Wednesday, June 25, 2008

BOSOMTWE RURAL BANK CONGRATULATES MP (PAGE 21)

THE Bosomtwe Rural Bank has congratulated the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bosomtwe, Mr Simon Osei-Mensah, on his election as a member of the ECOWAS Parliament.
The management of the bank of which Mr Osei-Mensah is the board chairman, said it was proud that the hard work of the MP had once again been recognised.
Ghana’s Parliament approved Mr Osei-Mensah’s nomination as a Member of the ECOWAS Parliament on June 19, 2008.
The Supervising Manager and a member of the board of the bank, Mr Felix Owusu-Achiaw, said, “The entire board, management and staff wish to congratulate our MP and board chairman on his good work as a legislator.”
He said the fact that Mr Osei-Mensah had moved another step forward in his political career, was a plus for all people and institutions in his constituency.
Mr Owusu-Achiaw said it was not surprising the MP had been re-elected by his party, the NPP, as its parliamentary candidate for the area in the December 7 general election.
He therefore, urged the MP to continue to exhibit his immense qualities as he moved to the ECOWAS Parliament.
“I think the entire sub-region will benefit from your rich experience,” he said.
Mr Owusu-Achiaw also expressed the hope that the additional responsibilities that had gone to the MP would in no way affect his commitment to the activities of the bank.
He stated that since Mr Osei-Mensah took over as the board chairman four years ago, the bank had seen tremendous growth, which is a plus to his chairmanship.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

GOASO KROYE KUO GREET BAFFOE-BONNIE (PAGE 31)

THE Goaso Kroye Kuo of Accra and their counterparts in Kumasi have congratulated Mr Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie on his assumption of office as a justice of the Supreme Court.
The two groups said by his appointment, Mr Baffoe-Bonnie had brought a lot of honour to Goaso and the entire Ahafo area.
Mr Justice Baffoe-Bonnie, 52, perhaps the youngest justice of the Supreme Court today, is a native of Goaso, where he was born and bred.
Major Kofi Awuah (retd), the Vice-Chairman of the Goaso Kroye Kuo of Accra, said “we from Goaso feel proud that for the first time in the history of the town, a son of the land has risen to this enviable position”.
He said Justice Baffoe-Bonnie had demonstrated throughout his period at the bench that he was someone always ready to deliver justice without fear or favour.
“It is not surprising therefore that his professionalism received the attention of the President and the nation resulting in his current position,” he said.
He was confident that the new justice of the Supreme Court would continue to perform creditably in the years ahead.
The Goaso group in Kumasi traced the history of Justice Baffoe-Bonnie from his elementary school days to the University of Ghana and said he exhibited exceptional brilliance.
It was therefore not surprising that he had risen to the top in his chosen profession.
The group emphasised that it was not so easy to get to the top of the bench, and said this showed that Mr Baffoe-Bonnie had been a brilliant justice.
They prayed that God would continue to give him the wisdom that would enable him to perform his duties to the best of his ability.

Monday, June 23, 2008

NEW MORTUARY FOR KATH (NSEMPA, PAGE 11)

By Kwame Asare Boadu, Kumasi

THE pressure on the mortuary at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) will now cease.
This followed the completion of an ultra-modern mortuary with the capacity to hold 208 bodies at a time.
The project forms part of the Government of Ghana’s financed Pathology Department building for the hospital.
Members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health have inspected the project.
According to a source at the hospital, the mortuary receives an average of ten bodies a day.
This includes people who died at the hospital and others that are brought from outside the hospital.
So much pressure, therefore, comes to bear on the facility and at times the authorities have to organise mass burials of unknown bodies to give space for new arrivals.
Some of the bodies that are buried in mass graves are accident victims.
Mr Godfred Otchere, the vice chairman of the parliamentary committee, who led the inspection team, was happy about the new project.
He said KATH had grown to become a facility whose services are now used by people from neighbouring countries.
There is, therefore, the need to improve the facilities at the hospital to enable it continue to offer quality services to Ghanaians and other neighbouring countries.
Mr Otchere expressed the hope that the facility would be put to good use.
The Chief Executive of KATH, Dr Anthony Nsiah-Asare, commended the government for financing the pathology department project.
He said the department was a very important part of the hospital and needed all the necessary support to enable it deliver.

JOE DANQUAH'S ACCLAMATION CHALLENGED (NSEMPA, PAGE 10)

By Akwasi Ampratwum-Mensah, Sunyani.

Five polling station chairmen of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Tain constituency of the Brong Ahafo Region, have petitioned the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party over the acclamation of the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Mr Joe Danquah, as the party’s candidate for the December general elections.
“We totally reject the incumbent MP as our parliamentary candidate for the dubious manner he was chosen”, they stated.
In a resolution signed by Messrs Kwaku Addae Boakye, Basheru Hassan, David Opoku and R.Y. Serebour, and addressed to the national chairman with copies to the regional and constituency executives, the petitioners said before the so-called acclamation, they called on the NEC to investigate attempts to impose Mr Danquah on them and conduct the primary to properly elect a parliamentary candidate for the constituency.
Unfortunately, the petition pointed out that, they did not receive any response to their petition and neither were there any attempts to resolve the controversy they complained of.
“However, to our surprise, on June 4, 2008, a team, led by Mr. Kofi Darko, the Brong Ahafo Regional Organizer of the party, was said to have organized the constituency primary at which the MP was purported to have been acclaimed as the parliamentary candidate for the Tain constituency”, they said.
According to the petition, “Indeed, as democrats and people of principle, we cannot allow this mockery of democracy to pass unchallenged”.
“We therefore state that we do not recognise the forceful display of arbitrariness that occurred on June 4, 2008”, it said.
The petition stressed that, they were worried about what was going on in the constituency and cautioned that, the earlier a solution was found to the controversy that had surrounded the primary, the better it would be for the fortunes of the party, adding, “we strongly advise that, the national executives send a team to conduct proper and democratic elections to bring peace and unity within the party”.
“We conclude by warning that, our patience and those of a lot more of our supporters and sympathizers are running out.
“ If you fail to act as suggested a week after the receipt of this petition, we shall advise ourselves accordingly and the consequences shall not be in anybody’s interest”, they warned.
When the regional office of the NPP in Sunyani was contacted, Mr A.K. Kusi, the secretary explained that, the incumbent MP was acclaimed because one Mr Richard Obour, who also aspired as a candidate, was disqualified.
Mr Kusi explained that Mr Obour was disqualified because he had not “nurtured the constituency which he wanted to lead for two or more years as required.”
Additionally, he said, Mr Obuor did not know the terrain though he was a native of the area. The secretary pointed out that, after the vetting, the regional chairman invited Mr Obour to convince him to step down because the regional executive did not want to officially write to him that he had been disqualified, as had been the party’s practice.
However, he said, Mr Obour declined to step down and rather decided to seek reliefs from the High Court in Sunyani after he had argued that the regional executives did not communicate to him in writing.
Mr Kusi further explained that, the High Court later struck out the case after hearing the arguments and that meant that the party could go ahead with the process to select a candidate.
He said with that, Mr Danquah was declared unopposed. Therefore, he said, the regional organiser, Mr Darko, was dispatched to the constituency to supervise the acclamation of Mr Danquah at a ceremony, which was also supervised by the Electoral Commission.
“We had grounds to acclaim Mr Joe Danquah because between that time and now Mr. Obour ceases to be a member of the party since he took the matter to court which was in contravention of the party’s constitution”, he argued.

MORE PROJECTS FOR ATWIMA MPONUA (NSEMPA, PAGE 20)

By Kwame Asare Boadu, Nyinahin

THE Atwima Mponua District Assembly has completed a number of development projects as part of its efforts to improve the living standards of the people.
The projects are in various sectors including education, roads, water, electricity and residential accommodation.
Some of the completed projects include a staff quarters for the assembly at Nyinahin. The project, which cost about GH¢970 million was financed with the assembly’s share of the Common Fund.
Teachers quarters, financed with the HIPC Fund, has also been completed at Sreso, while a classroom block has been completed at Adobewura, and another renovated at Abofrem.
The District Chief Executive, Mr Wilberforce Owusu-Ansah, told Graphic Nsempa that the assembly was determined to undertake more projects to better the lot of the people.
He urged the people to register with the National Health Insurance Scheme to enable them enjoy its benefits.

• The completed district assembly staff quarters at Nyinahin.

