SECOND Heaven, a town near Sefwi-Debiso, was turned into a veritable “second hell”, when a man who could not stand his girlfriend’s demand for money for a new hairdo, allegedly shot and killed her and later committed suicide.
In what started as a normal early morning confrontation between the two lovers on Thursday, November 19, 2009, unfortunely turned tragic when the man, Kwabena Kyei, 31, a farm caretaker, shot and killed his girlfriend, Adwoa Moah, 30, an incident which threw the whole town into mourning.
According to a source in the town, Kyei welcomed the girlfriend to his house in the evening of last Wednesday, when they ate and retired to bed.
The source said a serious fight ensued between the two lovers who were full of life and love the previous night .
According to the source, what provoked the fight was Kyei’s girlfriend’s demand for money for a new hairdo.
Kyei was said to have taken offence and rained insults on his girlfriend as well as raised other issues , which provoked Adwoa.
Adwoa was said to have responded angrily resulting in a confrontation between her and Kyei.
Kyei, then rushed into his landlord’s bedroom and allegedly took his gun and fired at the lower abdomen of Adwoa, killing her on the spot.
Kyei, brandishing the gun, escaped from arrest from the people, but he was later found dead on the cocoa farm of his landlord on Friday, November 20, 2009.
When the Daily Graphic contacted the Western Regional Police Command, the Regional Crime Officer, Mr Victor Agbetornyo, confirmed the story and said they were investigating the incident.
The bodies of the two, according to the police, had been deposited at the Dormaa Ahenkro Holy Family Hospital in the Bia District of the Western Region.
Friday, November 27, 2009
CONGESTION IN TWIN-CITY (MIRROR, NOV 28, PAGE 34)
From Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Takoradi
Prices of houses and rental accommodation, as well as demand for expansion in social infrastructure have shot up drastically in the twin city of Sekondi-Takoradi, following the discovery of oil in the Western Region.
While there has been an increase in population, the same cannot be said of infrastructure including housing, markets, road networks and the supply of water, electricity, among others.
Rent charges have soared with landlords charging fees in dollars.
Some residents have accused the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly of not showing any interest in controlling the escalating cost of living that was estimated to have unpredictable repercussions for the people.
Since the discovery of oil in June 2007, there has been a boom in economic activities and a swell in population in the twin-city.
Many corporate institutions, which hitherto were domiciled exclusively in Accra, Kumasi or Tema, are all now craving to secure a place in the metropolis.
These developments have increased the demand for water, electricity and other social services.The city, which some few years ago was without traffic congestion, is currently experiencing serious traffic throughout the day. Under the circumstances, hawkers have taken over half of the central business district, doing rigorous business, with vehicles making use of any available space as a parking lot.
Interestingly, City Guards of the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly whose duty it was to enforce law and order, have turned restricted and prohibited parking areas into car parks and collect tolls from drivers.
When The Mirror caught up with some city guards, they explained that their job was to impose fines and collect tolls, not to direct the people how to park.
“Once they manage to park, ours is to collect money. In fact, the city guard is supposed to ensure that people did the right thing,” one of them said.
Sellers of “Fanti-Dokunu” a traditional food of Fantis and fish sellers, as well as black marketers who deal in all sorts of currencies have also taken over street pavements, especially those around the market circle, forcing pedestrians and visitors to the market, shops, and the financial institutions around the Central Business District to share the street with motorists.
Prices of houses and rental accommodation, as well as demand for expansion in social infrastructure have shot up drastically in the twin city of Sekondi-Takoradi, following the discovery of oil in the Western Region.
While there has been an increase in population, the same cannot be said of infrastructure including housing, markets, road networks and the supply of water, electricity, among others.
Rent charges have soared with landlords charging fees in dollars.
Some residents have accused the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly of not showing any interest in controlling the escalating cost of living that was estimated to have unpredictable repercussions for the people.
Since the discovery of oil in June 2007, there has been a boom in economic activities and a swell in population in the twin-city.
Many corporate institutions, which hitherto were domiciled exclusively in Accra, Kumasi or Tema, are all now craving to secure a place in the metropolis.
These developments have increased the demand for water, electricity and other social services.The city, which some few years ago was without traffic congestion, is currently experiencing serious traffic throughout the day. Under the circumstances, hawkers have taken over half of the central business district, doing rigorous business, with vehicles making use of any available space as a parking lot.
Interestingly, City Guards of the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly whose duty it was to enforce law and order, have turned restricted and prohibited parking areas into car parks and collect tolls from drivers.
When The Mirror caught up with some city guards, they explained that their job was to impose fines and collect tolls, not to direct the people how to park.
“Once they manage to park, ours is to collect money. In fact, the city guard is supposed to ensure that people did the right thing,” one of them said.
Sellers of “Fanti-Dokunu” a traditional food of Fantis and fish sellers, as well as black marketers who deal in all sorts of currencies have also taken over street pavements, especially those around the market circle, forcing pedestrians and visitors to the market, shops, and the financial institutions around the Central Business District to share the street with motorists.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
GSFP HAS LOST ITS FOCUS
GSFP has lost its focus
Story: Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Takoradi
The Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP) is said to have lost its concept and direction as its services does not get to intended deprived communities in the districts across the country.
Rather, schools in district and regional capitals are covered leaving the intended rural, deprived and poor communities uncovered.
The concept of GSFP, according to experts at orientation workshop in Takoradi was to provide ready market for locally produced foodstuff in the deprived communities, but its concentration on the urban areas was not help the course.
Sadly according the experts, foods stuff produced in the intended deprived local communities by poor farmers are also not patronized, therefore, leaving the local communities more disadvantaged and poorer than before.
The focus of GSFP they said was to target deprived communities across the country and not those in urban and district capitals. But the programme has been overly concentrated in urban centers.
With the Western Region as an example, chunk of the beneficiaries in the region are in the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolitan area and other district and municipal capitals, while the deprived communities have less or no coverage at all.
The Sekondi/Takoradi alone had a total of 26 schools, with total of 10,958 pupils benefiting, while other districts with high rate of deprivation had little or no coverage.
According to the Assistant Director at the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, Mrs Irene Mercibah, based on the principle of the programme, the menu should be 80 per cent purely locally produce food stuff but that was not the case.
She said other objective of the programme was to contribute to poverty reduction and to improve food security in deprived communities.
The assistant director said the bigger concept encompasses the ministry of food and agriculture, and other technical ministries and its foreign partners to ensure that GSFP provided the ready market for the locally produce food stuff; therefore, help in the transformation of the local economy.
She explained that if the programme did not get to the deprived communities as expected, those who would be buying in the urban centers had to settle for high prices which would not help compared to the amount allocated to it child in the beneficiary schools.
Mrs Mercibah said some of the objectives were also to increase school enrollment, attendance, and retention and to reduce short term hunger, malnutrition among school children and to boost domestic food production.
For her part, the Deputy Western Regional Minister, Ms Betty Bosumtwi-Sam, it was wrong for deprived areas to left out or giving limited coverage.
She said while the metropolis had beneficiaries of more than 10,958 pupils in 26 schools under it, Prestea/Huni-Valley had five schools with 1,431 pupils, Shama also had five with 4,849 pupils, Amenfi East with seven schools with 3,206 and Bia with 6 schools with 3,338 pupils.
She wondered why the metropolitan/municipal district assemblies with all the facilities compared to a village in Enchi or other deprived parts of the region.
Ms Bosumtwi-Sam said another problem worthy of noting was the corrupt practice that characterized the programme which nearly incurred the displeasure of the donor partners threat to withdraw their support if transparency and proper accounting system were not applied.
That aside, she said sadly, some of the beneficiary schools have every poor structures to accommodate the activities of the caterers.
Other key stakeholders such as agriculture, education and health had been neglected thereby depriving the programme of its contribution.
Various districts were taking through financial management for the GSFP, the responsibilities of the district assemblies, sample of equipment procedures among others.
Story: Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Takoradi
The Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP) is said to have lost its concept and direction as its services does not get to intended deprived communities in the districts across the country.
Rather, schools in district and regional capitals are covered leaving the intended rural, deprived and poor communities uncovered.
The concept of GSFP, according to experts at orientation workshop in Takoradi was to provide ready market for locally produced foodstuff in the deprived communities, but its concentration on the urban areas was not help the course.
Sadly according the experts, foods stuff produced in the intended deprived local communities by poor farmers are also not patronized, therefore, leaving the local communities more disadvantaged and poorer than before.
The focus of GSFP they said was to target deprived communities across the country and not those in urban and district capitals. But the programme has been overly concentrated in urban centers.
With the Western Region as an example, chunk of the beneficiaries in the region are in the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolitan area and other district and municipal capitals, while the deprived communities have less or no coverage at all.
The Sekondi/Takoradi alone had a total of 26 schools, with total of 10,958 pupils benefiting, while other districts with high rate of deprivation had little or no coverage.
According to the Assistant Director at the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, Mrs Irene Mercibah, based on the principle of the programme, the menu should be 80 per cent purely locally produce food stuff but that was not the case.
She said other objective of the programme was to contribute to poverty reduction and to improve food security in deprived communities.
The assistant director said the bigger concept encompasses the ministry of food and agriculture, and other technical ministries and its foreign partners to ensure that GSFP provided the ready market for the locally produce food stuff; therefore, help in the transformation of the local economy.
She explained that if the programme did not get to the deprived communities as expected, those who would be buying in the urban centers had to settle for high prices which would not help compared to the amount allocated to it child in the beneficiary schools.
Mrs Mercibah said some of the objectives were also to increase school enrollment, attendance, and retention and to reduce short term hunger, malnutrition among school children and to boost domestic food production.
For her part, the Deputy Western Regional Minister, Ms Betty Bosumtwi-Sam, it was wrong for deprived areas to left out or giving limited coverage.
She said while the metropolis had beneficiaries of more than 10,958 pupils in 26 schools under it, Prestea/Huni-Valley had five schools with 1,431 pupils, Shama also had five with 4,849 pupils, Amenfi East with seven schools with 3,206 and Bia with 6 schools with 3,338 pupils.
