Billion Cedis spent on fight against Fulani herdsmen
The Asante-Akim North District Assembly has since 1997 spent over one billion cedis to combat activities of Fulani herdsmen in the Afram Plains area of the district.
The amount mainly covered fuel and meals for military personnel who were occasionally deployed to the area to protect lives and properties of residents who have been under incessant attacks from the Fulani herdsmen.
The District Chief Executive of the area, Mr George Frimpong, said this at the inauguration and passing out of 35 fire volunteers at Agogo.
Mr Frimpong said the herdsmen were the worst culprits when it came to fire outbreaks. He said assembly would continue to be on their heels until they were completely driven out of the district.
He expressed concern about the numerous atrocities inflicted on residents of the Afram Plains over the years by the herdsmen and described them as militants.
Mr Frimpong said the herdsmen were armed with sophisticated firearms and recounted an occasion when the police had to retreat in an operation to swoop on them.
He said the situation had necessitated the occasional deployment of the military to the area and that the cost involved was draining the assembly's resources.
Source:
GNA
Saboteur Burnt To Death
The increasing activities of cable thieves are thwarting the efforts of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to provide electricity for its customers.
A source at the ECG Headquarters said last Saturday that one such cable thief got burnt behind the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) while attempting to steal electricity cables.
According to the source, the thieves had dug a trench of about 30 metres long and three feet deep to unearth a 33KV (high voltage) underground cable, resulting in the disconnection of power supply to Ashaiman and Tema.
He said the thieves apparently took advantage of the load-shedding programme but, unfortunately, luck ran out for one of them when he could not escape the high voltage cable buried underground as he attempted to cut it.
Four ECG workers who were at the main station ‘H’ to undertake the routine switching got hurt when the circuit breaker exploded as a result of the disruption caused by the thieves.
Two of the victims were treated and discharged at the Narh-Bita Hospital in Tema, while the other two who were seriously injured were rushed to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra.
Fire fighters from the Ghana National Fire Service, the Volta River Authority and the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority put out the fire which resulted from the explosion.
In another development, two thieves who also stole 400 metres of aluminium conductors at Nkroful in the Nzema District of the Western Region are each serving a four-year term of imprisonment with hard labour.
Another suspected cable thief is in the grips of the police in Accra after a driver had caused his arrest.
In a statement, the Managing Director of the ECG, Mr Jude Osafo Adu-Amankwah, expressed concern about the activities of cable thieves, describing them as saboteurs.
The statement said the cables were very expensive and necessary for the improvement of the system to enable the company to deliver quality and safe supply of electricity to customers.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Energy, Mr Joseph Adda, with some of his directors and the Regional Director of the ECG, Tema, Mr Nicholas Smart-Yeboah, have visited the two ECG workers who got seriously burnt at station ‘H’.
Messrs James Narh Alorbu and Anthony Adofo are currently receiving treatment at the Reconstructive Plastic Surgery and Burns Centre of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.
Mr Adda was unhappy that at a time when the country was having the challenge of generating and supplying energy and workers of ECG were working hard, some unscrupulous Ghanaians were rather derailing their efforts.
He assured the two of the ministry’s help and support and on behalf of the ministry presented each with some provisions and ¢2 million.
The Plastic Surgeon in-charge of the patients, Dr Anthony G. Liang, said they were “comfortable and making good progress”.
He said currently, it appeared that the burns received had not been severe and that all was being done to ensure their good recovery.
Dr Liang said the extent of the injuries would soon be made known when the bandages were removed and that was when doctors would be able to decide if plastic surgery was necessary.
He brought to the notice of the minister that the six-inch bandage that was used in dressing the burns cost ¢18,000 a piece, with the hospital spending about ¢500,000 on each dressing similar to what the two had received, while antibiotics used on the wounds were also expensive.
“Currently these are not covered by the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS),” he pointed out.
The Director of the Centre, Dr Albert Paintsil said under the NHIS reconstructive surgery was taken to mean cosmetic and was, therefore, not covered.
He added, however, that the Centre was in discussions with the NHIS to include plastic surgery as not all cases of plastic surgery was for cosmetic purposes.