Sunday, June 22, 2008

HUMAN ACTIVITIES DESTROY WATER BODIES (PAGE 29)

I WAS taken aback when the Executive President of the Friend of Rivers and Water Bodies, an environmental non-governmental organisation, Nana Kwabena Dwomoh- Sarpong, told me that originally there were 77 rivers and streams in Kumasi but this had whittled down to less than 20 currently.
When I tried to find out the reasons for this shocking revelation, he gave a multiplicity of reasons but all of them related to human activities.
Water is crucial for food security and indeed the survival of man. Any activity that poses a threat to water bodies, therefore, must be a source of concern to every rational person.
Kumasi, which used to be called the Garden City, has lost much of its green features. But, one other natural resource that has come under constant attack, and which some people unfortunately seem not to have noticed, is water bodies.
But for the Friends of Rivers and Water Bodies which has been campaigning for the protection of the water bodies in the metropolis, the wanton destruction of this natural resource would not have received the necessary attention.
Living in a city where the environment is under constant threat is sometimes not pleasant. The abuse of water bodies in Kumasi has resulted in the breeding of mosquitoes and its attendant spread of malaria.
Statistics at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital indicates that malaria is still the number one cause of attendance at the Out Patients Department. The disease is killing people but we do not seem to care.
Water bodies are crucial to the survival of man that is why the Friends of Rivers and Water Bodies have warned that the wanton abuse of water bodies in Kumasi is putting the entire environment of the metropolis under serious threat.
Apart from many of the rivers and streams drying up as a result of human activities, the abuse impedes the drainage of the water bodies, resulting in flooding in a number of areas during heavy downpours.
Citing the example of water bodies in the metropolis being directed into gutters and drains as one disturbing example of the abuses, Nana Dwomoh-Sarpong said the situation had resulted in many of them drying up.
The situation can even get worse if the right measures are not put in place to address the situation.
Many residents in Kumasi care less about the importance of water bodies. People throw all sorts of rubbish into rivers and streams while others build in waterways with impunity.
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has cautioned chiefs against the sale of marshy lands.
The Asantehene gave the warning not only with the aim of stopping the flooding that occurs in such places but more importantly, to protect the rivers.
At Ohwim, a green belt along a river at the outskirts of the town is being developed. People are building there and the danger is that those who intend living there will have to contend with flooding. The continuous existence of the rivers will also definitely come under threat.
At Kaase, a suburb of Kumasi, a major drain which serves as a receptacle for rainwater upstream has been constructed to link the Subin River. But siltation and the huge waste dumped into the drain have blocked the flow of water under one of the bridges. This often results in spillovers and flooding during rains.
The time has come for the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly to enforce its by-laws on construction along waterways. If the chiefs stop selling lands in waterways, the assembly will have no business planning demolition exercises.
Environmental NGOs like the Friends of Rivers and Water Bodies should also be given the authority to watch over green belts. I think they can do that better than the metropolitan assembly.

TAKE DISCIPLINARY ACTION AGAINST JANTUAH (PAGE 14)

THE Ashanti Regional Secretariat of the Convention People's Party (CPP) has called on the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party to institute disciplinary action against Mr F.A. Jantuah over his statements calling on the party's flag bearer to resign if he could not test a Serious Fraud Office finding against him in court.
According to the secretariat, the statement was against the party's constitution and should, therefore, not be allowed to die a natural death.
A press statement signed by the Regional Secretary of the party, Mr Akwasi Bosompem Boateng, said the regional secretariat had disassociated itself from Mr Jantuah's statement, which it described as “hypocritical and selfish, calculated to pull the flag bearer down”.
It stated that Mr Jantuah seemed frustrated and confused, and alleged that from all indications some disgruntled big party people were sponsoring the veteran CPP member.
The statement pointed out that there were some people in the party who saw Dr Nduom as a threat to their political careers and were bent on running him down.
“We also know that such so-called Nkrumaists are not organising the plot alone, but have joined hands with elements of certain opposition political parties to destroy the image and reputation of Dr Nduom, and block the CPP from winning the 2008 general election,” it said.
The Ashanti CPP said it was unfortunate that people who claimed to be true party members could go that length to destroy their own flag bearer at a time victory seemed to be on sight for the party.
“We still believe that Dr Nduom remains the best and capable personality within the Nkrumaists to push the CPP to the ‘Promised Land’ this December,” the statement said.
It, therefore, called on true sons and daughters of the party to brush aside the lies being peddled about Dr Nduom and work to support the party for victory in December.
The secretariat affirmed their fullest support for Dr Nduom and the national leadership of the party and informed Ghanaians and especially members of the party that there was nothing that could stop Dr Nduom from contesting the December polls.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

FAISAL, LIONS DRAW (BACK PAGE)

KING Faisal and Kpando Heart of Lions shared the points, scoring two apiece in their One- touch premier encounter at the Baba Yara Stadium yesterday. They were all goals that were from great crosses from the wings.
Just four minutes into the game, Emmanuel Osei Banahene made light work on his marker on the right and floated the ball for striking partner Dominic Adiyiah to nod home powerfully.
Not ready to accept a second goal, Faisal tightened the back to cut out supplies to Banahene, Adiyiah and Annan.
The ability of the home side to drive through the Lions defence saw them level up the score after 10 minutes when Abdul Samad Oppong flighted the ball from the right for Abubakar Awudu to finish it off.
Faisal went up in the 51st minute when substitute Abedi Sarfo outran his marker to deliver a cross which Abraham Basit, who won the best player of the match, headed past Stephen Ahorlu in post.
But just six minutes later Lions clawed back when Adiyiah powered in a header.

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

HEED ASANTEHENE'S CALL — OSUODUMGYA BONSU (PAGE 39)

A MEMBER of the Asanteman Council, Osuodumgya Barima Kwame Bonsu II, has stressed the need for chiefs who owe allegiance to the Golden Stool, to heed the call by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, to avoid acts that will bring Asanteman and the chieftaincy institution into disrepute.
He said Otumfuo was charting a very good path that must be followed strictly by his subjects to advance the course of development of not only Asanteman, but also the entire nation.
Osuodumgya Bonsu, who is also the Omanhene of Hwidiem in the Brong Ahafo Region, told the Daily Graphic in Kumasi that it was true that the lifestyles of some chiefs did not match their status as traditional rulers.
“That is why since he ascended the Golden Stool, Otumfuo has not relented to admonish his chiefs to lead lives worthy of their status,” he said.
Osuodumgya Bonsu cited for instance that the indiscriminate sale of lands was one issue that normally brought conflicts between chiefs and their people.
“If we decide to sell all lands today, what would we be leaving for posterity?” He questioned.
Osuodumgya Bonsu said the irony of the situation was that in selling the lands nothing was left for future development into public schools, markets and police stations.
The Omanhene said the chiefs had a duty to complement the efforts of the government in advancing the development of their communities.
“We need to follow our great leader, Otumfuo Osei Tutu, who has made development of Asanteman the centrepiece of his reign,” Osuodumgya Bonsu said.
Osuodumgya Bonsu stated that Ghana was moving forward as a nation in its development strides, and all must support the government to prosecute its development agenda.

NHIS MAKES IMPACT IN AHAFO ANO SOUTH (PAGE 40)

THE health of a people determines to a very large extent the level of development of the community in which they find themselves.
For this reason, when the New Patriotic Party government came to power in 20001, it decided to implement the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in line with the party’s manifesto, with the sole objective of improving the health of Ghanaians.
Many people continue to enjoy the benefits of the scheme, making it one of the best policies introduced by the current government.
For the people of Ahafo Ano South District, the coming into being of the NHIS has been a great blessing, something they will forever cherish.
Health financing in the country has for a very long time been one of the major problems successive governments had battled with in order to find an antidote to it.
Ahafo Ano South is a deprived district. Many of the inhabitants are subsistence farmers with virtually no meaningful income.
The Health Insurance was, therefore, welcome news. Presently, the scheme has registered 34,723 members.
They are made up of 17,988 children under 18 years, 3,545 above 70 years, 720 Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) pensioners, 2,640 formal sector (SSNIT) contributors and 9,830 informal sector members.
Out of the 43,220 registered members, 34,220 have been issued with their identity cards with 503 awaiting their cards.
The Scheme Manager, Mr Vincent Kofi Ackam, is happy about the enthusiasm shown by the people towards the intervention, and was convinced that more would join it in the coming months.
By the end of March, this year, the scheme had collected GH¢28,665 from its internal sources as premium, while GH¢140,940.4 came from the National Health Insurance Authority as subsidies.
Getting money to pay for the premium has been a major challenge of the people and to address the problem, the management of the scheme has devised a strategy under which the amount is paid by instalment.
The scheme had by March, this year, paid a total of GH¢192,592.76 as claims to its health providers in and outside the district.
For a scheme of such nature to be welcomed by the people, there is the need for intensive education. This is the reason why the authorities of the district’s scheme have embarked on a special programme where the office is taken to the communities to register new clients and renew the membership of the old ones.
In spite of the benefits accruing from the scheme, there are some challenges that must be addressed to enable it to achieve its set targets.
The problems include multiple visits to the hospitals by clients, and low renewal and registration rates. It has been very difficult for the authorities to check the multiple visits to the hospitals but the authorities believe that tackling low registration can deal with the problem.
For instance, people with the financial means can register members of their families who cannot pay the premium.
The Public Relations Manager (PRO) of the scheme, Mr George Kofi Abey, assured the clients of better health care from the accredited health providers.

