STRIKER Louis Agyemang started training with his new club Kumasi Asante Kotoko at the club's Ridge training grounds in Kumasi yesterday.
A large number of supporters of the club turned up at the training grounds to catch a glimpse of the player whose registration was beset with challenges. Some supporters, calling themselves members of the Louis Agyemang Fun Club, sang in praise of the striker.
Training under the tutelage of coach Maurice Cooreman, the former Hearts of Oak and Kaiser Chiefs striker, looked swift on his legs, and the fans cheered him on continuously.
His presence is expected to bring much competition in the attacking department of Asante Kotoko as two new signings, Alex Asamoah and Fredrick Quayson, will battle for position with the old faithful, Eric Bekoe and Kwadwo Poku.
Reports that Accra Hearts of Oak were bent on snatching him when a cheque allegedly issued by Kotoko to the striker could not be honoured at the bank, became a source of concern to supporters of the reds.
But the Kotoko management moved quickly to put things through, paying half of the contract sum of GH¢25,000 to Agyemang last Wednesday.
The player left Kumasi for Accra when Kotoko failed to pay the contract sum.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
ATWIMA MPONUA ASSEMBLY COMMENDED (PAGE 40)
THE Atwima Mponua District Assembly in the Ashanti Region has been commended by the Stool Lands Secretariat for the effective way it is utilising revenue accruing to it from stool lands.
"We don't see this in many of the districts," Mrs Christie Bobobee, the acting Stool Lands Administrator, stated this at the inauguration of GH¢65,000 six-classroom school block and offices for the Addaikrom District Assembly Primary School in the Atwima Mponua District.
The district assembly financed the project with revenue from stool lands.
Mrs Bobobee said by using part of the revenue to undertake development projects for the benefit of the people, the district assembly had demonstrated how responsible it was in addressing the needs of the people.
She said her office was determined to ensure that revenue from stool lands reached the various beneficiaries and put to good use.
On that score, Mrs Bobobee challenged chiefs and people in the communities to assist the government to fight chainsaw operations and other negative activities that destroyed the forests and thus denied the people what they should have had from the utilisation of the forest resources.
She also called on the Forestry Services Division (FSD) of the Forestry Commission to ensure that their records on stool lands were always clear so that what was due to the assemblies and the chiefs would reach them.
The District Chief Executive, Mr Wilberforce Owusu-Ansah, said the assembly would continue to undertake projects that would accelerate development in the communities.
He said the assembly was moving fast to widen the scope of education so that every child of schoolage would be enrolled in school.
Mr Owusu-Ansah, therefore, urged parents to take keen interest in the education of their children, stressing that, "this building we are inaugurating, for instance, will be useless if we don't get the children into the classrooms".
He stated that the assembly had constructed about 80 school projects since the district was created less than four years ago.
The DCE announced that the assembly would soon start another project at Kwanfinfin, a community in the district, with funds from stool lands revenue.
He called on the people to ensure peace in the district as the general election approached.
Mr Owusu-Ansah indicated that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government had done so well for the people of the district and the entire nation that it deserved another term in office.
He urged the people to reject politicians who were bent on using lies to discredit the government with the view to achieving their selfish political goals.
The DCE also inaugurated a GH¢50,252 four-unit teachers' bungalow at Abofrem. It was funded with part of the assembly's share of the District Assemblies’ Common Fund.
He urged teachers to accept posting to the district because the assembly and the communities would do everything possible to make their stay a worthy one.
"We don't see this in many of the districts," Mrs Christie Bobobee, the acting Stool Lands Administrator, stated this at the inauguration of GH¢65,000 six-classroom school block and offices for the Addaikrom District Assembly Primary School in the Atwima Mponua District.
The district assembly financed the project with revenue from stool lands.
Mrs Bobobee said by using part of the revenue to undertake development projects for the benefit of the people, the district assembly had demonstrated how responsible it was in addressing the needs of the people.
She said her office was determined to ensure that revenue from stool lands reached the various beneficiaries and put to good use.
On that score, Mrs Bobobee challenged chiefs and people in the communities to assist the government to fight chainsaw operations and other negative activities that destroyed the forests and thus denied the people what they should have had from the utilisation of the forest resources.
She also called on the Forestry Services Division (FSD) of the Forestry Commission to ensure that their records on stool lands were always clear so that what was due to the assemblies and the chiefs would reach them.
The District Chief Executive, Mr Wilberforce Owusu-Ansah, said the assembly would continue to undertake projects that would accelerate development in the communities.
He said the assembly was moving fast to widen the scope of education so that every child of schoolage would be enrolled in school.
Mr Owusu-Ansah, therefore, urged parents to take keen interest in the education of their children, stressing that, "this building we are inaugurating, for instance, will be useless if we don't get the children into the classrooms".
He stated that the assembly had constructed about 80 school projects since the district was created less than four years ago.
The DCE announced that the assembly would soon start another project at Kwanfinfin, a community in the district, with funds from stool lands revenue.
He called on the people to ensure peace in the district as the general election approached.
Mr Owusu-Ansah indicated that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government had done so well for the people of the district and the entire nation that it deserved another term in office.
He urged the people to reject politicians who were bent on using lies to discredit the government with the view to achieving their selfish political goals.
The DCE also inaugurated a GH¢50,252 four-unit teachers' bungalow at Abofrem. It was funded with part of the assembly's share of the District Assemblies’ Common Fund.
He urged teachers to accept posting to the district because the assembly and the communities would do everything possible to make their stay a worthy one.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
TWO TEENAGERS JAILED 50 YEARS (MIRROR, PAGE 25)
From Kwame Asare Boadu, Kumasi
TWO teenagers have been sentenced to a total of 50 years in hard labour for causing harm and attempting to rob.