Dr Paintsil said between 70 and 80 per cent of the work done at the centre was done to correct deformities after road and industrial accidents, burns and also correct deformities on babies, which made it important for it to be covered under the NHIS.
Source:
Daily Graphic
Explosion Plunges Tema, Ashaiman Into Darkness
PARTS of Ashaiman and Tema were at the weekend plunged into total darkness when a faulty cable being worked on by two employees of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) exploded.
The explosion resulted in the destruction of the company’s entire panel, ripping off of the 33-kilowatt (kv) Circuit breaker through the roof of the building and destruction of a quantity of louvre blades.
The two employees, James Narh and Antony Adofo, sustained severe burns on their faces and parts of their bodies, and were taken to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital where they have been admitted. They are said to be in stable condition.
Two other persons, not named who sustained minor injuries were treated and discharged at the Narh Bita Hospital in Tema.
About 500 metres away from the substation, was found the body of a man, said to be in his early forties, and believed to have been electrocuted during an illegal excavation in which he succeeded in cutting three of the cables with a hacksaw.
But it is suspected that while he was cutting the fourth cable, power was restored and that resulted in his electrocution.
He was said to be wearing a pair of Wellington boots and the hacksaw he allegedly used in cutting the cable lying by him.
The police have since conveyed the body to the Tema General Hospital morgue.
Mr John Etroo, ECG maintenance engineer for Tema Region, blamed the explosion on obsolete machines and said the company was replacing all its old equipment.
Dr. Nicholas K. Smart-Yeboah, Tema Regional Director of ECG, said this was the second time such an incident had been recorded in the country, the first one being in Kumasi.
He regretted that at this time of power crisis’ that efforts are being made to find a solution to it, some miscreants should resort to acts to aggravate the situation.
Dr Smart-Yeboah, called on the public to be vigilant and to report anyone indulged in negative acts meant to sabotage the ECG to the Authorities for them to be apprehended and prosecuted.
Source:
Times
Blind woman in court for kidnapping
Ho, 4.01.2007, GNA -
Rejoice Havor, 38, a blind woman on Wednesday appeared before a Ho Circuit Court for allegedly kidnapping and selling a 21-year-old neighbour Miss Faustina Acquaye, for 40,000 CFA. She pleaded not guilty and was granted bail of 10 million cedis with one surety until April 26.
Police Inspector Emmanuel Okudjeto told the Court presided by Mr Emmanuel Siameh that Rejoice and Miss Acquaye, a trader, lived in the same area at Agortime-Kpetoe in the Adaklu-Anyigbe District. He said about five years ago, Rejoice connived with her boyfriend Godwin Nunoamesi, now in police custody, to convince Miss Acquaye of a job opportunity in Benin which she could take advantage of. Inspector Okudjeto said taken in by the promise, Miss Acquaye embarked on the journey to Benin with Rejoice and her boyfriend Nunoamesi unknown to her family.
He said on reaching the Aflao border, Nunoamesi introduced a man to the victim as her prospective employer in Benin and after the introduction varnished together with Rejoice.
Inspector Okudjeto said the supposed employer later informed Miss Acquaye that she had been sold her to him for 40,000 CFA for rituals but he preferred her as a wife.
He said this led to an argument between the two but Miss Acquaye subsequently accompanied the man to Benin.
Inspector Okudjeto said four years later, a businesswoman from Miss Acquaye's hometown went on a business trip to Benin where she met her. Miss Acquaye asked the woman to inform her family and the police about her situation so that they could come to her rescue. Some of Miss Acquaye's family members travelled to Benin with the help of the police and met Miss Acquaye with the man with whom she had some children.
Inspector Okudjeto said Rejoice escaped during investigations but was later arrested after the boyfriend had been apprehended.
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Source:
GNA
Kufuor attends Wade's inauguration
.. and hails Senegal polls
Dakar, 4.04.2007 , GNA -
President John Agyekum Kufuor has hailed the recent elections in Senegal at which President Abdoulaye Wade was re-elected and said it was a milestone in the continent's progress towards entrenching democracy.
