formal education, the fledgling poultry farmer kept records of his operations and later realised that he could take poultry farming as a full-time business.
“A brother of mine introduced me to the Social Security Bank, which advanced ¢1 million (now GH¢100) loan to me, and I paid off the loan in ten months after which the bank gave a further ¢2.5 million (GH¢250) and then ¢5.5 million (GH¢ 550),” he said.
According to him, even though he remained a committed customer, he had problems with his bankers and was later introduced to the Barclays Bank by a friend who had since 1988 given him all the neccesary assistance to progress.
Even though Barclays Bank is not into mainstream agriculture financing, Alhaji Akate says they have remained failthful partners in development which he thinks other banks should emulate.
The national best farmer said the selection of the award winners was very transparent and until the age of the first runner-up was mentioned, he did not know he was the winner. “When the members of the selection committee came to my office to interview me, they refused to take even water and this tells you the seriousness and openess which they attached to the job assigned them,” Aljaji Akate emphasised.
On what must be done to improve agriculture in the country, Alhaji Akate said even though the government was doing its best, there was still a problem with land acquisition.
He, therefore, suggested that the land bank issue that the government hinted some time past, must be pursued with all seriousness to enable farmers to acquire land at a reasonable cost.
Alhaji Akate was also concerned about the high lending rates and said that was preventing many farmers from accessing credit from the banks, and therefore, suggested that a special interest rate on agricultural borrowing must be introduced in the country.
Alhaji Akate further called on the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to take steps to support mechanised farming because it was only through it that people could take up agriculture as a business venture.
Notwithstanding his deficiency in formal education, the best farmer knows how important education is.
Alhaji Akate has taken keen interest in the education of his children. Currently, three of them are in universities in Malaysia and China, undertaking Information Technology, Business Administration and medicine. A fourth child is about to enter the university.
Mariam, his wife, known as Mary Dimbie in his days with the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), also said she had never regretted abandoning his employment with the GBC in 1989 to support her husband in his business.
March 27, 2008
THE reigning national best farmer, Alhaji Abdul-Salaam Akate, is someone who always seeks for fresh challenges in his chosen career.
The award, conferred on him in December, 2007, seems to have gingered him to enter into other bigger activities in his farming business.
Just three months after being crowned the best farmer, 54-year-old Ahaji Akate has taken a giant step to enter into serious mechanised farming to widen his production base.
He has ordered a combine harvester and more tractors from Europe to beef up the company’s stock to facilitate a major mechanised crop farming on a three-mile square land he has acquired at Amantin in the Brong Ahafo Region.
“I am not resting at all. This award (best farmer), which I received, has re-ignited my spirit and I am going to work even harder to improve agriculture in this country,” Alhaji Akate stated.
“I have encouraged my workers to see the award as theirs so that the company will grow from strength to strength,” he said.
When this reporter visited the main offices of the Akate Farms in Kumasi, Alhaji Akate, in the company of his wife, Mariam, a journalist by profession and now an administrator of the company, was busily putting heads together on the new initiatives of the company.
He recalled that momentous day, Friday, December 7, 2007, when he won the coveted award at Wa, and stressed that “when my name was mentioned, I became emotional, especially as everybody on the dias wanted to touch me”.
“It was a proud moment for me, as it happened in my home region before a huge assembly of dignitaries, including the Vice-President and some respected citizens of my region”, Alhaji Akate said.
Alhaji Akate hails from Bawiesibe in the Upper West Region.
His prize was a fully-furnished three-bedroom house to be constructed at a place of his choice. Alhaji Akate has decided that the building, to be financed by the Agricultural Development Bank, be put up in Kumasi for use by some of his workers.
The decision is borne by the fact that it was in Kumasi that it all started and it is also appropriate that the workers who have supported him in building the company enjoy the fruits.
Tracing the history behind his successful story as a farmer, Alhaji Akate said some people erronously thought that he received the prestigious prize on a silver platter.
“It is a long history of a terrible beginning, tough and hard,” he stressed.
