THE Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has stated that the challenges facing the nation in its development strides are surmountable and urges citizens not to be driven to despair.
He, therefore, stressed the need for Ghanaians to collectively “put their shoulder to the wheel” to realise national goals.
In a New Year message, Otumfuo Osei Tutu observed that “all nations that have made significant progress in their development owe their successes to the strong commitment and determination of the citizens to build their country”.
“A nation that cannot count on her citizens to contribute their quota cannot expect to realise her goals; that is why I urge the people of Asanteman and the entire people of Ghana to resolve to work harder and more diligently in their various areas of endeavour this year,” he said.
The Asantehene was delighted in the democratic credential of the nation and urged the people to sustain it to further promote Ghana as the torchbearer of good governance and democratic culture in Africa.
He challenged traditional rulers to strive at all times to be true leaders of the people and use the resources placed in their care for the good of the people.
He noted that chiefs were natural partners of the government in development, and it was important that the government increased its collaboration with them. The Asantehene further reminded parents of their responsibility towards the proper upbringing of their children.
He pointed out that the responsibility should embody both formal and moral education, so that the children would grow up to become responsible people.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
PUBLISHING STUDIES GRADUATES MAKE IN-ROADS (PAGE 29, JAN 5)
THE Publishing Studies Programme at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), initiated 25 years ago, is making great impact in the operations of the publishing industry in the country.
The department has so far turned out 955 graduates.
Mr Isaac Kofi Appiah, a lecturer at the Publishing Studies Department of KNUST, who made this observation, said research conducted last year revealed that 234 graduates of the department, out of the 350 sampled, were working in publishing—related establishments.
Mr Appiah said this when he presented a paper on the topic “The role of the publishing training on industry over the past 25 years”, at a public lecture at KNUST in Kumasi on Thursday.
He said 61 of the graduates were also found in teaching at various educational institutions, while 55 were in other institutions.
Mr Appiah, who is a former head of department of the programme, said the results from the research attested to the fact that the graduates from the publishing programme had had a positive impact on the industry.
He therefore called for the industrial attachment module of the programme to be extended to cover one academic year to enable students to acquire more industrial experience before they graduate.
Mr Appiah disclosed that there was the need for lecturers to upgrade themselves in terms of practical exposure so that they would keep abreast of state-of-the-art technology.
For instance, he said, those in the areas of design and printing faced an uphill task in keeping up with technology as some of the equipment for their work became outmoded frequently.
Rev. Dr Edem Kweku Tettey, another lecturer at the department, presenting a paper on the topic “attaining professionalism in the book industry of Ghana: Where are you going?, called on the government and other stakeholders in the book Industry to work towards giving legal backing to publishing and printing activities.
He, therefore, called for the formation of a professional body to control and direct activities involved in the book and the publishing industry in the country, which he believed could be a great source of revenue for the country.
The department has so far turned out 955 graduates.
Mr Isaac Kofi Appiah, a lecturer at the Publishing Studies Department of KNUST, who made this observation, said research conducted last year revealed that 234 graduates of the department, out of the 350 sampled, were working in publishing—related establishments.
Mr Appiah said this when he presented a paper on the topic “The role of the publishing training on industry over the past 25 years”, at a public lecture at KNUST in Kumasi on Thursday.
He said 61 of the graduates were also found in teaching at various educational institutions, while 55 were in other institutions.
Mr Appiah, who is a former head of department of the programme, said the results from the research attested to the fact that the graduates from the publishing programme had had a positive impact on the industry.
He therefore called for the industrial attachment module of the programme to be extended to cover one academic year to enable students to acquire more industrial experience before they graduate.
Mr Appiah disclosed that there was the need for lecturers to upgrade themselves in terms of practical exposure so that they would keep abreast of state-of-the-art technology.
For instance, he said, those in the areas of design and printing faced an uphill task in keeping up with technology as some of the equipment for their work became outmoded frequently.
Rev. Dr Edem Kweku Tettey, another lecturer at the department, presenting a paper on the topic “attaining professionalism in the book industry of Ghana: Where are you going?, called on the government and other stakeholders in the book Industry to work towards giving legal backing to publishing and printing activities.
He, therefore, called for the formation of a professional body to control and direct activities involved in the book and the publishing industry in the country, which he believed could be a great source of revenue for the country.
DECONGESTION EXERCISE WILL CONTINUE (PAGE 29, JAN 5)
THE Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) of Kumasi, Mr Samuel Sarpong, has given the assurance that the decongestive exercise started in Kumasi about two months ago would be sustained to the fullest.
He has consequently debunked rumours that the assembly intends allowing hawkers back on the streets and pavements to take advantage of the Christmas business activities.
He said the assembly was determined to sustain the exercise and therefore asked the people to co-operate with the KMA to ensure its success.
Mr Sarpong stated this at a meeting with representatives of media houses in Kumasi last Tuesday.
The meeting was in recognition of the support the media had given to the assembly since the new government took office, and sought ways to build on what had been achieved so far.
According to him, the assembly had put in extra efforts to ensure that nothing disrupt the successful implementation of the exercise.
Mr Sarpong mentioned the recent passing out of 60 city guards after training at the police training depot in Kumasi as one of the measures to sustain the decongestive exercise.
He said Kumasi needed to be kept clean as a way of regaining some of its lost image.
“My administration will not compromise indiscipline in the metropolis,” he said.
The Chief Executive said the regional capital electrification programme underway in Kumasi was progressing steadily.
He praised the media for supporting the assembly over the period and asked them to provide constructive criticisms to ensure that the wrongs were corrected.
The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Nana Yaw Osei, in his remarks, commended Mr Sarpong for his “open administration” which had brought some appreciable level of development to the metropolis within the relatively short period that he had been in office.
He gave the assurance that the journalists in the region would criticise where necessary and give praise where praise was due.
“Don’t therefore see our criticisms as an attempt to torpedo your efforts at changing the face of development of Kumasi,” he added.
He has consequently debunked rumours that the assembly intends allowing hawkers back on the streets and pavements to take advantage of the Christmas business activities.
He said the assembly was determined to sustain the exercise and therefore asked the people to co-operate with the KMA to ensure its success.
Mr Sarpong stated this at a meeting with representatives of media houses in Kumasi last Tuesday.
The meeting was in recognition of the support the media had given to the assembly since the new government took office, and sought ways to build on what had been achieved so far.
According to him, the assembly had put in extra efforts to ensure that nothing disrupt the successful implementation of the exercise.
Mr Sarpong mentioned the recent passing out of 60 city guards after training at the police training depot in Kumasi as one of the measures to sustain the decongestive exercise.
He said Kumasi needed to be kept clean as a way of regaining some of its lost image.
“My administration will not compromise indiscipline in the metropolis,” he said.
The Chief Executive said the regional capital electrification programme underway in Kumasi was progressing steadily.
He praised the media for supporting the assembly over the period and asked them to provide constructive criticisms to ensure that the wrongs were corrected.
The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Nana Yaw Osei, in his remarks, commended Mr Sarpong for his “open administration” which had brought some appreciable level of development to the metropolis within the relatively short period that he had been in office.
He gave the assurance that the journalists in the region would criticise where necessary and give praise where praise was due.
“Don’t therefore see our criticisms as an attempt to torpedo your efforts at changing the face of development of Kumasi,” he added.
NOISE POLLUTION ON THE RISE IN KUMASI (PAGE 29, JAN 5, 2010)
NOISE is, perhaps, the commonest nuisance in the Ghanaian society with cities being the worst affected.
