Couple found dead on the beach under bizarre circumstances
Accra (Greater Accra) 15 February 2002 - The Minority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin on Wednesday said the ranking member for finance was investigating the 150 per cent increase in new income tax for certain categories of transport operators.
"Parliament was taken aback by the announcement (by the Internal Revenue Service)," he said, at a forum organised by the Political Science Students Association (POSSA).
Bagbin said the House would not renegade on its oversight role over the Executive and would ensure that all taxes introduced passed through Parliament. The students had questioned the increase and asked whether parliamentary approval was sought before the announcement was made.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently announced that weekly income tax rates for five categories of vehicles in the transport sector would go up by 150 per cent with effect from March 1, 2002.
Mrs Janet Opoku-Acheampong, IRS Commissioner, said this was to enable the Service meet its target of 28 billion cedis compared with four billion cedis realised from the transport sector in the recent past when there was no target.
She said the new rates were arrived at with the transport unions made up of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union, Progressive Transport Owners' Association, Greater Accra Co-operative Union and other similar organisations.
Mrs Opoku-Acheampong said the increases were not expected to affect transport fares since they were to be borne by transport owners as tax on their profits. Papa Owusu-Ankomah, the Majority Leader, could not attend the forum.
GRi../
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Kyebi (Eastern Region) 15 February 2002 - An executive member of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Ms Emelia Agyapong has appealed to the Police to prosecute people, who contravened the Interstate Succession Law.
She said often when an aggrieved person reported a case of cheating to the Police, instead of investigating the case they rather encourages the complainant to seek out of court settlement with the same people, who were cheating her.
''Such developments do not encourage people to take advantage of the law to protect their interest and their children after the death of their spouses," Mrs Agyapong said at the opening of a two-day training programme for 40 women leaders including traditional authorities from the East Akyem District at Kyebi.
Under the law items enjoyed by a couple and their children should continue to be enjoyed by the living spouse after the death of one. ''Such items include the house where the couple lived, cooking utensils, television sets, saloon car and clothing''.
Ms Agyapong said anybody who tried to prevent the living spouse from enjoying some of these items contravened the Interstate Succession Law and could be prosecuted.
GRi../
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Sekondi (Brong Ahafo) 15 February 2002 - The Reverend James Asankomah Tandoh of the Church of Nazareth at Takoradi has been sentenced to 10 months' imprisonment for contempt by a Sekondi High Court presided over by Mr Justice S. K. Asiamah.
Rev Tandoh has for the past four years been litigating with his mother, Prophetess Mary over the ownership of the Nazareth Preparatory and Junior Secondary Schools at Lagostown and Apowa, near Takoradi.
He said owing to Rev Tandoh's behaviour of levelling false charges against judges handling the case between him and his mother, the case had gone through the hands of three other judges and with him being the fourth judge.
Justice Asiamah said on January 11, Rev Tandoh filed an affidavit before the court claiming that his mother had sent her lawyer, Mr Ebow Quashie, to influence him (Justice Asiamah) and also accused him of making nocturnal visits to his mother's school at Apowa.
Rev Tandoh's affidavit further claimed that the personnel of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) were investigating Justice Asiamah on his alleged corrupt practices.
The Judge said while the affidavit was pending for hearing, Rev Tandoh released a copy of the affidavit to the "Dispatch" newspaper, which published it in its February 4 edition.
Justice Asiamah said when the court sat to determine the affidavit and Rev Tandoh was called upon to substantiate the allegations but he could not do so. Rev Tandoh explained that he never saw Mr Quashie going to the Judge's residence or going to his mother's house but was informed by some people he could not identify.
At this juncture, Justice Asiamah invoked the High Court Civil Procedure Records Order 38, section three and said ''the fabrication tends to attack, scandalise and threatens me.
"If the courts would not use their authority or power to stamp out malicious fabrications, the country would lose, as foreign investors would fail to come and invest in the country."
