Story: Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu
THE Twin-City of Sekondi/Takoradi in the Western Region has in less than two weeks received more than 800 tourists disembarking from a luxury cruise ship through the efforts of a private tour operator, Sun-Seekers.
Some of the tourists toured the metropolis while the rest were taken to the Central Region to visit the Elimina Castle and Kakum National Park
There were many of such visits in the past year and this is likely to increase this year. There is, therefore, the need to whet the appetite of tourists and increase hotel accommodation for them.
Last year, many other tourists visited the city through the same channel, but they did not stay there to experience night life in the twin-city because accommodation available was inadequate.
That aside, various potential tourist sites in the area had not been developed enough to attract them. The region is blessed with unlimited resources that could be harnessed, especially with the recent discovery of oil in the area.
There are forts at Sekondi and Shama; Monkey Hill in the heart of the capital and the foot bridge over the Whin River. Mining, rubber and cocoa cultivation, and beautiful villages are some of the potentials that are yet to be developed for tourism purposes. The Ghana Tourist Board and the Museums and Monuments Board are trying to attract tourists.
The forts and other historical monuments are not under the control of the Tourist Board but when there is a problem or repair work to be done on the buildings, the board is asked to see to it.
A visit to the forts at Shama and Sekondi revealed that the structures are in a very bad shape and no tourist had visited them for a very long time. At Sekondi, the fort is currently occupied by the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) which operates the place as a lighthouse.
At Shama the story is no different. However, Sekondi/Takoradi, Essikado, Essipon and the newly built stadium are places to visit.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
PHARMACIST ADVISES THE AGED (PAGE 29)
Story: Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Essipon
A Pharmacist at the Essikado Hospital in Sekondi/Takoradi metropolis, Mr Sampson K. Quaicoe, has called on the aged to desist from excessive use of antibiotics as they rather worsen their health problems.
He says such antibiotics are not really the solution to their ailment. “Their minds have been made up and they feel better when they take these drugs. However, they are ignorant of the fact that it is harmful to them”.
He was speaking to the Daily Graphic after a medical screening exercise for senior citizens at a banquet held for the aged at Essipon. It was organised by Master Care, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), in collaboration with the Chief of Essipon, Nana Kofi Abuna V.
Mr Quaicoe said one of the underlying factors was that the community did not have a clinic, and considering the cost of travelling to Essikado, Takoradi, Sekondi or other nearby towns, they felt going to the chemical shops was a better option.
“With that constraint, they rather prefer to turn to self-medication which has a very serious effect on them. Sadly, they are ignorant, since they do not know that at their age, they are qualified for free medical care under the National Health Insurance Scheme”, he said.
He suggested that because of the contribution of these senior citizens to national development, the various schemes and their managers should visit the various communities to register the aged and also educate them on the benefits.
To the aged, the pharmacist said: “You should know that when you abuse the said drugs, they would no longer be effective when the doctors prescribe them for you. For your own good, please seek the services of the medical doctors at the various health centres”.
He also took the opportunity to educate those present and urged them to be disciples by carrying the message to those who could not make it to the banquet.
“We need you; you are very important to us and your contributions in the past and present are much appreciated”.
The chief, Nana Kofi Abuna, commended the medical team for responding to their call.
She said the aged were agents of change, and full of wisdom and love for their community and the country as a whole.
“Through these interactions we will be able to tap their rich experiences that are not chronicled in any textbook for the present generation to learn from”.
She, therefore, appealed to them to take the medical team’s advice seriously to ensure that they would not further complicate their health problems.
A Pharmacist at the Essikado Hospital in Sekondi/Takoradi metropolis, Mr Sampson K. Quaicoe, has called on the aged to desist from excessive use of antibiotics as they rather worsen their health problems.
He says such antibiotics are not really the solution to their ailment. “Their minds have been made up and they feel better when they take these drugs. However, they are ignorant of the fact that it is harmful to them”.
He was speaking to the Daily Graphic after a medical screening exercise for senior citizens at a banquet held for the aged at Essipon. It was organised by Master Care, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), in collaboration with the Chief of Essipon, Nana Kofi Abuna V.
Mr Quaicoe said one of the underlying factors was that the community did not have a clinic, and considering the cost of travelling to Essikado, Takoradi, Sekondi or other nearby towns, they felt going to the chemical shops was a better option.
“With that constraint, they rather prefer to turn to self-medication which has a very serious effect on them. Sadly, they are ignorant, since they do not know that at their age, they are qualified for free medical care under the National Health Insurance Scheme”, he said.
He suggested that because of the contribution of these senior citizens to national development, the various schemes and their managers should visit the various communities to register the aged and also educate them on the benefits.
To the aged, the pharmacist said: “You should know that when you abuse the said drugs, they would no longer be effective when the doctors prescribe them for you. For your own good, please seek the services of the medical doctors at the various health centres”.
He also took the opportunity to educate those present and urged them to be disciples by carrying the message to those who could not make it to the banquet.
“We need you; you are very important to us and your contributions in the past and present are much appreciated”.
The chief, Nana Kofi Abuna, commended the medical team for responding to their call.
She said the aged were agents of change, and full of wisdom and love for their community and the country as a whole.
“Through these interactions we will be able to tap their rich experiences that are not chronicled in any textbook for the present generation to learn from”.
She, therefore, appealed to them to take the medical team’s advice seriously to ensure that they would not further complicate their health problems.
Monday, April 28, 2008
AMERICAN NGO DONATES TO HOSPITAL (PAGE 32)
Story & Pix: Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Dixcove
Direct Relief International, an American NGO based in Santa Barbara in California, through an American couple resident in Ghana, has donated medical equipment, drugs and other hospital items worth $200,000 to the Nana Hima Dekyi Government Hospital at Dixcove in the Ahanta West District in the Western Region.
The items included mattresses, beds, speculum, wound closure, scapel, 208 cartons of drugs made up of pain killers and antibiotics, baby blankets, head tractions, towels, catheter, autoclave, ambo bags, a suction machine, alcohol pre-pad, nasal congestants and face masks.
The couple, Mr and Mrs Peter Nadine, served as interns at the hospital two years ago and contacted the NGO to assist the hospital get some of its requirements.
Currently, they operate a restaurant at Busia, a community in the district.
Mr Nadine said they had benefited from the peace-loving community, adding that “what I am doing is to give back to the community I have come to love and appreciated due to the friendly and hospitable nature of the people”.
He said he had drawn up a proposal on how to source funds for the development of a good water system for the hospital at a cost of $50,000.
“I have come to realise that the rainfall in the region was good and that it could be harvested and treated for use by the hospital and the community,” he said.
The District Medical Director, Dr Osei Frimpong, who received the items, said some of them had been listed for procurement and thanked the donors for the timely intervention.
Direct Relief International, an American NGO based in Santa Barbara in California, through an American couple resident in Ghana, has donated medical equipment, drugs and other hospital items worth $200,000 to the Nana Hima Dekyi Government Hospital at Dixcove in the Ahanta West District in the Western Region.
The items included mattresses, beds, speculum, wound closure, scapel, 208 cartons of drugs made up of pain killers and antibiotics, baby blankets, head tractions, towels, catheter, autoclave, ambo bags, a suction machine, alcohol pre-pad, nasal congestants and face masks.
The couple, Mr and Mrs Peter Nadine, served as interns at the hospital two years ago and contacted the NGO to assist the hospital get some of its requirements.
Currently, they operate a restaurant at Busia, a community in the district.
Mr Nadine said they had benefited from the peace-loving community, adding that “what I am doing is to give back to the community I have come to love and appreciated due to the friendly and hospitable nature of the people”.
He said he had drawn up a proposal on how to source funds for the development of a good water system for the hospital at a cost of $50,000.
“I have come to realise that the rainfall in the region was good and that it could be harvested and treated for use by the hospital and the community,” he said.
The District Medical Director, Dr Osei Frimpong, who received the items, said some of them had been listed for procurement and thanked the donors for the timely intervention.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
‘Christians should lead exemplary lives’
April 16 (page 30)
Story: Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Takoradi
With the proliferation of religious groups in the country one would have expected that the country’s level of uprightness would remain unquestionable but the attitude of some members of churches in the twin-city of Sekondi/Takoradi is a different issue altogether.
A drive through the twin-city of Sekondi/Takoradi on Sundays tells a different story, as churchgoers walk carelessly in the middle of the road exchanging pleasantries. They also stand at unapproved places to board vehicles to their various churches.
One interesting thing about these behaviours is that, where people stand to stop vehicles are not far from the place designated as bus stops. For example, there is a bus stop just after a junction to Kweikuma township, but on Sundays, people would prefer to stand at the entrance to the office of the BNI to pick a vehicle.
Also at Adiembra junction towards Kweikuma, there is a bus stop just before one turns to the Adiembra township, but on Sundays those going to church would prefer to stand close to the Naval Officers Mess junction to pick vehicles to Takoradi or Sekondi.
The reason for establishing the bus stops, which cost thousands of the taxpayer’s money is defeated by no other people than those who claim to have good standing with the Lord of host.
From the Adiembra junction towards Kweikuma township, there is a bus stop. Other bus stops can be found on both sides of the street at Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital, the curve opposite the defunct WVLC, before and after the polytechnic traffic light and before the Pa Grant Roundabout, all on the Sekondi/Takoradi main road.
Interestingly, this attitude is not peculiar to worshippers found on the Sekondi-Takoradi highway for it cuts across the metropolis, thereby making the early hours of Sundays in the Sekondi/Takoradi metropolis a very unsafe place to drive.
