Minister's Company Robbed At Gun Point
Four unmasked men armed with guns and machetes last Saturday afternoon stormed the offices of the Health Care Section of Sekelele Company Limited, belonging to the Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing, Hackman Owusu-Agyemang, and made away with about ¢300 million. The broad daylight robbers also made off with one Kasapa and a pink Sony Ericsson cell phone belonging to two employees.
According to the Managing Director, Akosua Owusu-Agyemang, (daughter of the Minister) the robbers, who arrived on motorbikes, entered the premises at around 2:15 pm as if they were normal visitors on legitimate business. At the time there were about seven employees in the office; most of the staff had left for the day.
Two of the robbers, Ms Owusu-Agyemang said, went directly into the cashier's office, held her hostage, took out sacks, and packed away all the previous day"s revenue. She estimates the losses to amount to about ¢300m, though they are still compiling their losses. The men were present for only five minutes before silently moving out without drawing any further notice. The female cashier, suffering from shock, lost her power of speech, after the death-threatening attack on her in her office.
While the two were packing the money, another, who was in a raincoat, stood beside the door to keep watch. Meanwhile, a fourth robber rushed to a nearby office where the Sales and Marketing Manager Stephen Zikpi was, and marched him and a driver at gun point and kept them beneath the stairs.
In an interview, the middle-aged Chief Cashier, Mary Gyemfa who has been working with the company for six years and from whose custody the money was stolen, said that she was in her office checking old receipts when she heard someone had entered the room.
Thinking it was one of the sales personnel she continued with her work, only to raise her head a few seconds later to notice a stranger in a white T- shirt holding a brand new sharpened cutlass, staring at her. She starred back for a few seconds until the robber swiftly grabbed her cell phone and some money from her desk.
Madam Gyemfa said, she was frightened by the intruder, and was just about to enquire about his mission when a second person entered through the gate holding a gun in one hand and a machete in the other. Madam Gyemfa stated that the first robber then communicated something to the other in Hausa, prompting his order to her to keep mute and bend down, saying that he would slay her if she made any move.
According to her, the second robber then rushed to the safe, which he was unable to open despite holding the key. He had the cashier open the safe and fill his bag with cash. He then picked up a sack from the office containing rice, poured it away and loaded the rest of the money into it until the safe was empty.
Narrating his ordeal, Sales and Marketing Manager Stephen Zikpi pointed out that he had sent a driver of the company, William Osei, to get him lunch. About five seconds later, the door to his office opened again. This time the driver entered accompanied by a stranger, who moved to his table, picked up his phone and placed it into his pocket.
According to Mr Osei, this robber then shouted, "Where is the money?” pointing an AK-47 rifle at him. Mr Osei and the driver led the thief to the cashier’s office. Mr Osei and his driver were then made to squat underneath the stairs facing the wall, not knowing what was to happen to them next.
Mr Zikpi added that, about a minute or two later, he saw two men with machetes, guns and two packed sacks in hand coming out from the cashier’s office. Just then their assailant again marched them into another office, took the keys out and rushed out of the building.
Mr Zikpi said the office’s Field Manager arrived as the thieves left, and used his cell phone to call the police emergency numbers, from which he was directed to report to the nearest police station. A Police CID in charge of the Legon Police Station Dickson Atuna confirmed the incident to this reporter and said, though he handled the initial investigations, he was in the process of handing the case over to CID officials at the Police Headquarters.
The Minister and his wife, Comfort, were seen at the Ghana Praise concert Sunday night. A source close to the family said the Minister, his family and employees are, at least, grateful to God that nobody was physically hurt during the ordeal.
Source:
The Statesman
Keeper helps Brazil sneak win against Ghana
STOCKHOLM, 27.03.2007 (Reuters)
- Brazil were heavily indebted to goalkeeper Julio Cesar in their 1-0 win over Ghana in a friendly international on Tuesday.
Vagner Love scored the winner in a rematch of the 2006 World Cup second-round tie which Brazil won 3-0 but Julio Cesar was their most important player.
He made his first notable save in the 15th minute when he tipped away Eric Addo's close-range header.
Two minutes later, Brazil won a corner, Kaka headed on at the near post and Vagner Love, unmarked at the far post, drilled the ball home for his second international goal.
Julio Cesar was in action again in the 20th minute as he blocked a dangerous run by Alex Tachie Mensah.
Despite missing captain Stephen Appiah and midfielder Michael Essien, Ghana continued to threaten the South Americans in a surprisingly slow-paced game.
Julio Cesar made his best save to turn away Laryea Kingston's fierce drive from the edge of the area in the 50th minute and tipped over Sulley Muntari's 30-metre free kick shortly afterwards.
Muntari's effort scraped the crossbar before going out to safety.
