FORMER Asante Kotoko player, Ebo Mends, was yesterday unveiled as coach of the club and immediately pledged to work assiduously to take the club to a level befitting its image as one of the biggest on the continent.
“It’s time to take Kotoko to that level, and I pledge to work with my team to reach that limit”, he said this just after the Executive Board Chairman, Dr K.K. Sarpong, had introduced him to more than 100 journalists who gathered at the conference room of the Rexmar Hotel.
Ebo Mends, 48, agreed to a two-year deal with the club and, according to Dr Sarpong, both parties are satisfied with the details.
The new coach who was part of the Kotoko 1983 Africa Cup-winning team, played for the club from 1982 to 1985 after which he left for Europe to continue his career.
On retirement from active football, he took a coaching course in Europe and later coached clubs in Ghana, Benin and the United States.
Ebo told the news conference that he was thankful to God, the board and the entire Kotoko family for the honour done him and hoped to impress.
Dr Sarpong told the meeting that Ebo was chosen after a careful screening of the names that came up.
He said the board had a lot of confidence in the coach and called for massive support for him to deliver.
“We expect that management will not interfere in the coach’s work,” he said and cautioned that any management member who did that would not be spared.
He said the briefing the board had gotten from the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the club revealed that there were enormous challenges ahead of the club.
“We have a long way to go as the fortunes of the club have plummeted,” he said.
That notwithstanding, Dr Sarpong said, there was light at the end of the tunnel as they had started implementing measures that could catapult the club to greater heights.
Dr Sarpong stated that there is a new dawn at Kotoko and that the club was going to be run on professional lines.
“If we have a Kotoko clinic or a Kotoko radio station, there is every indication that they would be patronised, “ he said.
He stated that the board would ensure that the accounts of the club were published annually to ensure transparency.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
MINERS TRAPPED...Police put figure at 110, but pit owner says 11 (LEAD STORY, JUNE 29, 2010)
An unspecified number of people from a group of about 124 are believed to be trapped underground at Dunkwa-on-Offin in the Central Region following a galamsey expedition that turned tragic in a heavy downpour on Sunday.
The Dunkwa Municipal Police Commander, Supt Samuel Anderson Buabeng, put the number of persons trapped underground at 110, contrary to what the owner of the pit claimed as “11 of the miners are missing”.
Alhaji Abubakar Siddique, who owns the pit at Kubi Ankaase, admitted that on that fateful Sunday, 18 ‘gangs’ and their leaders, with each gang comprising seven miners, were in the pit using 18 different points when it caved in.
He said the pit had been covered by water following a heavy downpour when the disaster occurred, trapping the miners inside.
Although he could not give the specific number of people trapped and where they were, Alhaji Siddique insisted that a greater number of the miners escaped unhurt, believing that only 11 of them were still missing.
He promised to make the surviving gang leaders available to the Dunkwa Municipal Police to brief them on the exact number of deaths.
His presentation was, however, contradicted by Supt Buabeng, who said the team which the police dispatched to the area when the message reached the station had a different story.
According to him, the team could hardly engage in any rescue operation because of the nature of the flooding from the rain and water from the Dunkwa River.
From the team’s investigations, he said, the number of those trapped underground could be as high as 110 and that the search team had given up hope of finding any survivors but was working hard to stop the flow of water into the pit to facilitate the retrieval of bodies from underground.
At the disaster scene, two excavators were ramming through the mud in an attempt to cut through the huge pit.
Some residents who claimed that their relatives had been engaged in the galamsey operations told the Daily Graphic that about 15 of the miners had escaped unhurt but were not available for comment.
Hundreds of residents had massed up at the scene, anxiously expecting a breakthrough or more information on the rescue efforts.
They claimed that the area was an abandoned pit which had been taken over by galamsey operators.
Using 18 different points, the illegal miners were said to have entered the pit to begin their operations and while they were digging in the pit, which had been filled with water following the rains, it caved in, trapping some the miners inside, while others managed to escape before the accident.
The Dunkwa Municipal Police Commander, Supt Samuel Anderson Buabeng, put the number of persons trapped underground at 110, contrary to what the owner of the pit claimed as “11 of the miners are missing”.
Alhaji Abubakar Siddique, who owns the pit at Kubi Ankaase, admitted that on that fateful Sunday, 18 ‘gangs’ and their leaders, with each gang comprising seven miners, were in the pit using 18 different points when it caved in.
He said the pit had been covered by water following a heavy downpour when the disaster occurred, trapping the miners inside.
Although he could not give the specific number of people trapped and where they were, Alhaji Siddique insisted that a greater number of the miners escaped unhurt, believing that only 11 of them were still missing.
He promised to make the surviving gang leaders available to the Dunkwa Municipal Police to brief them on the exact number of deaths.
His presentation was, however, contradicted by Supt Buabeng, who said the team which the police dispatched to the area when the message reached the station had a different story.
According to him, the team could hardly engage in any rescue operation because of the nature of the flooding from the rain and water from the Dunkwa River.
From the team’s investigations, he said, the number of those trapped underground could be as high as 110 and that the search team had given up hope of finding any survivors but was working hard to stop the flow of water into the pit to facilitate the retrieval of bodies from underground.
At the disaster scene, two excavators were ramming through the mud in an attempt to cut through the huge pit.
Some residents who claimed that their relatives had been engaged in the galamsey operations told the Daily Graphic that about 15 of the miners had escaped unhurt but were not available for comment.
Hundreds of residents had massed up at the scene, anxiously expecting a breakthrough or more information on the rescue efforts.
They claimed that the area was an abandoned pit which had been taken over by galamsey operators.
Using 18 different points, the illegal miners were said to have entered the pit to begin their operations and while they were digging in the pit, which had been filled with water following the rains, it caved in, trapping some the miners inside, while others managed to escape before the accident.
Monday, June 28, 2010
ARMAJARO, COCOBOD TO UNDERTAKE ANTI-SMUGGLING CAMPAIGN (PAGE 19, JUNE 26, 2010)
ARMAJARO Ghana Limited, a licensed cocoa buying company, is to collaborate with the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) to embark on a massive anti-smuggling campaign in the border areas through the mass media to educate the people on the evils of smuggling.
The Board Chairman of Armajaro, Mr Fred Quaynortey, who disclosed this in Kumasi, said the company was religiously following a policy of zero tolerance for smuggling and would work with other interested organisations to protect the cocoa industry.
Mr Quaynortey stated this at a ceremony to reward the company’s District Manager for Elubo, Mr Daniel Ibrahim Bepoh, for rejecting a bribe from investigative journalist Anars Armeyaw Anas, to take part in a smuggling activity.
He was presented with a plaque and an undisclosed amount of money for his singular act, which the company saw as a sign of commitment to the growth of the company and the cocoa industry in Ghana.
Very early in the course of the 2009/2010 main crop season, there was an alarming rate of smuggling of cocoa from the country along the western border.
As part of moves to combat the situation, a team led by Anas undertook an undercover exercise to expose elements engaged in the smuggling.
In the course of the exercise, Mr Bepoh was one of the people who were lured with cash in a bid to get him to release cocoa to the undercover agents.
He refused the enticement and further made sure that the undercover agents were arrested.
At a brief ceremony in Kumasi to honour Mr Bepoh, the board chairman said whilst Mr Bepoh exhibited sincerity in his work, his counterpart at the company’s Enchi “C” District was alleged to have been caught in the smuggling activities and had consequently been interdicted.
“I am not surprised that Mr Bepoh did not fall for the lure to smuggle cocoa, because he reflects the true Armajaro spirit of loyalty, moral consciousness and sincerity,” he said.
He said the company was perhaps the only one in the country that paid farmers above the minimum price set by the government for farmers for their produce and that for the just ended main crop season, it paid in excess of GH¢252,000 to its farmers.
The board chairman further stated that the company had in partnership with COCOBOD and some chocolate manufacturers invested about GH¢1.3 million in water, sanitation, healthcare and other infrastructure projects in under-privileged communities in the cocoa-growing areas.
He indicated that during the year, the company had pre-financed farm inputs at subsidised rates for farmers to the tune of GH¢1.6 million.
Mr Bepoh, for his part, thanked the company for recognising his sincerity and pledged to show even more commitment to the industry in the years ahead.
The Board Chairman of Armajaro, Mr Fred Quaynortey, who disclosed this in Kumasi, said the company was religiously following a policy of zero tolerance for smuggling and would work with other interested organisations to protect the cocoa industry.
Mr Quaynortey stated this at a ceremony to reward the company’s District Manager for Elubo, Mr Daniel Ibrahim Bepoh, for rejecting a bribe from investigative journalist Anars Armeyaw Anas, to take part in a smuggling activity.
He was presented with a plaque and an undisclosed amount of money for his singular act, which the company saw as a sign of commitment to the growth of the company and the cocoa industry in Ghana.
Very early in the course of the 2009/2010 main crop season, there was an alarming rate of smuggling of cocoa from the country along the western border.
As part of moves to combat the situation, a team led by Anas undertook an undercover exercise to expose elements engaged in the smuggling.
In the course of the exercise, Mr Bepoh was one of the people who were lured with cash in a bid to get him to release cocoa to the undercover agents.
He refused the enticement and further made sure that the undercover agents were arrested.
At a brief ceremony in Kumasi to honour Mr Bepoh, the board chairman said whilst Mr Bepoh exhibited sincerity in his work, his counterpart at the company’s Enchi “C” District was alleged to have been caught in the smuggling activities and had consequently been interdicted.
“I am not surprised that Mr Bepoh did not fall for the lure to smuggle cocoa, because he reflects the true Armajaro spirit of loyalty, moral consciousness and sincerity,” he said.
He said the company was perhaps the only one in the country that paid farmers above the minimum price set by the government for farmers for their produce and that for the just ended main crop season, it paid in excess of GH¢252,000 to its farmers.
The board chairman further stated that the company had in partnership with COCOBOD and some chocolate manufacturers invested about GH¢1.3 million in water, sanitation, healthcare and other infrastructure projects in under-privileged communities in the cocoa-growing areas.
He indicated that during the year, the company had pre-financed farm inputs at subsidised rates for farmers to the tune of GH¢1.6 million.
Mr Bepoh, for his part, thanked the company for recognising his sincerity and pledged to show even more commitment to the industry in the years ahead.
Friday, June 25, 2010
THE HIKE IN UTILITY TARIFFS... Views from Kumasi (MIRROR, PAGE 31, JUNE 25, 2010)
Y.K. Addai-Nsiah, Farmer
IN principle, there is nothing strange about increasing utility tariffs. We have experienced increases over the years, some justifiable and others unjustifiable.
So long as production cost continues to increase, we shall continue to live with increases in utility tariffs.
Again, when there is every indication that consumers are paying unrealistic tariffs, reasonable increases cannot be questioned.
However, the recent tariff adjustments appear too huge for the people to bear.
The basis from which the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) arrived at the quantum of upward adjustment is unconvincing.
The increases in electricity and water tariffs are very strange, especially coming at a time that Ghanaians are facing economic difficulties.
Surely this is going to worsen the cost of living and people at the grassroots will suffer most.
The increases will cripple many industries and the effects will be disastrous for Ghanaians.
It is surprising why tariffs should be increased far above the recent salary adjustments and I expect government to do something about the situation.
Farmers will suffer from the increases. This is because there is likely to be increases in the cost of farming implements.
For sure, many people, especially those in the lower income bracket, will not be able to bear these astronomical increases.
I will entreat the government to do something about the whole matter before it gets out of hand.
Let me also tell the utility companies to plug the loopholes, especially in the areas of illegal connection and the failure of government institutions to pay their bills.
Robert Kyei-Gyau, Journalist
The recent hikes in utility tariffs announced by the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), with the tacit support of government, has undoubtedly brought a lot of untold hardships to Ghanaians, particularly the poor.
Majority of Ghanaians, unlike our MP’s and people in government, find it difficult to make ends meet and their ability to fend for themselves and their families largely depend on the benevolence of extended family members and friends, who are themselves overstretched financially.
Therefore, the additional financial burden brought about by the 89 per cent and 46 per cent increase in electricity and water respectively is a killer punch that is likely to send many Ghanaians to their graves and reduce others, who can survive it, into paupers if the President does not step in to save the people.
Sadly, we live in a country where the state does not care about the citizens’ survival. What you eat, where you sleep, whether you have a job, send your children to school and have equal opportunities as those in government, is your own business. We claim to be practising pure capitalism and therefore the mantra of the state has always been, “each one for himself, God for us all.”
But, even in Britain, US and other Western societies that gave birth to and practice pure capitalism, the state helps citizens who are unable to fend for themselves adequately, people with less incomes, elderly, unemployed or underemployed, single parents, children and people with disability.
The percentages of the increments do not make any sense and is highly unlikely to lead to increased efficiency in the supply of power and water. Besides, the total cost recovery that the utility companies claim to be the main reason for the hikes will remain a mirage so far as they continue to sit by while people steal power and water.
The monopoly that the ECG and GWC enjoy must be broken otherwise they will always want more money but deliver poor services because they both have no competitors.