Alhaji Akate, who lost his father when he was in primary two, had to abandon his education to join his aunt at Asante Bekwai. He could not continue schooling anywhere, neither could he learn any trade.
Between 1973 and 1974 he joined the then Cocoa Marketing Board (CMB) as a labourer at Bekwai and was later transferred to Obuasi.
While with CMB, Alhaji Akate was doing some petty trading in cigarretes but later his employment with the CMB was cut short and he had to concentrate on his private business.
Eager to venture into other areas of business, Alhaji Akate said he bought the land where the main company yard is located in Kumasi, in 1981, at a cost of GH¢700 and started his poultry business with 1,500 layers, whilst continuing with his cigarrete business.
Today the poultry section of the farms has as many as 450,000 birds.
Despite his little knowledge in formal education, the fledgling poultry farmer kept records of his operations and later realised that he could take poultry farming as a full-time business.
“A brother of mine introduced me to the Social Security Bank, which advanced ¢1 million (now GH¢100) loan to me, and I paid off the loan in ten months after which the bank gave a further ¢2.5 million (GH¢250) and then ¢5.5 million (GH¢ 550),” he said.
According to him, even though he remained a committed customer, he had problems with his bankers and was later introduced to the Barclays Bank by a friend who had since 1988 given him all the neccesary assistance to progress.
Even though Barclays Bank is not into mainstream agriculture financing, Alhaji Akate says they have remained failthful partners in development which he thinks other banks should emulate.
The national best farmer said the selection of the award winners was very transparent and until the age of the first runner-up was mentioned, he did not know he was the winner. “When the members of the selection committee came to my office to interview me, they refused to take even water and this tells you the seriousness and openess which they attached to the job assigned them,” Aljaji Akate emphasised.
On what must be done to improve agriculture in the country, Alhaji Akate said even though the government was doing its best, there was still a problem with land acquisition.
He, therefore, suggested that the land bank issue that the government hinted some time past, must be pursued with all seriousness to enable farmers to acquire land at a reasonable cost.
Alhaji Akate was also concerned about the high lending rates and said that was preventing many farmers from accessing credit from the banks, and therefore, suggested that a special interest rate on agricultural borrowing must be introduced in the country.
Alhaji Akate further called on the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to take steps to support mechanised farming because it was only through it that people could take up agriculture as a business venture.
Notwithstanding his deficiency in formal education, the best farmer knows how important education is.
Alhaji Akate has taken keen interest in the education of his children. Currently, three of them are in universities in Malaysia and China, undertaking Information Technology, Business Administration and medicine. A fourth child is about to enter the university.
Mariam, his wife, known as Mary Dimbie in his days with the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), also said she had never regretted abandoning his employment with the GBC in 1989 to support her husband in his business.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
4 ARRESTED FOR PAYSLIP FRAUD (BACK PAGE)
Story: Kwame Asare Boadu, Kumasi
THE police at Manso Nkwanta have arrested four persons, two of them teachers, believed to be members of a gang allegedly using the payslips of teachers on study leave in various universities to access loans from a micro-credit company that has entered into an agreement with the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department.
The suspects had, within the last six months, managed to fraudulently secure loans totalling GH¢50,000 from various branches of the company, Noble Character Enterprise, agents of City Investments Company (CIC) of Accra.
The police gave the names of the suspects as Charles Kojo Fosu, 29, a teacher of the Kasoa D/A Primary School; James Leeford Yevutse, 30, a teacher of the Agona Nyakrom D/A JHS; Kwame Nkrumah, 27, a farmer at Agona Duakwa, and Kwabena Kanin, 35, a Space-to-Space operator at Kasoa.
They were arrested at a police barrier at Antoakrom in the Amansie West District in the Ashanti Region just after securing another fraudulent loan facility at the company’s newly opened branch at Manso Nkwanta last Thursday.
A fifth suspect, whose name was given as Joe, a former pupil teacher, escaped arrest and the police have mounted a search for him.
