How our king was murdered - Two gates tell their story
Prempeh students apologise to President Kufuor
Accra (Greater Accra) 03 March 2002 - As the NDC gears up for its National Delegates Congress- April 26, 2002, indications are that the two blocs which emerged within the party and forced the leadership o cancel the original Congress, are showing up strongly this time too.
Last week, Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu, leading the Rawlings factions, announced his intention to contest for the chairmanship of the party. On Tuesday morning, Dr Obed Asamoah, leader of the other faction, also confirmed his decision to run for the chairmanship.
In a telephone conversation with ‘The Evening News’, Dr Asamoah, who is also the chairman of the re-organisation committee of the party, however declined to give reasons for his decision. He told ‘The Evening News’ that he would soon hold a press conference to officially present himself as a candidate for the chairmanship position.
On his part, Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu said the NDC needs someone who will facilitate and deepen internal democracy and he is offering himself to lead the party. A statement issued by him recently, said the NDC was born out of struggle against oppression, lack of accountability, inequality, under-development, hunger, deprivation and want.
According to the statement he wants Ghana to become a place worth living in and for her to regain her position in the comity of nations. The statement expressed regret that despite the numerous contributions made by the NDC, the impression has been created that the NDC did nothing as a party and as government.
It said the process, the national psyche and national morale have been so lowered that many people think that Ghana is not a country worth dying for. Just before the original congress was postponed last year ‘The Evening News’ published names submitted by the Rawlings faction, and it is strongly believed that the list would not be altered.
Names that were listed include, Alhaji Huudu Yahaya as vice-chairman, Mr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, General Secretary, E.T. Mensah, National Organiser and Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings as treasurer. – The Evening News.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 03 April 2002 - A former President of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS), Mr Iddrisu Haruna has announced his candidature for the position of National Youth Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). Mr Haruna, who is also the spokesperson of the NDC Youth Forum, will vie for the position at the national youth delegates’ congress of the party slated for April 6.
The former NUGS President was born on September 8, 1970, at
Tamale, the Northern Regional capital. He had his secondary education at the
Tamale Secondary School where he sat for his Ordinary Level of the General
Certificate of Education examination and proceeded to the Navrongo Secondary
School where he did his Advanced Level course.
Mr Haruna, then entered the University of Ghana in 1993 and came out in 1997
with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology. Between 1998 and 2000, the NDC
Youth Forum spokesperson pursued a Master of Philosophy degree course in
Sociology and within the same period completed the part two programme at the
Ghana School of Law.
He was an award winner of the Christmond Fellowship for Academic Excellence at
the University of Ghana. Mr Haruna’s vast working experience dates back to 1992
when he taught as a national service person at the Karaga Primary School in the
Northern Region. He also served as the Programme Officer of the Ghana Committee
on Human and People’s Rights; Chairman, Human Rights and Good Governance
Commission of the All Africa Students Union, and as a tutor at the Tamale
Secondary School.
He worked with the National Democratic Institute (NDI) as an Election Observer
and was a committee member of the University of Ghana, Estate Management
Committee. The former NUGS President is at the moment a Teaching Assistant at
the Sociology Department, University of Ghana, Legon.
Mr Haruna has authored a number of publications, including, “ Towards a
Sustainable System of Financing Tertiary Education,” an assessment of the
student loan scheme in Ghana,” and “ Managing Industrial Conflicts”. - Daily
Graphic
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The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has pledged to cooperate with the government to get to the bottom of the Yendi crisis. “We will offer this cooperation readily, willingly and effectively but it must begin with the setting up of an independent, open and transparent judicial inquiry” a party statement signed by co-chairman, Alhaji Issifu Ali said in Accra on Tuesday.
It said while the NDC intends to cooperate with the government to bring peace to Dagbon, “we are nevertheless asking the President to take steps to abide by the constitutional requirements relating to the declaration of a State of Emergency.” The NDC stated that the relevant constitutional provisions for the declaration of the State of Emergency have not been compiled with.