Unfortunately this hike, if not reduced, will prove the undoing of President Mills and his NDC party in their bid to retain power in the 2012 general elections.
Adwoa Gyamfia,
Businesswoman
The astronomical increase in electricity tariffs came as a shock to me. The increase showed the insensitivity of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) to the plight of the ordinary people of this country.
Increases in utility tariffs per se are not anything strange in this country but what is disturbing is when the percentage increases are unbearable and unreasonable.
What we have just seen is inhuman, looking at the poverty rate in the country and the earlier something was done about it, the better.
The amount I used to pay for power at the drinking spot I operate has now been increased by almost 100 per cent and this is seriously affecting my business.
On one hand, profits are going to fall because some business people will not be in the position to increases prices of their products since they are fixed.
For business people who will be in the position to increase prices of their products, the final cost will be transferred to the consumer some of whom may reduce their purchasing power.
The economic situation in the country calls for measures that would ease the burden of the people and not what we are seeing, which is going to compound our problems.
One question that I used to ask is whether the only means of raising revenue for the utility companies is to increase tariffs?
I am told that in other countries, the authorities have other means of injecting capital into the operations of the utility companies and it is important that Ghana learns from them.
It is not too late for the authorities to review the tariffs. If possible, the government should absorb part of the increases to reduce the hardships that the increases have brought on the people.
Nana Yaw Osei,
Presiding Member (PM), Asante Akim South District Assembly, Juaso
I believe that the utility companies cannot grow without the needed financial resources. These resources have to come from the services they sell to their customers.
Therefore, it would not be out of place for the companies to increase tariffs to rake in some money and thereby render quality service to customers.
However, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), the Volta River Authority (VRA) and the Ghana Water Company (GWCL) must be told in no uncertain terms that they have become almost useless and that had there been other competing companies, consumers would have dispensed with their bad services long before now.
The recent 89 per cent and 49 per cent increase in electricity and water tariffs, respectively, is clearly on the high side judging from the worse services they have been providing over the years.
We know their services will not improve. Just look at what is happening in the Ashanti Region. The Asante Akim area and Kumasi cannot boast of any better services.
Worse of all, any time these companies want to increase tariffs, they come with the same old uninspiring rhetoric of replacing old equipment and promising to render better service if consumers should accept the new increases yet they almost immediately return to their old bad ways!
What has happened to the private sector participation we have heard of? There must be competition just like in the telecom sector.
Kofi Addo, Private Legal Pra ctitioner
Simply put, the increases are astronomical and cannot be justified in any way. The increases do not take into consideration the living standards of the people.
It is strange that government is justifying the increases when all indications are that the percentage increases are too high.
Even though everybody deserves efficient utility services, we have not reached the stage where the consumer can fully bear the cost of the consumables.
Therefore, any increases must be measured in a way that will not overburden the people.
Today, a great number of people are wallowing in poverty and I wonder how they are going to bear the increases.
Efficiency is a key ingredient in the operations of the utility companies and until they tackle this area with seriousness, no amount of increases in tariffs will address their challenges.
I would have expected government and the PURC to look at the waste in the system and address them instead of overburdening the consumer with such killer adjustments.
Questions should be raised as to why top officials of the utility companies enjoy huge remuneration at the time they claim the companies need money to operate.
The time has come for the utility companies, and for that matter the government, to understand that they cannot take the good people of this country for a ride.
Nana Kwabena
Adomako,
Pensioner
The increase is too high and the earlier something is done about them, the better.
Very soon, many industries will shut down because they cannot afford electricity bills.
For a pensioner like me, the least said about the hike the better.
In this country, pensioners do not enjoy any meaningful support from government and we have been made to live on meagre pensions.
The PURC has been putting up some defences to justify the increases but they are only meant to throw dust into our eyes.
From all indications, the huge adjustments will trigger increases in the cost of goods and services.
What we are seeing is not the ‘Better Ghana’ the government came promising us. Indeed, many people are beginning to lose hope in the government especially after the President went on the BBC to justify the increases in tariffs.
The Electricity Company of Ghana and the Ghana Water Company should look at other sources of generating revenue rather than pushing everything on the consumer.
The fact that the two companies want to improve their services does not mean the people should be over-charged.
IN principle, there is nothing strange about increasing utility tariffs. We have experienced increases over the years, some justifiable and others unjustifiable.
So long as production cost continues to increase, we shall continue to live with increases in utility tariffs.
Again, when there is every indication that consumers are paying unrealistic tariffs, reasonable increases cannot be questioned.
However, the recent tariff adjustments appear too huge for the people to bear.
The basis from which the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) arrived at the quantum of upward adjustment is unconvincing.
The increases in electricity and water tariffs are very strange, especially coming at a time that Ghanaians are facing economic difficulties.
Surely this is going to worsen the cost of living and people at the grassroots will suffer most.
The increases will cripple many industries and the effects will be disastrous for Ghanaians.
It is surprising why tariffs should be increased far above the recent salary adjustments and I expect government to do something about the situation.
Farmers will suffer from the increases. This is because there is likely to be increases in the cost of farming implements.
For sure, many people, especially those in the lower income bracket, will not be able to bear these astronomical increases.
I will entreat the government to do something about the whole matter before it gets out of hand.
Let me also tell the utility companies to plug the loopholes, especially in the areas of illegal connection and the failure of government institutions to pay their bills.
Robert Kyei-Gyau, Journalist
The recent hikes in utility tariffs announced by the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), with the tacit support of government, has undoubtedly brought a lot of untold hardships to Ghanaians, particularly the poor.
Majority of Ghanaians, unlike our MP’s and people in government, find it difficult to make ends meet and their ability to fend for themselves and their families largely depend on the benevolence of extended family members and friends, who are themselves overstretched financially.
Therefore, the additional financial burden brought about by the 89 per cent and 46 per cent increase in electricity and water respectively is a killer punch that is likely to send many Ghanaians to their graves and reduce others, who can survive it, into paupers if the President does not step in to save the people.
Sadly, we live in a country where the state does not care about the citizens’ survival. What you eat, where you sleep, whether you have a job, send your children to school and have equal opportunities as those in government, is your own business. We claim to be practising pure capitalism and therefore the mantra of the state has always been, “each one for himself, God for us all.”
But, even in Britain, US and other Western societies that gave birth to and practice pure capitalism, the state helps citizens who are unable to fend for themselves adequately, people with less incomes, elderly, unemployed or underemployed, single parents, children and people with disability.
The percentages of the increments do not make any sense and is highly unlikely to lead to increased efficiency in the supply of power and water. Besides, the total cost recovery that the utility companies claim to be the main reason for the hikes will remain a mirage so far as they continue to sit by while people steal power and water.
The monopoly that the ECG and GWC enjoy must be broken otherwise they will always want more money but deliver poor services because they both have no competitors.
Unfortunately this hike, if not reduced, will prove the undoing of President Mills and his NDC party in their bid to retain power in the 2012 general elections.
Adwoa Gyamfia,
Businesswoman
The astronomical increase in electricity tariffs came as a shock to me. The increase showed the insensitivity of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) to the plight of the ordinary people of this country.
Increases in utility tariffs per se are not anything strange in this country but what is disturbing is when the percentage increases are unbearable and unreasonable.
What we have just seen is inhuman, looking at the poverty rate in the country and the earlier something was done about it, the better.
The amount I used to pay for power at the drinking spot I operate has now been increased by almost 100 per cent and this is seriously affecting my business.
On one hand, profits are going to fall because some business people will not be in the position to increases prices of their products since they are fixed.
For business people who will be in the position to increase prices of their products, the final cost will be transferred to the consumer some of whom may reduce their purchasing power.
The economic situation in the country calls for measures that would ease the burden of the people and not what we are seeing, which is going to compound our problems.
One question that I used to ask is whether the only means of raising revenue for the utility companies is to increase tariffs?
I am told that in other countries, the authorities have other means of injecting capital into the operations of the utility companies and it is important that Ghana learns from them.
It is not too late for the authorities to review the tariffs. If possible, the government should absorb part of the increases to reduce the hardships that the increases have brought on the people.
Nana Yaw Osei,
Presiding Member (PM), Asante Akim South District Assembly, Juaso
I believe that the utility companies cannot grow without the needed financial resources. These resources have to come from the services they sell to their customers.
Therefore, it would not be out of place for the companies to increase tariffs to rake in some money and thereby render quality service to customers.
However, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), the Volta River Authority (VRA) and the Ghana Water Company (GWCL) must be told in no uncertain terms that they have become almost useless and that had there been other competing companies, consumers would have dispensed with their bad services long before now.
The recent 89 per cent and 49 per cent increase in electricity and water tariffs, respectively, is clearly on the high side judging from the worse services they have been providing over the years.
We know their services will not improve. Just look at what is happening in the Ashanti Region. The Asante Akim area and Kumasi cannot boast of any better services.
Worse of all, any time these companies want to increase tariffs, they come with the same old uninspiring rhetoric of replacing old equipment and promising to render better service if consumers should accept the new increases yet they almost immediately return to their old bad ways!
What has happened to the private sector participation we have heard of? There must be competition just like in the telecom sector.
Kofi Addo, Private Legal Pra ctitioner
Simply put, the increases are astronomical and cannot be justified in any way. The increases do not take into consideration the living standards of the people.
It is strange that government is justifying the increases when all indications are that the percentage increases are too high.
Even though everybody deserves efficient utility services, we have not reached the stage where the consumer can fully bear the cost of the consumables.
Therefore, any increases must be measured in a way that will not overburden the people.
Today, a great number of people are wallowing in poverty and I wonder how they are going to bear the increases.
Efficiency is a key ingredient in the operations of the utility companies and until they tackle this area with seriousness, no amount of increases in tariffs will address their challenges.
I would have expected government and the PURC to look at the waste in the system and address them instead of overburdening the consumer with such killer adjustments.
Questions should be raised as to why top officials of the utility companies enjoy huge remuneration at the time they claim the companies need money to operate.
The time has come for the utility companies, and for that matter the government, to understand that they cannot take the good people of this country for a ride.
Nana Kwabena
Adomako,
Pensioner
The increase is too high and the earlier something is done about them, the better.
Very soon, many industries will shut down because they cannot afford electricity bills.
For a pensioner like me, the least said about the hike the better.
In this country, pensioners do not enjoy any meaningful support from government and we have been made to live on meagre pensions.
The PURC has been putting up some defences to justify the increases but they are only meant to throw dust into our eyes.
From all indications, the huge adjustments will trigger increases in the cost of goods and services.
What we are seeing is not the ‘Better Ghana’ the government came promising us. Indeed, many people are beginning to lose hope in the government especially after the President went on the BBC to justify the increases in tariffs.
The Electricity Company of Ghana and the Ghana Water Company should look at other sources of generating revenue rather than pushing everything on the consumer.
The fact that the two companies want to improve their services does not mean the people should be over-charged.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Appiah-Menka wades into NPP's flagbearer race...TWO OF FIVE CANDIDATES ARE NOT MARKETABLE (PAGE 13, JUNE 24, 2010)
AN OUTSPOKEN elder of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Akenten Appiah-Menka, has in a typical fashion, waded into the party’s flag bearer race with a bombshell that, two of the five candidates are not marketable.
Refusing to mention the names of the two candidates, the politician/industrialist only told the Daily Graphic at his residence in Kumasi that, “You know them and they also know themselves and so there is no need for me to mention names”.
While emphasising however that the two were presidential materials, he dismissed the attitude of false belief and bravado of the candidates and their followers that they could win the elections for the party in 2012.
That notwithstanding, Mr Appiah-Menkah said entering the flag bearer race was a good opportunity for the two candidates to market themselves to the nation for future elections.
“Kufuor did the same thing. In 1992 when he came into the race knowing that he could not beat Prof Adu Boahen and Dr Selby, he took it as an opportunity to market himself and eventually won the 2000 presidential elections.
“This is what the candidates must do and build themselves up for the future,” he stressed.
In the build up to the election of the party’s flag bearer for the 2008 elections, Mr Appiah-Menkah, in an interview with this paper pointed out that only five out of the 17 candidates were winnable materials for the presidential elections.
Many people read various meanings into his assertion even though he did not mention names.
Mr Appiah-Menkah, in his latest interview, pointed out that winning power from the opposition demanded extra work and the presentation of a candidate who had the ability to galvanise votes even in the ugliness of the political terrain.
He took issues with party elders and executives who openly declared their support for specific candidates in the flag bearer race.
“ The practice is rampant now and I expect them to desist from it since it is divisive and can work against the party’s chances of winning the 2012 elections”.
While expecting the elders and party executives to play unifying roles in the presidential candidate race, Mr Appiah-Menkah noted that it would be naïve for anyone to assert that there were no factions in the party.
“In a party founded on internal democracy, factions are bound to appear but what is important is how to manage them,” he said.
Fortunately, he noted, the NPP had the capacity and mechanism to bridge the differences resulting from the struggle for the presidential ticket.
