THE University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) at Tarkwa in the Western Region will start offering BSc Petroleum Engineering and BSc Computer Science and Engineering programmes next academic year.
The university will therefore admit students into the Departments of Petroleum Engineering and Computer Science and Engineering programmes from August next year.
The Vice-Chancellor of UMaT, Professor Daniel Mireku-Gyimah, who announced this, stressed the need to start the training of petroleum engineers for the imminent petroleum industry in the country and also the training of engineers who can exploit alternative energy resources such as solar energy, wind energy and biomass energy.
Professor Mireku-Gyimah explained that the strategy of the university enjoins it, as soon as feasible, to start Computer Engineering, Technical English and Management Science programmes, adding, “While we are seriously working on these, we now feel obliged to quickly look at the possibility of mounting Petroleum Engineering and Alternative Energy Technology programmes in the face of the discovery of oil and inadequacy of hydro-electric power in Ghana”.
He was speaking at the fourth matriculation ceremony of the university at Tarkwa.
Out of 1,291 candidates who qualified for admission, only 390, representing 30 per cent, could be admitted to the university this academic year due to limited academic, residential as well as other facilities.
According to the vicechancellor, UMaT is certainly on the move to become a centre of excellence for the training of world-class professionals in Engineering, Management Science and Information Technology.
Currently, the total student population stands at 1,250 out of which 157 are females.
Professor Mireku-Gyimah said during this year’s admission, every female student who qualified for admission was automatically admitted, adding “We will continue to open our doors to all female applicants who express interest in mining-related engineering education”.
He noted with interest that in this year’s admission list, students from the Ghana Senior High Technical School (GSTS) in Takoradi formed the highest proportion with 28 students, followed by Mfantsipim with 19 students with Tarkwa Senior High School coming third with 11 students.
“We also have students from the less endowed schools. We have one student each from the Huni Valley Senior High School, Tepa Senior High School and Ahafoman Senior High School”, he added.
He said the university had resolved to increase its research activities and intensify its postgraduate studies.
It is also important to stock the university’s new library with books and complete its automation, as well as quickly complete its auditorium complex, build more student hostels, more lecture rooms, staff houses, a sports complex and the road network, he added.
Prof. Mireku-Gyimah announced that the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) had granted the university GH¢2.5 million to be used to acquire modern equipment for its electrical and mechanical engineering laboratories.
He said through the initiative of the Paramount Chief of the Wassa Fiase Traditional Area, Osagyefo Kwamina Enimil, who is also a member of the university council, the Wassa Fiase Traditional Council had formally donated 26 square kilometres of land to the university, while Gold Fields Ghana Limited had contributed $100,000 towards the refurbishment of the Geological Engineering laboratory.
Prof. Mireku-Gyimah announced that the Kristo Asafo Technology Centre (KATC) in Winneba had agreed to make its facilities such as workshops and fabrication equipment available to UMaT students as well as the staff for training and research. A memorandum of collaboration (MoC) was signed between the university and the KATC to that effect.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
CHECK INDISCIPLINE AMONG DRIVERS (PAGE 29)
INDISCIPLINE is one word I hate because of the negative connotations attached to it.
The Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary explains the word indiscipline as, "A lack of control of the behaviour of a group of people".
Recently, while reflecting on the level of indiscipline among drivers in the Kumasi metropolis something struck me.
It was what the Ashanti Regional Commander of the Police Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU), Superintendent James Sarfo-Peprah, said in an interview he granted me. He said to the effect that drivers were making Kumasi ungovernable.
Ungovernable, yes, because when you fail to control drivers in their activities in a populous city like Kumasi one could imagine the state of disorder that would emerge.
"Indiscipline on the part of drivers is on the ascendancy in Kumasi", the MTTU commander said while admitting that the police were finding it difficult to address the situation because of a multiplicity of factors.
What makes many cities tick is their effective traffic management.
Good roads without proper control of traffic will lead to chaos in the whole transport system in cities.
Consequently, authorities in a number of cities take keen interest in devising policies and programmes that would bring sanity into their systems.
But it looks like Kumasi is not one of such cities. Everything seems to be going haywire.
When the Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, launched his campaign against indiscipline, many were those who thought it was going to solve a major canker in the society.
However, developments so far points to the campaign failing to achieve its major objectives. At least the activities of drivers in Kumasi are a pointer to this fact.