Unauthorised and improper parking on Sundays is another problem caused by these worshippers. A case in point is the road by the Takoradi Central Police Station. Church members around the place park on both sides leaving a narrow stretch of the road for other road users.
One would have expected Christians to take the lead in abiding by the laws of the land and ensureing a trouble-free community.
It is important for these worshippers to abide by simple laws, rules and regulations in society so that “their light would shine before men in order that they would give glory to their father who is in Heaven” in the name of Jesus.
Story: Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Takoradi
With the proliferation of religious groups in the country one would have expected that the country’s level of uprightness would remain unquestionable but the attitude of some members of churches in the twin-city of Sekondi/Takoradi is a different issue altogether.
A drive through the twin-city of Sekondi/Takoradi on Sundays tells a different story, as churchgoers walk carelessly in the middle of the road exchanging pleasantries. They also stand at unapproved places to board vehicles to their various churches.
One interesting thing about these behaviours is that, where people stand to stop vehicles are not far from the place designated as bus stops. For example, there is a bus stop just after a junction to Kweikuma township, but on Sundays, people would prefer to stand at the entrance to the office of the BNI to pick a vehicle.
Also at Adiembra junction towards Kweikuma, there is a bus stop just before one turns to the Adiembra township, but on Sundays those going to church would prefer to stand close to the Naval Officers Mess junction to pick vehicles to Takoradi or Sekondi.
The reason for establishing the bus stops, which cost thousands of the taxpayer’s money is defeated by no other people than those who claim to have good standing with the Lord of host.
From the Adiembra junction towards Kweikuma township, there is a bus stop. Other bus stops can be found on both sides of the street at Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital, the curve opposite the defunct WVLC, before and after the polytechnic traffic light and before the Pa Grant Roundabout, all on the Sekondi/Takoradi main road.
Interestingly, this attitude is not peculiar to worshippers found on the Sekondi-Takoradi highway for it cuts across the metropolis, thereby making the early hours of Sundays in the Sekondi/Takoradi metropolis a very unsafe place to drive.
Unauthorised and improper parking on Sundays is another problem caused by these worshippers. A case in point is the road by the Takoradi Central Police Station. Church members around the place park on both sides leaving a narrow stretch of the road for other road users.
One would have expected Christians to take the lead in abiding by the laws of the land and ensureing a trouble-free community.
It is important for these worshippers to abide by simple laws, rules and regulations in society so that “their light would shine before men in order that they would give glory to their father who is in Heaven” in the name of Jesus.
Constituents commend Baidoe-Ansah
April 16,
Story: Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu,
Effia-Kwesimintsim
The Member of Parliament (MP) for the Effia Kwesimintsim Constituency in the Western Region, Mr Joe Baidoe-Ansah, has been commended by a section of his constituents for his contributions to the development of the area.
The MP, according to the constituents, has done enough to warrant his endorsement and expressed the hope that though the vetting had been put on hold, he would sail through.
Mr K. Freeman, a constituent told the Daily Graphic that some roads in the constituency that were not motorable had been put in good shape through the MP’s efforts.
He said a number of schools, a computer centre and a town hall to be used for social gatherings had also been provided for the constituency through the MP’s eforts.
Mr Freeman commended the MP for winning the trust of the presidency and ultimately serving in many capacities.
Another constituent, Mr Don A. Muniru Kweku, said it was rather sad that majority of the constituents would be affected by the decisions of the few executive members, who have the power to vote for an aspirant MP, and called on them to consider his achievements.
He said the problems that were bedevilling the constituency were not the issue of who would perform well, but the attitude of the people, especially the executive members, who were now divided into factions.
“We want all the processes and the dealings of the party at the constituency levels to be transparent and democratic; That is why even though there are sitting MPs in some of the constituencies, it was made possible for others to come and compete. But this does not warrant other aspirants and those who represent their interest to run their opponents down,” he said
Mr Muniru Kweku said that “we have a common focus, that is, to serve the people of Ghana and to preserve the good name of the party for generations unborn.
The constituency chairman said even though the role of MPs was to lobby for development, the incumbent had personally invested in the lives of the people and social infrastructure that the constituency hitherto lacked.
He used the opportunity to call on the people to be circumspect in their utterances.
He said that they should not forget that much as they had the liberty to campaign, they must not conduct themselves in a manner that would undermine the supreme interest of the party.
Story: Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu,
Effia-Kwesimintsim
The Member of Parliament (MP) for the Effia Kwesimintsim Constituency in the Western Region, Mr Joe Baidoe-Ansah, has been commended by a section of his constituents for his contributions to the development of the area.
The MP, according to the constituents, has done enough to warrant his endorsement and expressed the hope that though the vetting had been put on hold, he would sail through.
Mr K. Freeman, a constituent told the Daily Graphic that some roads in the constituency that were not motorable had been put in good shape through the MP’s efforts.
He said a number of schools, a computer centre and a town hall to be used for social gatherings had also been provided for the constituency through the MP’s eforts.
Mr Freeman commended the MP for winning the trust of the presidency and ultimately serving in many capacities.
Another constituent, Mr Don A. Muniru Kweku, said it was rather sad that majority of the constituents would be affected by the decisions of the few executive members, who have the power to vote for an aspirant MP, and called on them to consider his achievements.
He said the problems that were bedevilling the constituency were not the issue of who would perform well, but the attitude of the people, especially the executive members, who were now divided into factions.
“We want all the processes and the dealings of the party at the constituency levels to be transparent and democratic; That is why even though there are sitting MPs in some of the constituencies, it was made possible for others to come and compete. But this does not warrant other aspirants and those who represent their interest to run their opponents down,” he said
Mr Muniru Kweku said that “we have a common focus, that is, to serve the people of Ghana and to preserve the good name of the party for generations unborn.
The constituency chairman said even though the role of MPs was to lobby for development, the incumbent had personally invested in the lives of the people and social infrastructure that the constituency hitherto lacked.
He used the opportunity to call on the people to be circumspect in their utterances.
He said that they should not forget that much as they had the liberty to campaign, they must not conduct themselves in a manner that would undermine the supreme interest of the party.
TENSION MOUNTS ON SEA As Ghanaian fishermen prepare to fight Chinese vessels
April 12,
Story: Moses
Dotsey Aklorbortu, Takoradi
THERE is a raging conflict between some Ghanaian fishermen and their Chinese counterparts over the alleged destruction of fishing nets by Chinese fishing vessels.
Ghanaian fishermen who ply their trade in Half Assini, Dutch Komenda, Shama and Sekondi, all in the Western Region, say the Chinese destroy their nets with their huge fishing vessels when they meet on the sea.
They also allege that the vessels employ unorthodox methods, such as the use of high voltage mercury bulbs powered by generators, to attract and harvest fish.
What is worse, they say, the Chinese also do pair trawling, a practice by which two large vessels drag fishing nets between them for long distances to catch fish, something which they have not been licensed to do.
The fishermen told the Daily Graphic that the Ministry of Fisheries had failed to act, in spite of the numerous appeals they had made to it.
They said they had, therefore, armed themselves and prepared petrol bombs with which they would attack the Chinese if the latter provoked them on the sea.
A leading fisherman, Egya Kobina Fynn, said on one occasion he went to sea with 14 nets but came back with only three as a result of the activities of the Chinese.
"I went to sea with 14 long pieces of nets but I came back with only three. Meanwhile, I have three children to feed so how do I feed them? We have been patient enough; we will attack them," he said.
He added that when he drew the attention of the crew of the vessels to the destruction they were causing to his nets, they only laughed at him.
Egya Fynn said the fishermen had abided by a directive by the Ministry of Fisheries to them to display lighted lanterns in their canoes to warn bigger vessels of their presence but said that had not stopped the Chinese from their destructive activities.
Another fisherman, Opanyin Kweku Yedu, who hails from Ahobre in the Jomoro District, said he had gone to sea with 18 nets last Thursday but all were destroyed.
He said when he drew the attention of the Chinese crew to the destruction, they pulled out a knife and threatened to kill him, adding that he had to return empty handed.
When officials of the Ministry of Fisheries in Takoradi were contacted, they confirmed the story and added that efforts were being made to bring the perpetrators to book.
The Western Naval Command, for its part, said it was not aware of the situation.
According to experts, pair trawling is dangerous to marine life, since the nets sweep the sea bed and destroy the breeding grounds in the ocean.
Story: Moses
Dotsey Aklorbortu, Takoradi
THERE is a raging conflict between some Ghanaian fishermen and their Chinese counterparts over the alleged destruction of fishing nets by Chinese fishing vessels.
Ghanaian fishermen who ply their trade in Half Assini, Dutch Komenda, Shama and Sekondi, all in the Western Region, say the Chinese destroy their nets with their huge fishing vessels when they meet on the sea.
They also allege that the vessels employ unorthodox methods, such as the use of high voltage mercury bulbs powered by generators, to attract and harvest fish.
What is worse, they say, the Chinese also do pair trawling, a practice by which two large vessels drag fishing nets between them for long distances to catch fish, something which they have not been licensed to do.
The fishermen told the Daily Graphic that the Ministry of Fisheries had failed to act, in spite of the numerous appeals they had made to it.
They said they had, therefore, armed themselves and prepared petrol bombs with which they would attack the Chinese if the latter provoked them on the sea.
A leading fisherman, Egya Kobina Fynn, said on one occasion he went to sea with 14 nets but came back with only three as a result of the activities of the Chinese.
"I went to sea with 14 long pieces of nets but I came back with only three. Meanwhile, I have three children to feed so how do I feed them? We have been patient enough; we will attack them," he said.