Delving into history, he stated that in 1992 there was a serious division between Prof Adu Boahen and Dr Selby as frontrunners for the presidential ticket while from the fringes, Dr Kwame Safo-Adu and Mr Kufuor battled their way for the presidential candidate.
“But soon after the national delegates conference myself, Mr da-Rocha and others were able to patch up the differences as everybody rooted for the winner, Prof Adu Boahen”.
Again, in 1996, the factions reared their ugly heads, which was mainly between Mr Kufuor, Prof Adu Boahen and Dr Jones Ofori-Atta and once again after the conference, the elders brought all together.
He revealed that in 2004, a member of government wanted to contest Mr Kufuor for the party’s presidential primary but he (Appiah-Menkah) persuaded him to stop because it was not necessary to change a winning team.
He indicated that it was not true that Mr Alan Kyerematen resigned from the party in 2008.
According to him, when, Kyerematen wrote a resignation letter to the party after the 2008 national delegates conference, Mr Da- Rocha dared him to keep to his decision to quit but he (Appiah-Menka) invited and persuaded him to rescind the decision.
The NPP elder stated that Mr Kyerematen’s resignation letter was not accepted so technically, that could not be said to be resignation.
Mr Appiah-Menkah was convinced that the party would be united after the conference and that there would be no repetition of the Alan “resignation”.
He refused to delve into Mr Kwame Pianim’s recent comments about the NPP, especially, its flag bearer contestants only to say that, “At the appropriate time, I will tell you my mind about it.”
Refusing to mention the names of the two candidates, the politician/industrialist only told the Daily Graphic at his residence in Kumasi that, “You know them and they also know themselves and so there is no need for me to mention names”.
While emphasising however that the two were presidential materials, he dismissed the attitude of false belief and bravado of the candidates and their followers that they could win the elections for the party in 2012.
That notwithstanding, Mr Appiah-Menkah said entering the flag bearer race was a good opportunity for the two candidates to market themselves to the nation for future elections.
“Kufuor did the same thing. In 1992 when he came into the race knowing that he could not beat Prof Adu Boahen and Dr Selby, he took it as an opportunity to market himself and eventually won the 2000 presidential elections.
“This is what the candidates must do and build themselves up for the future,” he stressed.
In the build up to the election of the party’s flag bearer for the 2008 elections, Mr Appiah-Menkah, in an interview with this paper pointed out that only five out of the 17 candidates were winnable materials for the presidential elections.
Many people read various meanings into his assertion even though he did not mention names.
Mr Appiah-Menkah, in his latest interview, pointed out that winning power from the opposition demanded extra work and the presentation of a candidate who had the ability to galvanise votes even in the ugliness of the political terrain.
He took issues with party elders and executives who openly declared their support for specific candidates in the flag bearer race.
“ The practice is rampant now and I expect them to desist from it since it is divisive and can work against the party’s chances of winning the 2012 elections”.
While expecting the elders and party executives to play unifying roles in the presidential candidate race, Mr Appiah-Menkah noted that it would be naïve for anyone to assert that there were no factions in the party.
“In a party founded on internal democracy, factions are bound to appear but what is important is how to manage them,” he said.
Fortunately, he noted, the NPP had the capacity and mechanism to bridge the differences resulting from the struggle for the presidential ticket.
Delving into history, he stated that in 1992 there was a serious division between Prof Adu Boahen and Dr Selby as frontrunners for the presidential ticket while from the fringes, Dr Kwame Safo-Adu and Mr Kufuor battled their way for the presidential candidate.
“But soon after the national delegates conference myself, Mr da-Rocha and others were able to patch up the differences as everybody rooted for the winner, Prof Adu Boahen”.
Again, in 1996, the factions reared their ugly heads, which was mainly between Mr Kufuor, Prof Adu Boahen and Dr Jones Ofori-Atta and once again after the conference, the elders brought all together.
He revealed that in 2004, a member of government wanted to contest Mr Kufuor for the party’s presidential primary but he (Appiah-Menkah) persuaded him to stop because it was not necessary to change a winning team.
He indicated that it was not true that Mr Alan Kyerematen resigned from the party in 2008.
According to him, when, Kyerematen wrote a resignation letter to the party after the 2008 national delegates conference, Mr Da- Rocha dared him to keep to his decision to quit but he (Appiah-Menka) invited and persuaded him to rescind the decision.
The NPP elder stated that Mr Kyerematen’s resignation letter was not accepted so technically, that could not be said to be resignation.
Mr Appiah-Menkah was convinced that the party would be united after the conference and that there would be no repetition of the Alan “resignation”.
He refused to delve into Mr Kwame Pianim’s recent comments about the NPP, especially, its flag bearer contestants only to say that, “At the appropriate time, I will tell you my mind about it.”
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
KMA TO CONTINE WITH DEMOLITION (PAGE 29, JUNE 24, 2010)
THE Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mr Samuel Sarpong, has stated that the assembly will resume the demolishing exercise to clear illegal structures on watercourses.
The exercise, which started early this year, was temporarily suspended to pave way for public education.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic after visiting areas affected by recent floods in the metropolis, Mr Sarpong said one sure way to prevent flooding and its attendant consequences was to stop construction in watercourses.
He indicated that if the assembly had not demolished some buildings, dredged rivers and constructed drains in parts of the city, the rains would have caused unimaginable destruction last Tuesday night.
“That is why we have to take measures to continue with the demolishing exercise,” he stressed.
Mr Sarpong called on the people to support the assembly to bring sanity into the administration of the city.
The exercise, which started early this year, was temporarily suspended to pave way for public education.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic after visiting areas affected by recent floods in the metropolis, Mr Sarpong said one sure way to prevent flooding and its attendant consequences was to stop construction in watercourses.
He indicated that if the assembly had not demolished some buildings, dredged rivers and constructed drains in parts of the city, the rains would have caused unimaginable destruction last Tuesday night.
“That is why we have to take measures to continue with the demolishing exercise,” he stressed.
Mr Sarpong called on the people to support the assembly to bring sanity into the administration of the city.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
BEES GO WILD...Attack mourners, deface corpse (LEAD STORY, MIRROR, JUNE 19, 2010)
From Kwame Asare Boadu, Obuasi
THERE was pandemonium at a funeral at Amamum near Obuasi last Tuesday, when a swarm of bees attacked the mortal remains of the deceased who was lying in state as well as the grieving family members and sympathisers.
The bees were said to have emerged from the nearby cemetery and struck in full force at the funeral grounds severely defacing the deceased and landing a family member in hospital.
As the mourners were trapped in the blinding incident, an old woman who sat close to the body fell from shock and was rushed to hospital for treatment.
The body of the deceased, Kofi Nyarko, in his early 30s, was lying in state when the bees emerged from the cemetery and attacked it and the mourners.
Many had read superstition to the incident especially as the bees were said to have attacked only family members.
An eyewitness told The Mirror that it took the intervention of fire fighting personnel to control the bees.
According to the eyewitness, Nyarko, who lived in Accra, became ill and was sent to Obuasi some weeks ago.
He could not recover and died last Saturday so his body was sent to the morgue, awaiting burial and funeral rites.
At dawn last Tuesday, the remains of Nyarko were lying in state and people wailing when all of a sudden the bees emerged from the cemetery nearby.
According to the witness, the most surprising aspect of the incident was the selective attacks of the bees.
“Not everyone was attacked. The bees moved from one point to another, stinging people and it was surprising, “ the witness said.
THERE was pandemonium at a funeral at Amamum near Obuasi last Tuesday, when a swarm of bees attacked the mortal remains of the deceased who was lying in state as well as the grieving family members and sympathisers.
The bees were said to have emerged from the nearby cemetery and struck in full force at the funeral grounds severely defacing the deceased and landing a family member in hospital.
As the mourners were trapped in the blinding incident, an old woman who sat close to the body fell from shock and was rushed to hospital for treatment.
The body of the deceased, Kofi Nyarko, in his early 30s, was lying in state when the bees emerged from the cemetery and attacked it and the mourners.
Many had read superstition to the incident especially as the bees were said to have attacked only family members.
An eyewitness told The Mirror that it took the intervention of fire fighting personnel to control the bees.
According to the eyewitness, Nyarko, who lived in Accra, became ill and was sent to Obuasi some weeks ago.
He could not recover and died last Saturday so his body was sent to the morgue, awaiting burial and funeral rites.
At dawn last Tuesday, the remains of Nyarko were lying in state and people wailing when all of a sudden the bees emerged from the cemetery nearby.
According to the witness, the most surprising aspect of the incident was the selective attacks of the bees.
“Not everyone was attacked. The bees moved from one point to another, stinging people and it was surprising, “ the witness said.
Friday, June 18, 2010
GOASO HOSPITAL GETS AMBULANCE (PAGE 35, JUNE 17, 2010)
THE Asunafo North Municipal Assembly has presented an ambulance to the Goaso Government Hospital.
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr Mohammed Doku, who made the presentation, told the Daily Graphic at Goaso that the hospital, which had operated without an ambulance for the past three years, was now in a position for improve on its delivery.
He said the assembly was determined to continue its support for the hospital.
Meanwhile, the MCE had told a Town Hall Meeting at Goaso that a new midwifery school for the municipality was ready to take off in October, this year.
He said temporary accommodation for the school was already in place while preparation for a permanent site was underway.
The Town Hall Meeting was to review the development initiatives of the municipality with particular emphasis on the capital, and in relation to the “Better Ghana” agenda of the government.
Various heads of department within the assembly presented reports to the gathering, which included the Omanhene of Goaso, Baffour Akwasi Bosompra.
Mr Doku said the assembly had also purchased a Ford bus for the midwifery school in a bid to facilitate the activities of the school.
He disclosed that the Department of Urban Roads would soon open an office at Goaso and that offices for the department were ready.
The MCE described the presence of the Urban Roads Department as one of the best things to happen to the municipality under the President Mills government.
He said that was necessary because it would help improve the road network in the municipal capital and other big towns in the municipality, notably Mim and Akrodie.
Mr Doku announced that for the first time in many years, the government had awarded on contract the tarring of Goaso town roads, covering a distance of four kilometres.
He said in addition a total of 350 kilometres of feeder roads were to be rehabilitated this year.
Mr Doku said the government would also sink 61 boreholes in various communities in the district to improve the health of the people.
The MCE said plans were also underway to expand electricity to new sites at Akrodie, Mim, Goaso, Ayomso, Bediako, Dominase and Kasapin.
He further stated that the Driver Vehicle and Licensing Authority (DVLA) had established an office at Goaso, which would start operation in September, this year.
Mr Doku, therefore, called on the people to support the assembly and the government as they worked to advance the development of the municipality.
The Goasohene, Baffour Bosompra, commended the government for turning its eyes on the municipality but said there was more to do to get to the promised land.
He urged the people to throw their weight behind the government as it took steps to improve the lot of the people.
Baffour Bosompra warned trouble makers to stay out of his traditional area because he would not tolerate any negative activities.
The Asunafo North Manager of the National Health Insurance Scheme, Mr Adasa Nkrumah, dismissed rumours that the scheme was dying, saying it was rather improving in its delivery.
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr Mohammed Doku, who made the presentation, told the Daily Graphic at Goaso that the hospital, which had operated without an ambulance for the past three years, was now in a position for improve on its delivery.
He said the assembly was determined to continue its support for the hospital.
Meanwhile, the MCE had told a Town Hall Meeting at Goaso that a new midwifery school for the municipality was ready to take off in October, this year.
He said temporary accommodation for the school was already in place while preparation for a permanent site was underway.
The Town Hall Meeting was to review the development initiatives of the municipality with particular emphasis on the capital, and in relation to the “Better Ghana” agenda of the government.
Various heads of department within the assembly presented reports to the gathering, which included the Omanhene of Goaso, Baffour Akwasi Bosompra.
Mr Doku said the assembly had also purchased a Ford bus for the midwifery school in a bid to facilitate the activities of the school.
He disclosed that the Department of Urban Roads would soon open an office at Goaso and that offices for the department were ready.
The MCE described the presence of the Urban Roads Department as one of the best things to happen to the municipality under the President Mills government.
He said that was necessary because it would help improve the road network in the municipal capital and other big towns in the municipality, notably Mim and Akrodie.
Mr Doku announced that for the first time in many years, the government had awarded on contract the tarring of Goaso town roads, covering a distance of four kilometres.
He said in addition a total of 350 kilometres of feeder roads were to be rehabilitated this year.
Mr Doku said the government would also sink 61 boreholes in various communities in the district to improve the health of the people.
The MCE said plans were also underway to expand electricity to new sites at Akrodie, Mim, Goaso, Ayomso, Bediako, Dominase and Kasapin.
He further stated that the Driver Vehicle and Licensing Authority (DVLA) had established an office at Goaso, which would start operation in September, this year.
Mr Doku, therefore, called on the people to support the assembly and the government as they worked to advance the development of the municipality.
The Goasohene, Baffour Bosompra, commended the government for turning its eyes on the municipality but said there was more to do to get to the promised land.
He urged the people to throw their weight behind the government as it took steps to improve the lot of the people.