But no one should blame the Vice President for the failure to achieve his set objectives. Getting the Ghanaian to change from certain behaviours is always a difficult task.
Blatant disregard for road safety regulations is the order of the day in Kumasi. For a city whose strategic position makes it a centre for all manner of vehicles to converge daily, something positive needs to be done to restore normalcy in traffic management.
Some choose to pick and drop passengers anywhere they like. It is an eyesore to see vehicles, especially taxis and trotro vehicles stop right in the middle of the road to pick passengers, much to the discomfort of other road users.
Even in roundabouts and traffic intersections, drivers do their own thing and one can imagine the consequences of such actions.
The most serious part of the city where such activities take place is the central business district. Mention can be made of the road in front of the Unicorn House, the PZ area and the central market road.
These are areas where traffic is already heavy and the negative activities of drivers compound the situation.
Some of the drivers attribute their illegal activities to the fact that the Kejetia Terminal is closed for rehabilitation and that they do not have any loading points.
Driver unions have accused the police and city authorities of bias because they have allowed the Metro Mass Transport to use the roads as loading points while they are arrested when they do the same thing.
It is true that the Kejetia Terminal is being reconditioned but that in no way allows drivers to take the law into their own hands.
Traffic offences like unnecessary parking have the tendency to cause accidents. In fact, Supt Sarfo-Peprah agreed that such activities were a major cause of vehicular knockdowns and other forms of accidents in the metropolis.
Supt Sarfo-Peprah laments the difficulties the police face when they decide to strike by prosecuting offending drivers.
"There are all manner of influential people coming to intervene and at times we are forced to kowtow in order not to step on heavy toes", he said.
Nonetheless, Mr Sarfo-Peprah says the police are going to enforce the rules this time, especially after the reopening of the Kejetia Terminal for use.
The police must be the first to admit that the law is no respector of persons. Therefore, whoever falls foul of the law must be dealt with.
The Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary explains the word indiscipline as, "A lack of control of the behaviour of a group of people".
Recently, while reflecting on the level of indiscipline among drivers in the Kumasi metropolis something struck me.
It was what the Ashanti Regional Commander of the Police Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU), Superintendent James Sarfo-Peprah, said in an interview he granted me. He said to the effect that drivers were making Kumasi ungovernable.
Ungovernable, yes, because when you fail to control drivers in their activities in a populous city like Kumasi one could imagine the state of disorder that would emerge.
"Indiscipline on the part of drivers is on the ascendancy in Kumasi", the MTTU commander said while admitting that the police were finding it difficult to address the situation because of a multiplicity of factors.
What makes many cities tick is their effective traffic management.
Good roads without proper control of traffic will lead to chaos in the whole transport system in cities.
Consequently, authorities in a number of cities take keen interest in devising policies and programmes that would bring sanity into their systems.
But it looks like Kumasi is not one of such cities. Everything seems to be going haywire.
When the Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, launched his campaign against indiscipline, many were those who thought it was going to solve a major canker in the society.
However, developments so far points to the campaign failing to achieve its major objectives. At least the activities of drivers in Kumasi are a pointer to this fact.
But no one should blame the Vice President for the failure to achieve his set objectives. Getting the Ghanaian to change from certain behaviours is always a difficult task.
Blatant disregard for road safety regulations is the order of the day in Kumasi. For a city whose strategic position makes it a centre for all manner of vehicles to converge daily, something positive needs to be done to restore normalcy in traffic management.
Some choose to pick and drop passengers anywhere they like. It is an eyesore to see vehicles, especially taxis and trotro vehicles stop right in the middle of the road to pick passengers, much to the discomfort of other road users.
Even in roundabouts and traffic intersections, drivers do their own thing and one can imagine the consequences of such actions.
The most serious part of the city where such activities take place is the central business district. Mention can be made of the road in front of the Unicorn House, the PZ area and the central market road.
These are areas where traffic is already heavy and the negative activities of drivers compound the situation.
Some of the drivers attribute their illegal activities to the fact that the Kejetia Terminal is closed for rehabilitation and that they do not have any loading points.
Driver unions have accused the police and city authorities of bias because they have allowed the Metro Mass Transport to use the roads as loading points while they are arrested when they do the same thing.
It is true that the Kejetia Terminal is being reconditioned but that in no way allows drivers to take the law into their own hands.
