Investigate illegal arms deal - Lawyer
Ex-GNPC
workers threaten demonstration on May Day
‘I feel great’ – says Lord Kenya
Health insurance to cover 40 per cent
Ghanaians
Accra (Greater Accra) 18 April 2002 - The National Health
Insurance Scheme will not cover all Ghanaians within the four-year mandate of
the NPP government, the Coordinator of the Ministerial Team on the scheme, Dr
Sam Akor, has said.
He explained that the scheme will cover two out of every five persons in the
country within the next five years. In an interview, Dr Akor explained that the
payment of premiums will not be difficult for workers in the formal sector
because it will be done through the check-off system. He said the formal sector
covers 30 per cent of the population, based on the fact that spouses and
children of workers will be taken care of under the scheme.
“In the next five years, the scheme is likely to cover 10 per cent of the
informal sector,” Dr Akor said, and added that “experience from other countries
as well as some pilot schemes in the country show that it is not realistic to
cover the informal sector within that short time.” For instance, he said the
Nkoranza scheme, which is a mutual health scheme, within its 10 years of
existence, has covered only a third of the district.
Asked about the cautious optimism about the scheme, the coordinator said “the
task ahead is quite challenging and the target set are very ambitious.” The
government, Dr Akor said, is in support of the promotion of multiple schemes,
which will involve the social schemes for the formal sector, the Mutual Health
Organisations (MHOs) for the informal sector and the private health insurance
schemes.
He said although the MHOs, a type of community health insurance system, run and
controlled by members themselves, has been accepted as the most effective
scheme for the informal sector, its implementation takes quite some time to
materialise.
Dr Akor said in the long term, the scheme envisages that 80 per cent of
residents in the country will be under a form of insurance cover within the
next 10 years. He said even though the scheme will cover a basic package on the
general health needs of the people, factors such as varying poverty levels and
how much people are willing to contribute will be considered.
The coordinator said a sub committee tasked to undertake an actuarial review to
determine a basic premium has begun collecting data on the health care cost of
companies within the past six years to arrive at an acceptable premium. He
stressed that in line with government’s policy of community participation in
healthcare delivery, negotiations will be paramount in the fixing of premiums,
especially with the Mutual Health Organisations.
Dr Akor said the publicity and education committee will suspend its operations
for some time in order to put in place structures so that after the education,
the scheme will be in a position to meet the expectations of the people. He
said a system will be put in place for district assemblies to operate the
exemption scheme to make it more effective through the registration of the
vulnerable in their districts. – Daily Graphic.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 18 April 2002 - A scheme to provide a
textbook for each pupil in every pre-tertiary institution has been approved by
the Cabinet. Consequently, about ¢21.5 billion has been approved by the
government for disbursement to first and second-cycle institutions for the
purchase of textbooks.
Ms Christine Churcher, Minister of State in-charge of Basic, Secondary and
Girl-Child Education, announced this at the launching of a book titled
“Ancestral Sacrifice,” in Accra on Tuesday. The money has been paid into a
textbook development fund to enable pre-tertiary institutions to acquire
textbooks for each student.
Ms Churcher explained that "the move is in line with the Ministry of
Education's ultimate aim of achieving a textbook ratio of 1 to 1 in all the
subjects studied in pre-tertiary institutions by the year 2005". The
153-page book, authored by Kaakyire Akosomo Nyantakyi, dwells extensively on
conflict, compromise and reconciliation in the society. It also seeks to
emphasise the need for Christians and traditionalists to co-exist in peace,
harmony and understanding, despite their differences.
The book was first published in the US in 1998 and has been reviewed by seven
commentators in the US and Ghana. Ms Churcher appealed to all writers to take
advantage of the government's initiative and write more books in order to
promote
reading among students as well as improving the educational
standards in the country.
“The ministry, through the Ghana Book Development Council, is doing a lot to
encourage young and talented writers and publishers to contribute their quota
towards the development of a vibrant book industry,” Ms Churcher stressed.