AHAFO ANO NORTH TO DEVELOP TOURISM POTENTIAL (PAGE 40)

THE Ahafo Ano North District Assembly in the Ashanti Region has taken realistic measures to develop its tourism potential.
The district is targeting initial arrivals of at least 20,000 tourists annually, when it puts in place the necessary infrastructure and other facilities.
The District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Eric Nana Agyemang Prempeh, made this known in an interview at Tepa.
“The revenue from this arrivals would be enormous that is why in spite of my relatively short period in office, I am going all out to get the Assembly to initiate programmes that will get things moving at the right pace,” he stressed.
Indeed, the assembly considers tourism as a major source of its revenue, and for that matter, it is putting the necessary mechanisms in place to take advantage of the opportunities in the sector.
Five months in office as the new DCE for the area, Nana Agyemang Prempeh is moving heaven and earth to get the district assembly benefit fully from the rich tourism potential of the district.
According to him, the assembly is in close contact with the Ghana Tourist Board in Kumasi to find ways of scaling up the task before it in order to reach the expected destination.
Time and again district assemblies have been advised not to rely on the government alone for financial support for development.
The assemblies have been asked to look for ways of generating resources internally to complement government support but most of the assemblies have not been up to the task.
“With tourism becoming one of the major sources of revenue of the country resulting from prudent policies from the government, districts with rich potentials can only strive to take advantage of the situation to improve their finances to support development. “I believe this is an area where every effort should be made to get things going,” the DCE said.
Among the potential sites earmarked for development are the Catholic Grotto at Manfo, the confluence of three rivers, namely Kwasu, Abu and Tano at Asuhyiae, and the Barnie Shrine at Tepa.
According to Nana Agyemang Prempeh, the tourism subcommittee of the assembly would be empowered to initiate programmes that would quicken the pace of the initiatives.
He said on realisation that every year, at least 10,000 people visited the Catholic Grotto, the assembly could do something to get the needed revenue from the arrivals.
Consequently, Nana Agyemang Prempeh said, the assembly was discussing with the Catholic Diocese of Goaso, which runs the Grotto, for a joint venture that would see massive transformation of the Grotto to promote tourism.
If negotiations materialise, the assembly would pump some resources to develop some of the infrastructure at the area.
For the confluence of the three rivers at Asuhyiae, Nana Agyemang Prempeh said, the scenery could become one of the best attractions in the country when the assembly completes infrastructure development there.
He said access roads to the area would also be tackled to facilitate easy movement of tourists.
One significant feature is that the confluence is near the Grotto, and that would ensure increased patronage.
With regard to the Barnie shrine, the DCE said, the assembly would rely on the history behind it to achieve patronage.
The Barnie shrine, which serves as the spiritual backbone of the Tepa paramount stool, occupies a very important role in Ashanti history.
In Ashanti, it is only the Tepahene and the Agonahene who use white umbrellas in the Manhyia Palace.
History has it that because of the powers of Okomfo Anokye, who was installed Agonahene, the Asantehene decreed that he used white umbrella at the King’s palace.
After the death of Okomfo Anokye, the Barnie priest took over as the most powerful priest in Ashanti and consequently, the Tepahene was also asked to use white umbrella at the Manhyia Palace.
The DCE believes that with the history, the shrine could be developed to make it an attraction.
The plan, is indeed a laudable one and it rests on the assembly to move with all seriousness to take advantage of the opportunities.

Monday, June 16, 2008

AMANSIE WEST MP LOSES PRIMARY (NSEMPA, PAGE 10)

By Kwame Asare Boadu, Manso Antoakrom

THE New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Amansie West, Mr Kofi Krah Mensah, has lost his bid to become the parliamentary candidate for the third time running.
He was beaten by a 48-year-old tutor, Mrs Grace Addo, at the constituency primary held at Manso Antoakrom.
Mrs Addo, who teaches English Language at the Ejura Senior High School, polled 63 votes to emerge victorious in the primary, which featured five candidates.
The incumbent, Mr Krah polled 24 votes to place bottom.
For the three other candidates, Mrs Tabi Arhin polled 42 votes, Mr George Obeng Takyi, 35 votes and Mr Antwi Prempeh, 26 votes.
In all, 191 delegates took part in the balloting. One of the ballots was rejected.
In her acceptance speech, Mrs Addo thanked the delegates for the confidence reposed in her and pledged to work very hard with the constituency executives and the entire party to capture more votes in the constituency.
She said Amansie West deserved what was best and promised to play her role effectively as a parliamentarian when elected.
Present was the Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr E.A. Owusu-Ansah and the NPP Regional Secretary, Mr Sam Cudjoe.

GROUP CONTRATULATES BANTAMA MP (NSEMPA, PAGE 10)

By Kwame Asare Boadu, Kumasi

A GROUP calling itself, Solidarity Youth Group of Bantama Constituency, has congratulated the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bantama, Ms Cecilia Abena Dapaah, on her re-election as the parliamentary candidate of the party.
The group, which claimed to be represented in all electoral areas of the constituency namely Ahenbronom, Bohyen, Adoato, North Suntreso and Abrepo Junction, pledged its full support for the MP to enable her win the 2008 election and go ahead to champion the development of the constituency in Parliament.
A statement signed by four executive member of the group said the election of the Honourable MP was a blessing for the constituency, as it would bring a lot more development to the area.
“We also want to set the records straight that Bantama has benefited more from Hon. Cecilia Dapaah than any other MP who has represented the constituency,” it said.
The statement listed the projects and programmes undertaken under the MP to include schools, scholarships, streetlights, youth employment, among many others.
It also took view of the fact that the MP, who is also the Minister of State at the Ministry of Water Resources Works and Housing, had been visiting the constituency every two weeks to interact with sections of the people.
The statement said this showed that the MP had the welfare of the people at heart.
It called on all party members, including the “few supporters of the other candidates for the primary” to rally behind the MP to do more for the constituency.
The group congratulated the delegates, the national and constituency executives of the NPP for the effective manner they handled the Bantama primary.
Signatories to the statement were Moses Takyi, Chairman, Edward Annan, Vice-Chairman, Justice Aboagye, Secretary, and Matthew Ossei-Poku, Organiser.

NO FUNDS FOR NATIONAL HOUSE OF CHIEFS' PROJECT (NSEMPA, PAGE 15)

By Kwame Asare Boadu, Kumasi

THE National House of Chiefs’ (NHC) desire to continue construction work on its office building complex project in Kumasi this year has received a jolt as no funds were released by government for the project.
The house, however, blamed the Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs for the situation.
Odeneho Gyapong Ababio II, the president of the house, said the office complex is very important to them, as its completion would solve office accommodation problems of Nananom.
Addressing the second general meeting of the house in Kumasi, Odeneho Ababio said he had discussed progress of work on the project with the contractor and the consultant and had asked the consultant to ensure strict monitoring.
He also indicated that this year the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning did not make any provision for the payment of allowances to nananom.
However, he said, as soon as he realised this anomaly, he discussed it with the Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Dr Anthony Akoto-Osei and the Chief Director of the Ministry, Nana Srebuor.
The president of the NHC said from all indications the ministry was taking the necessary steps to correct the anomaly.

