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Time Out For Four Robbers

Source:

www.peacefmonline.com

The courage of residents at Nyameani, near Kuntanase in the Bosomtwe-Atwima-Kwanwoma District in the Ashanti Region, has led to the arrest of four armed robbers. The four, identified as Kwadwo Kumi, alias Abebrese, 29 , Sumaila Musah Basiali, alias Alhassan, 26, William Sarfo, alias Maxwell, 20, and Kwaku Sarpong, alias Macho, are currently in police custody assisting in investigations.

The gang, which had succeeded in snatching three taxis from their drivers and using them for armed robbery operations, met their match in the residents who got wind of their operations and mounted a roadblock in the centre of the Nyameani township to prevent the robbers from escaping with their booty. Prior to the action of the residents, the gangsters had sought to use the three stolen taxis to attack operators of wayside filling stations, but abandoned two of the cars which had developed faults.

It was after they had snatched the third taxi, a Toyota Carina, with registration number GT 3137 J, from its owner, with the intention of continuing their robbery spree, that residents at Nyameani heard of their operation and mounted the roadblock in the centre of the community and armed themselves in wait for the gangsters.

When the gangsters got to the community and saw the threatening situation, they quickly abandoned the taxi and attempted to escape, but the youth chased and arrested two of them and handed them over to the police. In the course of police investigations, the two others were also arrested.
The Ashanti Regional Police Commander, DCOP Frank Adu Poku, who announced this at a press briefing in Kumasi, said the four suspected armed robbers, who were armed with locally manufactured pistols, conspired to attack a number of wayside filling stations last Wednesday, February 21. He said they began putting their intentions into action around 3 am that day. To this end Sumaila and William Sarfo hired a Toyota Corona taxi with registration number BA 5593 C from Kajetia to Sofoline and along the way, they attacked the driver with a locally manufactured pistol and siezed the car from him.
He said they picked Kwadwo Kumi and Kwaku Sarpong and headed for Bonwire, where they attacked a filling station and robbed the attendants of cash and some valuables. He said the taxi developed a fault so they abandoned it, but succeeded in snatching another taxi, a Hyundai Excel with registration number WR 1252 Q, which they took to Effiduase, Bomfa Nkwanta and Pemanase for a similar operation but that taxi had a flat tyre, so it was also abandoned.

DCOP Adu Poku said determined to continue with their armed robbery spree, the gang succeeded in snatching another taxi, the Toyota Carina with registration number GT 3137 J, at Pemenase. He said at that point they also attacked some traders and robbed them of cash and some items, including materials and mobile phones.
He said it was when the robbers snatched the third taxi that information got to the residents of Nyameani, who then decided to mount a road block to prevent the robbers from escaping with their booty. He explained that when the robbers saw that their chances of escaping was impeded, they abandoned the taxi and attempted to flee but the youth in the community chased them and succeeded in arresting William Sarfo and Kwaku Sarpong while the two others - Kwadwo Kumi and Sumaila Musa - managed to escape but they were later arrested by the police.

DCOP Adu Poku said when a search was conducted on the suspected robbers, a locally manufactured pistol, together with three live cartridges, 30 pieces of assorted wrist watches, a quantity of suit materials and four underwears, among other items, were retrieved.

Last Updated ( Thursday, 01 March 2007 )

TMA to generate revenue through tourism promotion

Tema, March 01, GNA -

The Tema Municipal Assembly (TMA) is collaborating with the Greenwich Council of United Kingdom (UK) to promote tourism in the Tema Municipality as economic venture to supplement its revenue generation source for development. In that direction, the TMA on Wednesday held a day's workshop on capacity building for related stakeholders in the hospitality industry and would in turn impart the knowledge to others.

With resource persons from the United Kingdom, the participants, made up of educationists, traditionalists, traders and social workers are expected to identify the strengths and desired future direction for the tourist industry of Tema and Sekondi/Takoradi.

It is also expected to offer them the opportunity to understudy the expertise of the UK partners and identify training needs for the tourism sector as well as management techniques that could be used in any organizational context.

Speaking to the GNA at the workshop, Mr. Frank Asante, Public Relations Officer of the TMA, who is also the Coordinator for the tourism project noted that Tema, the industrial nerve of the nation has a lot of tourism potentials that remains untapped. The sub-region is also the first point of entry via the sea to the country and attracts a lot of foreigners who should have places of interest and relaxation.