She wondered why the metropolitan/municipal district assemblies with all the facilities compared to a village in Enchi or other deprived parts of the region.
Ms Bosumtwi-Sam said another problem worthy of noting was the corrupt practice that characterized the programme which nearly incurred the displeasure of the donor partners threat to withdraw their support if transparency and proper accounting system were not applied.
That aside, she said sadly, some of the beneficiary schools have every poor structures to accommodate the activities of the caterers.
Other key stakeholders such as agriculture, education and health had been neglected thereby depriving the programme of its contribution.
Various districts were taking through financial management for the GSFP, the responsibilities of the district assemblies, sample of equipment procedures among others.
TWO DIE IN ENCHI ACCIDENT (BACK PAGE)
Story: Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Enchi
Enchi bound KIA truck loaded with bags of corn yesterday plunked into Disue River killing the driver and one of his mates in the Aowing Suaman District of the Western Region.
The names of the two dead persons were given as Awudu, 35 and the driver of the vehicle and the second mate, Bernard Darko 22 while the survivors were named as Agatha Nyarko 46, Listowell Kusi.
At the time of the accident at about 5p.m. on Wednesday, the vehicle was on its firs mission to the region therefore used the wrong route to the town.
The truck, KIA Riano truck, with the registration number AS 9604 – 09 was said to be loaded with corn from Braiman in the Ashanti Region and was heading to Enchi.
The size of the vehicles was said to be bigger than width of the bridge causing it to topple into the river with high current.
However, the truck has been retrieved with the body of the driver trapped in the seatbelt but the whereabouts of the second mate is yet to be established.
The search party made up of Chinese Construction firm working on Asankragwa-Enchi roads.
According to the Tarkwa Divisional Commander, Mr Kwadwo Antwi Tabi, said the driver of the truck was new to the road and best thing to do was to use the new road to the town instead where he passed.
He said the old had small wooden bridge that links Old and New Yakasi, farming communities near Echi in very sharp curve.
He said the attempt by the driver to control the vehicle, it run into the river with the cargo and the people on board.
The two people who survived, Agatha and Listowell are currently receiving treatment at the Enchi Government Hospital .
The divisional commander said due to the heavy rain at that time of the night, the river was flooded with a heavy current, therefore the passengers and the cargo was carried along it.
Mr Tabi said he said at the moment, the search is still continuing for the remains of the mate.
Enchi bound KIA truck loaded with bags of corn yesterday plunked into Disue River killing the driver and one of his mates in the Aowing Suaman District of the Western Region.
The names of the two dead persons were given as Awudu, 35 and the driver of the vehicle and the second mate, Bernard Darko 22 while the survivors were named as Agatha Nyarko 46, Listowell Kusi.
At the time of the accident at about 5p.m. on Wednesday, the vehicle was on its firs mission to the region therefore used the wrong route to the town.
The truck, KIA Riano truck, with the registration number AS 9604 – 09 was said to be loaded with corn from Braiman in the Ashanti Region and was heading to Enchi.
The size of the vehicles was said to be bigger than width of the bridge causing it to topple into the river with high current.
However, the truck has been retrieved with the body of the driver trapped in the seatbelt but the whereabouts of the second mate is yet to be established.
The search party made up of Chinese Construction firm working on Asankragwa-Enchi roads.
According to the Tarkwa Divisional Commander, Mr Kwadwo Antwi Tabi, said the driver of the truck was new to the road and best thing to do was to use the new road to the town instead where he passed.
He said the old had small wooden bridge that links Old and New Yakasi, farming communities near Echi in very sharp curve.
He said the attempt by the driver to control the vehicle, it run into the river with the cargo and the people on board.
The two people who survived, Agatha and Listowell are currently receiving treatment at the Enchi Government Hospital .
The divisional commander said due to the heavy rain at that time of the night, the river was flooded with a heavy current, therefore the passengers and the cargo was carried along it.
Mr Tabi said he said at the moment, the search is still continuing for the remains of the mate.
POLICE MAN CAUGHT IN THE ACT
Story: Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Takoradi
Two police officers retired to blows after close of work, when the junior caught the senior in the process of sexually assaulting the junior officer’s wife amidst fierce resistance.
The junior officer after catching the senior officer whose name was only given as Inspector Fusseini, landed many slaps on his face and matched him out of his room naked for people in the flats to see.
The wife of the senior officer who is also said to be a police woman, attached to the RDF, became angry after hearing that the pandemonium was about the husband and was slapped because of a woman.
She was said to more angered by the fact that husband was slapped. She, therefore, went to flat of the junior officer and also slapped him severally and remarked “because of that you should slap my husband I have also slap you.”
The senior officer and others were said to fond of harassing young ladies both police ladies and civilians. In this particular case, the wife of the constable was said to have warned the senior officer that she was married and could not engage in such infidel act.
Narrating the story to this reporter, a source at the unit said the junior officer told his flat mates that he was traveling therefore inspector Fusseni thought the coast was clear to move in.
But unfortunately for Fusseni, the constable aborted his intended trip only to find him (Fusseni) comfortably on his bed without cloths.
The source said, prior to that, the wife of the junior officer had been reporting the conduct of Fusseni to his husband and that he should not leave her alone in the room.
True to the words of the wife of the junior officer, the inspector entered their room and undressed himself ready to descend on the women.
But for the timely return of the constable, the intended sexual assault was aborted.
The senior officer was matched out of the room naked with his manhood dangling between his legs, according to the source.
At the moment, there is some level of tension as some of the ladies want what happen to be the turning points in the lives of the officers who have been harassing them.
Many of them said, they are constantly harassed by some senior officers because they refuse to allow them to have sex with them.
That aside, junior officers are afraid to travel and leave their wives and young daughters behind because they are constantly harassed.
Two police officers retired to blows after close of work, when the junior caught the senior in the process of sexually assaulting the junior officer’s wife amidst fierce resistance.
The junior officer after catching the senior officer whose name was only given as Inspector Fusseini, landed many slaps on his face and matched him out of his room naked for people in the flats to see.
The wife of the senior officer who is also said to be a police woman, attached to the RDF, became angry after hearing that the pandemonium was about the husband and was slapped because of a woman.
She was said to more angered by the fact that husband was slapped. She, therefore, went to flat of the junior officer and also slapped him severally and remarked “because of that you should slap my husband I have also slap you.”
The senior officer and others were said to fond of harassing young ladies both police ladies and civilians. In this particular case, the wife of the constable was said to have warned the senior officer that she was married and could not engage in such infidel act.
Narrating the story to this reporter, a source at the unit said the junior officer told his flat mates that he was traveling therefore inspector Fusseni thought the coast was clear to move in.
But unfortunately for Fusseni, the constable aborted his intended trip only to find him (Fusseni) comfortably on his bed without cloths.
The source said, prior to that, the wife of the junior officer had been reporting the conduct of Fusseni to his husband and that he should not leave her alone in the room.
True to the words of the wife of the junior officer, the inspector entered their room and undressed himself ready to descend on the women.
But for the timely return of the constable, the intended sexual assault was aborted.
The senior officer was matched out of the room naked with his manhood dangling between his legs, according to the source.
At the moment, there is some level of tension as some of the ladies want what happen to be the turning points in the lives of the officers who have been harassing them.
Many of them said, they are constantly harassed by some senior officers because they refuse to allow them to have sex with them.
That aside, junior officers are afraid to travel and leave their wives and young daughters behind because they are constantly harassed.
MAN ARRESTED FOR JUJU
Story: Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Asasetre
A young, who was slapped with fine of GHc1,000 after he accused the wife of sleeping around with other men and went to powerful juju-man at Asasetre to the wife and her entire family has arrested by the police.
He was asked to bring one black Dog, a he Goat, drinks and amount of GHc4.50p for the ritual.
But on his way to the shrine, the Black Dog died on the way which sent a strong signal to the juju man that the plan should not be executed.
The juju man realizing how dangerous it could be to carryout the ritual informed the police for the arrest of the young man and his protection.
According to the Axim District Police Commander, DSP Lovelace Tetutor, the young man, Vincent Assan, a cleaner at a hospital outside Asasetre said the wife had been sleeping around with other men.
He said the claims by Assan had degenerated into several confrontation and fight between the two.
Therefore, the wife dragged him to Axim Magistrate Court , where he was fine GHc1,000 and to pay.
Assan then decided that, the wife and her family would not live to enjoy the money, therefore, he sought after the assistance of the Juju man called Okomfo Kwame Ampofo.
He said the assignment of the okomfo was to wipe the lives of his wife and all her relatives out of this world.
DSP Tetutor said the motive of the suspect according to (he the suspect) was to ensure that none of his family live to enjoy the money.
The suspect, therefore, decided that only out was to kill all of them.
The Okomfo Ampofo told the police that, the ritual Assan wanted him to perform was very dangerous and very effective.
He (the Okomfo) did not want to kill therefore informed the police who came on the day of the ritual and the suspect was arrested.
The suspect is currently in police custody, pending further investigation.
A young, who was slapped with fine of GHc1,000 after he accused the wife of sleeping around with other men and went to powerful juju-man at Asasetre to the wife and her entire family has arrested by the police.
He was asked to bring one black Dog, a he Goat, drinks and amount of GHc4.50p for the ritual.
But on his way to the shrine, the Black Dog died on the way which sent a strong signal to the juju man that the plan should not be executed.
The juju man realizing how dangerous it could be to carryout the ritual informed the police for the arrest of the young man and his protection.
According to the Axim District Police Commander, DSP Lovelace Tetutor, the young man, Vincent Assan, a cleaner at a hospital outside Asasetre said the wife had been sleeping around with other men.
He said the claims by Assan had degenerated into several confrontation and fight between the two.
Therefore, the wife dragged him to Axim Magistrate Court , where he was fine GHc1,000 and to pay.