He added that when he drew the attention of the crew of the vessels to the destruction they were causing to his nets, they only laughed at him.
Egya Fynn said the fishermen had abided by a directive by the Ministry of Fisheries to them to display lighted lanterns in their canoes to warn bigger vessels of their presence but said that had not stopped the Chinese from their destructive activities.
Another fisherman, Opanyin Kweku Yedu, who hails from Ahobre in the Jomoro District, said he had gone to sea with 18 nets last Thursday but all were destroyed.
He said when he drew the attention of the Chinese crew to the destruction, they pulled out a knife and threatened to kill him, adding that he had to return empty handed.
When officials of the Ministry of Fisheries in Takoradi were contacted, they confirmed the story and added that efforts were being made to bring the perpetrators to book.
The Western Naval Command, for its part, said it was not aware of the situation.
According to experts, pair trawling is dangerous to marine life, since the nets sweep the sea bed and destroy the breeding grounds in the ocean.
Malta Street Dance rocks Takoradi
April 12, 2008
Story: Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu
The Malta Guinness Street Dance Africa contest stormed the Akroma Plaza in the Twin-City of Sekondi-Takoradi last Saturday on its first stop to unearth dance talents for worldwide exposure.
The well-patronised event revealed how much people have longed for dance competitions which sadly vanished from our entertainment scene some years ago.
People started streaming into the auditorium of the newly built Akroma Plaza as early as 6.00pm hours before proceedings were scheduled to begin. Some of the people probably got there early so as not to miss any of the performance by Kwaw ‘Abodam’ Kese.
The competing groups, comprising four to six members each, came up with interesting names such as Magic Dancers, One Day Dancers, Bone Thugs, Vigone Dancers, Rotten Images, Extra Terrestrial, Bugi Bust, 2-Puff and Beautiful Mad Boyz.
Their fans abandoned their seats and stood throughout the contest as they applauded every stage of the proceedings and danced along with the contestants and guest artistes.
By the end of the first round, the judges had to take the hard decision to cut down the number of groups from nine to five with Vigone Dancers, ET, Magic Dancers, 2-Puff and One Day Dancer making it to the second round.
After another round, Vigone Dancers made up of five young men and a lady emerged as winners and took the prize of GH¢1,000 and a ticket to represent the zone at the national final scheduled in Accra in June.
They were followed by ET and 2-Puff, who received GH¢600 and GH¢300 respectively.
Kwaw Kese’s performance as guest artist carried its own thrills. Entering the hall dressed in military-style camouflage, the police had a hectic time controlling the crowd, many of whom at a stage rushed just to touch the artiste or capture him on their mobile phones as he danced to his rap.
At the end of it all when the fans got out of the auditorium, the words on their lips were that the introduction of the Malta Guinness Street Dance was long overdue.
Winners at the zonal levels across the country would converge on Accra and battle for the national title and a chance to compete at the Pan-African Championships in Lagos, Nigeria, and eventually on the world stage in the United Kingdom in August, this year.
Story: Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu
The Malta Guinness Street Dance Africa contest stormed the Akroma Plaza in the Twin-City of Sekondi-Takoradi last Saturday on its first stop to unearth dance talents for worldwide exposure.
The well-patronised event revealed how much people have longed for dance competitions which sadly vanished from our entertainment scene some years ago.
People started streaming into the auditorium of the newly built Akroma Plaza as early as 6.00pm hours before proceedings were scheduled to begin. Some of the people probably got there early so as not to miss any of the performance by Kwaw ‘Abodam’ Kese.
The competing groups, comprising four to six members each, came up with interesting names such as Magic Dancers, One Day Dancers, Bone Thugs, Vigone Dancers, Rotten Images, Extra Terrestrial, Bugi Bust, 2-Puff and Beautiful Mad Boyz.
Their fans abandoned their seats and stood throughout the contest as they applauded every stage of the proceedings and danced along with the contestants and guest artistes.
By the end of the first round, the judges had to take the hard decision to cut down the number of groups from nine to five with Vigone Dancers, ET, Magic Dancers, 2-Puff and One Day Dancer making it to the second round.
After another round, Vigone Dancers made up of five young men and a lady emerged as winners and took the prize of GH¢1,000 and a ticket to represent the zone at the national final scheduled in Accra in June.
They were followed by ET and 2-Puff, who received GH¢600 and GH¢300 respectively.
Kwaw Kese’s performance as guest artist carried its own thrills. Entering the hall dressed in military-style camouflage, the police had a hectic time controlling the crowd, many of whom at a stage rushed just to touch the artiste or capture him on their mobile phones as he danced to his rap.
At the end of it all when the fans got out of the auditorium, the words on their lips were that the introduction of the Malta Guinness Street Dance was long overdue.
Winners at the zonal levels across the country would converge on Accra and battle for the national title and a chance to compete at the Pan-African Championships in Lagos, Nigeria, and eventually on the world stage in the United Kingdom in August, this year.
Friday, April 25, 2008
FETISH PRIEST IMPREGNATES PATIENT...Names son after shrine (MIRROR, PAGE 3)
From Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu,
Wassa Afransie
An unsuspecting farmer at Wassa-Afransie, a farming community in the Wassa Amenfi East District of the Western Region, who sent his wife, with whom he has six children, to a shrine to be cured of an ailment will forever regret going to the shrine at all. He lost his wife to the fetish priest.
The priest was alleged to have constantly raped the woman in front of his gods. He impregnated her and named the child Atingah, after one of the fetishes he had brought from Akatsi.
That aside, he also subjected the woman to constant molestation over the upkeep of Atingah.
Ironically, when the family of the victim, Madam Yaa Annua, 35, brought pressure to bear on the priest, he rushed to the police to report that he was being threatened by the woman’s family.
Upon investigation, the tables turned and the case has been referred to the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit of the Ghana Police Service in Sekondi for further investigation.
Narrating her story to The Mirror, Yaa Annua said when her husband went to demand her release after the first instance of rape in front of the shrine, the priest defiantly told her husband that he was not ready to release her to him but if he insisted, he should go to the bush and catch 37 giant spiders to pacify the gods before she could be released to him.
According to Yaa Annua, she was taken to the priest in a very bad state and was later cured after continuous treatment for more than a year.
“I regained my strength and one morning the priest called me to the room where the gods were kept and gave me some concoction to swallow. I did that and in the evening he called me again. I went because I thought it was for the same medication,” she said with much regret.
She said when she got to the room, he told her that she had become so nice that he had developed interest in her. She said she told him that the man who brought her to him was her husband and they have six children the priest was aware of so she could not do that to her.
“Before I could finish my statement, he pounced on me, took off my clothes and forcibly had sex with me and warned me that there were implications if I should escape from his custody,” she added.
In tears, she said, “Forcibly having sex with me became a daily occurrence until I became pregnant. When I told my husband that the priest had impregnated me, he left and I don’t know where he is now. Presently, I have seven children to take care of, including Atingah.”
Asked if she did not call for help when the priest was raping her, she said the shrines were located quite a distance from where help could come from and that she reported to the other wives of the priest but they only consoled her.
She said the sad part of the situation was that after she delivered, the priest refused to cater for her and the child and insisted that the child’s name should remain Atingah.
“When I asked for help to take care of the child, he did not even listen but subjected me to serious beating,” she added.
Wassa Afransie
An unsuspecting farmer at Wassa-Afransie, a farming community in the Wassa Amenfi East District of the Western Region, who sent his wife, with whom he has six children, to a shrine to be cured of an ailment will forever regret going to the shrine at all. He lost his wife to the fetish priest.
The priest was alleged to have constantly raped the woman in front of his gods. He impregnated her and named the child Atingah, after one of the fetishes he had brought from Akatsi.
That aside, he also subjected the woman to constant molestation over the upkeep of Atingah.
Ironically, when the family of the victim, Madam Yaa Annua, 35, brought pressure to bear on the priest, he rushed to the police to report that he was being threatened by the woman’s family.
Upon investigation, the tables turned and the case has been referred to the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit of the Ghana Police Service in Sekondi for further investigation.
Narrating her story to The Mirror, Yaa Annua said when her husband went to demand her release after the first instance of rape in front of the shrine, the priest defiantly told her husband that he was not ready to release her to him but if he insisted, he should go to the bush and catch 37 giant spiders to pacify the gods before she could be released to him.
According to Yaa Annua, she was taken to the priest in a very bad state and was later cured after continuous treatment for more than a year.
“I regained my strength and one morning the priest called me to the room where the gods were kept and gave me some concoction to swallow. I did that and in the evening he called me again. I went because I thought it was for the same medication,” she said with much regret.
She said when she got to the room, he told her that she had become so nice that he had developed interest in her. She said she told him that the man who brought her to him was her husband and they have six children the priest was aware of so she could not do that to her.
“Before I could finish my statement, he pounced on me, took off my clothes and forcibly had sex with me and warned me that there were implications if I should escape from his custody,” she added.
In tears, she said, “Forcibly having sex with me became a daily occurrence until I became pregnant. When I told my husband that the priest had impregnated me, he left and I don’t know where he is now. Presently, I have seven children to take care of, including Atingah.”
Asked if she did not call for help when the priest was raping her, she said the shrines were located quite a distance from where help could come from and that she reported to the other wives of the priest but they only consoled her.
She said the sad part of the situation was that after she delivered, the priest refused to cater for her and the child and insisted that the child’s name should remain Atingah.
“When I asked for help to take care of the child, he did not even listen but subjected me to serious beating,” she added.