Traffic offences like unnecessary parking have the tendency to cause accidents. In fact, Supt Sarfo-Peprah agreed that such activities were a major cause of vehicular knockdowns and other forms of accidents in the metropolis.
Supt Sarfo-Peprah laments the difficulties the police face when they decide to strike by prosecuting offending drivers.
"There are all manner of influential people coming to intervene and at times we are forced to kowtow in order not to step on heavy toes", he said.
Nonetheless, Mr Sarfo-Peprah says the police are going to enforce the rules this time, especially after the reopening of the Kejetia Terminal for use.
The police must be the first to admit that the law is no respector of persons. Therefore, whoever falls foul of the law must be dealt with.
SINAPI ABA TRUST SPONSORS OBUASI APPRENTICES (PAGE 21)
ONE hundred and eighty young persons in the Obuasi municipality are undergoing training in various skills under the Sinapi Aba Trust and the Obuasi Municipal Assembly's Youth Apprenticeship Programme.
The programme is a strategically designed youth-centred intervention that seeks to comprehensively address the employment and health needs of the unemployed youth by equipping them with employable and entrepreneurial skills as well as education on HIV/AIDS and its prevention.
It brings to 210 the number of beneficiaries of the programme in the municipality.
The training covered hairdressing, dressmaking, plumbing, electrical installation, welding and fabrication, carpentry and auto mechanics.
On completion of the training, Sinapi Aba Trust would assist the trainees with capital to start their businesses.
As part of the training schedule, the youth are taken through education on HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases as well as other social vices to enable them live responsibly.
Last Friday, the Trust presented training tools worth about GH¢20,000 free of charge to the apprentices at a ceremony at Obuasi.
In a speech read on his behalf, the Chief Executive of the Trust, Mr Anthony Gyasi-Fosu, said the company was delighted to commit some of its resources to reducing mass unemployment in the country as a way of transforming the lives of the people.
He noted that the situation of the unemployed youth in Ghana today demanded pragmatic and strategically designed interventions to turn around their life situations.
Mr Gyasi-Fosu stated that equipping the youth with vocational and entrepreneurial skills to make them employable either in paid jobs or in self-employment would give them a lifetime opportunity not only to earn a decent living but also to reduce their vulnerability to HIV/AIDS as they become economically independent.
The Youth Apprenticeship Programme was piloted in Kumasi in 2004 and replicated in Accra a year later.
Mr Gyasi-Fosu said as a result of the success story of the programme, seven districts and municipalities in the country were enjoying similar support.
He expressed the hope that the trainees would make good use of the tools presented to them.
The Deputy Municipal Co-ordinator for Obuasi, Mr Emmanuel Ntoso, said the assembly took great interest in fighting youth unemployment and gave the assurance that their partnership with Sinapi Aba Trust would be pursued with all seriousness.
He asked parents to invest in their children, since such an investment was worthwhile.
He further asked other companies to emulate the example of Sinapi Aba Trust to complement the efforts of the government in the nation’s development drive.
The programme is a strategically designed youth-centred intervention that seeks to comprehensively address the employment and health needs of the unemployed youth by equipping them with employable and entrepreneurial skills as well as education on HIV/AIDS and its prevention.
It brings to 210 the number of beneficiaries of the programme in the municipality.
The training covered hairdressing, dressmaking, plumbing, electrical installation, welding and fabrication, carpentry and auto mechanics.
On completion of the training, Sinapi Aba Trust would assist the trainees with capital to start their businesses.
As part of the training schedule, the youth are taken through education on HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases as well as other social vices to enable them live responsibly.
Last Friday, the Trust presented training tools worth about GH¢20,000 free of charge to the apprentices at a ceremony at Obuasi.
In a speech read on his behalf, the Chief Executive of the Trust, Mr Anthony Gyasi-Fosu, said the company was delighted to commit some of its resources to reducing mass unemployment in the country as a way of transforming the lives of the people.
He noted that the situation of the unemployed youth in Ghana today demanded pragmatic and strategically designed interventions to turn around their life situations.
Mr Gyasi-Fosu stated that equipping the youth with vocational and entrepreneurial skills to make them employable either in paid jobs or in self-employment would give them a lifetime opportunity not only to earn a decent living but also to reduce their vulnerability to HIV/AIDS as they become economically independent.
The Youth Apprenticeship Programme was piloted in Kumasi in 2004 and replicated in Accra a year later.