Assan then decided that, the wife and her family would not live to enjoy the money, therefore, he sought after the assistance of the Juju man called Okomfo Kwame Ampofo.
He said the assignment of the okomfo was to wipe the lives of his wife and all her relatives out of this world.
DSP Tetutor said the motive of the suspect according to (he the suspect) was to ensure that none of his family live to enjoy the money.
The suspect, therefore, decided that only out was to kill all of them.
The Okomfo Ampofo told the police that, the ritual Assan wanted him to perform was very dangerous and very effective.
He (the Okomfo) did not want to kill therefore informed the police who came on the day of the ritual and the suspect was arrested.
The suspect is currently in police custody, pending further investigation.
BE FINANCIALLY DISCIPLINE
Story: Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Enchi
The lack of financial discipline on the part of some loan beneficiaries has been identified as the major setback for the development of Micro Finance and Small Loan Centers (MASLOC).
The Aowin Suaman District Chief Executive, Mr Osca Ofori Larbi, who made the call, said it was not possible for everyone with brilliant business ideas with the accompanying funds to execute it.
“But we should also be aware that those funds are not for free and we have to pay back to enable others to also benefit and to also keep the source in business,” he said.
Therefore MASLOC which was to provide some amount of funding for people in the communities to start business should not be seen as gift money.
The chief executive said those, who had benefited from the amount of GHc72,000 which was disbursed under the MASLOC few months ago should make sure the money is paid with the stipulated time.
The DCE said the strategy was to improve the local economy and to identify those who the poor were, where they live, and which aspects of activities needs financial support.
Mr Larbi said people who had benefit from the fund should make an effort to pay back for others to access.
He said it becomes extremely difficult for funds such as MASLOC to reach other people when previous beneficiaries refused to honour their loan obligations.
He used the opportunity to educate the people who would benefit from the fund to ensure that they did not go beyond repayment time.
Mr Larbi urged the beneficiaries to misapply the loan so ensure that in the end they would be able make some money for themselves and to pay back.
The lack of financial discipline on the part of some loan beneficiaries has been identified as the major setback for the development of Micro Finance and Small Loan Centers (MASLOC).
The Aowin Suaman District Chief Executive, Mr Osca Ofori Larbi, who made the call, said it was not possible for everyone with brilliant business ideas with the accompanying funds to execute it.
“But we should also be aware that those funds are not for free and we have to pay back to enable others to also benefit and to also keep the source in business,” he said.
Therefore MASLOC which was to provide some amount of funding for people in the communities to start business should not be seen as gift money.
The chief executive said those, who had benefited from the amount of GHc72,000 which was disbursed under the MASLOC few months ago should make sure the money is paid with the stipulated time.
The DCE said the strategy was to improve the local economy and to identify those who the poor were, where they live, and which aspects of activities needs financial support.
Mr Larbi said people who had benefit from the fund should make an effort to pay back for others to access.
He said it becomes extremely difficult for funds such as MASLOC to reach other people when previous beneficiaries refused to honour their loan obligations.
He used the opportunity to educate the people who would benefit from the fund to ensure that they did not go beyond repayment time.
Mr Larbi urged the beneficiaries to misapply the loan so ensure that in the end they would be able make some money for themselves and to pay back.
RESCUE OPERATIONS CALLED OFF (1B)
Story: Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Sekondi
Rescue operations at Dompoase galamsey disaster site has been called off due to the threatening signs of more slides.
The search follows a slide that claimed the lives some 18 illegal miners at Dompoase near Wassa Akropong in the Amenfi East District of the Western Region. Sadly, most of the victims happen to women.
The rescue team was made up of the police led by the Tarkwa Divisional Commander and some the illegal miners as well as the town folks.
The grounds have become very soft due to intermittent rains and the countless pits under the mountains, where the disaster took place threatening the lives of the rescuers.
The search became dangerous since there were no proper tools and the map of the pits to carryout effective search; the police resorted to the use of bamboo sticks and shovels and their hands in search of victims dead or alive.
According the Western Regional Crime Officer, Mr Victor Agbetornyo, they were forced to call off the search because the ground had become very dangerous and the top of the mountain had become very weak and could collapse on the team.
He said due to the first slide, “the tree hanging and on the top of the mountain are not firm on the ground, therefore, I will be risking the lives of my men and those helping them.”
The regional crime officer said, they were under resourced, saying “the kind of tools we are using are not the best, shovels, stick and other odd implement are not the best for a rescue operation of this nature.”
Mr Agbetornyo said they were not in a position to tell the direction of the pit and how long it was. “Therefore if we don’t take care, we would be risking our lives.”
“The ground and the tips of the mountain wobble when the wind is blowing sending clear signals that we are at risk,” he said.
“That aside the miners have dug pits all over covered with grass and if care is not taken and somebody falls in that could be the end of the person,” he said.
When the Daily Graphic toured the place with the Regional Police Commander and the Deputy Western Regional Minister, the district chief executive some of the holes were almost under the main street.
The cracked rocks in some of the abandoned pits are very sharp and could cut if care is not taken.
About their impression about what happened, some of the miners said they are not deterred at all and that they would go back saying “that is where we pick our daily bread.”
On the journey back to the Regional office of the Graphic Communications Group Limited in Takoradi, it was common to see people openly carrying out galamsey by the road or dangerously under mountains.
According to some of them they will follow the gold to wherever it surfaces while some of them are sponsored by “big people” in Accra others it is the matter of the being able to purchase mercury and other chemicals needed for the processing.
Others were also of the view that those who have remained underground would give them more lock in their search for gold.
Rescue operations at Dompoase galamsey disaster site has been called off due to the threatening signs of more slides.
The search follows a slide that claimed the lives some 18 illegal miners at Dompoase near Wassa Akropong in the Amenfi East District of the Western Region. Sadly, most of the victims happen to women.
The rescue team was made up of the police led by the Tarkwa Divisional Commander and some the illegal miners as well as the town folks.
The grounds have become very soft due to intermittent rains and the countless pits under the mountains, where the disaster took place threatening the lives of the rescuers.
The search became dangerous since there were no proper tools and the map of the pits to carryout effective search; the police resorted to the use of bamboo sticks and shovels and their hands in search of victims dead or alive.
According the Western Regional Crime Officer, Mr Victor Agbetornyo, they were forced to call off the search because the ground had become very dangerous and the top of the mountain had become very weak and could collapse on the team.
He said due to the first slide, “the tree hanging and on the top of the mountain are not firm on the ground, therefore, I will be risking the lives of my men and those helping them.”
The regional crime officer said, they were under resourced, saying “the kind of tools we are using are not the best, shovels, stick and other odd implement are not the best for a rescue operation of this nature.”
Mr Agbetornyo said they were not in a position to tell the direction of the pit and how long it was. “Therefore if we don’t take care, we would be risking our lives.”
“The ground and the tips of the mountain wobble when the wind is blowing sending clear signals that we are at risk,” he said.
“That aside the miners have dug pits all over covered with grass and if care is not taken and somebody falls in that could be the end of the person,” he said.
When the Daily Graphic toured the place with the Regional Police Commander and the Deputy Western Regional Minister, the district chief executive some of the holes were almost under the main street.
The cracked rocks in some of the abandoned pits are very sharp and could cut if care is not taken.
About their impression about what happened, some of the miners said they are not deterred at all and that they would go back saying “that is where we pick our daily bread.”
On the journey back to the Regional office of the Graphic Communications Group Limited in Takoradi, it was common to see people openly carrying out galamsey by the road or dangerously under mountains.
According to some of them they will follow the gold to wherever it surfaces while some of them are sponsored by “big people” in Accra others it is the matter of the being able to purchase mercury and other chemicals needed for the processing.
Others were also of the view that those who have remained underground would give them more lock in their search for gold.
IRS TO SIMPLIFY TAX PAYMENT
Story: Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Takoradi
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has declared its intention to make tax paying easy and attractive to the taxpayers across all sectors of the country’s economy.
This follows the introduction new software to enhance calculation, use of accurate tax rate, casting of total and help reduce delays in filing of returns.
At the launch of the software, “PAYE Software” for Small and Medium Enterprises in the Western Region, it was identified that hitherto the introduction of the software, the mode of filling returns was characterized by many anomalies.
According the experts and contributors at the lunch, many enterprises were still calculating taxes wrongly and using wrong tax rates which resulted into difficulty in completing the income tax return form.
Such problems did not only have effect on effective tax administration but also a drain in the mobilization by various tax agencies.
The new software per the presentation would eliminate many of these problems and SMES, other public and private institutions could now calculate tax in efficient and effective manner.
In his remarks before the launch, the Regional Manager of IRS, Mr James K. Nyantekyi said the software would help tax administrators to control the process and machinery in optimizing revenue and to increase the quality of service to taxpayers by reducing the time of processing the returns.
He said left with the taxpayers there should be no tax, therefore, in order to get the tax payer to be willing to pay, there was the need to enhance the mode of payment.
He said the software which is free and easy to installed, would enhance businesses way of filling their returns on time and to avoid penalties for late submission and subsequent payment of taxes.
Mr Nyantekyi said “as stated in the 2010 budget, the three revenue agencies are to be integrated into Ghana Revenue Authority, which means that the tax administration is going to be organised through information communication technology for faster and greater efficiency.”
He said the move means the movement from manual to automated responses, paper communications to electronic communication, cheque and cash to electronic fund transfer and assistance to self help education.”
The regional manager said revenue generated from various taxes was one of the principle means which any government finances its expenditure.
He said if the country had to execute its development project to make life more enjoyable to countrymen and women, there was the need for more enhanced tax system to rake in more.
“For more schools, hospitals, modern health care system, public transportations system and many others, it is imperative for any tax administration to improve on revenue mobilization machinery and to modernize our service delivery to take advantage of global technologies to enhance or operations,” he said.
Mr Patrick Danso of IRS took the participants through the benefits and mode of installation of the software on their machines in their premises.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has declared its intention to make tax paying easy and attractive to the taxpayers across all sectors of the country’s economy.
