Page 3: September 27, 2007:
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE police have arrested a 49-year-old man who posed as a lawyer and allegedly defrauded a South African of thousands of dollars.
Prosper Tao Tsikata posed as Mr Wallace Bruce-Cathline of Minka-Premo and Co and allegedly defrauded the South African of $4,000, while his accomplice, identified as Asaagaf Mohammed, collected 25,000 Euros from the victim on the pretext of facilitating the purchase and processing of gold on his behalf.
Briefing the Daily Graphic yesterday, Superintendent Dennis Abade of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service said a partner of Minka-Premo and Co lodged a complaint that someone had used Mr Bruce-Cathline’s chambers to defraud a South African, Siraag Abrahams.
According to Supt Abade, the complainant claimed that Mr Abrahams had accused Mr Bruce-Cathline of collecting $34,000 on the pretext of supplying him with gold.
The CID man said at the time the transaction was alleged to have taken place, Mr Bruce-Cathline was out of the country but had left his phone with the partner to receive calls on his behalf.
He said the victim then led the police to Tsikata’s offices at Ashongman where the suspect had hoisted the flags of Ghana, the United States of America, the United Kingdom and South Africa, as well as posted the picture of Mr Nelson Mandela and another he allegedly took with President George Bush.
He said the police also retrieved a gown, a wig and a large number of stamps of various companies in the offices.
He said the security man, Kwame Dabla, 45, and Tsikata’s driver, Gordon Lokko, 24, were arrested after they refused to take the police to the residence of their employer.
Supt Abade said the police then left a note for Tsikata to report at the CID Headquarters to assist in investigations.
He said when Tsikata showed up at the CID Headquarters yesterday, the police arrested him.
According to him, the suspect admitted that he was not a trained lawyer.
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Justice for All launched to decongest prisons
Front Page: September 27, 2007
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Ministry of Justice and Attorney-General’s Department yesterday launched its “Justice for All” programme as part of efforts to decongest the country’s prisons.
Under the programme, a special court is sitting at the James Fort Prisons in Accra to review all second degree felony and misdemeanour cases.
While the court is sitting, another team will be conducting verification exercises on all such cases to ensure that cases referred to tally with the persons being dealt with.
The programme does not include non-bailable offences such as narcotics, armed robbery and rape.
It is expected to be reviewed within a month to streamline its procedures and processes in order for it to be replicated throughout the country.
At its first sitting, two remand prisoners, Ibrahim Bendy, 18, and Paul Jacobs were discharged after the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mrs Gertrude Aikins, entered a nulle prosequi.
Ibrahim was charged for causing unlawful damage by destroying 18 louvre blades and the ceiling of her grandmother’s house, the value of which was put at ¢2 million, and he has been in custody since April 4, 2006. His trial was yet to start.
For his part, Paul, who has been in custody since 2005, was charged for threat of harm and destruction of property. Although his trial had begun, there had been 20 adjournments in the case, whose maximum sentence was to be three years.
Mrs Aikins argued that the accused persons had been unduly held for offences for which they would have finished their sentences if they had been convicted.
The first sitting of the court attracted the Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Mrs Justice Georgina Wood, the Interior Minister, Mr Kwamena Bartels, and the Inspector-General of Police, Mr P. K. Acheampong.
Launching the programme earlier, the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mr Joe Ghartey, had noted that apart from bringing justice to all, the programme would help decongest the prisons.
He gave the assurance that the exercise would be carried out responsibly so that justice was brought to the accused, the complainant and society, adding that criminals would not be unleashed onto society.
He said as part of the verification exercise, the team would examine the number of persons on remand, the reasons for which they were being held and how long they had been on remand.
Mr Ghartey said 91 cases had been listed so far for the court to decide on them.
The UNDP Resident Co-ordinator, Mr Daouda Traore, who presented 20 desktop computers and 15 laptops, worth $53,000, to the ministry at the ceremony, noted that access to justice was a critical component of any fledgling democracy.
He said access to justice also underlined the principles of human rights and helped in the attainment of sustainable human development.
He said the donation was a demonstration of the UNDP’s commitment to support the ministry to improve access to justice, ensure the rule of law, respect for human rights and promote democratic governance.
“The pile up of unresolved cases at the courts, the rise in demand for access to justice and the unfortunate resort to instant mob justice, in some cases, provide enough justification that this collaboration to transform the ministry to meet the increasing demand for justice is most apt,” he added.
The Executive Director of the Committee on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ghana), Mrs Veronica Ayikwei Kofie, expressed the hope that the project would be successful so that other African countries would follow up on the Ghanaian example.
She said that should be the beginning of a review of the penal system in the country so that people could be committed to communal service.
Mrs Kofie called for the strengthening of the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) system to help deal with minor cases so that the courts themselves would not be congested.
A representative of the Ghana Prisons Service, Superintendent Nathaniel Agyeman Onyinah, said the service was at the receiving end of the justice delivery system.
He said although the capacity of the prisons was 8,004, there was a 13,685 prisoner population, 4,210 of them on remand, some since 1999.
The Director of Legal Aid, Mr Felix Korley, described the exercise as a national one which should be embraced by all.
The Deputy Minister of Justice and Deputy Attorney-General, Mr Kwame Osei-Prempeh, noted that the United Kingdom had also embarked on a similar exercise to decongest its prisons.
He said while the capacity of the prisons in the UK was 45,000, there were currently more than 80,000 prisoners.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Ministry of Justice and Attorney-General’s Department yesterday launched its “Justice for All” programme as part of efforts to decongest the country’s prisons.
Under the programme, a special court is sitting at the James Fort Prisons in Accra to review all second degree felony and misdemeanour cases.
While the court is sitting, another team will be conducting verification exercises on all such cases to ensure that cases referred to tally with the persons being dealt with.
The programme does not include non-bailable offences such as narcotics, armed robbery and rape.
It is expected to be reviewed within a month to streamline its procedures and processes in order for it to be replicated throughout the country.
At its first sitting, two remand prisoners, Ibrahim Bendy, 18, and Paul Jacobs were discharged after the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mrs Gertrude Aikins, entered a nulle prosequi.
Ibrahim was charged for causing unlawful damage by destroying 18 louvre blades and the ceiling of her grandmother’s house, the value of which was put at ¢2 million, and he has been in custody since April 4, 2006. His trial was yet to start.
For his part, Paul, who has been in custody since 2005, was charged for threat of harm and destruction of property. Although his trial had begun, there had been 20 adjournments in the case, whose maximum sentence was to be three years.
Mrs Aikins argued that the accused persons had been unduly held for offences for which they would have finished their sentences if they had been convicted.
The first sitting of the court attracted the Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Mrs Justice Georgina Wood, the Interior Minister, Mr Kwamena Bartels, and the Inspector-General of Police, Mr P. K. Acheampong.
Launching the programme earlier, the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mr Joe Ghartey, had noted that apart from bringing justice to all, the programme would help decongest the prisons.
He gave the assurance that the exercise would be carried out responsibly so that justice was brought to the accused, the complainant and society, adding that criminals would not be unleashed onto society.
He said as part of the verification exercise, the team would examine the number of persons on remand, the reasons for which they were being held and how long they had been on remand.
Mr Ghartey said 91 cases had been listed so far for the court to decide on them.
The UNDP Resident Co-ordinator, Mr Daouda Traore, who presented 20 desktop computers and 15 laptops, worth $53,000, to the ministry at the ceremony, noted that access to justice was a critical component of any fledgling democracy.
He said access to justice also underlined the principles of human rights and helped in the attainment of sustainable human development.
He said the donation was a demonstration of the UNDP’s commitment to support the ministry to improve access to justice, ensure the rule of law, respect for human rights and promote democratic governance.
“The pile up of unresolved cases at the courts, the rise in demand for access to justice and the unfortunate resort to instant mob justice, in some cases, provide enough justification that this collaboration to transform the ministry to meet the increasing demand for justice is most apt,” he added.
The Executive Director of the Committee on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ghana), Mrs Veronica Ayikwei Kofie, expressed the hope that the project would be successful so that other African countries would follow up on the Ghanaian example.
She said that should be the beginning of a review of the penal system in the country so that people could be committed to communal service.
Mrs Kofie called for the strengthening of the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) system to help deal with minor cases so that the courts themselves would not be congested.
A representative of the Ghana Prisons Service, Superintendent Nathaniel Agyeman Onyinah, said the service was at the receiving end of the justice delivery system.
He said although the capacity of the prisons was 8,004, there was a 13,685 prisoner population, 4,210 of them on remand, some since 1999.
The Director of Legal Aid, Mr Felix Korley, described the exercise as a national one which should be embraced by all.
The Deputy Minister of Justice and Deputy Attorney-General, Mr Kwame Osei-Prempeh, noted that the United Kingdom had also embarked on a similar exercise to decongest its prisons.
He said while the capacity of the prisons in the UK was 45,000, there were currently more than 80,000 prisoners.
2 Minors drown in Weija Lake
Septembver 24, 2007
Story: Albert K. Salia
TWO minors drowned in very strange circumstances on a hot afternoon last Saturday during a fishing expedition on the Weija lake.
The circumstances under which the two, Benjamin Hotor, 12 and Kwesi Panyin, 10, died have compelled the Weija police to begin intensive investigations into the deaths, particularly when one of the teenagers, Kwasi Panyin, had been described as a good swimmer.
The bodies of the two boys, who were said to be close friends, were found on the Densu River, near the Weija Dam, on Sunday, September 23, 2007 about 9 am.
While the body of Benjamin was found entangled in an old fishing net, that of Panyin was found floating on the river.
The bodies of the deceased have been deposited at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital mortuary awaiting autopsy.
The Weija District Police Commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) John Animpong, told newsmen yesterday that Benjamin, who lived at Kwashieman, visited Panyin on Saturday, September 22, 2007 at Galilea on the Kasoa road.
He said the two decided to go on a fishing expedition in a canoe at about 2 pm on that day but never returned.
He said the relatives of the two friends mounted a search for them and retrieved the bodies on Sunday, September 23, 2007 at about 9am.
DSP Animpong said Panyin was said to be a good swimmer and had been going on fishing expedition alone.
He said the circumstances under which the bodies were retrieved made the police to suspect foul play.
That, he said, was because there was a cut on the head of Benjamin, whose body was also entangled in a fishing net.
DSP Animpong said information available also indicated that some of the fishermen who usually trapped fish on the Densu river complained of their catch being stolen.
He said it was possible that one or some of such fishermen could assume that the two friends had stolen their catch.
