I’ve not fled my region – Sahanun
Police grab
Catholic Priest for swindling a businessman
‘I won't be
Queen mum’- Woman takes kingmakers to court
Disabled in demo against Information Service
I’ve not fled my region – Sahanun
The Upper West Regional Minister, Mr Sahanun Mogtari, has described as misleading media reports that following an abortive demonstration against him last Wednesday, he has fled his region and that his whereabouts cannot be traced.
According to the minister, he has since Monday, been in office to perform official duties without any threat to his life. “I wish to say that on that fateful day, I held two meetings in my office with officials of Bank of Ghana and some non-governmental organisations,” he added.
Mr Mogtari was reacting to a report published by an Accra based weekly newspaper at a press conference at Wa on Friday. He advised journalists not to take advantage of the repeal of the criminal libel law to engage in irresponsible journalism.
He said false reports by journalists can spark off violence which could affect the developmental process being pursued by the government.
The regional minister urged journalists to conduct thorough investigations and publish the truth not only to promote peace and stability but also to avoid incurring but also to avoid incurring legal suits and lack of public confidence in the media.
As to what line of action he will take to redeem his image, Mr Mogtari threatened that he will deal drastically with that newspaper as soon as he gets a copy of it.
He explained that the Regional Security Council decided to stop the demonstration because two factions of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) had decided to demonstrate on the same day, which could have led to chaos and anarchy.
Mr Mogtari described as unfortunate and unfounded allegations made by some members of the NPP at Wa that the recently held regional congress was bogus and fraudulent.
He said all those who walked out were disgruntled members of the party who realised that they were going to lose the elections. “What is happening is a machination of a handful of NPP supporters at Wa and not the entire eight constituencies in the region,” Mr Mogtari added.
The regional minister implored genuine supporters of the NPP in the region to remain steadfast and stand solidly behind the leadership of the party to rebuild the nation.
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The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has outlawed the existence and functioning of constituency and regional branches of the Young Elephants Movement (YEM), which are independent of the recognised structures of the party.
A statement issued by the party and signed by its General Secretary, Mr Dan Botwe made it clear that henceforth activities of the movement would fall under the direct control of constituency and regional youth organisers of the party across the country and no longer as parallel institutions.
The statement said the NEC of the party expects “all committed party members to abide by this directive and will not hesitate to take drastic disciplinary action against anyone who acts counter to this directive.”
It said the youth wing of the party will henceforth be called the Young Elephants. The statement said the directive had become necessary due to what it termed “the apparent independent operations of those movement and the potential confusion that can engulf the party.”
It said whiles the NEC understands the zeal of some youth to be more active in the activities of the party, especially after its victory, it strongly believes and insists that party cohesion and discipline need to be maintained.
According to the statement the NEC reminded members of the party of the existence in the NPP constitution, hierarchical structures for the management of the party.
The statement said in recognition of the need for the strengthening of youth activities in the party, preparations are far advanced for the election of the national leadership of the youth wing of the party.
GRi…/
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Police
grab Catholic Priest for swindling a businessman
A Catholic
Priest of the Kumasi Diocese, Rev Father Emmanuel Ofori Gyamfi, 41, has been
arrested by the Tesano Police in Accra for defrauding a businessman of 3,700
Pounds Sterling, equivalent of 38 million cedis.
The money
was collected by the Reverend Father to enable him to secure a US visa for the
businessman but he failed to honor his promise.
Rev Father
Gyamfi for sometime now has had the privilege granted him by the American
Catholic Church, to travel to the USA every year, with two of his relations. He
instead charges prospective travelers some fees before they embark on such
journeys with him.
A police
source at Tesano said Rev Father Gyamfi had engaged himself in such activities
for sometime now until his arrest in Accra on Saturday, November 17.
The source
said some time in August, 2001, Rev Father Gyamfi collected 3,700 Pound
Sterling from Mr George Frempong, the businessman, with the promise to send him
to the USA as his relation, but after collecting the money went into hiding.
Rev Gyamfi
was arraigned before the Amasaman Community Tribunal chaired by Mr W.K. Owusu,
on November 21, charged with defrauding by false pretences. His plea was not
taken and the tribunal remanded him into police custody until December 5, to
enable the police to carry out further investigations.
The
tribunal had heard through the prosecution that, the suspect is a Catholic
Priest in the Kumasi Diocese of the Catholic Church. He has a passport with a
five multiple USA Visa. The Rev Father travels frequently to the USA.
The
prosecution said, Mr Frempong, had tried several times to travel to the USA
without success until he was introduced to the Catholic priest by a friend as
someone who could help him secure the visa.