"We have cause to be optimistic about the future of Africa. A new African civilization, the hallmarks of which are respect for human rights, democracy and prosperity has been launched."
President Kufuor, the Chairman of the African Union, was speaking at the inauguration of President Wade for a second five-year term at a big ceremony at the Leopold Senghor Stadium in Dakar on Tuesday.
Several Heads of State attended the inauguration and they included President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, the Libyan Leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, Ethiopia Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia and Burkina Faso President Blaise Campaore.
The others were President Sassou Nguesso of Congo, President Thomas Yayi Boni of Benin, President Omar Bongo of Gabon, President Faure Gnassingbe of Togo, President Amadou Toumane Toure of Mali, President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah of Sierra Leone and Equatorial Guinea President Theodore Nguema Obian Mbasongo.
The Senegalese leader polled 56 per cent of the votes in the February 25 election to beat 14 other contestants.
He came to power seven years ago when his Senegalese Democratic Party (PDS) defeated the Socialist Party that had dominated the West Africa country's political scene for 40 years.
President Kufuor said in laying down the foundation for peace and development for generations to come, African leaders were giving meaning to their aspirations for Africa's unity.
He paid tribute to President Wade's leadership qualities, which he said, were deeply rooted in his sense of commitment towards the ideals of the continent's integration.
United States President George Bush, in a congratulatory message read at the ceremony, said the election showed Senegal's commitment to democracy.
He said he looked forward to strengthening and deepening the partnership between Senegal and the US. President Obasanjo said "This is a clear demonstration of your faith in the democratic process."
President Wade swore the Oath of Office before the five-member Constitutional Council and pledged to uphold the constitution of his country. He said he would vigorously pursue the cause of African unity. Senegal has some 65 political parties and most of them are marginal and little more than platforms for their leaders.
Source:
GNA
GES introduces Revised Unified Code of Conduct
Takoradi,04.2007, GNA -
Mrs Rebecca Dadzie, the Western Regional Director of the Ghana Education Service (GES), has said the service has introduced a Revised Unified Code of Conduct to enforce discipline among its staff and students.
She said this in an address read for her at the induction of new prefects and awards day of Bompeh Secondary Technical School at Takoradi.
Mrs Dadzie said the code had been effective in combating indiscipline in schools and many school administrations have been applying its tenets.
"If we accept the idea that a quiet atmosphere promotes learning, it follows that any breach of that atmosphere is will not be tolerated". She advised the new prefects to foster harmonious relationship between the school authorities and students and to perform their roles diligently to project a positive image of the school.
Mrs Aba Smith, the Headmistress of the school, said the school obtained 95 per cent pass in last year's West Africa Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSSCE).
She said the school also performed creditably in the 2006 Science and Mathematics Quiz at its first appearance and has been invited to participate again this year.
Mrs Smith commended the school's Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) for providing accommodation for teachers, establishing a computer laboratory and purchasing a school bus.
Mr. Joseph Quansah, a retired Metropolitan Director of Education who presided, urged parents not to look down on the school because it is a community institution.
He said students are receiving the same education as their counterparts in well-endowed schools.
Mr. Quansah called on the community, companies and business establishments to assist the school to develop.
Source:
GNA
Form consortium for region's development
Takoradi, 04.04.2007, GNA -
Dr Toni Aubynn, the Head of Corporate Affairs and Social Development of the Goldfields Ghana Limited, has suggested the formation of a Western Regional Development Consortium to raise funds for the development of the region.
He said the consortium could also float shares, revamp and buy all potentially viable defunct industrial facilities in the region. These were contained in a speech read on his behalf at the third in a series of lectures organized by the Western Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) as part of the Ghana at 50 celebrations at Takoradi on Tuesday.
He said the Western Region must revive all its dormant industries including the Bonsa Tyre factory, Aboso Glass factory and other industries that had been abandoned.
Dr. Aubynn said the mining industry needed to be critically assessed to enable the region to benefit substantially from its gains. He said the region's chieftaincy disputes must be radically solved to propel the development of the region while modern scientific methods must be used to market the region globally.