Monday, April 21, 2008
VISIT SCHOOLS TO INTERACT WITH CHILDREN — NANA ABUNA V (PAGE 28)
Story: Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Takoradi
THE Chief of Essipon, Nana Kofi Abuna V, has stressed the need for leaders and other members of society to pay frequent visits to schools to encourage students to study hard and to avoid waywardness.
She said even though it was the duty of parents to provide basic needs of their children and to make sure that they went to school, the upbringing of the child should be the responsibility of all.
Nana Abuna made the call when she distributed free Bibles to pupils of the Essipon Metropolitan Authority Primary School. He used the occasion to also encourage the children to take their studies seriously.
She said the distribution of free Bibles to the children was to encourage them and bestow the richness of God’s love in the hearts for them to embrace morality and uprightness as they journeyed through this life.
The chief said it was sad that parents were so busy with their economic activities that they were left with little time to address the needs of their children.
She told the children to study hard in order not to be overtaken unawares during examination periods. She told them that one of the best gifts they could receive from their parents was education.
“It is a gift that nobody can take away from you, knowledge is power and when once acquired is yours and yours forever.
Among you are presidents, members of parliament, industrialists and other prominent businessmen and women.’’
“Study hard to take up places in our country. You represent the human resource capital of the country and remember to read your Bible and pray and be good to all manner of people that might come your way,” she said.
Nana Abuna said one of the things missing currently was the need for people to visit schools in their localities to interact with the children and encourage them to aspire for higher laurels.
She said children who did not do well in school could be as a result of numerous factors that needed multifaceted approach to solve.
“That is why I will make the time to visit them, share the word of God with them and to make life interesting for them.” Asked if there were enough rooms to accommodate the children she replied in the affirmative.
Teachers at the school said a visit by some leaders and other prominent members of society were very important to encourage the children, since by the visit the children would be motivated to work hard academically.
THE Chief of Essipon, Nana Kofi Abuna V, has stressed the need for leaders and other members of society to pay frequent visits to schools to encourage students to study hard and to avoid waywardness.
She said even though it was the duty of parents to provide basic needs of their children and to make sure that they went to school, the upbringing of the child should be the responsibility of all.
Nana Abuna made the call when she distributed free Bibles to pupils of the Essipon Metropolitan Authority Primary School. He used the occasion to also encourage the children to take their studies seriously.
She said the distribution of free Bibles to the children was to encourage them and bestow the richness of God’s love in the hearts for them to embrace morality and uprightness as they journeyed through this life.
The chief said it was sad that parents were so busy with their economic activities that they were left with little time to address the needs of their children.
She told the children to study hard in order not to be overtaken unawares during examination periods. She told them that one of the best gifts they could receive from their parents was education.
“It is a gift that nobody can take away from you, knowledge is power and when once acquired is yours and yours forever.
Among you are presidents, members of parliament, industrialists and other prominent businessmen and women.’’
“Study hard to take up places in our country. You represent the human resource capital of the country and remember to read your Bible and pray and be good to all manner of people that might come your way,” she said.
Nana Abuna said one of the things missing currently was the need for people to visit schools in their localities to interact with the children and encourage them to aspire for higher laurels.
She said children who did not do well in school could be as a result of numerous factors that needed multifaceted approach to solve.
“That is why I will make the time to visit them, share the word of God with them and to make life interesting for them.” Asked if there were enough rooms to accommodate the children she replied in the affirmative.
Teachers at the school said a visit by some leaders and other prominent members of society were very important to encourage the children, since by the visit the children would be motivated to work hard academically.
VISIT SCHOOLS TO INTERACT WITH CHILDREN — NANA ABUNA V (PAGE 28)
Story: Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Takoradi
THE Chief of Essipon, Nana Kofi Abuna V, has stressed the need for leaders and other members of society to pay frequent visits to schools to encourage students to study hard and to avoid waywardness.
She said even though it was the duty of parents to provide basic needs of their children and to make sure that they went to school, the upbringing of the child should be the responsibility of all.
Nana Abuna made the call when she distributed free Bibles to pupils of the Essipon Metropolitan Authority Primary School. He used the occasion to also encourage the children to take their studies seriously.
She said the distribution of free Bibles to the children was to encourage them and bestow the richness of God’s love in the hearts for them to embrace morality and uprightness as they journeyed through this life.
The chief said it was sad that parents were so busy with their economic activities that they were left with little time to address the needs of their children.
She told the children to study hard in order not to be overtaken unawares during examination periods. She told them that one of the best gifts they could receive from their parents was education.
“It is a gift that nobody can take away from you, knowledge is power and when once acquired is yours and yours forever.
Among you are presidents, members of parliament, industrialists and other prominent businessmen and women.’’
“Study hard to take up places in our country. You represent the human resource capital of the country and remember to read your Bible and pray and be good to all manner of people that might come your way,” she said.
Nana Abuna said one of the things missing currently was the need for people to visit schools in their localities to interact with the children and encourage them to aspire for higher laurels.
She said children who did not do well in school could be as a result of numerous factors that needed multifaceted approach to solve.
“That is why I will make the time to visit them, share the word of God with them and to make life interesting for them.” Asked if there were enough rooms to accommodate the children she replied in the affirmative.
Teachers at the school said a visit by some leaders and other prominent members of society were very important to encourage the children, since by the visit the children would be motivated to work hard academically.
THE Chief of Essipon, Nana Kofi Abuna V, has stressed the need for leaders and other members of society to pay frequent visits to schools to encourage students to study hard and to avoid waywardness.
She said even though it was the duty of parents to provide basic needs of their children and to make sure that they went to school, the upbringing of the child should be the responsibility of all.
Nana Abuna made the call when she distributed free Bibles to pupils of the Essipon Metropolitan Authority Primary School. He used the occasion to also encourage the children to take their studies seriously.
She said the distribution of free Bibles to the children was to encourage them and bestow the richness of God’s love in the hearts for them to embrace morality and uprightness as they journeyed through this life.
The chief said it was sad that parents were so busy with their economic activities that they were left with little time to address the needs of their children.
She told the children to study hard in order not to be overtaken unawares during examination periods. She told them that one of the best gifts they could receive from their parents was education.
“It is a gift that nobody can take away from you, knowledge is power and when once acquired is yours and yours forever.
Among you are presidents, members of parliament, industrialists and other prominent businessmen and women.’’
“Study hard to take up places in our country. You represent the human resource capital of the country and remember to read your Bible and pray and be good to all manner of people that might come your way,” she said.
Nana Abuna said one of the things missing currently was the need for people to visit schools in their localities to interact with the children and encourage them to aspire for higher laurels.
She said children who did not do well in school could be as a result of numerous factors that needed multifaceted approach to solve.
“That is why I will make the time to visit them, share the word of God with them and to make life interesting for them.” Asked if there were enough rooms to accommodate the children she replied in the affirmative.
Teachers at the school said a visit by some leaders and other prominent members of society were very important to encourage the children, since by the visit the children would be motivated to work hard academically.
TRAFFIC LIGHT SITUATION IN TWIN-CITY BAD (PAGE 28)
Story: Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Takoradi
DYSFUNCTIONAL traffic lights in the Twin-City of Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolis is getting worse by the day.
On many occasions, several accidents have been recorded at the intersections with daily occurrences near the Takoradi Police Station, something that could have been avoided if the lights were working.
At a point, drivers who were confused about the lights had to endure the insults from others. According to officials of the Motor Traffic and Transports Unit (MTTU), the rules of driving are that even when the traffic lights are off drivers should stop and give way to traffic on the left.
They say the countless accidents happened as a result of the impatience of drivers. The lights near the National Investment Bank have not worked for more than three years.
On the Liberation Road, the traffic light towards the market circle and around the market from the Nkrumah and Paa Grant roundabouts are off.
Therefore, those coming from the opposite directions have to depend on those approaching from the opposite directions.
Now that the police have been withdrawn from the road, driving at the Takoradi Polytechnic light has perhaps reached its most dangerous point.
At the intersection leading to the STC transport yard, the light has turned upside down.
The poles holding the lights looked dirty and in bad shape.
On the way from Nkrumah Roundabout to the Second Infantry Battalion, there are three traffic lights, one near the Kwesimintsim Police Station near the taxi rank and just before the military base. Out of the three, only one functions intermittently.
These developments are creating a very serious problem on the roads and most people who suffer these inconveniences on the roads are the visitors who are not familiar with the situation in the city.
Available information indicates that the Department of Urban Roads has not paid the contractor working on the lights so the department could not hold them for the lack of maintenance of the lights at the various intersections.
The traffic lights aside, the road markings on various roads in the metropolis are either faint or completely faded.
At Zebra Crossings, one have to be very careful because the markings are not visible and the situation is worse at night. The MTTU of the Ghana Police Service are doing their best but the malfunctioning of the lights does not augur well for the metropolis.
It would do the road users in the metropolis a lot of good if the traffic lights were attended to and the roads are properly marked to avert any eventualities.
In any case, members of the Community Police under the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) have been deployed to some locations that are considered to be hot spots to help save the situation.
DYSFUNCTIONAL traffic lights in the Twin-City of Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolis is getting worse by the day.
On many occasions, several accidents have been recorded at the intersections with daily occurrences near the Takoradi Police Station, something that could have been avoided if the lights were working.
At a point, drivers who were confused about the lights had to endure the insults from others. According to officials of the Motor Traffic and Transports Unit (MTTU), the rules of driving are that even when the traffic lights are off drivers should stop and give way to traffic on the left.
