KUMASI Asante Kotoko journey into Africa this week minus head coach Bashir Hayford but signs of a successful season still remain distinctly promising with the sharp-shooting Eric Bekoe, top-scorer in the just-ended local league, leading the fray.
Bekoe’s 17-goal haul in 22 appearances separates him from the rest and should be the driving force in Kotoko’s quest for a continental golden fleece for the first time in 25 years.
Management is preventing Hayford, who has fashioned the team's success up to this stage, from leading the team to Libya to play Al-Ittiyad in the first leg final qualifier of the CAF Confederations Cup, insisting that he remains at home to prepare for the burial and funeral rites of his late wife. The mantle thus falls on assistant coach, Johnson Smith, to lead the team in search of a good result in Libya.
Coming barely a week after wrapping up the league championship, Asante Kotoko look poised for a performance of their lives in what is expected to be a highly charged game against Ittiyad.
Against the backdrop of a 3-0 loss by the Greens of Libya to the Black Stars in a World Cup qualifier in Kumasi recently, Ittiyad who have 14 players in the Libya national team will attempt to go for revenge of a sort against Asante Kotoko.
Even so, as they go for that revenge, their ultimate focus is on qualifying for the group stage of the Confederations Cup.
Ittiyad will be led in attack by national players Osama ben Saleh and Al Khalifa.
The two players were a delight to watch when Libya played the Black Stars in Kumasi, and playing in front of a partisan home crowd they will be motivated to go for the kill.
Midfielder Ahmed Osman also provides the needed support for the front men, and it will be interested to see how he fights it out with the likes of Jordan Opoku in that department.
But in Asante Kotoko, Ittiyad will be meeting a side so determined to sweep every cup before them this season.
Since the Sylvester Asare Owusu-led management was put in place, they have showed signs of sweeping every opposition aside.
Throughout my interactions with him since his second coming to the club as CEO, Sylvester has never hidden his intention to lead management to set a record by guiding the club to its first continental silverware after 1983 when they last won the then Africa Clubs Championship.
The newly-crowned Ghanaian champions employ a wealth of budding talents and some experienced legs to prosecute their agenda.
This impressive mix will pump up so much energy to force the Libyans to tumble in front of thousands of home fans in Tripoli.
Expectation from the much-vaunted attack led by Eric Bekoe is very high, and they cannot afford to fail to do what they know best.
Defender Godfred Yeboah who was loaned to Wa All Stars at the start of the second round of the national league has been drafted back into the team and will blend his experience with the youthful power of Harrison Afful, George Asare and Samuel Inkoom to give the right protective cover to Eric Nii Baah in post.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
2 LAW STUDENTS NOT BACK AT SCHOOL (PAGE 31)
TWO law students of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) who were dismissed over alleged examination malpractices have explained that they have not been re-admitted to the university.
Mr Alfred Obeng Boateng, one of the students, said the Daily Graphic report in its issue of Monday, July 7 that the university had re-admitted them was misrepresented.
“The reporter may not have gotten the full import of the interview he had with me on the court ruling on the issue and I want to set the records straight that we have not been re-admitted,” he said.
He, however, indicated that they would take appropriate action to compel the university to re-admit them in line with the High Court ruling.
Prof. K.K. Adarkwah, the Vice Chancellor of KNUST, also told this paper that the university had not re-admitted the students.
The students, Alfred Obeng Boateng, who is also the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Approachers (Ghana) Limited, and Ato Kwamena Sam Ghartey, both part-time law students, were dismissed in October, 2007, while in the second year of their programme, after they were accused by the authorities of having cheated in the second semester examinations
However, they filed a writ for certiorari at the Kumasi High Court and won in March, this year.
In quashing the university’s decision, the court, presided over by Mr Justice Imoru Ziblim, said the dismissals were irrational, unreasonable and had no legal basis.
Mr Boateng told the Daily Graphic that the persistent refusal by the university authorities to restore their studentships was a deliberate attempt to ruin their future, and that, “we would go back to the court to ensure that the law takes its course”.