He said the canoe the children used for the expedition had also not been found.
DSP Animpong said the police had not made any arrest yet.
Story: Albert K. Salia
TWO minors drowned in very strange circumstances on a hot afternoon last Saturday during a fishing expedition on the Weija lake.
The circumstances under which the two, Benjamin Hotor, 12 and Kwesi Panyin, 10, died have compelled the Weija police to begin intensive investigations into the deaths, particularly when one of the teenagers, Kwasi Panyin, had been described as a good swimmer.
The bodies of the two boys, who were said to be close friends, were found on the Densu River, near the Weija Dam, on Sunday, September 23, 2007 about 9 am.
While the body of Benjamin was found entangled in an old fishing net, that of Panyin was found floating on the river.
The bodies of the deceased have been deposited at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital mortuary awaiting autopsy.
The Weija District Police Commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) John Animpong, told newsmen yesterday that Benjamin, who lived at Kwashieman, visited Panyin on Saturday, September 22, 2007 at Galilea on the Kasoa road.
He said the two decided to go on a fishing expedition in a canoe at about 2 pm on that day but never returned.
He said the relatives of the two friends mounted a search for them and retrieved the bodies on Sunday, September 23, 2007 at about 9am.
DSP Animpong said Panyin was said to be a good swimmer and had been going on fishing expedition alone.
He said the circumstances under which the bodies were retrieved made the police to suspect foul play.
That, he said, was because there was a cut on the head of Benjamin, whose body was also entangled in a fishing net.
DSP Animpong said information available also indicated that some of the fishermen who usually trapped fish on the Densu river complained of their catch being stolen.
He said it was possible that one or some of such fishermen could assume that the two friends had stolen their catch.
He said the canoe the children used for the expedition had also not been found.
DSP Animpong said the police had not made any arrest yet.
Fake Eyadema's wife arrested
Story: Albert K. Salia
A 55-year-old Nigerian woman, Hajia Zenabu Addo, who posed as the wife of the late Togolese President, Gnassingbe Eyadema, has been arrested for attempting to defraud a Ghanaian businessman.
Her two accomplices, Sandra Ogaga, 27, and Justice Nana Antwi, 24, are also in custody pending further investigations.
A source close to the security agencies told the Daily Graphic yesterday that Antwi, who was a porter at Aflao, allegedly called the businessman, Mr Amadu Iddrisu, on September 25, 2007 to inform him that he (Antwi) was an employee of the wife of the late Togolese President.
According to the source, Antwi alleged that Hajia wanted to invest $5.5 million in a school and a hotel projects in Ghana but needed a Ghanaian to front for her.
It said on September 26, 2007, Hajia and Sandra, who were both based in Lome, Togo, came to Accra with Antwi to meet Mr Iddrisu to discuss the deal.
It said after the discussions, Hajia informed Mr Iddrisu that because of the security situation in Lome, she would put the money in a box and send it through a driver.
The source said Hajia then called Mr Iddrisu the following day to inform him that the driver would bring the money on September 28, 2007.
It said Mr Iddrisu received a call on September 28, 2007 purporting to be from a driver sent by Hajia to bring a box to him and indicated that he had just left Aflao on his way to Accra.
It said the purported driver called again to inform Mr Iddrisu that he had been arrested by security agents at Sogakope and demanded some money to enable him to continue the trip to Accra.
The source said the driver, however, assured Mr Iddrisu that he (the driver) had enough money to “settle” the security men but requested Mr Iddrisu to get some money ready to refund it.
According to the source, the driver again called Mr Iddrisu to inform him that he had been arrested at the Kpone Barrier and that he had spent ¢29 million “settling” security men at the barriers.
It said not quite long after the call, Hajia also called Mr Iddrisu to meet her at a restaurant in Accra for final discussions on the projects.
The source said while Hajia and her accomplices were meeting Mr Iddrisu, the purported driver called several times to enquire if Mr Iddrisu had the ¢29 million as a refund.
It said security men then moved in to arrest the suspects and charged them for attempted fraud.
A 55-year-old Nigerian woman, Hajia Zenabu Addo, who posed as the wife of the late Togolese President, Gnassingbe Eyadema, has been arrested for attempting to defraud a Ghanaian businessman.
Her two accomplices, Sandra Ogaga, 27, and Justice Nana Antwi, 24, are also in custody pending further investigations.
A source close to the security agencies told the Daily Graphic yesterday that Antwi, who was a porter at Aflao, allegedly called the businessman, Mr Amadu Iddrisu, on September 25, 2007 to inform him that he (Antwi) was an employee of the wife of the late Togolese President.
According to the source, Antwi alleged that Hajia wanted to invest $5.5 million in a school and a hotel projects in Ghana but needed a Ghanaian to front for her.
It said on September 26, 2007, Hajia and Sandra, who were both based in Lome, Togo, came to Accra with Antwi to meet Mr Iddrisu to discuss the deal.
It said after the discussions, Hajia informed Mr Iddrisu that because of the security situation in Lome, she would put the money in a box and send it through a driver.
The source said Hajia then called Mr Iddrisu the following day to inform him that the driver would bring the money on September 28, 2007.
It said Mr Iddrisu received a call on September 28, 2007 purporting to be from a driver sent by Hajia to bring a box to him and indicated that he had just left Aflao on his way to Accra.
It said the purported driver called again to inform Mr Iddrisu that he had been arrested by security agents at Sogakope and demanded some money to enable him to continue the trip to Accra.
The source said the driver, however, assured Mr Iddrisu that he (the driver) had enough money to “settle” the security men but requested Mr Iddrisu to get some money ready to refund it.
According to the source, the driver again called Mr Iddrisu to inform him that he had been arrested at the Kpone Barrier and that he had spent ¢29 million “settling” security men at the barriers.
It said not quite long after the call, Hajia also called Mr Iddrisu to meet her at a restaurant in Accra for final discussions on the projects.
The source said while Hajia and her accomplices were meeting Mr Iddrisu, the purported driver called several times to enquire if Mr Iddrisu had the ¢29 million as a refund.
It said security men then moved in to arrest the suspects and charged them for attempted fraud.
MTN Fraud exposed
Back Page: October 10, 2007.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THREE Nigerians suspected to have developed a fake website of the Mobile Telecommunications Network (MTN) and offering a promotion to subscribers of the network have been arrested by the police.
Eradiri Erepamo, alias Samuel Aberepikimi, 27; Orian Frank Ndamati, alias George Smith, 26, both of whom claimed to be students of the Regional Maritime Academy, and Isaac Mandari, 27, unemployed, are currently in custody pending further investigations.
Three mobile phones, six MTN starter packs and identity cards were retrieved from the suspects upon their arrest.
The three had developed a parallel website, www.mtnpromotions.com, offering prizes to unsuspecting persons, mostly foreigners, that they had won Mercedes Benz saloon cars as their prizes.
The three would then inform the alleged winners to provide details of their contact addresses for the shipment of the cars to them.
According to the Deputy Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Ken Yeboah, one of the so-called winners was informed that the cost of shipping the car to him was $5,795 but he has to pay an advance processing fee of $950.
He said some of the victims, after paying the money but never receiving their prizes, complained to the management of MTN about the delay in receiving their cars.
He said it was at that point that the victims were told that MTN was not running any promotion here in Ghana.
ACP Yeboah said following the complaints to MTN, the management of the company decided to lodge a complaint with the police to investigate the perpetrators of the crime.
He said the services of a money transfer company was sought to provide a code to be sent to one of the organisers of the fake promotion to collect the processing fee.
According to him, Isaac and Samuel went to collect the money and the police arrested them.
ACP Yeboah said Isaac and Samuel then led the police to arrest Ndamati, who was described as the event organiser.
He said the three suspects had also been linked to other cases being investigated by the Commercial Crime Unit of the CID.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THREE Nigerians suspected to have developed a fake website of the Mobile Telecommunications Network (MTN) and offering a promotion to subscribers of the network have been arrested by the police.
Eradiri Erepamo, alias Samuel Aberepikimi, 27; Orian Frank Ndamati, alias George Smith, 26, both of whom claimed to be students of the Regional Maritime Academy, and Isaac Mandari, 27, unemployed, are currently in custody pending further investigations.
Three mobile phones, six MTN starter packs and identity cards were retrieved from the suspects upon their arrest.
The three had developed a parallel website, www.mtnpromotions.com, offering prizes to unsuspecting persons, mostly foreigners, that they had won Mercedes Benz saloon cars as their prizes.
The three would then inform the alleged winners to provide details of their contact addresses for the shipment of the cars to them.
According to the Deputy Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Ken Yeboah, one of the so-called winners was informed that the cost of shipping the car to him was $5,795 but he has to pay an advance processing fee of $950.
He said some of the victims, after paying the money but never receiving their prizes, complained to the management of MTN about the delay in receiving their cars.
He said it was at that point that the victims were told that MTN was not running any promotion here in Ghana.
ACP Yeboah said following the complaints to MTN, the management of the company decided to lodge a complaint with the police to investigate the perpetrators of the crime.
He said the services of a money transfer company was sought to provide a code to be sent to one of the organisers of the fake promotion to collect the processing fee.
According to him, Isaac and Samuel went to collect the money and the police arrested them.
ACP Yeboah said Isaac and Samuel then led the police to arrest Ndamati, who was described as the event organiser.
He said the three suspects had also been linked to other cases being investigated by the Commercial Crime Unit of the CID.
Passport fraudster arrested
October 10, 2007
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE police have arrested a 52-year-old man, Yaw Wireko, believed to be member of a fake passports processing group.
Fake Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD) foil receipts, suspected fake birth certificates, fake letters of introduction from various institutions and fake stamps and recommendation letters by the Tema Commander of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) were retrieved from the suspect.
The suspect and his accomplices were said to be collecting between GH¢100 (¢1 million) and GH¢150 (¢1.5 million) from their victims before processing their forms.
The Deputy Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Ken Yeboah, told newsmen yesterday that following a complaint by the Director of Passports, Mr Sylvester Parker-Allotey, that he had detected fake documents accompanying passport application forms, the matter was referred to the Documentation and Visa Fraud Unit of the CID for further investigations.
He said the modus operandi of the group was to ask prospective passport seekers to buy and return the filled forms to the group for processing.
In some cases, he said, the group filled out the forms for the applicants.
According to ACP Yeboah, the group attached the fake CAGD foil receipt to the application form, with a letter of introduction from an institution and the passport form embossed with a fake stamp of the Tema Commander of the GIS, as well as a recommendation from the commander for the processing and issuance of the passport to the applicant.