Even though some noises come naturally, others are consciously generated and in this era of democratic dispensation, the general notion is that it is within the democratic rights of people to do whatever they like, damn the consequences.
Notwithstanding the fact that there are laws governing noise-making in this country, the enforcement agencies seem to give people the leeway to do whatever they like.
In Ghana, every city has bye-laws prohibiting sound above a certain threshold. However, enforcement is always a problem, as the authorities do not follow up on complaints. Even where a municipality has an enforcement office, it may only be willing to issue warnings, since taking offenders to court is seen as alien to our culture.
So what do we see today? City dwellers are bombarded by noise. In fact the volume of noise pollution has become a great source of concern for people and the general belief is that unless something positive is done to check the menace, the consequences could be drastic.
As one writer wrote, “On the way to work, on the job and on the way home, the typical city dweller must cope with a continuing barrage of unpleasant sounds.”
The writer continues,” Travelling home from work provides no relief from the noisiness of the office. The ordinary sounds of blaring taxi horns and rumbling buses are occasionally punctuated by the ear-piercing screech of car brakes.”
He added that ”Taking the shortcut home will bring the weary worker face to face with chanting religious groups, freelance musicians, screaming children and barking dogs, which can make eardrums throb in pain.”
One critical environmental challenge confronting the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today is how to control noise pollution in the ever-growing metropolis.
People will be making a big mistake to think the problem is synonymous with Accra only. Several media discussions and articles written on the subject in this country have always mentioned Accra but that is a half-truth.
The situation in Kumasi is as critical as that in Accra and it appears the authorities have difficulties in finding solutions to it.
Noise pollution, according to experts, is as dangerous as any other kind of pollution. They argue that the endless pressure of noise could, among others, trigger the breakdown of the nervous system and create bouts of depression.
The problem has always prevailed in the urban centres where a combination of natural and artificial noise continue to take their toll on the people.
Unknown to many, Kumasi is one city that is gradually becoming an epicentre of noise pollution in the country and the future looks bleak if the KMA and the EPA fail to act decisively.
Kumasi is home to perhaps the biggest chunk of Ghana’s charismatic churches. The noise churned out by charismatic churches are so terrible that the citing of some of the churches in some areas within the city have come under protest.
Some people fail to admit it but one major source of noise pollution that Ghana’s EPA has had to contend with has been the charismatic churches.
A Ghanaian newspaper once reported that a number of complaints have been filed at the EPA against churches that play loud music, shout, sing loudly and dance all-night, and as the EPA threatened court action, some of the affected churches' leaders allegedly called the EPA office to insult and curse officials.
Industrial noise is also a major source of noise pollution in the city. Industrial noise pollution, according to health experts, leads to hearing impairments among workers.
a study to ascertain industrial noise pollution and its effects on the hearing capabilities of workers in Ghana, was conducted by C.A. Boateng and G.K. Amedofu of the Department of Biological Sciences of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. the procedure adopted included noise measurements, audiometric evaluation and assessment of medical history.
The results from the study indicated that noise levels in corn mills and sawmills exceed 85 decibels (dBA) while the average noise level measured in the printing industry was 85 dBA.
A sound level of 85 dBA or higher poses a significant risk of permanent hearing loss if one is exposed to it for eight hours per day.
The study further revealed that 23 per cent, 20 per cent and 7.9 per cent of workers in corn mills, sawmills and the printing industry have traces of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL).
Again, a highly significant correlation was found between noise exposure level, duration of exposure and the development of NIHL in corn mills and sawmills but not in the printing presses.
Hearing impairment was also observed at the speech frequencies among some of the workers exposed to hazardous noise. These findings suggest that more specific intervention is required to protect workers exposed to such hazards at the workplaces.
Against the background that Kumasi has the largest concentration of timber companies in the country and a significantly large number of corn mills, one can imagine the danger that workers in such companies face from noise pollution.
One other source of noise pollution in Kumasi is funerals. Ashantis do not joke with funerals. It is the period to say goodbye to the departed and the occasion is associated with all sorts of noise. On such occasions, loud music, mostly from large, blaring loudspeakers is played.
In the past when keeping wake for departed ones was the norm, people faced sleepless nights and restlessness.
Kumasi also experiences another hazard called street jams. These normally take place during festive periods and people celebrate the occasions by playing loud music, sometimes with live bands on the streets. These most often take place without the approval of the city authorities.
In these days of mounting unemployment, some young people have devised a way of selling audio and video compact discs. With loudspeakers mounted on vehicles, they play music loudly on the streets, as a way of marketing their products.
This happens even though the KMA has bye-laws regulating the sale of such products. The bye-laws are derived from Section 79 of the Local Government Act, 1993 (Act, 462), which states that, “No person shall use any place for sale of record or other recorded music, unless the place has been inspected, approved and licensed by the Assembly.”
To ensure that noise pollution is controlled in the metropolis, the KMA must act decisively. The bye-laws of the assembly are clear about the consequences, in the event of a contravention of the bye-laws of the assembly and this must be applied to the letter.
People will also operate beyond their limits, given the freedom the do so, and until the KMA decides to bite, people will continue to take them for granted.
Even though some noises come naturally, others are consciously generated and in this era of democratic dispensation, the general notion is that it is within the democratic rights of people to do whatever they like, damn the consequences.
Notwithstanding the fact that there are laws governing noise-making in this country, the enforcement agencies seem to give people the leeway to do whatever they like.
In Ghana, every city has bye-laws prohibiting sound above a certain threshold. However, enforcement is always a problem, as the authorities do not follow up on complaints. Even where a municipality has an enforcement office, it may only be willing to issue warnings, since taking offenders to court is seen as alien to our culture.
So what do we see today? City dwellers are bombarded by noise. In fact the volume of noise pollution has become a great source of concern for people and the general belief is that unless something positive is done to check the menace, the consequences could be drastic.
As one writer wrote, “On the way to work, on the job and on the way home, the typical city dweller must cope with a continuing barrage of unpleasant sounds.”
The writer continues,” Travelling home from work provides no relief from the noisiness of the office. The ordinary sounds of blaring taxi horns and rumbling buses are occasionally punctuated by the ear-piercing screech of car brakes.”
He added that ”Taking the shortcut home will bring the weary worker face to face with chanting religious groups, freelance musicians, screaming children and barking dogs, which can make eardrums throb in pain.”
One critical environmental challenge confronting the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today is how to control noise pollution in the ever-growing metropolis.
People will be making a big mistake to think the problem is synonymous with Accra only. Several media discussions and articles written on the subject in this country have always mentioned Accra but that is a half-truth.
The situation in Kumasi is as critical as that in Accra and it appears the authorities have difficulties in finding solutions to it.
Noise pollution, according to experts, is as dangerous as any other kind of pollution. They argue that the endless pressure of noise could, among others, trigger the breakdown of the nervous system and create bouts of depression.
The problem has always prevailed in the urban centres where a combination of natural and artificial noise continue to take their toll on the people.
Unknown to many, Kumasi is one city that is gradually becoming an epicentre of noise pollution in the country and the future looks bleak if the KMA and the EPA fail to act decisively.
Kumasi is home to perhaps the biggest chunk of Ghana’s charismatic churches. The noise churned out by charismatic churches are so terrible that the citing of some of the churches in some areas within the city have come under protest.