According to her, the government recognises the importance of reading and will
do everything possible to make writing a lucrative business.
She said, “For the past two years, six million copies of textbooks on English,
Mathematics and Science have been distributed to primary schools.” Ms Churcher
said this is in addition to supplementary readers made available to all primary
school pupils during the same period.
"Let me take this opportunity to congratulate Mr Nyantakyi for writing
such an amazing and interesting novel. It will certainly remain in the hearts
of all who will get the opportunity to read it,” she stated.
“We look forward to having more of such novels, not only to broaden our
intellectual horizon but also to deepen our resolve as a people to promote
unity in diversity, in spite of what we believe in or what our values are,”
Miss Churcher said. Mr Nyantakyi announced that a study guide for the book will
come out soon.
The Secretary-General of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Mrs
Irene Adanusa, appealed to schools, colleges and district assemblies to
establish libraries stocked with good books to encourage students to acquire
reading habits. – Daily Graphic.
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Kumasi (Ashanti
Region) 18 April 2002 - The Court of Appeal has unanimously dismissed a
petition filed by the Member of Parliament for Wulensi, Mr Samuel Nyimakan,
against a Tamale High Court decision that his election in the December 2000
general polls was void.
The court upheld that
at the time Mr Nyimakan contested the election, he did not have residential
qualification to stand as canditate for Wulensi as required by law. The court,
presided over by Mr Justice G.T. Wood, also confirmed the Tamale High Court
ruling that the MP did not reside in the Wulensi Constituency for five years
within the 10 years immediately preceding the December general elections. Other
members of the panel that heard the case were Mr Justice S.T. Farkye and Mr
Justice Omari-Sasu.
The court awarded ¢4
million cost against Mr Nyimakan. By a notice published in the Gazette dated
January 5, 2001, the Electoral Commission declared Mr Nyimakan, who stood on
the ticket of the NDC, winner in the December general elections by polling 9,537
as against Alhaji Saani Iddi (NPP) 6,884, Binyam S. Jangboja, (NRP) 837 and Ayi
Abdu-Rahaman (CPP), 278.
Last year, a voter at
Wulensi, Mr Fuseini Zakaria, filed an election petition at a Tamale High Court
against Mr Nyimakan and the Electoral Commission for a declaration that the
Member of Parliament-elect was not qualified to be so elected.
Counsel for Mr
Nyimakan, Mr Kwaku Baah, challenged the decision of the Tamale High Court on
the grounds that the judgement of the court was against the weight of evidence.
Mr Baah also contended that the decision of the Tamale High Court that Mr
Nyimakan does not hail from Kumbi in the Wulensi Constituency is not supported
by the evidence.
The Appeal Court said
substantial evidence was tendered to show that Mr Nyimakan comes from Saboba,
which is located outside the Wulensi Constituency. The Court said when Mr
Nyimakan registered as a voter on 9 October 1995 he indicated on his voter
registration form that Saboba is his hometown. Again when he completed his application
form for admission to the University of Cape Coast as a mature student on
January 28, 1997, Mr Nyimakan gave Saboba as his hometown and place of birth.
The court said there
was evidence to show that Mr Nyimakan indicated Saboba as his hometown when he
completed an interview form for admission to Bagabaga Training College in 1982.
It said when Mr Nyimakan decided to become a parliamentarian; he indicated on
his parliamentary nomination form that his hometown and place of birth is
Kumboni.
The court said by
section 117 of the Evidence Decree, 1975 NRCD 323, hearsay evidence is not
admissible in evidence. It said the documents tendered during the hearing of
the appeal are not hearsay evidence. Therefore, the Tamale High Court did not
misdirect itself by placing undue reliance on those documents and the judgement
of the court was not against the weight of evidence. – Daily Graphic.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 18 April 2002 - The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mr Ernest Owusu Poku has challenged Regional Commanders to show keen interest in the operations of Intelligence Units’ that is currently operating within the police set up. He said it is only through the gathering of intelligent information that the Police can know which criminal group or person in planning what at what time and for what purpose.