The convicts, Abdulai Banaba, 18, and Kwabena Nsor, 16, pleaded guilty to the charges and were handed a jail term of 25 years each by a Kumasi Circuit Court.
Briefing The Mirror, the Ashanti Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Inspector Yusif Mohammed Tanko, said the convicts lived at the Race Course area in Kumasi.
On October 26, 2008, Banaba, Nsor and two others at large identified as Baba Azuma and Baba, went to a house at Kwadaso Mango Down and ordered one Mavis Oduro at gun point to go and knock the door of her grandmother.
At that point, Mavis recognised Nsor as a former worker at her grandmother's block-making factory.
She therefore refused the orders of the armed men, who inflicted cutlass wounds on her.
Inspector Tanko said Mavis shouted for help, which brought her grandmother out of her room.
Both of them shouted for help attracting the attention of members of the neighborhood watch committee.
The members were able to arrest Banaba and Nsor while the two others escaped
TWO teenagers have been sentenced to a total of 50 years in hard labour for causing harm and attempting to rob.
The convicts, Abdulai Banaba, 18, and Kwabena Nsor, 16, pleaded guilty to the charges and were handed a jail term of 25 years each by a Kumasi Circuit Court.
Briefing The Mirror, the Ashanti Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Inspector Yusif Mohammed Tanko, said the convicts lived at the Race Course area in Kumasi.
On October 26, 2008, Banaba, Nsor and two others at large identified as Baba Azuma and Baba, went to a house at Kwadaso Mango Down and ordered one Mavis Oduro at gun point to go and knock the door of her grandmother.
At that point, Mavis recognised Nsor as a former worker at her grandmother's block-making factory.
She therefore refused the orders of the armed men, who inflicted cutlass wounds on her.
Inspector Tanko said Mavis shouted for help, which brought her grandmother out of her room.
Both of them shouted for help attracting the attention of members of the neighborhood watch committee.
The members were able to arrest Banaba and Nsor while the two others escaped
SHEIKH MAHMOUD SUPPORTS NEW EDUBIASE NPP (PAGE 14)
A GHANAIAN consultant based in Europe, Sheikh M. Mahmoud, has presented campaign materials and cash of GH¢1,000 to the New Edubiase Constituency of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Ashanti Region with a firm conviction that for the first time, the NPP was poised to win elections in the constituency.
He said, he had personally deployed a research team to the area to assess the situation and from all indications the NPP would sweep the votes in both the presidential and parliamentary elections.
The items included 1000 party T-shirts, 2000 posters and a number of necklaces and earrings.
Sheikh Mahmoud who has been donating such items in the name of Nana Akufo-Addo in other constituencies had earlier on Saturday, November 8, 2008, made similar donations in the Jaman North and Asufiti South Constituencies in Brong Ahafo Region.
He called on Muslims and the Zongo communities to be part of the success story of Nana Akufo-Addo and the NPP in the upcoming general elections.
He said, “We Muslims and people of the Zongos can no more allow ourselves to be deceived by the NDC and the time has come for us to join the winning team, the NPP”.
Amidst jubilation from party members who gathered at the constituency office at New Edubiase to witness the short ceremony, Sheikh Mahmoud said Nana Akufo-Addo possessed all the qualities to be a good president and Ghanaians must have faith in him to deliver.
The Islamic scholar who was accompanied by his cousin and campaign partner, Mallam Touffique, expressed confidence that apart from the New Edubiase Constituency, Ejura-Sekyedumase and Asawasi, the two other constituencies in Ashanti currently held by the NDC would also fall to the NPP.
Sheikh Mahmoud said before he leaves Ghana on December 2, this year, “I would have made sure that the NDC was finished in the Zongos”.
He said the choice of Dr Mahamadu Bawumia as the running mate to Nana Akufo-Addo “was excellent” as it continued to work magic in the Zongos and the Muslim communities where the NPP used to have difficulties.
Receiving the donation on behalf of the New Edubiase Constituency, the District Chief Executive, Mr Francis Dorpenyo, thanked Shiekh Mahmoud for the gesture saying, it would surely boost the party’s campaign to wrest the seat from the NDC.
He said, he had personally deployed a research team to the area to assess the situation and from all indications the NPP would sweep the votes in both the presidential and parliamentary elections.
The items included 1000 party T-shirts, 2000 posters and a number of necklaces and earrings.
Sheikh Mahmoud who has been donating such items in the name of Nana Akufo-Addo in other constituencies had earlier on Saturday, November 8, 2008, made similar donations in the Jaman North and Asufiti South Constituencies in Brong Ahafo Region.
He called on Muslims and the Zongo communities to be part of the success story of Nana Akufo-Addo and the NPP in the upcoming general elections.
He said, “We Muslims and people of the Zongos can no more allow ourselves to be deceived by the NDC and the time has come for us to join the winning team, the NPP”.
Amidst jubilation from party members who gathered at the constituency office at New Edubiase to witness the short ceremony, Sheikh Mahmoud said Nana Akufo-Addo possessed all the qualities to be a good president and Ghanaians must have faith in him to deliver.
The Islamic scholar who was accompanied by his cousin and campaign partner, Mallam Touffique, expressed confidence that apart from the New Edubiase Constituency, Ejura-Sekyedumase and Asawasi, the two other constituencies in Ashanti currently held by the NDC would also fall to the NPP.
Sheikh Mahmoud said before he leaves Ghana on December 2, this year, “I would have made sure that the NDC was finished in the Zongos”.
He said the choice of Dr Mahamadu Bawumia as the running mate to Nana Akufo-Addo “was excellent” as it continued to work magic in the Zongos and the Muslim communities where the NPP used to have difficulties.