This follows the introduction new software to enhance calculation, use of accurate tax rate, casting of total and help reduce delays in filing of returns.
At the launch of the software, “PAYE Software” for Small and Medium Enterprises in the Western Region, it was identified that hitherto the introduction of the software, the mode of filling returns was characterized by many anomalies.
According the experts and contributors at the lunch, many enterprises were still calculating taxes wrongly and using wrong tax rates which resulted into difficulty in completing the income tax return form.
Such problems did not only have effect on effective tax administration but also a drain in the mobilization by various tax agencies.
The new software per the presentation would eliminate many of these problems and SMES, other public and private institutions could now calculate tax in efficient and effective manner.
In his remarks before the launch, the Regional Manager of IRS, Mr James K. Nyantekyi said the software would help tax administrators to control the process and machinery in optimizing revenue and to increase the quality of service to taxpayers by reducing the time of processing the returns.
He said left with the taxpayers there should be no tax, therefore, in order to get the tax payer to be willing to pay, there was the need to enhance the mode of payment.
He said the software which is free and easy to installed, would enhance businesses way of filling their returns on time and to avoid penalties for late submission and subsequent payment of taxes.
Mr Nyantekyi said “as stated in the 2010 budget, the three revenue agencies are to be integrated into Ghana Revenue Authority, which means that the tax administration is going to be organised through information communication technology for faster and greater efficiency.”
He said the move means the movement from manual to automated responses, paper communications to electronic communication, cheque and cash to electronic fund transfer and assistance to self help education.”
The regional manager said revenue generated from various taxes was one of the principle means which any government finances its expenditure.
He said if the country had to execute its development project to make life more enjoyable to countrymen and women, there was the need for more enhanced tax system to rake in more.
“For more schools, hospitals, modern health care system, public transportations system and many others, it is imperative for any tax administration to improve on revenue mobilization machinery and to modernize our service delivery to take advantage of global technologies to enhance or operations,” he said.
Mr Patrick Danso of IRS took the participants through the benefits and mode of installation of the software on their machines in their premises.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
FISHERMEN ON WEST COAST ADVISED TO USE REFLECTORS (BACK PAGE, NOV 24)
Local fishermen, especially those operating along the west coast of the country, have been asked to use reflectors and other safety devices to ensure maximum safety during this harmattan season.
This is because of the increase in the fleet of ships and other cargo vessels going to the Takoradi Port and the Home Port of the Western Naval Command.
The Western Regional offices of the Meteorological Services Department and the Fisheries Commission, which gave the advice, said the combination of high dry dusty winds and the moist on the sea could affect visibility.
They said the failure on the part of fishermen to use the proper reflectors would make it difficult for the crew of vessels to spot them from afar to avert any disaster.
The Western Regional Meteorological Director, Mr David Perry Osika, said the warning had become necessary because activities in the country’s maritime domain had changed and there was the need for the fishermen to adopt safety measures.
He explained that during the harmattan, dry dusty winds at sea turned to be very thick, thereby impeding visibility, and if the fishermen did not use good reflectors for easy identification by bigger vessels, there could be a problem.
For his part, the Western Regional Director of the Fisheries Commission, Mr Alexander Addo, said the office had received advice from other players in the domain about the increase in the number of fleet and the need to educate the fisher folk to adhere to safety regulations.
Some of the fishermen who spoke to the Daily Graphic at the Sekondi Fishing Harbour said the weather on the sea was not friendly and, therefore, they were trying as much as possible to use reflectors to enable bigger vessels to identify them.
This is because of the increase in the fleet of ships and other cargo vessels going to the Takoradi Port and the Home Port of the Western Naval Command.
The Western Regional offices of the Meteorological Services Department and the Fisheries Commission, which gave the advice, said the combination of high dry dusty winds and the moist on the sea could affect visibility.
They said the failure on the part of fishermen to use the proper reflectors would make it difficult for the crew of vessels to spot them from afar to avert any disaster.
The Western Regional Meteorological Director, Mr David Perry Osika, said the warning had become necessary because activities in the country’s maritime domain had changed and there was the need for the fishermen to adopt safety measures.
He explained that during the harmattan, dry dusty winds at sea turned to be very thick, thereby impeding visibility, and if the fishermen did not use good reflectors for easy identification by bigger vessels, there could be a problem.
For his part, the Western Regional Director of the Fisheries Commission, Mr Alexander Addo, said the office had received advice from other players in the domain about the increase in the number of fleet and the need to educate the fisher folk to adhere to safety regulations.
Some of the fishermen who spoke to the Daily Graphic at the Sekondi Fishing Harbour said the weather on the sea was not friendly and, therefore, they were trying as much as possible to use reflectors to enable bigger vessels to identify them.
Friday, November 20, 2009
DISGRUNTLED MAN CONSULTS JUJU MAN TO KILL WIFE (MIRROR, PAGE 3)
From Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Asasetre
A young man who did not take kindly to being fined GH¢1,000 after he had accused his wife of extra-marital affair and sought the assistance of a juju man at Asasetre to liquidate his wife and her entire family, has been arrested by the police.
The suspect, according to the police, was arrested on the day the ritual to wipe out the entire family was to be performed.
He was asked to bring one black dog, a he-goat, drinks and an amount of GH¢4.50 for the ritual.
Unfortunately for him, the black dog which was to be used in the performance of the ritual died on the way to the shrine, which sent a strong signal to the juju man that the plan should not be executed.
The juju man, realising how dangerous it could be to carry out the ritual, informed the police, who arrested the young man when he eventually arrived at the shrine.
According to the Axim District Police Commander, DSP Lovelace Tetutor, the suspect, Vincent Assan, a cleaner at a hospital outside Asasetre, said his wife had been sleeping around with other men.
He said Assan’s allegation generated several confrontations and fights between him and his wife.
Consequently, the woman dragged Assan to the Axim Magistrate Court, where he was fined GH¢1,000, which he paid.
Assan then decided that his wife and her family would not live to enjoy the money. He, therefore, allegedly sought the assistance of the juju man, Okomfo Kwame Ampofo.
According to the police, the assignment the suspect wanted the Okomfo to perform was to wipe out his wife and all her relatives from this world.
DSP Tetutor said the motive of the suspect was to ensure that none of them lived to enjoy the money.
Okomfo Ampofo told the police that the ritual Assan wanted him to perform was very dangerous and because he did not want to kill, he decided to inform the police, who went to the shrine on the day the ritual was to be performed and arrested the suspect.
Assan is currently in police custody, pending further investigations.
A young man who did not take kindly to being fined GH¢1,000 after he had accused his wife of extra-marital affair and sought the assistance of a juju man at Asasetre to liquidate his wife and her entire family, has been arrested by the police.
The suspect, according to the police, was arrested on the day the ritual to wipe out the entire family was to be performed.
He was asked to bring one black dog, a he-goat, drinks and an amount of GH¢4.50 for the ritual.
Unfortunately for him, the black dog which was to be used in the performance of the ritual died on the way to the shrine, which sent a strong signal to the juju man that the plan should not be executed.
The juju man, realising how dangerous it could be to carry out the ritual, informed the police, who arrested the young man when he eventually arrived at the shrine.
According to the Axim District Police Commander, DSP Lovelace Tetutor, the suspect, Vincent Assan, a cleaner at a hospital outside Asasetre, said his wife had been sleeping around with other men.
He said Assan’s allegation generated several confrontations and fights between him and his wife.
Consequently, the woman dragged Assan to the Axim Magistrate Court, where he was fined GH¢1,000, which he paid.
Assan then decided that his wife and her family would not live to enjoy the money. He, therefore, allegedly sought the assistance of the juju man, Okomfo Kwame Ampofo.
According to the police, the assignment the suspect wanted the Okomfo to perform was to wipe out his wife and all her relatives from this world.
DSP Tetutor said the motive of the suspect was to ensure that none of them lived to enjoy the money.
Okomfo Ampofo told the police that the ritual Assan wanted him to perform was very dangerous and because he did not want to kill, he decided to inform the police, who went to the shrine on the day the ritual was to be performed and arrested the suspect.
Assan is currently in police custody, pending further investigations.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAMME LOSES DIRECTION (PAGE 28, NOV 19)
The Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP) is said to have lost its direction as its services do not get to the intended deprived communities in the districts across the country.
Rather, schools in district and regional capitals are covered leaving the intended rural, deprived and poor communities uncovered.
The concept of the GSFP, according to experts at an orientation workshop in Takoradi, was to provide ready market for locally produced foodstuff in the deprived communities, but its concentration in the urban areas was not helping the cause.
Sadly according to the experts, foodstuff produced in the intended deprived local communities by poor farmers are also not patronised, leaving the local communities more disadvantaged and poorer than before.
The focus of the GSFP, they said, was to target deprived communities across the country and not those in urban and district capitals. But the programme has been overly concentrated in urban centers.
With the Western Region as an example, a chunk of the beneficiaries in the region are in the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolitan area and other district and municipal capitals, while the deprived communities have less or no coverage at all.
The Sekondi/Takoradi alone has 26 schools, with 10,958 pupils benefiting, while other districts with high rate of deprivation have little or no coverage.
According to the Assistant Director at the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, Mrs Irene Mercibah, based on the principle of the programme, the menu should be 80 per cent purely locally produce foodstuff but that was not the case.
She said another objective of the programme was to contribute to poverty reduction and to improve food security in deprived communities.
The assistant director said the bigger concept encompassed the ministry of food and agriculture, and other technical ministries and its foreign partners to ensure that GSFP provided the ready market for the locally produced foodstuffs and thereby help in the transformation of the local economy.
She explained that if the programme did not get to the deprived communities as expected, those who would be buying in the urban centers had to settle for high prices which would not help compared to the amount allocated to a child in the beneficiary schools.
Mrs Mercibah said some of the objectives were also to increase school enrolment, attendance, and retention and to reduce short term hunger and malnutrition among schoolchildren to boost domestic food production.