The IGP was speaking in a day’s Emergency Regional Commanders Conference in Accra on 12 April 2002. He said the need to employ intelligence in the Police Service is as a result of current increasing incidents of armed robberies in the country that has the potential not only to besmirch the police service but also sends out wrong signals to the outside world that Ghana after all is not safe to invest in or do business.
He recounted that between 2000 to early 2002 about 231 armed robbery cases were recorded within the boundaries of Accra, Tema and the Ashanti Region alone. He admonished that “As a Police service, we have the statutory obligation of protecting lives and properties and the maintenance of law and order. It is our duty to come to grips with this situation in order to stop this menace.”
The IGP reiterated the need for members of the public to be educated well enough for them to give the right information needed for the Police to operate with. He therefore charged the Regional commanders to encourage the Neighbourhood Watchdog Committee’s (NWC) in the communities. He said “These Committee’s should be properly organised, educated and trained to fish out information for us by the police while they are assisted by the District and Station Commands to be involved in policing the communities for the protection of lives and properties”.
He also charged the Regional commanders to try to ensure that the police patrol teams intensify their patrol work. Besides, “All weapons in the hands of the public should be retrieved.” He ended. - Ghanaian Voice.
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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 18 April 2002 - An elaborate security mechanism has been fashioned out by the security in Ashanti to contain the rising crime-wave, especially armed robbery, in the Kumasi metropolis in particular and the region as a whole.
As part of the mechanism, the police and the military are
undertaking joint operations, including day and night patrols in some strategic
areas of the metropolis. Mr George Asiamah, Ashanti Regional Police Commander
disclosed this to the ‘Times’ in Kumasi. Last Monday, Constable Godwin Twumasi
of the Police Buffalo Unit died in a shoot-out between some policemen and a
gang of armed robbers at Sape-Akyawkrom near Jachie on the Kumasi-Lake Bosomtwe
road.
Mr Asiamah said: “We will not rest. We will continue to chase
these notorious armed robbers and match them boot for boot until they give up
or are eliminated”. The Regional Police Commander commended members of the
public for their wonderful support so far in terms of volunteering information
on suspected criminals and assured that the identity of informants would be
protected.
Touching on the raid on the warehouse of Kimemcon Company Limited,
dealers in locally produced rice and maize, at the Kaase Industrial Area in
Kumasi which resulted in the death of a policeman and five suspected armed
robbers in a shoot-out, Mr Asiamah said a number of suspects have been
arrested.
The suspects, he said were currently being vigorously
interrogated. Mr Asiamah dismissed rumours that the five dead robbers were
nationals of a West African country. “They have all been identified as
Ghanaians”, the Regional Police Commander said. – Ghanaian Times.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 18 April 2002 - An Accra-based legal practitioner has called on the Ministry of Interior and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to investigate circumstances leading to the purchase and licensing of pistols by two Lebanese nationals residing in the country.
In a statement to the “Ghanaian Voice”, Lawyer Kodwo Yankson averred that Mr Fouad Mohamad El-Jamal, General Manager of EKAZA LTD, withdrew ¢17 million from the company’s account to purchase two revolvers for himself and his junior brother, Nawaf El-Jawal, who is allegedly residing in the country illegally.
According to Mr Yankson, he has information that one Police Sergeant by name Osofo of Accra Central Motor Traffic Union purchased the weapons from an alleged Nigerian armed robber and fictitiously licensed the weapons for the Lebanese brothers.