B. A. UNITED CLASH WITH BOFOAKWA IN UNITY CUP (NSEMPA, BACK PAGE)

By Kwame Asare Boadu, Kumasi

THE Sunyani Coronation Park will on Sunday witness the renewal of traditional rivalry between two former Premiership sides, when B/A United and Bofoakwa Tano clash in a challenging derby for the Unity Cup.
The match, which was arranged by the NPP parliamentary candidate for Sunyani East, Mr Ameyaw Cheremeh, has at stake a magnificent trophy, and proceeds from the match would be used to resource the two clubs as they seek qualification back in the premiership.
Two Ghana Cedis would be charged at the gates.
Meanwhile, B/A United have vowed to return to the Premier division next season.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of B/A United, Mr Charles Ntim, commonly known as Micky Charles, told Graphic Nsempa on telephone from his Sunyani base that, “Everything is on course, and we hope to make a grand return to the Premiership next season”.
The one-time Apostles of Power Soccer, have been in and out of the premiership on various occasions and many believe the time has come for the club, one of the traditional sides in the country, to get their act together to return and ever stay in the Premiership.
The Division One league is considered “the Siberia” of soccer in the country, considering the difficulties that clubs undergo in their attempt to gain promotion to the Premier division.
Many were those who thought United would face a Herculean task in returning to the elite division.
However, Mr Ntim, who was given the mandate by the Board of Directors to manage the affairs of the club just before the beginning of the Division One league, said, the task is surmountable
United currently occupies the second spot in their zone in the Division One league.
Even though the second position would qualify them for the Division One sub-middle league, Mr Ntim maintained that they would climb to the top of the league after the second round.
The first round of the league has ended and the teams are preparing to resume the second round.
He said in the second round, United would play all the difficult matches at home.
The matches include those against Aduana Stars, Bechem United and Space FC.
“We hope to gather the maximum points from these matches and go ahead to perform creditably in the away matches,” Mr Ntim said.
The CEO called on the supporters to continue to offer their fullest support to the team because it is the massive support base that keeps the club going at all times.

ADUOMI DETHRONES OSEI-AGYEI

THE Ashanti Regional Director of the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA), Mr Kwabena Owusu-Aduomi, has beaten the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Akwasi Osei-Agyei, to win the New Patriotic Party (NPP) primary in the Ejisu-Juaben Constituency. This follows months of speculation, accusations and counter- accusations.
The victory was a decisive one for the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology trained civil engineer, who had vowed all along to unseat the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP). Mr Kwabena Owusu-Aduomi polled 95 votes against 67 by Mr Osei-Agyei.
A third candidate, Mr Oliver Boakye, had no vote.
When the Electoral Commission team finally announced the results, Mr Owusu-Aduomi responded with a clenched fist while Mr Osei-Agyei sat in a pensive posture.
When the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the party, Mr Robert Yaw Amankwaa, formally introduced Mr Owusu-Aduomi as the party's candidate for the 2008 election, the main hall of the Wood Industries Training Centre (WITC) at Akyawkrom, where the primary was held, vibrated with wild cheers.
Conceding defeat, Mr Osei-Agyei, the three-time MP for the area, said, "The delegates have spoken and I have to congratulate Mr Owusu-Aduomi on his victory."
Security was very tight as scores of policemen were deployed to maintain peace. A police water cannon vehicle was stationed at a vantage point.
The tight security was perhaps premised on alleged security reports that the primary could degenerate into violence.
On the eve of the originally planned date of June 7, 2008, for the primary at the Prempeh Assembly Hall, the regional chairman, citing security concerns, announced the postponement of the primary much to the chagrin of followers of the two main contestants.
After a meeting with the three aspirants, the regional secretariat of the party finally fixed last Saturday for the much-awaited congress.
Hundreds of supporters of the two front-runners, with Mr Owusu-Aduomi's camp dominating, thronged the premises of the WITC to witness the election.
Apart from the delegates, observers, the media, security personnel, party executives and a few other accredited persons, were allowed entry into the main hall and all others were kept outside the main entrance to the centre.
Mr Osei-Agyei, in accepting defeat, said he would use the experience he had acquired over the years as an MP and minister to support Mr Owusu-Aduomi in various ways to enable the party to win massively in the December election.
He called on his supporters not to feel embittered by the defeat but to throw their weight behind the winner because the battle ahead was for the NPP and not an individual.
In his brief victory speech, Mr Owusu-Aduomi said he was looking forward to a united party strong enough to improve on their previous performance in the constituency.
He said Mr Osei-Agyei had played his part as an MP, and gave a promise to build on what had been achieved.
Mr Owusu-Aduomi, therefore, called on the rank and file of the party in the constituency to put the past behind them and work assiduously to defeat the opposition in the December polls.

KOTOKO STILL IN CRUISE CONTROL (BACK PAGE)

A 2-0 victory over Obuasi Ashantigold at the Baba Yara Stadium yesterday helped Kumasi Asante Kotoko further tighten their grip on the Onetouch Premier League title.
Kotoko who have stretched their leadership by 11 points now look poised to be coasting to the ultimate.
But for some unpardonable misses at goal, the Porcupine Warriors would have run riot over Ashgold, who contributed significantly to their own defeat with a second-rate performance.
The Obuasi club raised false hopes of a brilliant afternoon when just two minutes into the game, Richard Awuah outwitted goalkeeper Nii Baah in an aerial challenge but failed to provide the final connection.
The early scare triggered a stormy response from Kotoko who laid siege in the opponents’ area with skipper Osei Kuffour and Kojo Poku in full attendance.
Veteran keeper James Nanor was booked early in the game (12th minute) when Referee Thomas Nunoo judged him for deliberately delaying the game. Nanor, who pulled off a great save from Poku’s effort in the 22nd minute, however, had no answer to a Kotoko attack six minutes later as Francis Akwaffo swung in a free kick for Jordan Opoku to punish Nanor.
In the 61st and 66th minutes, Osei Kuffour and Poku dribbled past Nanor but the finishing was always a problem.
Kotoko could, however, not be denied the second goal in the 73rd minute when a brilliant combination between Osei Kuffour and Opoku found Akwaffo who surreptitiously connected non-drop past Nanor.
Protests from Ashgold that Akwaffo scored from an offside positioning was brushed aside by Referee Nunoo.

DRAMA OVER ENNIN'S MURDER ...Investigations implicate journalist (LEAD STORY)

INVESTIGATIONS into the murder of the former Ashanti Regional Chairman of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mr Samuel Ennin, have taken a dramatic turn, with the Attorney-General's (AG's) Department saying it cannot go ahead with the prosecution of the two suspects who are in custody because of fresh evidence allegedly linking a journalist to the murder.
A Chief State Attorney, Mr William K. Pobee, told the Daily Graphic that the wife of the slain GJA regional chairman had alleged, during investigations, that she had seen the said journalist, whose name was not disclosed, with the suspects two days before her husband was killed.
That was after the woman had seen the pictures of the suspects, Kwame Ayew and Sherif Kabore, in the newspapers after their arrest last year.
Consequently, the AG's Department said it had returned the docket on the case to the police to investigate the said journalist for conspiracy.
However, when the police were contacted last Friday, they said they had not received any docket from the AG's office.
The Ashanti Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police Mr Seth Oteng, said, "We will wait for the docket to see what to do next."
Mr Pobee said the matter had become complicated because of the new development and that it was only after further investigations by the police that any meaningful head way could be found.
Pressed further to name the journalist and where he worked, Mr Pobee said the matter was under investigation.
He pointed out, however, that the fresh evidence did not, in any way, absolve the two suspects already in custody of the crime.
"We shall proceed with the matter immediately the police establish whether the allegation by the deceased's wife has any substance or not," Mr Pobee said.
Mr Enin was killed at the Libra Spot at Pankrono Estates in Kumasi about 8.00 p.m. on February 9, 2007 when he was enjoying drinks with some friends.
He died just after arrival at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.
The police launched investigations into the case and arrested Ayew and Kabore. After a prima facie case had been established against them, the docket was dispatched to the AG's Department for advice.

Sunday, June 15, 2008

INTRODUCE CAR POOLING TO REDUCE COST (PAGE 34)

From Kwame Asare Boadu, Kumasi

THE Executive Director of the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC), Mr Noble Appiah, has called on city dwellers to practise car pooling to save money in the face of rising cost of fuel.
He said the practice was very common in many African countries and other parts of the world and expressed the hope that Ghanaians could benefit from it, as there were no immediate signs that crude oil prices would go down.
Car pooling is the practice where car owners take turns to drive everyone in the group to work so that only one car is used at a time.
Speaking to The Mirror during a management training programme for newly recruited regional coordinators of the commission in Kumasi, Mr Appiah said the time had come for Ghanaians to appreciate the negative impact of the rising fuel prices and adopt measures that would save them money.
The coordinators will be posted to six regions: Upper West, Upper East, Brong Ahafo, Northern, Western and Eastern.
They were taken through topics like negotiation skills, advocacy skills, office management and information technology (IT).
Mr Appiah stated that his outfit was determined to make its impact fully felt in every part of the country.
The Manager in charge of Research, Statistics and IT, Mr Rudolph Beckley, said effective management of road safety demanded managerial skills and noted that the training programme was very essential to their work.
He said reducing carnage on the roads was the concern of all, and expressed the view that decentralisation in all the regions was one of the surest ways of meeting the challenge.
Mr Beckley noted that the NRSC had done a lot to improve road safety.