Baffour Bosompra warned trouble makers to stay out of his traditional area because he would not tolerate any negative activities.
The Asunafo North Manager of the National Health Insurance Scheme, Mr Adasa Nkrumah, dismissed rumours that the scheme was dying, saying it was rather improving in its delivery.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
WITHDRAW STATE PARTICIPATION IN FOREST PLANTATIONS — DARTEY (PAGE 51, JUNE 17, 2010)
The acting Chief Executive of the Forestry Commission (FC), Mr Samuel Afari Dartey, has called for the withdrawal of direct state participation in forest plantation activities if the country is to benefit from the sector.
Government is said to have spent over GH¢70 million within the past decade in direct state involvement in reforestation but has very little to show for it by way of success.
Forcefully advancing arguments for the withdrawal, Mr Dartey said Ghana’s forest plantation development should be implemented as a business and not a civil service activity.
He noted that the role of governments in the nations that had succeeded in their plantation programmes was to create the enabling environment necessary for individuals, communities and large corporations to invest in the sector.
Speaking at a colloquium on plantation development at Akyawkrom near Kumasi, Mr Dartey explained that the long involvement of the FC in plantation development had not yielded fruits because it had not got the capacity to meet set targets.
About 100 industry players from the private and the public sectors attended the colloquium, which was jointly organised by the Resource Management Support Centre (RMSC) of the FC and the Forestry Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG).
The RMSC is the centre established to set standards for forest and wildlife management and monitor implementation within the FC and its stakeholder organisations.
Mr Dartey suggested the transfer of industrial capacity and forest land to the private sector and further called for the introduction of subsidies and tax reforms to private companies engaged in the programme.
Stressing the physical and economic importance of forests, he said if well managed and controlled, the resource, which he described as “green gold”, could be a major source of revenue for the nation over a long period.
Around the world, the commercial values of trees have informed the decision of many nations to develop those resources to contribute significantly to their economies.
UN figures for 2006 said Ghana, with a land size of 238,335 km2, harvests an average of 1,200,000 m3 of trees a year, earning a revenue of US$214,323,000.
Mr. Dartey called for legislation that would compel companies in the Free Zones enclave to put more funds into plantation development.
The Director of the RMSC, Mr Edward Obi, said the first colloquium, which centred on the impact of the global economic downturn on Ghana’s timber trade, brought about a lot of discussions which had benefits for the nation.
“For example, we relaxed our compartment re-entry regulation to enable companies which were producing plywood and lumber for the ECOWAS markets to re-enter compartments which had closed but had yield exploitation not above 40 per cent to extract certain species just to make some marginal profits,” he said.
Government is said to have spent over GH¢70 million within the past decade in direct state involvement in reforestation but has very little to show for it by way of success.
Forcefully advancing arguments for the withdrawal, Mr Dartey said Ghana’s forest plantation development should be implemented as a business and not a civil service activity.
He noted that the role of governments in the nations that had succeeded in their plantation programmes was to create the enabling environment necessary for individuals, communities and large corporations to invest in the sector.
Speaking at a colloquium on plantation development at Akyawkrom near Kumasi, Mr Dartey explained that the long involvement of the FC in plantation development had not yielded fruits because it had not got the capacity to meet set targets.
About 100 industry players from the private and the public sectors attended the colloquium, which was jointly organised by the Resource Management Support Centre (RMSC) of the FC and the Forestry Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG).
The RMSC is the centre established to set standards for forest and wildlife management and monitor implementation within the FC and its stakeholder organisations.
Mr Dartey suggested the transfer of industrial capacity and forest land to the private sector and further called for the introduction of subsidies and tax reforms to private companies engaged in the programme.
Stressing the physical and economic importance of forests, he said if well managed and controlled, the resource, which he described as “green gold”, could be a major source of revenue for the nation over a long period.
Around the world, the commercial values of trees have informed the decision of many nations to develop those resources to contribute significantly to their economies.
UN figures for 2006 said Ghana, with a land size of 238,335 km2, harvests an average of 1,200,000 m3 of trees a year, earning a revenue of US$214,323,000.
Mr. Dartey called for legislation that would compel companies in the Free Zones enclave to put more funds into plantation development.
The Director of the RMSC, Mr Edward Obi, said the first colloquium, which centred on the impact of the global economic downturn on Ghana’s timber trade, brought about a lot of discussions which had benefits for the nation.
“For example, we relaxed our compartment re-entry regulation to enable companies which were producing plywood and lumber for the ECOWAS markets to re-enter compartments which had closed but had yield exploitation not above 40 per cent to extract certain species just to make some marginal profits,” he said.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
MTN/SWAG SEMINAR ENDS IN KUMASI (PAGE 31, JUNE 15, 2010)
A FIFA referees’ instructor, Alex Quartey has urged sports journalists to be abreast of the laws of the game in order not to expose themselves in their reportage of the World Cup.
He said a number of sports journalists criticised referees unduly simply because they were not in tune with the laws of the game.
Mr Quarter made the call at a day’s seminar on coverage of the World Cup for about 80 sports journalists from the Northern Sector of the country in Kumasi last week.
Organised by the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG), in conjunction with telecommunication giants, MTN, the seminar, among other things, exposed the journalists to the intricacies in reporting the global event and how to overcome them.
Mr Quarter noted the important role sports journalists play in the promotion of the game and said this must manifest in the World Cup in South Africa.
In a presentation, legendary commentator, Mr Joe Lartey said sports journalists must be adequately prepared before going in to cover the World Cup.
He said, for instance, journalists must arm themselves with the history of the event and the participating teams in order not to be overtaken by events.
“Your reports will be richer if you adequately equip yourself with the history of the participating teams at the World Cup,” he said.
Mr Lartey challenged sports journalists to be mindful of their language since listeners and readers always expected the best from them.
He cautioned journalists who are not medically fit against attempting to cover the World Cup because the coverage demanded a lot of energy.
Senior Corporate Manager of MTN, Ghana, Mrs Georgian Asare Fiagbenu, underscored the company’s determination to support journalists to deliver quality reports from South Africa.
She said MTN was sponsoring some fans to watch the tournament as part of its corporate social responsibility.
Mrs Fiagbenu told the journalists to maintain high professional standards in their delivery.
The President of SWAG, Mr Ackah Anthony, commended the journalists for the interests shown in the seminar.
“Once again, you have shown that you are ready to learn to improve your output,” he said.
Mr Anthony said journalism was a learning process and it was important that sports journalists availed themselves of such programmes.
He said a number of sports journalists criticised referees unduly simply because they were not in tune with the laws of the game.
Mr Quarter made the call at a day’s seminar on coverage of the World Cup for about 80 sports journalists from the Northern Sector of the country in Kumasi last week.
Organised by the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG), in conjunction with telecommunication giants, MTN, the seminar, among other things, exposed the journalists to the intricacies in reporting the global event and how to overcome them.
Mr Quarter noted the important role sports journalists play in the promotion of the game and said this must manifest in the World Cup in South Africa.
In a presentation, legendary commentator, Mr Joe Lartey said sports journalists must be adequately prepared before going in to cover the World Cup.
He said, for instance, journalists must arm themselves with the history of the event and the participating teams in order not to be overtaken by events.
“Your reports will be richer if you adequately equip yourself with the history of the participating teams at the World Cup,” he said.
Mr Lartey challenged sports journalists to be mindful of their language since listeners and readers always expected the best from them.
He cautioned journalists who are not medically fit against attempting to cover the World Cup because the coverage demanded a lot of energy.
Senior Corporate Manager of MTN, Ghana, Mrs Georgian Asare Fiagbenu, underscored the company’s determination to support journalists to deliver quality reports from South Africa.
She said MTN was sponsoring some fans to watch the tournament as part of its corporate social responsibility.
Mrs Fiagbenu told the journalists to maintain high professional standards in their delivery.
The President of SWAG, Mr Ackah Anthony, commended the journalists for the interests shown in the seminar.
“Once again, you have shown that you are ready to learn to improve your output,” he said.
Mr Anthony said journalism was a learning process and it was important that sports journalists availed themselves of such programmes.
Monday, June 14, 2010
REGIONAL MINISTERS DISMAYED, PLEDGE LOYALTY TO PREZ MILLS (PAGE 13, JUNE 14, 2010)
REGIONAL ministers have expressed dismay at what they described as the recent outbursts, comments and unfair criticisms levelled by some leading members of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) against the Executive Arm of Government and in particular, President J. E. A. Mills.
They stated that as they were not against individual or collective criticisms about the governance style of President Mills, what was distasteful was that the criticisms had been carried out without decorum and circumspection.
In a press statement issued by the ministers after a meeting in Kumasi on Friday to review pertinent issues, which arose out of the March 9-13, 2010, 2nd Regional Ministers’ Conference in Sunyani, the ministers took a serious look at the recent developments within the NDC and their implications for the future of the party.
At the meeting chaired by the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye Marfo, the ministers observed that the negative developments perpetrated by some NDC party members did not promote cohesion, integration and good governance to effectively prosecute the "Better Ghana Agenda".
The ministers observed that President Mills was only one and half years old in a four-year mandate given him by Ghanaians and that it was "totally unacceptable and unfair for anyone or group of people to begin contemplating on a presidential candidate bid for election 2012".
According to them, the move "was unprecedented and at variance with the NDC party constitution".
The ministers’ statement added: "Let us remind members of the NDC family that loyalty to the President and the leader of the NDC party at all times must be total and unwavering, just as it happened between 1993 – 2001."
They expressed their unalloyed and unflinching support to President Mills for his unique leadership style for the achievement of a Better Ghana Agenda.
They called on all NDC members and Ghanaians in general to give President Mills the needed support to enable him deliver what was best to the nation.
Again, the ministers, called on the general public to refrain from actions and utterances that tended to distract the government from achieving its manifesto, objectives and aspirations.
"In conclusion, we appeal to President Mills to remain resolute and focused in prosecuting his mandate in his bid to better the lot of Ghanaians," the statement said.
Present at the meeting were the Ashanti Regional Minister, Kofi Opoku-Manu, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Nii Armah Ashitey, the Eastern Regional Minister, Michael Ofosu Ampofo, the Western Regional Minister, Paul Evans Aidoo, the Volta Regional Minister, Doe Amenowode, the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Kwadwo Nyamekye Marfo and the Upper East Regional Minister, Mark Woyongo.
Other ministers included the Northern Regional Minister who is also the acting Regional Minister for the Upper West Region, Bukari Moses Mabenga and the Western Regional Minister, Paul Evans Aidoo who represented the Central Regional Minister, Ama Benyiwa Doe.
They stated that as they were not against individual or collective criticisms about the governance style of President Mills, what was distasteful was that the criticisms had been carried out without decorum and circumspection.
In a press statement issued by the ministers after a meeting in Kumasi on Friday to review pertinent issues, which arose out of the March 9-13, 2010, 2nd Regional Ministers’ Conference in Sunyani, the ministers took a serious look at the recent developments within the NDC and their implications for the future of the party.
At the meeting chaired by the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye Marfo, the ministers observed that the negative developments perpetrated by some NDC party members did not promote cohesion, integration and good governance to effectively prosecute the "Better Ghana Agenda".
The ministers observed that President Mills was only one and half years old in a four-year mandate given him by Ghanaians and that it was "totally unacceptable and unfair for anyone or group of people to begin contemplating on a presidential candidate bid for election 2012".
According to them, the move "was unprecedented and at variance with the NDC party constitution".
The ministers’ statement added: "Let us remind members of the NDC family that loyalty to the President and the leader of the NDC party at all times must be total and unwavering, just as it happened between 1993 – 2001."
They expressed their unalloyed and unflinching support to President Mills for his unique leadership style for the achievement of a Better Ghana Agenda.
They called on all NDC members and Ghanaians in general to give President Mills the needed support to enable him deliver what was best to the nation.
Again, the ministers, called on the general public to refrain from actions and utterances that tended to distract the government from achieving its manifesto, objectives and aspirations.
"In conclusion, we appeal to President Mills to remain resolute and focused in prosecuting his mandate in his bid to better the lot of Ghanaians," the statement said.
Present at the meeting were the Ashanti Regional Minister, Kofi Opoku-Manu, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Nii Armah Ashitey, the Eastern Regional Minister, Michael Ofosu Ampofo, the Western Regional Minister, Paul Evans Aidoo, the Volta Regional Minister, Doe Amenowode, the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Kwadwo Nyamekye Marfo and the Upper East Regional Minister, Mark Woyongo.
Other ministers included the Northern Regional Minister who is also the acting Regional Minister for the Upper West Region, Bukari Moses Mabenga and the Western Regional Minister, Paul Evans Aidoo who represented the Central Regional Minister, Ama Benyiwa Doe.
Friday, June 11, 2010
HUMAN HEAD FOUND...On Cocoa farm (LEAD STORY, MIRROR, JULY 12, 2010)
From Kwame Asare Boadu, Goaso
THE severed head of a murdered man has been found buried in a shallow grave on a cocoa farm at Sakyikrom, near Asumura in the Asunafo North municipality of the Brong Ahafo Region.