Dr. Aubynn said challenges in the education, health and agriculture must be tackled and solved quickly to safeguard the development of the region.
Professor Kwabena Frimpong Boateng, the Chief Executive Officer of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, said it was sad that many Ghanaians take bribes and lack the focus to plan ahead.
He said Ghanaians should not be susceptible but should be bold and withstand all pressures either from within or above in their daily operations.
Prof. Frimpong-Boateng said education was the only tool that could be used to reverse the present poverty into economic success and urged all to take education seriously.
Source:
GNA
Scandal In NPP
Key members of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) are being scandalised over where their loyalty lies, as the campaign for the party flagbearership picks up. The loyalty of two leading Northern and Zongo politicians in the NPP to Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama’s presidential aspirations has come under the scrutiny of certain opinion leaders and concerned members of the Veep campaign team.
Tongues are wagging about the allegiance of Alhaji Boniface Abubakar Saddique and Alhaji Rashid Bawa. Aggrieved supporters of the Vice President have accused the two personalities of disloyalty to their kinsman, claiming the two politicians are flirting with other presidential aspirants and lobbying to be made their running mates, though the vice president has made clear his interest in the number one position. This move is seen as an attempt to scuttle Alhaji Mahama’s presidential ambition.
The supporters believe Bawa and Saddique would do the party and the nation a lot of good if they drop those suspected ambitions and instead, declare their unflinching support for the vice president.
Known as “the Veep Boys”, the two were said to have been brought onboard the NPP train by the high influence of the Number Two Citizen, Aliu Mahama, when they won their respective parliamentary seats as Independent MPs and subsequently decamped from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) where they were prevented from standing on the party’s ticket in the 2000 elections. They have since earned the respect and admiration of President John Agyekum Kufuor.
Alhaji Boniface Abubakar Saddique, who is the Manpower, Employment and Youth Minister, represents Salaga in Parliament and is reportedly being pursued by one or two of the presidential aspirants to partner them. Although no formal deal has been reached with the high profile flagbearership hopefuls, speculations are rife that the two are the favourites of some.
Boniface, as the Salaga MP is fondly called by his constituents, has a political chip to his credit because of the unflinching support he wields in Salaga. He is being speculated to be on the side of Alan Kyerematen, the Trade and Industry Minister.
In a chat with Daily Guide, he denied any deal and rather acknowledged the role of the Vice President in bringing him this far in the NPP, stating that he would stand by the Number Two Citizen, come what may. Alhaji Rashid Bawa, Ghana’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, unlike Hon Boniface, was unable to annex the Akan constituency for the NPP in the 2004 elections. He is being seen to be too close to the Nana Akufo-Addo camp, to the discomfort of Veep’s campaign managers, his supporters in the Zongos and the North.
One of the Veep’s supporters who spoke to Daily Guide quizzed, “Why must Rashid deny the Vice President his support when it was this man who brought him to the NPP?”
Although not a ‘Veep Boy’, in the sense that he has always been an NPP man, Alhaji Mustapha Idris Ali, the Northern Regional Minister, has also been associated with the Nana Akufo-Addo camp, where he is being tipped to partner the Foreign Minister as running mate in the event of a victory for the Abuakwa South MP.
Meanwhile, the campaign machinery of the Vice President in the Zongos and Northern Regions is in full flight, with the team organizing people, especially delegates, for the task ahead.
Source:
Daily Guide
Blows at NPP meeting
A political turmoil of shameful ramifications unfolded on Monday night at a meeting of the members of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) at the Ablekuma South Constituency of the party in the Greater Accra region.
According to The Chronicle newspaper, the pandemonium which rocked the meeting could best be described as scoring political violence as party members ran riot with machetes, cutlasses and other weapons against each other.
The members who were on rampage destroyed some properties belonging to the party, including tables, florescent lights and above all injured party members.
At the end of the melee three constituency executives; the Chairman Mr. William Akakpo who received a slap on his face, Alhaji Abu Seidu, Second Vice Chairman who was once Special Aide to the Member of Parliament (MP) Ms Theresa Tagoe and Nana Yeboah the Treasurer were all bundled to the Korle Bu Police Station following a complaint the MP made to the police.