Receiving the donation on behalf of the New Edubiase Constituency, the District Chief Executive, Mr Francis Dorpenyo, thanked Shiekh Mahmoud for the gesture saying, it would surely boost the party’s campaign to wrest the seat from the NDC.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
SAAKROM TEACHERS BUNGALOW INAUGURATED (PAGE 40)
AS part of efforts to entice teachers to accept posting to the Atwima Mponua District in the Ashanti Region, the district assembly has put up and inaugurated a teachers bungalow costing GH¢52,000 at Saakrom, a farming community in the district.
The project which was financed from the assembly’s share of the District Assemblies’ Common Fund, would accommodate four families.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Deputy Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Osei-Assibey Antwi, said the government was committed to improving the well-being of teachers, especially those working in the rural areas so that they would give their best for the benefit of the nation.
He said the various incentive packages introduced by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government were “a testimony of this commitment”.
Mr Antwi noted with regret, the accommodation and other problems facing teachers in many rural areas, and stressed that every effort would be made to address them.
He stated that the current government had provided more school infrastructure than any other government in the country.
Mr Antwi further said 136 pupil teachers in the district had benefited from the untrained teacher diploma programme.
He urged the people to take interest in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) because it was the surest way of addressing health financing in the country.
Mr Antwi said the cocoa industry was being given all the necessary attention that was why annual production had consistently gone up since the NPP government assumed office.
The District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Wilberforce Owusu-Ansah, stated that education continued to take the biggest part of the district’s annual budget because “we know the importance of education in our development strides”.
He urged parents to take interest in the education of their children so that the various laudable programmes introduced by the government would achieve the desired results.
Mr Owusu-Ansah cited the development recorded in various sectors of the district’s history saying, “This has justified the creation of the district about four years ago”.
The DCE noted for instance that currently, there was no single community in the district that did not have a borehole.
He added that since the current government came to power, 27 communities had been connected to the national electricity grid while 37 others were waiting to be connected soon.
Mr Owusu-Ansah also discounted claims by certain people that there was no money in the pockets of the people.
The project which was financed from the assembly’s share of the District Assemblies’ Common Fund, would accommodate four families.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Deputy Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Osei-Assibey Antwi, said the government was committed to improving the well-being of teachers, especially those working in the rural areas so that they would give their best for the benefit of the nation.
He said the various incentive packages introduced by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government were “a testimony of this commitment”.
Mr Antwi noted with regret, the accommodation and other problems facing teachers in many rural areas, and stressed that every effort would be made to address them.
He stated that the current government had provided more school infrastructure than any other government in the country.
Mr Antwi further said 136 pupil teachers in the district had benefited from the untrained teacher diploma programme.
He urged the people to take interest in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) because it was the surest way of addressing health financing in the country.
Mr Antwi said the cocoa industry was being given all the necessary attention that was why annual production had consistently gone up since the NPP government assumed office.
The District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Wilberforce Owusu-Ansah, stated that education continued to take the biggest part of the district’s annual budget because “we know the importance of education in our development strides”.
He urged parents to take interest in the education of their children so that the various laudable programmes introduced by the government would achieve the desired results.
Mr Owusu-Ansah cited the development recorded in various sectors of the district’s history saying, “This has justified the creation of the district about four years ago”.
The DCE noted for instance that currently, there was no single community in the district that did not have a borehole.
He added that since the current government came to power, 27 communities had been connected to the national electricity grid while 37 others were waiting to be connected soon.
Mr Owusu-Ansah also discounted claims by certain people that there was no money in the pockets of the people.
REPORT RECKLESS DRIVERS TO ROAD SAFETY AUTHORITIES (PAGE 40)
THE Ashanti Regional branch of the National Road Safety Commission has held a regional road safety week in various parts of the region with a call on passengers to report reckless drivers to the road safety authorities for the necessary action to be taken against them.
The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the commission, Mr Kwaku Oware-Boateng, who made the call to mark the occasion, expressed concern about the rate at which innocent lives were being lost through road accidents and blamed drivers for most of them.
The celebration was marked with various activities including quizzes for schools, radio discussions, a road safety walk in Kumasi and road safety campaigns in churches and mosques.
Mr Oware-Boateng said the theme for the celebration: “Ensuring accident-free election 2008”, was appropriate because Ghana needed her citizens to participate in the election.
After giving statistics on how accident rates went up during election periods, Mr Oware-Boateng said, “This is a very serious case which must be tackled head on”.
Mr Oware-Boateng said it was important to “catch the young ones with the message on road safety” so that they would grow with it.
“That is why we decided to organise the quizzes for schools in the region”, he added.
Mr Oware-Boateng urged the youth to send the message to their parents.
The road safety walk also attracted very good participation. The participants carried placards some of which read: “Speeding kills”, “As drivers avoid drinking”, “Fasten your seat belts” and “Don’t abuse mobile phone while driving”.
Addressing Christians and Muslims in churches and mosques, Mr Oware-Boateng urged the religious bodies to use the pulpits to spread the message on road safety to their congregations.
The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the commission, Mr Kwaku Oware-Boateng, who made the call to mark the occasion, expressed concern about the rate at which innocent lives were being lost through road accidents and blamed drivers for most of them.
The celebration was marked with various activities including quizzes for schools, radio discussions, a road safety walk in Kumasi and road safety campaigns in churches and mosques.
Mr Oware-Boateng said the theme for the celebration: “Ensuring accident-free election 2008”, was appropriate because Ghana needed her citizens to participate in the election.
After giving statistics on how accident rates went up during election periods, Mr Oware-Boateng said, “This is a very serious case which must be tackled head on”.