Meanwhile, the Editor of the Dispatch that published the allegations has apologised to the Judge and the court for the embarrassment the publication might have caused him. He promised to publish an apology in the next issue of the "Dispatch".
GRi../
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Accra (Greater Accra) 15 February 2002 - Participants at a roundtable discussion on the establishment of the Ghana National Action Network on Small Arms (GANSA) have urged the government to open the draft on the arms and ammunitions amendment bill to a national debate.
"Government should not rush in its drafting but should consult civil society and other stakeholders on national security to ensure that a comprehensive document involving all shades of opinion is put into the bill," the participants stated.
They noted that the proliferation of small arms was dangerous to the individual, community and national development. The Arms and Ammunitions Act was passed in 1962 and amended in 1972.
To register arms under the present law requires applicants to provide full names and address, nationality, date of birth and place, description and quality of arms and ammunition.
Other requirements are date on which arms and ammunition were acquired and the source, purpose for which the applicant requires arms and ammunitions and the full particulars of all other arms and ammunitions held by the applicant.
The decree also deals with the method of registration, change of ownership or possession of arms or ammunitions, expiry of permit, control of imports and exports, offences and manufacture of arms and ammunitions. The penalty for contravention of the decree is 10,000 cedis or imprisonment not exceeding five years or both.
General Emmanuel Erskine, the first UNIFIL Commander, who is also a patron of the Foundation for Security Development in Africa (FOSDA), said in view of the serious security implications caused by the proliferation of arms in the country, the campaign against circulation of small arms in the hand of non-state actors must be intensified to ensure personal security and reduce tribal conflicts and cross-border crime.
He said Ghana could not pretend to be an island of peace in the midst of the proliferation in the sub-region and urged the government to review the outdated Arms and Ammunitions Regulations Act, 1972. The participants included General Arnold Quainoo, former Army Commander and Professor Kwame Karikari, Director of School of Communication Studies.
Others were representatives of FOSDA, main organisers of the event, Centre for Conflict Resolution, National Task Force on Small Arms, the Attorney General's Department, UNDP and Fellowship Network of Churches in West Africa.
GRi../
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Accra (Greater Accra) 15 February 2002 - The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) on Thursday congratulated Joy FM and Komla Dumor, a presenter of the radio station, for their tenacity in pursuing the allegations of corruption against some management staff of Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) to its logical conclusion.
The GJA in a statement signed by Mrs Gifty Affenyi-Dadzie also commended the Ghanaian Chronicle for being the first to break the news of corruption at SSNIT. The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) investigated the allegations upon the insistence of Mr Dumor. The statement said the ruling by CHRAJ vindicated the Ghanaian media in terms of its determination to uphold public accountability in the context of the Constitution.
"The victory of Joy FM and Mr Komla Dumor and the moral victory of the media should provide another opportunity for the Executive, the Legislature and civil society organisations to reflect on the challenges confronting the media even as media professionals strive to contribute their quota to good governance."
The statement said issues relating to access to information, reimbursement or legal costs, training for media professionals in investigative journalism and protection of informants should receive the attention of the government as Ghana made efforts to consolidate constitutional rule.
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Accra (Greater Accra) 15 February 2002- The Legon Police on Wednesday arrested Abraham Morkeh Roberts, a first year student of the University of Ghana, Legon, for attempting to withdraw 200,000 cedis from a colleague's account, at the Legon Branch of the Ghana Commercial Bank.
Mr Jerry Joseph Dawuni, the victim, told the GNA that he and Roberts, a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) Student, of the Faculty of Agriculture belong to the Akuafo Hall and went together to withdraw some money at the Bank, some time ago.
Mr Dawuni expressed surprise that the suspect managed to get his Bank Account Number and attempted to withdraw the little amount left in his accounts. Source close to the Bank said when Roberts filled withdrawal forms, he was questioned and when he sensed danger he run into the bush.
He was later seen at the University Hospital, where the Police arrested him.
The Acting Bank Manager, Mr Ensbit Nettey, said he wished the University authorities took up the matter.
The Police said the suspect would be arraigned at the Madina Community Tribunal after investigations.