It was wrapped in a black plastic bag and buried some few metres from where the body of the deceased, Yaw Peter, was discovered about three weeks ago.
Yaw, a farm labourer, was found murdered on the cocoa farm but with his head missing three days after he had gone for group farming, known in Akan as “nnoboa”, with others.
Earlier reports had alleged that the suspects had sold the head for GH¢20,000 to a buyer at a village near Mim.
According to eyewitnesses, a farmer working on his farm was attracted by a stench in the area.
Curiosity drove him to search for the source of the stench and, in the course of the search, he saw flies all over a plastic bag containing the head protruding from the grave,
The farmer went to Sakyikrom to raise an alarm, after which the police were informed to go and retrieve the head, which was in the early stages of decomposition.
Meanwhile, the key suspect in the murder, Dery Donkor, alias Bula, has been remanded in prison custody by a court in Goaso, while three others have been released on bail.
Dery was said to have admitted carrying out the heinous crime and the court decided to keep him in custody to enable the police to conclude their investigations.
The three others who have been released on bail are Jacob Atia, alias Paa Kojo, a purchasing clerk of a private cocoa buying company, Kofi Nsiah and Kwame Ketewa.
Shock and apprehension swept through Sakyikrom and its environs on May 14 when Yaw’s body was discovered with the head missing.
Yaw, a Dargati by birth, lived with his wife at a cottage near Sakyikrom where he worked as a farm labourer.
On May 11, 2010, the deceased joined Dery, Nsiah and Ketewa for the “nnoboa” activity on a farm but did not return.
Unable to establish what had happened to the husband, his wife rushed to Sakyikrom in search of him.
Members of the community organised a search party in the night but Yaw could not be found.
On May 14, 2010, a farmer in the area went to his cocoa farm where he was attracted to a stench and flies from a distance and, upon a search, Yaw’s remains, covered with cocoa leaves but with the head missing, were found.
A report was consequently made to the Unit Committee of the area, which followed it up with a report to the police.
The Goaso Municipal Police Commander, Superintendent Twumasi Ankrah, said Dery admitted taking part in the heinous crime and mentioned Atia as the one who had masterminded the crime.
THE severed head of a murdered man has been found buried in a shallow grave on a cocoa farm at Sakyikrom, near Asumura in the Asunafo North municipality of the Brong Ahafo Region.
It was wrapped in a black plastic bag and buried some few metres from where the body of the deceased, Yaw Peter, was discovered about three weeks ago.
Yaw, a farm labourer, was found murdered on the cocoa farm but with his head missing three days after he had gone for group farming, known in Akan as “nnoboa”, with others.
Earlier reports had alleged that the suspects had sold the head for GH¢20,000 to a buyer at a village near Mim.
According to eyewitnesses, a farmer working on his farm was attracted by a stench in the area.
Curiosity drove him to search for the source of the stench and, in the course of the search, he saw flies all over a plastic bag containing the head protruding from the grave,
The farmer went to Sakyikrom to raise an alarm, after which the police were informed to go and retrieve the head, which was in the early stages of decomposition.
Meanwhile, the key suspect in the murder, Dery Donkor, alias Bula, has been remanded in prison custody by a court in Goaso, while three others have been released on bail.
Dery was said to have admitted carrying out the heinous crime and the court decided to keep him in custody to enable the police to conclude their investigations.
The three others who have been released on bail are Jacob Atia, alias Paa Kojo, a purchasing clerk of a private cocoa buying company, Kofi Nsiah and Kwame Ketewa.
Shock and apprehension swept through Sakyikrom and its environs on May 14 when Yaw’s body was discovered with the head missing.
Yaw, a Dargati by birth, lived with his wife at a cottage near Sakyikrom where he worked as a farm labourer.
On May 11, 2010, the deceased joined Dery, Nsiah and Ketewa for the “nnoboa” activity on a farm but did not return.
Unable to establish what had happened to the husband, his wife rushed to Sakyikrom in search of him.
Members of the community organised a search party in the night but Yaw could not be found.
On May 14, 2010, a farmer in the area went to his cocoa farm where he was attracted to a stench and flies from a distance and, upon a search, Yaw’s remains, covered with cocoa leaves but with the head missing, were found.
A report was consequently made to the Unit Committee of the area, which followed it up with a report to the police.
The Goaso Municipal Police Commander, Superintendent Twumasi Ankrah, said Dery admitted taking part in the heinous crime and mentioned Atia as the one who had masterminded the crime.
FOREST PLANTATION PROGRAMME GENERATES (PAGE 51, JUNE 11, 2010)
THE National Forest Plantation Development Programme (NFPDP) has generated 15,656 jobs since President John Evans Atta Mills launched it at Abofour in the Ashanti Region in January 2010.
Each person is working on a hectare of land on which he or she plants and nurtures the seedlings to maturity under the supervision of the Forestry Services Division (FSD).
The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Alhaji Collins Dauda, disclosed this in an interview after visiting four of the plantation sites in the Ashanti Region on Wednesday.
The sites are at Amoaman and Beposo in the Sekyere Central District and two others in the Mampong municipality.
Apart from receiving monthly allowances, the workers have also been given the freedom to cultivate maize and other foodstuffs on the land allocated to them for their own use.
Targeted at regenerating over 400,000 hectares of degraded reserves and off-reserve areas, the NFPDP will focus essentially on developing a sustainable forest resource base to accelerate the national greening campaign and rejuvenate rural economies through the provision of over 51,000 jobs in 170 districts by 2011, from an initial 30,000 jobs in 100 districts this year.
Objectives developed to achieve the overall goal include generating employment as a means of reducing rural poverty, the wood deficit, among others.
Funding for the programme comes from the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) funds, the District Assemblies’ Common Fund, the Plantations Fund Board and the Mineral Development Fund.
Addressing the workers at the plantation sites, Alhaji Dauda said the programme was very dear to the heart of the government, for which reason it would commit all the resources to see the programme grow.
He described the NFPDP as a good employment avenue for the youth and, therefore, urged them to work hard to sustain it.
The minister said no genuine work was useless, stressing, “A good work is how you do it.”
The minister, on behalf of his ministry, presented a number of uniforms and machetes to the workers to facilitate their work.
Briefing the minister, the Ashanti Regional Manager of the FSD, Mrs Edith Abroquah, said the people had fully embraced the NFPDP, which is a source of hope for a number of people in the rural communities.
She said some of the sites were ready for planting, while others were still being prepared.
She mentioned some of the challenges facing the programme as difficulty in acquiring reserve lands and means of transporting field staff to and from the planting sites.
The Sekyere Central District Chief Executive, Mr Ebenezer Akuoko Frimpong, pledged the support of the district assembly to the programme to enable it to achieve its goal.
Each person is working on a hectare of land on which he or she plants and nurtures the seedlings to maturity under the supervision of the Forestry Services Division (FSD).
The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Alhaji Collins Dauda, disclosed this in an interview after visiting four of the plantation sites in the Ashanti Region on Wednesday.
The sites are at Amoaman and Beposo in the Sekyere Central District and two others in the Mampong municipality.
Apart from receiving monthly allowances, the workers have also been given the freedom to cultivate maize and other foodstuffs on the land allocated to them for their own use.
Targeted at regenerating over 400,000 hectares of degraded reserves and off-reserve areas, the NFPDP will focus essentially on developing a sustainable forest resource base to accelerate the national greening campaign and rejuvenate rural economies through the provision of over 51,000 jobs in 170 districts by 2011, from an initial 30,000 jobs in 100 districts this year.
Objectives developed to achieve the overall goal include generating employment as a means of reducing rural poverty, the wood deficit, among others.
Funding for the programme comes from the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) funds, the District Assemblies’ Common Fund, the Plantations Fund Board and the Mineral Development Fund.
Addressing the workers at the plantation sites, Alhaji Dauda said the programme was very dear to the heart of the government, for which reason it would commit all the resources to see the programme grow.
He described the NFPDP as a good employment avenue for the youth and, therefore, urged them to work hard to sustain it.
The minister said no genuine work was useless, stressing, “A good work is how you do it.”
The minister, on behalf of his ministry, presented a number of uniforms and machetes to the workers to facilitate their work.
Briefing the minister, the Ashanti Regional Manager of the FSD, Mrs Edith Abroquah, said the people had fully embraced the NFPDP, which is a source of hope for a number of people in the rural communities.
She said some of the sites were ready for planting, while others were still being prepared.
She mentioned some of the challenges facing the programme as difficulty in acquiring reserve lands and means of transporting field staff to and from the planting sites.
The Sekyere Central District Chief Executive, Mr Ebenezer Akuoko Frimpong, pledged the support of the district assembly to the programme to enable it to achieve its goal.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
4 CHIEFS TAKE NATIONAL HOUSE OF CHIEFS TO COURT (PAGE 20, JUNE 8, 2010)
FOUR paramount chiefs from the Brong Ahafo Region who owe allegiance to the Asantehene have gone to court praying for an order of mandamus to compel the National House of Chiefs (NHC) to enter their names into the national register of chiefs.
The chiefs are the Tuobodomhene, Nana Asare Baffour II, Nana Oduro Boama, Omanhene of Tanoboase, Nana Kwaku Boakye Yiadom, Omanhene of Tanoso, and Nana Osei Kofi Abiri, Omanhene of Kenyasi Number One.
According to them, the NHC had wilfully refused to perform its administrative functions by failing to include their names in the national register, and that unless the court compelled it to do so there was no way it was going to act.
When the case was called for hearing at the Kumasi High Court last Wednesday, the presiding judge, Mr Justice Kwame Ansu-Gyeabour, asked the counsel for the plaintiffs, Nana Obiri Boahen, to file a written submission of his case at the court before the next adjourned date of July 2, 2010.
The affidavit filed on behalf of the four chiefs by the Tuobodomhene said by virtue of the fact that Tuobodom, Tanoboase and Tanoso stools did not serve under any stool in the Brong Ahafo Region but rather under the Golden Stool, the erstwhile PNDC government on August 5, 1988, created a traditional council for them whose presidency was to be rotational.
It said based on the recommendations of the PNDC’s committee set up to look into the Ashanti/Brong Ahafo chieftaincy affairs, all letters affecting the three paramountcies were referred to the Asantehene.
The affidavit further stated that on December 12, 1996, the Asantehene elevated the three stools to paramount status, and in furtherance the chiefs occupying the stools swore the oath of allegiance to the Asantehene to legitimise their elevation.
The affidavit said all attempts by the chiefs to get the NHC to enter their names into the national register had proved unsuccessful since their elevation.
According to the affidavit, May 7, 2007, their counsel wrote to the Brong Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs and the then Ministry of Chieftaincy expressing their strong exception to the marginalisation of their elevated stools from not participating in the activities of the Regional House.
“That on February 26, 2008, the Asanteman Council wrote to the NHC drawing its attention to the embarrassment which was being caused to us – elevated chiefs and Asanteman Council as a result of the indifference and unfair treatment.”
“That in all cases our requests have been treated with contempt by the NHC and the Regional House of Chiefs,” the affidavit said.
On the Kenyasi Number One Stool, the affidavit said Nana Abiri, the Omanhene, is the customary successor of the late Nana Kwaku Acheampong, the immediate past Omanhene and that since his enstoolment, he had not been listed in the national register of chiefs even though he is a member of the Brong Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs.
The chiefs are the Tuobodomhene, Nana Asare Baffour II, Nana Oduro Boama, Omanhene of Tanoboase, Nana Kwaku Boakye Yiadom, Omanhene of Tanoso, and Nana Osei Kofi Abiri, Omanhene of Kenyasi Number One.
According to them, the NHC had wilfully refused to perform its administrative functions by failing to include their names in the national register, and that unless the court compelled it to do so there was no way it was going to act.
When the case was called for hearing at the Kumasi High Court last Wednesday, the presiding judge, Mr Justice Kwame Ansu-Gyeabour, asked the counsel for the plaintiffs, Nana Obiri Boahen, to file a written submission of his case at the court before the next adjourned date of July 2, 2010.
The affidavit filed on behalf of the four chiefs by the Tuobodomhene said by virtue of the fact that Tuobodom, Tanoboase and Tanoso stools did not serve under any stool in the Brong Ahafo Region but rather under the Golden Stool, the erstwhile PNDC government on August 5, 1988, created a traditional council for them whose presidency was to be rotational.
It said based on the recommendations of the PNDC’s committee set up to look into the Ashanti/Brong Ahafo chieftaincy affairs, all letters affecting the three paramountcies were referred to the Asantehene.
The affidavit further stated that on December 12, 1996, the Asantehene elevated the three stools to paramount status, and in furtherance the chiefs occupying the stools swore the oath of allegiance to the Asantehene to legitimise their elevation.
The affidavit said all attempts by the chiefs to get the NHC to enter their names into the national register had proved unsuccessful since their elevation.
According to the affidavit, May 7, 2007, their counsel wrote to the Brong Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs and the then Ministry of Chieftaincy expressing their strong exception to the marginalisation of their elevated stools from not participating in the activities of the Regional House.