They say the countless accidents happened as a result of the impatience of drivers. The lights near the National Investment Bank have not worked for more than three years.
On the Liberation Road, the traffic light towards the market circle and around the market from the Nkrumah and Paa Grant roundabouts are off.
Therefore, those coming from the opposite directions have to depend on those approaching from the opposite directions.
Now that the police have been withdrawn from the road, driving at the Takoradi Polytechnic light has perhaps reached its most dangerous point.
At the intersection leading to the STC transport yard, the light has turned upside down.
The poles holding the lights looked dirty and in bad shape.
On the way from Nkrumah Roundabout to the Second Infantry Battalion, there are three traffic lights, one near the Kwesimintsim Police Station near the taxi rank and just before the military base. Out of the three, only one functions intermittently.
These developments are creating a very serious problem on the roads and most people who suffer these inconveniences on the roads are the visitors who are not familiar with the situation in the city.
Available information indicates that the Department of Urban Roads has not paid the contractor working on the lights so the department could not hold them for the lack of maintenance of the lights at the various intersections.
The traffic lights aside, the road markings on various roads in the metropolis are either faint or completely faded.
At Zebra Crossings, one have to be very careful because the markings are not visible and the situation is worse at night. The MTTU of the Ghana Police Service are doing their best but the malfunctioning of the lights does not augur well for the metropolis.
It would do the road users in the metropolis a lot of good if the traffic lights were attended to and the roads are properly marked to avert any eventualities.
In any case, members of the Community Police under the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) have been deployed to some locations that are considered to be hot spots to help save the situation.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
MOTOR HEARSE NOT AMBULANCE (PAGE 29)
Story: Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Takoradi
The National Ambulance Service has called on providers of motor hearse services to desist from branding their vehicles as ambulances.
It said ambulance was supposed to be a life saver and not for carrying corpses.
The service, therefore, reminded residents in the twin-city of Sekondi/Takoradi that there was a vast distinction between ambulance service and motor hearse.
It also said it was wrong for motor hearses to be driven around town with the inscription “ambulance” when in actual fact such vehicles were used for carrying corpses.
In their familiarisation tour of the offices of the Western Regional office of the Daily Graphic, Mr Joseph Kwaku Odonkor of the ambulance service said proper ambulance vehicles were specially designed with trained staff to ensure that the condition of accident victims, for instance, was not worsened in an attempt to save them.
He said one of the best things that the public could do to accident victims was to call the emergency services made up of the police, fire service and the ambulance services.
“The Fire Service and the Ambulance Service move together to rescue disaster victims.
Today’s ambulance is well equipped and efficiently organised to serve as a mobile pre-hospital emergency department and a communication unit.”
Mr Odonkor said the service was established in 2004 as an agency of the Ministry of Health.
He said there were two different kinds of emergencies — the planned and the unplanned.
At present, he said, they were operating 24 hours free of charge to the public in the metropolis with emergency medical technicians to manage patient casualties and they could be reached on telephone numbers 193 and 031-23225.
He said after various visits to corporate institutions, they would be moving to schools and churches to educate them on the operations of the service.
When the Daily Graphic went to sample the views of members of the public it came to light that majority of the people were not aware of the differences between the ambulance service and motor hearse.
The National Ambulance Service has called on providers of motor hearse services to desist from branding their vehicles as ambulances.
It said ambulance was supposed to be a life saver and not for carrying corpses.
The service, therefore, reminded residents in the twin-city of Sekondi/Takoradi that there was a vast distinction between ambulance service and motor hearse.
It also said it was wrong for motor hearses to be driven around town with the inscription “ambulance” when in actual fact such vehicles were used for carrying corpses.
In their familiarisation tour of the offices of the Western Regional office of the Daily Graphic, Mr Joseph Kwaku Odonkor of the ambulance service said proper ambulance vehicles were specially designed with trained staff to ensure that the condition of accident victims, for instance, was not worsened in an attempt to save them.
He said one of the best things that the public could do to accident victims was to call the emergency services made up of the police, fire service and the ambulance services.
“The Fire Service and the Ambulance Service move together to rescue disaster victims.
Today’s ambulance is well equipped and efficiently organised to serve as a mobile pre-hospital emergency department and a communication unit.”
Mr Odonkor said the service was established in 2004 as an agency of the Ministry of Health.
He said there were two different kinds of emergencies — the planned and the unplanned.
At present, he said, they were operating 24 hours free of charge to the public in the metropolis with emergency medical technicians to manage patient casualties and they could be reached on telephone numbers 193 and 031-23225.
He said after various visits to corporate institutions, they would be moving to schools and churches to educate them on the operations of the service.
When the Daily Graphic went to sample the views of members of the public it came to light that majority of the people were not aware of the differences between the ambulance service and motor hearse.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
GRC management assures workers
Story: Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu
March 28
THE management of the Ghana Railway Company has assured workers of the company that none of them will be victimised when they resume work.
They have, therefore, been urged to resume work to ensure that the company does not lose contracts to its competitors in the haulage industry.
The Managing Director of the company, Mr Ruphus Quaye, gave the assurance in reaction to concerns raised by the leadership of the interim union that they were being threatened with a court action by the Labour Commission aimed at forcing the workers to resume work.
He said the sector minister had intervened to resolve all legal matters and indicated that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was ready to be signed by the management and the interim union.
Mr Quaye said the company’s locomotives had not been attended to for more than a month now and so there were works to be done on the rail lines.
Unfortunately, he said, the company’s competitors were also looking for long-term contracts with the GRC’s biggest clients, hence the need for the workers to resume work.
The Chairman of the Interim Committee of the union, Mr J. K. Dadzie, indicated that he had been served with a writ of summons by the National Labour Commission (NLC) to appear before court.
He said in spite of the fact that members of the interim committee had managed to convince the workers to resume work, “I have just been served with a letter to appear before court”.
Mr Dadzie said the action of the NLC would throw overboard all the efforts that the union had made to get the workers to resume work.
He blamed those who claimed to be involved in the resolution of the impasse between management and staff for not doing enough to avert the current situation.
According to him, efforts to resolve the industrial action had been frustrated by court actions.
Mr Dadzie said the workers were not happy with the fact that work had come to a standstill.
The railway workers have been on strike from February this year to press home their demand for better conditions of service, a 150-per cent salary increase and the immediate payment of their salary arrears.
March 28
THE management of the Ghana Railway Company has assured workers of the company that none of them will be victimised when they resume work.
They have, therefore, been urged to resume work to ensure that the company does not lose contracts to its competitors in the haulage industry.
The Managing Director of the company, Mr Ruphus Quaye, gave the assurance in reaction to concerns raised by the leadership of the interim union that they were being threatened with a court action by the Labour Commission aimed at forcing the workers to resume work.
He said the sector minister had intervened to resolve all legal matters and indicated that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was ready to be signed by the management and the interim union.
Mr Quaye said the company’s locomotives had not been attended to for more than a month now and so there were works to be done on the rail lines.
Unfortunately, he said, the company’s competitors were also looking for long-term contracts with the GRC’s biggest clients, hence the need for the workers to resume work.
The Chairman of the Interim Committee of the union, Mr J. K. Dadzie, indicated that he had been served with a writ of summons by the National Labour Commission (NLC) to appear before court.
He said in spite of the fact that members of the interim committee had managed to convince the workers to resume work, “I have just been served with a letter to appear before court”.
Mr Dadzie said the action of the NLC would throw overboard all the efforts that the union had made to get the workers to resume work.
He blamed those who claimed to be involved in the resolution of the impasse between management and staff for not doing enough to avert the current situation.
According to him, efforts to resolve the industrial action had been frustrated by court actions.
Mr Dadzie said the workers were not happy with the fact that work had come to a standstill.
The railway workers have been on strike from February this year to press home their demand for better conditions of service, a 150-per cent salary increase and the immediate payment of their salary arrears.
Poly students advised to take ICT seriously
Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Takoradi
March 25, 2008
THE President of the Leaders Consult, a student group at the Takoradi Polytechnic, Mr Nornyo Tetteh Amenyo, has called on the youth not to ignore Information Communication Technology (ICT) in their quest to attain high academic laurels.
He said ICT had become critical to everyday life.
“With ICT the cost of running businesses and adherence to time and the elimination of risk has improved tremendously,” he said.
The Leaders Consult is a student group on campus which organises corporate bodies, professionals, industry leaders and training institutions to educate them on what the requirements of the job market are.
Mr Amenyo said the objectives of the group were to equip students and enlighten them on the need to be abreast of ICT.
“If you have a degree or all the higher diplomas without knowing how to manipulate the computer to achieve the desired results fast and easy you will not meet the requirements and expectations of the job market.”
“Our focus is also to give the opportunity to various stakeholders in the ICT and other related sectors to share their thoughts and expectation through regular interactions,” he said.
Mr Amenyo said the Leaders Consult would also organise other programmes, which would focus on the personal development, academic excellence and entrepreneurial skills of members, adding, “Our academic and professional skills have to constantly move hand in hand with the corporate world to ensure that we keep each other informed.”
The programme was attended by students pursuing various programmes at the polytechnic and training institutions and was sponsored by IPMC and UBA.
March 25, 2008
THE President of the Leaders Consult, a student group at the Takoradi Polytechnic, Mr Nornyo Tetteh Amenyo, has called on the youth not to ignore Information Communication Technology (ICT) in their quest to attain high academic laurels.
He said ICT had become critical to everyday life.
“With ICT the cost of running businesses and adherence to time and the elimination of risk has improved tremendously,” he said.