“We, therefore, endorse the call for an immediate re-convening of Parliament to deliberate and to decide on the State of Emergency,” the statement stressed. The NDC said it is vehemently opposed to the attempt to impose a blackout on news emanating from Dagbon or relating to events in the area. “We hold the view that the Ministry of Information has no constitutional or justifiable power to control news items about the events in Dagbon,” as stated by the Minister for Information, the statement said.
The statement expressed the hope that President Kufuor will give careful consideration to the sentiments expressed by the grieving chiefs and people of the area about some government functionaries and take decisive steps to review the leadership of the security and intelligence apparatus. “Such decisive steps would ensure” the statement notes, “that none of them has access to facilitate to carry out any parochial agenda nor the opportunity to cover up or manipulate the course of investigations”. - Daily Graphic
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Accra (Greater Accra) 03 April 2002 - It has been established that in 1994 when the then government imposed a State of Emergency in the wake of the Northern Conflict, restrictions were placed on media reportage from the conflict areas.
A Gazette notification on the Emergency Powers Act, 1994 (ACT 472) Declaration, 1994, made it clear that “No person shall issue any report or any publication on the conflict in the area under the State of Emergency, unless the report or publication has been cleared by the Commander or an officer authorised by him.”
Signed by the then President of the Republic, Fl. Lt. J.J. Rawlings, and dated Wednesday, April 20, 1994, it further directed that “No person shall make any radio or television report on the conflict in the area under the state of emergency unless the report has been cleared with the Commander,”
It also said that, “The Commander or an officer authorised by him may seize or prevent the distribution or publication in the emergency area of any material written or not which (a) has not been cleared with him; or (b) he considers is likely to inflame or aggravate the conflict situation in the area.”
The Gazette also gave conditions under which public meetings and processions could be prohibited. It said, “Expert with the prior approval of the Commander, no person shall hold or participate in a public meeting or procession in the area under the State of Emergency.”
The Gazette also prescribes offences and penalties under the Emergency Act. It said, “Any person who (a) manufactures, procures, possesses or carries arms or ammunition contrary to paragraph 1 (1); or (b) fails to deposit arms or ammunition contrary to paragraph 2; or (c) refuses to hand over any vehicle or property contrary to paragraph 4 (1) or (d) acts contrary to a curfew imposed under paragraph 5 (1); or (e) holds or participates in any public meeting or procession contrary to paragraph 6; or (f) makes any publication in the conflict area contrary to paragraph 7 of this declaration commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment of not less than three months and any arms, ammunition or material the subject matter of the offence shall be forfeited to the state.” - Daily Graphic
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How our king was murdered - Two gates tell their story
Yendi (Northern
Region) 03 April 2002 - The Andani and Abudu gates who clashed last week in the
Yendi chieftaincy dispute leaving the Ya-Na dead and others massacred, have
narrated how the whole incident happened from each own perspective.
The leader
of the Abudu Gate, Iddrisu Iddi said it was the Andani people who began the
fight on Sunday, March 24. “Some pellets even landed in our area. The firing
resumed on Monday 25. By 7.00 pm, we were exchanging gunfire.
The
Andanis, on their part, said that it was the Abudus who attacked them without
any provocation. Zohi-Na Mahamadu Salifu, their spokesman said, “we heard
people going about saying that “yes we have killed the Ya-Na and beheaded him.
We have burnt the Palace too. We have achieved our aim.”
Each
faction had the opportunity to tell their side of the story when their
representatives separately met the government delegation dispatched to the
North on a fact-finding and conciliatory mission last weekend. The delegation
held separate meetings with each of the Gates.
First was
the Abudu Gate. The leader of the Gate, Iddrisu Iddi, who is also the Regent’s
Chief Linguist, said despite their differences, they had co-existed in peace
until the issue of the succession to the Dagbon Kingship cropped up in 1969.
Iddrisu said since Ya-Na Andani Yakubu was confirmed as King, twenty-eight
years ago, his people have not known peace. The Abudu Gate has been treated
with levity.