Mr Oware-Boateng said it was important to “catch the young ones with the message on road safety” so that they would grow with it.
“That is why we decided to organise the quizzes for schools in the region”, he added.
Mr Oware-Boateng urged the youth to send the message to their parents.
The road safety walk also attracted very good participation. The participants carried placards some of which read: “Speeding kills”, “As drivers avoid drinking”, “Fasten your seat belts” and “Don’t abuse mobile phone while driving”.
Addressing Christians and Muslims in churches and mosques, Mr Oware-Boateng urged the religious bodies to use the pulpits to spread the message on road safety to their congregations.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
DON 'T POLITICISE ANY CONFLICT ...Cardinal Turkson advises (PAGE 3)
THE Chairman of the National Peace Council (NPC), His Eminence Peter Cardinal Appiah Turkson, has warned against the politicisation of any conflict in the country.
He said conflicts were bound to happen but noted with regret that in Ghana when they occurred, especially in an election year, as was being witnessed now, people tended to link them to politics.
“We need to avoid this practice as we strive to attain peaceful elections this year,” he said.
Cardinal Turkson stated this at the opening of a three-day workshop on election security management in Kumasi.
Journalists, security personnel, members of youth groups, among others, attended the workshop, which was organised by the NPC, with sponsorship from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Among the topics treated were elections and national security, inter-agency collaboration for peaceful elections and challenges and opportunities of media practitioners during elections.
Cardinal Turkson said every Ghanaian had a role to play in ensuring that the prevailing peace in the country was maintained.
He said the NPC was still looking for a formula to establish regional peace councils in the country.
A member of the NPC, Maulvi Wahab Adam, expressed confidence that Ghana would go through peaceful elections on December 7, in spite of pockets of disturbances in the build up to the elections.
“We have met the presidential candidates and the leadership of the political parties, top security officers, the Chief Justice and other individuals and interest groups and we are convinced that the elections will be peaceful,” he said.
He expressed the hope that the unity among the leadership of the parties would trickle down to the grass roots where there had been pockets of disturbances.
Maulvi Adam reminded Ghanaians that they had no other country than Ghana and as such they must protect the nation at all cost against all forms of trouble.
He pointed out that political fanaticism of the extreme order, as was being experienced in certain quarters, would not do the nation any good.
Speaking on the topic, “Challenges and Opportunities of media practitioners during elections”, Mr Kofi Yeboah, a journalist with the Daily Graphic, traced the history of the media in the Fourth Republic and said they had performed creditably.
He, therefore, challenged the media to avoid acts that would bring the upcoming elections into disrepute.
He said conflicts were bound to happen but noted with regret that in Ghana when they occurred, especially in an election year, as was being witnessed now, people tended to link them to politics.
“We need to avoid this practice as we strive to attain peaceful elections this year,” he said.
Cardinal Turkson stated this at the opening of a three-day workshop on election security management in Kumasi.
Journalists, security personnel, members of youth groups, among others, attended the workshop, which was organised by the NPC, with sponsorship from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Among the topics treated were elections and national security, inter-agency collaboration for peaceful elections and challenges and opportunities of media practitioners during elections.
Cardinal Turkson said every Ghanaian had a role to play in ensuring that the prevailing peace in the country was maintained.
He said the NPC was still looking for a formula to establish regional peace councils in the country.
A member of the NPC, Maulvi Wahab Adam, expressed confidence that Ghana would go through peaceful elections on December 7, in spite of pockets of disturbances in the build up to the elections.
“We have met the presidential candidates and the leadership of the political parties, top security officers, the Chief Justice and other individuals and interest groups and we are convinced that the elections will be peaceful,” he said.
He expressed the hope that the unity among the leadership of the parties would trickle down to the grass roots where there had been pockets of disturbances.
Maulvi Adam reminded Ghanaians that they had no other country than Ghana and as such they must protect the nation at all cost against all forms of trouble.
He pointed out that political fanaticism of the extreme order, as was being experienced in certain quarters, would not do the nation any good.
Speaking on the topic, “Challenges and Opportunities of media practitioners during elections”, Mr Kofi Yeboah, a journalist with the Daily Graphic, traced the history of the media in the Fourth Republic and said they had performed creditably.
He, therefore, challenged the media to avoid acts that would bring the upcoming elections into disrepute.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
DCOP ADU POKU DENIES LINK WITH OSEI-WUSU (PAGE 13)
THE Director-General of Police in charge of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Frank Adu-Poku, has asked politicians to leave him out of the politics of the Bekwai Constituency in the Ashanti Region.
He expressed regret at moves by some people within the NPP in the region to link him to the camp of the Independent Candidate for Bekwai, Mr Joe Osei-Wusu.
"I respect my office and I cannot stoop that low by joining forces with Mr Joe Osei-Wusu to fight his political cause," he told the Daily Graphic from his base in Accra.
He said he had not associated himself with even the candidate of the ruling government, and asked how he could move to join the independent candidate.
He noted that those who were spreading the lies would only be doing it for some sinister motives.
DCOP Adu-Poku said even though he is a citizen of Bekwai, he had decided to stay clear of the politics going on in the area because of his position as a serving officer.
"I occupy a very important position in the Police Service and my duty is to serve my nation and not a politician who is looking for political power", he said.
He cautioned people who only wanted to run down innocent and hardworking people in order to gain some favours elsewhere to desist from that behaviour.
He recalled the disturbances that took place at Bekwai as a result of the demonstration by supporters of Mr Osei-Wusu and questioned how he could support people to cause mayhem in his own area.
He reminded those who were moving to spoil his name that one day they would be exposed.
Mr Adu-Poku pointed out that Bekwai deserved better and not politics that would draw back the development of the area.