A certified true copy of the ruling said by two separate letters dated November 22, 2007, the university declared the two students dismissed after constituting a committee to investigate the alleged malpractices.
It said the counsel for the students, Mr Akwasi Afrifa, argued that he and his clients had to boycott the sittings of the committee after the authorities rejected their objection to the composition of the panel.
In their statement of case, the university authorities admitted that the committee continued to sit even though the two students and their counsel boycotted the committee sittings.
On October 31, 2007, the committee submitted its report to the Dean of the Faculty of Law who forwarded it to the Vice Chancellor through the Provost of the College of Art and Social Sciences.
The university authorities further stated that the conduct of the two students were scandalous and disgraceful, and the university therefore considered them unfit to continue to be in the university.
However, Mr Justice Ziblim, in his ruling, described the words coming from the university as harsh, especially weighed against the fact that their decision to dismiss the students was made in contravention of the rules of natural justice.
He said the conduct of the committee prevented the two students from giving evidence, whilst no witnesses were called during the committee’s sittings.
The judge therefore asked, “On what basis therefore did the committee reach the decision to dismiss the applicants?”
Justice Ziblim referred to the university’s regulations, which states that, “Candidates caught in breach of examination regulations should be allowed to write the paper while the Dean in consultation with the Provost of the College appoints a committee to investigate the matter and presents a report to the Provost who shall promptly forward the report, including his recommendations, to the Vice Chancellor”.
He stated that if this was anything to go by, then even if the students were caught in examination malpractices the university contravened its own regulation by refusing to allow them to write the examinations.
Mr Alfred Obeng Boateng, one of the students, said the Daily Graphic report in its issue of Monday, July 7 that the university had re-admitted them was misrepresented.
“The reporter may not have gotten the full import of the interview he had with me on the court ruling on the issue and I want to set the records straight that we have not been re-admitted,” he said.
He, however, indicated that they would take appropriate action to compel the university to re-admit them in line with the High Court ruling.
Prof. K.K. Adarkwah, the Vice Chancellor of KNUST, also told this paper that the university had not re-admitted the students.
The students, Alfred Obeng Boateng, who is also the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Approachers (Ghana) Limited, and Ato Kwamena Sam Ghartey, both part-time law students, were dismissed in October, 2007, while in the second year of their programme, after they were accused by the authorities of having cheated in the second semester examinations
However, they filed a writ for certiorari at the Kumasi High Court and won in March, this year.
In quashing the university’s decision, the court, presided over by Mr Justice Imoru Ziblim, said the dismissals were irrational, unreasonable and had no legal basis.
Mr Boateng told the Daily Graphic that the persistent refusal by the university authorities to restore their studentships was a deliberate attempt to ruin their future, and that, “we would go back to the court to ensure that the law takes its course”.
A certified true copy of the ruling said by two separate letters dated November 22, 2007, the university declared the two students dismissed after constituting a committee to investigate the alleged malpractices.
It said the counsel for the students, Mr Akwasi Afrifa, argued that he and his clients had to boycott the sittings of the committee after the authorities rejected their objection to the composition of the panel.
In their statement of case, the university authorities admitted that the committee continued to sit even though the two students and their counsel boycotted the committee sittings.
On October 31, 2007, the committee submitted its report to the Dean of the Faculty of Law who forwarded it to the Vice Chancellor through the Provost of the College of Art and Social Sciences.
The university authorities further stated that the conduct of the two students were scandalous and disgraceful, and the university therefore considered them unfit to continue to be in the university.
However, Mr Justice Ziblim, in his ruling, described the words coming from the university as harsh, especially weighed against the fact that their decision to dismiss the students was made in contravention of the rules of natural justice.
He said the conduct of the committee prevented the two students from giving evidence, whilst no witnesses were called during the committee’s sittings.
The judge therefore asked, “On what basis therefore did the committee reach the decision to dismiss the applicants?”