Mr Gyasi-Fosu said as a result of the success story of the programme, seven districts and municipalities in the country were enjoying similar support.
He expressed the hope that the trainees would make good use of the tools presented to them.
The Deputy Municipal Co-ordinator for Obuasi, Mr Emmanuel Ntoso, said the assembly took great interest in fighting youth unemployment and gave the assurance that their partnership with Sinapi Aba Trust would be pursued with all seriousness.
He asked parents to invest in their children, since such an investment was worthwhile.
He further asked other companies to emulate the example of Sinapi Aba Trust to complement the efforts of the government in the nation’s development drive.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
BEKOE SAVES DAY FOR KOTOKO (GRAPHIC SPORTS, BACK PAGE)
WITH all four sides in the group – El-Merreikh, Etoile du Sahel, JS Kabylie and Asante Kotoko — tied up at three points, one may argue that the group is open.
But finding themselves at the bottom of the group due to inferior goals, Kumasi Asante Kotoko need no one to remind them how crucial goals are in the CAF Confederation Cup championship.
The going against El-Merrikh last Sunday was tough, no doubt about
that. But Kotoko could have done better with the score line had they remained focused upfront.
On about six occasions, Kwabena Yaro and Bekoe found themselves in scoring range but messed up.
Nevertheless, Eric Bekoe proved he is an enigma. Sometimes you have to dig deep into your thinking faculty to come to terms with how he scores his goals.
The striker who has been an inspirational performer since joining Kotoko at the beginning of the season has never ceased scoring.
When he pulled the trigger and fetched that crucial goal with just three minutes to end the CAF Confederation Cup group tie against El-Merreikh it brought to the fore the great potentials in the young striker.
He said after the match: "When the going became tough, something struck me that all eyes were on me to save the day for the club and I thank God that my prayers were heard".
Having laboured in vain for the greater period of the match, Bekoe made up for the lost opportunities with that 87th minute strike, beating impressive keeper Akram El-Habi by converting on the turn a fine pass from striking partner, Kwadwo Poku.
For Asante Kotoko, the 1-0 victory should be a morale booster but they need to be wary of the task ahead as they have to extricate themselves from the bottom placing. El-Merreikh who were sent reeling to their first defeat in the championship looked battle — ready than their opponents.
Even Asante Kotoko coach, Bashir Hayford, admitted that the Sudanese side were stronger and powerful on the field.
Hayford and his counterpart with El-Merreikh, Michael Kruger, were happy but disappointed.
Both believed they squandered opportunities that should have won the day for them.
Hear Hayford: " I think we played well on the day but I am not happy with the chances we wasted. All the same we won and that is what is important".
Mr Kruger also said: "My players played to tactics but I am downhearted because of the two or three fine chances we missed".
The coach hit the nail right on the head because it was difficult to fathom how striker Ahmed Omar Eldir could waste that chance in the 58th minute when slack defending by Kotoko saw him before an empty net only to hesitate for brilliant defender Ofosu Appiah to run to clear on the goal line.
"In away matches you don't have to waste such fine opportunities because you can be punished for that, and this exactly what happened to us", coach Kruger said.
But finding themselves at the bottom of the group due to inferior goals, Kumasi Asante Kotoko need no one to remind them how crucial goals are in the CAF Confederation Cup championship.
The going against El-Merrikh last Sunday was tough, no doubt about
that. But Kotoko could have done better with the score line had they remained focused upfront.
On about six occasions, Kwabena Yaro and Bekoe found themselves in scoring range but messed up.
Nevertheless, Eric Bekoe proved he is an enigma. Sometimes you have to dig deep into your thinking faculty to come to terms with how he scores his goals.
The striker who has been an inspirational performer since joining Kotoko at the beginning of the season has never ceased scoring.
When he pulled the trigger and fetched that crucial goal with just three minutes to end the CAF Confederation Cup group tie against El-Merreikh it brought to the fore the great potentials in the young striker.
He said after the match: "When the going became tough, something struck me that all eyes were on me to save the day for the club and I thank God that my prayers were heard".
Having laboured in vain for the greater period of the match, Bekoe made up for the lost opportunities with that 87th minute strike, beating impressive keeper Akram El-Habi by converting on the turn a fine pass from striking partner, Kwadwo Poku.