The Leaders Consult is a student group on campus which organises corporate bodies, professionals, industry leaders and training institutions to educate them on what the requirements of the job market are.
Mr Amenyo said the objectives of the group were to equip students and enlighten them on the need to be abreast of ICT.
“If you have a degree or all the higher diplomas without knowing how to manipulate the computer to achieve the desired results fast and easy you will not meet the requirements and expectations of the job market.”
“Our focus is also to give the opportunity to various stakeholders in the ICT and other related sectors to share their thoughts and expectation through regular interactions,” he said.
Mr Amenyo said the Leaders Consult would also organise other programmes, which would focus on the personal development, academic excellence and entrepreneurial skills of members, adding, “Our academic and professional skills have to constantly move hand in hand with the corporate world to ensure that we keep each other informed.”
The programme was attended by students pursuing various programmes at the polytechnic and training institutions and was sponsored by IPMC and UBA.
Port health facility deteriorates
Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Takoradi
March 25, 2008
THE Takoradi Port Health Facility is in a state of disrepair. Since its establishment in 1928, the facility has not seen any rehabilitation.
The windows and doors to some of the rooms are broken while many of the windows have no louvres enabling dust and rainwater to flow freely into the rooms.
The wiring system which was done in 1928 is weak as such anyone who comes into contact with the walls receive an electric shock anytime it rains.
Workers at the facility have described conditions under which they operate as very bad and called for urgent action to improve upon the facilities. They said apart from the broken windows and doors, whenever there was a storm, they were compelled to move into the corners of the room to avoid being drenched because of the lack of windows.
“Sometimes by the time we get to the office the next day after a heavy rain, the rooms would be full of water which we have to mop before we can work.
“During the dry season the wind blows dust into the offices. By the time we close from work the offices are already dirty,” they lamented. The Ministry of Health is responsible for the centre and the centre itself does not undertake any extra duties to generate income internally. Most of its activities are vaccinations against yellow fever.
Another problem the centre faces is the movement of officers. Sometimes the ship docks at about 2a.m. and officers have to be moved there to help the crew go through the vaccination process very late in the night at the peril of ther lives.
The facility plays a very important role in the enforcement of international safety regulations by ensuring that the crew of any ship that docks at the sport are well vaccinated against communicable diseases such as yellow fever. It also ensures that those aboard did not bring into the country diseases that could easily be transmitted to Ghanaians.
March 25, 2008
THE Takoradi Port Health Facility is in a state of disrepair. Since its establishment in 1928, the facility has not seen any rehabilitation.
The windows and doors to some of the rooms are broken while many of the windows have no louvres enabling dust and rainwater to flow freely into the rooms.
The wiring system which was done in 1928 is weak as such anyone who comes into contact with the walls receive an electric shock anytime it rains.
Workers at the facility have described conditions under which they operate as very bad and called for urgent action to improve upon the facilities. They said apart from the broken windows and doors, whenever there was a storm, they were compelled to move into the corners of the room to avoid being drenched because of the lack of windows.
“Sometimes by the time we get to the office the next day after a heavy rain, the rooms would be full of water which we have to mop before we can work.
“During the dry season the wind blows dust into the offices. By the time we close from work the offices are already dirty,” they lamented. The Ministry of Health is responsible for the centre and the centre itself does not undertake any extra duties to generate income internally. Most of its activities are vaccinations against yellow fever.
Another problem the centre faces is the movement of officers. Sometimes the ship docks at about 2a.m. and officers have to be moved there to help the crew go through the vaccination process very late in the night at the peril of ther lives.
The facility plays a very important role in the enforcement of international safety regulations by ensuring that the crew of any ship that docks at the sport are well vaccinated against communicable diseases such as yellow fever. It also ensures that those aboard did not bring into the country diseases that could easily be transmitted to Ghanaians.
Takoradi NHIS faces serious problems
THE Takoradi Sub-Metro Mutual Health Insurance Scheme is facing serious accommodation problem. This has become an impediment to its smooth operations.
The scheme’s office is located on the second floor of a storey building on the Liberation Road. There is something fundamentally wrong with the stairs leading to the offices and in most instances clients especially the aged tumble on their way up to the office to transact business.
That aside, the registration office and the membership card issuing section of the scheme are not housed in the main building. They are located on the corridors that serve other offices in the same building.
When this reporter got to the offices of the scheme, the registration officer and clients who had gone there to register to join the scheme were transacting business in the scorching sun and sweating profusely.
When contacted, the Scheme Manager, Mr Kwamina Takyi Arthur, admitted the problems and said the biggest challenge facing them was the size of their office and its location.
He said the office was not spacious enough to contain all the staff and the teaming clients that besieged the premises daily.
He said there was the need to expand the office accommodation or acquire a more spacious apartment where they would have a place for their clients to sit comfortably while they waited for their turn to be registered.
“Even my registration officer and those who issue cards to the clients are outside the main building and when it rains work has to come to a standstill. During a sunny daythey have to keep shifting their desks from one spot to the other to enable them to attend to clients.
He said currently, the scheme paid more than GH¢7,000 as rent and the next bill was due in April and expressed the hope that the authorities would take into account the space constraints to enable them to secure a more spacious place for staff of the scheme.
“I feel so sad for the aged, who sometimes tumble just because they want to access our facilities or get registered for the first time. The problems are enormous and there is the need to find a solution to them. The only one we managed to take care of was the issue of people coming to the office to collect their Health Facility Attendance Cards, ” Mr Kwamina Takyi Arthur said.
He explained that when patients sent the cards to the designated health facilities in the metropolis, the card was not returned to the scheme immediately.
They were only returned when the service providers were submitting their claims when a member was required to present the card at his or her next visit.
“Therefore, we have designed a booklet for our clients for which 50Gp and which they can use throughout the year”, the scheme manager said.
Asked if there was any way they could ensure that the clients did not cheat the system when they paid the 50Gp he said “we have designed it in a way that one cannot duplicate it and even that the cost of doing the duplication alone is likely to be more than the cost of getting a new booklet”.
He said another reason why they had to design the new booklet instead of the card was that the policy holder did not need to return to the scheme’s office to pick another card, as the booklet would serve them throughout the year.
Mr Arthur said beneath the booklet, there was a strict instruction to the service providers to reject photocopies or forms that were not signed or stamped from the office of the scheme.
He took the opportunity to call on policy holders to read the instructions and directions contained in their membership cards to save them coming to the office when the answers to the questions they were looking for were right in the card.
He said the scheme members could attend more than 16 health facilities including the Takoradi Government Hospital, the Kwesimintsim, Effia-Nkwanta Regional, Essikado Polyclinic and the Seventh Day Adventist Negal Clinic Danvic and Helier Clinics etc. The health facilities were supported by more than 18 pharmacy and chemical shops in cases wh
The scheme’s office is located on the second floor of a storey building on the Liberation Road. There is something fundamentally wrong with the stairs leading to the offices and in most instances clients especially the aged tumble on their way up to the office to transact business.
That aside, the registration office and the membership card issuing section of the scheme are not housed in the main building. They are located on the corridors that serve other offices in the same building.
When this reporter got to the offices of the scheme, the registration officer and clients who had gone there to register to join the scheme were transacting business in the scorching sun and sweating profusely.
When contacted, the Scheme Manager, Mr Kwamina Takyi Arthur, admitted the problems and said the biggest challenge facing them was the size of their office and its location.
He said the office was not spacious enough to contain all the staff and the teaming clients that besieged the premises daily.
He said there was the need to expand the office accommodation or acquire a more spacious apartment where they would have a place for their clients to sit comfortably while they waited for their turn to be registered.
“Even my registration officer and those who issue cards to the clients are outside the main building and when it rains work has to come to a standstill. During a sunny daythey have to keep shifting their desks from one spot to the other to enable them to attend to clients.
He said currently, the scheme paid more than GH¢7,000 as rent and the next bill was due in April and expressed the hope that the authorities would take into account the space constraints to enable them to secure a more spacious place for staff of the scheme.
“I feel so sad for the aged, who sometimes tumble just because they want to access our facilities or get registered for the first time. The problems are enormous and there is the need to find a solution to them. The only one we managed to take care of was the issue of people coming to the office to collect their Health Facility Attendance Cards, ” Mr Kwamina Takyi Arthur said.
He explained that when patients sent the cards to the designated health facilities in the metropolis, the card was not returned to the scheme immediately.
They were only returned when the service providers were submitting their claims when a member was required to present the card at his or her next visit.
“Therefore, we have designed a booklet for our clients for which 50Gp and which they can use throughout the year”, the scheme manager said.
Asked if there was any way they could ensure that the clients did not cheat the system when they paid the 50Gp he said “we have designed it in a way that one cannot duplicate it and even that the cost of doing the duplication alone is likely to be more than the cost of getting a new booklet”.
He said another reason why they had to design the new booklet instead of the card was that the policy holder did not need to return to the scheme’s office to pick another card, as the booklet would serve them throughout the year.
Mr Arthur said beneath the booklet, there was a strict instruction to the service providers to reject photocopies or forms that were not signed or stamped from the office of the scheme.
He took the opportunity to call on policy holders to read the instructions and directions contained in their membership cards to save them coming to the office when the answers to the questions they were looking for were right in the card.