Some people fail to admit it but one major source of noise pollution that Ghana’s EPA has had to contend with has been the charismatic churches.
A Ghanaian newspaper once reported that a number of complaints have been filed at the EPA against churches that play loud music, shout, sing loudly and dance all-night, and as the EPA threatened court action, some of the affected churches' leaders allegedly called the EPA office to insult and curse officials.
Industrial noise is also a major source of noise pollution in the city. Industrial noise pollution, according to health experts, leads to hearing impairments among workers.
a study to ascertain industrial noise pollution and its effects on the hearing capabilities of workers in Ghana, was conducted by C.A. Boateng and G.K. Amedofu of the Department of Biological Sciences of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. the procedure adopted included noise measurements, audiometric evaluation and assessment of medical history.
The results from the study indicated that noise levels in corn mills and sawmills exceed 85 decibels (dBA) while the average noise level measured in the printing industry was 85 dBA.
A sound level of 85 dBA or higher poses a significant risk of permanent hearing loss if one is exposed to it for eight hours per day.
The study further revealed that 23 per cent, 20 per cent and 7.9 per cent of workers in corn mills, sawmills and the printing industry have traces of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL).
Again, a highly significant correlation was found between noise exposure level, duration of exposure and the development of NIHL in corn mills and sawmills but not in the printing presses.
Hearing impairment was also observed at the speech frequencies among some of the workers exposed to hazardous noise. These findings suggest that more specific intervention is required to protect workers exposed to such hazards at the workplaces.
Against the background that Kumasi has the largest concentration of timber companies in the country and a significantly large number of corn mills, one can imagine the danger that workers in such companies face from noise pollution.
One other source of noise pollution in Kumasi is funerals. Ashantis do not joke with funerals. It is the period to say goodbye to the departed and the occasion is associated with all sorts of noise. On such occasions, loud music, mostly from large, blaring loudspeakers is played.
In the past when keeping wake for departed ones was the norm, people faced sleepless nights and restlessness.
Kumasi also experiences another hazard called street jams. These normally take place during festive periods and people celebrate the occasions by playing loud music, sometimes with live bands on the streets. These most often take place without the approval of the city authorities.
In these days of mounting unemployment, some young people have devised a way of selling audio and video compact discs. With loudspeakers mounted on vehicles, they play music loudly on the streets, as a way of marketing their products.
This happens even though the KMA has bye-laws regulating the sale of such products. The bye-laws are derived from Section 79 of the Local Government Act, 1993 (Act, 462), which states that, “No person shall use any place for sale of record or other recorded music, unless the place has been inspected, approved and licensed by the Assembly.”
To ensure that noise pollution is controlled in the metropolis, the KMA must act decisively. The bye-laws of the assembly are clear about the consequences, in the event of a contravention of the bye-laws of the assembly and this must be applied to the letter.
People will also operate beyond their limits, given the freedom the do so, and until the KMA decides to bite, people will continue to take them for granted.
TIME-B0MB FOR KING FAISAL CEO...Admits wrong decision (GRAPHIC SPORTS, BACK PAGE, JAN 5)
FEW weeks after chastising the management of Accra Hearts of Oak for what he described as their poor handling of the club, King Faisal CEO, Vincent Sowah Odotei, is now feeling the heat as continuous poor form has kept his club languishing at the bottom of the Glo Premier Week.
Under Odotei, Faisal find themselves in their worst season ever, with relegation staring them in the face, and the man who virtually tore apart the Hearts management on a radio station in Kumasi for poor management practices must now be thinking of what people would be saying about him.
With a different voice, Mr Odotei admitted on Kessben FM in Kumasi yesterday that his management took wrong decisions in the off-season which had affected the fortunes of Faisal.
“We took wrong decisions initially and we are taking steps to rectify them”, he told anchorman, Sometimer Otuo Acheampong.
Pressed to explain what wrong decisions his management took, Mr Odotei refused to mention them, saying he did not want to stir further troubles in the club.
Asked how soon the club would see the expected results, he said hopefully by the beginning of the second round of the league.
Mr Odotei, who joined Faisal from Hearts of Oak where he was the CEO, and had been critical of the style of management in Hearts of Oak, this time says, “Looking at where I sit the club (Faisal) is in big trouble.”
According to him the way and manner the club had been conceding goals were uncalled for.
“It is a testimony of the wrong decisions we took in the off-season,” he said.
The CEO stated that it was clear that the psychology of his players was negative.
“So we are working on that aspect to see what we can do,” he added.
From very humble beginnings, Faisal, formed and bankrolled by experienced football administrator, Alhaji Karim Gruzah, virtually became the third force in the Ghanaian league. They once participated in the CAF Confederation Cup, and even though they qualified again to participate in this year’s event, they pulled out for financial reasons.
But their performance in the league had been nothing but awful, managing only 10 points from 13 games.
The management sacked coach Isaac ‘Opeele’ Boateng in the early period of the league, and last Sunday a new Croatian coach, Zdravko Logurasic, had a terrible debut, losing 1-2 to Liberty Professionals at the Baba Yara Stadium.
If reports reaching the Graphic Sports were true, the coming days could see the coach drawing a rod through the playing body that will see sanctions against some players said to indisciplined.
Under Odotei, Faisal find themselves in their worst season ever, with relegation staring them in the face, and the man who virtually tore apart the Hearts management on a radio station in Kumasi for poor management practices must now be thinking of what people would be saying about him.
With a different voice, Mr Odotei admitted on Kessben FM in Kumasi yesterday that his management took wrong decisions in the off-season which had affected the fortunes of Faisal.
“We took wrong decisions initially and we are taking steps to rectify them”, he told anchorman, Sometimer Otuo Acheampong.
Pressed to explain what wrong decisions his management took, Mr Odotei refused to mention them, saying he did not want to stir further troubles in the club.
Asked how soon the club would see the expected results, he said hopefully by the beginning of the second round of the league.
Mr Odotei, who joined Faisal from Hearts of Oak where he was the CEO, and had been critical of the style of management in Hearts of Oak, this time says, “Looking at where I sit the club (Faisal) is in big trouble.”
According to him the way and manner the club had been conceding goals were uncalled for.
“It is a testimony of the wrong decisions we took in the off-season,” he said.
The CEO stated that it was clear that the psychology of his players was negative.
“So we are working on that aspect to see what we can do,” he added.
From very humble beginnings, Faisal, formed and bankrolled by experienced football administrator, Alhaji Karim Gruzah, virtually became the third force in the Ghanaian league. They once participated in the CAF Confederation Cup, and even though they qualified again to participate in this year’s event, they pulled out for financial reasons.
But their performance in the league had been nothing but awful, managing only 10 points from 13 games.
The management sacked coach Isaac ‘Opeele’ Boateng in the early period of the league, and last Sunday a new Croatian coach, Zdravko Logurasic, had a terrible debut, losing 1-2 to Liberty Professionals at the Baba Yara Stadium.
If reports reaching the Graphic Sports were true, the coming days could see the coach drawing a rod through the playing body that will see sanctions against some players said to indisciplined.
Monday, January 4, 2010
ANOTHER FIRE OUTBREAK AT K'SI CENTRAL MARKET (SPREAD, JAN 4)
Another fire outbreak occurred at the Kumasi Central Market in the early hours of Saturday causing extensive damage to property.
Occurring on the second day of the new year, the incident turned the festive mood of the affected traders into wailing and sorrow.
The sweeping fire in the area, called French Line, destroyed about 800 stores stalls and huge amounts of wares and cash belonging to traders.