He said
they had several times been prevented from celebrating traditional events and
other occasions their own way. This, he added, was in sharp contrast with what
obtained when Ya-Na Mahamadu Abdulai (Abudu Gate) was reigning and Yakubu was
the regent of the Andani Gate. He claimed Yakubu was given all the liberties
and courtesies befitting a regent until the tables turned against the Abudu
Gate.
They,
therefore, wondered why the same liberties and courtesies could not be extended
to their regent, Bolin Lana Mahamadu. Iddrisu said during the Id-el-Adha
festival in February, the Andanis attempted to put some impediments in the way
of the Abudus just to prevent them from celebrating it. But eventually, despite
some isolated skirmishes, sanity prevailed.
Then came
the Bugum festival. As usual, there were schemes to prevent them from
celebrating it. This brought about tension and rancour between the two Gates,
to the extent that the Yendi District Committee (DISEC) had to impose a curfew
on the town, beginning on Sunday, 24 March. Certainly, it meant the festival
would not come on.
Later,
Iddrisu continued, they heard that there was agitation against the curfew at
the King’s Palace. Not quite long, the then Northern Regional Minister, Prince
Moro Andani, approached him to say the curfew had been lifted for the festival
to be celebrated as tradition demanded. Iddrisu said he had already informed
his people not to come out for the celebration of the festival.
So,
although he was surprised about, and indignant by the sudden turn of events, he
told his people that any of them who wished to celebrate the festival could do
so. He added that while the parley with the Minister was going on, warning
shots rang out from the direction of the King’s Palace. “Some pellets even
landed in our area. The firing resumed on Monday, March 25.
Then a
youth from the Andani side came and said we would see that day. Shortly, a
house on our side caught fire. So I called my elders and told them the situation
is now serious so everybody should go and protect his house.”
“By 2.00 pm
we were exchanging gun fire. They were firing towards us and we were also
firing towards them. Neither the Police nor the soldiers could intervene. The
Andanis were attacking and we were also attacking. As we forced them to retreat
the exchanges escalated.” That was how Iddrisu ended his submission for the
Abudu Gate.
Representatives
of the Andani Gate did not say much to the Government delegation led by Mr J.H.
Mensah, the Senior Minister. They simply threw the issue into the court of the
Government delegation. Recounting their side of the story, their leader,
Zohi-Na Mahamadu Salifu, said on Sunday, 24 March, the Ya-Na sent a messenger
to ask him whether he had heard that a curfew was going to be imposed on the
town.
Indeed he
was not aware, so he also sent somebody to ask one of the elders, Kuga-Na,
whether he had heard about the curfew. He also denied knowledge of it. So the
king decided to ask the Regional Minister the reason for the curfew. He called
the Minister on phone and told him he saw no reason why there should be a
curfew when there was no insecurity in Yendi and asked him to come down.
The
Minister arrived at Yendi to hear the King’s complaints and reservations. With
the assurance that all was well, the Minister lifted the curfew and left. But
it was quickly re-imposed on Monday 26. On Monday morning as they were
preparing for the festival, Iddrisu said he heard the sound of gunshots from
the Palace. It continued from that Monday throughout Tuesday till around 10.00
am on Wednesday when everywhere became quiet.
Later we
heard people going about saying that ‘yes we have killed the Ya-Na and beheaded
him. We have burnt the Palace too. We have achieved our aim.” Then I said to my
self, if my junior brother, the King, has been killed who am I to stay alive.
So I went into hiding with my family. Since then we have not seen the King and
those who were usually with him.
Salifu
concluded: “That is why we are pleased that the Government delegation is here.
We expect you to tell us whether the King is dead or not. If you have
established that he is dead, give us his corpse so that we can bury him
befittingly as custom demands. In the history of the Dagbon, a King has never
died this way. We are so stunned and helpless. We believe you can unravel this
mystery for us.”