Their modus operandi is to secure the payslips of the teachers without their knowledge, make fake voter identity cards bearing the names of the said teachers but with their (suspects) pictures and use them to secure loans from the company’s offices located at Mankessim, Ejumako, Elmina, Akim Oda and Nsawam.
At the end of every month, deductions are made from the salaries of the said teachers, while the suspects enjoyed their booty.
On their arrest, the Manso Nkwanta Police were informed by their colleagues at Mankessim that the suspects had been arrested for a similar offence at Mankessim and were due to appear before a court in Saltpond yesterday.
The Amansie District Police Commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Isaac Kwadwo Asante, said his outfit would team up with the Mankessim Police to go into the matter in order to establish how the suspects managed to get the payslips of the teachers.
He said about 1.00 p.m. on April 10, 2008, the suspects, using a taxi allegedly hired from the Central Region, had gone to the Noble Character Enterprise office at Manso Nkwanta where they produced applications for loan facilities covering GH¢37, GH¢28 and GH¢500.
DSP Asante said the first two applications of GH¢37 and GH¢28 went through but the Amansie Rural Bank Limited, where they cashed the cheques, did not have enough money for the payment of the GH¢500 loan and they were, therefore, asked to come the following day.
He said the Assistant Manager of Noble Character at Manso Nkwanta, Ms Christiana Amoah, who had written the cheques, later detected that the voter identity cards attached to the loan applications were fictitious and consequently rushed to inform the police.
DSP Asante indicated that the suspects had then left in the taxi and the police quickly telephoned their Antoakrom station to arrest the taxi and its occupants.
According to him, when the taxi got to the Antoakrom Barrier, the four were arrested, but the fifth person escaped through the bush.
The suspects have since appeared before a court at Asante Bekwai where they were remanded in prison custody to appear again in a fortnight’s time.
Officials of Noble Character Enterprise told the Daily Graphic that the activities of the suspects had nearly crippled the operations of the company and commended the police for their efforts at arresting them.
THE police at Manso Nkwanta have arrested four persons, two of them teachers, believed to be members of a gang allegedly using the payslips of teachers on study leave in various universities to access loans from a micro-credit company that has entered into an agreement with the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department.
The suspects had, within the last six months, managed to fraudulently secure loans totalling GH¢50,000 from various branches of the company, Noble Character Enterprise, agents of City Investments Company (CIC) of Accra.
The police gave the names of the suspects as Charles Kojo Fosu, 29, a teacher of the Kasoa D/A Primary School; James Leeford Yevutse, 30, a teacher of the Agona Nyakrom D/A JHS; Kwame Nkrumah, 27, a farmer at Agona Duakwa, and Kwabena Kanin, 35, a Space-to-Space operator at Kasoa.
They were arrested at a police barrier at Antoakrom in the Amansie West District in the Ashanti Region just after securing another fraudulent loan facility at the company’s newly opened branch at Manso Nkwanta last Thursday.
A fifth suspect, whose name was given as Joe, a former pupil teacher, escaped arrest and the police have mounted a search for him.
Their modus operandi is to secure the payslips of the teachers without their knowledge, make fake voter identity cards bearing the names of the said teachers but with their (suspects) pictures and use them to secure loans from the company’s offices located at Mankessim, Ejumako, Elmina, Akim Oda and Nsawam.
At the end of every month, deductions are made from the salaries of the said teachers, while the suspects enjoyed their booty.
On their arrest, the Manso Nkwanta Police were informed by their colleagues at Mankessim that the suspects had been arrested for a similar offence at Mankessim and were due to appear before a court in Saltpond yesterday.
The Amansie District Police Commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Isaac Kwadwo Asante, said his outfit would team up with the Mankessim Police to go into the matter in order to establish how the suspects managed to get the payslips of the teachers.
He said about 1.00 p.m. on April 10, 2008, the suspects, using a taxi allegedly hired from the Central Region, had gone to the Noble Character Enterprise office at Manso Nkwanta where they produced applications for loan facilities covering GH¢37, GH¢28 and GH¢500.