Thursday, June 12, 2008

OSEI-AGYEI'S CAMPAIGN TEAM DENIES ALLEGATIONS (PAGE 14)

A MEMBER of the campaign team of the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ejisu-Juaben, Mr Akwasi Osei-Agyei, has dismissed media reports that the MP is planning to use juju and money to win the constituency primary scheduled for Saturday.
Mr J.K. Owusu-Boakye said it had never featured in the programme of the MP, who is also the Minister of Foreign Affairs, to use negative means to win the primary, adding that the allegation was a figment of the imagination of its originators.
He stated this in reaction to media reports that “a group, including some ministers of state, is hatching a plot to move a vehicle loaded with money and an idol to influence delegates to vote for Mr Osei-Agyei”.
In his reaction, Mr Owusu-Boakye, also known as Abito, said, “It is regrettable that people are bent on using negative tactics to have their way in the primary,” adding that “the truth will come out”.
He described the allegation as very serious and said “the MP will take appropriate action to redeem himself”.
“Mr Osei-Agyei believes in mature politics and that is exactly what he is doing to win the primary,” Mr Owusu-Boakye stressed.
He stated that the MP was contesting the primary on his own record and playing to the rules.
“So far, he has not broken any of the rules of the contest, including camping delegates,” he said.
Mr Owusu-Boakye said the cancellation of last Friday’s primary in Kumasi did not affect only one candidate, as some people sought to believe.
“It also affected Mr Osei-Agyei, who had all along been in Kumasi waiting for the event to come off,” he said.
Mr Owusu-Boakye stated that the delegates for Saturday’s primary would be looking for records and that was where Mr Osei-Agyei stood tall among the rest.
Meanwhile, the NPP regional executive, at a meeting in Kumasi last Monday, agreed that the primary should be held at Achiawkrom, near Ejisu, next Saturday.
Representatives of the three candidates attended the meeting.
The candidates contesting the primary are Mr Osei-Agyei, Mr Kwabena Owusu-Aduomi, the Ashanti Regional Director of the Ghana Highway Authority, and an engineering consultant, Mr Oliver Boakye.

LIONS HOLD KESSBEN (BACK PAGE)

IN-FORM Kpando Heart of Lions fought fiercely to a 1-1 drawn game against Kessben FC in a Onetouch premier league match at the Anane Boateng Stadium at Abrankese.
Kessben had vowed to take advantage of home grounds, but the scoreline was a fitting result for a match which saw the two sides equally matched.
Parading a fearsome attack of Osei Banahene, Dominic Adiyiah and Abraham Annan, Lions poured intense energy into the early exchanges but were often caught in the offside trap.
Four minutes into the game, Banahene soared to nod home a great cross from Annan only for Referee P.K. Aziza to rule it offside.
It was an early warning to Kessben and when they accelerated, Douglas Nkrumah's drive from some 16 yards flew just off target.
Appearing dominant in the middle, Lions took advantage to craft some dangerous moves on the left flank where Annan was in terrific shape.
It was little surprise when the visiting team opened the scores in the 25th minute as their leading marksman, Banahene, found himself in space following a corner kick to drill the ball in the net.
So much pressure came on the home side to look for the equaliser but they failed to get their passes through to the firing range.
However, just three minutes to end the first half, Kessben equalised through a penalty after Lions' John Boye brought down Bismarck Idan in the box.
Boye was booked for that savage tackle and skipper Ofosu Appiah who stepped up for the kick did justice to it.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

RURAL BANK HOLDS AWARDS CEREMONY (PAGE 35)

THE Juaben Rural Bank has held an awards ceremony in Kumasi to present prizes to the winners of a promotional raffle draw.
The first prize of a brand new deep freezer, worth GH¢740, went to Mr Osei-Wusu of Kumasi.
The first and second runners-up took away a refrigerator worth GH¢495 and a home theatre valued at GH¢350. There were also consolation prizes.
In the promotion, dubbed “Win Big Promotion”, which was launched in 2007, existing and potential customers were required to deposit GH¢200 in an account and receive a coupon which enabled them to enter into a draw.
At the presentation ceremony, the Vice Board Chairman of the bank, Mr E. K. Asomanin, said the promotion had achieved significant success for both the bank and its customers.
He cited, for instance, an increase in its deposit base by 23.6 per cent or GH¢1,468,000, adding, “Customer base also went up by a margin of 15 per cent, representing 5,893 customers.”
Mr Asomanin said the raffle had also helped in inculcating the banking habit in the people.
He gave the assurance that the bank would continue to come up with innovative products and also give customers value for money.
The vice board chairman called on market women, artisans, professionals and the general public to do business with the bank.
He commended customers of the bank for their confidence in the financial institution.

ZOOMLION'S 24-HR REFUSE COLLECTION INSPIRES HOPE (PAGE 29)

MANY residents of Kumasi see the announcement by waste management giant, Zoomlion, that it would soon begin a 24-hour waste collection exercise in Kumasi to rid the city of piled-up refuse as good news.
But on the flip side, the question remains whether the programme can rid the city of garbage and return it to its former glory.
Apart from losing a great portion of its green environment, which undermines the city’s acclaimed image as the Garden City of West Africa, Kumasi, Ghana’s second largest city, has also lost some respect as far as waste management is concerned.
The continuous piling up of refuse at areas such as Ala Bar, Central Market, Asafo, Fante New Town and many other suburbs is very unsightly.
It is true that the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has been doing some work to improve upon sanitation but its best is not enough. For instance, reports that the assembly owes private waste companies over GH¢7 million in unpaid bills is a minus to it.
Waste management takes the chunk of the resources of the assembly’s revenue. In fact, these days, it is highly impossible for the assembly to use its internally generated revenue alone to finance waste management.
The question of when and how the assembly will get funds to settle this huge debt which has accumulated over a period of time remains unanswered.
The irony of the situation is that the debt keeps increasing every day while the assembly struggles to find the money to pay the contractors.
Kumasi generates about one million tonnes of solid waste every day. The volume of garbage is indicative of the growing population.
The increasing population aside, thousands of people also visit the city daily, compounding the problem. Therefore, the situation will keep worsening by the day, putting more pressure on the city authorities to look for the money to finance the disposal of the waste.
The used polythene bags and other rubbish thrown on the streets from moving vehicles are an eyesore. You dare not question such acts if you are in a vehicle while this is being done, as you will regret it.
Sometimes you will be insulted by these people, some of whom would have the impudence to tell you in the face that you are a villager as if village dwellers are not disciplined.
But I tell you that there is nothing like a villager these days. In the village, the people take delight in communal labour during which time they clear the community of filth.
So who is the villager in this case? Is it the city dweller who drops garbage freely in the city or the rural dweller who always keeps his community clean?
Sometimes I wonder if the first visitor to the city carries along any good image about the city with respect to sanitation.
Kumasi is a city with rich history. It is the centre of culture and tradition in the country. Indeed, it is the seat of the Asantehene, one of the world’s most respected kings. Regrettably, however, some residents are not ready to play to the rules of proper sanitation to give the city the image it deserves.
Moves by Zoomlion to get filth out of the city through the 24-hour collection, therefore, remains a huge task even though the capability of the company is not in doubt.
The situation where the KMA continues to owe contractors will not help. Any strike action can stifle the attempts to bring sanity into the waste management efforts of the assembly. It is, therefore, expected that the assembly will get the necessary resources to meet its commitment to the waste contractors.
The public should also stop dumping refuse indiscriminately. Can’t the assembly enforce its bye-laws on waste management?
Again, the supposed increased private participation in waste management financing for the city seems too slow.
The KMA should expedite action on the programme because there are a lot of benefits to be derived from it.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

ASSEMBLY ALLOCATED GH¢1,223 COMMON FUND (PAGE 20)