He said during the investigations, the police arrested Ben Ofosu Barimah, 25, who in turn mentioned Ayi Bruce, 43, as the person who processed the documents.
ACP Yeboah said upon the arrest of Bruce, he also mentioned Yaw Wireko as the originator of the documents.
He said the police arranged a meeting between Bruce and Wireko at the Koforidua Peugeot Station in Accra while the police kept surveillance.
According to him, as soon as Wireko spotted the plainclothes policemen, he took to his heels but he was pursued to the Orion Cinema where he was arrested.
ACP Yeboah said Wireko had refused to tell the police the source of the forged receipts, stamps and other documents.
He appealed to prospective passport seekers to endeavour to avoid using middlemen to acquire passports, since the practice could lead them into trouble.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE police have arrested a 52-year-old man, Yaw Wireko, believed to be member of a fake passports processing group.
Fake Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD) foil receipts, suspected fake birth certificates, fake letters of introduction from various institutions and fake stamps and recommendation letters by the Tema Commander of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) were retrieved from the suspect.
The suspect and his accomplices were said to be collecting between GH¢100 (¢1 million) and GH¢150 (¢1.5 million) from their victims before processing their forms.
The Deputy Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Ken Yeboah, told newsmen yesterday that following a complaint by the Director of Passports, Mr Sylvester Parker-Allotey, that he had detected fake documents accompanying passport application forms, the matter was referred to the Documentation and Visa Fraud Unit of the CID for further investigations.
He said the modus operandi of the group was to ask prospective passport seekers to buy and return the filled forms to the group for processing.
In some cases, he said, the group filled out the forms for the applicants.
According to ACP Yeboah, the group attached the fake CAGD foil receipt to the application form, with a letter of introduction from an institution and the passport form embossed with a fake stamp of the Tema Commander of the GIS, as well as a recommendation from the commander for the processing and issuance of the passport to the applicant.
He said during the investigations, the police arrested Ben Ofosu Barimah, 25, who in turn mentioned Ayi Bruce, 43, as the person who processed the documents.
ACP Yeboah said upon the arrest of Bruce, he also mentioned Yaw Wireko as the originator of the documents.
He said the police arranged a meeting between Bruce and Wireko at the Koforidua Peugeot Station in Accra while the police kept surveillance.
According to him, as soon as Wireko spotted the plainclothes policemen, he took to his heels but he was pursued to the Orion Cinema where he was arrested.
ACP Yeboah said Wireko had refused to tell the police the source of the forged receipts, stamps and other documents.
He appealed to prospective passport seekers to endeavour to avoid using middlemen to acquire passports, since the practice could lead them into trouble.
Indian hemp peddler arrested
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE police have arrested an Indian hemp peddler, Kwasi Richard, for supplying two teenagers with some of the drugs to be given to an inmate of the Senior Correctional Institute in Accra.
The two teenagers, who stuffed a ball of banku with the suspected Indian hemp and attempted to send it to an inmate of the institute in Accra, have also been arrested.
Fatia Yusif and Fatimatu Abubakari, both 17, are currently in police custody following their arrest.
Briefing newsmen in Accra yesterday, the Nima Divisional Police Commander, Chief Superintendent A. Awuni, said Fatia and Fatimatu visited Fatia’s boyfriend, Godfrey Michael, who is serving a prison term at the Senior Correctional Institute on Monday.
He said Michael requested Fatia to get him some Indian hemp and showed them how she could get it to him.
He said based on that the two girls bought a ball of banku and stuffed it with the Gp40 (¢4,000) worth of Indian hemp.
Chief Superintendent Awuni said checks by the security officials at the entrance to the prisons revealed that the banku had been stuffed with the narcotic drug.
He said the two girls were arrested and brought to the police.
According to him, the girls then led the police to arrest Kwasi Richard at the Agbogbloshie Market as the person who had sold the Indian hemp to them.
THE police have arrested an Indian hemp peddler, Kwasi Richard, for supplying two teenagers with some of the drugs to be given to an inmate of the Senior Correctional Institute in Accra.
The two teenagers, who stuffed a ball of banku with the suspected Indian hemp and attempted to send it to an inmate of the institute in Accra, have also been arrested.
Fatia Yusif and Fatimatu Abubakari, both 17, are currently in police custody following their arrest.
Briefing newsmen in Accra yesterday, the Nima Divisional Police Commander, Chief Superintendent A. Awuni, said Fatia and Fatimatu visited Fatia’s boyfriend, Godfrey Michael, who is serving a prison term at the Senior Correctional Institute on Monday.
He said Michael requested Fatia to get him some Indian hemp and showed them how she could get it to him.
He said based on that the two girls bought a ball of banku and stuffed it with the Gp40 (¢4,000) worth of Indian hemp.
Chief Superintendent Awuni said checks by the security officials at the entrance to the prisons revealed that the banku had been stuffed with the narcotic drug.
He said the two girls were arrested and brought to the police.
According to him, the girls then led the police to arrest Kwasi Richard at the Agbogbloshie Market as the person who had sold the Indian hemp to them.
Nurses attitude to patients deplored
October 12, 2007.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE President of the Ghana Registered Nurses Association (GRNA), Mrs Alice Asare-Allotey, has urged nurses not to hide behind the constraints facing them to perpetuate discourteous acts towards their clients.
She said a recent self appraisal by the association showed that the public had no problem with the skills of nurses but rather the way they communicated and received patients.
“We are aware of the constraints facing us but should we hide behind these and be rude or communicate unprofessionally with our clients,?” she asked.
Mrs Asare-Allotey was speaking at the opening of the 23rd annual and 11th biennial national delegates congress of the GRNA in Accra yesterday.
It is on the theme “The Ghanaian Nurse, upholding the vision of quality care beyond the Golden Jubilee”.
Mrs Asare-Allotey noted that the way nurses received their patients had about 60 per cent healing on them.
She, therefore, called on all nurses to join hands with the GRNA to wage a crusade against the negative attitudes of some of their colleagues.
“The association would not condone such negative acts and will collaborate with the employer to discipline those who are found wanting,” she said.
Commenting on other challenges facing the profession, Mrs Asare-Allotey said out of a conservative figure of 40,000 nurses needed in the country, only 13,381 were at post and called for the gap to be closed.
She, however, made it clear that it was not only numbers that mattered but the quality of nurses produced, given the appropriate tools and equipment to work with, motivation and the remuneration, were of equal importance.
Mrs Asare-Allotey also expressed concern about the non-recognition of nurses who had upgraded themselves and suggested that the issue needed to be critically addressed.
A Nurse Consultant, Dr (Mrs) Jemima Dennis-Antwi, noted that documented and anecdotal reports attested to the poor quality nursing care resulting in “the public looking upon us with disdain, scorn and mistrust”.
“Issues in migratory trends in nursing, poor working environment, inadequate or non-existent resources, poor attitudes to patients and family, poor quality training in our pre-service institutions, limited conditions of service, future insecurity, violence at the work place and lack of recognition, among other factors, have been noted as the challenges and for that matter the reasons for the dwindling quality of services we are currently providing,” she added.
Dr Dennis-Antwi urged Ghanaian nurses to be guided by the principles to nursing, adapt to changing circumstances and suffer the discomfort of change in order to achieve a better future.
She urged them to put in place structures and strategies that would stand the test of time and ensure that posterity judged them right.
She also expressed concern about the springing up of many private nursing institutions and wondered whether government policies were strong and comprehensive enough to ensure that those institutions maintained the Nightingale philosophy while redefining the new Ghanaian nurse.
Dr Dennis-Antwi called on the Office of the President of the GRNA, the Nurses and Midwives Council for Ghana and the Office of the Chief Nursing Officer to co-ordinate their functions so as to develop a strategic vision for nursing in Ghana.
In a speech read on his behalf, the Minister of Health, Major Courage Quashigah (retd), called on nurses to exhibit a high sense of professionalism to help improve the corporate image of nurses.
She called on nurses to support the leaders to halt the threats to industrial actions as the government worked hard to improve not only their working conditions but the health facilities as well.
The African Co-ordinator of the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, Nana Oye Lithur, who chaired the function, urged Ghanaian nurses to keep the flame of Florence Nightingale burning.
She urged them to reflect and think carefully on the values ascribed to nursing and find out whether they had been able to attain the objectives of nursing.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE President of the Ghana Registered Nurses Association (GRNA), Mrs Alice Asare-Allotey, has urged nurses not to hide behind the constraints facing them to perpetuate discourteous acts towards their clients.
She said a recent self appraisal by the association showed that the public had no problem with the skills of nurses but rather the way they communicated and received patients.
“We are aware of the constraints facing us but should we hide behind these and be rude or communicate unprofessionally with our clients,?” she asked.
Mrs Asare-Allotey was speaking at the opening of the 23rd annual and 11th biennial national delegates congress of the GRNA in Accra yesterday.
It is on the theme “The Ghanaian Nurse, upholding the vision of quality care beyond the Golden Jubilee”.
Mrs Asare-Allotey noted that the way nurses received their patients had about 60 per cent healing on them.
She, therefore, called on all nurses to join hands with the GRNA to wage a crusade against the negative attitudes of some of their colleagues.
“The association would not condone such negative acts and will collaborate with the employer to discipline those who are found wanting,” she said.
Commenting on other challenges facing the profession, Mrs Asare-Allotey said out of a conservative figure of 40,000 nurses needed in the country, only 13,381 were at post and called for the gap to be closed.
She, however, made it clear that it was not only numbers that mattered but the quality of nurses produced, given the appropriate tools and equipment to work with, motivation and the remuneration, were of equal importance.
Mrs Asare-Allotey also expressed concern about the non-recognition of nurses who had upgraded themselves and suggested that the issue needed to be critically addressed.
A Nurse Consultant, Dr (Mrs) Jemima Dennis-Antwi, noted that documented and anecdotal reports attested to the poor quality nursing care resulting in “the public looking upon us with disdain, scorn and mistrust”.
“Issues in migratory trends in nursing, poor working environment, inadequate or non-existent resources, poor attitudes to patients and family, poor quality training in our pre-service institutions, limited conditions of service, future insecurity, violence at the work place and lack of recognition, among other factors, have been noted as the challenges and for that matter the reasons for the dwindling quality of services we are currently providing,” she added.
Dr Dennis-Antwi urged Ghanaian nurses to be guided by the principles to nursing, adapt to changing circumstances and suffer the discomfort of change in order to achieve a better future.
She urged them to put in place structures and strategies that would stand the test of time and ensure that posterity judged them right.
