Wiredu faces suit
Salary increase for lecturers, varsity staff
Heated debate over Criminal Libel Law
Mandela has prostate cancer
Nigeria supports Chambas
Witness in Quality Grain case apologizes
Commission to present report today
Kotoko, G’fields to face GFA
New twist to Malam Isa case
JAK summons ‘Hercules’ Edumadze’
12 years for Legon rapist
Cadre caused probe into GWCL
Split in Volta Region NPP
New Nkrumaist Club is born
Armed Robbers in trouble
is a divided house
NPP gets set for Elections 2004
Kakra Essamuah stages comeback
League takes 10-day break
Kofi Wayo to leave the NPP?
Asantehene orders return of land
Ghana traffics in children report
A Daily Graphic report says Mr Philip Kwaku Apaloo, a resident of Kaneshie in Accra, has filed a writ at an Accra High Court, seeking perpetual injunction to restrain the Chief Justice, Mr E.K. Wiredu, from working as a Judge of the Superior Court of Judicature.
Mr Apaloo is also seeking declaration that in terms of Article 115 (3) of the 1969 Constitution, the acting Chief Justice was not qualified for appointment as a High Court Judge and his purported appointment in that capacity is null and void and is of no legal consequence.
Furthermore, the plaintiff is averse to any promotion based on the void appointment, saying such promotion is also null and void.
He is also seeking a declaration that the purported recall of the defendant to the bench without Judicial adjudication clearing him of corruption is null, void, and of no legal consequence.
In his statements of claim, Mr Apaloo said sometime in January, 1969, Justice Wiredu was purported to have been appointed as a High Court Judge but insisted that at all material times, the defendant was qualified as a High Court Judge in terms of the 1969 Constitution.
The statement said, on April 4, 1986, the acting Chief Justice was dismissed as a judge by the Provisional National Defence Council Government on grounds of corruption, and he did not challenge his dismissal in any court of competent jurisdiction.
It said through some strange twist of events, which were not given any official explanation, the defendant warmed himself back into the bench and has risen to the position of a Supreme Court Judge.
In an accompanying affidavit, Mr Apaloo said he is reliably informed that Parliament is about to vet the defendant in the process of approving him as the Chief Justice of Ghana.
He said unless Parliament is restrained by the court, the defendant would go through vetting and confirmation as Chief Justice to the effect that it will prejudice and undermine the case.
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Salary increase for lecturers, varsity staff
The central Management Board has approved a 21.5 per cent increase in the salaries of lecturers and other categories of staff of universities and polytechnics, following the increase in the minimum wage.
Despite the increase, Polytechnic lecturers, who are on strike, have refused to resume work.
Members of the Polytechnic Teachers Association of Ghana (POTAG) embarked on an industrial action about two weeks ago over the government’s failure to review their salaries, after two increases in the minimum wage.
Mr Gyan Takyi of the Sunyani Polytechnic branch of POTAG told the Ghana News Agency on Tuesday that the 21.5 per cent increment contained in a letter dated July 19, 2001, fell far below what was due them.
“Besides the fact that the figure is below the 31 percentage increase in the rise of the minimum wage from ¢4,200 to ¢5,500, it did not take into account the first increase in the minimum wage from ¢2,900 to ¢4,200 approved last November.
Mr Takyi said a national executive meeting has been scheduled for Kumasi next Thursday and until otherwise decided at the meeting, the strike would continue.
“We are tired of always being treated as second rate to our counterparts in the universities and even at the Ghana Education Service, and we are determined to fight for what is due us.”
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Heated debate over Criminal Libel Law
Parliament, according to the Graphic would have turned rough on Tuesday during the reading of the Criminal Libel and Seditious Laws (Amendment) Bill for a second time but for the admonition of the Speaker, Mr Peter Ala Adjetey.
Storm began to gather over the bill when Nana Akufo-Addo, in the process of moving the motion, read the accompanying memorandum which was described by the Minority as long.
To express their disapproval, some of the Minority members kept murmuring, which was countered by the Majority, thereby interrupting proceedings and forcing the Speaker to constantly advise members to refrain from any detractions.