Brazil, who thrashed Chile 4-0 in Gothenburg on Saturday, were happy to threaten on the break and created a clear opening in the 65th minute which was wasted by Kaka, who toe-poked the ball wide.
Ghana had midfielder Haminu Dramani sent off for a second bookable offence in the 77th minute, after which the game fizzled out with Brazil happy to sit back on their lead.
Source:
Reuters
Ghanaians are yearning for change - CPP
Koforidua (E/R), 27.03.2007, GNA - The Convention People's Party (CPP) at the weekend called upon Nkrumaists to heed what he called "the clarion cry" of Ghanaians for a political change in 2008. "We must unite to eliminate tendencies that militate against national unity and development.
"The bad governance and mismanagement of national resources by the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) has plunged the country into poverty, hunger, injustice and unemployment among other forms of hardship and our people are yearning for a change," Dr Edmund Delle, CPP National Chairman and Leader, stated at Koforidua.
He was addressing supporters of the party including leading members of "The Patriots" a group within the party who had thronged the Koforidua KAMA conference hall for the official opening of the refurbished CPP Eastern regional secretariat on Sunday.
He noted that Ghanaians had been living together as one people with a common destiny but the "ethnic politics" of the NPP and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) had divided the country.
Dr Delle called on Ghanaians to vote for the CPP in the up-coming elections to unseat the NPP to ensure national unity, peace and harmony as well as effective management of the country's economy.
He said the CPP was the only "truly nationalistic" party capably of uniting the country for economic development, stressing, "Within the CPP there are no social, educational, tribal or status classes. We are all "comrades" irrespective of ones social standing."
On the initial antagonism among leading members of The Patriots and party's national executives, Dr Delle stated, "that belongs to the history books...We are united forever, never again would we allow out front to be divided".
"Any interested group or individual should know that the CPP is united as the National Executives has opened its doors to all Nkrumaist groupings to come to the centre. You cannot belong to CPP and operate under any other canopy." Dr Delle stated.
He said, "Ghanaians would not forgive the current leadership of the party if we fail to unite Nkrumaists to take over the reins of government in 2008".
According to the CPP Chairman the electorates had seen and known that both the NPP and NDC were not what they perceived them to be and now saw the CPP as the "only potential force" to assume the mantle in 2008.
Dr Delle told CPP activists, "Let us not waste time on inconsequential issues and focus on coming together to prove to Ghanaians that the CPP is ready to takeover the reigns of leadership and governance of the nation".
The Eastern Regional Chairman of the Party, Nana Owusu-Sekyere, appealed to people who he said were continuing to tell lies about the country's first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah and the CPP to stop.
He said, "No nation can be built on a foundation of lies. We are suffering today because we have been lied to for so long about the record of the CPP and Osagyefo. Let the truth be told about the social, economic and political progress that Osagyefo gave us."
Nana Owusu-Sekyere commended the Patriots for securing 12 party offices in the Eastern Region and said "We say to the Patriots, ayeekoo and we encourage all Nkrumaists to emulate their example and help rebuild this great party."
He assured CPP supporters and sympathisers that the ground was now "fertile" and the time "ripe" for CPP to reclaim power.
"Wherever we go people are saying, CPP, we are waiting for you and we say to them, Ghanaians, we are ready for you," the Easter Regional Chairman said.
He noted that it was only the CPP that could offer the change that Ghanaians were yearning for to "deliver" them from economic hardship and social deprivation.
A CPP government unlike the rest would play a dominant role in the economy to ensure equal opportunity and prosperity for all, he stated. "Let me say here and now that we make no apologies for a strong state role in our economic and social development. Those who doubt the importance of the state in economic and social development should look no farther than China today.
"Indeed all those free-market economies, such as United States of America and United Kingdom have a strong state role. We see no reason why Ghana should be different.
"We insist that it is because the state in Ghana has failed to play its rightful role that poverty and suffering are on the increase and it will take the state to reverse it," Nana Owusu-Sekyere, stated.
Dr Nii Moi Thompson, Professor Agyeman Badu Akorsah, Mr Bright Akwetey, Dr Kwaku Sarfo and other leading members of the Patriots attended the ceremony as well as other leading members of the Eastern Regional branch.
Source:
GNA
Kwabena Agyepong Woos Delegates
Signals picked up from the regions, districts and constituencies over the last few weeks indicate that former Presidential Press Secretary, Kwabena Agyei Agyepong is bowling over a lot of potential delegates and supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Agyepong is set to begin a second round nationwide tour from the Volta Region where his Campaign Team say he has succeeded in making a deep impression which has translated into a lot of goodwill.