Justice Ziblim referred to the university’s regulations, which states that, “Candidates caught in breach of examination regulations should be allowed to write the paper while the Dean in consultation with the Provost of the College appoints a committee to investigate the matter and presents a report to the Provost who shall promptly forward the report, including his recommendations, to the Vice Chancellor”.
He stated that if this was anything to go by, then even if the students were caught in examination malpractices the university contravened its own regulation by refusing to allow them to write the examinations.
'DR' AWUNI ARRESTED AT KOMFO ANOKYE' (PAGE 3)
A 29-year-old man who allegedly posed as a doctor and attempted to dupe a female patient at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) has been arrested.
“Dr” Stephen Awuni, who is said to have claimed that he worked at the B2 Ward at KATH, was arrested by a security man and handed over to the police.
The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of KATH, Mr Kwame Frimpong, told the Daily Graphic that the security man saw “Dr” Awuni helping a patient to the Medical Emergency Ward of the hospital.
While watching what was going on, the security man again saw Awuni, who was dressed in a doctor’s outfit, taking money from the patient.
Mr Frimpong said the security man found the behaviour of the man unbecoming of a doctor and, therefore, confronted him.
When he was questioned, Awuni started fumbling and the security man suspected foul play.
According to the PRO, Awuni told the security man that he was not a doctor and that the uniform he wore had been picked from the room of a doctor with whom he lived in the same house at Offinso.
However, the patient confirmed that the man had claimed that he was a doctor at the B2 Ward.
Mr Frimpong stated that the hospital would not tolerate such criminal behaviour.
“Dr” Stephen Awuni, who is said to have claimed that he worked at the B2 Ward at KATH, was arrested by a security man and handed over to the police.
The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of KATH, Mr Kwame Frimpong, told the Daily Graphic that the security man saw “Dr” Awuni helping a patient to the Medical Emergency Ward of the hospital.
While watching what was going on, the security man again saw Awuni, who was dressed in a doctor’s outfit, taking money from the patient.
Mr Frimpong said the security man found the behaviour of the man unbecoming of a doctor and, therefore, confronted him.
When he was questioned, Awuni started fumbling and the security man suspected foul play.
According to the PRO, Awuni told the security man that he was not a doctor and that the uniform he wore had been picked from the room of a doctor with whom he lived in the same house at Offinso.
However, the patient confirmed that the man had claimed that he was a doctor at the B2 Ward.
Mr Frimpong stated that the hospital would not tolerate such criminal behaviour.
Monday, July 7, 2008
NATIONAL SERVICE PERSONNEL TRAINED IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP (NSEMPA, PAGE 5)
By Kwame Asare Boadu, Kumasi
THE Chief Executive Officer of Empretec Foundation, Nana Tweneboah-Boateng, has called on all national service personnel to develop the requisite entrepreneurial skills and abilities that will help them manage their own businesses after leaving the service.
He said the development of every nation depended largely on the private sector, and so the personnel must not hesitate to enter into private business after their national service.
Nana Tweneboah-Boateng made the call at a two-day training workshop on entrepreneurship, organised by Empretec for selected service personnel in the Ashanti Region.
It was the first-ever graduate entrepreneurship workshop organised by the National Service Scheme (NSS), and was on the theme, “Introduction to Entrepreneurship”.
It was aimed at introducing the concept of entrepreneurship to service personnel who after their service, would want to start their own businesses.
Nana Tweneboah-Boateng said since the government had made private sector development an integral part of its development agenda, the workshop would help boost the quality of entrepreneurs who would help promote the sector in the future.
He said Empretec was recognised by the NSS to train its personnel, because it was the leading entrepreneurship and business development firm in the country.
The CEO disclosed that out of the 500 personnel trained in the whole country, about 100 of them, who would display immense interest and capabilities, would be selected by Empretec for assistance.
He said his outfit was prepared to provide further training, business counselling, support and access to commercial credit to anyone who was determined to be an entrepreneur with a good business plan.