Although the Minority supported the repeal of the law, they expressed reservations about some of the views of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Nana Akufo-Addo.
Nana Akufo-Addo traced the origins of the Criminal Libel and Seditious Laws and said it was enacted as a tool in the anti-nationalist campaign during the colonial administration.
He said the laws symbolise authoritarian, anti-democratic and anti-media impulses within the body politic.
He said the purpose of the bill is to fulfil the promise to repeal the law and thereby demonstrate the government’s determination to make good its promise to the nation.
The minister said also that the repeal was a further evidence of the sincerity of the NPP government’s commitment to the process of democratic consolidation in the country.
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Mandela has prostate cancer
Former South African-President Nelson Mandela has been diagnosed with microscopic prostate cancer.
A spokeswoman said the tumour was very small and should not reduce Mr Mandela’s life expectancy.
No surgery is being contemplated for the 83-year-old elder statesman at the moment and he will receive a seven-week course of radiotherapy.
The Nobel peace prize winner was probably the world’s best known political prisoner, spending 27 years in jail.
In 1985, while in prison, Mr Mandela was hospitalised for prostate surgery. He then returned to jail, where he remained until his release in February, 1990.
As President of South Africa between 1994 and 1999, he supervised its transition from white minority rule to full democracy.
He is now retired from active politics, but still maintains a punishing schedule.
He travels frequently around the world, often to collect achievement awards, and his extraordinary popularity remains undiminished.
After celebrating his birthday at the weekend, he was in Tanzania on Monday mediating a breakthrough in the Burundi peace process.
Three years ago, the Nobel peace prize winner married Grace Machel, the widow of the former President of Mozambique.
Mr Mandela remains a fit and generally healthy man, but is starting to appear more frail.
The prostate is a small gland lying close to the bladder. This form of cancer is a common condition in elderly men and can usually be treated successfully, if it is detected at an early state before it spreads to other organs.
GRi…/
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Nigeria supports Chambas
The Ghanaian Times reports that Nigeria has thrown her weight behind Ghana’s quest for the Executive Secretary’s position of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Mr Chinaobi Nwakanma, Deputy chairman of the Nigerian House of Representatives National Assembly disclosed this to newsmen at the Accra Airport on Tuesday, according to the paper.
He is leading a 15-member parliamentary delegation to Ghana on a reciprocal visit.
Ghana has proposed Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas, Member of Parliament of Bimbila for the top position of the 16-member regional group.
Mr Nwakamma said that the Nigerian Parliamentary delegation was in the country to interact with their Ghanaian counterparts to find ways in which the establishment of an ECOWAS Parliament could be concretized.
He emphasized that Ghana and Nigeria shared historical, political and cultural ties which made it imperative for them to spearhead the development of the sub-region.
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Witness in Quality Grain case apologizes
Mr Ernest Asiedu Amoa-Awuah of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, on Tuesday apologized to the court for an earlier evidence in which he had claimed that the letters containing his findings about Quality Grain Company in the United States, which were addressed to some of the accused persons got to them.
This was after he admitted during cross-examination that he was not in a position to have known whether or not the letters actually got to them even though they were mailed and dispatched from the foreign Affairs Ministry.
He also apologized for assuming in his evidence for the prosecution, that Kwesi Ahwoi and Dr Samuel Dapaah, both accused persons, were actually at post as the Chief executive of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre and Chief Director of the ministry of Food and Agriculture respectively at the time the letters were sent and addressed to them.
Mr Amoa-Awuah rendered the apologies after concluding his evidence for the prosecution and was being cross-examined by the defence at Tuesday’s sitting on the Quality Grain Company trial.
Two former Ministers of Agriculture and Finance, Ibrahim Adam and Kwame Peprah, are being tried together with four senior public officials, including Nana Ato Dadzie, former Chief of Staff of the Office of the President, and Dr George Yankey, a former director at the Ministry of Finance.
They are facing charges of conspiracy and causing financial loss of 22 million dollars and ¢3 billion to the state.