The area served as a sleeping place for some people, and eyewitnesses said a number of people were seen running to safe areas while the fire spread.
However, eyewitnesses said it started slowly before spreading out. Some victims of the disaster wailed uncontrollably on seeing the remains of the market.
Officials of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) who had a hectic time fighting the blaze are yet to establish the cause of the fire.
Fire personnel had serious difficulties getting an access road to battle the blaze which took about two hours to control.
“The haphazard development in the area is always a problem for personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service who arrived at the scene to fight the blaze,” Deputy Superintendent of Police (ASP) Nicholas Opare Ofosuhene, the Zongo District Police Commander, under whose jurisdiction the market falls, told the Daily Graphic.
According to him, immediately his outfit had information about the fire, they rushed to the scene and managed to cordon off the area to prevent unscrupulous people from taking undue advantage to steal items.
In the event, one person was arrested trying to cart some items away in the name of salvaging them.
As the fire became uncontrollable, thick black smoke drifted into the early morning skies within the suburb of Ala Bar close to the market.
The Kumasi Central Market, built with its loose stores and stalls by the colonial administration, has virtually no access roads for fire engines making the market a death trap.
Covering 24 acres in the central area of the city, the central market is considered the biggest in West Africa and it is home to over 20,000 traders.
However, the market has seen little development since it was constructed, as previous Metropolitan Chief Executives had paid lip-service to its redevelopment necessitating the current Chief Executive, Mr Sarpong, to get the assembly to initiate action for its reconstruction to befit Kumasi as Ghana’s second biggest city.
Coming after the last major fire outbreak at the market on May 28, 2009, when fire destroyed the entire “I8 Line” area of the market, many have appealed to the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) to expedite action on the reconstruction of the market to prevent the frequent fire outbreaks.
The Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mr Samuel Sarpong, who rushed to the scene at about 3 a.m. on Saturday, told the Daily Graphic that plans to reconstruct the market were on course and that the actual work could commence by February, this year.
The Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Kofi Opoku-Manu, the KMA Chief Executive, Mr Sarpong, and the Regional Police Commander, DCOP Patrick Timbillah, later visited the scene at about 11 a.m. to inspect the damage caused.
Mr Opoku-Manu said the decision to reconstruct the market was on course and that visible signs would be seen this year.
He, however, cautioned against the indiscriminate use of fire and poor electrical wiring in the market, since such situations could easily lead to fire outbreaks.
Occurring on the second day of the new year, the incident turned the festive mood of the affected traders into wailing and sorrow.
The sweeping fire in the area, called French Line, destroyed about 800 stores stalls and huge amounts of wares and cash belonging to traders.
The area served as a sleeping place for some people, and eyewitnesses said a number of people were seen running to safe areas while the fire spread.
However, eyewitnesses said it started slowly before spreading out. Some victims of the disaster wailed uncontrollably on seeing the remains of the market.
Officials of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) who had a hectic time fighting the blaze are yet to establish the cause of the fire.
Fire personnel had serious difficulties getting an access road to battle the blaze which took about two hours to control.
“The haphazard development in the area is always a problem for personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service who arrived at the scene to fight the blaze,” Deputy Superintendent of Police (ASP) Nicholas Opare Ofosuhene, the Zongo District Police Commander, under whose jurisdiction the market falls, told the Daily Graphic.
According to him, immediately his outfit had information about the fire, they rushed to the scene and managed to cordon off the area to prevent unscrupulous people from taking undue advantage to steal items.
In the event, one person was arrested trying to cart some items away in the name of salvaging them.
As the fire became uncontrollable, thick black smoke drifted into the early morning skies within the suburb of Ala Bar close to the market.
The Kumasi Central Market, built with its loose stores and stalls by the colonial administration, has virtually no access roads for fire engines making the market a death trap.
Covering 24 acres in the central area of the city, the central market is considered the biggest in West Africa and it is home to over 20,000 traders.
However, the market has seen little development since it was constructed, as previous Metropolitan Chief Executives had paid lip-service to its redevelopment necessitating the current Chief Executive, Mr Sarpong, to get the assembly to initiate action for its reconstruction to befit Kumasi as Ghana’s second biggest city.
Coming after the last major fire outbreak at the market on May 28, 2009, when fire destroyed the entire “I8 Line” area of the market, many have appealed to the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) to expedite action on the reconstruction of the market to prevent the frequent fire outbreaks.
The Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mr Samuel Sarpong, who rushed to the scene at about 3 a.m. on Saturday, told the Daily Graphic that plans to reconstruct the market were on course and that the actual work could commence by February, this year.
The Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Kofi Opoku-Manu, the KMA Chief Executive, Mr Sarpong, and the Regional Police Commander, DCOP Patrick Timbillah, later visited the scene at about 11 a.m. to inspect the damage caused.
Mr Opoku-Manu said the decision to reconstruct the market was on course and that visible signs would be seen this year.
He, however, cautioned against the indiscriminate use of fire and poor electrical wiring in the market, since such situations could easily lead to fire outbreaks.
FAISAL DOWN AGAIN (BACK PAGE, JAN 4)
THE woes of Kumasi King Faisal deepened yesterday when Liberty Professionals stung them 2-1 at the Baba Yara Stadium to keep them languishing at the bottom of the Glo Premier League.
The defeat was a baptism of fire for Faisal’s new Croatian coach, Zdravko Logurasic, who kept shouting out instructions but to no avail.
The once-strong Kumasi-based side looked very ordinary, and even after taking the lead allowed the moderate Liberty to fetch the winner on the stroke of full time.
Faisal were in the driving seat from kick-off but their Ivorian striker, Jean Francois Boli, received the first booking by referee Daniel Offei under a minute for a foul on keeper Patrick Antwi.
Ebo Andoh, whose form has dipped in the season, attempted to conjure a bit of his previous magic but it was always a failure as David Kabu put the brakes on him.
But a brief period of attacking game saw the home side going ahead on the 31st minute when a rebound off the bar from a Boli effort hit a Liberty player and rolled into the net. Surprisingly that was all Faisal could offer, as Liberty took over and pushed for the equaliser, which arrived after 64 minutes through the industrious Latif Salifu.
The winner came via a penalty after Faisal’s substitute veteran midfielder Hamza Mohammed handled the ball in the last minute of added time.
Christopher Nkansah made no mistake, swerving keeper Samuel Okyere to the other way.
The defeat was a baptism of fire for Faisal’s new Croatian coach, Zdravko Logurasic, who kept shouting out instructions but to no avail.
The once-strong Kumasi-based side looked very ordinary, and even after taking the lead allowed the moderate Liberty to fetch the winner on the stroke of full time.
Faisal were in the driving seat from kick-off but their Ivorian striker, Jean Francois Boli, received the first booking by referee Daniel Offei under a minute for a foul on keeper Patrick Antwi.
Ebo Andoh, whose form has dipped in the season, attempted to conjure a bit of his previous magic but it was always a failure as David Kabu put the brakes on him.
But a brief period of attacking game saw the home side going ahead on the 31st minute when a rebound off the bar from a Boli effort hit a Liberty player and rolled into the net. Surprisingly that was all Faisal could offer, as Liberty took over and pushed for the equaliser, which arrived after 64 minutes through the industrious Latif Salifu.
The winner came via a penalty after Faisal’s substitute veteran midfielder Hamza Mohammed handled the ball in the last minute of added time.