He said the workshop would be extended into the future for more personnel to benefit from it.
The Ashanti Regional Director of NSS, Mr Kwesi Quainoo, said that most of the personnel would want to set up their own businesses, but lacked the requisite skills and, therefore, the training was an opportunity, which they must take advantage.
He, therefore, urged the personnel to take the training seriously to grant them a better future.
THE Chief Executive Officer of Empretec Foundation, Nana Tweneboah-Boateng, has called on all national service personnel to develop the requisite entrepreneurial skills and abilities that will help them manage their own businesses after leaving the service.
He said the development of every nation depended largely on the private sector, and so the personnel must not hesitate to enter into private business after their national service.
Nana Tweneboah-Boateng made the call at a two-day training workshop on entrepreneurship, organised by Empretec for selected service personnel in the Ashanti Region.
It was the first-ever graduate entrepreneurship workshop organised by the National Service Scheme (NSS), and was on the theme, “Introduction to Entrepreneurship”.
It was aimed at introducing the concept of entrepreneurship to service personnel who after their service, would want to start their own businesses.
Nana Tweneboah-Boateng said since the government had made private sector development an integral part of its development agenda, the workshop would help boost the quality of entrepreneurs who would help promote the sector in the future.
He said Empretec was recognised by the NSS to train its personnel, because it was the leading entrepreneurship and business development firm in the country.
The CEO disclosed that out of the 500 personnel trained in the whole country, about 100 of them, who would display immense interest and capabilities, would be selected by Empretec for assistance.
He said his outfit was prepared to provide further training, business counselling, support and access to commercial credit to anyone who was determined to be an entrepreneur with a good business plan.
He said the workshop would be extended into the future for more personnel to benefit from it.
The Ashanti Regional Director of NSS, Mr Kwesi Quainoo, said that most of the personnel would want to set up their own businesses, but lacked the requisite skills and, therefore, the training was an opportunity, which they must take advantage.
He, therefore, urged the personnel to take the training seriously to grant them a better future.
FANS ABUSE FACILITIES AT BABA YARA STADIUM (NSEMPA, BACK PAGE)
By Kwame Asare Boadu, Kumasi
There is a serious abuse of facilities at the Baba Yara Stadium by fans who patronise matches there.
Investigations by Graphic Nsempa revealed that, some of the fans go to the extent of defecating in the stands much to the chagrin of the managers of the stadium, the National Sports Council (NSC).
Others also urinate in empty plastic bottles and dump them in the stands.
Many others who also refuse to use the washrooms decide to urinate on the walls and in other open places.
“It is an eyesore”, a staff of the NSC told me at the stadium last Friday.
According to him, the teams that use the facility must educate their supporters to discipline themselves when they watch matches at the stadium.
The two teams that play their home matches at the stadium are Asante Kotoko and King Faisal.
The stadium also recently hosted a World Cup qualifying match between the Black Stars and Libya, which was fairly patronised.
It was put up at a high cost to the government and the situation could defeat the very purpose for which the facility was built.
In fact, the Baba Yara Stadium is considered one of the beautiful stadia in Africa, and Ghanaians have a duty to maintain it.
Zoomlion, the giant waste management company, has been contracted to clean the stadium.
They have been doing a very good work but the activities of the fans could be a source of concern to the workers of the company.
There is also the need for the patriotic ones amongst the fans, not to hesitate to cause the arrest of those who engage in such shameful acts.
There is a serious abuse of facilities at the Baba Yara Stadium by fans who patronise matches there.
Investigations by Graphic Nsempa revealed that, some of the fans go to the extent of defecating in the stands much to the chagrin of the managers of the stadium, the National Sports Council (NSC).
Others also urinate in empty plastic bottles and dump them in the stands.
Many others who also refuse to use the washrooms decide to urinate on the walls and in other open places.
“It is an eyesore”, a staff of the NSC told me at the stadium last Friday.