He expressed regret at moves by some people within the NPP in the region to link him to the camp of the Independent Candidate for Bekwai, Mr Joe Osei-Wusu.
"I respect my office and I cannot stoop that low by joining forces with Mr Joe Osei-Wusu to fight his political cause," he told the Daily Graphic from his base in Accra.
He said he had not associated himself with even the candidate of the ruling government, and asked how he could move to join the independent candidate.
He noted that those who were spreading the lies would only be doing it for some sinister motives.
DCOP Adu-Poku said even though he is a citizen of Bekwai, he had decided to stay clear of the politics going on in the area because of his position as a serving officer.
"I occupy a very important position in the Police Service and my duty is to serve my nation and not a politician who is looking for political power", he said.
He cautioned people who only wanted to run down innocent and hardworking people in order to gain some favours elsewhere to desist from that behaviour.
He recalled the disturbances that took place at Bekwai as a result of the demonstration by supporters of Mr Osei-Wusu and questioned how he could support people to cause mayhem in his own area.
He reminded those who were moving to spoil his name that one day they would be exposed.
Mr Adu-Poku pointed out that Bekwai deserved better and not politics that would draw back the development of the area.
CHIEF SWEARS OATH OF ALLEGIANCE TO NKORANZAHENE (PAGE 23)
THE Anafoohene of Nkwabeng-Nkoranza in the Brong Ahafo Region, Nana Appiah Kodom II, has sworn the oath of allegiance to the Omanhene of the Nkoranza Traditional Area, Okatakyie Agyemang Kodom, to legitimise his enstoolment in line with the customs and tradition of the area.
The ceremony at which the rich traditions of the people of Nkoranza were on display was attended by a large number of people.
Nana Kodom, known in private life as Ernest Baffoe Gyau, was a former student of the Acherensua Secondary School. He now resides in the United States of America.
At the ceremony, Nana Kodom gave a pledge to support the development of his area and the entire traditional area.
He admitted the development challenges confronting the area, but said with a united front, they could overcome them.
The Anafoohene said even though he lived outside the country, his aura was firmly on the ground in his native area and that he would promptly respond to anything that demanded his support.
For his part, the Nkoranzahene, Okatakyie Kodom, advised the Anafoohene to be prepared to serve the paramount stool at all times.
He noted that chieftaincy today was not about wearing beautiful cloths and riding in a palanquin but how one could galvanise his people for development.
The Nkoranzahene said education was one area of great concern to him and advised his people to help improve standards.
The ceremony at which the rich traditions of the people of Nkoranza were on display was attended by a large number of people.
Nana Kodom, known in private life as Ernest Baffoe Gyau, was a former student of the Acherensua Secondary School. He now resides in the United States of America.
At the ceremony, Nana Kodom gave a pledge to support the development of his area and the entire traditional area.
He admitted the development challenges confronting the area, but said with a united front, they could overcome them.
The Anafoohene said even though he lived outside the country, his aura was firmly on the ground in his native area and that he would promptly respond to anything that demanded his support.
For his part, the Nkoranzahene, Okatakyie Kodom, advised the Anafoohene to be prepared to serve the paramount stool at all times.
He noted that chieftaincy today was not about wearing beautiful cloths and riding in a palanquin but how one could galvanise his people for development.
The Nkoranzahene said education was one area of great concern to him and advised his people to help improve standards.
Friday, November 7, 2008
TRUST EXTENDS YOUTH APPRENTICE PROGRAMMED TO OFFINSO (PAGE 39)
Thirty people in the Offinso Municipality have benefited from the first phase of the Sinapi Aba Trust’s (SAT) youth apprenticeship programme which has been extended to the Ashanti Region.
Under the programme, which also has a health component that emphasises the prevention of HIV/AIDS, SAT will support the beneficiaries with training tools and other services to enable them to complete their apprenticeship.
On completion, the trust would assist them with start-up capital, where necessary, to enable them to start their businesses.
The programme, which was piloted in Kumasi in 2004, was replicated in Accra a year later.
With the successful results in those initial stages, the programme is now being implemented in seven districts and municipalities in the country and a ceremony has been held at Offinso where the SAT presented training tools valued at GH¢2,600.95 to the beneficiaries in the municipality.
The trainees were hairdressers, dressmakers, carpenters, auto mechanics, auto electricians, bakers and shoe makers.
In a speech read on behalf of the Chief Executive of the trust, Mr Anthony Gyasi-Fosu, the Chaplain of SAT, Elder Kwame Opoku, emphasised the importance his establishment attached to youth employment.
He said SAT was determined to commit more resources to that sector so that the youth could get themselves into gainful employment.
Mr Gyasi-Fosu noted that the problem of unemployment was a real challenge to the development of young people in the country and it was clear that the government alone could not address the challenges.
He noted that the inability of most young people to earn a living and be economically independent tended to increase their vulnerability to HIV/AIDS and social vices like excessive drinking, smoking and prostitution, among others.
Mr Gyasi-Fosu said it was against that backdrop that his organisation, with support from its development partner, Opportunities International, introduced the youth employment programme to complement the efforts of the government in addressing the situation.
He appealed to the Offinso Municipal Assembly to support the organisations in extending the programme to more people.
The Programmes Co-ordinator of SAT, Mr Thomas Appiah-Mensah, advised the trainees and the other stakeholders to be committed to their roles and responsibilities in the programme.
He told the trade masters that the attendance registers of the trainees and their conduct assessment forms given to the trade masters to work on were very relevant as they would assist the management of the programme to take some useful decisions concerning the trainees.
The Amoawihene, Nana Duodu Frimpong, who represented the Offinsohene, Nana Wiafe Akenten, commended SAT for its initiative and expressed the hope that the trainees would attach great importance to the programme.