For Asante Kotoko, the 1-0 victory should be a morale booster but they need to be wary of the task ahead as they have to extricate themselves from the bottom placing. El-Merreikh who were sent reeling to their first defeat in the championship looked battle — ready than their opponents.
Even Asante Kotoko coach, Bashir Hayford, admitted that the Sudanese side were stronger and powerful on the field.
Hayford and his counterpart with El-Merreikh, Michael Kruger, were happy but disappointed.
Both believed they squandered opportunities that should have won the day for them.
Hear Hayford: " I think we played well on the day but I am not happy with the chances we wasted. All the same we won and that is what is important".
Mr Kruger also said: "My players played to tactics but I am downhearted because of the two or three fine chances we missed".
The coach hit the nail right on the head because it was difficult to fathom how striker Ahmed Omar Eldir could waste that chance in the 58th minute when slack defending by Kotoko saw him before an empty net only to hesitate for brilliant defender Ofosu Appiah to run to clear on the goal line.
"In away matches you don't have to waste such fine opportunities because you can be punished for that, and this exactly what happened to us", coach Kruger said.
ASANTEMAN TO HELP BA IN EDUCATION (PAGE 30)
THE Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has announced a package to send part of the World Bank grant accruing to the Asanteman Council to the Brong Ahafo Region for development projects.
He has consequently asked members of the council to form a committee with the Brong Ahafo Regional Co-ordinating Council to plan how the money will be utilised.
Announcing this at the Asanteman Council meeting at the Manhyia Palace last Thursday, Otumfuo Osei Tutu said projects to be undertaken in the Brong Ahafo Region would include water, school and health facilities.
He said education had become an important part of modern chieftaincy, stressing that any chief who failed to recognise this could not claim to be a good chief.
He said nobody should construe Asanteman to mean the Ashanti Region, explaining that all areas in the Brong Ahafo Region and other parts of the country that fall under his authority also constituted part of Asanteman.
He consequently gave the assurance that he would make sure they had a fair share of development from the Asanteman Council.
The Asantehene also indicated that he would ensure peace prevailed in those areas to ensure progress and development.
He gave a hint of the decision to celebrate 10 years of his enstoolment next year.
Otumfuo said the occasion would be used to reflect on how Asanteman had progressed within the period and how to forge ahead as a people to accelerate development.
“The 10 years should focus on how far we as a people have gone in our development and not for drumming and dancing,” Otumfuo said to applause from his subjects.
As part of preparation for the grand celebration, Otumfuo Osei Tutu said outstanding enstoolment matters before the Council would be resolved before the end of the year.
He mentioned some of the areas as Jamasi, Kumawu, Esumeja and Ejisu, all in the Ashanti Region, and Offuman in the Brong Ahafo Region.
He tasked the committees working on the cases to ensure that they completed their work by October, so that the reports would be placed before him for the respective paramount chiefs to be elected and sworn before him to give way for the celebration.
The Asantehene also indicated that the Council would look at how there arose two chiefs in the Tano Subin area in the Brong Ahafo Region, which falls under his authority.
He stated that financial power should never be the yardstick for the election of a chief in Asanteman, stressing that “only qualified royals should ascend stools in my domain”.
He has consequently asked members of the council to form a committee with the Brong Ahafo Regional Co-ordinating Council to plan how the money will be utilised.
Announcing this at the Asanteman Council meeting at the Manhyia Palace last Thursday, Otumfuo Osei Tutu said projects to be undertaken in the Brong Ahafo Region would include water, school and health facilities.
He said education had become an important part of modern chieftaincy, stressing that any chief who failed to recognise this could not claim to be a good chief.
He said nobody should construe Asanteman to mean the Ashanti Region, explaining that all areas in the Brong Ahafo Region and other parts of the country that fall under his authority also constituted part of Asanteman.
He consequently gave the assurance that he would make sure they had a fair share of development from the Asanteman Council.
The Asantehene also indicated that he would ensure peace prevailed in those areas to ensure progress and development.
He gave a hint of the decision to celebrate 10 years of his enstoolment next year.
Otumfuo said the occasion would be used to reflect on how Asanteman had progressed within the period and how to forge ahead as a people to accelerate development.
“The 10 years should focus on how far we as a people have gone in our development and not for drumming and dancing,” Otumfuo said to applause from his subjects.
As part of preparation for the grand celebration, Otumfuo Osei Tutu said outstanding enstoolment matters before the Council would be resolved before the end of the year.