Christopher Nkansah made no mistake, swerving keeper Samuel Okyere to the other way.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
KMA TO RELOCATE DISPLACED BUSINESSES (PAGE 18, JAN 2)
THE Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) is to relocate a number of businesses displaced by the Kumasi Roads Rehabilitation project at the Sokoban Wood Village to enable work on the project to proceed.
The KMA Chief Executive, Mr Samuel Sarpong, said every effort was being made to ensure that road projects were completed on schedule.
Already, all woodworkers at Anloga have been successfully moved to the wood village.
Mr Sarpong told assembly meeting in Kumasi that a 500,000-Euro fund was set aside by the Community Development Fund (AFD) to support business development in the village from collapsing, due to an anticipated initial low patronage at the new site.
The chief executive said compensation assessment for individuals and companies, whose properties would be affected by the project, had been forwarded to the Land Valuation Board for approval.
He added that the Department of Urban Roads had also begun preparation of an additional 14-acre at the village for use.
He also stressed a need to manage the high volumes of wood waste that would be generated at the village each day.
Currently, he said, the site manager carted the wood waste to a nearby fertiliser plant, which would be converted into organic manure.
Mr Sarpong stated that other companies had also expressed interest in converting the wood wastes into charcoal briquettes and other forms of energy.
He indicated that the Ghana National Fire Service and the Electricity Company of Ghana were to establish their presence at the Wood Village since their operations were critical to the operations of the enclave.
He also advised against the conversion of stalls at the site into other uses, explaining that that would defeat the purpose for which the project was initiated.
The KMA Chief Executive, Mr Samuel Sarpong, said every effort was being made to ensure that road projects were completed on schedule.
Already, all woodworkers at Anloga have been successfully moved to the wood village.
Mr Sarpong told assembly meeting in Kumasi that a 500,000-Euro fund was set aside by the Community Development Fund (AFD) to support business development in the village from collapsing, due to an anticipated initial low patronage at the new site.
The chief executive said compensation assessment for individuals and companies, whose properties would be affected by the project, had been forwarded to the Land Valuation Board for approval.
He added that the Department of Urban Roads had also begun preparation of an additional 14-acre at the village for use.
He also stressed a need to manage the high volumes of wood waste that would be generated at the village each day.
Currently, he said, the site manager carted the wood waste to a nearby fertiliser plant, which would be converted into organic manure.
Mr Sarpong stated that other companies had also expressed interest in converting the wood wastes into charcoal briquettes and other forms of energy.
He indicated that the Ghana National Fire Service and the Electricity Company of Ghana were to establish their presence at the Wood Village since their operations were critical to the operations of the enclave.
He also advised against the conversion of stalls at the site into other uses, explaining that that would defeat the purpose for which the project was initiated.
KATH ASSURES OF QUALITY MEDICAL CARE (BACK PAGE, JAN 2)
THE Chief Executive of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Prof. Ohene Adjei, has given an assurance that the hospital would continue to give quality medical attention to card bearers of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), in spite of the huge amounts of money owed the hospital by some of the mutual schemes.
“They owe us heavily, but we have a duty to save lives and would not renege on this,” he said.
Speaking at a media interaction in Kumasi last Thursday at which he formally introduced himself to journalists in the region, Prof. Ohene Adjei said it was refreshing that the Government had begun making moves to amend the NHIS Law in order to improve the payment system.
“Even before this comes into effect, the new Ashanti Regional Manager is also helping to have the mutual schemes settle the debts they owe us,” he stressed.
The interaction afforded the new chief executive who took office only about three months ago the opportunity to formally introduce himself to the media in the region.
A Professor in microbiology, Prof. Ohene Adjei took over from Dr Anthony Nsiah Asare, who was asked to proceed on leave by the Government.
Prof. Ohene Adjei maintained that KATH was positioning itself to meet its vision of becoming a centre of excellence.
He appealed to the media to help project the good image of the hospital as it strived towards achieving the vision of a centre of excellence.
He said the media was a critical stakeholder in shaping the future of the hospital and it was, therefore, important that they supported the hospital to walk the path of progress.
“Fortunately, we have a very capable public relations officer here who is always ready to help you as you look for information about the hospital,” he said.
The CEO noted that most of the negative stories the public put out against the hospital were unfounded and it was important that journalists who wanted to report on such stories did double-checks before going out.
He said, for instance, that there was a time a story went out that the lighting system at the theatre was not functioning, when, in fact, there was nothing like that.
He stated that though the hospital was facing some challenges, its management team and the staff were working hard to manage the situation, so that precious lives could be saved.
The Medical Director of KATH, Dr Patrick Eric Karikari, informed the press that the hospital’s administration was supporting young doctors to undertake specialists training, so they would return to serve in the hospital.
He said through this, the hospital had been able to attract and retain some doctors.
“They owe us heavily, but we have a duty to save lives and would not renege on this,” he said.
Speaking at a media interaction in Kumasi last Thursday at which he formally introduced himself to journalists in the region, Prof. Ohene Adjei said it was refreshing that the Government had begun making moves to amend the NHIS Law in order to improve the payment system.
“Even before this comes into effect, the new Ashanti Regional Manager is also helping to have the mutual schemes settle the debts they owe us,” he stressed.
The interaction afforded the new chief executive who took office only about three months ago the opportunity to formally introduce himself to the media in the region.
A Professor in microbiology, Prof. Ohene Adjei took over from Dr Anthony Nsiah Asare, who was asked to proceed on leave by the Government.
Prof. Ohene Adjei maintained that KATH was positioning itself to meet its vision of becoming a centre of excellence.
He appealed to the media to help project the good image of the hospital as it strived towards achieving the vision of a centre of excellence.
He said the media was a critical stakeholder in shaping the future of the hospital and it was, therefore, important that they supported the hospital to walk the path of progress.
“Fortunately, we have a very capable public relations officer here who is always ready to help you as you look for information about the hospital,” he said.
The CEO noted that most of the negative stories the public put out against the hospital were unfounded and it was important that journalists who wanted to report on such stories did double-checks before going out.
He said, for instance, that there was a time a story went out that the lighting system at the theatre was not functioning, when, in fact, there was nothing like that.
He stated that though the hospital was facing some challenges, its management team and the staff were working hard to manage the situation, so that precious lives could be saved.
The Medical Director of KATH, Dr Patrick Eric Karikari, informed the press that the hospital’s administration was supporting young doctors to undertake specialists training, so they would return to serve in the hospital.
He said through this, the hospital had been able to attract and retain some doctors.
Friday, January 1, 2010
BONSAASO MILLENNIUM PROJECT COVERS 12 SCHOOLS (PAGE 11, JAN 1)
A PROGRAMME initiated by the Bonsaaso Millennium Villages Project (MVP) in the Amansie West District of the Ashanti Region in 2007, to provide free meals for children in public primary schools in the project’s catchment area is currently operating in 12 out of the 22 basic schools in the area.
In all 3,248 pupils in the Bonsaaso cluster of schools are covered by the programme and the authorities hope to extend it to other schools in 2010.
The MVP, which is being piloted in Ghana at Bonsaaso in Amansie West, hope to use the initiative dubbed “the school meals programme” to support communities and schools to provide nutritious meals for pupils on sustainable basis as a way of improving their health, and boosting enrolment and retention in schools.