She also expressed concern about the springing up of many private nursing institutions and wondered whether government policies were strong and comprehensive enough to ensure that those institutions maintained the Nightingale philosophy while redefining the new Ghanaian nurse.
Dr Dennis-Antwi called on the Office of the President of the GRNA, the Nurses and Midwives Council for Ghana and the Office of the Chief Nursing Officer to co-ordinate their functions so as to develop a strategic vision for nursing in Ghana.
In a speech read on his behalf, the Minister of Health, Major Courage Quashigah (retd), called on nurses to exhibit a high sense of professionalism to help improve the corporate image of nurses.
She called on nurses to support the leaders to halt the threats to industrial actions as the government worked hard to improve not only their working conditions but the health facilities as well.
The African Co-ordinator of the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, Nana Oye Lithur, who chaired the function, urged Ghanaian nurses to keep the flame of Florence Nightingale burning.
She urged them to reflect and think carefully on the values ascribed to nursing and find out whether they had been able to attain the objectives of nursing.
Nigerian arrested
Front Page: October 13, 2007
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE high demand for Olive oil in churches for anointing purposes provided an excellent opportunity for a 42-year-old man, Collins Uche, to parade refined palm oil as the product, from which he is believed to have made a handsome fortune.
The label, which espouses so many spiritual claims, is believed to have hoodwinked many churches and chemical shops into buying the product.
Some of the inscriptions on the label directing users as to what one could use the oil for include “money drawing, stop evil, fast luck, ask and receive, do as a I say, success, crowd puller, finance success, love me alone, control and fire of love”.
Other claims are “healing, expel witches, all-purpose protection, victory, confusion, peaceful home, destroy poison, harm me not and dominate”.
All the claims come with Biblical readings from the Psalms for users.
Although it is manufactured in Accra, the product is labelled as a product of Greece and made by Baco’s Company Acris (Greece).
Apart from being sold to chemical shops and enterprises, the manufacturers said they supplied the product to churches for their anointing services.
Although it was labelled Baco’s Olive Oil, the Food and Drugs Board (FDB) said the product was bleached, deodorised palm oil.
Besides, the product had not registered with the FDB, contrary to PNDC Law 305 (b) which stipulates that no product could be manufactured, imported and distributed in the country unless it was registered with the FDB.
Uche, who is currently in police custody, said churches patronised the product and told FDB officials he was only doing business.
The Deputy Chief Executive of the FDB, Mr Kwamena Van-Ess, told newsmen yesterday after the arrest of the suspect that the activities of the suspect came to the attention of the board six weeks ago and it decided to monitor his activities.
He recalled that a similar thing happened six years ago but the perpetrators took cover after a newspaper had published a story about the presence of fake Olive oil in the country.
He said this time round, the FDB decided to complete its investigations before involving the media.
According to Mr Van-Ess, no food could be labelled to be having spiritual claims.
He said the FDB would have to undertake a product recall by advertising for dealers in the product to return the products to the offices of the FDB throughout the country.
He also appealed to churches which had already bought the product to return them, since the claims made on it were false.
He appealed to consumers and enterprises to endeavour to always look out for the FDB registration status of products before buying them.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE high demand for Olive oil in churches for anointing purposes provided an excellent opportunity for a 42-year-old man, Collins Uche, to parade refined palm oil as the product, from which he is believed to have made a handsome fortune.
The label, which espouses so many spiritual claims, is believed to have hoodwinked many churches and chemical shops into buying the product.
Some of the inscriptions on the label directing users as to what one could use the oil for include “money drawing, stop evil, fast luck, ask and receive, do as a I say, success, crowd puller, finance success, love me alone, control and fire of love”.
Other claims are “healing, expel witches, all-purpose protection, victory, confusion, peaceful home, destroy poison, harm me not and dominate”.
All the claims come with Biblical readings from the Psalms for users.
Although it is manufactured in Accra, the product is labelled as a product of Greece and made by Baco’s Company Acris (Greece).
Apart from being sold to chemical shops and enterprises, the manufacturers said they supplied the product to churches for their anointing services.
Although it was labelled Baco’s Olive Oil, the Food and Drugs Board (FDB) said the product was bleached, deodorised palm oil.
Besides, the product had not registered with the FDB, contrary to PNDC Law 305 (b) which stipulates that no product could be manufactured, imported and distributed in the country unless it was registered with the FDB.
Uche, who is currently in police custody, said churches patronised the product and told FDB officials he was only doing business.
The Deputy Chief Executive of the FDB, Mr Kwamena Van-Ess, told newsmen yesterday after the arrest of the suspect that the activities of the suspect came to the attention of the board six weeks ago and it decided to monitor his activities.
He recalled that a similar thing happened six years ago but the perpetrators took cover after a newspaper had published a story about the presence of fake Olive oil in the country.
He said this time round, the FDB decided to complete its investigations before involving the media.
According to Mr Van-Ess, no food could be labelled to be having spiritual claims.
He said the FDB would have to undertake a product recall by advertising for dealers in the product to return the products to the offices of the FDB throughout the country.
He also appealed to churches which had already bought the product to return them, since the claims made on it were false.
He appealed to consumers and enterprises to endeavour to always look out for the FDB registration status of products before buying them.
Rana Motor's man jumps bail
Page three: October 15, 2007
Story: Albert K. Salia
MOHAMMED Ahmed Odaymat, the member of staff of Rana Motors who allegedly assaulted two policemen on October 1, this year, is said to have left the country.
He is alleged to have left the country within the week that the assault took place.
The Accra Motor Court has, however, granted his driver, Daniel Kwasi Boateng, bail in the sum of ¢40 million when he appeared before the court on Tuesday on five counts.
Boateng is charged with failing to comply with traffic regulations, causing danger to road users, dangerous driving, driving without a driver’s licence and resisting arrest.
His boss, Odaymat, was charged with obstructing a police officer in the line of duty, causing unlawful harm, resisting arrest and causing unlawful damage to property.
The acting Commander of the Accra Central MTTU, Superintendent S.K. Ntim, told the Daily Graphic yesterday that Odaymat had been served with a writ of summons and was expected to appear before court to defend himself.
He said the case had been adjourned to October 29, 2007
He said it was unfortunate that some members of the public put up such unruly behaviour and tried to obstruct the police in the execution of their duties.
Odaymat, on October 1, this year, allegedly assaulted two officers of the Central Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service by way of bites and beatings.
He allegedly head-butted one of the policemen, Corporal Thomas Ackah, for cautioning his driver for dangerous driving and followed that with a blow.
That resulted in a scuffle which attracted the attention of Lance Corporal Elorm Kpodo who was directing traffic at the Graphic traffic lights.
Mr Odaymat allegedly resisted arrest and subjected the two policemen to severe beatings, resulting in some injuries.
Story: Albert K. Salia
MOHAMMED Ahmed Odaymat, the member of staff of Rana Motors who allegedly assaulted two policemen on October 1, this year, is said to have left the country.
He is alleged to have left the country within the week that the assault took place.
The Accra Motor Court has, however, granted his driver, Daniel Kwasi Boateng, bail in the sum of ¢40 million when he appeared before the court on Tuesday on five counts.
Boateng is charged with failing to comply with traffic regulations, causing danger to road users, dangerous driving, driving without a driver’s licence and resisting arrest.
His boss, Odaymat, was charged with obstructing a police officer in the line of duty, causing unlawful harm, resisting arrest and causing unlawful damage to property.
The acting Commander of the Accra Central MTTU, Superintendent S.K. Ntim, told the Daily Graphic yesterday that Odaymat had been served with a writ of summons and was expected to appear before court to defend himself.
He said the case had been adjourned to October 29, 2007
He said it was unfortunate that some members of the public put up such unruly behaviour and tried to obstruct the police in the execution of their duties.
Odaymat, on October 1, this year, allegedly assaulted two officers of the Central Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service by way of bites and beatings.
He allegedly head-butted one of the policemen, Corporal Thomas Ackah, for cautioning his driver for dangerous driving and followed that with a blow.
That resulted in a scuffle which attracted the attention of Lance Corporal Elorm Kpodo who was directing traffic at the Graphic traffic lights.
Mr Odaymat allegedly resisted arrest and subjected the two policemen to severe beatings, resulting in some injuries.
three arrested for cocaine
Back Page: October 16, 2007
Story: Albert K. Salia
THREE suspected drug dealers have been arrested at Nsumfa, near Sowutuom in Accra, with large quantities of narcotics.
A total of 21,262.1714 grammes, made up of 19 slabs of suspected cocaine, 101 thumb-size pellets and a quantity of a white powdery substance were retrieved from under a bed at the residence of Alhaji Kofi Dauda, one of the suspects.
The other suspects are Atta Kwasi and Kofi Akuoko. The three have been remanded into police custody, pending further investigations, and they are to re-appear before court on October 23, 2007.
A test conducted on the substance by the Ghana Standards Board on October 4, 2007 proved positive for cocaine.
In addition, one Thunder 380 pistol, with 51 rounds of ammunition, a cap-gun and a large number of Sellotapes were also retrieved from the residence of Alhaji Dauda, who is a businessman.
Briefing the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday, the acting Director of Police Public Affairs, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Kwasi Ofori, said the exercise was undertaken by a combined team of officers from the Critical Incident Response Team, the Organised Crime Unit and the Crime Scene Management Team of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service.
He said the Police Administration had embarked on a crusade to rid the country of drug barons and appealed to members of the public who knew the activities of drug barons to provide such information to the police.
He noted that the exercise at Sowutuom was carried out upon a tip-off by an informant and commended the informant for assisting the police to arrest those criminals.
DSP Ofori said the police saw informants as partners in fighting crime and would continue to treat them as such.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THREE suspected drug dealers have been arrested at Nsumfa, near Sowutuom in Accra, with large quantities of narcotics.
A total of 21,262.1714 grammes, made up of 19 slabs of suspected cocaine, 101 thumb-size pellets and a quantity of a white powdery substance were retrieved from under a bed at the residence of Alhaji Kofi Dauda, one of the suspects.
The other suspects are Atta Kwasi and Kofi Akuoko. The three have been remanded into police custody, pending further investigations, and they are to re-appear before court on October 23, 2007.
A test conducted on the substance by the Ghana Standards Board on October 4, 2007 proved positive for cocaine.
In addition, one Thunder 380 pistol, with 51 rounds of ammunition, a cap-gun and a large number of Sellotapes were also retrieved from the residence of Alhaji Dauda, who is a businessman.
