GRi Press Review Headlines 02-07-99
Judges Killer writes to JJ
Korle Bu report Bombshell
When the Gun Rules
Propagate Good Work of NDC
Fate of Ghanaians in foreign prisons
Govt to save ˘ 22b
17 Ghanaians jailed in Europe for drug offence
Hearts dares Italians
The Crusading Guide 02 – 07 - 99
Judges Killer writes to JJ
Korle Bu report Bombshell
"Judges Killer Writes to JJ" is lead story in this edition of the Crusading Guide. The report alleges that Lance Coporal Amedeka, the man who was at the centre stage of the controversy surrounding the murder of the three high court judges and a retired army Major 17 years ago, has written to the President, Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings.
L/Cpl Amedeka, who was described as "head of the execution squad" in the report by the Special Investigations Board (SIB) that went into the crime, is reportedly hiding in Lagos, Nigeria.
Making these disclosures at a press conference in the wake of the 17th anniversary of murders, Wednesday, June 30, Mr. Kwabena Adjepong son of Justice Adjepong, one of the murdered judges, alleged that L/ Cpl Amedeka had written to seek financial help from the first couple. "He sought US$250,000 from each of them," Adjepong is said to have intimated.
Amedeka, who was convicted and sentenced to the death in absentia in connection with the murders, escaped from prison while awaiting trail and had reportedly been living in Togo and Benin before moving to his present hide out with his family.
According to the paper Mr. Adjepong said of the letter "it appears that this is just the latest link in the chain of continuous contacts between the president and this convicted felon," adding Amedeka has been constant touch with the former chairman of the PNDC and his wife ever since his escape.
The Crusading Guide recounts that Adjepong has in recent times, been vocal on the need for the case of to be exhaustively dealt with so that the whole truth will come to light."
Recently he called a press conference at which he said that "as the years pass by evidence accumulate which if true, indicates that a serious miscarriage of justice occurred in the investigation and the conduct of justice of this case, the mystery far from lifting, deepens."
Obviously aggrieved, Adjepong took a firm resolve on the matter and said, "let me repeat my myself, I will not let this matter rest until everything is known. I am more determined because of the latest information I have received about the letter. Information that is as startling, as it is disturbing, the paper quoted Adjepong as saying.
Korle Bu report Bombshell
In another front page story headlined "Korle Bu report Bombshell" the Crusading Guide
Reports that Dr. Sylvia Annie Akwettey, Director of Administration at the centre of the procurement storm which engulfed the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital a few months ago has been declared "persona non grata" at the hospital.
The report says RONA Chemists Ltd, the company accused of serious malpractices and maligned by Dr. Akwettey has been exonerated of charges of over pricing and supplying fake goods.
These are among the major findings and recommendations made by the committee set up by the Minister of Health to probe alleged malpractices in the procurement of supplies for the nation’s premier health institution.
In what was described as a suprisingly frank report, the committee said, "Dr. Akwettey should be reassigned because of the massive displeasure she has incurred among her colleagues. According to the committee if she is retained she may not have the necessary co-operation.
It continued that while the committee acknowledges that Dr. Akwettey’s side was not
not fully heard, it noted that "several allegations were made on oath against the Director of Administration… including her soliciting for monies from suppliers, contracting her own companies and relatives to supply goods and services to the hospital and withholding payment for the supply of sutures by Rona Chemists Ltd.
The report said in view of the allegations against Dr. Akwettey, the committee has recommended that she should be given an opportunity to be heard at anytime she made herself available.
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When the Gun Rules
Captioned "When Gun Rules - AFRC, PNDC eras under attack" the Guide reports that the two most controversial political regimes in the nations' history, the AFRC and the PNDC era are likely t dominate public discussions into the next millennium.
The report says following the revelations of gross violations of human rights abuses and murders in the new book "When the Gun Rule, a soldiers testimony", a number of senior officers who were either part of or victims of those eras, have made their intentions clear to also document their experiences for history.
These intentions are said to have been uncovered at the launching of the book written by Col. Kofi Abaka Jackson who spent four and a half years incarcerated in various prisons after a fake trail on June 29, 1979.
According to the report Brigadier Nunoo-Mensah, a former member of the PNDC who resigned over the abduction and murder of the three judges and a retired army officer said "there is so much we need to document for posterity and I will also have to write my experiences and what happened in the PNDC era"
Col. Jackson’s book deals with what is described as the "worst Kangaroo trails and verdicts that was ever handed down to anyone in the history of Ghana."
According to the Guide the author describes how during the interrogation by the Pre- trail Investigation team (PIT) one of the investigators used a needle as an instrument of torture, and pricked him on the chest continuously while others slapped him on both sides of the face.
However, the report continues, the most astonishing and revealing aspect of the book is the prophetic statement made by the late Gen. I.K Acheampong to Gen. Odartey Wellington, Rear Admiral Amedumey and Air vice Marshal Boakye, all members of his NRC government but who turned against him in the palace coup that ushered in the SMC regime that "whatever happens to me would happen to you to you too."