According to him, the teams that use the facility must educate their supporters to discipline themselves when they watch matches at the stadium.
The two teams that play their home matches at the stadium are Asante Kotoko and King Faisal.
The stadium also recently hosted a World Cup qualifying match between the Black Stars and Libya, which was fairly patronised.
It was put up at a high cost to the government and the situation could defeat the very purpose for which the facility was built.
In fact, the Baba Yara Stadium is considered one of the beautiful stadia in Africa, and Ghanaians have a duty to maintain it.
Zoomlion, the giant waste management company, has been contracted to clean the stadium.
They have been doing a very good work but the activities of the fans could be a source of concern to the workers of the company.
There is also the need for the patriotic ones amongst the fans, not to hesitate to cause the arrest of those who engage in such shameful acts.
I WILL REVIVE JUVENILE FOOTBALL — GRUZAH (NSEMPA, BACK PAGE)
By Kwame Asare Boadu, Kumasi
THE founder of King Faisal Babies F/C, Alhaji Karim Gruzah, has stated that the national award he received last Thursday would propel him to take a leading role in reviving juvenile football in the country.
He expressed regret that juvenile football was almost dead in the country, and said, as a pace-setter in that area, he would take up the challenge to revive the sport.
“I love juvenile football because that is where everything starts”, he told Graphic Nsempa in an interview last Friday.
Gruzah was among a number of personalities who were honoured by the nation at the national awards ceremony in Accra.
He received the Order of the Volta (Grand Medal) from President Kufuor.
Alhaji Gruzah said, “I have juvenile football in my blood and I think I have to put it to the full advantage of my nation”.
He noted how in the past the Manyhia Palace Park in Kumasi and other centres in Accra were awash with juvenile football.
“But what we see today is the direct opposite, and those of us with interest in the game must start something”, he said.
Alhaji Gruzah is credited with nurturing a number of players from the juvenile division to stardom in Kumasi.
He said if the nation were able to catch the players young, the future would be very bright for national football.
He has been in football for over 47 years and believes the award he received from President Kufuor was a testimony of the valuable services he had rendered to his nation.
Even though the Alhaji lacks formal education, he possesses a natural gift in administration, something, which have seen him managing his club, King Faisal effectively over the years.
Gruzah is a fierce critic of maladministration and injustice in football administration at the national level.
He stated that Ghana football deserved better and promised to remain an impartial critic of the system.
He commended President Kufuor for recognising his achievements in football in the country.
THE founder of King Faisal Babies F/C, Alhaji Karim Gruzah, has stated that the national award he received last Thursday would propel him to take a leading role in reviving juvenile football in the country.
He expressed regret that juvenile football was almost dead in the country, and said, as a pace-setter in that area, he would take up the challenge to revive the sport.
“I love juvenile football because that is where everything starts”, he told Graphic Nsempa in an interview last Friday.
Gruzah was among a number of personalities who were honoured by the nation at the national awards ceremony in Accra.
He received the Order of the Volta (Grand Medal) from President Kufuor.
Alhaji Gruzah said, “I have juvenile football in my blood and I think I have to put it to the full advantage of my nation”.
He noted how in the past the Manyhia Palace Park in Kumasi and other centres in Accra were awash with juvenile football.
“But what we see today is the direct opposite, and those of us with interest in the game must start something”, he said.
Alhaji Gruzah is credited with nurturing a number of players from the juvenile division to stardom in Kumasi.
He said if the nation were able to catch the players young, the future would be very bright for national football.
He has been in football for over 47 years and believes the award he received from President Kufuor was a testimony of the valuable services he had rendered to his nation.
Even though the Alhaji lacks formal education, he possesses a natural gift in administration, something, which have seen him managing his club, King Faisal effectively over the years.
Gruzah is a fierce critic of maladministration and injustice in football administration at the national level.
He stated that Ghana football deserved better and promised to remain an impartial critic of the system.
He commended President Kufuor for recognising his achievements in football in the country.