Briefing the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday, the acting Director of Police Public Affairs, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Kwasi Ofori, said the exercise was undertaken by a combined team of officers from the Critical Incident Response Team, the Organised Crime Unit and the Crime Scene Management Team of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service.
He said the Police Administration had embarked on a crusade to rid the country of drug barons and appealed to members of the public who knew the activities of drug barons to provide such information to the police.
He noted that the exercise at Sowutuom was carried out upon a tip-off by an informant and commended the informant for assisting the police to arrest those criminals.
DSP Ofori said the police saw informants as partners in fighting crime and would continue to treat them as such.
Justice
Extra Page October 11-10-07
JStory: Albert K. Salia
FOUR persons have been discharged under the “Justice for All” programme as part of efforts to decongest the country’s prisons.
Yaw Charles, Emmanuel Kwame alias Alomo, Stephen Amoah and Philip K. Yankson, were all discharged after the state told the special court, presided over by Mrs Georgina Mensah-Datsa that considering the value of the items they were said to have stolen and the time spent in custody, they should be discharged.
Accordingly, they were cautioned and discharged.
Two others, who pleaded not guilty, had their cases fixed for October 17, 2007 for hearing while a third was granted bail in the sum of ¢5 million with one surety.
Nana Kwaku Duah Agyemang Prempeh who was charged for defrauding by false pretences and Samuel Afari, charged for stealing, had their cases fixed for October 17, while Chidi Okore, who was charged for defrauding was granted bail in the sum of ¢5 million with one surety.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Miss Gertrude Aikins and Mrs Stella Badu, a Principal State Attorney, represented the state.
The Ministry of Justice and Attorney-General’s Department on September 27, 2007, launched its “Justice for All” programme as part of efforts to decongest the country’s prisons.
Under the programme, a special court is sitting at the James Fort Prisons in Accra to review all second degree felony and misdemeanour cases.
While the court is sitting, another team will be conducting verification exercises on all such cases to ensure that cases referred to it tallied with the persons being dealt with.
The programme does not include non-bailable offences such as narcotics, armed robbery and rape.
It is expected to be reviewed within a month to streamline its procedures and processes in order for it to be replicated throughout the country.
At its sitting yesterday, the court was told that Yaw Charles stole a mobile phone worth ¢1.6 million in November 2006.
According to Mrs Badu, although the phone was retrieved and given to the owner, the suspect had been in custody since November 12, 2006 with no date set for hearing.
She, therefore, asked that the accused be discharged since he had spent enough time in custody to serve as a punishment.
With regards to Emmanuel Kwame, who was arrested on August 3, 2006, for stealing 20 pieces of iron rods, the prosecution said the iron rods had been returned to the owner while there had been seven adjournments with the complainant not showing up in court.
The judge, therefore, cautioned and discharged him.
According to the prosecution, Stephen Amoah was caught wearing the boots, and riding a bicycle he stole on May 27, 2007 and had been in custody since then.
It said the items had been retrieved and returned to the owner while the accused was still in custody.
It said the complainant had failed to show up in court, resulting in five adjournments in the case and, therefore, requested that the accused be cautioned and discharged.
Philip K. Yankson, the prosecution said, admitted to helping two persons, identified only as Kobby and Yaw, to selling stolen electrical cables worth ¢150,000 in May 2007.
It said he should be cautioned and discharged, which the court granted.
Nana Duah, according to the prosecution was being held for defrauding two persons of about ¢55 million on the pretext of selling a plot of land on the Spintex Road to them, a land which did not belong to him.
Ms Aikins said although the accused had been granted bail since August 4, 2006 after his arrest in 2002, he had not been able to fulfil the bail bond.
Accordingly, the court fixed October 17, for hearing of the substantive case.
Samuel Afari, the prosecution said, was charged for stealing ¢7 million worth of polythene bags belonging to his employer.
It appealed for an early date for hearing following the inability of the accused to fulfil the bail bond granted him on October 19, 2006.
The prosecution told the court that Chidi Okore collected ¢4.5 million from three complainants with the view of securing Canadian visas for them.
It said the accused, however, went into hiding after collecting the money and had been in custody for 17 months since he was arrested.
The court, therefore, granted him bail in the sum o ¢5 million with one surety.
The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mr Joe Ghartey, said the exercise offered an opportunity not just to release accused persons in custody but also offered others early trial.
In that way, he said, justice would not be denied.
JStory: Albert K. Salia
FOUR persons have been discharged under the “Justice for All” programme as part of efforts to decongest the country’s prisons.
Yaw Charles, Emmanuel Kwame alias Alomo, Stephen Amoah and Philip K. Yankson, were all discharged after the state told the special court, presided over by Mrs Georgina Mensah-Datsa that considering the value of the items they were said to have stolen and the time spent in custody, they should be discharged.
Accordingly, they were cautioned and discharged.
Two others, who pleaded not guilty, had their cases fixed for October 17, 2007 for hearing while a third was granted bail in the sum of ¢5 million with one surety.
Nana Kwaku Duah Agyemang Prempeh who was charged for defrauding by false pretences and Samuel Afari, charged for stealing, had their cases fixed for October 17, while Chidi Okore, who was charged for defrauding was granted bail in the sum of ¢5 million with one surety.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Miss Gertrude Aikins and Mrs Stella Badu, a Principal State Attorney, represented the state.
The Ministry of Justice and Attorney-General’s Department on September 27, 2007, launched its “Justice for All” programme as part of efforts to decongest the country’s prisons.
Under the programme, a special court is sitting at the James Fort Prisons in Accra to review all second degree felony and misdemeanour cases.
While the court is sitting, another team will be conducting verification exercises on all such cases to ensure that cases referred to it tallied with the persons being dealt with.
The programme does not include non-bailable offences such as narcotics, armed robbery and rape.
It is expected to be reviewed within a month to streamline its procedures and processes in order for it to be replicated throughout the country.
At its sitting yesterday, the court was told that Yaw Charles stole a mobile phone worth ¢1.6 million in November 2006.
According to Mrs Badu, although the phone was retrieved and given to the owner, the suspect had been in custody since November 12, 2006 with no date set for hearing.
She, therefore, asked that the accused be discharged since he had spent enough time in custody to serve as a punishment.
With regards to Emmanuel Kwame, who was arrested on August 3, 2006, for stealing 20 pieces of iron rods, the prosecution said the iron rods had been returned to the owner while there had been seven adjournments with the complainant not showing up in court.
The judge, therefore, cautioned and discharged him.
According to the prosecution, Stephen Amoah was caught wearing the boots, and riding a bicycle he stole on May 27, 2007 and had been in custody since then.
It said the items had been retrieved and returned to the owner while the accused was still in custody.
It said the complainant had failed to show up in court, resulting in five adjournments in the case and, therefore, requested that the accused be cautioned and discharged.
Philip K. Yankson, the prosecution said, admitted to helping two persons, identified only as Kobby and Yaw, to selling stolen electrical cables worth ¢150,000 in May 2007.
It said he should be cautioned and discharged, which the court granted.
Nana Duah, according to the prosecution was being held for defrauding two persons of about ¢55 million on the pretext of selling a plot of land on the Spintex Road to them, a land which did not belong to him.
Ms Aikins said although the accused had been granted bail since August 4, 2006 after his arrest in 2002, he had not been able to fulfil the bail bond.
Accordingly, the court fixed October 17, for hearing of the substantive case.
Samuel Afari, the prosecution said, was charged for stealing ¢7 million worth of polythene bags belonging to his employer.
It appealed for an early date for hearing following the inability of the accused to fulfil the bail bond granted him on October 19, 2006.
The prosecution told the court that Chidi Okore collected ¢4.5 million from three complainants with the view of securing Canadian visas for them.
It said the accused, however, went into hiding after collecting the money and had been in custody for 17 months since he was arrested.
The court, therefore, granted him bail in the sum o ¢5 million with one surety.
The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mr Joe Ghartey, said the exercise offered an opportunity not just to release accused persons in custody but also offered others early trial.
In that way, he said, justice would not be denied.
cocaine in "soup"
Front Page: 17-10-07
Story: Albert K. Salia
A LARGE quantity of cocaine, concealed in 60 cans of palmnut cream concentrate and meant for export to the United Kingdom, has been intercepted by security operatives at the Kotoka International Airport.
Experts valued the 60 containers of the stuff at $3million.
Two suspects, Emmanuel Darkey, 50, the exporter, and Kirk Patrick Akoto Bekoe, 28, a freight forwarder, are currently in custody pending further investigations.
They were arrested at the Aviance Cargo Village at the Kotoka International Airport.
Each of the cans contained two kilogrammes of pure cocaine when it was weighed and tested in the presence of the suspects last Tuesday.
Although the cans were labelled as GhanaFresh Palmnut Cream concentrate, there was no such thing in them.
Without tampering with the lids of the cans, the perpetrators had cut the neck of the cans, filled them with the cocaine in white polythene and resealed them.
Three cans of the cocaine were concealed in a box of pepper labelled as Produce of Ghana, Fresh vegetables.
The use of the GhanaFresh Palmnut Cream cans has raised concerns about the impact of such criminal activities on genuine Ghanaian business trademarks on the international scene.
Until recently, drug dealers were using Nkulenu Palmnut concentrate cans.
The re-packaging was neatly done in such a way that it would take a trained eye to detect it, since the lids remained intact.
Darkey, who is based in London, claimed he came to Ghana two weeks ago to purchase vegetables for export to London.
He told security personnel that the consignment was given to him by another exporter, Michael Osei, to add to his.
When asked whether he knew the contents before accepting them, he answered in the negative.
As to why he accepted the goods, particularly when there were security alerts for travellers and exporters not to accept any parcels or goods from anyone without knowing their contents, Darkey admitted he acted stupidly.
A source at the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) told the Daily Graphic that security personnel suspected the movement of the boxes containing the supposed vegetables and asked that they be set aside for further investigations.
It said the operatives arrested the freight forwarder, who in turn led the security personnel to arrest Darkey.
According to the source, officials of the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) were duly informed and asked to inspect the products.
The source said when officials of NACOB brought their field test kit, they tested the supposed vegetables but they turned out to be nothing but cocaine.
It said the exhibits were being forwarded to the Ghana Standards Board (GSB) for further testing, while the suspects were being investigated for prosecution.
Story: Albert K. Salia
A LARGE quantity of cocaine, concealed in 60 cans of palmnut cream concentrate and meant for export to the United Kingdom, has been intercepted by security operatives at the Kotoka International Airport.