Mr Samuel A. Afram, Cluster Manager/Team Leader of the Bonsaaso MVP, told the Daily Graphic at Manso Nkwanta that at the start of the programme, none of the 22 basic schools in the area was benefiting from the Ghana government supported School Feeding Programme as such the new programme came as a big relief to the people.
The MVP is a community-driven poverty reduction project aimed at establishing a foundation of evidence that poor rural economies in developing countries could be on a path towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) using science-based, proven and practical interventions over a five-year time frame.
The project being piloted in Ghana at Bonsaaso, and other villages in some African countries, sought to empower individual millennium villages to achieve the MDGs through the implementation of comprehensive, community-based, low-cost integrated development strategies.
Lead partners of the MVP are the Earth Institute at Columbia University, Millennium Promise; a non-governmental organisation and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Mr Afram said to encourage more community ownership of the programme, participating communities made contributions in kind towards the construction of kitchens.
Between May 2007 and March 2008, he said the school meals programme in three schools increased enrolment by about 40 per cent, and some classes in the kindergarten and lower primary were doubled.
The Cluster Manager said the MVP had also contributed to increased teacher population in the area by supporting the training of 17 teachers.
Scholarships had also been awarded to about 60 needy brilliant schoolchildren to enable them continue with their education, he noted.
He urged the people in the area to continue to support the MVP to enable it to achieve more successes for the people.
Mr Afram said to ensure the improvement of the health of the people in the area, the project had also undertaken a number of interventions in the health sector.
This include the construction of four health facilities and renovation of two existing ones, as well as the free enrolment of people in the National Health Insurance Scheme.
In all 3,248 pupils in the Bonsaaso cluster of schools are covered by the programme and the authorities hope to extend it to other schools in 2010.
The MVP, which is being piloted in Ghana at Bonsaaso in Amansie West, hope to use the initiative dubbed “the school meals programme” to support communities and schools to provide nutritious meals for pupils on sustainable basis as a way of improving their health, and boosting enrolment and retention in schools.
Mr Samuel A. Afram, Cluster Manager/Team Leader of the Bonsaaso MVP, told the Daily Graphic at Manso Nkwanta that at the start of the programme, none of the 22 basic schools in the area was benefiting from the Ghana government supported School Feeding Programme as such the new programme came as a big relief to the people.
The MVP is a community-driven poverty reduction project aimed at establishing a foundation of evidence that poor rural economies in developing countries could be on a path towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) using science-based, proven and practical interventions over a five-year time frame.
The project being piloted in Ghana at Bonsaaso, and other villages in some African countries, sought to empower individual millennium villages to achieve the MDGs through the implementation of comprehensive, community-based, low-cost integrated development strategies.
Lead partners of the MVP are the Earth Institute at Columbia University, Millennium Promise; a non-governmental organisation and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Mr Afram said to encourage more community ownership of the programme, participating communities made contributions in kind towards the construction of kitchens.
Between May 2007 and March 2008, he said the school meals programme in three schools increased enrolment by about 40 per cent, and some classes in the kindergarten and lower primary were doubled.
The Cluster Manager said the MVP had also contributed to increased teacher population in the area by supporting the training of 17 teachers.
Scholarships had also been awarded to about 60 needy brilliant schoolchildren to enable them continue with their education, he noted.
He urged the people in the area to continue to support the MVP to enable it to achieve more successes for the people.
Mr Afram said to ensure the improvement of the health of the people in the area, the project had also undertaken a number of interventions in the health sector.
This include the construction of four health facilities and renovation of two existing ones, as well as the free enrolment of people in the National Health Insurance Scheme.
FREKO LIMITED WINS BID TO MANAGE KEJETIA TERMINAL (PAGE 18, DEC 31)
THE Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has given Freko FD Limited the sole right to manage the Kejetia Terminal, ending the furore that arose over the management of the facility when the new government took office.
At the last general meeting of the assembly for the year in Kumasi last Tuesday, members overwhelmingly accepted the report of the Finance and Administration Sub-committee which recommended that the company be given the right to continue managing the facility, which is described as the biggest in West Africa.
The Daily Graphic learnt that some individuals were seriously lobbying to take over the management of the facility from Freko FD Limited,which had been managing the terminal for about six years now.
At last Tuesday’s meeting, the Chairman of the subcommittee, Mr Amidu Gariba, informed the house that Freko Limited met all its financial and other obligations relating to the terminal.
He said it was found out that the company was installing close-circuit television at the terminal to control traffic, crime and other social vices at the cost of GH¢200,000, with 40 per cent of the project completed.
Mr Gariba said Freko Limited had also constructed a security monitoring tower at the terminal to enhance security control.
He further stated that the company had established an information department at the terminal for very important public announcements and to educate the public on KMA bye-laws.
The sub-committee chairman said Freko Limited had dug boreholes for watering flowers and also to serve as water hydrants and had, since 2007, managed the refuse transfer system at Kejetia as additional work.
Based on those and other achievements, the assembly agreed to allow the company to continue its management of the facility.
In his address, the KMA Chief Executive, Mr Samuel Sarpong, said it was refreshing that the controversy surrounding the management of the terminal had finally ended and expressed the hope that the company would continue to prove its worth.
He commended the assembly members for working in unity to advance thedevelopment of Kumasi.
Mr Sarpong touched on the Sokoban Wood Village and said all wood workers at Anloga had finally moved to the wood village.
He stated that Messrs Gold Street Real Estate Consult had been given the right to manage the wood village.
Mr Sarpong said the Department of Urban Roads had begun preparing an additional 14-acre land for use by the wood workers at the wood village.
At the last general meeting of the assembly for the year in Kumasi last Tuesday, members overwhelmingly accepted the report of the Finance and Administration Sub-committee which recommended that the company be given the right to continue managing the facility, which is described as the biggest in West Africa.
The Daily Graphic learnt that some individuals were seriously lobbying to take over the management of the facility from Freko FD Limited,which had been managing the terminal for about six years now.
At last Tuesday’s meeting, the Chairman of the subcommittee, Mr Amidu Gariba, informed the house that Freko Limited met all its financial and other obligations relating to the terminal.
He said it was found out that the company was installing close-circuit television at the terminal to control traffic, crime and other social vices at the cost of GH¢200,000, with 40 per cent of the project completed.
Mr Gariba said Freko Limited had also constructed a security monitoring tower at the terminal to enhance security control.
He further stated that the company had established an information department at the terminal for very important public announcements and to educate the public on KMA bye-laws.
The sub-committee chairman said Freko Limited had dug boreholes for watering flowers and also to serve as water hydrants and had, since 2007, managed the refuse transfer system at Kejetia as additional work.
Based on those and other achievements, the assembly agreed to allow the company to continue its management of the facility.
In his address, the KMA Chief Executive, Mr Samuel Sarpong, said it was refreshing that the controversy surrounding the management of the terminal had finally ended and expressed the hope that the company would continue to prove its worth.
He commended the assembly members for working in unity to advance thedevelopment of Kumasi.
Mr Sarpong touched on the Sokoban Wood Village and said all wood workers at Anloga had finally moved to the wood village.
He stated that Messrs Gold Street Real Estate Consult had been given the right to manage the wood village.
Mr Sarpong said the Department of Urban Roads had begun preparing an additional 14-acre land for use by the wood workers at the wood village.
Brutal end to 2009...HORROR ALL OVER...2 Kids burnt to death in Accra, Pastor killed by armed robbers, Wife commits suicide in Ksi (LEAD STORY, DEC 31
Story: Albert K. Salia in Accra, Kwame Asare Boadu in Kumasi
FROM the Tantra Hills and Gbawe, both in Accra, to the Parakou Estates in Kumasi, a treble of tragic events have claimed four lives and shattered the dreams of some families to end 2009 in peace.