“That on February 26, 2008, the Asanteman Council wrote to the NHC drawing its attention to the embarrassment which was being caused to us – elevated chiefs and Asanteman Council as a result of the indifference and unfair treatment.”
“That in all cases our requests have been treated with contempt by the NHC and the Regional House of Chiefs,” the affidavit said.
On the Kenyasi Number One Stool, the affidavit said Nana Abiri, the Omanhene, is the customary successor of the late Nana Kwaku Acheampong, the immediate past Omanhene and that since his enstoolment, he had not been listed in the national register of chiefs even though he is a member of the Brong Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs.
Monday, June 7, 2010
SOLDIERS ON RAMPAGE ...Brutalise police, three injured (LEAD STORY, JUNE 7, 2010
STORY: Kwame Asare Boadu & Enoch Darfah Frimpong, Kumasi
SOLDIERS from the Fourth Garrison in Kumasi have gone on rampage, brutalising more than a dozen policemen at various duty posts in the Kumasi metropolis and leaving three of them unconscious.
In their two-day assault, the soldiers also vandalised property at some police stations and caused some policemen to flee their duty posts.
According to Chief Inspector Yusif Mohammed Tanko in charge of the Public Affairs Directorate of the Ashanti Regional Police Command, the series of attacks began at the Cedar Crescent traffic lights, near the Kotoko training ground, about 4 p.m. last Friday.
He said the traffic lights were off at the time and so two policemen, Constables Abbass Aidoo and David Wahyee, had been detailed to direct traffic at that busy joint.
While the two were on duty, a man riding an unregistered motorcycle without a crash helmet came along and the two policemen stopped the motorcycle and questioned the rider, who later identified himself as a military man.
According to the police, in the course of the interrogation, the rider got infuriated and sped off, after he had threatened to bring his colleagues to assault the policemen.
Chief Inspector Tanko said about 5 p.m. on the same day, three other policemen — Inspector Jacob Gyekye, Lance Corporal Opoku Agyemang Prempeh and Constable Hannah Serwah — who were directing traffic at the Bekwai Roundabout saw a number of military men in a military vehicle which had its headlights on.
Thinking that the soldiers were on their way to perform an official duty, the policemen said they paved the way for them to pass by stopping other vehicles.
However, the soldiers first went to the Cedar Crescent traffic lights where they brutally assaulted Constables Aidoo and Wahyee, tearing their uniforms into pieces in the process.
According to the Police PRO, from there, the soldiers attacked any policeman on sight, including the three at the Bekwai Roundabout who had earlier stopped traffic for the soldiers to pass.
The three policemen reported the incident to the Regional Police Headquarters, where they were issued with medical forms to attend hospital about 5:45 p.m.
Chief Inspector Tanko said about 7 p.m., another policeman, Lance Corporal C. K. Mensah, stationed at Nkawie, was assaulted by some military men at the Sofoline area while he was driving to his station.
That same night, a group of military men in three military vehicles attacked policemen at the Suame Police Station and vandalised their radio equipment and other property, while Corporal G. K. Amedzo, Constable E. Ofosuhene and Constable F. O. Boateng who were on duty at the station were severely assaulted.
After the police station attacks, the military men were said to have proceeded to the front of the Suame Ghana Water Company offices where policemen on night duty had mounted a barrier and attempted to attack them but the policemen managed to escape.
About 5 a.m. on Saturday morning, the military men continued the assault with an attack on some Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) officials on duty at the Sofoline area.
According to Chief Inspector Tanko, three policemen — Sergeant Peter Oppong, Sergeant E. Obuoman and Lance Corporal Zab Tetteh Mensah — were attacked with hammers and left unconscious.
They were later sent to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) for treatment.
It would be recalled that on May 20, 2010, two military men got infuriated by a decision of MTTU officials at Suame to question their driver who was driving without a log book and a driver’s licence.
The two went to the barracks and mobilised their colleagues to assault the police at Suame and fired some gunshots.
Then on May 22, 2010, another soldier who drove carelessly at Asokwa attacked an MTTU officer who tried to point out to him that what he was doing was not good.
Chief Inspector Tanko said the matter had since been reported to the Military High Command, adding that it would be reported to National Security as well.
“This will not deter us from continuing with our duties,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Defence, Lt Gen Joseph Henry Smith (retd), has confirmed that the matter has been brought to his notice, reports Michael Donkor.
In an interview, Lt Gen Smith said as soon as the news on the alleged assault got to him, he quickly contacted the Interior Minister to discuss how to resolve the matter.
He said they thoroughly checked on what the situation was and were told that senior commanders had already moved in to restore calm and order.
He further explained that he had been informed that a policeman was alleged to have first assaulted a military man on a motorbike after the soldier had shown the policeman his identity card that he was from the military.
He said the General Officer Commanding (GOC) the Northern Command, Brigadier-General Chris Ocran, had personally visited one of the policemen who were admitted at the hospital.
He said the police and the military had also held a social activity to cement the peace.
Lt Gen Smith said the two security agencies were sister institutions working together to maintain peace and appealed to them to endeavour to resort to the appropriate channels should one wrong the other.
Lance Corporal Mensah is still in critical condition at KATH and is receiving medical attention.
He was said to have been hit in the head with a hammer by the soldiers who had attacked him and two of his colleagues while they were on duty at the Sofoline area around 5 a.m. on Saturday morning.
SOLDIERS from the Fourth Garrison in Kumasi have gone on rampage, brutalising more than a dozen policemen at various duty posts in the Kumasi metropolis and leaving three of them unconscious.
In their two-day assault, the soldiers also vandalised property at some police stations and caused some policemen to flee their duty posts.
According to Chief Inspector Yusif Mohammed Tanko in charge of the Public Affairs Directorate of the Ashanti Regional Police Command, the series of attacks began at the Cedar Crescent traffic lights, near the Kotoko training ground, about 4 p.m. last Friday.
He said the traffic lights were off at the time and so two policemen, Constables Abbass Aidoo and David Wahyee, had been detailed to direct traffic at that busy joint.
While the two were on duty, a man riding an unregistered motorcycle without a crash helmet came along and the two policemen stopped the motorcycle and questioned the rider, who later identified himself as a military man.
According to the police, in the course of the interrogation, the rider got infuriated and sped off, after he had threatened to bring his colleagues to assault the policemen.
Chief Inspector Tanko said about 5 p.m. on the same day, three other policemen — Inspector Jacob Gyekye, Lance Corporal Opoku Agyemang Prempeh and Constable Hannah Serwah — who were directing traffic at the Bekwai Roundabout saw a number of military men in a military vehicle which had its headlights on.
Thinking that the soldiers were on their way to perform an official duty, the policemen said they paved the way for them to pass by stopping other vehicles.
However, the soldiers first went to the Cedar Crescent traffic lights where they brutally assaulted Constables Aidoo and Wahyee, tearing their uniforms into pieces in the process.
According to the Police PRO, from there, the soldiers attacked any policeman on sight, including the three at the Bekwai Roundabout who had earlier stopped traffic for the soldiers to pass.
The three policemen reported the incident to the Regional Police Headquarters, where they were issued with medical forms to attend hospital about 5:45 p.m.
Chief Inspector Tanko said about 7 p.m., another policeman, Lance Corporal C. K. Mensah, stationed at Nkawie, was assaulted by some military men at the Sofoline area while he was driving to his station.
That same night, a group of military men in three military vehicles attacked policemen at the Suame Police Station and vandalised their radio equipment and other property, while Corporal G. K. Amedzo, Constable E. Ofosuhene and Constable F. O. Boateng who were on duty at the station were severely assaulted.
After the police station attacks, the military men were said to have proceeded to the front of the Suame Ghana Water Company offices where policemen on night duty had mounted a barrier and attempted to attack them but the policemen managed to escape.
About 5 a.m. on Saturday morning, the military men continued the assault with an attack on some Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) officials on duty at the Sofoline area.
According to Chief Inspector Tanko, three policemen — Sergeant Peter Oppong, Sergeant E. Obuoman and Lance Corporal Zab Tetteh Mensah — were attacked with hammers and left unconscious.
They were later sent to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) for treatment.
It would be recalled that on May 20, 2010, two military men got infuriated by a decision of MTTU officials at Suame to question their driver who was driving without a log book and a driver’s licence.
The two went to the barracks and mobilised their colleagues to assault the police at Suame and fired some gunshots.
Then on May 22, 2010, another soldier who drove carelessly at Asokwa attacked an MTTU officer who tried to point out to him that what he was doing was not good.
Chief Inspector Tanko said the matter had since been reported to the Military High Command, adding that it would be reported to National Security as well.
“This will not deter us from continuing with our duties,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Defence, Lt Gen Joseph Henry Smith (retd), has confirmed that the matter has been brought to his notice, reports Michael Donkor.
In an interview, Lt Gen Smith said as soon as the news on the alleged assault got to him, he quickly contacted the Interior Minister to discuss how to resolve the matter.
He said they thoroughly checked on what the situation was and were told that senior commanders had already moved in to restore calm and order.
He further explained that he had been informed that a policeman was alleged to have first assaulted a military man on a motorbike after the soldier had shown the policeman his identity card that he was from the military.
He said the General Officer Commanding (GOC) the Northern Command, Brigadier-General Chris Ocran, had personally visited one of the policemen who were admitted at the hospital.
He said the police and the military had also held a social activity to cement the peace.
Lt Gen Smith said the two security agencies were sister institutions working together to maintain peace and appealed to them to endeavour to resort to the appropriate channels should one wrong the other.
Lance Corporal Mensah is still in critical condition at KATH and is receiving medical attention.
He was said to have been hit in the head with a hammer by the soldiers who had attacked him and two of his colleagues while they were on duty at the Sofoline area around 5 a.m. on Saturday morning.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
KMA TO BUILD NEW MARKET (PAGE 29, JUNE 7, 2010)
THE Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) is constructing a temporary market to resettle traders who will be affected by the reconstruction of the Kumasi Central Market.
The temporary market,which will consist of about 500 stores and stalls,is located near the recently demolished "Abinkyi" Slum.
Reconstruction of the Central Market is expected to start before the end of this year, according to Mr Clement Kigeri, Public Relations Officer of the KMA.
Plans to reconstruct the market had been on the drawing board for about 10 years but previous metropolitan chief executives were unable to implement them.
However, the current Chief Executive, Mr Samuel Sarpong, has moved a step further with plans to fulfil the dream of a befitting market for the metropolis.
He has gotten the assembly to approve the reconstruction of the market into a modern facility.The project is to be undertaken in phases.
Mr Kigeri said this demanded that the assembly prepared a place for the affected traders so they would not be dislocated.
The temporary market,which will consist of about 500 stores and stalls,is located near the recently demolished "Abinkyi" Slum.
Reconstruction of the Central Market is expected to start before the end of this year, according to Mr Clement Kigeri, Public Relations Officer of the KMA.
Plans to reconstruct the market had been on the drawing board for about 10 years but previous metropolitan chief executives were unable to implement them.
However, the current Chief Executive, Mr Samuel Sarpong, has moved a step further with plans to fulfil the dream of a befitting market for the metropolis.
He has gotten the assembly to approve the reconstruction of the market into a modern facility.The project is to be undertaken in phases.
Mr Kigeri said this demanded that the assembly prepared a place for the affected traders so they would not be dislocated.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Illegal disconnection of customer...ECG FLOORED...Ordered to pay GH¢2,030 (LEAD STORY, JUNE 4, 2010)
Story: Kwame Asare Boadu, Kumasi
THE Kumasi High Court has ordered the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to pay GH¢22,030 in general and special damages to a customer for illegal disconnection.
In a landmark ruling, the court, presided over by Mr Justice Frank Amoah, also awarded GH¢2,000 costs against the ECG.
The order followed a suit filed by the proprietor of New Oxford International School in Kumasi, Nana Paul Kwame Boateng, praying the court for damages against the ECG for its action against him.
In 2007, Nana Boateng, who is also a resident of Ayigya, a suburb of Kumasi, filed the suit at the court against the ECG, claiming damages for illegal disconnection of electricity supply to his residence on May 30, 2007.
The plaintiff said as a result of the disconnection, prescribed drugs kept in his refrigerator for his sustenance got destroyed.
He averred that on that day, a worker of the company visited his house and told him that he (plaintiff) had some outstanding bills to settle.
According to the plaintiff, all attempts to convince the officer that he had paid his bills were disregarded by the officer, who proceeded to disconnect supply to his residence.
The plaintiff said the disconnection to his house, seven clear days after he had settled the bill, was “deliberate, actuated by malice and without any lawful justification”.
In a statement of claim accompanying the writ, the plaintiff stated that the ECG’s act was an affront to his dignity and a calculated attempt to defame him and cast a slur on his reputation as an aspirant to the Asokore Stool.
The statement pointed to the mode and unprofessional manner in which the ECG agent went about the disconnection, which attracted several people to the scene, thereby lowering his (plaintiff’s) esteem in the eyes of such people and exposing him to hatred, contempt and ridicule.
In its ruling, the court indicated that the action of the agent of the ECG was unjustifiable.