According to sources close to EKAZA LTD, Fouad issued Petty Cash Vouchers (copies of which the Voice has) on 28 September 2001 without authorisation to the tune of ¢17 million for the purchase of the weapons. In view of this, Lawyer Yankson has asked the Ministry of Interior and the IGP to investigate the circumstances under which the El-Jamal brothers acquired the weapons and had them licensed, especially taking into consideration the volatile security situation and spate of armed robbery in the country. – The Ghanaian Voice.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 18 April 2002 - Veteran politician, Dr Obed Asamoah, appears to have put political analysts at their wits’ end in their discussion on the impending NDC national congress. Even, though, he has confirmed to “The Evening News” his intention to run for the chairmanship position, the former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice has not made any public comment about the issue.
Unlike, his fellow contestants, especially Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu, who have made public why they are interested in the post, Dr Asamoah is keeping his cards close to his chest. But, he is not sleeping. Close associates tell “The Evening New” that he is seriously working behind the scene, to ensure total victory at the congress, slated for the Trade Fair Grounds in Accra on 27 April.
His other opponent is, Mr J.H. Owusu-Acheampong, considered the neutral person among the three aspirants. Dr Asamoah’s behind the scene strategy appears to be working and if signals picked up by “The Evening News” are anything to go by the former Biakoye MP, will certainly smile at the end of the congress.
“All our candidates have won their regional and other primaries and this will surely manifest at the national congress”, said a close associate of Dr Asamoah. According to him, seven out of the 10 elected regional chairmen of the party are in full support of Obed’s candidacy.
They are those from the Eastern, Ashanti, Greater Accra, Northern, Upper East, Upper West and Volta Regions. The remaining three are for the Rawlings faction and are therefore in the Alhaji Iddrisu’s camp.
But, clearly, what might have dealt a severe political blow to the Rawlings’ faction were the elections of former student leader, Haruna Iddrisu, as NDC National Youth Organiser and Ms Frances Awurama Asiam, as National Women’s organizer. The two new organisers “The Evening News” has learnt, were “Obed’s men” whilst defeated Bismark Agbemenule and Mrs Tabitha Quaye, a former MP, came from the Rawlings/Iddrisu camp. So far, about 48 people have filed their nominations for 12 positions in the party. – The Evening News.
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Angry women heckle former Interior Minister
Accra
(Greater Accra) 18 April 2002 - The former Minister for the Interior, Nii
Okaidja Adamafio, was last week heckled by angry market women on the premises
of the Greater Accra Community Tribunal.
Nii Okaidja
had, moments before the incident, cross-examined a market queen who was a
prosecution witness in a case of fraud and forgery, involving a National
Democratic Congress (NDC) activist. The incident occurred when the accused,
Haruna Agesheka, who had been expelled as secretary from the Ghana Agricultural
Products Traders Association (GAPTO), was found using a vehicle belonging to
the organisation with the original inscription reportedly altered.
The women
claimed that the vehicle which bore registration numbers GV 2914 C and
registered in the name of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture now had a
Marketing Division tag inscribed on it, confirming their fears that the
accused, Agesheka, now on ¢100 million bail, had something up his sleeves.
Efforts by
the market women, who had stormed the court in their numbers to get the accused
to hand over the vehicle did not materialise as they literally caused a stir in
which all manner of words were hurled at the former minister who they accused
of conniving with the accused, Agesheka, of complicity in an act of deceit.
“Agesheka is supposed to have handed over the vehicle to the organisation,” the
angry women told Chronicle.
Malam Adiza
Agesheka, wife of the accused, had earlier lampooned the market women for
sleeping with her husband shamelessly and going ahead to lay charges against
him to be prosecuted in the ensuing confusion, the former minister, who did his
best to keep himself in check, also had to endure some rubbishing from the
women who called him names.
The
prosecution had earlier tendered in evidence copies of receipts, documents,
cheques and vouchers relevant to the case before the court. GAPTO last year
lodged a complaint with the police service accusing Mr Agesheka of falsely
presenting himself to the Citi Savings and Loans Company at Osu in Accra and
messing up with the accounts of the association by making unauthorised and
dubious withdrawals in the name of the association.