The Deputy Western Regional Minister, Ms Betty Bosumtwi-Sam said it was wrong for deprived areas to be left out or givien limited coverage.
She said while the metropolis had 10,958 pupils in 26 schools benefiting under it, Prestea/Huni-Valley had five schools with 1,431 pupils, Shama also had five with 4,849 pupils, Amenfi East with seven schools with 3,206 and Bia with 6 schools with 3,338 pupils.
Ms Bosumtwi-Sam said another problem worthy of note was the corrupt practices that characterised the programme, which nearly incurred the displeasure of the donor partners to withdraw their support if transparency and proper accounting systems were not applied.
That aside, she said sadly, some of the beneficiary schools had very poor structures to accommodate the activities of the caterers.
Other key sectors such as agriculture, education and health had been neglected thereby depriving the programme of its contribution.
Participants at the workshop were taken through financial management for the GSFP, the responsibilities of the district assemblies, sample of equipment procedures among others.
Rather, schools in district and regional capitals are covered leaving the intended rural, deprived and poor communities uncovered.
The concept of the GSFP, according to experts at an orientation workshop in Takoradi, was to provide ready market for locally produced foodstuff in the deprived communities, but its concentration in the urban areas was not helping the cause.
Sadly according to the experts, foodstuff produced in the intended deprived local communities by poor farmers are also not patronised, leaving the local communities more disadvantaged and poorer than before.
The focus of the GSFP, they said, was to target deprived communities across the country and not those in urban and district capitals. But the programme has been overly concentrated in urban centers.
With the Western Region as an example, a chunk of the beneficiaries in the region are in the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolitan area and other district and municipal capitals, while the deprived communities have less or no coverage at all.
The Sekondi/Takoradi alone has 26 schools, with 10,958 pupils benefiting, while other districts with high rate of deprivation have little or no coverage.
According to the Assistant Director at the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, Mrs Irene Mercibah, based on the principle of the programme, the menu should be 80 per cent purely locally produce foodstuff but that was not the case.
She said another objective of the programme was to contribute to poverty reduction and to improve food security in deprived communities.
The assistant director said the bigger concept encompassed the ministry of food and agriculture, and other technical ministries and its foreign partners to ensure that GSFP provided the ready market for the locally produced foodstuffs and thereby help in the transformation of the local economy.
She explained that if the programme did not get to the deprived communities as expected, those who would be buying in the urban centers had to settle for high prices which would not help compared to the amount allocated to a child in the beneficiary schools.
Mrs Mercibah said some of the objectives were also to increase school enrolment, attendance, and retention and to reduce short term hunger and malnutrition among schoolchildren to boost domestic food production.
The Deputy Western Regional Minister, Ms Betty Bosumtwi-Sam said it was wrong for deprived areas to be left out or givien limited coverage.
She said while the metropolis had 10,958 pupils in 26 schools benefiting under it, Prestea/Huni-Valley had five schools with 1,431 pupils, Shama also had five with 4,849 pupils, Amenfi East with seven schools with 3,206 and Bia with 6 schools with 3,338 pupils.
Ms Bosumtwi-Sam said another problem worthy of note was the corrupt practices that characterised the programme, which nearly incurred the displeasure of the donor partners to withdraw their support if transparency and proper accounting systems were not applied.
That aside, she said sadly, some of the beneficiary schools had very poor structures to accommodate the activities of the caterers.
Other key sectors such as agriculture, education and health had been neglected thereby depriving the programme of its contribution.
Participants at the workshop were taken through financial management for the GSFP, the responsibilities of the district assemblies, sample of equipment procedures among others.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
COCOA SMUGGLING ON THE RISE IN WR (NOV 17, BACK PAGE)
COCOA smuggling has assumed an alarming proportion in the Western Region, apparently because of the disparity between the producer prices paid in Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire.
To counter any arrest, the smugglers are also said to have armed themselves with sophisticated weapons for self-defence.
The smuggling, according to the communities, if not checked, could derail the country’s hope of achieving its target of cocoa production this year.
The situation is said to be prevalent in Enchi, throughout the Sefwi areas, and the border at New Town in the Jomoro District.
These areas are said to have countless illegal entry points and people are ready with canoes to transport the produce across to neighbouring Cote d’Ivoire at night.
The problem, according to some farmers in the communities, had arisen as a result of the numerous illegal entry points and limited security patrols.
A joint security force formed by the Aowin Suaman District at the weekend intercepted one of many trucks loaded with cocoa. The security force, comprising the police, immigration and customs officials, intercepted the KIA truck with registration number AS 7648 Y, loaded with more than 40 bags of cocoa, and heading towards Cote d’Ivoire, using one of the illegal entry points at Antokrom.
The driver and other smugglers onboard the truck ran across the border into Cote d’Ivoire, and the vehicle and cocoa have been moved to the customs office at Dadieso.
The leader of the task force, Mr A. Asiedu of the Ghana Immigration Service, told the Daily Graphic at the weekend that they would do everything possible to stop the activities of these smugglers.
According to the District Chief Executive of Aowin Suaman, Mr Oscar Ofori Larbi, the target set by the government this year was unlikely to be achieved if urgent steps were not taken to stop the smugglers.
He said smuggling in the district was a daily activity in which people deposited bags of cocoa in the bushes on the banks of the rivers and used canoes to ferry them across to Cote d’Ivoire.
“The formation of the task force under the District Security Council became necessary because of the threat the smuggling poses to the target the country set this year,” he added.
To counter any arrest, the smugglers are also said to have armed themselves with sophisticated weapons for self-defence.
The smuggling, according to the communities, if not checked, could derail the country’s hope of achieving its target of cocoa production this year.
The situation is said to be prevalent in Enchi, throughout the Sefwi areas, and the border at New Town in the Jomoro District.
These areas are said to have countless illegal entry points and people are ready with canoes to transport the produce across to neighbouring Cote d’Ivoire at night.
The problem, according to some farmers in the communities, had arisen as a result of the numerous illegal entry points and limited security patrols.
A joint security force formed by the Aowin Suaman District at the weekend intercepted one of many trucks loaded with cocoa. The security force, comprising the police, immigration and customs officials, intercepted the KIA truck with registration number AS 7648 Y, loaded with more than 40 bags of cocoa, and heading towards Cote d’Ivoire, using one of the illegal entry points at Antokrom.
The driver and other smugglers onboard the truck ran across the border into Cote d’Ivoire, and the vehicle and cocoa have been moved to the customs office at Dadieso.
The leader of the task force, Mr A. Asiedu of the Ghana Immigration Service, told the Daily Graphic at the weekend that they would do everything possible to stop the activities of these smugglers.
According to the District Chief Executive of Aowin Suaman, Mr Oscar Ofori Larbi, the target set by the government this year was unlikely to be achieved if urgent steps were not taken to stop the smugglers.
He said smuggling in the district was a daily activity in which people deposited bags of cocoa in the bushes on the banks of the rivers and used canoes to ferry them across to Cote d’Ivoire.
“The formation of the task force under the District Security Council became necessary because of the threat the smuggling poses to the target the country set this year,” he added.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
MILITARY HIGH COMMAND ASSURES NAVY (PAGE 22, NOV 14)
THE Military High Command has assured ratings of the Ghana Navy and other elements of the Ghana Armed Forces that the Command is taking urgent steps to solve their accommodation problem.
He said the Command was aware of their problem and a solution would be found to ensure that the officers and men and their families had decent places to lay their heads.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic in Sekondi during his maiden visit to the Western Naval Command, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Major General Augustine Blay said solving their accommodation problem was one of the Command’s top priorities.
He said the accommodation problem was not limited to the Ghana Navy, but their case was very serious and everything possible would be done to solve the situation.
The CDS said most of the problems had to do with tracts of land for accommodation projects, adding that they had had several reports about the problem facing them, especially the ratings.
He said very soon the Command would undertake some road projects in Accra, and if necessary, the Afram Plains and other parts of the country.
According to Major General Blay, what his outfit needed currently was earth-moving machines and equipment to work with, but the Military High Command was doing everything possible to ensure the acquisition of the equipment.
He said the Command was aware of their problem and a solution would be found to ensure that the officers and men and their families had decent places to lay their heads.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic in Sekondi during his maiden visit to the Western Naval Command, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Major General Augustine Blay said solving their accommodation problem was one of the Command’s top priorities.
He said the accommodation problem was not limited to the Ghana Navy, but their case was very serious and everything possible would be done to solve the situation.
The CDS said most of the problems had to do with tracts of land for accommodation projects, adding that they had had several reports about the problem facing them, especially the ratings.
He said very soon the Command would undertake some road projects in Accra, and if necessary, the Afram Plains and other parts of the country.
According to Major General Blay, what his outfit needed currently was earth-moving machines and equipment to work with, but the Military High Command was doing everything possible to ensure the acquisition of the equipment.
2 DIE IN MOTOR ACCIDENT (BACK PAGE, NOV 14)
AN Enchi bound KIA truck loaded with bags of maize plunged into the Disue River about 5 p.m. last Wednesday, killing the driver and one of his mates.
The names of the deceased were given as Awudu, 35, the driver, and Bernard Darko, 22, the mate.
Two other occupants, Agatha Nyarko and Listowell Kusi, however, survived.
The driver was said to be on first mission to the Western Region and was, therefore, not familiar with the road, compelling him to use the wrong route to the town.
The truck, with registration number AS 9604–09, was heading towards Enchi from Breman in the Ashanti Region.
The size of the vehicle was said to be bigger than the width of the bridge, causing it to topple into the river.
Meanwhile, the truck has been retrieved from the river, with the body of the driver trapped in the seat belt. That of the mate is yet to be recovered.
According to the Tarkwa Divisional Police Commander, Mr Kwadwo Antwi Tabi, the survivors were currently receiving treatment at the Enchi Government Hospital.
He said a search was ongoing to recover the remains of the mate.