He mentioned some of the areas as Jamasi, Kumawu, Esumeja and Ejisu, all in the Ashanti Region, and Offuman in the Brong Ahafo Region.
He tasked the committees working on the cases to ensure that they completed their work by October, so that the reports would be placed before him for the respective paramount chiefs to be elected and sworn before him to give way for the celebration.
The Asantehene also indicated that the Council would look at how there arose two chiefs in the Tano Subin area in the Brong Ahafo Region, which falls under his authority.
He stated that financial power should never be the yardstick for the election of a chief in Asanteman, stressing that “only qualified royals should ascend stools in my domain”.
Monday, September 1, 2008
KOTOKO REVIVE FORTUNES (BACK PAGE)
KUMASI Asante Kotoko went through 90 minutes of hell before subduing a crafty El-Merreikh 1-0 at the Baba Yara Stadium to revive their fortunes in the CAF Confederation championship.
Pre-match warnings from El-Merreikh appeared real and for once, it appeared Kotoko were going to drop points at home until the magic of Eric Bekoe prevailed to find a space past excellent keeper Akram El-Habi Salah.
The threat from the Sudanese side was ever present, and as they produced great technique in the game, it brought to the fore the task ahead for Kotoko as the championship progresses.
The game started slowly but dramatically came to life in the second minute when a cracker of a shot from Daniel Nii Adjei came off the post.
It looked as if the game was going to swing in Kotoko's favour but El-Merrick had other ideas.
They created a huge barrier at the back, with Mohammed El-Kheder, Saad Atiya Abdallah, and Musah El-Tayeb in excellent form, while the midfield knocked the ball round trying to tease the Kotoko defence out.
Initiating most of their attacks from the left side of defence where Samuel Inkoom operated with gusto in the first half, Kotoko found themselves with two great opportunities in the 9th and ninth minutes but Kwabena Yaro who looked raw, and Eric Bekoe wasted them.
With Merreikh appearing stronger, they pushed forward and should have taken the lead in the 21st minute but Eldir Omar's shot at goal was headed off the goal line by defender Ofosu Appiah.
A quintessential performer all afternoon, Appiah, the former Heart of Lions defender, scored full marks with a similar clearance, this time with the leg, in the 58th minute.
Kotoko turned on the style on restart, with Inkoom shifting to his more favourite right back position. He drove down the right flank just on resumption and flighted in a cross, which the keeper Akram pushed to corner with difficulty.
Prowling fruitlessly in the area of the visiting team, Bekoe tried to apply the theatrics but the no-nonsense Gabonese referee Gil Sabastian Mdume ignored him.
The midfield action appeared evenly fought, but El-Merreikh used their height and physique to win most of the aerial balls.
With the two sides making substitutions, they kept squandering the chances and coach Bashir Hayford was seen screaming with fury from the sidelines.
The introduction of Stephen Oduro and Kwadwo Poku into the game changed the going for Kotoko and even then the goals were difficult to come by until Bekoe fired Kotoko in front.
As the embers of the game kept dying out, Kwadwo Poku wreaked havoc down the left side of attack and located Bekoe just inside the box.
The striker turned 45 degrees before slipping the ball past keeper Akram. That was in the 87th minute and even though El-Merreikh fought frantically for the equaliser, they were kept at bay by Kotoko.
Pre-match warnings from El-Merreikh appeared real and for once, it appeared Kotoko were going to drop points at home until the magic of Eric Bekoe prevailed to find a space past excellent keeper Akram El-Habi Salah.
The threat from the Sudanese side was ever present, and as they produced great technique in the game, it brought to the fore the task ahead for Kotoko as the championship progresses.
The game started slowly but dramatically came to life in the second minute when a cracker of a shot from Daniel Nii Adjei came off the post.
It looked as if the game was going to swing in Kotoko's favour but El-Merrick had other ideas.
They created a huge barrier at the back, with Mohammed El-Kheder, Saad Atiya Abdallah, and Musah El-Tayeb in excellent form, while the midfield knocked the ball round trying to tease the Kotoko defence out.
Initiating most of their attacks from the left side of defence where Samuel Inkoom operated with gusto in the first half, Kotoko found themselves with two great opportunities in the 9th and ninth minutes but Kwabena Yaro who looked raw, and Eric Bekoe wasted them.