Acting as
sole signatory to their account, Agesheka allegedly withdrew monies totaling ¢2
billion from GAPTO without the consent and authorisation of the executives and
members of the association as required by their constitution. The group,
therefore, rose up in arms against him and passed a resolution expelling the
General-Secretary from his position and also summoning him to account for every
cedi that had passed through the bank from 1992 till the end of last year.
Agesheka is
being represented in court by Nii Okaidja, who was NDC Member of Parliament for
the Odododiodio Constituency in the Greater Accra Region in the last
government. Haruna Agesheka was arrested last year and put in prison custody
for alleged acts of fraud and forgery involving billions of cedis. He has
pleaded not guilty to the charge. – The Chronicle.
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Accra
(Greater Accra) 18 April 2002 - The over 140 ex-workers of the Ghana National
Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) who recently petitioned President Kufuor over
alleged injustices being meted out to them by the management of the
corporation, have threatened to go on demonstration on May Day to draw
attention to how they are being cheated after having dutifully served between
five and fifteen years.
According
to the workers who include electrical engineers and other high-ranking
professionals, they have decided to resort to the demonstration because they
have exhausted all legal avenues to get GNPC to pay them their due entitlements.
They regretted that the letter they dispatched to President Kufuor soliciting
his intervention had not even been acknowledged, let alone acted upon. This
leaves them with no option but to pour onto the streets for Ghanaians and the
world at large to know how they had been cheated by the GNPC management, they
stressed.
The
appointment of the over 140 ex-workers who, according to GNPC management are
contract workers were terminated following the suspension of the corporation
activities by the government. Following this directive, the NPP government
decided to pay all the affected workers their due entitlements. Surprisingly
when the negotiation for the payment of the amount was going on, the GNPC
management allegedly dumped the project and contract workers in the “dustbin”
and concentrated on the permanent staff only.
In the end,
they succeeded in getting fantabulous sums of money for the permanent staff,
contrary to what the collective bargaining agreement they signed with the
corporation in the event of redundancy says. Chronicle heard that though the
collective bargaining agreement states clearly that in the event of redundancy
each worker must be paid two months basic salary times the number of years
served, management manoeuvred and came to the conclusion that each permanent
staff who is involved must be given four months pay, with all allowances
inclusive, times the number of years served in addition to 25 per cent salary
revision.
With this
gentleman’s agreement, Chronicle heard that workers classified as permanent
whose academic qualifications are nowhere near those of some of the project and
contract workers got not less than ¢20 million as their redundancy pay and
other entitlements. When it came to the turn of the project and contracts,
workers most of whom were working on the Tano oilfield project, management
decided that they should be paid one month salary times every five years
served.
This means
that an engineer who earns a high salary but termed a contract worker would not
even get ¢2.5 million as his redundancy package whiles a common messenger
described as permanent would be earning over ¢10 million. Some of the aggrieved
workers who spoke to the Chronicle said the reason for meting out such
injustices to them is that they are contract workers when as a matter of fact
they were receiving letters from GNPC management asking them to go on their
annual leave when it is due.
They
wondered how GNPC could ask them to go on leave when they are contract workers
and also paying their SSNIT contributions, TUC dues, among others on their
behalf but when it comes to redundancy pay which they are all entitled to, they
would be discriminated against.
The workers
further hinted Chronicle that they have heard GNPC management has started
paying 50 per cent of all the entitlements due the so-called permanent staff
whiles the remaining would be paid in two separate instalments even though they
themselves have not been paid anything after rejecting management’s ridiculous
offer.
“My
brother, is that how to teat your own countrymen who have sacrificed to work on
high seas among other dangerous places, searching for oil for almost fifteen
years?” one of them asked. – The Chronicle.
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Nurses go on strike at Police Hospital
Accra
(Greater Accra) 18 April 2002 - Nurses (civilian paramedics) at the Police
Hospital in Accra laid down their tools following what they described as
unhealthy developments with regards to their conditions of service.