The court described the ECG’s defence as lame because in this computer age, the company should have taken steps to update its day-to-day operations and know who was in default of payment of bills.
According to the court, if the agent had exercised a little restraint, no inconvenience would have been caused to the plaintiff, hence the ECG being held liable for the damages.
THE Kumasi High Court has ordered the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to pay GH¢22,030 in general and special damages to a customer for illegal disconnection.
In a landmark ruling, the court, presided over by Mr Justice Frank Amoah, also awarded GH¢2,000 costs against the ECG.
The order followed a suit filed by the proprietor of New Oxford International School in Kumasi, Nana Paul Kwame Boateng, praying the court for damages against the ECG for its action against him.
In 2007, Nana Boateng, who is also a resident of Ayigya, a suburb of Kumasi, filed the suit at the court against the ECG, claiming damages for illegal disconnection of electricity supply to his residence on May 30, 2007.
The plaintiff said as a result of the disconnection, prescribed drugs kept in his refrigerator for his sustenance got destroyed.
He averred that on that day, a worker of the company visited his house and told him that he (plaintiff) had some outstanding bills to settle.
According to the plaintiff, all attempts to convince the officer that he had paid his bills were disregarded by the officer, who proceeded to disconnect supply to his residence.
The plaintiff said the disconnection to his house, seven clear days after he had settled the bill, was “deliberate, actuated by malice and without any lawful justification”.
In a statement of claim accompanying the writ, the plaintiff stated that the ECG’s act was an affront to his dignity and a calculated attempt to defame him and cast a slur on his reputation as an aspirant to the Asokore Stool.
The statement pointed to the mode and unprofessional manner in which the ECG agent went about the disconnection, which attracted several people to the scene, thereby lowering his (plaintiff’s) esteem in the eyes of such people and exposing him to hatred, contempt and ridicule.
In its ruling, the court indicated that the action of the agent of the ECG was unjustifiable.
The court described the ECG’s defence as lame because in this computer age, the company should have taken steps to update its day-to-day operations and know who was in default of payment of bills.
According to the court, if the agent had exercised a little restraint, no inconvenience would have been caused to the plaintiff, hence the ECG being held liable for the damages.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
COURT HEARS CASE OF ADUDU FAMILY (PAGE 3, JUNE 3, 2010)
THE KUMASI High Court has begun hearing a case in which the Abudu Royal Family of Dagbon is seeking an order of the court to compel the Andani Royal Family to abide by the road map to peace entered into in Kumasi.
When the case was called yesterday, the court, presided over by Mr Justice Kwame Ansu-Gyeabour, asked counsel for the plaintiffs, Nana Obiri Boahen, to file a written submission of his arguments before the next adjourned date on July 2, 2010.
The plaintiffs, the Kworli Gbang-Lana Mahama Mahama and the Banvum Lana, representing the Abudu Family, are seeking a declaration that both the Abudu and the Andani Royal families are bound by the terms and provisions of the road map to peace signed by the Committee of Eminent Chiefs and issued in Kumasi on March 30, 2006.
They are further seeking a declaration that having benefited from the reliance on the road map entered into between representatives of the Abudu and the Andani gates, the defendants are prevented in law from reneging on the decisions arrived at in the road map signed in Kumasi.
In their affidavit in support of the motion, the plaintiffs said on May 30, 2006, the then government of Ghana set up the Committee of Eminent Chiefs, chaired by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu, to reconcile the feuding Abudu and Andani Royal gates, under the auspices of the Ministry of the Interior.
The affidavit said representatives of the two families met several times before the eminent chiefs at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, where each gate presented its side of the matter, supported with evidence.
According to the affidavit, the agreement entered into was reduced into writing and duly signed by representatives of the two families, the three eminent chiefs and the then Northern Regional Minister.
It said all the parties pledged to abide by the road map and encourage their supporters to continue to keep the peace.
“However, the Kpan Naa Bawah Mahamadu and the Kampa Kuya-Naa Abdulai (Regent of Dagbon), both from the Andani Family, have been selling land and appointing some chiefs, without due regard to the contents of the road map,” it contended.
It averred that the defendants’ acceptance and recognition of the contents of the road map could be confirmed by the fact that they applied the contents to perform the burial of Ya-Na Yakubu Andani II.
It said all attempts by the Abudus to get the Andanis to respect the road map had failed and prayed to the court to compel them to do so.
When the case was called yesterday, the court, presided over by Mr Justice Kwame Ansu-Gyeabour, asked counsel for the plaintiffs, Nana Obiri Boahen, to file a written submission of his arguments before the next adjourned date on July 2, 2010.
The plaintiffs, the Kworli Gbang-Lana Mahama Mahama and the Banvum Lana, representing the Abudu Family, are seeking a declaration that both the Abudu and the Andani Royal families are bound by the terms and provisions of the road map to peace signed by the Committee of Eminent Chiefs and issued in Kumasi on March 30, 2006.
They are further seeking a declaration that having benefited from the reliance on the road map entered into between representatives of the Abudu and the Andani gates, the defendants are prevented in law from reneging on the decisions arrived at in the road map signed in Kumasi.
In their affidavit in support of the motion, the plaintiffs said on May 30, 2006, the then government of Ghana set up the Committee of Eminent Chiefs, chaired by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu, to reconcile the feuding Abudu and Andani Royal gates, under the auspices of the Ministry of the Interior.
The affidavit said representatives of the two families met several times before the eminent chiefs at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, where each gate presented its side of the matter, supported with evidence.
According to the affidavit, the agreement entered into was reduced into writing and duly signed by representatives of the two families, the three eminent chiefs and the then Northern Regional Minister.
It said all the parties pledged to abide by the road map and encourage their supporters to continue to keep the peace.
“However, the Kpan Naa Bawah Mahamadu and the Kampa Kuya-Naa Abdulai (Regent of Dagbon), both from the Andani Family, have been selling land and appointing some chiefs, without due regard to the contents of the road map,” it contended.
It averred that the defendants’ acceptance and recognition of the contents of the road map could be confirmed by the fact that they applied the contents to perform the burial of Ya-Na Yakubu Andani II.
It said all attempts by the Abudus to get the Andanis to respect the road map had failed and prayed to the court to compel them to do so.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
KWADASO AGRIC COLLEGE ELECTS NEW PREFECTS (PAGE 42, JUNE 3, 2010)
THE Kwadaso Agricultural College has elected new prefects to administer the affairs of the school for the next academic year.
Mr Bernard Addai was elected President of the Students Representative Council (SRC) after polling 94 per cent of the total votes cast. Other officers elected included Mr Nicholas Atanga Atoa, General Attaché; Mr Kofi Asigbe, Auditor; Mr Peter Nketia, men’s Prefect; Mr Yusif Abu Samed, Entertainment Prefect, and Mr Paul Anderson, Animal attaché. For the first time in the college’s history, it conducted the elections through the electronic voting system.
A science graduate from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology developed the system. In an interview after the election, the chairman of the school’s election committee, Mr Thomas Quaye, said the decision to introduce the electronic voting was to eliminate suspicion in the election.
He said in the past, students complained about irregularities in the elections and expressed happiness that there were no complaints with the new system.
The outgoing SRC President, Mr Eben Tetteh Agbo, said the SRC had decided to make the electronic voting a permanent system of elections in the college. He commended the student body for ensuring that the election went on peacefully.
The Principal of the College, Mr K.F. Kontoh also commended the SRC for going a step further to bring sanity into its election. He promised that the college’s administration would support SRC to ensure sanity in their activities both on and off campus.
Mr Bernard Addai was elected President of the Students Representative Council (SRC) after polling 94 per cent of the total votes cast. Other officers elected included Mr Nicholas Atanga Atoa, General Attaché; Mr Kofi Asigbe, Auditor; Mr Peter Nketia, men’s Prefect; Mr Yusif Abu Samed, Entertainment Prefect, and Mr Paul Anderson, Animal attaché. For the first time in the college’s history, it conducted the elections through the electronic voting system.
A science graduate from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology developed the system. In an interview after the election, the chairman of the school’s election committee, Mr Thomas Quaye, said the decision to introduce the electronic voting was to eliminate suspicion in the election.
He said in the past, students complained about irregularities in the elections and expressed happiness that there were no complaints with the new system.
The outgoing SRC President, Mr Eben Tetteh Agbo, said the SRC had decided to make the electronic voting a permanent system of elections in the college. He commended the student body for ensuring that the election went on peacefully.
The Principal of the College, Mr K.F. Kontoh also commended the SRC for going a step further to bring sanity into its election. He promised that the college’s administration would support SRC to ensure sanity in their activities both on and off campus.
AHAFO ANO NORTH ASSEMBLY HOLDS MEETING (PAGE 42, JUNE 3, 2010)
THE Forestry Services Division (FSD) of the Forestry Commission has registered 300 youth in the Ahafo Ano North District for engagement on the National Forest Plantation Development Programme (NFPDP).
The youth would be engaged in plantation projects on some degraded forests in the district from which they would earn some income.
The District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr David Addai Amankwah, made this known at the first ordinary meeting of the district assembly at Tepa.
President John Evans Atta Mills in January, this year, launched the NDPDP at Abofour in the Offinso Municipality with an invitation to all Ghanaians to join in the efforts at halting the degradation of the country’s forests.
The NFPDP, which is being executed by the Forestry Commission in collaboration with selected district assemblies, was conceived by Alhaji Collins Dauda (MP), the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, and subsequently adopted by Cabinet.
Targeted at regenerating over 400,000 hectares of degraded reserves and off-reserve areas, NFPDP will focus essentially at developing a sustainable forest resource base to accelerate the national greening campaign and rejuvenate rural economies through the provision of more than 51,000 jobs in 170 districts across the country by 2011 from an initial 30,000 jobs in 100 districts this year.
Mr Amankwaah told the meeting that the assembly would fully support the programme to enable it to achieve its objectives. On revenue generation, the DCE said it had been a challenge to the assembly and called for concerted measures to address the situation.
He said without improved local revenue generation, the assembly could not do much in respect of initiating development projects. Mr Amankwaah stated that the assembly intended to spend GH¢105,833.14, representing 19.68 per cent of its share of the district assemblies’ common fund on education this year.
The DCE stressed the importance the assembly attached to education and urged parents to enrol their children in school. On the farmers’ registration exercise, he said the exercise received low patronage in 2009.
Mr Amankwaah said as a result, the exercise had been extended to this year and that by the close of March, 6,071 farmers comprising 4,371 males and 1,700 females had been registered.
He urged the assembly members to advise their electorate who are farmers to register since there were a lot of benefits to be derived from it.
Mr Amankwaah said in spite of some challenges facing the National Health Insurance Scheme, the district had been able to register 63,336 people with the scheme. He added that the scheme was to intensify its educational programme to hook more people onto it.
The DCE charged officials of the Information Services Department in the district to intensify their campaign to educate the people on the government’s policies and programmes to enable them to appreciate the strides the government was making to advance the development of the nation.
The youth would be engaged in plantation projects on some degraded forests in the district from which they would earn some income.
The District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr David Addai Amankwah, made this known at the first ordinary meeting of the district assembly at Tepa.
President John Evans Atta Mills in January, this year, launched the NDPDP at Abofour in the Offinso Municipality with an invitation to all Ghanaians to join in the efforts at halting the degradation of the country’s forests.
The NFPDP, which is being executed by the Forestry Commission in collaboration with selected district assemblies, was conceived by Alhaji Collins Dauda (MP), the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, and subsequently adopted by Cabinet.
Targeted at regenerating over 400,000 hectares of degraded reserves and off-reserve areas, NFPDP will focus essentially at developing a sustainable forest resource base to accelerate the national greening campaign and rejuvenate rural economies through the provision of more than 51,000 jobs in 170 districts across the country by 2011 from an initial 30,000 jobs in 100 districts this year.
Mr Amankwaah told the meeting that the assembly would fully support the programme to enable it to achieve its objectives. On revenue generation, the DCE said it had been a challenge to the assembly and called for concerted measures to address the situation.
He said without improved local revenue generation, the assembly could not do much in respect of initiating development projects. Mr Amankwaah stated that the assembly intended to spend GH¢105,833.14, representing 19.68 per cent of its share of the district assemblies’ common fund on education this year.
The DCE stressed the importance the assembly attached to education and urged parents to enrol their children in school. On the farmers’ registration exercise, he said the exercise received low patronage in 2009.
Mr Amankwaah said as a result, the exercise had been extended to this year and that by the close of March, 6,071 farmers comprising 4,371 males and 1,700 females had been registered.
He urged the assembly members to advise their electorate who are farmers to register since there were a lot of benefits to be derived from it.
Mr Amankwaah said in spite of some challenges facing the National Health Insurance Scheme, the district had been able to register 63,336 people with the scheme. He added that the scheme was to intensify its educational programme to hook more people onto it.
The DCE charged officials of the Information Services Department in the district to intensify their campaign to educate the people on the government’s policies and programmes to enable them to appreciate the strides the government was making to advance the development of the nation.