With Merreikh appearing stronger, they pushed forward and should have taken the lead in the 21st minute but Eldir Omar's shot at goal was headed off the goal line by defender Ofosu Appiah.
A quintessential performer all afternoon, Appiah, the former Heart of Lions defender, scored full marks with a similar clearance, this time with the leg, in the 58th minute.
Kotoko turned on the style on restart, with Inkoom shifting to his more favourite right back position. He drove down the right flank just on resumption and flighted in a cross, which the keeper Akram pushed to corner with difficulty.
Prowling fruitlessly in the area of the visiting team, Bekoe tried to apply the theatrics but the no-nonsense Gabonese referee Gil Sabastian Mdume ignored him.
The midfield action appeared evenly fought, but El-Merreikh used their height and physique to win most of the aerial balls.
With the two sides making substitutions, they kept squandering the chances and coach Bashir Hayford was seen screaming with fury from the sidelines.
The introduction of Stephen Oduro and Kwadwo Poku into the game changed the going for Kotoko and even then the goals were difficult to come by until Bekoe fired Kotoko in front.
As the embers of the game kept dying out, Kwadwo Poku wreaked havoc down the left side of attack and located Bekoe just inside the box.
The striker turned 45 degrees before slipping the ball past keeper Akram. That was in the 87th minute and even though El-Merreikh fought frantically for the equaliser, they were kept at bay by Kotoko.
TRAGEDY AT BIBIANI....5 killed, 40 injured as tanker runs through funeral procession (LEAD STORY)
FIVE persons were killed on the spot and more than 40 others seriously injured when a water tanker ran through a funeral procession at Bibiani in the Western Region last Saturday.
The driver of the tanker, who was said to have ignored signals to slow down, bolted during the melee that followed the tragedy.
Only one of the victims, a woman, has been identified and her name given as Akuba.
Her body and the bodies of the other four have been deposited at the morgue at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) and the injured sent to various health institutions, including KATH and the Bibiani, Nkawie and Nyinahin government hospitals.
Eyewitnesses told the Daily Graphic that the large number of mourners were on their way to the cemetery at Bibiani New Town to bury a loved when the accident occurred.
According to them, the coffin containing the mortal remains of the deceased was placed on a KIA cargo truck on which were other mourners, while others were walking in front and behind the truck.
Moving slowly behind the mourners was a Toyota RAV4 vehicle.
The eyewitnesses said all of a sudden, the tanker appeared at top speed from behind the Toyota vehicle. And as some of the mourners signalled the driver to slow down, he ignored it and crashed into the Toyota with full force before running into the mourners, killing the five people on the spot.
As the people struggled to save lives, the tanker driver took advantage and escaped.
The police at Bibiani confirmed the accident and said efforts were being made to trace the driver.
Just last week, a Mercedes cargo van ran through hawkers and pedestrians near the toll booth on the Malam-Kasoa road, killing five on the spot.
In that accident also, the driver of the vehicle with registration number GW 776 S escaped from the accident scene and has been in hiding since.
The driver of the tanker, who was said to have ignored signals to slow down, bolted during the melee that followed the tragedy.
Only one of the victims, a woman, has been identified and her name given as Akuba.
Her body and the bodies of the other four have been deposited at the morgue at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) and the injured sent to various health institutions, including KATH and the Bibiani, Nkawie and Nyinahin government hospitals.
Eyewitnesses told the Daily Graphic that the large number of mourners were on their way to the cemetery at Bibiani New Town to bury a loved when the accident occurred.
According to them, the coffin containing the mortal remains of the deceased was placed on a KIA cargo truck on which were other mourners, while others were walking in front and behind the truck.
Moving slowly behind the mourners was a Toyota RAV4 vehicle.
The eyewitnesses said all of a sudden, the tanker appeared at top speed from behind the Toyota vehicle. And as some of the mourners signalled the driver to slow down, he ignored it and crashed into the Toyota with full force before running into the mourners, killing the five people on the spot.
As the people struggled to save lives, the tanker driver took advantage and escaped.
The police at Bibiani confirmed the accident and said efforts were being made to trace the driver.
Just last week, a Mercedes cargo van ran through hawkers and pedestrians near the toll booth on the Malam-Kasoa road, killing five on the spot.
In that accident also, the driver of the vehicle with registration number GW 776 S escaped from the accident scene and has been in hiding since.
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