The names of the deceased were given as Awudu, 35, the driver, and Bernard Darko, 22, the mate.
Two other occupants, Agatha Nyarko and Listowell Kusi, however, survived.
The driver was said to be on first mission to the Western Region and was, therefore, not familiar with the road, compelling him to use the wrong route to the town.
The truck, with registration number AS 9604–09, was heading towards Enchi from Breman in the Ashanti Region.
The size of the vehicle was said to be bigger than the width of the bridge, causing it to topple into the river.
Meanwhile, the truck has been retrieved from the river, with the body of the driver trapped in the seat belt. That of the mate is yet to be recovered.
According to the Tarkwa Divisional Police Commander, Mr Kwadwo Antwi Tabi, the survivors were currently receiving treatment at the Enchi Government Hospital.
He said a search was ongoing to recover the remains of the mate.
Friday, November 13, 2009
BE FINANCIALLY DISCIPLINED (PAGE 33, NOV 13)
LACK of financial discipline on the part of some loan beneficiaries has been identified as the major setback for the development of Micro Finance and Small Loan Centres (MASCO).
The Aowin Suaman District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Osca Ofori Larbi, has, therefore, called on beneficiaries of these facilities to execute their part of the agreement to enable others enjoy the facilities.
He made it clear that such facilities were not for free, and so debtors had to pay back to enable others benefit, thereby keeping the source in business.
Speaking in an interview, Mr Ofori Larbi said those who benefited under MASLOC’s GH¢72,000 financial package should endeavour to pay back within the stipulated period.
The DCE said the strategy was aimed at improving the local economy by identifying the poor, where they lived, and which aspects of activities really needed financial support.
He said it became extremely difficult for funds to be disbursed when previous beneficiaries had not honoured their loan obligations.
Mr Larbi urged the beneficiaries not to misapply the loan to ensure that at the end of the day, they would be able to make some money for themselves in order to pay back the facility.
The Aowin Suaman District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Osca Ofori Larbi, has, therefore, called on beneficiaries of these facilities to execute their part of the agreement to enable others enjoy the facilities.
He made it clear that such facilities were not for free, and so debtors had to pay back to enable others benefit, thereby keeping the source in business.
Speaking in an interview, Mr Ofori Larbi said those who benefited under MASLOC’s GH¢72,000 financial package should endeavour to pay back within the stipulated period.
The DCE said the strategy was aimed at improving the local economy by identifying the poor, where they lived, and which aspects of activities really needed financial support.
He said it became extremely difficult for funds to be disbursed when previous beneficiaries had not honoured their loan obligations.
Mr Larbi urged the beneficiaries not to misapply the loan to ensure that at the end of the day, they would be able to make some money for themselves in order to pay back the facility.
RESCUE WORK CALLED OFF AT GALAMSEY SITE (1B, NOV 13)
Rescue operations at the Dompoase galamsey disaster site have been called off as a result of threatening signs of more landslides.
The search followed a slide that claimed the lives of 18 illegal miners, many of them women, at Dompoase near Wassa Akropong in the Amenfi East District of the Western Region.
The rescue team was made up of the police, led by the Tarkwa Divisional Police Commander, some of the illegal miners and town folks.
The disaster site has become very soft from intermittent rainfall and that, coupled with the numerous pits under the mountains where the disaster took place, poses a threat to the lives of the rescuers.
The search has been very difficult and dangerous because there are no proper tools and map of the pits to undertake the operation.
In the face of these difficulties, the police resorted to the use of bamboo sticks, shovels and their hands to search for trapped victims buried in the pit, dead or alive.
According to the Western Regional Crime Officer, Mr Victor Agbetornyo, the rescue team was forced to call off the search because the ground had become very dangerous and the top of the mountain had become very weak, threatening to collapse on the rescuers.
He said the team was under-resourced, adding, “The kind of tools we are using are not the best — shovels, sticks and other odd implements are not the best for a rescue operation of this nature.”
Mr Agbetornyo said the team was not in a position to tell the direction of the pit and its depth, “therefore if we don’t take care we will be risking our lives”.
When the Daily Graphic toured the place with the Regional Police Commander, the Deputy Western Regional Minister and the district chief executive, it was observed that some of the pits extended to the main street.
Asked about their impression of what had happened, some of the miners said they were not deterred at all and expressed their readiness to go back to work because “this is where we earn our daily bread”.
On the journey from the disaster site to Takoradi, it was common to see people openly carrying out galamsey activities by the roadside or under the mountains.
According to some of them, they would follow the gold to wherever it was buried.
Others were of the view that the victims trapped underground would give them more luck to succeed in their search for gold.
The search followed a slide that claimed the lives of 18 illegal miners, many of them women, at Dompoase near Wassa Akropong in the Amenfi East District of the Western Region.
The rescue team was made up of the police, led by the Tarkwa Divisional Police Commander, some of the illegal miners and town folks.
The disaster site has become very soft from intermittent rainfall and that, coupled with the numerous pits under the mountains where the disaster took place, poses a threat to the lives of the rescuers.
The search has been very difficult and dangerous because there are no proper tools and map of the pits to undertake the operation.
In the face of these difficulties, the police resorted to the use of bamboo sticks, shovels and their hands to search for trapped victims buried in the pit, dead or alive.
According to the Western Regional Crime Officer, Mr Victor Agbetornyo, the rescue team was forced to call off the search because the ground had become very dangerous and the top of the mountain had become very weak, threatening to collapse on the rescuers.
He said the team was under-resourced, adding, “The kind of tools we are using are not the best — shovels, sticks and other odd implements are not the best for a rescue operation of this nature.”
Mr Agbetornyo said the team was not in a position to tell the direction of the pit and its depth, “therefore if we don’t take care we will be risking our lives”.
When the Daily Graphic toured the place with the Regional Police Commander, the Deputy Western Regional Minister and the district chief executive, it was observed that some of the pits extended to the main street.
Asked about their impression of what had happened, some of the miners said they were not deterred at all and expressed their readiness to go back to work because “this is where we earn our daily bread”.
On the journey from the disaster site to Takoradi, it was common to see people openly carrying out galamsey activities by the roadside or under the mountains.
According to some of them, they would follow the gold to wherever it was buried.
Others were of the view that the victims trapped underground would give them more luck to succeed in their search for gold.
RESCUE WORK CALLED OFF AT GALAMSEY SITE (1B, NOV 13)
Rescue operations at the Dompoase galamsey disaster site have been called off as a result of threatening signs of more landslides.
The search followed a slide that claimed the lives of 18 illegal miners, many of them women, at Dompoase near Wassa Akropong in the Amenfi East District of the Western Region.
The rescue team was made up of the police, led by the Tarkwa Divisional Police Commander, some of the illegal miners and town folks.
The disaster site has become very soft from intermittent rainfall and that, coupled with the numerous pits under the mountains where the disaster took place, poses a threat to the lives of the rescuers.
The search has been very difficult and dangerous because there are no proper tools and map of the pits to undertake the operation.
In the face of these difficulties, the police resorted to the use of bamboo sticks, shovels and their hands to search for trapped victims buried in the pit, dead or alive.
According to the Western Regional Crime Officer, Mr Victor Agbetornyo, the rescue team was forced to call off the search because the ground had become very dangerous and the top of the mountain had become very weak, threatening to collapse on the rescuers.
He said the team was under-resourced, adding, “The kind of tools we are using are not the best — shovels, sticks and other odd implements are not the best for a rescue operation of this nature.”
Mr Agbetornyo said the team was not in a position to tell the direction of the pit and its depth, “therefore if we don’t take care we will be risking our lives”.
When the Daily Graphic toured the place with the Regional Police Commander, the Deputy Western Regional Minister and the district chief executive, it was observed that some of the pits extended to the main street.
Asked about their impression of what had happened, some of the miners said they were not deterred at all and expressed their readiness to go back to work because “this is where we earn our daily bread”.
On the journey from the disaster site to Takoradi, it was common to see people openly carrying out galamsey activities by the roadside or under the mountains.
According to some of them, they would follow the gold to wherever it was buried.
Others were of the view that the victims trapped underground would give them more luck to succeed in their search for gold.
The search followed a slide that claimed the lives of 18 illegal miners, many of them women, at Dompoase near Wassa Akropong in the Amenfi East District of the Western Region.
The rescue team was made up of the police, led by the Tarkwa Divisional Police Commander, some of the illegal miners and town folks.
The disaster site has become very soft from intermittent rainfall and that, coupled with the numerous pits under the mountains where the disaster took place, poses a threat to the lives of the rescuers.
The search has been very difficult and dangerous because there are no proper tools and map of the pits to undertake the operation.
In the face of these difficulties, the police resorted to the use of bamboo sticks, shovels and their hands to search for trapped victims buried in the pit, dead or alive.
According to the Western Regional Crime Officer, Mr Victor Agbetornyo, the rescue team was forced to call off the search because the ground had become very dangerous and the top of the mountain had become very weak, threatening to collapse on the rescuers.
He said the team was under-resourced, adding, “The kind of tools we are using are not the best — shovels, sticks and other odd implements are not the best for a rescue operation of this nature.”
Mr Agbetornyo said the team was not in a position to tell the direction of the pit and its depth, “therefore if we don’t take care we will be risking our lives”.
When the Daily Graphic toured the place with the Regional Police Commander, the Deputy Western Regional Minister and the district chief executive, it was observed that some of the pits extended to the main street.
Asked about their impression of what had happened, some of the miners said they were not deterred at all and expressed their readiness to go back to work because “this is where we earn our daily bread”.
On the journey from the disaster site to Takoradi, it was common to see people openly carrying out galamsey activities by the roadside or under the mountains.
According to some of them, they would follow the gold to wherever it was buried.
Others were of the view that the victims trapped underground would give them more luck to succeed in their search for gold.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
GALAMSEY HORROR...14 Women among retrieved bodies (LEAD STORY, NOV 12)
Story: Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Dompoase
MASS grief has gripped Dompoase, near Wassa Akropong in the Western Region, as a rescue team, comprising the police and some galamsey operators, continues to dig deep into the mud for more bodies following one of the biggest mining tragedies to hit Ghana.