THE newly created Prestea-Huni Valley District Assembly in the Western Region has been allocated a total of GH¢1,222,959.95 as its share of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF).
The amount is to be used to undertake a number of development projects in the educational, health, water and sanitation, local government and other social sectors.
The assembly is also this year expected to receive a total of GH¢477,369,67 under the Minerals Development Fund (MDF), which would be used to complement the DACF and other internally generated funds.
The assembly has set a target of collecting an estimated GH¢2,450,760.95 this year from its internal sources of revenue while a total of GH¢2,375,829.62 would be spent under the projected expenditure.
The Prestea-Huni Valley District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Emmanuel Kwesi Ayensu, announced this at the assembly’s first ordinary meeting at Bogoso.
He called on the assembly members to close their ranks and put aside their individual political party affiliations and work together to lay a solid foundation that would promote the sustainable development of the new district.
He said the district assembly would collaborate with all the mining companies operating within the district in providing the necessary support to enable them to also offer the required assistance that would propel the district to greater heights.
Mr Ayensu said the growing population of the district had brought in its wake a lot of liquid and solid waste whose management had become problematic.
He, therefore, asked the assembly members not to look at the waste management problem as belonging to only the big cities and urban areas.
According to the DCE, if prompt action was not taken to address waste management, the whole district would soon be engulfed with filth even in the small communities, which would endanger the health of the people.
“Indeed, 2008 is to be declared by the assembly as sanitation year in which sustained efforts would be made to improve upon sanitation in the district,” he stressed.
Mr Ayensu stated that a sanitation task force would soon be formed to support the District Environmental Health Division in galvanising the people towards keeping a clean and a serene environment.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Prestea-Huni Valley, Mr Albert Kwaku Obbin, expressed sympathy for the victims of the Huni Valley train accident, and called on the government to institute a committee to investigate the cause.
He said although there was a communication error, human factor could not be ruled out.
Mr Obbin also appealed to the government to provide a passenger train to ply between Tarkwa and Dunkwa-on-Offin because there were a lot of communities that depended on only rail transport.
He said 10 communities, including Samahuu, Huni Ano, and Akotom in the district would be hooked to the national grid this year.
Mr Obbin said as a new district, expectations of the people were high, and appealed to the assembly members to put away petty squabbles and work in concert to achieve the set goals.
Earlier in a welcoming address, Mr Francis Arhin, the Presiding Member of the assembly, appealed to the house to offer constructive criticisms and good suggestions in order to arrive at fruitful discussions.

TWO WOMEN CLAIM TO BE ROBBERS (PAGE 31)

TWO women from Asuofia near Barekese in the Ashanti Region, who were arrested with a man in a robbery case on June 1, this year, have made a startling revelation to the police.
They reportedly told the police that the “operation” during which they were arrested was not the first time they were involved in snatching a vehicle at gunpoint.
Akua Dufie, 22, and Afia Akyaa, 18, had told the police that they were engaged in a similar robbery with their gang in Kumasi on May 28, 2008, and used the vehicle for various robbery operations at Tarkwa.
Dufie and Akyaa were arrested together with another suspect, Kwaku Antwi, at Adumasa in the Ashanti Region after they and two others now at large robbed a driver, Peter Obeng, of his KIA pride taxi.
The police have mounted a search for the runaway suspects, one of whom was identified only as Emma.
Inspector Yusif Mohammed Tanko, the officer in charge of Public Relations at the Ashanti Regional Police Directorate, told the Daily Graphic that Antwi received machete wounds from his captors who chased them into the bush.
He said on June 1, the gang devised a strategy to snatch a taxi, to enable them to rob people of their mobile phones and other personal belongings.
They, therefore, left their base at Asuofia to Sofoline in Kumasi where they arranged with a driver to convey the sick mother of one of them from Pakyi to the Santasi Hospital.
Inspector Tanko stated that on they way to Pakyi however, the suspects told the driver that the supposed sick woman was at Adumasa located on a branch road, and not Pakyi.
The driver agreed to take them to Adumasa and again on reaching the town they told him to proceed further.
On the outskirts of the town, the driver apparently sensing danger refused to continue the journey and stopped the vehicle but one of them pulled a gun asking him to surrender the key to the vehicle.
Inspector Tanko further said the driver handed over the key to them but the one who went to the steering wheel found it difficult to move the car.
The driver had then raised an alarm and the townsmen mobilised themselves to arrest the robbers.
Sensing danger, the three arrested suspects ran into the bush while the two others managed to drive the car away.
The townspeople chased the three into the bush to arrest them and handed them over to the police.
The taxi was later found abandoned on the road.
It was after their arrest that the two women revealed that their gang robbed another taxi on May 28, which they used for numerous robbery operations in the Tarkwa area.

Sunday, June 8, 2008

OSEI WINS ASANTEHENE GOLF (PAGE 47)

GEORGE Osei of Takoradi won the 51st Asantehene Gold Cup Golf Championship, which ended at the Royal Golf Course in Kumasi at the weekend.
He beat a field of more than 200 golfers from Ghana and other West African countries and took home the glittering trophy and other products from the sponsors for his prize.
P. Nukunu of Achimota took the second place in the men’s division.
For the ladies division, Vivien Kouame of Cote d’Ivoire placed first, while Grace Afriyie of Tema took the second position.
In the professionals event, which carried a whopping prize of GH¢2,500, Amos Koblah won the ultimate.
Guinness Ghana Breweries Limited (GGBL), through Gulder, a premier brand of the company, was the major sponsor of the tournament, which is the biggest on the golfing calendar in Ghana. The package totalled GH¢20,000.
Closing the tournament, the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, was happy that the richness of the tournament continued to improve every year.
For instance, he said, entries from other West Africa countries and the increased sponsorship were a testimony to the steady growth of the tournament.
The Asantehene expressed confidence that next year, being his tenthg year on the Golden Stool, will see an even bigger competition.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu observed that golf was becoming a very popular sport amongst all groups of people, doing away with the negative impression that the sport was reserved for the elite.
He said the sport helped in keeping people healthy adding that, “ I have stayed healthy since my enthronement partly because of golf”.
He commended the sponsors for the continued support to the tournament.
The captain of the Royal Golf Club, Mr B.B. Appiah, pledged that the 2008 competition would be organised in an even bigger way.
He was especially grateful to golfers from outside Ghana for travelling all the way from their respective countries to participate in the event.
In her remarks, the Customer Relations Director of GGBL, Mrs Pamela Djamson Tettey, said the sponsorship of the tournament was indicative of the company’s continued efforts at building relationships with its internal and external stakeholders to deliver “amazing outcomes”.
She recounted the long years of support given by GGBL to sports development in the country and said golf, for instance, had enjoyed 29 years of support.
She commended the Royal Golf Club for the effective collaboration with the company to deliver quality to golf lovers.

Friday, June 6, 2008

ADUM GETS NEW TWAFOHENE (PAGE 40)

A NEW Twafohene for Adum in Kumasi has been installed at a ceremony at the Adumhene’s palace.
The chief, with the stool name Baffour Safo Agyeman, known in private life as Mr Mike Safo Agyeman, resident of Hartford, Connecticut, USA, swore the oath of allegiance to the Adumhene, Baffour Agyei Kesse.
Baffour Agyei Kesse charged the new Twafohene to work in unison with other chiefs in the area to advance the course of development of Adum.
He emphasised that chieftaincy today was about the socio-economic development of the people, and any chief who departed from that could not consider himself worthy of the position he occupied.
Later in an interview with the Daily Graphic, the Twafohene pledged to do everything possible to support Adum’s development.
He said Adum occupied a very important position in Kumasi and would always demand what was the best.

IMPOSE HEAVY TAXES ON TOBACCO (PAGE 28)

A CALL has gone to the government to raise taxes on cigarette to discourage its production and distribution in the country.
The Executive Director of Ghanaians for Tobacco-Free Society, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), Mr Musah Abdei Shafai, who made the call at the celebration of the World No Tobacco Day in Kumasi, said the current tax regime on the product was not the best, weighed against the health of the people.
“I think at best taxes should account for between two-thirds and four-fifths of the retail price of cigarette,” he said.
The day, which was on the theme, “Effects of tobacco usage on the youth”, was marked with a float by schoolchildren.
Mr Shafai also called on municipal and district assemblies to consider passing laws to ban smoking in public places.
He said tobacco usage was the major cause of death in some countries and the nation needed to learn a lesson from that.
He indicated that tobacco industries, with big money to spend, had intensified their efforts to hook on new, young and potential life-long tobacco users, adding that “the health of our youth is seriously threatened by this deadly product”.
He said imposing restrictions on the sale of cigarettes to teenagers was a little difficult to implement, given that teenagers often obtained cigarettes from older people and sometimes from their parents.
The executive director called on parents to desist from sending their children to buy cigarettes for them, saying that they should rather educate their children on the hazards of passive smoking.
Mr Shafai stressed the need for the United Nations agencies to review their existing programmes and policies to ensure that tobacco control was given due prominence.
He called on children to participate in youth and community programmes so that they could channel their energies into useful ventures that would prevent them from smoking.
The Executive Director of the Frank Memorial Street Child Project, another NGO, said cigarette smoking caused prostrate cancer and the public should be wary of it.