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Accra (Greater Accra) 15 February 2002- The Ghana Education Service (GES) on Thursday marked this year's Valentine’s Day with a focus on the HIV/AIDS scourge and a strong appeal to the youth to avoid drugs.
The durbar of students at the Accra International Conference Centre was also used to project the pathetic case of Hydeia Broadbent, a 17-year-old American, who contracted the disease when she was five years and is in Ghana with members of the Hydeia Foundation with a message of caution for the youth.
The AIDS pandemic in Ghana is alarming and health authorities have warned that with statistics on the prevalence rate leaping from 0.2 per cent in 1991 to some 4.6 per cent in 1999-2000 and some 46,000 people infected, 18 per cent of deaths would be attributed to HIV/AIDS by 2005.
Mr John Budu-Smith, Acting Director-General of the Ghana Education Service, said: "For the first time, Valentine's Day is being associated with a campaign against the twin killers of the youth, staying away from hard drugs which would lead to addiction and prevention against HIV/AIDS infection."
GRi../
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Accra (Greater Accra) 15 February 2002- Odeneho Gyapong Ababio II, President of the National House of Chiefs was on Thursday sworn in as a member of the Council of State.
President John Agyekum Kufuor administered the oath of allegiance, secrecy, the official oath and presented the instrument of appointment to Odeneho Ababio, who is also the Paramount Chief of Sefwi-Bekwai Traditional Area at a short ceremony at the Castle, Osu.
President Kufuor said Odeneho Ababio in his role as the President of the National House of Chiefs and Member of the Council has a major responsibility to advise the government to serve and rule efficiently and effectively.
"You have now become a member of a team which takes initiative in its responsibilities to advise and interact with other agencies of state. I hope you will bring your rich experience to bear on their deliberations."
Odeneho Ababio gave the assurance that he would co-operate with the other members to ensure that the government succeeded to improve on the socio-economic conditions it inherited.
He appealed to Ghanaians to exercise restraint and bear with the government because there was every indication that the country would soon reap the fruits of the government's fiscal and monetary policies.
Odeneho Ababio was elected President of the House on November 27, last year and his position makes him an automatic member of the Council under the 1992 Constitution.
GRi../
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Accra (Greater Accra) 15 February 2002 - Hundreds of residents in the Korle Bu, Korle Gonno and Chorkor in Accra on Thursday morning trooped to the Dogo Beach, near the Old Slaughter House in Accra, to catch a glimpse of the bizarre end of a couple.
Kpakpa Quartey, who was said to be a tradesman in his early 30s, and Emelia
Okai, unemployed, in her early twenties, were last seen on Tuesday evening around 7pm.
The couple that resided at Korle Gonno was found dead at the beach on Thursday. A source close to the woman told the media that after watching television that evening, the couple went out to buy food.
The woman gave her three-month-old baby to a relative and the couple went out, but their bodies were found at the beach after three days, the source said, amidst sobbing.
Emelia's bloated body was lying in a supine position near the tunnel that links the Korle Lagoon to the sea. Her brassier and blouse were torn and there were deep cuts in her palm, head, shoulders and waist. Her stomach had what appeared to be stab wounds and the intestines were gushing out. The skin on the lower part of her body, especially the legs, had peeled off.
Eyewitnesses said they found Kpakpa's body in a prone position with deep cuts all over the body, but the Police said his body was also in a supine position when they arrived.
His bloated body lay on a higher altitude at the beach and his skin had also peeled off. The family source said Kpakpa was having a substantial amount of money on him that day and suspected foul play.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Helena Cobbina, District Commander of Korle Bu Police, confirmed the deaths and also suspected foul play. She said her office received a report from a relative of the disappearance of the couple last Wednesday and she advised that a report be made on Radio Gold FM.
On Thursday they received a report that a couple had been found dead at the beach. Upon identification, the victims were found to be Kpakpa and Emelia. The bodies have been deposited at the Korle Bu Mortuary while investigations continue.
GRi../
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com