DSP Asante said the first two applications of GH¢37 and GH¢28 went through but the Amansie Rural Bank Limited, where they cashed the cheques, did not have enough money for the payment of the GH¢500 loan and they were, therefore, asked to come the following day.
He said the Assistant Manager of Noble Character at Manso Nkwanta, Ms Christiana Amoah, who had written the cheques, later detected that the voter identity cards attached to the loan applications were fictitious and consequently rushed to inform the police.
DSP Asante indicated that the suspects had then left in the taxi and the police quickly telephoned their Antoakrom station to arrest the taxi and its occupants.
According to him, when the taxi got to the Antoakrom Barrier, the four were arrested, but the fifth person escaped through the bush.
The suspects have since appeared before a court at Asante Bekwai where they were remanded in prison custody to appear again in a fortnight’s time.
Officials of Noble Character Enterprise told the Daily Graphic that the activities of the suspects had nearly crippled the operations of the company and commended the police for their efforts at arresting them.
CHAMBER OF MINES & SMIDO COLLABORATE IN ICT DEVELOPMENT (PAGE 29)
(PUBLISHED ON MARCH 18)
Story: Kwame Asare Boadu, Kumasi
The Suame Magazine Industrial Development Organisation (SMIDO) has entered into successful negotiations for an economic partnership with the Ghana Chamber of Mines to make the Suame Magazine an industrial service centre for the mining industry in the country.
The partnership forms part of a process to build the capacity of SMIDO to advance the technological prospects of Suame Magazine to respond to both the immediate and future technological needs of the mining industry in the country.
In a move to broker this partnership, the Ghana Chamber of Mines invited SMIDO to the Expanded Council Meeting of the chamber at the Elmina Beach Resort to explore areas of economic co-operation.
The partnership is expected to serve as a strategy for reducing poverty in the country.
The Development Planning Consultant to SMIDO, Mr Nyaaba Aweeba Azongo, told the Daily Graphic in Kumasi that SMIDO had had the opportunity to present its case to the chamber.
Mr Azongo said the seeming policy indifference towards the larger informal sector and the Suame Magazine in particular stemmed from the conceptual and operational crises of the Public-Private Partnership framework at the micro levels of the economy.
He said in such situations, the only strategic alternative to reach out to the informal sector where poverty was pronounced, was through what he described as the vertical integration between the macro level and the micro level players to pull micro economic entities or service centres along strategic paths of development through a systematic Macro -Micro Private Economic Partnership(MMPEP).
He emphasised that MMPEP was an alternative necessity for the vertical integration to trickle down the benefits of macro-economic developments to the micro-levels.
Mr Azongo, therefore, described the SMIDO-mining industry collaboration as holding the best prospects for piloting a case of vertical private-private sector integration operational framework for national development.
Copies of the SMIDO policy blueprint prepared by Mr Azongo and launched in Kumasi by the Chief Executive of the Chamber, Ms Joyce Aryee, were made available to members of the chamber.
Recounting his presentation to the chamber, Mr Azongo proposed a paradigm shift from the popular Social Corporate Responsibility (SCR) system, which he described as lacking a definite sustainable conceptual underpinning required to promote development in poverty-stricken economies.
The SCR concept, he noted, built a dependency culture that engendered maintenance and sustainability crisis.
In the local community support, SMIDO proposed to develop its technological centres in the mining communities to offer artisanal engineering training to young men and women of local mining communities as well as alternative livelihood sources for galamsey operators.
These centres will be integrated into the institutional system of SMIDO to create the right social harmony for the mining industries to operate in the local communities.
On the economic partnership front, SMIDO would be outsourcing contracts on behalf of its members and ensure the application of state-of-the-art technology, the development and use of common facilities for better finishing product. SMIDO’s emblem would be embossed on products from the Suame Magazine as evidence of quality by the organisation.
In the area of human resource development, SMIDO proposed to support the establishment of Suame Tech Automatics Engineering Institute (STAEI) in Kumasi to offer domain expertise to meet the practical needs of the mining industry.