"The
money was paid to Rev Father Gyamfi at an Accra hotel somewhere in August 2001
for the visa. However, after collecting the money, the Catholic Priest went
into hiding.
When
contacted, a source at the Catholic Church secretariat in Accra pleaded
anonymity and confirmed the story. The source said due to the numerous
fraudulent cases, which have been brought against the Rev Father, the hierarchy
of the church has interdicted him.
GRi…/
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‘I won't
be Queen mum’- Woman takes kingmakers to court
The
kingmakers of Nyonya-Ntsumuru in the Jasikan District of the Volta Region are
set on a collision course with a 45-year old female social worker after a
failed attempt to abduct her for installation as a queenmother for the town.
The social
worker, Ms Lilian Joy Ama Aganu, a staff of the Community Water and Sanitation
Agency (CWSA) at Hohoe, has therefore made recourse to the law to seek an intervention
to restrain the kingmakers from pursuing their agenda.
Consequently,
a Hohoe High Court has granted an application for an exparte motion filed on
March 2, to restrain the kingmakers from carrying out the intended confinement
and installation of Ms Aganu as a queenmother, and also from performing any
rituals on her.
Speaking to
The Mirror, Ms Aganu deplored some methods of choosing traditional leaders and
described the action on her as dehumanizing and outmoded.
According
to her, she was stripped naked by three men who attempted to abduct her at her
father's residence at Hohoe on February 17, with the view to sending her to
Nkonya. She questioned why makers of queenmothers could not be women to avert
that type of embarrassing and agonising encounter with the male kingmakers.
Ms Aganu
said in the process of abducting her, the men poured a hot powdered substance
into her face resulting in her vision being blurred while another man tried to
force his fingers into her mouth in a bid to seize her.
She said
the ensuring struggle with the men attracted a large number of people to the
scene, some of whom thought she was getting insane.
Ms Aganu
said it was her mother who rescued her at the last minute when she came out
from the bedroom to rebuke the kingmakers and provided clothing to cover
her nakedness.
She said
her experiences were highly regrettable because the horror of it finally landed
her at the hospital as a result of high blood pressure, dizziness, wobbling
legs and general unconsciousness she developed during the ordeal.
She further
said despite her poor condition, the kingmakers were still aggressive and
determined to carry out their mission even when she was on admission at the
hospital.
She told
The Mirror that the kingmakers wrote to her in June, last year, informing her
that she was considered a candidate to occupy the stool, but she declined the
position by writing back to them on the basis that she could not compromise her
Christian principles for the demands of the office of a queenmother.
Ms Aganu
therefore underscored the need for traditional rulers to modify customs on
choosing leaders saying that people should not be forced into leadership
positions.
She was of
the view that a transparent approach with the consensus of all prospective
candidates in a royal house should always be considered in order to avoid
chieftaincy disputes and litigations.
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A
35-Year-Old farmer of Oforikrom near Sefwi-Debiso who continued to nurse seeds
of vengeance after his arrest for attempting to shoot a caretaker over a land
dispute, resurfaced after five months to slash off the wrist of the caretaker.
Kwame Takyi
who further attempted to slash the leg and waist of Ebo Yankson, the caretaker,
is now facing a fresh charge of attempted murder at the Tarkwa Circuit Court.
Takyi's plea was not taken by the court.
Prosecuting,
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Thomas Osei of the Tarkwa Police,
told the court that Takyi shares a common boundary on his cocoa farm with one
Nana Acheampong, owner of another cocoa farm on which Yankson is the caretaker.
He said
because of the boundary dispute between Takyi and Acheampong, the two were not
on talking terms. He said Yankson was not spared the bad blood and hatred
between the two farmers.
According
to ASP Osei, in July, Takyi, armed with a gun, attempted to kill Yankson and
another worker on Acheampong farm. He said the two farmers managed to overpower
Takyi, seized his gun and lodged a complaint at the Debiso Police Station.
ASP Osei
said Takyi was subsequently arrested and granted bail with one surety but he
jumped bail and vanished with the surety.
ASP Osei
said on November 10, Takyi again armed himself with a sharp cutlass and
attacked Yankson while he was harvesting cocoa on Acheampong farm.
According
to the prosecutor, as Takyi aimed the cutlass at Yankson's head, he attempted
to block it with his hand. He said the impact of thrust immediately severed
Yankson's wrist.
The
prosecutor said Yankson shouted for help and started fleeing from his
assailant. ASP Osei said Takyi followed the wounded Yankson and attempted to
slash his waist and left leg.
He said
Yankson's brother, Boafo, who happened to chance upon them, shouted for help.
He said when help came Yankson was rushed to the Saint John's Catholic Hospital
at Sefwi-Asafo.