The catalogue of horrors includes the misfortune of a 26-year-old man of God, Reverend Peter Nii Addy, who had travelled all the way from Enchi in the Western Region to attend a colleague’s wedding in Accra, only to be robbed and killed by armed robbers.
It also includes a suspected case of suicide involving a 20-year-old Indian woman in Kumasi and the burning to death of two young sisters in Accra.
Although the pastor’s killers are on the run, the sad story of the two sisters who were left asleep in a candle-lit kiosk at Tantra Hill in Accra and got burnt to death as a result has landed their 26-year-old mother in police custody.
Jessica Gyamfuah Darkwah, three, and her younger sister, Edna Yeboaa Darkwah, two and a half, were asleep in the kiosk near the Champion Divine Clinic at Tantra Hill about 10.30 p.m. on Tuesday when their mother locked it up, allegedly to visit her boyfriend.
The mother, Rosina Botwe, 26, returned at dawn to discover that in her absence the kiosk had caught fire and burnt the children to death.
Rosina, who is currently being held by the Mile Seven Police, told the Daily Graphic that she left the lighted candle so that the children would not cry when they woke up in the dark.
She said some friends called her when the kiosk was on fire but she said she thought they were only trying to get her out of her boyfriend’s room.
According to her, her friends were not in favour of her new relationship which she entered into after her children’s father was jailed in May this year for fraud.
The sobbing Rosina said she was shocked when she got back and found the mess.
The Mile 7 District Police Commander, ASP Alice Gyamfi, said the police were holding her for negligence and manslaughter.
The bodies of the two children have been deposited at the Police Hospital Mortuary for autopsy.
In the Gbawe incident, armed robbers attacked the residence of Rev Frederick Adu Acheampong, the Founder of the Frontline Glory Chapel, at dawn yesterday, robbed the household of money and valuables and killed Rev Addy, a pastor of the Lighthouse Chapel, who was also in the house.
Rev Addy, 26, who was the pastor in charge of the Enchi branch of the Lighthouse Chapel, was in Accra with his wife, who is six months pregnant, to attend the wedding of a colleague pastor of the Lighthouse Chapel, Bishop E. A. T. Sackey, and they were due to return to their base in the Western Region yesterday when he met his brutal death at the hands of the robbers.
Narrating the incident to the Daily Graphic, Rev Acheampong, who played host to Rev Addy and his wife, Lily, said he left the couple to pray in the main compound of his house about 12:45 a.m.
He said less than 15 minutes into the prayers, three youngmen, one of whom was in a mask, entered the compound.
According to him, all the three men carried guns, with one of them having a crowbar in addition, and they marched him (Rev Acheampong) into the hall of the house.
Rev Acheampong said Rev Addy was asleep in the hall, while his wife, Lily, was watching a religious movie.
He said two of the robbers took him (Acheampong) to his bedroom where they collected his wife’s jewellery, including their wedding rings, watches and some money.
He said the other robber took Mrs Addy to their room where he took her wedding ring and GH¢40 and returned to the hall to march Rev Addy to the bedroom to collect more money.
Rev Acheampong said he overheard Rev Addy say there was no more money in the room and the next thing he heard was a gunshot.
According to him, when the two robbers sent him and his wife back to the hall, he (Acheampong) saw Mrs Addy lean on his husband and sob.
He said the robbers immediately took two laptops, one belonging to the deceased, and a desktop computer and went out.
He said unknown to them, there was a fourth robber who was keeping guard outside and who shouted at them to come out since the vehicle had come to take them away.
Rev Acheampong said he rushed to pick Pastor Addy when the robbers released him and realised that Pastor Addy had been shot in the upper abdomen and was bleeding profusely.
He said he immediately arranged to take him to the hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.
The Odorkor District Crime Officer, DSP Baffour Apenteng, who also confirmed the incident to the Daily Graphic, said the armed robbers had earlier snatched a KIA taxi with registration number GS 4838-09 which they used for the robbery.
He said after attacking the residence of the pastor, the robbers also attacked the residence of Alhaji Seidu, a businessman and took away seven mobile phones, three DVD players and GH¢360 without any casualty.
He said investigations were underway and appealed to members of the public to assist the police in bringing the perpetrators to book.
In Kumasi, a 20-year-old Indian woman, who joined her husband in Ghana barely a month ago, is reported to have blown off her head with the husband’s gun at their Parakuo Estate home.
The deceased, Soumya Markkur, allegedly committed the act by blowing off her head with a gun belonging to her husband, who was out at work, resulting in her instant death.
The incident occurred last Monday, December 28, 2009.
Her husband, Mr Kishan Anchen, an Indian businessman, is helping the police in their investigations into the case.
The police are yet to disclose further details of the incident, saying it was too early to do so.
They said, however, that no suicide note was left, and they were yet to establish any preliminary cause of the death of the woman.
However, sources at the Parakuo Estate, where the couple lived told the Daily Graphic that the woman had been embroiled in some marital problems with the husband since she arrived from India.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Mr Frank Abrokwah, commander of the Kumasi Central Police, said the couple who had no issue had been married for about a year, but the woman lived in India while the man lived and worked in Kumasi.
According to the District Commander, at about 2 p.m. on December 28, 2009, his outfit had information that an Indian woman had committed suicide in her matrimonial home.
He said a team that was dispatched to the house saw the woman dead in a pool of blood in the bedroom with the pistol besides the remains.
Mr Abrokwah said the widower claimed he left home for work at Asokwa in Kumasi at about 7.30 a.m. that day when her wife was still in bed.
Mr Kishen was said to have returned to the house at about 11.30 a.m. only to find the door to their bedroom locked.
According to Mr Abrokwah, the man claimed to have repeatedly knocked the door, but there was no response.
Mr Kishen then called some security personnel at the main gate to the house to help him force the door open and to his surprise he found her wife in a pool of blood with the gun besides her.
Mr Abrokwah stated that police also found a spent shell in the room.
The police, he said, had taken custody of the pistol while the remains of the woman had been placed in the morgue at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital pending further investigations.
FROM the Tantra Hills and Gbawe, both in Accra, to the Parakou Estates in Kumasi, a treble of tragic events have claimed four lives and shattered the dreams of some families to end 2009 in peace.
The catalogue of horrors includes the misfortune of a 26-year-old man of God, Reverend Peter Nii Addy, who had travelled all the way from Enchi in the Western Region to attend a colleague’s wedding in Accra, only to be robbed and killed by armed robbers.
It also includes a suspected case of suicide involving a 20-year-old Indian woman in Kumasi and the burning to death of two young sisters in Accra.
Although the pastor’s killers are on the run, the sad story of the two sisters who were left asleep in a candle-lit kiosk at Tantra Hill in Accra and got burnt to death as a result has landed their 26-year-old mother in police custody.
Jessica Gyamfuah Darkwah, three, and her younger sister, Edna Yeboaa Darkwah, two and a half, were asleep in the kiosk near the Champion Divine Clinic at Tantra Hill about 10.30 p.m. on Tuesday when their mother locked it up, allegedly to visit her boyfriend.
The mother, Rosina Botwe, 26, returned at dawn to discover that in her absence the kiosk had caught fire and burnt the children to death.