'Kwabena Agyepong`s message to party faithful in the Volta Region was well received hence his decision to start the second round nationwide tour from that region,`a key member of the Agyepong Campaign told GO on the eve of the start of the tour. Team Agyepong members told the Ghanaian Observer newspaper that Kwabena Agyepong will visit all the 22 constituencies of the Volta Region and meet with 10 prospective delegates and constituency executives. They charged that their man is the only NPP presidential aspirant who has personally visited all the 230 constituencies.
Checks across some of the constituencies have revealed that Agyepong`s campaign which only started in November last year is in the fast lane leaving some of the NPP`s aspirants gasping for breath and wondering how the former Presidential Press Secretary overtook them. Our scouts in the Brong Ahafo, Ashanti, Western and Eastern regions report a groundswell of good will for the man whose close pals call him `Kalahari` from his Mfanstipim and KNUST days.
From the Western Region, our scouts say Kwabena Agyepong`s message that politics is generational and cyclical has inspired many a youth to look within themselves for strength. `He has been telling people that it is the belief in youth that made Prime Minister Busia appoint then youthful personalities like Dr. Safo Adu, Dr. Jones Ofori-Atta and President J.A. Kufuor among others to frontline ministerial positions which placed them in good stead to take over from where he left off,` our scouts said.In an interview with this paper, Agyapong himself said his message to the electorate is unique and all embracing, hence the overly positive feedback from the constituencies.
He said `I feel energised and encouraged by the enthusiastic response the party rank and file have given my message of a new generation leadership anchored on a platform of dedicated selfless and forward looking corps of party supporters.` On policy, Agyepong said `I believe it is time for us to have self confidence, self belief and a determined resolve to put Ghana back into productive work. It is my belief that it is only through hard work and innovation that we can improve the standard of living of our people.`
He said `while congratulating the Government for a number of measures taken to ensure the growth of our economy, especially the private sector, I believe the time is ripe for us to fast track some of these initiatives in favour of our indigenous entrepreneurs, drastically reduce red tape which has made it difficult for our business people to access capital to re-tool and recapitalise our industrial base. In my view, no country or society has developed on buying, selling and commerce alone. It is imperative that we reorient and assist our business community and graduate them from commerce into manufacturing and production.`
Reacting to comments that he is too young to put in a bid for the presidency, Kwabena Agyepong who turned 45 on March 6, the day Ghana turned 50 said `on the issue of age, I want to debunk it completely. There are many countries where young and visionary persons have emerged as leaders and led their people to take giant strides to development.` Agyepong said `our own political history is replete with such examples. Dr. Nkrumah at independence was 47 at which time the opposition leader, Dr. K.A. Busia was 43. President Limann was President at 45 whilst Rawlings did it at 43.`
He said on the international scene, the likes of Tony Blair, Bill Clinton, John F. Kennedy and Vladimir Putin have contributed to the transformation of their nations `and I am poised to follow in the footsteps of these leaders and our own.`
Source:
Ghanaian Observer
President Ike 'Bozooka' Quartey?
Vice President: Nii Odartey Lamptey
After chalking remarkable success in his chosen career, one of Ghana’s most powerful boxers has finally decided to hang his gloves and run for the country’s highest political office-president. Ike “Bozooka” Quartey, former World Boxing Association (WBA) Welter-weight Champion, has declared his presidential ambition come December 2008.
And for a good measure, Ike has decided to choose his fellow sportsman, Nii Odartey Lamptey of Starless ‘91fame to be his running mate. The boxing legend, who disclosed his ambition on an Accra radio station last week, said he was ever ready to put his money and service at the disposal of the nation.
Ike, whose multi-complex hospital at New Gbawe in Accra, is near completion, hoped he and Nii Odartey Lamptey as two great sportsmen, would form a formidable team to steer the affairs of this country. He said since he had built a hospital and Odartey Lamptey, a school, they were thus poised to overcome the two most important challenges of health and education which society needed very much.
To equip himself academically for his avowed ambition, Ike discosed that he ewould attend the Ghana Law School from where he would launch his 2008 presidential bid.
Ike, who sounded very optimistic, said he would run for the presidency as an independent candidate. He discosed that, his new hospital would be ready by August, after which he would fight a farewell fight in Accra in November.
After saying “good bye” to boxing, Ike said he would apply and attend the Ghana Law School. Ike Quartey, born on November 27, 1969, started boxing at the age of seven before turning professional in 1988 when he represented Ghana as a light welterweight at the 1988 Soul Olympic Games in South Korea.
According to boxing experts, the Bukom native is considered the best jabbing boxer in the history of the game. He is the youngest of 27 children. His enviable career record currently stands at 37, wins, four losses, 1 draw and 31 knockouts.
Perhaps the Ghanaian sportsman is taking a cue from great politicians like former president Nelson Mandela of South Africa, President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania, who played competitive basketball and George Oppon Weah, the 1995 world best footballer who was in last year’s presidential race in Liberia.
Source:
Daily Guide