The
prosecutor said Takyi later went to his cottage at Oforikrom with the severed
wrist. He said the next day, the unit committee members of Oforikrom arrested
Takyi with the severed wrist and the cutlass and handed him over to the
Sefwi-Debiso police.
GRi…/
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The Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rev. Dr. Sam Prempeh has suggested that the military should maintain a permanent presence in Bawku until a lasting peace is achieved.
Rev. Dr. Prempeh, who is also the chairman of the Christian Council of Ghana urged the government to find a lasting solution to the conflict and study the paper presented by the Bawku Local Council of Churches (BLCC) as well as the document on Bawku Peace Initiative.
In a press release issued by the church in Accra, Rev. Dr Prempeh described the loss of 28 lives so far and the destruction of the property as regrettable. He appealed to the warring factions to lay down their arms in the interest of peace and unity.
The Moderator advised the Christians and Muslims in the conflict to close their ranks and let the spirit of Ramadan and Christmas remind them of the need for peace, unity and tolerance.
He said it was unfortunate that almost a year after the parliamentary and presidential elections which left about 30 people dead and caused untold suffering the nation was witnessing the same scenario.
Rev. Dr Prempeh stated at a time the country was moving forward to reconcile Ghanaians another conflict had engulfed us making the peace efforts meaningless.
He extended his condolences to those who lost dear relatives and wished speedy recovery to the wounded.
More…/
Disabled in demo against Information Service
A ground of persons with disability on Thursday morning took to the streets in a demonstration against an alleged public announcement by the Information Services Department that it is illegal for people to give alms to the disabled.
They blocked the main road at the Cathedral Square near the Accra Psychiatric Hospital, saying it was wrong for the department to spread such information. "This shows disrespect to us. The van is spreading this information at a time when registration of people with disability has not even started," said one of the protesters.
He said they were also not happy that only one registration officer had been assigned to register them.
Speaking to the GNA, Mr Joseph Kojo Attigah, Officer-in-Charge of Accra Rehabilitation Centre, where the group had gathered to be registered, said they complained about the announcement by the ISD van and threatened to boycott the exercise.
Mr Simon Nagwa, the registration officer, said he reported at the centre at 8:30 am but the people refused to register and rather went on demonstration. They called off their action only after their officers had spoken to them
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Development
projects at the Tema and Takoradi seaports would cost the government 308
million dollars by the year 2010. The development would increase the efficiency
of service delivery at the ports and also promote trade.
Mr Edward
A. Kwakye, Director of Planning at the Ministry of Roads and Transport
disclosed this at a workshop organized to discuss the draft final report for
the development of Ghana's seaports.
Mr Kwakye
emphasized the important roles played by the two ports in the country's
international trade revealing that the two ports handle over 90 percent of the
country's important and export trade.
He said
that so far no donor agency had been contacted for funding except the GPHA
itself, which was undertaking some of the projects as its emergency projects.
In the draft report on the Takoradi port, nine new berths are to be constructed
by 2020 as contained in the master plan.
In the
short term of 2010, however, four berths would be constructed to cater for
manganese, bauxite and clinker, container and then break bulk. There is a
proposal foe a new container terminal operation system.
An
efficient port promotion for Takoradi would among others emphasize the high
stability and reliability of the port and increase the trade visits to
potential customers to attract more cargoes especially import cargoes.
For the
Tema Port, priority would be the construction of new container berths, new oil
berth and VALCO berth and multipurpose berths.
In the
short-term development plan, two containers of depth 13.0 metres and 300 metres
long would be constructed.
More…/
The Wa
Central Constituency of the National Democratic Congress has given its fullest
backing to the minority stand that the reconciliation process should start from
1957 and cover all regimes.
This was
contained in a resolution passed at the delegates’ congress of the party and
signed by the Secretary Mr A. Yahaya at Wa.
The
resolution said the party's position was a true reflection of the stand of the
general public on the reconciliation process and urged the NPP government to
uphold the majority view in order to ensure that true reconciliation is
attained.
It took a
serious view of the rising cost of living in the country and urged the
government to take appropriate steps to address the situation.
The
resolution noted in particular the abrupt ending of the rainy season in the
Upper West Region resulting in poor harvest and appealed for food aid to avert
hunger in the lean season.
It
registered its unhappiness on the suspension of work on the Bole-Banboi road
which the NDC government had started but is presently so deplorable that one
would need about four hours to travel on the 72-mile stretch.
The
resolution gave its support and blessings to the re-organization of the NDC and
all efforts by the National Executive Committee to strengthen the party to
enable it to take over the reigns of
government again in the 2004 elections.
GRi…/
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