KNUST RE-ADMITS TWO DISMISSED STUDENTS (PAGE 11)
THE Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has re-admitted two law students who were dismissed in October 2007 for alleged examination malpractice.
This followed the ruling by a Kumasi High Court, presided over by Mr Justice Imoru Ziblim, on March 5, 2008 which quashed the dismissal of Mr Alfred Obeng Boateng and Mr Ato Kwamena Sam Ghartey, both part-time law students of the university.
With the decision by the university authorities to abide by the court’s ruling, the two students have joined their colleagues in the third year at the Law Faculty.
Mr Boateng, who is also the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Approachers (Ghana) Limited, told the Daily Graphic in an interview that their re-admission was a victory for the rule of law prevailing in the country.
He said some lecturers allegedly fabricated the allegation that they cheated in the examination in order to paint them in bad light before the public.
According to a certified true copy of the court’s ruling, the dismissal of the students had no legal basis, was irrational and unreasonable.
By two separate letters dated November 22, 2007, the university declared the two students dismissed after constituting a committee to investigate the alleged malpractice.
Counsel for the students, Mr Akwasi Afrifa, argued that he and his clients had to boycott the sittings of the committee after the authorities had rejected their objection to the composition of the panel.
In their statement of case, the university authorities admitted that the committee continued to sit, even though the two students and their counsel boycotted its sittings.
On October 31, 2007, the committee submitted its report to the Dean of the Faculty of Law, who forwarded it to the vice-chancellor through the Provost of the College of Art and Social Sciences.
The university authorities further stated that the conduct of the two students was scandalous and disgraceful and the university, therefore, considered them unfit to continue to be in the institution.
However, Mr Justice Ziblim, in his ruling, described the words coming from the university as harsh, especially weighed against the fact that the decision to dismiss the students was made in contravention of the rules of natural justice.
He said the conduct of the committee prevented the two students from giving evidence, while no witnesses were called during the committee’s sittings.
“Certiorari will lie to quash any proceedings or decision which has not allowed a party to give evidence by calling witnesses,” Justice Ziblim explained.
This followed the ruling by a Kumasi High Court, presided over by Mr Justice Imoru Ziblim, on March 5, 2008 which quashed the dismissal of Mr Alfred Obeng Boateng and Mr Ato Kwamena Sam Ghartey, both part-time law students of the university.
With the decision by the university authorities to abide by the court’s ruling, the two students have joined their colleagues in the third year at the Law Faculty.
Mr Boateng, who is also the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Approachers (Ghana) Limited, told the Daily Graphic in an interview that their re-admission was a victory for the rule of law prevailing in the country.
He said some lecturers allegedly fabricated the allegation that they cheated in the examination in order to paint them in bad light before the public.
According to a certified true copy of the court’s ruling, the dismissal of the students had no legal basis, was irrational and unreasonable.
By two separate letters dated November 22, 2007, the university declared the two students dismissed after constituting a committee to investigate the alleged malpractice.
Counsel for the students, Mr Akwasi Afrifa, argued that he and his clients had to boycott the sittings of the committee after the authorities had rejected their objection to the composition of the panel.
In their statement of case, the university authorities admitted that the committee continued to sit, even though the two students and their counsel boycotted its sittings.
On October 31, 2007, the committee submitted its report to the Dean of the Faculty of Law, who forwarded it to the vice-chancellor through the Provost of the College of Art and Social Sciences.
The university authorities further stated that the conduct of the two students was scandalous and disgraceful and the university, therefore, considered them unfit to continue to be in the institution.
However, Mr Justice Ziblim, in his ruling, described the words coming from the university as harsh, especially weighed against the fact that the decision to dismiss the students was made in contravention of the rules of natural justice.
He said the conduct of the committee prevented the two students from giving evidence, while no witnesses were called during the committee’s sittings.
“Certiorari will lie to quash any proceedings or decision which has not allowed a party to give evidence by calling witnesses,” Justice Ziblim explained.
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