Thursday, June 5, 2008

OSEI-ADJEI'S CAMPAIGN TEAM REACTS TO ALLEGATION (PAGE 15)

THE campaign team of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Ejisu-Juaben has refuted the allegation that the MP, Mr Akwasi Osei-Adjei, did not want to be vetted.
The team was reacting to a Daily Graphic report, in which a group calling itself the Concerned Citizens of Ejisu-Juaben had questioned the reason for the delay in vetting the MP, to pave the way for the constituency primary.
According to the MP’s campaign team, it was unfortunate that “the so-called concerned citizens” were not aware of the developments in the constituency.
In a statement to the Daily Graphic in Kumasi, a spokesman for the team, Mr J.O. Owusu-Boakye, stated that Mr Osei-Adjei was vetted at the NPP Regional Headquarters in Kumasi on May 16, this year.
He condemned the activities of the group, accusing it of hiding behind a smokescreen to wage battle against one of the candidates for the primary.
According to him, the NPP had nothing to do with the “concerned citizens whose destructive activities are a danger to the party”.
Mr Owusu-Boakye is also the Special Assistant to the MP for Old Tafo/Pankrono, Dr Anthony Akoto Osei.
“In Cabinet, Mr Osei-Adjei is the first diplomat of Ghana, who is working hard to shape Ghana’s foreign policy and contacts with the rest of the world,” he said.
He noted that the NPP was built on democratic principles, but some few people who wanted to resort to violence and other negative acts to champion the cause of others, would be doing a great disservice to the party.
Mr Owusu-Boakye said Mr Osei-Adjei was not afraid of contesting in the primary, because “he knows he is going to win”.
“We have travelled across the length and breadth of the constituency, and I am very confident that the delegates will re-elect the MP to contest again on the ticket of the NPP,” he said.
Mr Owusu-Boakye said they were looking forward to contesting in the primary, and declared that “even if it is organised today, we are ready, because we know the delegates will speak”.

CHURCHES NOT IN BED WITH GOVT — YINKAH SAFO (PAGE 14)

THE Anglican Bishop of Kumasi, Rt. Rev. Daniel Yinkah-Sarfo, has denied the suggestion that the church is in bed with the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government.
He said many church leaders in the country have on many occasions taken issue with the government on matters which were not in the interest of the people to underline their impartiality in the political process.
“You may not find the venom with which church leaders like Rev. Asante Antwi and Rev. Emmanuel Asante in the past poured on the previous government but I tell you, the current government is not finding it easy with the church today”, the Anglican Bishop told the Daily Graphic in Kumasi on Monday.
Rt. Rev. Yinkah-Sarfo was speaking in an interview in reaction to accusations in sections of the media that, the spirit with which the church took on the PNDC and NDC governments on many of their policies had strangely evaporated into thin air under the NPP government, in spite of the many negative happenings.
He admitted that under those governments, church leaders never spared them on a number of issues but noted that, “every objective observer will realise that things have changed now as the nation has advanced in its democratic development”.
“Even then, we as church leaders, will not hesitate to tell the government the truth when things go wrong”, he said.
The Bishop, who is a former military officer, also spoke on other issues of interest and said military governments did not do the nation any good and that the church would continue to pray that the nation does not return to those bloody days.
“Democracy is the only avenue to achieving progress so people should be ready to vote out governments that do not perform”, he said.
The Anglican Bishop expressed concern about the way political campaigning was becoming dirty.
He, therefore, called on political parties to conduct themselves very well in the run-up to the December polls so that the nation would continue to enjoy peace.
He charged political parties to put the nation’s interest first because without a peaceful nation, no political party or government could deliver.
Rt. Rev. Yinkah-Sarfo also called on the Electoral Commission (EC) to ensure that political parties were given a level playing field to operate.
“Any attempt to give the advantage to one party could be a recipe for troubles, which we all don’t want”, he stressed.
The Bishop emphasised that it was dangerous for any party to think that it should win the elections at all cost. “It is the people that should be made to decide”.
On that score, Rt. Rev. Yinkah-Sarfo urged the people not to allow politicians to knock their heads together and destroy the country.
He admitted that the nation’s democracy was growing but maintained that, “we still have a long way to go”.
On the President’s nomination of Prof. Mills for the highest national award, the bishop regretted the “noise” being made about it purely from political angles.
He said the President took a lot of things into consideration before making the nomination so Ghanaians should respect his decision.

DRIVERS ADVISED TO EXEERCISE RESTRAINT ON ROADS (PAGE 30)

THE Ashanti Regional Co-ordinator of the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC), Mr Kwaku Oware-Boateng, has called on drivers to exercise maximum restraint on the road with the onset of the rains.
He said that was one surest way of avoiding accidents on the roads.
Mr Oware-Boateng made the appeal during an interview with the Daily Graphic after the committee had gone round major lorry parks in Kumasi to interact with drivers, station masters and the travelling public on ways of ensuring safety on the roads.
Among the areas visited were Aboabo, Asafo and Kejetia.
He said portions of the roads became very slippery when it rained and there was, therefore, the need for drivers to reduce speed when driving on such roads.
“Sometimes too after a heavy downpour the road is covered by flood waters, making it impossible to locate the ends of the road, a development which demands caution on the part of drivers,” he said.
Mr Oware-Boateng suggested to drivers to cultivate the habit of breaking their journeys for some time to enable the rains to subside before continuing.
That was to avoid crushing into fallen trees on the road.
He asked drivers to put their vehicles in good condition before plying the roads.
Mr Oware-Boateng expressed concern about the use of worn-out tyres, saying they were a threat to the lives of passengers and drivers themselves.

DONYINA QUEEN'S BODY FOR BURIAL...After 7 years in morgue (BACK PAGE)

AFTER seven years in the morgue, the body of the Queen of Donyina in the Ejisu-Juaben District of the Ashanti Region, Nana Akosua Boahemaa, may soon find a final resting place.
This followed the resolution of the chieftaincy conflict in the town, which stalled all attempts to bury the queen.
The traditional authorities were moving to get the approval of the Manhyia Palace to enable them to prepare for the funeral.
However, this could go with a huge financial burden on the traditional authorities, looking at the long years that the body had remained in the morgue.
The Chief of the town, Nana Osei Yaw, said “very soon Nana will be buried because the chieftaincy dispute has been resolved”.
Nana Boahemaa died at the age of 65 in 2001, and the body has since remained frozen at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital morgue.
Nana Osei Yaw told the Daily Graphic last Monday that the chieftaincy dispute was resolved at the instance of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
“With this over, there is no reason in allowing the body to remain in the mortuary.
“But before we can perform any burial or funeral, we have to take instructions from our overlord, Otumfuo, in line with Asante custom,” Nana Osei Yaw said.
The dispute at Donyina started when the late queen nominated Nana Osei Yaw for the vacant stool of the town.
A faction in the town opposed the nomination but the installation went on.
Opposition to the chief continued even after the death of Nana Boahemaa, a situation that made it impossible for the burial to be held.
Nana Osei Yaw said some vacant divisional stools at Donyina would also be filled so that they swear the oath of allegiance to him before the burial.
“But I assure you that all this would be expedited to enable us to go ahead with the burial as soon as possible,” he said.