The
Government delegation regretted the Ya-Na’s death and conveyed the Government’s
condolence to the families of the victims. Mr J.H. Mensah said when brothers
live together there would certainly be differences. But dialogue, rather than
war is the most suitable way to settle their differences.
He said
Government does not support any of the Gates in this conflict. It will,
therefore, do all it could to bring the culprits to book. He added that the
welfare of the victims will be catered for and entreated them to unite and live
together.
Indeed the
Andanis believe that some Dagbon dignitaries, high up in government, have a
hand in the calamity that has befallen Dagbon. And a delegation of Andani
Chiefs, led by the Kumbung-Na Iddi II, told the Government delegation, in no
uncertain terms, that they suspect named individuals are behind the plot to
murder the Ya-Na. They are all Abudus.
They said
their suspicion is based on both covert and overt actions of these dignitaries.
Although there are many in Tamale who do not attach specific names to those
behind the conflict, they, as well as the ordinary people, are asking: “where
were the soldiers and police when the Ya-Na’s Palace was being attacked? What
were they doing for good three days? Why is it that while the clash lasted-
between Monday and Wednesday- Yendi telephone lines went dead and electricity
supply was cut off? Why is it that immediately after the hostilities on
Wednesday these utilities were restored?
In terms of
security arrangements, the Chronicle gathered that initially, the number of
security personnel on the ground could not contain the situation. The battery
of the armoured vehicle that could have been used was reportedly down.
Consequently, as the exchange of fire escalated it became more foolhardy to
attempt any rescue operation or separation without an armoured car.
By Thursday
28 March, Tamale was pregnant with latent tension, passion and animosity,
especially among the Andani youth. While some crowded the Gulkpe-Na’s Palace,
others besieged Lawyer Ibrahim Mahama’s residence. In the midst of the
confusion about the Ya-Na’s death, they wanted to know whether he was alive or
dead. As the hope for his survival waned, the youth became restless and
persistently pestered the chiefs, and dignitaries in Mahama’s residence, for
assurance or otherwise.
Some were
indignant with the hierarchy in Tamale and for that matter Northern Region.
They think the political leverage they accorded the NPP by voting for them
during the 2000 Presidential run-off has boomeranged. One of them summed it up
thus: “We expressed our fears to our leaders that it was dangerous to vote for
the NPP because some of them had vowed that they would remove the Ya-Na if
their party came to power. Now see what has happened. Haven’t they done it? The
youth felt betrayed by their leaders.
Alhaji
Abubakar Al-Hassan, National Chairman of the CPP, Alhaji Ibrahim Mahama, vice
Presidential nominee of the CPP in the last election, Mr Alabira Ibrahim,
former CPP Member of Parliament for Mion Constituency and Alhaji Sheriff of
Savannah Construction, all of the Andani Gate, are working around the clock to
avert any eventuality. – The Ghanaian Chronicle.
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The battle for peace and reconciliation at Yendi
Yendi (Northern
Region) 03 April 2002 - “The law is there. The machine of the law would take
its course. But you and I, Chiefs, we are politicians. We are leaders. We are
political leaders. And our job is to start the process of re-uniting and
reconciling; because whether we like it or not, all the people of Dagbon,
whichever side they belong to, they will have to continue to live together on
the same soil that God gave to all of us.
So unless we can
accomplish our part of the job… The soldiers are doing their part. The police
are doing their part. Unless we the political leaders can do our part, peace
would not return to the Dagbon State. And if peace does not return to the
Dagbon, it would disturb the peace of the whole country, Ghana.”
These
opening remarks by Senior Minister J.H. Mensah to a delegation of Dagbon chiefs
and elders at Tamale last Friday aptly captured the extremely difficult
political task ahead for peace and reconciliation following the murder of Ya-Na
Yakubu Andani, the King of the Dagombas, on 27 March.