Under the programme, which also has a health component that emphasises the prevention of HIV/AIDS, SAT will support the beneficiaries with training tools and other services to enable them to complete their apprenticeship.
On completion, the trust would assist them with start-up capital, where necessary, to enable them to start their businesses.
The programme, which was piloted in Kumasi in 2004, was replicated in Accra a year later.
With the successful results in those initial stages, the programme is now being implemented in seven districts and municipalities in the country and a ceremony has been held at Offinso where the SAT presented training tools valued at GH¢2,600.95 to the beneficiaries in the municipality.
The trainees were hairdressers, dressmakers, carpenters, auto mechanics, auto electricians, bakers and shoe makers.
In a speech read on behalf of the Chief Executive of the trust, Mr Anthony Gyasi-Fosu, the Chaplain of SAT, Elder Kwame Opoku, emphasised the importance his establishment attached to youth employment.
He said SAT was determined to commit more resources to that sector so that the youth could get themselves into gainful employment.
Mr Gyasi-Fosu noted that the problem of unemployment was a real challenge to the development of young people in the country and it was clear that the government alone could not address the challenges.
He noted that the inability of most young people to earn a living and be economically independent tended to increase their vulnerability to HIV/AIDS and social vices like excessive drinking, smoking and prostitution, among others.
Mr Gyasi-Fosu said it was against that backdrop that his organisation, with support from its development partner, Opportunities International, introduced the youth employment programme to complement the efforts of the government in addressing the situation.
He appealed to the Offinso Municipal Assembly to support the organisations in extending the programme to more people.
The Programmes Co-ordinator of SAT, Mr Thomas Appiah-Mensah, advised the trainees and the other stakeholders to be committed to their roles and responsibilities in the programme.
He told the trade masters that the attendance registers of the trainees and their conduct assessment forms given to the trade masters to work on were very relevant as they would assist the management of the programme to take some useful decisions concerning the trainees.
The Amoawihene, Nana Duodu Frimpong, who represented the Offinsohene, Nana Wiafe Akenten, commended SAT for its initiative and expressed the hope that the trainees would attach great importance to the programme.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
POLICEMAN SHOT DEAD (PAGE 21)
A POLICEMAN in the company of some chainsaw operators has been shot to death in the Bonsambepo Forest Reserve at Kyenkyensibuosu in the Asunafo North Municipality in the Brong Ahafo Region.
The deceased, Sergeant James Kofi Nimoh, 53, station officer of the Asumura Police Station, died on the spot after a bullet from a gun allegedly fired by a forest guard hit his midsection.
Two people said to be guards at the reserve have been placed in police custody at Goaso pending further investigations. Their identities were not immediately known.
A source at Goaso told the Daily Graphic that the body of the policeman had been deposited at the Goaso Government Hospital.
According to the source, Sergeant Nimoh entered the forest reserve with the illegal operators at about 10 p.m. last Tuesday, and they used five trucks in their operations.
According to the source, upon a tip-off, the concession guards, who lived in the vicinity, also went to the operation area to confront the operators.
When they got there, one of the trucks had already been loaded while the others were waiting for their turn.
The source said a heated argument ensued between the guards and the operators as they (the guards) attempted to force them to abandon their operations.
Sergeant Nimoh was said to have engaged in a scuffle with the armed guards and in the course of the confusion, a gun belonging to one of the guards went off, killing the policeman instantly.
As the policeman fell, the chainsaw operators escaped with their vehicles.
When the Daily Graphic contacted the Municipal Police Commander, DSP Daniel Afugu on telephone from his base at Goaso, he confirmed the incident but declined to give further details.
He said the police were investigating the incident and he was therefore in no position to make further comments.
The deceased, Sergeant James Kofi Nimoh, 53, station officer of the Asumura Police Station, died on the spot after a bullet from a gun allegedly fired by a forest guard hit his midsection.
Two people said to be guards at the reserve have been placed in police custody at Goaso pending further investigations. Their identities were not immediately known.
A source at Goaso told the Daily Graphic that the body of the policeman had been deposited at the Goaso Government Hospital.
According to the source, Sergeant Nimoh entered the forest reserve with the illegal operators at about 10 p.m. last Tuesday, and they used five trucks in their operations.
According to the source, upon a tip-off, the concession guards, who lived in the vicinity, also went to the operation area to confront the operators.
When they got there, one of the trucks had already been loaded while the others were waiting for their turn.
The source said a heated argument ensued between the guards and the operators as they (the guards) attempted to force them to abandon their operations.
Sergeant Nimoh was said to have engaged in a scuffle with the armed guards and in the course of the confusion, a gun belonging to one of the guards went off, killing the policeman instantly.
As the policeman fell, the chainsaw operators escaped with their vehicles.
When the Daily Graphic contacted the Municipal Police Commander, DSP Daniel Afugu on telephone from his base at Goaso, he confirmed the incident but declined to give further details.
He said the police were investigating the incident and he was therefore in no position to make further comments.
DEMOLITION OF PRIVATE PROPERTY BEGINS AT ASOKWA (PAGE 29)
Demolishion of private properties has begun at Asokwa to pave way for the construction of the Anloga-Asokwa (Timber Gardens) bypass in Kumasi.
When the Daily Graphic team went to Asokwa last weekend they saw a bulldozer briskly demolishing some of the properties which were along the area where the bypass is to be constructed.
The Anloga- Asokwa bypass project is being jointly funded by the government and international donors to improve upon the road network as well as ease traffic congestion in Kumasi.
Woodworkers at Anloga have been asked to relocate to the Sokoban Wood Village but recently some carpenters at the area have vowed to resist attempts by the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) to relocate them at the village until certain conditions are met.