In a bid to provide excellent hospitality to the foreigners, he said frontline staff such as receptionists, secretaries and hoteliers have been trained, while drivers are expected to benefit from the training programme.

Mr. Asante stressed the need for other staff whose work brings them into contact with visitors to exhibit high cordial human relations in order to attract visitors into the country.Source:
GNA

 Officials say deportees were well treated

Aflao, March 1, GNA - The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) and the National Disaster and Management Organization (NADMO) at Aflao on Thursday said it was not true that 20 Ghanaians who were deported from Nigeria this week were left un-catered for and were roaming the streets of Aflao.

Mr Emmanuel Amoako Yirenkyi, Assistant Director of GIS in charge of Aflao, told the GNA in an interview that his outfit handed over the group to officials of NADMO hours after their arrival and registration. Mr Moise Kwame Agbodzalu, the Ketu District NADMO Coordinator, said the group was transported to Accra barely 24 hours after their arrival. He said during their short stay the deportees, mainly from the Central, Eastern and Western regions, were housed at the Aflao Urban Council Hall and provided with regular meals and did not roam the streets of the border town.

The leader of the group, Mr. Samuel Arthur, 52, told the GNA that they were picked at work places at various parts of the Ondo State by Nigeria security and detained for a week before their deportation without the opportunity to pick their properties and families. He expressed gratitude to officials of Ghana Embassy in Benin and police at Coutonu for their support after they were dumped at Seme, Benin, with no means of transport or food.

This is the second batch of Ghanaian deportees from Nigeria in a week after the arrival of five others last Friday following the reported threat by the Nigerian authorities to flush out illegal aliens as part of preparations for their presidential elections in April.

Source:
GNA

Hot exchanges in Parliament Over Golden Jubilee Cash


THERE were hot exchanges among Members of Parliament Select Committee on Finance as Minister of Presidential Affairs and Chief of Staff, Kwadwo Mpiani, appeared before the Committee yesterday to give account of the 20 million dollars approved by Parliament for the Golden Jubilee anniversary celebration.

A source close to the Committee said the Chairman could not control the proceedings "as some members scuffled the meeting. They wanted nothing to be achieved; they were not behaving like MPs."

The source said Mr Mpiani could not furnish the committee with details of expenditure of the money approved by the House.

Some members were reported to have questioned the authorrity of Dr Charles Wereko Brobby as Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana @50 Secretariat and requested to see a copy of his appointment letter. However, the source said Mr Mpianim was unable to produce the appointment letter of the CEO.

"On our request for the expenditure returns, he only gave us a breakdown of what was approved but never gave us any figure of what was spent," the source said.

The source, however, said Mr Mpiani told the committee that 4.9 million dollars was used for renovation of the Independence Arch and Square and the Liberation Square, while 5.9 million dollars was used in importing vehicles for the celebration made up of 50 BMW cars, 50 Mercedes Benz, 50 Chrysler, 50 Peugeot cars, 25 buses and 30 Jaguar cars.

Mr Mpiani added that 7.8 million dollars was earmarked for infrastructure development and rehabilitation but could not give a detailed breakdown of the expenditure.

An amount of 1.4 million dollars was used for secretarial duties, publicity and administration.

Mr Mpiani also reportedly informed the committee that local donor support and pledges to the secretariat amounted to ¢38 billion out of which ¢22 billion has so far been received.

An amount of ¢150 million has been released to the Regional Co-ordinating Councils, while ¢100 million has gone to the District Assemblies.

As to why Dr Wereko Brobby was not present, the source said Mr Mpiani replied that Dr Wereko Brobby was working under him and for that matter, he (Mpiani) could respond to all questions.

The source said the committee asked Mr Mpiani to furnish it with the breakdown of the programmes of activities as required by the Accountant-General’s Department standard.

Last Wednesday, the Finance Committee summoned Dr Wereko Brobby to appear before it, but he failed to show up.

Mr Mpiani later told the Joy FM newsfile on Saturday that he asked Dr Wereko-Brobby to write back to the committee to redirect the request to him since he was the sector Minister and Dr Wereko Brobby worked under him.

MPs, especially the Minority group said the action of Dr Wereko Brobby was contemptuous of Parliament which had powers to summon public officers to appear before it.

Source:
Times