Acheampong is also quoted in the book as having said, "whatever you do, wherever you go, somebody will come looking for you, either to thank you or to kill you"
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Propagate Good Work of NDC
The Paper carries a banner headline "Propagate Good Work of NDC". According to the story, a National Vice-Chairperson of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Madam Faustina Nelson has called on students and activists of the Party to mobilise all those who have attained the voting age to register when the Electoral Commission begins the Registration exercise.
The paper stated that Madam Nelson made this call in her keynote address at the inauguration of the Accra Polytechnic Branch of the Veranda Boys and Girls Club.
She charged the students to propagate the good works of the NDC, adding that no contribution is too small and that their ability to brighten their small corners is what will make the NDC ever formidable and ever unbeatable.
The paper added that, the National Chairman of the DPP, Mr. Dan Markin called on the students to be innovative so as to turn out useful products to quicken the growth of the national economy.
The paper concluded that, Mr. Simon Kanyagui, the chairman of the Accra Polytechnic branch expressed their willingness to carry the cross to enable the NDC to win election 2000.
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Fate of Ghanaians in foreign prisons
The paper carries a story "Fate of Ghanaians in foreign prisons" in its centre page. According to the paper, the Minister of Interior, Nii Okaija Adamafio has ruled out the possibility of transfering Ghanaian convicts abroad back home to complete their Prison terms.
According to the paper, the minister said at a ceremony to mark this year’s International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in Accra that the convicts have trampled on the laws of their host nations and should be left alone to face the consequence of their crimes.
It added that Mr. Ekwaw Spio-Garbrah, Minister of Education, in his key not address emphasised on preventive education in the war on drug abuse and addiction. He continued that attention is being focused on the youth because they are the most vulnerable to drug abuse and warned health officials to stop diverting controlled drugs and substances meant for legitimate use in hospitals and clinics to illicit markets.
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Govt to save ˘ 22b
17 Ghanaians jailed in Europe for drug offence
The Graphic reports in its front page story that government will boost its revenue by 22.2 billion cedis if the Cap 30 Pension Scheme is phased out within six years.
"Govt to save ˘ 22b", caps the lead story of the paper which says that over 13,000 civil servants are yet to proceed on Cap 30 pension while a 1996 data indicates that ˘67,039 billion was paid to 91,361 pensioners under the scheme. The figure is projected to rise to over 91.3b cedis in 2006 for 122,782 pensioners, the Graphic says.
It quotes Mr. J. E Allotey-Pappoe, acting General Manager in charge of Administration for the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), as saying during a forum for the media, that what the statistics reveal makes it unfortunate for government to be acceding to requests from a group of workers either to remain under Cap 30 or to opt out of SSNIT.
Mr. Allotey-Pappoe reportedly submitted that the requests are likely to have devastating effects on the Social Insurance Pension which SSNIT currently run and consequently on government’s budget.
" The SSNIT scheme and the Cap 30 are incomparable since the SSNIT scheme is a universal pension plan that cuts across all category of workers and offers compulsory income protection for all contributors while the Cap 30 is only an occupational scheme for pensionable officers in Civil Service paid from general taxation", Mr. Allotey-Pappoe was quoted by Graphic as saying.
17 Ghanaians jailed in Europe for drug offence
In another front page story the Graphic reports that 17 Ghanaians are serving prison terms ranging from five to nine years in Moldavian jails in Europe for various drug offences. According to the paper a statement from the Narcotic Enforcement Agency of Moldova to Ghana’s Narcotics Control Board said most of the drug dealers were arrested in Moscow while on transit from Central and South America.
The Graphic says it gathered from official sources that investigations are being conducted into the backgrounds of the culprits. Among those that the Graphic story gave to be serving five year sentences are Ms. Heather Osei, Theodus Thompson, Okine Laryea, Joseph Akwasi and Francis Blay while Nana Akwasi Amoah, Charles Osei Agyemang, Edmund Ofosu Asante, Prince Peter Tsibu, Edward B. Anipoma and Ahmed Addai are serving six years each.
The Graphic report carried also that Alex Adams and Nana Kwasi Gyasi were each sentenced seven years with Peter Kwasi Amo and Abu Ahmed receiving eight years each. Benjamin Amankwah is serving the highest sentence of nine years.
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Hearts dares Italians
The Graphic Sports writes that a high powered delegation of Accra Hearts of Oak will leave Accra for Rome next week to negotiate for the club’s possible 20 per cent share in the Stephen Appiah transfer purse from Udinese to A.S Parma which Hearts are being denied.
The paper reports that Hearts, who were about to petition the world football governing body, FIFA through the GFA over the issue received a fax message from mediator, Domenico Ricci, to meet Udinese officials in Rome to settle all differences.
Club former Chief Executive, Mr. Commodore Mensah is reported by the paper as saying Hearts signed a watertight agreement with Udinese during Appiah’s transfer to which should guarantee Hearts 10 billion cedis as their share of the midfielder’s move to Parma. "I have come out of retirement to fight the Stephen Appiah case for my club and my name," Mr. Mensah is reported as saying.
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