He said the scheme members could attend more than 16 health facilities including the Takoradi Government Hospital, the Kwesimintsim, Effia-Nkwanta Regional, Essikado Polyclinic and the Seventh Day Adventist Negal Clinic Danvic and Helier Clinics etc. The health facilities were supported by more than 18 pharmacy and chemical shops in cases wh
Women urged to participate in Local Governance
Story: Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Tarkoradi
March 25, 2008
The Co-ordinator of Local Governance for the German Development Services (DED), Ms Annette Turman, has urged queens and other female traditional leaders to collaborate with district assemblies and assembly members to ensure the rapid development of their respective communities.
She said queens must work together with assembly members to present a united front and develop relevant programmes and projects to meet the needs and aspirations of the people.
“Today women across the country are articulating the needs of their people and making strides to ensure that their interests and aspirations are met,” Ms Turman said.
She was speaking at a two-day workshop for queens drawn from all parts of the Western Region, which had the theme: “Increasing Women’s Participation in Local Governance”, and was sponsored by DED, DANIDA, the Western Regional Co-ordinating Council, as well as the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.
She said since they were an embodiment of motherhood, queens needed to play crucial roles in decision-making at the local level to promote the growth and development of women, children and vulnerable groups in the communities.
Ms Turman said there was no doubt that women, especially traditional rulers, had a vital role to play in the country’s socio-economic development, as well as the transformation of the rural economy.
She said since queens were leaders, there was the need to educate and empower them with the needed skills to enable them to reach out to their people and discharge their responsibilities effectively.
Ms Turman explained that for development to be made more relevant to the people, the grass roots should be included in the planning and implementation processes so that they could make the necessary input.
She urged the participants to educate their people on their socio-economic and political rights.
Ms Turman said working together with the local government administrators would not only ensure collective decision-making but also ensure probity and accountability.
The Western Regional Economic Planner, Mrs Olivia Opoku-Adoma, said apart from being partners in development, the queens also had a significant role to play in inculcating moral values among the youth and expressed the hope that the workshop would provide the participants with knowledge that would benefit their communities.
Mrs Opoku-Adoma, who is also the Regional Focal Person on HIV/AIDS, said the smooth implementation of projects greatly depended on how well at the grass roots appreciated such programmes.
March 25, 2008
The Co-ordinator of Local Governance for the German Development Services (DED), Ms Annette Turman, has urged queens and other female traditional leaders to collaborate with district assemblies and assembly members to ensure the rapid development of their respective communities.
She said queens must work together with assembly members to present a united front and develop relevant programmes and projects to meet the needs and aspirations of the people.
“Today women across the country are articulating the needs of their people and making strides to ensure that their interests and aspirations are met,” Ms Turman said.
She was speaking at a two-day workshop for queens drawn from all parts of the Western Region, which had the theme: “Increasing Women’s Participation in Local Governance”, and was sponsored by DED, DANIDA, the Western Regional Co-ordinating Council, as well as the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.
She said since they were an embodiment of motherhood, queens needed to play crucial roles in decision-making at the local level to promote the growth and development of women, children and vulnerable groups in the communities.
Ms Turman said there was no doubt that women, especially traditional rulers, had a vital role to play in the country’s socio-economic development, as well as the transformation of the rural economy.
She said since queens were leaders, there was the need to educate and empower them with the needed skills to enable them to reach out to their people and discharge their responsibilities effectively.
Ms Turman explained that for development to be made more relevant to the people, the grass roots should be included in the planning and implementation processes so that they could make the necessary input.
She urged the participants to educate their people on their socio-economic and political rights.
Ms Turman said working together with the local government administrators would not only ensure collective decision-making but also ensure probity and accountability.
The Western Regional Economic Planner, Mrs Olivia Opoku-Adoma, said apart from being partners in development, the queens also had a significant role to play in inculcating moral values among the youth and expressed the hope that the workshop would provide the participants with knowledge that would benefit their communities.
Mrs Opoku-Adoma, who is also the Regional Focal Person on HIV/AIDS, said the smooth implementation of projects greatly depended on how well at the grass roots appreciated such programmes.
4 Robbers jailed 200 years
Story: Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Sekondi
March 25, 2008
FOUR highway robbers who attacked passengers on board an Agona-Half Assini bus have been convicted and sentenced to a total of 200 years imprisonment with hard labour.
The Sekondi High Court, presided over by Mr Justice C. Hoeyenugah, found the four, two Ghanaians, a Nigerian and a Burkinabe, guilty of violent conduct and robbing the passengers in July last year and accordingly slapped them with the sentence.
While Mohammed Garriba, 30, the Nigerian, was jailed 60 years, the Burkinabe, Wadrago Adama, 22, was jailed 50 years, while the two Ghanaians, Ibrahim Issa, 22, and Salifu Musah, 23, were sentenced to 40 and 50 years, respectively.
Mr Justice Hoenyenugah said society disapproved of the violent conduct of the convicts, hence the punishment.
He expressed the hope that their punishment would also serve as a deterrent to other criminally-minded people in society.
Giving the facts of the case, the prosecutor, a Chief State Attorney, Ms Pat Linogo, said the four convicted persons, together with others who were currently at large, blocked a section of the Agona Nkwanta-Half Assini road with logs and succeeded in robbing the occupants of vehicles travelling on that route at that time of various sums of money and other valuables.
She said the police, upon receiving information on the activities of the robbers, mounted snap checks on the highway for them, adding that it was during a routine search on a passenger vehicle that Musah alighted from the vehicle and took to his heels. But he was captured after a hot pursuit.
Ms Linogo said Adama, Gariba and Issa were also arrested during the search on the vehicle and a black bag containing three wristwatches, clothes, mobile phones, one gold bracelet, one gold necklace and GH¢370.00 were found on them.
She said they were subsequently taken to the Kwesimintsim Police Station where one of the victims, who was then at the station to lodge a complaint, immediately identified Gariba as one of the people who had attacked them on the highway, while Salifu was also identified by two other victims.
The court later ordered the release of the stolen items to the victims.
Mr Justice Hoenyenugah described the investigator, Sgt Ben Baah of the CID Unit of the Western Regional Police Command, as a hardworking professional and suggested that he should be promoted for his efficient investigation of the case.
March 25, 2008
FOUR highway robbers who attacked passengers on board an Agona-Half Assini bus have been convicted and sentenced to a total of 200 years imprisonment with hard labour.
The Sekondi High Court, presided over by Mr Justice C. Hoeyenugah, found the four, two Ghanaians, a Nigerian and a Burkinabe, guilty of violent conduct and robbing the passengers in July last year and accordingly slapped them with the sentence.
While Mohammed Garriba, 30, the Nigerian, was jailed 60 years, the Burkinabe, Wadrago Adama, 22, was jailed 50 years, while the two Ghanaians, Ibrahim Issa, 22, and Salifu Musah, 23, were sentenced to 40 and 50 years, respectively.
Mr Justice Hoenyenugah said society disapproved of the violent conduct of the convicts, hence the punishment.
He expressed the hope that their punishment would also serve as a deterrent to other criminally-minded people in society.
Giving the facts of the case, the prosecutor, a Chief State Attorney, Ms Pat Linogo, said the four convicted persons, together with others who were currently at large, blocked a section of the Agona Nkwanta-Half Assini road with logs and succeeded in robbing the occupants of vehicles travelling on that route at that time of various sums of money and other valuables.
She said the police, upon receiving information on the activities of the robbers, mounted snap checks on the highway for them, adding that it was during a routine search on a passenger vehicle that Musah alighted from the vehicle and took to his heels. But he was captured after a hot pursuit.
Ms Linogo said Adama, Gariba and Issa were also arrested during the search on the vehicle and a black bag containing three wristwatches, clothes, mobile phones, one gold bracelet, one gold necklace and GH¢370.00 were found on them.
She said they were subsequently taken to the Kwesimintsim Police Station where one of the victims, who was then at the station to lodge a complaint, immediately identified Gariba as one of the people who had attacked them on the highway, while Salifu was also identified by two other victims.
The court later ordered the release of the stolen items to the victims.
Mr Justice Hoenyenugah described the investigator, Sgt Ben Baah of the CID Unit of the Western Regional Police Command, as a hardworking professional and suggested that he should be promoted for his efficient investigation of the case.
Western Naval Command patrols Cape Three Points
Story: Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Takoradi
Tuesday March 25, 2008
THE Western Naval Command has begun patrolling the shores of Cape Three Points where crude oil has been discovered in commercial quantities.
The patrol covers about 65 nautical miles off Cape Three Points in the Ahanta West District of the Western Region where the oil rig is located.
The patrol has become necessary following the invasion of the area by fishermen who use explosives and cast nets around the rig to trap fish at night, a practice which has resulted in the nets entangling the rig, delaying exploration activities and the subsequent increase in the daily cost of exploration.
The Daily Graphic gathered that the minimum daily cost of operations of the rig is $900,000 but the activities of the fishermen have escalated the cost to about $1.6 million a day.
Among the decisions taken by the Naval Command and stakeholders is to position naval officers on the rig, as well as patrol the area regularly.
The district assemblies along the coast where those fishermen come from are also to form advocacy groups, with the help of Kosmos Energy and the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), to educate the people.
The Flag Officer Commanding the Western Naval Command, Commodore Frank Daley, said the Navy would take pictures of the fishing canoes and boats which flouted the directives not to fish close to the rigs, adding that offenders would be arrested and handed over to the police for prosecution.
Commodore Daley said it was the responsibility of the Ghana Navy, being the police on the sea, to ensure law and order on the sea.
“The law is that if you see a ship on special operations, you must pass by it,” he stated.
An official of Kosmos Energy gave an instance of a danger that nearly rocked the drilling last Wednesday. He said on that day, a number of fishermen tied their canoes to the rig which nearly caused it to shift from its original position.