The wailing in the town has generally become a women’s affair because out of the 18 bodies so far retrieved, 14 have been identified as women who were part of a team of about 30 in the pit last Tuesday afternoon, when a landslide struck and buried them alive.
With no idea of the actual numbers involved, there are fears of more bodies being buried under the massive chunk of clay in that soggy part of the Amenfi East District of the Western Region.
According to one of the few survivors, Gloria Ndzabah, 27, before the accident, some of them had already come out from the pit before it caved in, trapping the others, together with the pit owner whose name she gave as Ato.
She said Ato had contracted six men and 24 women who entered the pit for the day’s galamsey business.
Ms Ndzabah said Ato had been behind her but he had not been able to get out before the disaster, adding that she was the last person to step out of the pit.
At the hospital where she looked traumatised, she explained that the men did the excavation while the women served as porters who carried the rocks out for processing.
“All of us would have escaped but for a giant tree that fell from the mountain during the landslide,” she said, almost in tears.
The search for more bodies and possible survivors has become even more arduous as those engaged in the operation have to do so with simple implements such as shovels, pans, bamboo sticks and even their bare hands, in some cases.
Interestingly, the identities of the bodies retrieved so far are yet to be established since, according to residents, most of the people engaged in illegal mining in the town are not indigenes.
However, the names of some of those trapped were given as Ato, Emusey and Eric, whose ages range between 18 and 27.
According to the Tarkwa Divisional Police Commander, Mr Kojo Antwi Tabi, the police were doing everything possible to ensure that those who might have been trapped were rescued.
He said the search was becoming extremely difficult, since the galamsey operators had dug many pits all over the area which posed a big threat to his men, as well as those helping in the operation.
MASS grief has gripped Dompoase, near Wassa Akropong in the Western Region, as a rescue team, comprising the police and some galamsey operators, continues to dig deep into the mud for more bodies following one of the biggest mining tragedies to hit Ghana.
The wailing in the town has generally become a women’s affair because out of the 18 bodies so far retrieved, 14 have been identified as women who were part of a team of about 30 in the pit last Tuesday afternoon, when a landslide struck and buried them alive.
With no idea of the actual numbers involved, there are fears of more bodies being buried under the massive chunk of clay in that soggy part of the Amenfi East District of the Western Region.
According to one of the few survivors, Gloria Ndzabah, 27, before the accident, some of them had already come out from the pit before it caved in, trapping the others, together with the pit owner whose name she gave as Ato.
She said Ato had contracted six men and 24 women who entered the pit for the day’s galamsey business.
Ms Ndzabah said Ato had been behind her but he had not been able to get out before the disaster, adding that she was the last person to step out of the pit.
At the hospital where she looked traumatised, she explained that the men did the excavation while the women served as porters who carried the rocks out for processing.
“All of us would have escaped but for a giant tree that fell from the mountain during the landslide,” she said, almost in tears.
The search for more bodies and possible survivors has become even more arduous as those engaged in the operation have to do so with simple implements such as shovels, pans, bamboo sticks and even their bare hands, in some cases.
Interestingly, the identities of the bodies retrieved so far are yet to be established since, according to residents, most of the people engaged in illegal mining in the town are not indigenes.
However, the names of some of those trapped were given as Ato, Emusey and Eric, whose ages range between 18 and 27.
According to the Tarkwa Divisional Police Commander, Mr Kojo Antwi Tabi, the police were doing everything possible to ensure that those who might have been trapped were rescued.
He said the search was becoming extremely difficult, since the galamsey operators had dug many pits all over the area which posed a big threat to his men, as well as those helping in the operation.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
12 GALAMSEY OPERATORS KILLED (PAGE 3, NOV 11)
TWELVE illegal miners (‘galamsey’ operators) comprising 11 females and a male, were yesterday killed in a pit in which they were trapped following a landslide at Dompoase, near Wassa Akropong in the Amenfi East District.
According to the Western Regional Crime Officer of the Ghana Police Service, Victor Agbetornyor, the number of miners in the pit when the landslide occurred was not known but the 12 bodies had been retrieved and deposited at the mortuary of the Tarkwa Government Hospital.
He confirmed that the miners were engaged in their illegal activities in the area when they got trapped and their bodies were retrieved when members of the community reported the incident to the police who went to the scene and helped to retrieve the bodies.
He said the search would continue to see if there were still some bodies left in the pit and appealed to residents to help the police identify the dead.
According to the Western Regional Crime Officer of the Ghana Police Service, Victor Agbetornyor, the number of miners in the pit when the landslide occurred was not known but the 12 bodies had been retrieved and deposited at the mortuary of the Tarkwa Government Hospital.
He confirmed that the miners were engaged in their illegal activities in the area when they got trapped and their bodies were retrieved when members of the community reported the incident to the police who went to the scene and helped to retrieve the bodies.
He said the search would continue to see if there were still some bodies left in the pit and appealed to residents to help the police identify the dead.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
WE ARE HUMBLED BY GOVERNMENT PACKAGE — SAMUEL INKOOM (GRAPHIC SPORTS, PAGE 16)
Samuel Inkoom, a key member of the victorious Ghana U-20 team, the Black Satellites, which won the last World Cup has commended the government and the people of Ghana, as well as the various corporate bodies, for their recognition for the team’s achievement.
“We are overwhelmed by the gesture of the President, the frenzied welcome accorded us by Ghanaians and the general euphoria that swept accross the entire Africa following our success, and these will forever remain fond in our memories.
“To be honest with you, I was humbled when I heard the news of the package from government, and I believe my colleagues are equally grateful”, he said.
Inkoom, who currently plays for FC Basel of Switzerland, expressed these feelings in an interview with the Graphic Sports from his base.
The player who is among six Satellites invited to the senior national team, the Black Stars by Coach Milovan Raejevac, said one of the team’s biggest dreams was to become the world champions to raise the football image of the the country and the continent.
“With this as our battle cry, we went out there to play our hearts out to defend the image of our country with God on our side but we did not know that the government and the people of Ghana will respond with this level of appreciation,” he said.
Inkoom, who is expected to arrive tomorrow ahead of the Black Stars World Cup qualifier against Mali at the Baba Yara Stadium on Sunday also expressed appreciation to President Laurent Gbagbo who announced during his visit to Ghana that his country would host the team in Abidjan in an appreciation for doing Africa proud.
“My colleagues, Dan Addo, Dominic Adiyah and the rest of the team were of the view that Egypt 2009 provided us the perfect opportunity to sell ourselves and to use football to market Ghana on the international community,” he said.
Inkoom said wining the African Championship, and the World Cup should call for a critical look at the development of the game of football and other sports in the country.
He, therefore, appealed to the government through the Ministry of Youth and Sports to resource second cycle schools to take interest in sports since that was the only way to promote the game at the youth level.
He, therefore, called for the development of football academies and support of corporate bodies to ensure that talents were developed not to only feed teams in Ghana, but to ensure that Ghana remains among the giants of the game in Africa.
“People like Azumah Nelson, Abedi Pele, Robert Mensah, Polo, Tony Yeboah and Tony Baffoe are great sportsmen who made Ghana proud in their hey day and we of the current generation must be ready to continue from where they left off”, he added.
He used the opportunity to assure Windy Professionals, his mother club, and his former school, Apam Senior High School, that he had not forgotten about them and that in not too distant future, he would give back to them what they contributed to make him what he is today.
“We are overwhelmed by the gesture of the President, the frenzied welcome accorded us by Ghanaians and the general euphoria that swept accross the entire Africa following our success, and these will forever remain fond in our memories.
“To be honest with you, I was humbled when I heard the news of the package from government, and I believe my colleagues are equally grateful”, he said.
Inkoom, who currently plays for FC Basel of Switzerland, expressed these feelings in an interview with the Graphic Sports from his base.
The player who is among six Satellites invited to the senior national team, the Black Stars by Coach Milovan Raejevac, said one of the team’s biggest dreams was to become the world champions to raise the football image of the the country and the continent.
“With this as our battle cry, we went out there to play our hearts out to defend the image of our country with God on our side but we did not know that the government and the people of Ghana will respond with this level of appreciation,” he said.
Inkoom, who is expected to arrive tomorrow ahead of the Black Stars World Cup qualifier against Mali at the Baba Yara Stadium on Sunday also expressed appreciation to President Laurent Gbagbo who announced during his visit to Ghana that his country would host the team in Abidjan in an appreciation for doing Africa proud.
“My colleagues, Dan Addo, Dominic Adiyah and the rest of the team were of the view that Egypt 2009 provided us the perfect opportunity to sell ourselves and to use football to market Ghana on the international community,” he said.
Inkoom said wining the African Championship, and the World Cup should call for a critical look at the development of the game of football and other sports in the country.
He, therefore, appealed to the government through the Ministry of Youth and Sports to resource second cycle schools to take interest in sports since that was the only way to promote the game at the youth level.
He, therefore, called for the development of football academies and support of corporate bodies to ensure that talents were developed not to only feed teams in Ghana, but to ensure that Ghana remains among the giants of the game in Africa.
“People like Azumah Nelson, Abedi Pele, Robert Mensah, Polo, Tony Yeboah and Tony Baffoe are great sportsmen who made Ghana proud in their hey day and we of the current generation must be ready to continue from where they left off”, he added.
He used the opportunity to assure Windy Professionals, his mother club, and his former school, Apam Senior High School, that he had not forgotten about them and that in not too distant future, he would give back to them what they contributed to make him what he is today.
Monday, November 9, 2009
KESSBEN SHOCK HASMAL (BACK PAGE, NOV 9)
Hasaacas yesterday paid the price of losing Richard Ocran at a crucial stage of their match yesterday which enabled visiting Kessben to snatch a 4-3 victory to maintain their hold at the top of the premiership ladder.