Calling themselves the Concerned Carpenters of Anloga, they said unless the authorities did the right thing to facilitate the operations of all affected carpenters, they would not move from their present site.
But the Metropolitan Urban Roads Engineer, Mr James Amoo-Gottfried, said nothing would stop the authorities from strictly enforcing the timetable for the relocation of the carpenters at Sokoban this week.
The KMA Chief Executive, Ms Patricia Appiagyei, last week announced that the movement to the new site would commence this week.
She said work at the Wood Village was almost complete for occupation and urged the carpenters to comply with the order to move there and pave the way for the construction of the Oforikrom Junction-Asokwa bypass.
Reacting to the order in a protest note to the KMA Chief Executive, the Concerned Anloga Carpenters claimed that the authorities had not done much to facilitate their smooth movement to the new place.
Following the government's decision to reconstruct the Oforikrom Junction-Asokwa bypass, the Department of Urban Roads decided on the Sokoban Village to relocate the Anloga carpenters.
Consequently, the construction of the Sokoban Wood Village was factored into the road project and undertaken with funds from the Agence Francaise de Developement (AFD). Under that project, a number of facilities were constructed at the village to improve conditions there for the carpenters to move in.
In their protest, the concerned carpenters claimed that not all carpenters who were being asked to leave their current places had been provided for at the Sokoban Village.
According to them, only 300 out of over 1,500 members of the Anloga Woodworkers Association had been provided places at the Sokoban Village.
They contended that more than 1,200 others called "master-boys" had been left out, yet they were being asked to leave their places at Anloga.
The master-boys are those who have completed their apprenticeship programmes and who, even though are masters, are working in the shops of their former master craftsmen.
According to the concerned carpenters, any attempt to deny the master-boys a place to work will mean throwing them out of work.
Again, they complained that nothing had been done about an earlier decision by the government to pay them some amount of money to convey their tools and equipment from their workshops to the Sokoban Village.
Commenting further on the situation, Mr Amoo-Gottfried said the Oforikrom Junction–Asokwa bypass was one road which had necessitated the relocation of the Anloga carpenters and was being carried out within a time frame which should not be derailed.
He confirmed that not all the carpenters at Anloga had been catered for at the Sokoban village, explaining that even some of the master craftsmen could not be allocated sheds at the village and that only those whose activities were affected by the road design had been provided places.
The metropolitan engineer stated that the relocation was part of the compensation for the affected carpenters and that it would be wrong for any group of carpenters to force the KMA to find a place for them at the wood village.
When the Daily Graphic team went to Asokwa last weekend they saw a bulldozer briskly demolishing some of the properties which were along the area where the bypass is to be constructed.
The Anloga- Asokwa bypass project is being jointly funded by the government and international donors to improve upon the road network as well as ease traffic congestion in Kumasi.
Woodworkers at Anloga have been asked to relocate to the Sokoban Wood Village but recently some carpenters at the area have vowed to resist attempts by the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) to relocate them at the village until certain conditions are met.
Calling themselves the Concerned Carpenters of Anloga, they said unless the authorities did the right thing to facilitate the operations of all affected carpenters, they would not move from their present site.
But the Metropolitan Urban Roads Engineer, Mr James Amoo-Gottfried, said nothing would stop the authorities from strictly enforcing the timetable for the relocation of the carpenters at Sokoban this week.
The KMA Chief Executive, Ms Patricia Appiagyei, last week announced that the movement to the new site would commence this week.
She said work at the Wood Village was almost complete for occupation and urged the carpenters to comply with the order to move there and pave the way for the construction of the Oforikrom Junction-Asokwa bypass.
Reacting to the order in a protest note to the KMA Chief Executive, the Concerned Anloga Carpenters claimed that the authorities had not done much to facilitate their smooth movement to the new place.
Following the government's decision to reconstruct the Oforikrom Junction-Asokwa bypass, the Department of Urban Roads decided on the Sokoban Village to relocate the Anloga carpenters.
Consequently, the construction of the Sokoban Wood Village was factored into the road project and undertaken with funds from the Agence Francaise de Developement (AFD). Under that project, a number of facilities were constructed at the village to improve conditions there for the carpenters to move in.
In their protest, the concerned carpenters claimed that not all carpenters who were being asked to leave their current places had been provided for at the Sokoban Village.
According to them, only 300 out of over 1,500 members of the Anloga Woodworkers Association had been provided places at the Sokoban Village.
They contended that more than 1,200 others called "master-boys" had been left out, yet they were being asked to leave their places at Anloga.
The master-boys are those who have completed their apprenticeship programmes and who, even though are masters, are working in the shops of their former master craftsmen.
According to the concerned carpenters, any attempt to deny the master-boys a place to work will mean throwing them out of work.
Again, they complained that nothing had been done about an earlier decision by the government to pay them some amount of money to convey their tools and equipment from their workshops to the Sokoban Village.
Commenting further on the situation, Mr Amoo-Gottfried said the Oforikrom Junction–Asokwa bypass was one road which had necessitated the relocation of the Anloga carpenters and was being carried out within a time frame which should not be derailed.
He confirmed that not all the carpenters at Anloga had been catered for at the Sokoban village, explaining that even some of the master craftsmen could not be allocated sheds at the village and that only those whose activities were affected by the road design had been provided places.
The metropolitan engineer stated that the relocation was part of the compensation for the affected carpenters and that it would be wrong for any group of carpenters to force the KMA to find a place for them at the wood village.
WOMEN URGED TO SUPPORT AKUFO-ADDO (PAGE 16)
THE Ashanti Regional Women’s Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mrs Mary Brobbey, has called on women to throw their weight behind the NPP’s presidential candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, saying he was the only presidential candidate to have demonstrated that women’s interests would be better served under his presidency.