Experts valued the 60 containers of the stuff at $3million.
Two suspects, Emmanuel Darkey, 50, the exporter, and Kirk Patrick Akoto Bekoe, 28, a freight forwarder, are currently in custody pending further investigations.
They were arrested at the Aviance Cargo Village at the Kotoka International Airport.
Each of the cans contained two kilogrammes of pure cocaine when it was weighed and tested in the presence of the suspects last Tuesday.
Although the cans were labelled as GhanaFresh Palmnut Cream concentrate, there was no such thing in them.
Without tampering with the lids of the cans, the perpetrators had cut the neck of the cans, filled them with the cocaine in white polythene and resealed them.
Three cans of the cocaine were concealed in a box of pepper labelled as Produce of Ghana, Fresh vegetables.
The use of the GhanaFresh Palmnut Cream cans has raised concerns about the impact of such criminal activities on genuine Ghanaian business trademarks on the international scene.
Until recently, drug dealers were using Nkulenu Palmnut concentrate cans.
The re-packaging was neatly done in such a way that it would take a trained eye to detect it, since the lids remained intact.
Darkey, who is based in London, claimed he came to Ghana two weeks ago to purchase vegetables for export to London.
He told security personnel that the consignment was given to him by another exporter, Michael Osei, to add to his.
When asked whether he knew the contents before accepting them, he answered in the negative.
As to why he accepted the goods, particularly when there were security alerts for travellers and exporters not to accept any parcels or goods from anyone without knowing their contents, Darkey admitted he acted stupidly.
A source at the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) told the Daily Graphic that security personnel suspected the movement of the boxes containing the supposed vegetables and asked that they be set aside for further investigations.
It said the operatives arrested the freight forwarder, who in turn led the security personnel to arrest Darkey.
According to the source, officials of the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) were duly informed and asked to inspect the products.
The source said when officials of NACOB brought their field test kit, they tested the supposed vegetables but they turned out to be nothing but cocaine.
It said the exhibits were being forwarded to the Ghana Standards Board (GSB) for further testing, while the suspects were being investigated for prosecution.
11 policemen dismissed
Page Page: October 20, 2007
Story: Albert K. Salia
ELEVEN junior officers of the Ghana Police Service have been dismissed from the service for various acts of misconduct.
Two of the officers were allegedly involved in the Dansoman shooting incident in April 2006 while two others were also dismissed after their indictment in the interception of articulated trucks carrying rice and sugar in September, this year.
Lance Corporal Eric M. Akidi and Constable Godfred Kwasi Kumako were found guilty in connection with the Dansoman shooting incident while Lance Corporals Haruna Adama of the Armoured Squadron Unit and Gomez Abane of the Police Striking Force were found guilty of unlawfully arresting the driver of an articulated truck and stealing the sugar it was conveying.
Ex-Lance Cpls Adama and Abane are currently facing criminal charges in court as well.
The other seven dismissed personnel are ex-L/Cpl Solomon Kwasi Antwi, ex-Constable Stephen Oppong, ex-Constable Henry Nuamah, ex-L/Cpl Eric Nyade Debrah, ex-Constable Francis Amoah and ex-Constables Abdul-Rahamani Mahamadou and Godwin Setsoafia.
The acting Director of Police Public Affairs of the Ghana Police Service, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Kwesi Ofori, who confirmed the dismissals in an interview yesterday, said the personnel were dismissed in line with the Police (Disciplinary Proceedings) Regulations LI 993 and Police Act 350/1970 after they had been charged, tried and found guilty.
He explained that Akidi and Kumako unceremoniously left their duty post on April 21, 2006, for unauthorised operations.
According to him, it was the operation that led to the death of four persons in a Tico taxi at Dansoman.
DSP Ofori said Adama and Abane, in the company of two civilians on September 7, 2007, unlawfully arrested the driver of an articulated truck with registration number AW 744 X carrying 1,000 bags of sugar worth ¢250 million.
He said ex-L/Cpl Antwi misappropriated ¢20 million belonging to a complainant after he had collected it from a suspect in March 2005.
According to DSP Ofori, ex-Constables Oppong and Nuamah, who were both with the Rapid Deployment Force in Kumasi, were dismissed after they had been found guilty of lack of civility, inhumane treatment of a suspect and assaulting three persons at a drinking spot on December 26, 2006.
With regard to ex-L/Cpl Debrah, DSP Ofori said he was also charged with lack of civility and insulting behaviour on January 13, 2006 and found guilty.
He said ex-Constable Amoah, who was stationed at the Regional Mobile Force in Takoradi, was dismissed after he had been found guilty of absenting himself for 169 days without permission.
DSP Ofori said ex-Constables Mahamadou of the Highway Patrol Unit and Setsoafia of the Panthers Unit at the Police Headquarters were found guilty of forcibly collecting ¢23.8 million from a victim under the threat of arresting him on October 2, 2006.
He said the Police Administration was mindful of the fact that contemporary policing was based on discipline, integrity, accountability, excellence, service, honesty, steadfastness and friendliness.
He said any officer who failed to uphold those values was not fit to be in the Ghana Police Service.
DSP Ofori said the Police Administration was waging a crusade against indisciplined personnel and warned that anyone found guilty would not be spared.
He said it was based on that that the Police Administration felt it necessary to inform the public about the disciplinary actions taken so that the public would feel confident in reporting the misconduct of any officer.
According to him, there were more officers on trial and indicated that it was not a nine days’ wonder.
As to whether all those who faced the disciplinary proceedings were dismissed, DSP Ofori answered in the negative.
He explained that some of the personnel were discharged for lack of evidence while others were demoted in rank with others receiving severe reprimand.
Story: Albert K. Salia
ELEVEN junior officers of the Ghana Police Service have been dismissed from the service for various acts of misconduct.
Two of the officers were allegedly involved in the Dansoman shooting incident in April 2006 while two others were also dismissed after their indictment in the interception of articulated trucks carrying rice and sugar in September, this year.
Lance Corporal Eric M. Akidi and Constable Godfred Kwasi Kumako were found guilty in connection with the Dansoman shooting incident while Lance Corporals Haruna Adama of the Armoured Squadron Unit and Gomez Abane of the Police Striking Force were found guilty of unlawfully arresting the driver of an articulated truck and stealing the sugar it was conveying.
Ex-Lance Cpls Adama and Abane are currently facing criminal charges in court as well.
The other seven dismissed personnel are ex-L/Cpl Solomon Kwasi Antwi, ex-Constable Stephen Oppong, ex-Constable Henry Nuamah, ex-L/Cpl Eric Nyade Debrah, ex-Constable Francis Amoah and ex-Constables Abdul-Rahamani Mahamadou and Godwin Setsoafia.
The acting Director of Police Public Affairs of the Ghana Police Service, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Kwesi Ofori, who confirmed the dismissals in an interview yesterday, said the personnel were dismissed in line with the Police (Disciplinary Proceedings) Regulations LI 993 and Police Act 350/1970 after they had been charged, tried and found guilty.
He explained that Akidi and Kumako unceremoniously left their duty post on April 21, 2006, for unauthorised operations.
According to him, it was the operation that led to the death of four persons in a Tico taxi at Dansoman.
DSP Ofori said Adama and Abane, in the company of two civilians on September 7, 2007, unlawfully arrested the driver of an articulated truck with registration number AW 744 X carrying 1,000 bags of sugar worth ¢250 million.
He said ex-L/Cpl Antwi misappropriated ¢20 million belonging to a complainant after he had collected it from a suspect in March 2005.
According to DSP Ofori, ex-Constables Oppong and Nuamah, who were both with the Rapid Deployment Force in Kumasi, were dismissed after they had been found guilty of lack of civility, inhumane treatment of a suspect and assaulting three persons at a drinking spot on December 26, 2006.
With regard to ex-L/Cpl Debrah, DSP Ofori said he was also charged with lack of civility and insulting behaviour on January 13, 2006 and found guilty.
He said ex-Constable Amoah, who was stationed at the Regional Mobile Force in Takoradi, was dismissed after he had been found guilty of absenting himself for 169 days without permission.
DSP Ofori said ex-Constables Mahamadou of the Highway Patrol Unit and Setsoafia of the Panthers Unit at the Police Headquarters were found guilty of forcibly collecting ¢23.8 million from a victim under the threat of arresting him on October 2, 2006.
He said the Police Administration was mindful of the fact that contemporary policing was based on discipline, integrity, accountability, excellence, service, honesty, steadfastness and friendliness.
He said any officer who failed to uphold those values was not fit to be in the Ghana Police Service.
DSP Ofori said the Police Administration was waging a crusade against indisciplined personnel and warned that anyone found guilty would not be spared.
He said it was based on that that the Police Administration felt it necessary to inform the public about the disciplinary actions taken so that the public would feel confident in reporting the misconduct of any officer.
According to him, there were more officers on trial and indicated that it was not a nine days’ wonder.
As to whether all those who faced the disciplinary proceedings were dismissed, DSP Ofori answered in the negative.
He explained that some of the personnel were discharged for lack of evidence while others were demoted in rank with others receiving severe reprimand.
Two Afghans deported
Front Page: October 23, 2007
Story: Albert K. Salia
TWO Afghans were yesterday arrested at Osu in a joint undercover operation between the Ghana Police Service and the United States of America (USA) Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
The suspects, who arrived in the country yesterday as tourists, are allegedly in the country to collect money to import 100 kilogrammes of heroin, worth $1.7 million, from Afghanistan into Ghana.
The arrest of the suspects, Nasrullah Safiullah, alias Yama, and Mohammed Ashraf Mohammed-Omar, followed surveillance mounted on their activities, as well as their conversation recorded over a period of time.
The operation, which involved other US security and intelligence agencies, halted the transaction between the Afghans and their accomplices in their attempt to import 100 kilogrammes of heroin into Ghana.
Supported by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr P.K. Acheampong, the Interior Minister, Mr Kwamena Bartels, announced at a news conference shortly after the arrest of the suspects that they would be deported to the US to face similar drug charges.
According to Mr Bartels, the suspects had arranged for the heroin to be re-exported into the US.
“If this first consignment had been successful, more heroin and other illicit drugs would have been brought into the country by the gang and sent out to the United States,” he added.
Mr Bartels said the government considered the suspects as undesirable aliens, hence their immediate deportation to the US.
That, he said, “is in furtherance of an existing treaty between the United States and Ghana”.