The accused persons have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Counsel for Dr Dapaah had submitted that his client was neither the acting Chief Director technically nor had he held that post at the time the witness claimed to have sent the letters.
Counsel also submitted that the witness never carried out any findings or wrote any report on the Quality Grain Company in the United States.
Mr Amoa-Awuah contended that he was not aware that Dr Dapaah, had never held the post of acting Chief Director technically at the Ministry of Agriculture, since the letter was addressed to the acting Chief Director.
He, however, insisted that he (Amoa-Awuah) conducted a research on Quality Grain and also wrote a report on the findings, which he sent through the Foreign Affairs Ministry to various Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
Counsel for Kwesi Ahwoi also submitted that his client was not employed at the GIPC in 1992 when the letters were purported to have been sent to the centre, stating that Kwesi Ahwoi was employed in 1994.
Mr Amoa-Awuah apologized for the wrong assertion.
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Commission to present report today
The five-member Commission of enquiry set up to investigate the May 9 Accra Sports Stadium disaster is set to present its final report to the President today.
The Commission, which presented an interim report last month after an extensive four week of public hearings, continued sitting in camera afterwards to complete the tasking assignment.
Indications are that more witnesses who shied away from the public hearings came up to give evidence in camera, giving the Commission fresh puzzles to sort out.
A source close to the Commission intimated to the ‘Times Sports’ that some plain clothe policemen who watched the epic match from the stands have even given evidence to the Commission.
He said all the policemen connected with the tragedy in one way or the other have been interrogated and a thorough and meticulous work has been done on the facts elicited.
The Commission, inaugurated on May 14 by the President J.A. Kufuor, was charged to dig up causes of the tragic death of over 126 soccer fans during the fourth week premier league match between arch rivals Accra Hearts of Oak and Kumasi Asante Kotoko and make recommendations that will avert a recurrence.
Chaired by Mr Sam Okudzeto a former president of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), the Commission was constituted by Prof. Akua Kuenyehia, Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Ghana.
Other members were Prof. Agyeman Badu Akosah, president of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) Prof. George Ofosu Amaah, former Director of the Special Branch and Mr Ken Bediako, a veteran sports journalist.
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Kotoko, G’fields to face GFA
Obuasi Goldfields, Great Olympics and nine division one league sides have been asked to appear before the disciplinary Committee of the GFA on Thursday at 4:00 pm.
Their appearance is in connection with protests lodged for and against their clubs.
The division one league clubs to appear are Power F/C, Khalid F/C, Kwamax F/C, Pro-Sport, Yendi Lions, Savana Stars, Eleven Wise, Iron Fighters and All Blacks.
All the clubs have been requested to report with the relevant documents for the speedy settlement of their cases while clubs that fail to appear would have their cases struck out.
Meanwhile, the case involving King Faisal, Owerriman and Liberty Professionals in connection with Sulley Muntari of the Black Satellites fame rages on and all the parties have been asked to appear before the GFA Status Committee tomorrow at 1.00 pm.
Kotoko, Okwawu and Vipers are to appear in connection with goalkeeper Joe Quansah while Burkinabe International, Clovis Kambou also sorts things out with the Porcupine Warriors.
GRi…/
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New twist to Malam Isa case
Five days after Ex-Sports Minister, Malam Ali Yusif Isa, was sentenced to prison for stealing $46,000, a lawyer at the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has revealed that when the trial was ongoing, Mr Worlanyo Agrah, General Secretary of the GFA approached him to influence counsel for the ex-minister not to cross-examine him on his foreign account.
The revelation, which analysts say is fresh evidence which could lead to the re-opening of the case at the trial court, was dropped by the GFA Lawyer, Alhaji Amadu Tanko, Tuesday on Choice FM, a private radio station in Accra.
“I remember he called me on phone and requested me to speak to Malam Isa’s defence counsel not to question him on his foreign exchange account position, but I did not oblige to that request… I did not bring this to the knowledge of Malam Isa’s counsel because I considered it unprofessional on my part” Mr Amadu said in response to a question as to whether Worlanyo Agrah approached him.