Rosina, who is currently being held by the Mile Seven Police, told the Daily Graphic that she left the lighted candle so that the children would not cry when they woke up in the dark.
She said some friends called her when the kiosk was on fire but she said she thought they were only trying to get her out of her boyfriend’s room.
According to her, her friends were not in favour of her new relationship which she entered into after her children’s father was jailed in May this year for fraud.
The sobbing Rosina said she was shocked when she got back and found the mess.
The Mile 7 District Police Commander, ASP Alice Gyamfi, said the police were holding her for negligence and manslaughter.
The bodies of the two children have been deposited at the Police Hospital Mortuary for autopsy.
In the Gbawe incident, armed robbers attacked the residence of Rev Frederick Adu Acheampong, the Founder of the Frontline Glory Chapel, at dawn yesterday, robbed the household of money and valuables and killed Rev Addy, a pastor of the Lighthouse Chapel, who was also in the house.
Rev Addy, 26, who was the pastor in charge of the Enchi branch of the Lighthouse Chapel, was in Accra with his wife, who is six months pregnant, to attend the wedding of a colleague pastor of the Lighthouse Chapel, Bishop E. A. T. Sackey, and they were due to return to their base in the Western Region yesterday when he met his brutal death at the hands of the robbers.
Narrating the incident to the Daily Graphic, Rev Acheampong, who played host to Rev Addy and his wife, Lily, said he left the couple to pray in the main compound of his house about 12:45 a.m.
He said less than 15 minutes into the prayers, three youngmen, one of whom was in a mask, entered the compound.
According to him, all the three men carried guns, with one of them having a crowbar in addition, and they marched him (Rev Acheampong) into the hall of the house.
Rev Acheampong said Rev Addy was asleep in the hall, while his wife, Lily, was watching a religious movie.
He said two of the robbers took him (Acheampong) to his bedroom where they collected his wife’s jewellery, including their wedding rings, watches and some money.
He said the other robber took Mrs Addy to their room where he took her wedding ring and GH¢40 and returned to the hall to march Rev Addy to the bedroom to collect more money.
Rev Acheampong said he overheard Rev Addy say there was no more money in the room and the next thing he heard was a gunshot.
According to him, when the two robbers sent him and his wife back to the hall, he (Acheampong) saw Mrs Addy lean on his husband and sob.
He said the robbers immediately took two laptops, one belonging to the deceased, and a desktop computer and went out.
He said unknown to them, there was a fourth robber who was keeping guard outside and who shouted at them to come out since the vehicle had come to take them away.
Rev Acheampong said he rushed to pick Pastor Addy when the robbers released him and realised that Pastor Addy had been shot in the upper abdomen and was bleeding profusely.
He said he immediately arranged to take him to the hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.
The Odorkor District Crime Officer, DSP Baffour Apenteng, who also confirmed the incident to the Daily Graphic, said the armed robbers had earlier snatched a KIA taxi with registration number GS 4838-09 which they used for the robbery.
He said after attacking the residence of the pastor, the robbers also attacked the residence of Alhaji Seidu, a businessman and took away seven mobile phones, three DVD players and GH¢360 without any casualty.
He said investigations were underway and appealed to members of the public to assist the police in bringing the perpetrators to book.
In Kumasi, a 20-year-old Indian woman, who joined her husband in Ghana barely a month ago, is reported to have blown off her head with the husband’s gun at their Parakuo Estate home.
The deceased, Soumya Markkur, allegedly committed the act by blowing off her head with a gun belonging to her husband, who was out at work, resulting in her instant death.
The incident occurred last Monday, December 28, 2009.
Her husband, Mr Kishan Anchen, an Indian businessman, is helping the police in their investigations into the case.
The police are yet to disclose further details of the incident, saying it was too early to do so.
They said, however, that no suicide note was left, and they were yet to establish any preliminary cause of the death of the woman.
However, sources at the Parakuo Estate, where the couple lived told the Daily Graphic that the woman had been embroiled in some marital problems with the husband since she arrived from India.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Mr Frank Abrokwah, commander of the Kumasi Central Police, said the couple who had no issue had been married for about a year, but the woman lived in India while the man lived and worked in Kumasi.
According to the District Commander, at about 2 p.m. on December 28, 2009, his outfit had information that an Indian woman had committed suicide in her matrimonial home.
He said a team that was dispatched to the house saw the woman dead in a pool of blood in the bedroom with the pistol besides the remains.
Mr Abrokwah said the widower claimed he left home for work at Asokwa in Kumasi at about 7.30 a.m. that day when her wife was still in bed.
Mr Kishen was said to have returned to the house at about 11.30 a.m. only to find the door to their bedroom locked.
According to Mr Abrokwah, the man claimed to have repeatedly knocked the door, but there was no response.
Mr Kishen then called some security personnel at the main gate to the house to help him force the door open and to his surprise he found her wife in a pool of blood with the gun besides her.
Mr Abrokwah stated that police also found a spent shell in the room.
The police, he said, had taken custody of the pistol while the remains of the woman had been placed in the morgue at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital pending further investigations.
KSI COURT RESTRAINS NPP CONGRESS (PAGE 14, DEC 30)
The Kumasi High Court has granted an interim injunction restraining the national executives of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) from organising the Ashanti regional delegates congress of the party scheduled for December 30, 2009.
This follows an application filed by Nana Adu Asabere, the Asante-Akim North Constituency Chairman of the party, praying the court to stop the congress until the right thing was done.
The court’s decision came at the time the national executive committee was about to vet the applicants for the various positions.
In his statement of claim, Nana Asabere said 14 out of 39 constituencies in the region had not organised their constituency congresses and wondered why the party should rush into organising the election.
He said it would, therefore, be a travesty of justice for the election to be organised without the 14 constituencies participating in it.
According to the plaintiff, all constituencies were supposed to participate in the regional election. It was, therefore, surprising that as many as 14 constituencies would be deprived of the benefit of choosing their regional executives
Speaking to the Daily Graphic later, Nana Asabere accused the National Chairman, Mr Peter Mac Manu, of being responsible for the problems facing the party in the region.
He alleged that Mr Mac Manu had created divisions within the party in the region through unilateral decisions that he had taken to satisfy his own interest.
Nana Asabere stated that regretfully, the national chairman had taken the party as his property and was doing whatever he liked with it.
He cautioned against such practices and stressed that the NPP was bigger than any single individual.
This follows an application filed by Nana Adu Asabere, the Asante-Akim North Constituency Chairman of the party, praying the court to stop the congress until the right thing was done.
The court’s decision came at the time the national executive committee was about to vet the applicants for the various positions.
In his statement of claim, Nana Asabere said 14 out of 39 constituencies in the region had not organised their constituency congresses and wondered why the party should rush into organising the election.
He said it would, therefore, be a travesty of justice for the election to be organised without the 14 constituencies participating in it.
According to the plaintiff, all constituencies were supposed to participate in the regional election. It was, therefore, surprising that as many as 14 constituencies would be deprived of the benefit of choosing their regional executives
Speaking to the Daily Graphic later, Nana Asabere accused the National Chairman, Mr Peter Mac Manu, of being responsible for the problems facing the party in the region.
He alleged that Mr Mac Manu had created divisions within the party in the region through unilateral decisions that he had taken to satisfy his own interest.
Nana Asabere stated that regretfully, the national chairman had taken the party as his property and was doing whatever he liked with it.
He cautioned against such practices and stressed that the NPP was bigger than any single individual.
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