SUPPORT GROWTH OF LOCAL COMPANIES — DR BOATENG (PAGE 42, JUNE 3, 2010)
A GHANAIAN Engineering Business expert, Dr Douglas Boateng, has called on the government to support the growth of local companies into giant establishments to enable them to rub shoulders with their international counterparts.
Dr Boateng said it was regrettable for instance that today some major construction works were awarded to foreign companies because of the inability of the local companies to meet various requirements, including equipment holding.
Dr Boateng, who is the founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Panavest International, a niche business and investment company in South Africa, said Ghana must take lessons from other developing countries that had been able to build local companies, some of which had participated and won international bids.
Inaugurating the West Africa Institute for Supply Chain Leadership at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, Dr Boateng stressed the need for the country to revisit the “good old days” when the government built strong establishments like the GIHOC conglomerate.
He said there were immense benefits in building huge conglomerates.
Dr Boateng urged Ghanaians not to see the discovery of oil as the panacea to the economic challenges facing the nation.
He said the real solution to the economic difficulties lay in the ability to manage the numerous resources of the nation, including cocoa, and for the people to work hard to improve productivity.
According to him, Ghana had over the years not managed to use resources from cocoa, gold, manganese and other resources to its advantage.
“This is what we have to address instead of seeing the discovery of oil as the end to Ghana’s woes,” Dr Boateng stated.
He said a company like MTN International’s market capital was bigger than that of Ghana’s total GDP, which was unacceptable for a nation with many resources.
Dr Boateng further suggested to the private sector to consider going into partnership to strengthen their capital base for expansion.
He emphasised the need for the government to think about using supply chain as a way of strengthening state institutions.
He said, “Unless the supply chain management concept is adopted, future generations will still be talking about the same unproductive development issues while the government goes round the world with a bowl in hand looking for support.”
Dr Boateng said it was regrettable for instance that today some major construction works were awarded to foreign companies because of the inability of the local companies to meet various requirements, including equipment holding.
Dr Boateng, who is the founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Panavest International, a niche business and investment company in South Africa, said Ghana must take lessons from other developing countries that had been able to build local companies, some of which had participated and won international bids.
Inaugurating the West Africa Institute for Supply Chain Leadership at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, Dr Boateng stressed the need for the country to revisit the “good old days” when the government built strong establishments like the GIHOC conglomerate.
He said there were immense benefits in building huge conglomerates.
Dr Boateng urged Ghanaians not to see the discovery of oil as the panacea to the economic challenges facing the nation.
He said the real solution to the economic difficulties lay in the ability to manage the numerous resources of the nation, including cocoa, and for the people to work hard to improve productivity.
According to him, Ghana had over the years not managed to use resources from cocoa, gold, manganese and other resources to its advantage.
“This is what we have to address instead of seeing the discovery of oil as the end to Ghana’s woes,” Dr Boateng stated.
He said a company like MTN International’s market capital was bigger than that of Ghana’s total GDP, which was unacceptable for a nation with many resources.
Dr Boateng further suggested to the private sector to consider going into partnership to strengthen their capital base for expansion.
He emphasised the need for the government to think about using supply chain as a way of strengthening state institutions.
He said, “Unless the supply chain management concept is adopted, future generations will still be talking about the same unproductive development issues while the government goes round the world with a bowl in hand looking for support.”
UEW INTRODUCES MBA DEGREE COURSES AT KUMASI CAMPUS (PAGE 29, JUNE 3, 2010)
THE University of Education, Winneba, (UEW) has introduced a Master of Business Administration (MBA) Degree to its list of postgraduate programmes.
The MBA, to be tenable at the College of Technology Education (Kumasi Campus) of the University, starts this year with specialisation in two areas – Marketing and Organisational Development and Human Resource Management.
Prof. Emmanuel James Flolu, the Principal of the Kumasi Campus of the University, said , the MBA programme would be expanded next year to include Accounting and Finance.
He said the introduction of the programme was part of the university’s efforts to produce top-level manpower for industry.
Speaking at a meeting with a cross-section of the alumni of the Kumasi Campus of the University in Kumasi to formally introduce himself to them, Prof. Flolu, who assumed office about six months ago, said the UEW was charging affordable fees for the programme.
He said it was the intention of the university to help many workers as possible to access higher education while still working and that was why the MBA programme had been fixed for the evenings to enable workers to attend lectures after work.
The principal said there was the need for the alumni of the university to play a leading role in building their alma mater.
“You’ve been the source of inspiration for our progress”, he told the alumni and appealed to them to initiate programmes and projects that would benefit the university.
The MBA, to be tenable at the College of Technology Education (Kumasi Campus) of the University, starts this year with specialisation in two areas – Marketing and Organisational Development and Human Resource Management.
Prof. Emmanuel James Flolu, the Principal of the Kumasi Campus of the University, said , the MBA programme would be expanded next year to include Accounting and Finance.
He said the introduction of the programme was part of the university’s efforts to produce top-level manpower for industry.
Speaking at a meeting with a cross-section of the alumni of the Kumasi Campus of the University in Kumasi to formally introduce himself to them, Prof. Flolu, who assumed office about six months ago, said the UEW was charging affordable fees for the programme.
He said it was the intention of the university to help many workers as possible to access higher education while still working and that was why the MBA programme had been fixed for the evenings to enable workers to attend lectures after work.
The principal said there was the need for the alumni of the university to play a leading role in building their alma mater.
“You’ve been the source of inspiration for our progress”, he told the alumni and appealed to them to initiate programmes and projects that would benefit the university.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
FIRE DESTROYS CITY STYLE HOTEL IN KUMASI (PAGE 29, JUNE 2, 2010)
A DEVASTATING fire said to have started during repeated power outages in Kumasi last Saturday has razed down the City Style Hotel at Asokwa.
The hotel, opened about a year ago and located close to Ashh FM on the Afful Nkwanta-Stadium road is one of the modern hotels in the metropolis.
Apart from a fridge and other few documents, everything in the 14-room facility was destroyed in the blaze.
Guests and workers were evacuated before the fire swept through the rooms in the two-storey building.
A combined team of fire fighters from Manhyia and Amakom that was called in to battle the blaze fought fruitlessly as the inferno devastated the building.
A visibly shocked owner of the hotel, Mr I.N. Amissah, told the Daily Graphic that the fire started in the evening when the area was experiencing series of power outages.
He said a staff of the hotel, detected smoke from a corner of the building and the fire service was immediately informed.
When fire personnel arrived, the fire had already engulfed the building causing massive destruction to property.
Fire personnel said they were yet to determine the cause of the fire, as investigations had not been concluded.
Mr Amissah however indicated that the hotel was insured and that he would be informing the insurance company in due course.
The hotel, opened about a year ago and located close to Ashh FM on the Afful Nkwanta-Stadium road is one of the modern hotels in the metropolis.
Apart from a fridge and other few documents, everything in the 14-room facility was destroyed in the blaze.
Guests and workers were evacuated before the fire swept through the rooms in the two-storey building.
A combined team of fire fighters from Manhyia and Amakom that was called in to battle the blaze fought fruitlessly as the inferno devastated the building.
A visibly shocked owner of the hotel, Mr I.N. Amissah, told the Daily Graphic that the fire started in the evening when the area was experiencing series of power outages.
He said a staff of the hotel, detected smoke from a corner of the building and the fire service was immediately informed.
When fire personnel arrived, the fire had already engulfed the building causing massive destruction to property.
Fire personnel said they were yet to determine the cause of the fire, as investigations had not been concluded.
Mr Amissah however indicated that the hotel was insured and that he would be informing the insurance company in due course.
HOUSE NUMBERING PROJECT COMMENCES END OF YEAR (BACK PAGE, JUNE 1, 2010)
A project to facilitate the numbering of houses in the country by street names is to be rolled out before December this year.
Speaking at a validation workshop in Kumasi last Friday, the Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, said the uniform street naming and building numbering system for the country would first be implemented in the regional capitals this year, to be followed by the district capitals next year.
To achieve that target, he indicated that the policy to guide its implementation would be ready this month.
He said the ministry was on course to end the system whereby places in the cities and other big towns were identified by objects such as kiosks and trees.
The workshop was attended by officers from the implementation agencies, including decentralised departments within the district assemblies and the police.
The numbering system of the past is fraught with a considerable range of challenges, including difficulty in locating persons and buildings.
This has led to low revenue mobilisation, inadequate service provision for houses and people and mounting difficulties associated with the provision of emergency services in times of fire, robbery, health emergencies, among others.
The deputy minister said it was to address these and other challenges that the ministry was charged to issue a framework to guide the metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs) to put in place a coherent addressing system that would also ultimately contribute to national development efforts, since it would facilitate better service delivery to the people.
Under the new system, all proposed street names will be approved by an MMDA statutory planning committee before implementation and approved street names cannot be changed through any local action.
Besides, all roads will be named, irrespective of whether they have dwelling units or business-related buildings or not.
Mr Afriyie-Ankrah said the proper implementation of the programme could generate about 50,000 jobs across the country.
The Co-ordinator of the programme, Mr Kwadwo Yeboah, said the naming of roads for new developments would be done during the period of developing sector layouts for the designed areas.
For private developments, he said, the developer was expected to submit the names of roads as part of the layout and the plan should be forwarded to the district assembly to avoid duplication.
Speaking at a validation workshop in Kumasi last Friday, the Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, said the uniform street naming and building numbering system for the country would first be implemented in the regional capitals this year, to be followed by the district capitals next year.
To achieve that target, he indicated that the policy to guide its implementation would be ready this month.
He said the ministry was on course to end the system whereby places in the cities and other big towns were identified by objects such as kiosks and trees.
The workshop was attended by officers from the implementation agencies, including decentralised departments within the district assemblies and the police.
The numbering system of the past is fraught with a considerable range of challenges, including difficulty in locating persons and buildings.
This has led to low revenue mobilisation, inadequate service provision for houses and people and mounting difficulties associated with the provision of emergency services in times of fire, robbery, health emergencies, among others.
The deputy minister said it was to address these and other challenges that the ministry was charged to issue a framework to guide the metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs) to put in place a coherent addressing system that would also ultimately contribute to national development efforts, since it would facilitate better service delivery to the people.
Under the new system, all proposed street names will be approved by an MMDA statutory planning committee before implementation and approved street names cannot be changed through any local action.
Besides, all roads will be named, irrespective of whether they have dwelling units or business-related buildings or not.
Mr Afriyie-Ankrah said the proper implementation of the programme could generate about 50,000 jobs across the country.
The Co-ordinator of the programme, Mr Kwadwo Yeboah, said the naming of roads for new developments would be done during the period of developing sector layouts for the designed areas.
For private developments, he said, the developer was expected to submit the names of roads as part of the layout and the plan should be forwarded to the district assembly to avoid duplication.
POWER CUTS MAY OCCUR...During World Cup (PAGE 31, JUNE 1, 2010)
THE Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) cannot guarantee uninterrupted power supply during the World Cup, Mr Erasmus Baidoo, Public Relations Manager in charge of the Ashanti Region, has said.
“It is not our intention to put off power during the tournament but we must all know that anything can happen.
“We, however, pray that all goes on well,” he told the Graphic Daily in Kumasi yesterday.
Mr Baidoo said much as the company would wish there were no power interruptions during the tournament so that fans could watch all the matches, the threat of power failure at any point in time could not be completely ruled out.
A number of football fans have, through the media, cautioned the ECG against power outages during the World Cup, especially when Ghana are playing.
Some have even vowed to march to the premises of the company to demonstrate against any such power cuts.
According to them, recent erratic power supply poses a threat to the fans getting the opportunity to watch all the matches.
Mr Baidoo admitted the importance Ghanaians attached to football, especially when Ghana plays in a big tournament like the World Cup.
He said supply and installation went together to provide power, and when there was a problem with any one of them, there was bound to be interruptions.
Currently, the ECG is having challenges with its installations, as some of the equipment has become obsolete.
Mr Baidoo said some criminals had also resorted to the stealing of cables and, therefore, called on the public to help the ECG apprehend such unscrupulous people to ensure constant power supply.
“It is not our intention to put off power during the tournament but we must all know that anything can happen.
“We, however, pray that all goes on well,” he told the Graphic Daily in Kumasi yesterday.
Mr Baidoo said much as the company would wish there were no power interruptions during the tournament so that fans could watch all the matches, the threat of power failure at any point in time could not be completely ruled out.
A number of football fans have, through the media, cautioned the ECG against power outages during the World Cup, especially when Ghana are playing.
Some have even vowed to march to the premises of the company to demonstrate against any such power cuts.
According to them, recent erratic power supply poses a threat to the fans getting the opportunity to watch all the matches.
Mr Baidoo admitted the importance Ghanaians attached to football, especially when Ghana plays in a big tournament like the World Cup.
He said supply and installation went together to provide power, and when there was a problem with any one of them, there was bound to be interruptions.
Currently, the ECG is having challenges with its installations, as some of the equipment has become obsolete.
Mr Baidoo said some criminals had also resorted to the stealing of cables and, therefore, called on the public to help the ECG apprehend such unscrupulous people to ensure constant power supply.
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