In an
exclusive chat with The Crusading Guide, after a peaceful demonstration at the
premises of the hospital, they told the paper that, “We are protesting today because
we are not happy about some few things, especially the Additional Duty
Allowance (ADH) allowance which majority of paramedics here are denied.”
The
aggrieved nurses disclosed, “We the civilian paramedics here are not getting
any risk allowance. We are only given ¢5,000 per month of what they
(authorities) term professional allowance, even though we also swim our hands
in human blood just as the Doctors and Nurses do.”
In a letter
signed by the concerned staff and copied to the Ministers for Health and
Interior respectively, the workers stated categorically that early last year,
workers who had been deprived of the ADH since its inception were asked to
bring their inputs for the payment of the above allowance announced by the
government for nurses and paramedical staff besides doctors.
The inputs,
they noted, were to be prepared by the Hospital Administration and was
accordingly followed but before the first payment could be effected, the senior
officers of the various departments met, only to be told by the Medical
Director that the names staffs from the Administration, Medical Records, CSSD,
Ward Assistant, Ward Maids and Orderlies of the various wards, Laundry staff
and other labourers should be deleted from the list.
Following
this treatment, which dealt a blow to civilian paramedics, they consulted the
Medical Director on the issue and the only thing he could say was that, “We
should forget about the ADH because they were working on some greater incentives
for us, which never came either.”
The workers
contended that in as much as the White Paper of the government on the ADH
included all manner of staff in the hospital and the Medical Director had
allowed only the nurses, pharmacy technicians and the orderlies, and those of
the transport section among others to enjoy the facility, the civilian
paramedics have petitioned the above mentioned Ministers and the government to
expedite action on the impasse.
However, a
meeting, held between the Paymaster, Mr Gyabaah, Mr D.K. Arther (from Police
Headquarters) and including the Medical Director, Mr Owusu Afriyie and the
concerned staff, decided that the workers will be paid on Friday 19 April 2002
for November 2001 and paid subsequent ones later. The workers however, resolved
to embark on a massive demonstration if their demands are not met by the close
of the promised date. - The Crusading Guide.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 18 April 2002 - To most ordinary
people, acting on television, on stage and on the big screen appears glamorous,
smooth and wealthy. For insiders, however, the opposite may be the reality. One
such insider is versatile actor David Dontoh, popularly called “Ghanaman” who
has quit the National Theatre Players, the national drama team, on account of
meagre salary and lack of creative incentives.
David tended in his resignation late last year after going
on leave for a year without pay. Until his resignation, he was a Principal
Actor with the National Theatre Players and had been with the company, resident
in the National Theatre, for almost ten years. “It wasn’t easy saying bye-bye
to my first love, theatre, but I was not satisfied with the establishment and I
had to move on,” he said.
Saying bye-bye to the National Theatre Players, David
insists, does not imply a farewell to the stage for him because “once an actor
always an actor” for which reason David says he is ready to work with any group
on contract basis provided the production is artistically challenging.
He regretted the inactivity of the National Commission on
Culture with regards to the performing arts and said that there is a general
marginalisation of theatre and that “makes the future very bleak for
practitioners.” He said despite its important roles of educating and informing,
theatre seems to be relegated to its entertainment function only with no
infrastructure in place for training of artistes. “No artiste has been sent on
government scholarship to study abroad yet every government function involves
artistes who perform welcome ceremonies,” he said.
David said this is an unsatisfactory development to the
promotion of theatre in the country and calls on the Ghana Actors Guild (GAG),
Ghana Union of Theatre Societies (GUTS) the National Theatre and all other
interested parties to come together with the National Commission on Culture to
address the problems of theatre practitioners and the hundreds of people who
are being marginalised. “We do not have a stake in the national cake,” he said.
Not allowing his personal stand to put others off, David
thinks that if one puts financial gain aside, theatre is spiritually rewarding
as it refines the soul and spirit, and enlightens the actor about human nature
and society. He said, “when you are trained in theatre you will be able to work
in any sector of the society, and be armed with discipline and teamwork.”