Story: Albert K. Salia
TWO Afghans were yesterday arrested at Osu in a joint undercover operation between the Ghana Police Service and the United States of America (USA) Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
The suspects, who arrived in the country yesterday as tourists, are allegedly in the country to collect money to import 100 kilogrammes of heroin, worth $1.7 million, from Afghanistan into Ghana.
The arrest of the suspects, Nasrullah Safiullah, alias Yama, and Mohammed Ashraf Mohammed-Omar, followed surveillance mounted on their activities, as well as their conversation recorded over a period of time.
The operation, which involved other US security and intelligence agencies, halted the transaction between the Afghans and their accomplices in their attempt to import 100 kilogrammes of heroin into Ghana.
Supported by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr P.K. Acheampong, the Interior Minister, Mr Kwamena Bartels, announced at a news conference shortly after the arrest of the suspects that they would be deported to the US to face similar drug charges.
According to Mr Bartels, the suspects had arranged for the heroin to be re-exported into the US.
“If this first consignment had been successful, more heroin and other illicit drugs would have been brought into the country by the gang and sent out to the United States,” he added.
Mr Bartels said the government considered the suspects as undesirable aliens, hence their immediate deportation to the US.
That, he said, “is in furtherance of an existing treaty between the United States and Ghana”.
2 nabbed in trade in sex slave
Front Page: October 26, 2007
Story: Albert K. Salia
A collaboration between a Ghanaian journalist and the Ghana Police Service has led to the arrest of two Ghanaians alleged to be trafficking women to Europe for prostitution.
Amandi Mohammed, 30, and Kwadwo Boamah Addai, 50, were arrested on October 24 and 25, 2007, respectively, from their respective operational areas at Abossey Okai and Gbawe.
A third suspect, Mumuni Abdul Latif, alias Tijani, based at Kasoa in the Central Region, is on the run.
Amandi is said to be the employee of Tijani and his duty is to cater for the needs of the girls, while Tijani supervised the operations.
The police also rescued nine Nigerian girls who were being “supervised” by Amandi at Abossey Okai, while eight others were also rescued from the grips of Addai at Gbawe.
Those rescued at Abossey Okai were Gloria Ebrain, Cynthia Emma, Joyce Samuel, Jennifer Peter, Gifty Ebrain, Lovet Issako, Lucy Ugo, Emmanuel Beauty and Nancy Johnson.
Those rescued at Gbawe included Hope Osagie, Princess Ebabulele, Bola Ayodele, Rosemary Yenni, Vivian Joseph, Becky Asoro, Happy Tom and Blessing Samuel.
The women, who have been in Ghana for periods between one and three months, are aged between 18 and 25.
Briefing newsmen in Accra yesterday, the Deputy Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Ken Yeboah, said Mr Anas Arimeyao of the Crusading Guide newspaper reported to the police on October 19, 2007 that some Ghanaians residing at Abossey Okai and Gbawe were engaged in human trafficking.
He said Mr Arimeyao indicated that the women had been brought into Ghana from neighbouring countries, mostly Nigeria, and thereafter sent to Europe.
According to the deputy CID boss, the police proceeded to Abossey Okai on October 24, 2007, where Amandi was arrested and nine Nigerian women rescued.
ACP Yeboah said the police went to Addai’s residence at Gbawe at about 4:30 a.m. on October 25, 2007 where he was arrested and eight women rescued.
He said a search conducted in Addai’s office and residence resulted in the retrieval of seven Ghanaian passports, four vaccination certificates, one international driving licence, 59 birth certificates, two Motorola mobile phones, three bank statements from Unibank, an invitation letter and a Beninois passport bearing the name Affo Kaffi Seibu.
ACP Yeboah said on interrogation, Addai allegedly admitted that his wife was based in Italy and that relatives of the girls who were based in Italy had requested him to assist the girls to join them.
Sadly, the deputy CID boss said, the girls were not trying to co-operate with the police, as the police suspected that the names given were fake.
That, he said, had also been confirmed by Addai, who claimed that he did not know them by the names they had mentioned to the police.
ACP Yeboah said the women also indicated that they were in the country to engage in hairdressing.
He said he had directed that a file be opened for each of the victims for purposes of keeping their profiles, pictures and fingerprints while further investigations continued.
The acting Director of Police Public Affairs, DSP Kwesi Ofori, said the victims were often made to swear oaths not to reveal their real identities.
He commended the journalist who collaborated with the police to apprehend the perpetrators.
He said the Police Administration was determined to flush out the syndicate dealing in human trafficking in the country.
Accordingly, he said, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr P.K. Acheampong, had directed that a Human Trafficking Unit be established in the CID to confront the problem head-on.
He said that had been necessitated by recent cases of human trafficking both within the country and outside.
Story: Albert K. Salia
A collaboration between a Ghanaian journalist and the Ghana Police Service has led to the arrest of two Ghanaians alleged to be trafficking women to Europe for prostitution.
Amandi Mohammed, 30, and Kwadwo Boamah Addai, 50, were arrested on October 24 and 25, 2007, respectively, from their respective operational areas at Abossey Okai and Gbawe.
A third suspect, Mumuni Abdul Latif, alias Tijani, based at Kasoa in the Central Region, is on the run.
Amandi is said to be the employee of Tijani and his duty is to cater for the needs of the girls, while Tijani supervised the operations.
The police also rescued nine Nigerian girls who were being “supervised” by Amandi at Abossey Okai, while eight others were also rescued from the grips of Addai at Gbawe.
Those rescued at Abossey Okai were Gloria Ebrain, Cynthia Emma, Joyce Samuel, Jennifer Peter, Gifty Ebrain, Lovet Issako, Lucy Ugo, Emmanuel Beauty and Nancy Johnson.
Those rescued at Gbawe included Hope Osagie, Princess Ebabulele, Bola Ayodele, Rosemary Yenni, Vivian Joseph, Becky Asoro, Happy Tom and Blessing Samuel.
The women, who have been in Ghana for periods between one and three months, are aged between 18 and 25.
Briefing newsmen in Accra yesterday, the Deputy Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Ken Yeboah, said Mr Anas Arimeyao of the Crusading Guide newspaper reported to the police on October 19, 2007 that some Ghanaians residing at Abossey Okai and Gbawe were engaged in human trafficking.
He said Mr Arimeyao indicated that the women had been brought into Ghana from neighbouring countries, mostly Nigeria, and thereafter sent to Europe.
According to the deputy CID boss, the police proceeded to Abossey Okai on October 24, 2007, where Amandi was arrested and nine Nigerian women rescued.
ACP Yeboah said the police went to Addai’s residence at Gbawe at about 4:30 a.m. on October 25, 2007 where he was arrested and eight women rescued.
He said a search conducted in Addai’s office and residence resulted in the retrieval of seven Ghanaian passports, four vaccination certificates, one international driving licence, 59 birth certificates, two Motorola mobile phones, three bank statements from Unibank, an invitation letter and a Beninois passport bearing the name Affo Kaffi Seibu.
ACP Yeboah said on interrogation, Addai allegedly admitted that his wife was based in Italy and that relatives of the girls who were based in Italy had requested him to assist the girls to join them.
Sadly, the deputy CID boss said, the girls were not trying to co-operate with the police, as the police suspected that the names given were fake.
That, he said, had also been confirmed by Addai, who claimed that he did not know them by the names they had mentioned to the police.
ACP Yeboah said the women also indicated that they were in the country to engage in hairdressing.
He said he had directed that a file be opened for each of the victims for purposes of keeping their profiles, pictures and fingerprints while further investigations continued.
The acting Director of Police Public Affairs, DSP Kwesi Ofori, said the victims were often made to swear oaths not to reveal their real identities.
He commended the journalist who collaborated with the police to apprehend the perpetrators.
He said the Police Administration was determined to flush out the syndicate dealing in human trafficking in the country.
Accordingly, he said, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr P.K. Acheampong, had directed that a Human Trafficking Unit be established in the CID to confront the problem head-on.
He said that had been necessitated by recent cases of human trafficking both within the country and outside.
Cardio now examination centre
Spread Lead: October 31, 2007.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE West African College of Surgeons has designated the National Cardio-Thoracic Centre (NCTC) of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital as an examination centre for the college.
Hitherto, post-graduate students had to go to Ibadan, Nigeria, to be examined for consideration as surgeons.
The centre, on Wednesday, October 24, 2007, saw two doctors who trained in Ghana successfully pass an examination held there.
One of them, Dr Kow Entsua-Mensah, a Ghanaian, qualified as the fifth Ghanaian heart surgeon to be trained at the centre.
The others are Dr Lawrence Sereboe, Dr Mark Tettey, Dr Frank Edwin and Dr Mark Tamatey.
The Director of the NCTC, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, who disclosed this to the Daily Graphic in an interview, described the recognition as a monumental achievement which Ghanaians should be proud of.
He said for the centre to be designated as such within 15 years of its existence could not be overlooked, especially when it started from nothing.
He commended the college, particularly Professor Rudolf Darko, the Head of the Department of Surgery of the University of Ghana Medical School and Chief Examiner of the Faculty of Surgery of the college, for the untiring efforts in making the centre an examination centre.
“For the first time, the centre played host to examiners of the college from other countries to examine those who trained in Ghana,” he added.
Prof Frimpong-Boateng said when the college recognised the centre as a Centre of Excellence for medical training some few years ago, he knew it would not be long for it be to designated as an examination centre.
He said apart from the five Ghanaians who had passed as heart surgeons, the centre had also trained 21 doctors from abroad to qualify as heart surgeons.
He said there was a Ghanaian doctor from the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital currently training to specialise as a heart surgeon, adding that he was hopeful that the doctor would qualify within two years.
Prof Frimpong-Boateng called on the government to consider establishing additional cardio centres in the country to complement what was at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.
He said apart from helping to ease the congestion at the centre, it would encourage more doctors to train in heart surgery to take up positions in the other centres.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE West African College of Surgeons has designated the National Cardio-Thoracic Centre (NCTC) of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital as an examination centre for the college.
Hitherto, post-graduate students had to go to Ibadan, Nigeria, to be examined for consideration as surgeons.
The centre, on Wednesday, October 24, 2007, saw two doctors who trained in Ghana successfully pass an examination held there.
One of them, Dr Kow Entsua-Mensah, a Ghanaian, qualified as the fifth Ghanaian heart surgeon to be trained at the centre.
The others are Dr Lawrence Sereboe, Dr Mark Tettey, Dr Frank Edwin and Dr Mark Tamatey.
The Director of the NCTC, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, who disclosed this to the Daily Graphic in an interview, described the recognition as a monumental achievement which Ghanaians should be proud of.