The homesters, who appeared to be cruising to victory, surrendered the battle to their opponents after referee Seidu Bomison showed the red card to Ocran on the 60th minute.
It was the visitors who drew first blood on the 32nd minute when striker Bismark Aidan opened the score and held on to it until the 16th minute of the second half when Hasaacas drew level through Prince Antwi who again got the homesters up with a goal on the 60th minute.
The visitors fought back and equalised five minutes later through Zugba Yusif.
From then on Hasaacas’ game went into some kind of crisis as they struggled with 10men, but managed to score the third goal through Prince Antwi before they caved in, courtesy two late goals by James Boadu and Bismak Aidan.
The homesters, who appeared to be cruising to victory, surrendered the battle to their opponents after referee Seidu Bomison showed the red card to Ocran on the 60th minute.
It was the visitors who drew first blood on the 32nd minute when striker Bismark Aidan opened the score and held on to it until the 16th minute of the second half when Hasaacas drew level through Prince Antwi who again got the homesters up with a goal on the 60th minute.
The visitors fought back and equalised five minutes later through Zugba Yusif.
From then on Hasaacas’ game went into some kind of crisis as they struggled with 10men, but managed to score the third goal through Prince Antwi before they caved in, courtesy two late goals by James Boadu and Bismak Aidan.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
GHANA NAVY CELEBRATES 50 YEARS (NOV 3, PAGE 30)
THE Ghana Navy has marked its 50th anniversary celebrations with a series of activities at the Western Naval Command in Sekondi .
The Naval Command held an open day and exhibition to interact with the public.
The Command organised a route march through the Sekondi/Takoradi metropolis and a sea trip for the public.
It also made donations to selected communities in the Western Region, as well as Keta in the Volta Region.
Some service providers in the maritime sector also made donations towards the celebration.
They were Zeal Environmental Technology, which donated GH¢500 and 10 litter-bins, Macro Logistics GH¢500, Seaweld Engineering, GH$3,000, Stella Logistics GH¢1,000 and Hull Byth GH¢1,000.
In a statement after the presentation, Mr Alfred Fafali Adagbedu, the Operations Manager of Seaweld-Ghana commended the Ghana Navy for defending the country’s territorial waters over the years and said 50 years in the life of an institution was worth celebrating.
He spoke about the significant role of the Navy in managing the country’s oil find, and said as partners in the maritime industry, they needed to support one another to enable the country to derive maximum benefit from the oil discovery.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral M. Quashie, thanked the donors for the support and urged others to contribute to the celebration.
He assured the nation they would continue to work relentlessly to protect the nation’s territorial interest in the light of the country’s oil discovery.
The Naval Command held an open day and exhibition to interact with the public.
The Command organised a route march through the Sekondi/Takoradi metropolis and a sea trip for the public.
It also made donations to selected communities in the Western Region, as well as Keta in the Volta Region.
Some service providers in the maritime sector also made donations towards the celebration.
They were Zeal Environmental Technology, which donated GH¢500 and 10 litter-bins, Macro Logistics GH¢500, Seaweld Engineering, GH$3,000, Stella Logistics GH¢1,000 and Hull Byth GH¢1,000.
In a statement after the presentation, Mr Alfred Fafali Adagbedu, the Operations Manager of Seaweld-Ghana commended the Ghana Navy for defending the country’s territorial waters over the years and said 50 years in the life of an institution was worth celebrating.
He spoke about the significant role of the Navy in managing the country’s oil find, and said as partners in the maritime industry, they needed to support one another to enable the country to derive maximum benefit from the oil discovery.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral M. Quashie, thanked the donors for the support and urged others to contribute to the celebration.
He assured the nation they would continue to work relentlessly to protect the nation’s territorial interest in the light of the country’s oil discovery.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
CHIEFS URGED TO PROMOTE DEVELOPMENT OF TRADITIONAL AREAS (PAGE 13, OCT 31)
Traditional rulers have been advised to unite and strive for the development of their communities in order to better the lot of the people.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Elembelle, Mr Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, who gave the advice, said development had become the hottest commodity that every citizen of this country was yearning for.
“MPs, traditional rulers, district chief executives and other agents of development have only one focus — the development and creation of better living conditions for their people and the only way out is unity and peaceful co-existence,” he said.
He said the government alone could not solve all the developmental problems of the country and that the real solution lay in the indomitable will of the people to succeed by working together in unity and peace.
After the tour of the 10 communities within the constituency, Mr Buah, who is also the Deputy Minister of Energy, said the aim of the tour was to explain government policies to the people, interact with the constituents and give assurances to the youth.
He said since the youth formed an integral part of the communities, they needed to be empowered to enable them to be self-dependent and help to champion the development of the communities.
He prevailed upon the people to participate in the forthcoming health fair, which would screen people for various health related problems and provide medical advice on their health status to enable to them live healthy lives.
Mr Buah presented about 1,000 bags of cement to the communities through the district assembly, to enable them to execute their own initiated projects,
The Elembelle District Chief Executive, Mr Daniel K. Eshun, thanked the MP for the visit and appealed to him to visit them frequently to keep abreast of their problems.
He pledged the assembly’s determination to improve the living conditions of the people of Elembelle.
The chiefs also pledged to lived in peace and unity to ensure the accelerated development of their communities.
They also urged the MP to visit them regularly to interact and discuss their problems, as well as educate them on government policies.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Elembelle, Mr Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, who gave the advice, said development had become the hottest commodity that every citizen of this country was yearning for.
“MPs, traditional rulers, district chief executives and other agents of development have only one focus — the development and creation of better living conditions for their people and the only way out is unity and peaceful co-existence,” he said.
He said the government alone could not solve all the developmental problems of the country and that the real solution lay in the indomitable will of the people to succeed by working together in unity and peace.
After the tour of the 10 communities within the constituency, Mr Buah, who is also the Deputy Minister of Energy, said the aim of the tour was to explain government policies to the people, interact with the constituents and give assurances to the youth.
He said since the youth formed an integral part of the communities, they needed to be empowered to enable them to be self-dependent and help to champion the development of the communities.
He prevailed upon the people to participate in the forthcoming health fair, which would screen people for various health related problems and provide medical advice on their health status to enable to them live healthy lives.
Mr Buah presented about 1,000 bags of cement to the communities through the district assembly, to enable them to execute their own initiated projects,
The Elembelle District Chief Executive, Mr Daniel K. Eshun, thanked the MP for the visit and appealed to him to visit them frequently to keep abreast of their problems.
He pledged the assembly’s determination to improve the living conditions of the people of Elembelle.
The chiefs also pledged to lived in peace and unity to ensure the accelerated development of their communities.
They also urged the MP to visit them regularly to interact and discuss their problems, as well as educate them on government policies.
GOVT TO BUILD RESIDENTIAL FACILITY FOR GHANA NAVY (BACK PAGE., OCT 31)
THE government has acquired a 300-acre land at Aboadze in the Shama District of the Western Region for the construction of a residential facility for the Ghana Navy.
This gesture is to ensure better living conditions for the officers and men to enable them to discharge their assigned roles effectively and efficiently.
The government will, within the constraints of the economy and other competing national development needs, ensure that the Navy is equipped within the requisite resources to effectively and efficiently perform its assigned roles.
The Vice-President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, announced this at a ceremonial parade to mark the 50th anniversary of the Ghana Navy at the Western Naval Command yesterday.
He also used the occasion to unveil a bust in memory of the Unknown Soldier.
He noted that the Navy had been performing essential roles with the limited resources at its disposal in terms of logistics and equipment.
“Over the years, the fleet of the Ghana Navy has been grappling with many problems as a result of lack of funds, manpower and inadequate logistical support,” he said..
He said there was the need for a credible military force capable of insulating the nation against external aggression by land, sea and air, while assisting in diverse ways to enhance security.
The provision of modern equipment and maintenance of ships, he said, was another area receiving attention from the government.
“Many of us do not often see the Navy at work and, therefore, we tend not to value the usefulness and positive contributions it makes towards national aspirations and development,” he said.
That, he explained, was due to the fact that the Navy performed its duties and operations on sea, out of sight of the general public.
Mr Mahama said the government was doing everything possible to ensure that the requisite platforms were acquired for the Navy from Korea and China.
The ceremony was attended by service commanders from the Ghana Air Force, the Ghana Police, the Ghana Army, as well as members of the general public.
Eight officers of the Ghana Navy, both serving and retired, were given various awards for the dedicated roles they played in the Navy.
This gesture is to ensure better living conditions for the officers and men to enable them to discharge their assigned roles effectively and efficiently.
The government will, within the constraints of the economy and other competing national development needs, ensure that the Navy is equipped within the requisite resources to effectively and efficiently perform its assigned roles.
The Vice-President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, announced this at a ceremonial parade to mark the 50th anniversary of the Ghana Navy at the Western Naval Command yesterday.
He also used the occasion to unveil a bust in memory of the Unknown Soldier.
He noted that the Navy had been performing essential roles with the limited resources at its disposal in terms of logistics and equipment.
“Over the years, the fleet of the Ghana Navy has been grappling with many problems as a result of lack of funds, manpower and inadequate logistical support,” he said..
He said there was the need for a credible military force capable of insulating the nation against external aggression by land, sea and air, while assisting in diverse ways to enhance security.
The provision of modern equipment and maintenance of ships, he said, was another area receiving attention from the government.
“Many of us do not often see the Navy at work and, therefore, we tend not to value the usefulness and positive contributions it makes towards national aspirations and development,” he said.
That, he explained, was due to the fact that the Navy performed its duties and operations on sea, out of sight of the general public.
Mr Mahama said the government was doing everything possible to ensure that the requisite platforms were acquired for the Navy from Korea and China.
The ceremony was attended by service commanders from the Ghana Air Force, the Ghana Police, the Ghana Army, as well as members of the general public.
Eight officers of the Ghana Navy, both serving and retired, were given various awards for the dedicated roles they played in the Navy.
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