Speaking
for the “chiefs and youth of Dagbon,” the Paramount Chief of Kumbun, Naa Yiri
II, told the delegation sent by President Kufuor, “We the people of Dagbon are
a peaceful people.” He added that the people of Dagbon are committed to peace
and reconciliation. The battle, therefore, appears to be on to bring peace and
reconciliation to the Dagbons.
In the 16
hours that the ministers, including Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Hawa Yakubu,
Baah-Wiredu and Courage Quashiga, spent at Tamale and Yendi, the team spoke and
listened to delegates from the ruling Andani clan and the Abudu clan and
received security briefings from officers on the ground.
The
Commander of the Ghana Armed Forces, Major-General Yaache and the Commander
Brigadier George Ayiku, have both moved camp to the Northern Region in charge
of 400-strong army contingent, underlining the government’s commitment to
maintain law and order in the area.
The
five-member government delegation also visited casualties from the bloody
two-day uprising at the Yendi District Community Hospital after stopping over
to see for themselves what was left after the gun battle and arson attack on
the residential palace of the late king.
The
smoulder around the Gbewa Palace after 3-days of calm appeared as a fitting
symbol of the smouldering discontent that might have led to this unfortunate
blaze and the new smothering anger and fear, which lie beneath the uneasy calm
brought about by the imposition of a dawn to dusk curfew and the high profile
of armed troops in the area. The troops and law enforcement officers on the
ground looked totally on the quivive. J.H. Mensah said, the forces are there to
protect the people and properties and more would be added if they feel need.
At the
Gbewa Palace, everything that was not fire resistant was burnt to the ground.
Amidst the heap of ashes in the chambers of the palace were pots, the colourful
designs of some of which gracefully resisted the assault. The fire has
destroyed a tractor next to the palace. Even a metal water tank had been burnt
black.
Remarkably,
an enormous tree close to the entrance of the Gbewa Palace stood majestically
and defiantly, untouched. But, spotting not a single leaf on any of its
branches. Perhaps a sad symbol of a people without a ruler. Then the words of
Pope, an English poet came to mind: “A lopped tree may soon grow again.”
The palace
walls, made of clay, are now spotting bullet holes of different depths and
widths. The streets of Yendi were noticeably quiet. The houses close to the
palace looked deserted. Even though the sheep and goats grazed along unabashed,
one could sense heaviness within the calmness of the air.
At 6:00 pm,
the streets were empty of locals in conformity with the curfew. As the convoy
of 18 state vehicles drove through the wounded town, heads of curious citizens
peeped through their windows, perhaps in anticipation that the delegation came
with the formula for a lasting peace – a tranquility most necessary to enable
the essential battle for development. Peace and reconciliation are
pre-requisite for the re-channelling of energy into economic empowerment.
As the army
Mowag led us out of Yendi, a full moon looked over the ancient capital of the
Dagombas like an omen from above that Alla is, indeed, watching over His people
and would not abandon them in these most treacherous of times. I, alongside a
small contingent of journalists, had arrived at Tamale in the early hours of
Friday, accompanying the high-powered government delegation led by the
highest-ranking cabinet Minister, J.H. Mensah. We got back on the State’s
Fokker 28 jet bound for Accra at 1:20 the next morning.
And, one
left the north behind with no illusions about the magnanimity of the task
ahead. The impression is that the quest for peace and reconciliation between
the two families on either side of the chieftaincy dispute requires not only a
sedulous effort from both the central government and the leaders and people of
Dagbon but also responsible and dispassionate and dissemination of the facts
and claims by both the media and opinion leaders.
The rapid
reaction by the Ministry of Information for reports on the situation at Dagbon
to be first sanctioned by the government attests to the volatility of the
situation and quality of reports that had so far emanated from Tamale,
especially, by correspondents based on the ground, including the BBC’s man.
From the
little that one saw, it was pretty obvious that although the regicide was a
crime most vile and unprecedented, to reduce it to a straightforward case of
lese majesty would be way off the mark. For example, in addressing the
government delegation at Yendi, the Chief Linguist to the Crown, Prince Abdulai
from the Abudu Gate, with a blue towel perching delicately on top of his old
head, quickly alerted us to the feud between the two royal households. He
remarked that for the 28 years under the reign of the late Ya-Na Yakubu Andani,
“We have seen no peace.”