Currently, David, who has been off the stage for almost two
years is playing the lead role in Death and the King’s Horseman by Wole
Soyinka, a master’s project directed by Doris Kuwornu.
Most of his time though is spent with his own company,
Golden Kauri, which deals in import and export of artefacts, arts events, shows
consultancy etc. The popular entertainment packed Agoro on GTV, which he
presents is one such endeavour by his company, as well as hosting of a
programme on Adom FM in Tema.
The highpoint of David’s acting career, he recollects, is
when he acted in Mambo, a play by Professor J.C. De-Graft which won him his
first ECRAG Best Actor award in 1984. He won the same awards in 1989 and 1992.
David’s long list of stage performances include Our Husband Has Gone Mad Again by Ola Rotimi, Edufa by Efua Sutherland, The Third Woman by J.B. Danquah, The Trial Of Kwame Nkrumah by Kwaku Mensa-Bonsu, Leopard’s Choice by Yaw Asare and Du Bois by Femi Osofisan. Some of the films he has starred in are Kukurantumi.....The Road to Accra, Dede, Heritage Africa, Sika Sunsum, Deadly Voyage, Justice, Jennifer, Ripples 3, Accra Killings, A Woman’s Desire, Aya Minnow and Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind. - Graphic Showbiz
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Accra (Greater Accra)
18 April 2002 - In his first newspaper interview since winning the topmost
“Song of the Year” and three other awards at Ghana Music Awards 2002, Lord
Kenya told Showbiz “It’s all right, I feel great...it sort of gingers you on to
do a lot more. Our next target is Africa, we want to put Ghana on the African
map.”
Kenya’s fourth and
latest album Sika Mpo Nfa Neho has generated a lot of debate among the public
about whether he is burnt out and has nothing more to offer in line with his
known style. But he thinks that those holding that view are not aware of the
vision he has.
“You see, I have to
move on, I have to break new grounds. You have to be innovative and dynamic and
you don’t get there if you keep doing the same thing. “This album is a
pot-pourri of African beats and each track on it represents a particular music
genre from Ghana and the other countries around us”, he explained.
He said Baby Nayoka
(which together with Yefre Me Sen and Three Points, have been enjoying a lot of
airplay) has a typical Ivorian rhythm and Shake. It is a reggae song given a
ragga beat. “Everybody would have their own kind of music on this album”. His
personal favourite is Children of Africa.
According to him the
Sika Mpo Mfa Neho album which will be released on June 4 will be preceded by a
press launch on May 1 when a fourth track Mode Moano Ato Me Tuo would be added
to the three currently enjoying airplay. “It is only from June that people who
are willing to buy the cassette would get them to buy”, he said. “This happens
to be a new thing we are trying to do so we want the public to have a feel of
it before it comes out”.
Asked about his
relationship with the media Kenya said he is very thankful to the media, and
that his relationship with the media has been a complementary one. “When you
have a story the media will talk about you; if you have no story the media
would neglect you.”
Talking about the
music awards, Lord Kenya advised the organisers to return to last year’s mode
when award winners were given some money as part of their awards. “If you want
to award the musician you want to support him as well, you don’t just give him
the trophy.” He debunked rumours that he is not on good terms with some of the
hiplife artistes. Said he: “No I don’t have a problem with anybody. I am
focused on what I am doing. I know where I come from and where I am going.
“When I am on stage
what comes to my mind first is the people who watch me. It’s like a natural
thing, when the crowd is happy to see you why don’t you give them your best?
This is basically what informs my good stage work. I love my fans and it is for
them that I do what I do”. He says he has become a homeboy, as he cannot go out
like everybody else without the crowd “accosting” him. When I come out with my
music, I do it for the fans. I don’t know what would come out of my latest, but
I can assure you that it will win more awards than Medo”. – Graphic Showbiz.
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