She said Nana Akufo-Addo had persistently driven home his vision to build on what President Kufuor had done for women, noting that that was a clear manifestation of his love for improving the lives of women.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic in Kumasi, Mrs Brobbey cautioned women against giving their votes to people who had been silent about women’s issues.
“We cannot afford to go back to the dark days when very few women who were connected to the government benefited from national programmes and projects,” she said.
Mrs Brobbey expressed regret that the NDC continued to hold itself as a women-centred party when, in fact, its presidential candidate, Prof Mills, had not articulated any meaningful vision on women in his campaigns.
“Today, many women, notwithstanding their political affiliations, are enjoying various micro-credit and other laudable facilities by the government and we can only reciprocate this gesture by voting massively for Nana Akufo-Addo,” she said.
The regional women’s organiser said the NPP presidential candidate had shown clearly that he was a man of peace.
“It is, therefore, important that we rally behind him to win the presidency so that we can advance our interests,” she noted.
Mrs Brobbey called on supporters of all political parties to avoid acts that would jeopardise the peace of the nation, saying that Ghana needed to demonstrate to the rest of the world that “our democracy has come of age”.
She discounted claims by opponents of the government that there were serious difficulties in the nation.
According to her, at a time when even the so-called advanced countries were going through economic difficulty, the NPP government had been able to position itself to absorb the global economic shocks.
Mrs Brobbey said her outfit was embarking on “an aggressive” campaign to get more women to vote for the NPP in the December elections.
PICTURE. Mrs Mary Brobbey, Ashanti Regional Women’s Organiser
She said Nana Akufo-Addo had persistently driven home his vision to build on what President Kufuor had done for women, noting that that was a clear manifestation of his love for improving the lives of women.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic in Kumasi, Mrs Brobbey cautioned women against giving their votes to people who had been silent about women’s issues.
“We cannot afford to go back to the dark days when very few women who were connected to the government benefited from national programmes and projects,” she said.
Mrs Brobbey expressed regret that the NDC continued to hold itself as a women-centred party when, in fact, its presidential candidate, Prof Mills, had not articulated any meaningful vision on women in his campaigns.
“Today, many women, notwithstanding their political affiliations, are enjoying various micro-credit and other laudable facilities by the government and we can only reciprocate this gesture by voting massively for Nana Akufo-Addo,” she said.
The regional women’s organiser said the NPP presidential candidate had shown clearly that he was a man of peace.
“It is, therefore, important that we rally behind him to win the presidency so that we can advance our interests,” she noted.
Mrs Brobbey called on supporters of all political parties to avoid acts that would jeopardise the peace of the nation, saying that Ghana needed to demonstrate to the rest of the world that “our democracy has come of age”.
She discounted claims by opponents of the government that there were serious difficulties in the nation.
According to her, at a time when even the so-called advanced countries were going through economic difficulty, the NPP government had been able to position itself to absorb the global economic shocks.
Mrs Brobbey said her outfit was embarking on “an aggressive” campaign to get more women to vote for the NPP in the December elections.
PICTURE. Mrs Mary Brobbey, Ashanti Regional Women’s Organiser
Monday, November 3, 2008
MAN DROPS DEAD ...While jogging (MIRROR, LEAD STORY)
THE decision by a 38-year-old mechanic in Kumasi to trot from his house to the Baba Yara Stadium to join his colleagues for Keep Fit activities last Sunday ended on a sad note when he fell and died on the way.
Sources close to his Keep Fit Club told The • Continued from page 1
Mirror that the deceased, Kofi Dwumfuor, died on the spot after he fell at the shoulder of the road at Dakodwom, a suburb of Kumasi.
And had it not been his mobile phone, which kept ringing without any response, no one would have known the man was dead.
His body had been deposited at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.
According to the sources, it was characteristic of Dwumfuor to drive from his house at Kwadaso to the Baba Yara Stadium, a distance of about six kilometres, for Keep Fit activities every Sunday.
However, last Sunday, he decided to change the practice by running to the stadium.
Dwumfuor, according to the sources, left his house at about 5.30 a.m for the stadium without any signs of illness.
On reaching Dakodwom, a little over half of the distance to the stadium, Dwumfuor started beating his chest and fell by the road side.
Unfortunately, no one went to his aid until his mobile phone, which was in his pocket, started ringing without any response from him. The calls were from his colleagues who were calling to find out why he had delayed .
The sources stated that as the phone kept ringing, some of the people tried to find out what had happened only to realise that there was no life in the man.
They rushed him to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Sources close to his Keep Fit Club told The • Continued from page 1
Mirror that the deceased, Kofi Dwumfuor, died on the spot after he fell at the shoulder of the road at Dakodwom, a suburb of Kumasi.
And had it not been his mobile phone, which kept ringing without any response, no one would have known the man was dead.
His body had been deposited at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.
According to the sources, it was characteristic of Dwumfuor to drive from his house at Kwadaso to the Baba Yara Stadium, a distance of about six kilometres, for Keep Fit activities every Sunday.
However, last Sunday, he decided to change the practice by running to the stadium.
Dwumfuor, according to the sources, left his house at about 5.30 a.m for the stadium without any signs of illness.
On reaching Dakodwom, a little over half of the distance to the stadium, Dwumfuor started beating his chest and fell by the road side.
Unfortunately, no one went to his aid until his mobile phone, which was in his pocket, started ringing without any response from him. The calls were from his colleagues who were calling to find out why he had delayed .
The sources stated that as the phone kept ringing, some of the people tried to find out what had happened only to realise that there was no life in the man.
They rushed him to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
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