How far
this may be true is not necessarily the issue. What was, however, clear, was
that the linguist appeared to be articulating the general feeling or perception
of injustice making the rounds inside the Abudu Gate. As Prince Abudu noted,
out of 22 dignified group of chiefs and elders of Dagbon who met the government
delegation at Tamale, and spoke for the “chiefs and youths” of Dagbon, “not a
single one of them was an Abudu.
The 28-year
old Crown Prince with seven wives, whose father was dislodged in 1974, is by
virtue of a constitutional rotation arrangement, next in line. It would be most
complacent to think that his ascension would therefore be and smooth going by
the circumstances that gave rise to the vacancy on the skin.
Thus,
whereas the Dagbons, notably the Chiefs and elders, say that they are very
committed to peace the Dagbons will deserve the Nobel Peace Prize if as a
result of these unfortunate recent events they are able to bring an end to the
disequilibrium on the ground and restore the old unity.
Though it
is difficult to dismiss the view that chieftaincy disputation of at least the
last three decades or so played a major role in this ugly distension, the
manner in which the Ya-Na was dislodged can only mean that the central
government, the security forces and the leaders of Dagbon require a lot of
wisdom, understanding, restraint and pains to find a common ground to reach
that elusive long lasting quietude and oneness.
But one may
draw from the fountain of hope the incontrovertible fact that, after all, this
is a family feud between two brothers who have little choice but to live
together. The situation clearly calls for a commission of enquiry beside the
need to identify and punish the perpetrators.
Dr A.E.
Abdulai, An Accra dental surgeon and a Dagomba royal has advised “all media
houses to be mindful of being used as conveyor belts for parochial agendas
since it carries the danger of inciting violence, inflaming the situation in
Dagbon and further dividing us.”
Though,
both the Andani Gate and Abudu Gate, on each side of the royal divide, show a
strong willingness for peace and reconciliation, from the little that one saw,
the dichotomy between the homes of the two brothers appears so deep that one
could not but be in a quandary about how the murder of the King under such
circumstances could serve as the catalyst for peace.
But,
whereas the task ahead should not be underestimated, the presence of a will on
both sides gives hope that a way can surely be found. The exercise of freedom
of speech, he said, does not mean the distortion of facts as well as the
infringement on the rights of others.
The
Information Minister was particularly worried about the phone-in programmes on
the FM radio stations, saying that because of lack of appropriate technology,
callers can easily call in and make unguarded and inflammatory statements that
can throw the entire peace of the country into jeopardy. He, therefore,
appealed to media practitioners to exercise circumspection because of the
fragile peace in the crisis area.
The
government, he said, has a power to invoke the provisions of the Emergency
Powers Act to deal with erring journalists but would not do that because “media
pluralism is in the interest of the country.” He, however stressed that the
government would not hesitate to slam the sledge hammer if pushed to the wall.
– The Statesman.
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Accra
(Greater Accra) 03 April 2002 - With special aide to their party’s
inspirational leader still struggling to answer charges of media terrorism, two
National Democratic Congress (NDC) MPs recently stormed the newsroom of TV3,
protesting against favouritism towards the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and
threatening journalists on duty.
It all
happened around 8.30 pm of Saturday, 23 March. Fuming with rage, Avenor MP Doe
Adjaho and Nabdam MP, Moses Asaga entered the newsroom of TV3 accusing the news
team of accepting bribe from the ruling NPP government, an allegation that The
Statesman sources at TV3 describes as “absolutely untrue.”
Their
unhappiness, the paper’s investigations showed, was with what they saw as
unfair representation in the broadcast tapes of Information and Presidential
Affairs Minister Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey and that of former President Rawlings.