Three of the party members were injured and were given medical forms by the police for treatment which they received at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.
Mr. Oromasis Abbey who contested the recent district assembly elec¬tions but lost to the younger brother of the Odododiodoo MP, was seen by this reporter at the Accident Centre at about 7.45pm being treated for a swollen mouth, while a known party member, popularly known as Fela was also given a medical form after he was severely beaten by macho men that stormed the meeting.
The name of a third victim was not readily available to the Chronicle.
The dastardly scene, which nearly turned into a free-for-all fight in the constituency, saw people ran for their dear lives until the police arrived on the scene.
Incidentally it was the MP, who was being accused of having a hand in the melee by allegedly inciting disgruntled party members to wage war against the incumbent constituency executives, who invited the police to contain what would have been a bloodier conflict, according to the Chronicle.
The Regional Chairman, Mr. Sammy Crabbe, had his open share of insinuations and hecklings when he stormed the police station at about 8.20pm to bail the party executives. Immediately he entered, the MP, in the company of her group did not spare him,they booed and jeered at the regional boss, calling him unprintable names.
The troubles started as early as 6pm. when the disgruntled group that had passed a vote of no confi¬dence in the constituency executives but which resolution was quashed by the regional executives, took over the general meeting from the Chairman and his team to address party members about their grievances.
The Chronicle sighted at the high table Oromasis Abbey and Fela.
The other faction headed by Alhaji Abu Seidu, the Second Vice Chairman of the party, led a group of macho men carrying machetes, cutlasses, sticks and other offensive weapons to attack the group that had hijacked the meeting.
They quickly disrupted the meeting and dismantled everything, thus sparking off the confusion.
Alhaji Ahmed Yusif, the Regional Youth organizer, who was detailed to address the party members to hold back their fire until the regional executives looked at the concerns raised by the disgruntled party members, looked on perplexed. He indicated his neutrality in the matter and stated he would go and report the matter to his bosses.
"I don't want to say anything for now. I am going to the police station to see what is happening and I will let my executives know," he told party members who wanted to know what line of action was to be taken. That was about 7:50pm.
Also present to witness the stormy atmosphere besides the regional executives was Mr. John Boadu, National Youth Organizer of the NPP.
At the police station, the MP and her group did not spare Mr. Crabbe unprintable words. She voiced out that the matter should go to court for the rule of law to prevail, indicating that if that happened the arrested executives would provide the macho men who inflicted wounds on them.
The fuming regional boss, who stat¬ed that by virtue of powers conferred on him by the constitution of the party, the MP was under him, expressed dissatisfaction with the order for the arrest and detention of the party executives by the MP.
The Regional Chairman demanded the release of his boys but the MP, who sat at the entrance of the police station, shouting on top of her voice and lashing out at regional executives, demanded prosecution of the party members and asked the police to give her the day of the prosecu¬tion.
Not even the pleas of Mad. Vivian Garshon that the matter should be resolved amicably could get the MP to change her mind.
Tempers flared up further when Crabbe was told that the people were arrested based on a report by the MP after an attempt with the police to arrest Mr. Ben Brown, the Regional Secretary had failed because he was not at home.
The Regional Chairman, who insisted that he was the regional boss and that he was in to ensure that the party members were released from police custody for the matter to be resolved amicably because, as he put it, the matter was a 'domestic problem,' was whisked away by some party members to avoid further chaos since the MP-led group would not stop casting insinuations at him. Peeved and angry, he drove his car away from the police station at about 8.32pm, saying he was going to see the 'highest authority' to ensure that the party executives were released. He came back at about 12.1Oam and bailed the party executives.
Prior to the release of the people, the MP led group danced and jubilated when the police station officer told them that upon orders of the Deputy Regional Commander of police, the party members were to be detained until the next day.
The Korle-Bu Police station was crowded on Monday evening with party faithful.
Mr. William Akakpo, the Constituency Chairman who decried the activities of the MP said, he remains the Chairman and prevailed upon party members to continue lo rally behind him. He however denied bringing the armed group of people to attack his detractors.
Source:
The Chronicle