The Corporate Affairs Manager of Kosmos Energy, Mr George Sarpong, said the activities of the fishermen in the proximity of the rig were also slowing down its operations.
He said Kosmos was much concerned with the safety of the fishermen, its workers on the rig and the rig itself.
The Base Manager of Kosmos Energy, Mr Michael Dickson, explained that everybody who went within 500 metres of the drilling rig was in a danger zone.
He said the rig had drilled about 2,000 metres below the sea level and that any accident caused by the activities of the fishermen would cause a threat to the lives of 130 workers who were on board the rig.
The Engineering Manager of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), Mr Francis B. Ackah, said another drilling rig costing $600 million was expected to arrive at Cape Three Points soon.
He stressed the need to educate the fishermen on the importance of the oil drilling rig and the dangers their activities posed to both the workers and themselves for them to appreciate the enormity of the situation.
The Western Regional Minister, Mr A.E. Amoah, stressed the need for major stakeholders to be proactive and save the situation before any accidents occurred.
The Western Regional Chairman of the National Canoe Fishermen Association, Nana Conduah, said fishing activities in the area were a disgrace to the fisher folks.
He urged the security agencies and other authorities to apply the laws to serve as a deterrent to others.
Tuesday March 25, 2008
THE Western Naval Command has begun patrolling the shores of Cape Three Points where crude oil has been discovered in commercial quantities.
The patrol covers about 65 nautical miles off Cape Three Points in the Ahanta West District of the Western Region where the oil rig is located.
The patrol has become necessary following the invasion of the area by fishermen who use explosives and cast nets around the rig to trap fish at night, a practice which has resulted in the nets entangling the rig, delaying exploration activities and the subsequent increase in the daily cost of exploration.
The Daily Graphic gathered that the minimum daily cost of operations of the rig is $900,000 but the activities of the fishermen have escalated the cost to about $1.6 million a day.
Among the decisions taken by the Naval Command and stakeholders is to position naval officers on the rig, as well as patrol the area regularly.
The district assemblies along the coast where those fishermen come from are also to form advocacy groups, with the help of Kosmos Energy and the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), to educate the people.
The Flag Officer Commanding the Western Naval Command, Commodore Frank Daley, said the Navy would take pictures of the fishing canoes and boats which flouted the directives not to fish close to the rigs, adding that offenders would be arrested and handed over to the police for prosecution.
Commodore Daley said it was the responsibility of the Ghana Navy, being the police on the sea, to ensure law and order on the sea.
“The law is that if you see a ship on special operations, you must pass by it,” he stated.
An official of Kosmos Energy gave an instance of a danger that nearly rocked the drilling last Wednesday. He said on that day, a number of fishermen tied their canoes to the rig which nearly caused it to shift from its original position.
The Corporate Affairs Manager of Kosmos Energy, Mr George Sarpong, said the activities of the fishermen in the proximity of the rig were also slowing down its operations.
He said Kosmos was much concerned with the safety of the fishermen, its workers on the rig and the rig itself.
The Base Manager of Kosmos Energy, Mr Michael Dickson, explained that everybody who went within 500 metres of the drilling rig was in a danger zone.
He said the rig had drilled about 2,000 metres below the sea level and that any accident caused by the activities of the fishermen would cause a threat to the lives of 130 workers who were on board the rig.
The Engineering Manager of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), Mr Francis B. Ackah, said another drilling rig costing $600 million was expected to arrive at Cape Three Points soon.
He stressed the need to educate the fishermen on the importance of the oil drilling rig and the dangers their activities posed to both the workers and themselves for them to appreciate the enormity of the situation.
The Western Regional Minister, Mr A.E. Amoah, stressed the need for major stakeholders to be proactive and save the situation before any accidents occurred.
The Western Regional Chairman of the National Canoe Fishermen Association, Nana Conduah, said fishing activities in the area were a disgrace to the fisher folks.
He urged the security agencies and other authorities to apply the laws to serve as a deterrent to others.
Friday, April 18, 2008
MINISTRY MEETS FISHERMEN OVER CONFLICT IN W/R (PAGE 55)
(PUBLISHED ON APRIL 17)
Story: Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Takoradi
THE Western Regional Office of the Ministry of Fisheries has started an arbitration between aggrieved canoe fishermen and some Chinese fishermen who allegedly operate off the coast of the region, to avert imminent clashes between them.
This follows threats issued by the local fishermen to attack their Chinese counterparts for allegedly causing damage to their nets with their trawlers.
The fishermen, mostly from Half Assini, Dutch Komenda, Shama and Sekondi, alleged that apart from pair trawling, a process in which two trawlers drag nets between them to catch fish, the Chinese vessels employed unorthodox methods, such as the use of high voltage mercury bulbs, to attract and harvest fish, while at the same time threatening and intimidating the local fishermen on the sea.
At the Regional Office of the Ministry of Fisheries in Takoradi last Tuesday, local fishermen who had identified the said vessels belonging to the Chinese fishermen were called in, together with the operators of the trawlers, during which the parties involved agreed to resort to arbitration to resolve the issue.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic after the meeting, the Western Regional Director of Fisheries, Mr Alex Addo, said there were laws regarding what pertained in the marine world.
He said although his outfit was dedicated to resolving issues of such magnitude, the fishermen sometimes failed to give the right time and date on which such incidents took place, making it difficult for sanctions to be applied to the alleged perpetrators.
Mr Addo said the ministry was doing everything possible to engage the Navy to help intensify surveillance on the sea.
Story: Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Takoradi
THE Western Regional Office of the Ministry of Fisheries has started an arbitration between aggrieved canoe fishermen and some Chinese fishermen who allegedly operate off the coast of the region, to avert imminent clashes between them.
This follows threats issued by the local fishermen to attack their Chinese counterparts for allegedly causing damage to their nets with their trawlers.
The fishermen, mostly from Half Assini, Dutch Komenda, Shama and Sekondi, alleged that apart from pair trawling, a process in which two trawlers drag nets between them to catch fish, the Chinese vessels employed unorthodox methods, such as the use of high voltage mercury bulbs, to attract and harvest fish, while at the same time threatening and intimidating the local fishermen on the sea.
At the Regional Office of the Ministry of Fisheries in Takoradi last Tuesday, local fishermen who had identified the said vessels belonging to the Chinese fishermen were called in, together with the operators of the trawlers, during which the parties involved agreed to resort to arbitration to resolve the issue.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic after the meeting, the Western Regional Director of Fisheries, Mr Alex Addo, said there were laws regarding what pertained in the marine world.
He said although his outfit was dedicated to resolving issues of such magnitude, the fishermen sometimes failed to give the right time and date on which such incidents took place, making it difficult for sanctions to be applied to the alleged perpetrators.
Mr Addo said the ministry was doing everything possible to engage the Navy to help intensify surveillance on the sea.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
FARMER ARRESTED FOR SLASHING SUSPECT (PAGE 44)
Story: Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu,Kwesimintsim
THE Kwesimintsim police have placed a 27-year-old farmer in custody for inflicting machete wounds on a 39-year-old man who had gone to the bush to collect mushrooms.
Robert Ansah, the suspect, was said to have accused his victim, Kwesi Ayah, of stealing game from his trap.
Ayah, who suffered deep machete wounds on both hands, neck, chest and forehead, was rushed to the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital unconscious.
With blood stains on him, Ansah was said to have reported to the Kwesimintsim police that he had “butchered” a game thief.
The District Police Commander, Mr M. R. Sam, told the Daily Graphic that Ansah claimed that the purported thief engaged him in a “cutlass” fight after Ayah resisted arrest.
He said the police were surprised that Ansah did not sustain any injury from the fight and, therefore, decided to interrogate him further.
On his hospital bed, Ayah denied stealing any game.
He said he was returning home after collecting mushrooms when Ansah accused him of stealing his game.
Ayah said before he could let his sack down for a search, Ansah pulled a machete to slash his hands, head and neck.
He alleged that Ansah went to a nearby bush, brought a grasscutter for him (Ayah) to carry it to the town as a thief.
He said when he refused, Ansah started slashing him again and threatened to kill and bury him in the bush.
“I collected the game and on the way to the town I became unconscious and fell, I only became conscious to realise that I am in hospital.”
THE Kwesimintsim police have placed a 27-year-old farmer in custody for inflicting machete wounds on a 39-year-old man who had gone to the bush to collect mushrooms.
Robert Ansah, the suspect, was said to have accused his victim, Kwesi Ayah, of stealing game from his trap.
Ayah, who suffered deep machete wounds on both hands, neck, chest and forehead, was rushed to the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital unconscious.
With blood stains on him, Ansah was said to have reported to the Kwesimintsim police that he had “butchered” a game thief.
The District Police Commander, Mr M. R. Sam, told the Daily Graphic that Ansah claimed that the purported thief engaged him in a “cutlass” fight after Ayah resisted arrest.
He said the police were surprised that Ansah did not sustain any injury from the fight and, therefore, decided to interrogate him further.
On his hospital bed, Ayah denied stealing any game.
He said he was returning home after collecting mushrooms when Ansah accused him of stealing his game.
Ayah said before he could let his sack down for a search, Ansah pulled a machete to slash his hands, head and neck.
He alleged that Ansah went to a nearby bush, brought a grasscutter for him (Ayah) to carry it to the town as a thief.
He said when he refused, Ansah started slashing him again and threatened to kill and bury him in the bush.
“I collected the game and on the way to the town I became unconscious and fell, I only became conscious to realise that I am in hospital.”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)