Alarmed by the continuing flak against the former President and the NDC over
the war-mongering utterances of Jerry Rawlings in the Bimbilla constituency,
the NDC Minority in Parliament issued a statement denying any such utterances
despite video evidence.
The
statement promised to make available tape recordings of rallies held by the NDC
in Bimbilla to prove their case. First, the NDC group sent a tape of the
Bimbilla rally to TV3 studios along with a rejoinder requesting for a selected
part that positively depicts the former President talking about peace at the
rally to be shown. The rejoinder was to counter an interview granted Jake on
the station’s programme ‘Hot Issues’.
This was to
ensure that the Minister’s charge of war-mongering speech by the former
President was contradicted by J.J.’s exhortation at the rally. Come 6:45 pm,
TV3 read a portion of the NDC statement and proceeded by repeating sections of
the Hot Issues, which, much to the displeasure of the two MPs showed Jake
accusing the former President of seeking to inflame the volatile ethnic
tensions in the North.
Instead of
showing the former President preaching peace, however, what appeared on the
screen was a charged Rawlings making reference to the Supreme Court 5-4
decision on the Fast Track Court and literally inciting the crowd not to always
wait for Supreme Court interpretations of constitutional issues.
Barely one
hour after the news ended, the peace in the newsroom was shattered when Doe
Adjaho and Moses Asaga stormed in hurling insults and charges that the news
team had collected money from the NPP and defied “instructions.” “The two men
were so charged up that it was only by sheer providence that they did not throw
blows at us,” said a journalist then in the newsroom. – The Statesman.
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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 03 April 2002 - Students of Prempeh College, Kumasi, have apologised sincerely to President J.A. Kufuor for bringing dishonour to his alma mater through violent and riotous behaviour. They also rendered unqualified apologies to the school’s Old Boys Association, board of directors and school authorities for their recent undisciplined conduct that has brought the name of the school into disrepute.
The students rendered the apology when members of the Ashanti Regional Security Council, led by the Regional Minister, Mr S.K. Boafo, addressed them prior to their departure home for the Easter holidays. The apology was in respect of the February 23, 2002 incident in which some students of the college vandalised the residence of Mr Obeng Odoom, the Senior Housemaster, popularly called “O Square” by the students.
Mr Obeng Odoom is alleged to have called for the premature end to an entertainment programme, which was part of an HIV/AIDS awareness campaign. Lord Kenya and other top artistes billed to perform at the ceremony reported late, so the students wanted the programme to run late into the night against school regulations. This, coupled with what they described as the high handedness of the senior housemaster, allegedly compelled them to riot, resulting in the vandalisation of Mr Odoom’s bungalow.
Led by Master Seth Asiedu Miah, the Senior Prefect, the students knelt down and said: “We are sorry; we are sorry; we are sorry” and pledged to help smoke out the bad lots among them whose aim is to give the college a bad name.
They also pledged to comport themselves and never to do anything that would bring the name of the school into disrepute again. Earlier, the Regional Security Council met with the school authorities and student leadership during which the students apologised and pledged not to do anything that will damage the reputation of the college.
Addressing the students, Mr Boafo told them to be ashamed of bringing the name of the school into disrepute. He said Prempeh College has been given a bad name by a few bad students and warned that investigations are going on to smoke out the brains behind such riotous behaviour. – Daily Graphic
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¢47.2bn property damaged in fires
Accra
(Greater Accra) 03 April 2002 - The total estimated cost of damage to property
through domestic, industrial and bushfires from 1999 to 2001 in the country was
¢47.2 billion. A source from the headquarters of the Ghana National Fire
Service told the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Accra, that in 1999, the
estimate was ¢12.5 billion but I increased sharply in year 2000 to ¢20.1
billion. There was, however, a drop in 2001 to ¢14.5 billion.
The source
said 34 people died whiles 11 sustained injuries through fire outbreaks in the
year 2001 and between the years 1999 and 2000, four people too lost their lives
and 16 were injured. It noted that there had not been any appreciable drop in
the incident of domestic fire outbreaks from 1999 to 2001.