The STAEI will serve as the centre for institutionalised retailing of technological transfers in the Suame Magazine and the artisanal engineering sector as a whole.
Mr Azongo said the members of the chamber were highly impressed with the proposals and felt that could be a major turning point for industrial development in the country and that the chamber would not shirk its responsibility of supporting SMIDO in the pursuit of such a noble cause.
The chamber resolved to undertake a familiarisation visit to SMIDO to explore the range of products at Suame Magazine to further boost the partnership, whose benefits would impact positively on the development of the small and medium enterprises in the country.
Story: Kwame Asare Boadu, Kumasi
The Suame Magazine Industrial Development Organisation (SMIDO) has entered into successful negotiations for an economic partnership with the Ghana Chamber of Mines to make the Suame Magazine an industrial service centre for the mining industry in the country.
The partnership forms part of a process to build the capacity of SMIDO to advance the technological prospects of Suame Magazine to respond to both the immediate and future technological needs of the mining industry in the country.
In a move to broker this partnership, the Ghana Chamber of Mines invited SMIDO to the Expanded Council Meeting of the chamber at the Elmina Beach Resort to explore areas of economic co-operation.
The partnership is expected to serve as a strategy for reducing poverty in the country.
The Development Planning Consultant to SMIDO, Mr Nyaaba Aweeba Azongo, told the Daily Graphic in Kumasi that SMIDO had had the opportunity to present its case to the chamber.
Mr Azongo said the seeming policy indifference towards the larger informal sector and the Suame Magazine in particular stemmed from the conceptual and operational crises of the Public-Private Partnership framework at the micro levels of the economy.
He said in such situations, the only strategic alternative to reach out to the informal sector where poverty was pronounced, was through what he described as the vertical integration between the macro level and the micro level players to pull micro economic entities or service centres along strategic paths of development through a systematic Macro -Micro Private Economic Partnership(MMPEP).
He emphasised that MMPEP was an alternative necessity for the vertical integration to trickle down the benefits of macro-economic developments to the micro-levels.
Mr Azongo, therefore, described the SMIDO-mining industry collaboration as holding the best prospects for piloting a case of vertical private-private sector integration operational framework for national development.
Copies of the SMIDO policy blueprint prepared by Mr Azongo and launched in Kumasi by the Chief Executive of the Chamber, Ms Joyce Aryee, were made available to members of the chamber.
Recounting his presentation to the chamber, Mr Azongo proposed a paradigm shift from the popular Social Corporate Responsibility (SCR) system, which he described as lacking a definite sustainable conceptual underpinning required to promote development in poverty-stricken economies.
The SCR concept, he noted, built a dependency culture that engendered maintenance and sustainability crisis.
In the local community support, SMIDO proposed to develop its technological centres in the mining communities to offer artisanal engineering training to young men and women of local mining communities as well as alternative livelihood sources for galamsey operators.
These centres will be integrated into the institutional system of SMIDO to create the right social harmony for the mining industries to operate in the local communities.
On the economic partnership front, SMIDO would be outsourcing contracts on behalf of its members and ensure the application of state-of-the-art technology, the development and use of common facilities for better finishing product. SMIDO’s emblem would be embossed on products from the Suame Magazine as evidence of quality by the organisation.
In the area of human resource development, SMIDO proposed to support the establishment of Suame Tech Automatics Engineering Institute (STAEI) in Kumasi to offer domain expertise to meet the practical needs of the mining industry.
The STAEI will serve as the centre for institutionalised retailing of technological transfers in the Suame Magazine and the artisanal engineering sector as a whole.
Mr Azongo said the members of the chamber were highly impressed with the proposals and felt that could be a major turning point for industrial development in the country and that the chamber would not shirk its responsibility of supporting SMIDO in the pursuit of such a noble cause.
The chamber resolved to undertake a familiarisation visit to SMIDO to explore the range of products at Suame Magazine to further boost the partnership, whose benefits would impact positively on the development of the small and medium enterprises in the country.
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