He said for the centre to be designated as such within 15 years of its existence could not be overlooked, especially when it started from nothing.
He commended the college, particularly Professor Rudolf Darko, the Head of the Department of Surgery of the University of Ghana Medical School and Chief Examiner of the Faculty of Surgery of the college, for the untiring efforts in making the centre an examination centre.
“For the first time, the centre played host to examiners of the college from other countries to examine those who trained in Ghana,” he added.
Prof Frimpong-Boateng said when the college recognised the centre as a Centre of Excellence for medical training some few years ago, he knew it would not be long for it be to designated as an examination centre.
He said apart from the five Ghanaians who had passed as heart surgeons, the centre had also trained 21 doctors from abroad to qualify as heart surgeons.
He said there was a Ghanaian doctor from the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital currently training to specialise as a heart surgeon, adding that he was hopeful that the doctor would qualify within two years.
Prof Frimpong-Boateng called on the government to consider establishing additional cardio centres in the country to complement what was at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.
He said apart from helping to ease the congestion at the centre, it would encourage more doctors to train in heart surgery to take up positions in the other centres.
Woman, 60, murdered in cold blood
Page November 1, 2007.
Story: Albert K. Salia
A 69-year-old woman was murdered in cold blood at her residence at McCarthy Hill on Monday in circumstances which the police suspect involved foul play.
Mrs Rosemary Owusu-Ansah, who retired to bed at about 10.00 p.m. after her children had organised a birthday party for her, was found lying supine, with stretched hands, a bruised face and some blood on the bed.
Apart from her purse which was taken from the room, nothing else was touched.
Mrs Owusu-Ansah was the Proprietor of Out of Gold Restaurant at Odorkor, a suburb of Accra.
The late Mrs Owusu-Ansah was due to give evidence at the Cocoa Affairs Court 17 tomorrow in a legal tussle over encroachment on her husband’s property at Odorkor.
She was also said to be engaged in another dispute with her brother who had rented a building their late father bequeathed to them to a bank at Atimpoku in the Eastern Region, without the consent of other members of the family.
When the alleged murder was detected, the door to the room, which could only be opened from inside, was locked and the house boy, Rahmah, had to enter through the glass window to open it to let in Mrs Sally Agyemang Jacobs, the deceased’s daughter, to find the lifeless body.
A security guard, Kofi Isaac, of InterCom Security, was arrested on Monday evening when he reported for work and handed over to the Odorkor Police to assist in investigations.
Isaac is considered a key witness in the case because of the circumstances under which he left the house after close of work.
Mrs Jacobs told the Daily Graphic that she saw her mother off to her room when they returned from the birthday party and made sure her door was locked.
She said when she came out of her room at about 8.00 a.m. the next day and found her mum’s driver waiting outside, she asked him why he was still in the house because her mother usually left for work early.
Mrs Jacobs said when the driver informed her that there was no response from Mrs Owusu-Ansah’s room, she went to knock on the door but there was truly no response.
The Odorkor District Police Commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Ernest Mayeb, said the police were investigating the matter.
Story: Albert K. Salia
A 69-year-old woman was murdered in cold blood at her residence at McCarthy Hill on Monday in circumstances which the police suspect involved foul play.
Mrs Rosemary Owusu-Ansah, who retired to bed at about 10.00 p.m. after her children had organised a birthday party for her, was found lying supine, with stretched hands, a bruised face and some blood on the bed.
Apart from her purse which was taken from the room, nothing else was touched.
Mrs Owusu-Ansah was the Proprietor of Out of Gold Restaurant at Odorkor, a suburb of Accra.
The late Mrs Owusu-Ansah was due to give evidence at the Cocoa Affairs Court 17 tomorrow in a legal tussle over encroachment on her husband’s property at Odorkor.
She was also said to be engaged in another dispute with her brother who had rented a building their late father bequeathed to them to a bank at Atimpoku in the Eastern Region, without the consent of other members of the family.
When the alleged murder was detected, the door to the room, which could only be opened from inside, was locked and the house boy, Rahmah, had to enter through the glass window to open it to let in Mrs Sally Agyemang Jacobs, the deceased’s daughter, to find the lifeless body.
A security guard, Kofi Isaac, of InterCom Security, was arrested on Monday evening when he reported for work and handed over to the Odorkor Police to assist in investigations.
Isaac is considered a key witness in the case because of the circumstances under which he left the house after close of work.
Mrs Jacobs told the Daily Graphic that she saw her mother off to her room when they returned from the birthday party and made sure her door was locked.
She said when she came out of her room at about 8.00 a.m. the next day and found her mum’s driver waiting outside, she asked him why he was still in the house because her mother usually left for work early.
Mrs Jacobs said when the driver informed her that there was no response from Mrs Owusu-Ansah’s room, she went to knock on the door but there was truly no response.
The Odorkor District Police Commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Ernest Mayeb, said the police were investigating the matter.
‘money won’t influnce Delegates’
Political Page (November 1, 2007)
Story: Albert K. Salia
A PRESIDENTIAL aspirant of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, has stated that delegates to the congress to elect the party’s flag bearer will not base their choice on monetary inducements.
“The delegates are listening and comparing what we (the aspirants) say with what we have done and can do for the country and party,” he said.
Speaking in an interview in Accra, Prof. Frimpong-Boateng said anybody who claimed he was on top must be joking.
According to him, from his interaction with members of the party throughout the country, it was evident that the members had been disappointed and therefore want someone they could trust, someone who would help them build their future.
“They tell you no one can buy their conscience and they also know that it is God who establishes kings and will be using them to elect the flag bearer of the party,” he added.
Prof. Frimpong-Boateng said he was happy with what was taking place on the ground, stressing that “I am doing very well. I am in to win and will win with God’s help.”
When asked to comment on the results of opinion polls being conducted on supposed leading candidates, he said, the pollsters were “whistling in the dark”.
“I believe they are scared and want to put up an appearance of being brave,” he stated.
According to him, opinion polls are very expensive to conduct and that if one knows the source of funding for the opinion polls, one could predict the outcome.
As to why his campaign message has centred on science and technology, Prof. Frimpong-Boateng says everything in nature revolves around science and that until Ghana adopts science and technology, “we cannot survive.”
He says science is the factor accounting for the difference between developing countries and the developed ones and that the poverty gap is essentially a technological gap.
He added that during the recent devastating floods in the country, it took the assistance of French helicopters to reach inaccessible areas.
Prof. Frimpong-Boateng adds that to do anything in education, health, agriculture, environmental sanitation, water resources, renewable energy, among others, technology is required.
He says because the country does not have the technological know-how, its imports far outstrip its exports, adding that although the country is endowed with abundant natural resources, those resources are exported in their raw form for far less the value if the country were to refine them.
Prof. Frimpong-Boateng vigorously asserts that science and technology is needed to teach history and archaeology also.
“We pride ourselves as a football nation and yet we cannot even manufacture a football,” he lamented.
Prof. Frimpong-Boateng said it was because of the science and technological gap that he had decided to champion it when elected flag bearer and later as President of the Republic of Ghana.
According to him, eight years as President of Ghana would be enough to do many things to chart a new path for Ghana’s development.
“We can develop a machine tool centre within a year, start manufacturing small machine parts and develop the capacity to make implements,” he added.
Prof. Frimpong-Boateng says it is regrettable that $2.5 million worth of bolts and nuts are imported into the country every year besides other machine parts.
“I promise that within four years we should be building pick-ups. We should be able to produce spare parts for other countries,” he pledged.
“I just don’t talk about it, I do it. Right now, I produce my own biodiesel to fuel my vehicles and I have a machine tool centre at the Free Zones and my work as a heart surgeon, which is high-tech, will propel me on to do greater things for Ghana and Ghanaians,” he declared.
Story: Albert K. Salia
A PRESIDENTIAL aspirant of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, has stated that delegates to the congress to elect the party’s flag bearer will not base their choice on monetary inducements.
“The delegates are listening and comparing what we (the aspirants) say with what we have done and can do for the country and party,” he said.
Speaking in an interview in Accra, Prof. Frimpong-Boateng said anybody who claimed he was on top must be joking.
According to him, from his interaction with members of the party throughout the country, it was evident that the members had been disappointed and therefore want someone they could trust, someone who would help them build their future.
“They tell you no one can buy their conscience and they also know that it is God who establishes kings and will be using them to elect the flag bearer of the party,” he added.
Prof. Frimpong-Boateng said he was happy with what was taking place on the ground, stressing that “I am doing very well. I am in to win and will win with God’s help.”
When asked to comment on the results of opinion polls being conducted on supposed leading candidates, he said, the pollsters were “whistling in the dark”.
“I believe they are scared and want to put up an appearance of being brave,” he stated.
According to him, opinion polls are very expensive to conduct and that if one knows the source of funding for the opinion polls, one could predict the outcome.
As to why his campaign message has centred on science and technology, Prof. Frimpong-Boateng says everything in nature revolves around science and that until Ghana adopts science and technology, “we cannot survive.”
He says science is the factor accounting for the difference between developing countries and the developed ones and that the poverty gap is essentially a technological gap.
He added that during the recent devastating floods in the country, it took the assistance of French helicopters to reach inaccessible areas.
Prof. Frimpong-Boateng adds that to do anything in education, health, agriculture, environmental sanitation, water resources, renewable energy, among others, technology is required.
He says because the country does not have the technological know-how, its imports far outstrip its exports, adding that although the country is endowed with abundant natural resources, those resources are exported in their raw form for far less the value if the country were to refine them.
Prof. Frimpong-Boateng vigorously asserts that science and technology is needed to teach history and archaeology also.
“We pride ourselves as a football nation and yet we cannot even manufacture a football,” he lamented.
Prof. Frimpong-Boateng said it was because of the science and technological gap that he had decided to champion it when elected flag bearer and later as President of the Republic of Ghana.
According to him, eight years as President of Ghana would be enough to do many things to chart a new path for Ghana’s development.
“We can develop a machine tool centre within a year, start manufacturing small machine parts and develop the capacity to make implements,” he added.
Prof. Frimpong-Boateng says it is regrettable that $2.5 million worth of bolts and nuts are imported into the country every year besides other machine parts.
“I promise that within four years we should be building pick-ups. We should be able to produce spare parts for other countries,” he pledged.
“I just don’t talk about it, I do it. Right now, I produce my own biodiesel to fuel my vehicles and I have a machine tool centre at the Free Zones and my work as a heart surgeon, which is high-tech, will propel me on to do greater things for Ghana and Ghanaians,” he declared.
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