Figures
made available indicated that a total of 880 cases were recorded in 1999. There
was, however, a sharp drop in the figures in the year 2000, which recorded 426
cases, which increased in 2001 to 860. The frequency of industrial fire
outbreaks was, however, minimal as compared to the domestic.
A total of
262 cases of industrial fire outbreaks were recorded from 1999 to 2001. A
breakdown is as follows: 1999 (57); 2000 (76); 2001 (129). The source said the
incidence of bush fires was, on the increase rather rapidly, with as many as 30
cases throughout the country in 1999. This increased to 134 in 2000 and further
climbed to a total of 437 in 2001.
It said
with domestic fire outbreaks, Greater Accra topped with 706 domestic fire
outbreaks followed by Ashanti Region with 174 in 1999, and in 2001, Greater
Accra again topped with 276 followed by Ashanti with 226. The Eastern Region,
according to the source recorded the highest case of bush fires from 1999 with
30 cases, 94 in 2000 and 83 in 2001; the Brong Ahafo topped the table with 152
bushfire cases in the year 2001.
The Central
Region and Northern Region both recorded one case each in 2000 and none was
reported for the Central Region 2001, whiles in the Northern Region, 15 cases
were reported.
The source
said causes of the fires were either by electrical faults, lightening,
deliberate, chemicals, static charges, heat sources or naked flames. It said
however, that the records showed that campaigns against fire outbreaks had gone
down well with the people but added that there was still the need for
attitudinal change, that, it said, was through the efforts of rural taskforces,
fire prevention campaigns and the mass media.
The source
also commended the District Chief Executives and the Forestry Departments for
assisting in educating the public. It said the Easter Region is the most
environmentally friendly region saying, it was through the active involvement
of chiefs, DCEs who enacted environmentally policies.
It said an
appeal had been made to DCEs to assist the service to build fire stations,
adding that through the help of the DCE of the Agona Nkwanta District, the
place had the most modern fire station in the country. The source called for
stiffer punishment for offenders of fire outbreaks and also active involvement
of law enforcement agencies.
On the
number of firemen, it said Greater Accra tops with 633 whiles the Upper West
Region has the lowest with 20. It also said that there are about 126 fire
service stations in the whole country and out of the 110 political services
station. – The Ghanaian Times.
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Accra
(Greater Accra) 03 April 2002 - Guinness (Ghana) Ltd made a half year profit of
¢14.2 billion last year. This was up by 15.7 per cent on the same period last
year. This, according to an interim results issued by the company through the
Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) was driven by increased marketing investment, top line
growth, prudent cost management and strong employee performance.
Value Added
Tax (VAT) and Excise Duty paid to the government over the period was ¢19.3
billion and ¢34.2 billion respectively. In addition, corporate and deferred
taxation charged to income statement amounted to ¢5.4 billion. Net turnover for
the half-year ended 31 December, 2001 was ¢152.5 billion up 25.6 per cent over
the same period in the last year.
The growth
in turnover is driven by increased demand for the company’s high quality
premium products, Malta Guinness and Guinness Stout. Malta Guinness continues
to outperform in the malt drinks category, benefiting from enhanced consumer
value and aggressive marketing support. Guinness Stout is holding its share of
the beer category and continues to deliver top satisfaction to its adorers.
Earnings
per share increased from ¢104.3 per share to ¢120.7 per share an increase of
15.7 per cent. Interest payable reduced by 90 per cent from ¢7.5 billion in the
previous year to ¢0.8 billion in the period under review. This was due to good
cash management, which resulted in reduced borrowing.
The Board
of Directors have also announced an interim dividend of ¢45.00 per share,
giving a total dividend payout of ¢6.287 billion, an increase of 12.6 per cent,
which is in line with Guinness profit performance. The Board of Directors
assured all shareholders that given continued levels of stability in the macro
economic environment, coupled with continued prudent management, the company
will sustain its top line growth, and deliver good returns to their
shareholders. – The Ghanaian Times.
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