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

GIVE ME STARS JOB (GRAPHIC SPORTS, LEAD STORY)

Story: Kwame Asare Boadu, Kumasi

WHEN the Black Stars sent the Greens of Libya tumbling last Sunday, it strongly revived the question of whether or not the GFA should look within for a replacement for Frenchman Claude le Roy.
Sellas Tetteh, who guided the team to that impressive 3-0 victory to serve as a tonic for their forward march to South Africa, believes the performance of the team was a good case for himself and, indeed, Ghanaian coaches.
Surely, an under-performance against the Libyans would have had dire consequences on Ghanaian coaches.
Sellas, who is the assistant coach of the Black Stars, took temporary charge as the FA went looking for what they have described as a “top-class coach”.
While some argue it was time Sellas was made to take full control of the team, others rubbish that argument, because they believe the Libyans come nowhere near the top echelon of Africa football.
The watching Ghanaian football public had expected nothing, but a good show that would give hope for the Black Stars’ move towards the World Cup.
Even though the coach believes he has what it takes to lead the team, he preferred to focus more on the next matches so long as he is in charge.
“We can get better”, he said, maintaining that no one should downgrade the Libyans because they play very good football.
Sellas kept to his promise of getting a good beginning to the competition and his charges proved equal to the task as Prince Tagoe, Manuel Agogo and Laryea Kingson got on the scoresheet.
The 3-0 victory put the Black Stars on top of their group and the pressure to maintain the position will be on.
It could have been a complicated game had the Black Stars not raced into that early lead.
So amazing was the amount of energy and fluidity poured into the game by the Greens, who had 13 out of the 18 players who made it to Kumasi playing for local side Al-Ittihad.
What appeared the modus operandi of the Libyans was to cause an early upset and unsettle the Ghanaians. It nearly materialised as three times in the 2nd, 4th and 6th minutes they came so close that the hearts of thousands of Ghanaians at the near-capacity stadium went dead.
Nimble-footed Ahmed Khalifa Alsbany was a handful for the Ghanaian defence and anytime he created panic in the Black Stars area was always terrifying.
The best for the Ghanaians to do was to take up the gauntlet and look for a goal that could unsettle the Libyans, and they did that through Tagoe in the 16th minute. The galloping striker relied on his speed to outrun Younes Shibani to strike full force past Samir Abbud in post.
When the first goal came, it signalled that Ghana were on the way to a goal haul. Two more goals came through Agogo and Kingston in the second half.
Tagoe, who has been in and out of the game, did not play badly. Perhaps, this is the time for him to work hard to maintain a permanent place in the team.
Asante Kotoko’s left back, Harrison Afful, also made a case in a way for local players. He was so strong and fluid on the left, joining the attack on countless occasions and sending in intelligent crosses, one of which saw Kingson scoring with that spectacular volley.
Ghana’s strength in the midfield was evident as Michael Essien was in full glow, even when Muntari was not pulling his weight.

ZOOMLION TO BEGIN 24-HOUR REFUSE COLLECTION IN KUMASI (PAGE 29)

A LEADING waste management company, Zoomlion, is to begin a 24-hour citywide evacuation of refuse in Kumasi.
The exercise is meant to clear piled up refuse and consequently improve on sanitation in various parts of the city.
The Ashanti Regional Head of the company, Ms Sharon Quarshie, told the Daily Graphic that the exercise would be sustained because the people of Kumasi deserved what was the best.
She said the current sanitation situation was not the best, and expressed the hope that with the co-operation of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), Zoomlion would continue to do more to ensure sanity in the city.
Ms Quarshie said Kumasi would not have serious problems with sanitation if the 24-hour refuse collection exercise was done side by side with the door-to-door refuse collection.
She said undertaking refuse collection in the night had a lot of advantages. For instance, she said, in the night, there was less risk of accidents, while the heavy traffic associated with day collection was practically absent.
She said after collecting the refuse, the company would fumigate the refuse collection points.
That, she said, would help control the scent, cut down the spread of mosquitoes, and thus, reduce malarial infections.
Ms Quarshie further said Zoomlion would soon support the management of the waste disposal site at Dompoase, near Kumasi.
The support will be in the form of equipment and other logistics when necessary.
She also spoke about the pilot waste separation project, which the company launched in Kumasi, in collaboration with the Chemical Engineering Department of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), and said the exercise had been completed.
The project sought to sort out household waste for materials that could be recycled.
The regional head said the company was waiting for the results of the pilot project, and when successful, it would move to implement it on a larger scale.
She said the company had now zoned the Ashanti Region into three, each with a supervisor to ensure effective management of waste.

Monday, June 2, 2008

STARS TROUNCE LIBYA (BACK PAGE)

GHANA’s Black Stars set a blistering pace in the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers at Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi, winning 3-0 against a Libyan side that never looked overawed by the huge reputation of their opponents.
The Black Stars needed the victory badly to convince the huge crowd including the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, and indeed all Ghanaians of their determination to qualify for the World Cup for the second consecutive time.
But it looked so scary on many occasions as the Greens of Libya turned them inside out and threatened their goal area.
Just two minutes into the games, the Greens came very close to scoring as Osama ben Saleh blasted away from just inside the box.
The early advance instilled confidence in the Libyans and they posed some strong challenge to unsettle the Ghanaians but again in the 4th and 6th minutes Ali Khalifa and Ahmed Osman missed from very advantageous positions.
A huge wake-up call they were for the Black Stars, and in a frenetic spell of five minutes they stormed the Libyan area, one of which occasions gave them the first goal through Prince Tagoe after 16 minutes.
The lanky striker, who had missed with a piercing header on the 8th minute, this time made no mistake running into an Agogo pass to beat Saamir Abbud in post.
Instead of the goal propelling the home side into the driving seat, they came up with a patchy output, allowing the Libyans space in the middle.
But the presence of Michael Essien in the middle kept the Greens at bay, while John Mensah with strong support from home boy Afful Harrison, John Pantsil and Eric Addo worked hard to hold in check the two-prong attacking force of Osama and Al Khalifa.
Portsmouth’s Sulley Ali Muntari who was booked in the game and was lost in action on the left but came into the picture on the 20th minute with a driving half volley, but that was not enough to beat the keeper.
Urged on by the partisan home crowd, the Black Stars started the second half dazzling their opponents cutting the ball around as they tried to catch the Greens on the wrong foot.
Ghana struck with full force and found the second goal in the 54th minute when Tagoe on the left corner sent the ball back to Eric Addo who lifted it into the box for Agogo to nod home.
The stadium was electrified but the Greens appeared never ready to give up, playing a composed game and trying to catch the Black Stars on the break.
But the Libyans were to pick another goal in the 65th minute. Harrison Afful gathered a pass from Anthony Annan and crossed the ball into the box for Laryea Kingson to finish off with a half volley.
Libyan coach Faouzi Banzarti brought on Ahmed Elmassli for Ali Khalifa, and Nader Karra for Khaled Hussen on the 71st minute, and the bearded Faouzi was superb using his deft touches to terrorise the Stars back line.
Ghana also made changes, bringing on Bekoe for Agogo, Dickoh for John Mensah and Dramani for Muntari, but no goals were scored again.

Sunday, June 1, 2008

STARS TO SOURMOUNT LIBYA HURDLE (BACK PAGE)

Story: Kwame Asare Boadu, Kumasi

MICHAEL Essien arrived yesterday afternoon at the Black Stars camp in Kumasi for tomorrow’s opening group game against Libya in the world cup qualifiers.
Essien comes into camp with Tuinisia-based Moussa Narry, who has been given a late call-up to replace veteran defender Kofi Amponsah, who could not make it to camp.
Essien is the fulcrum of the midfield and all attention will be on him to orchestrate that department of the team.
For the millions of expectant Ghanaians even a draw would be a nightmare, especially as the team faces a side whose pedigree comes nowhere near the Ghanaians.
Notwithstanding the great expectations of the home fans, the high spirits in the camp of the Libyans speak of a side that is bidding to hand the Stars a surprise defeat.
The fact that they have been rated underdogs seems to have ignited their spirit and given them the impetus to plan a strategy to subdue the Ghanaians.
For the players who will line up for Ghana tomorrow, they know that the nation expects nothing but victory.
That is why coach Sellas Tetteh promised that they would go all out for victory. He cannot take things for granted, for Ghanaians are in no mood for anything apart from a good cushion to the World Cup finals, which must start tomorrow as Ghana launches another bid for a place in the biggest football tournament on the globe.
After several unsuccessful attempts, Ghana finally secured its first ever ticket for the FIFA World Cup in Germany 2006 where an excellent performance by the debutants saw them as the only Africa side to reach the second round.
This surely catapulted the country’s football to another level, and since then the Black Stars have become so attractive that many great football nations are itching to engage them in friendlies.
But the fact that the qualifying match against Libya is being played on home soil does not guarantee victory for the nation. They have to work hard for victory, something coach Sellas Tetteh admits, and says, “We shall surely do it”.
Fortunately for the team, there are no injuries in camp and the strong support they are expected to enjoy in Kumasi tomorrow should be enough to propel them to deliver.
Ghana’s greatest strength lies in the middle department of the game where Essien and Muntari are a powerful two-man horse.
Muntari’s incredible talent, which had seen him turn out several virtuoso performances for the team, should tell positively on the game.
The attack to feature Quincy Owusu-Abeyie, Junior Agogo and Haminu Draman should be strong enough to dismantle any barrier that the Libyans will mount in front of their goal.
For skipper John Mensah, he cannot but galvanise his colleagues into action to prove to all that there is no turning back.