Asked for his professional advice on whether the revelation which comes after the imprisonment of the ex-minister was relevant, Mr Amadu said even though he does not know what is on the record of proceedings, Mr Agrah’s foreign account position would be useful or would have been useful to the court.
“I have not seen the records and I don’t know what other reasons the judge adduced in convicting and sentencing him, but it (the revelation) probably might go to the extent of creating some more thought as to whether or not Malam actually stole that money,” the GFA lawyer said.
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JAK summons ‘Hercules’ Edumadze’
President John Agyekum Kufuor (JAK) on Tuesday invited Central Regional Minister Isaac Edumadze, a.k.a. “Hercules”, to the Castle over last Friday’s road-rage incident at Suhum in the Eastern Region.
Chronicle gathered that the President’s office took the bulky Regional Minister through lessons on behaviour over his role in the incident in which he ordered his driver to seize a taxi from Suhum to his residence at Cape Coast.
The taxi was driven off by the Minister’s driver on his orders after his personal bodyguard fired warning shots that sent the cab driver and the passengers scurrying for their dear lives in the nearby bushes.
Chronicle could immediately not establish what the fate of the herculean Edumadze, estimated to weigh about 250 pounds and built like a Japanese sumowrestler would be. But snippets of information the paper gathered suggests Edumadze may soon lose his ministerial appointment.
The Minister on Monday night also threatened Dominic Jale of Chronicle who broke the story.
He accused the Chronicle of malice and said he would not be surprised if some journalists have been bribed to bring him down. “I fully believe that your story was written with mischievous motive,” he shouted on a long distance phone call from Cape Coast.
The Minister also questioned the rights of the reporter to investigate the story, since as he puts it, the reporter was not a police officer or an official of the Bureau of National Investigation (BNI) and, therefore, has no right to investigate the story about him.
Later events also prove that Edumadze coerced the owner of the taxi to deny the paper’s report and virtually provided the services of a fax machine at his office for the owner to file a retraction of the story. The fax, which was sent to the Chronicle’s office, unfortunately, bore the phone/fax number of the Minister’s office, betraying him in the process.
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12 years for Legon rapist
John Asare, the man who violently raped a 21-year-old female United States citizen, at the University of Ghana Legon campus was on Tuesday sent to 12 years imprisonment with hard labour.
The court presided over by Mr Justice R.K. Apaloo sentenced the convict after the seven member jury unanimously found the accused guilty for raping the former Legon student who was on a student exchange programme from an American university last year.
Pronouncing the sentence, the judge stated that the accused has been diagnosed to be unpredictable and that his moods were always on and off, adding that the court will therefore not be in the position to know when the sexual instinct of the convict will be activated since he has another rape case pending before the courts.
Justice Apaloo therefore said that he was imposing a custodian sentence to keep the convict far away from society, otherwise no female is safe.
The court noted that the ordeal the victim went through in the hands of the convict was brutalizing of the highest order and that the victim’s offence was that she was a female.
Justice Apaloo, in his presentation to the jurors said that the victim’s evidence that she was raped was collaborated by a medical doctor at the Nyaho Clinic who testified that the victim had cuts in her private parts which indicated that either convict had a hig phallus, or the victim had a small passage-way or the convict used force to gain access to her womanhood.
The accused in an unsworn statement on his defence had told the court that he had sex with the victim twice. However the court questioned why he failed to tell the court when and where he first had sex with the victim.
During the trial the convict brought in a medical expert from the Accra Psychiatric Hospital in Asylum Down who testified that the accused knew what he was doing and was also aware of his conduct and what he was in court for.
The court concluded that accused was very sane, and that insanity should not be invoked in this case.
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Cadre caused probe into GWCL
A cadre of the Rawlings revolution who was interdicted by authorities of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) but reinstated after the intervention by Works and Housing minister, Kwamena Bartels, has tendered in evidence before the Justice N.Y.B. Adade Committee probing the GWCL, indicating that his reports to the Minister caused a probe into activities of the Company.
David Mawuli Fugar, onetime chairman the GWCL’s branch of the Committee for the Defence of the Revolution (CDR.), told the committee last week that he was reinstated after complaining to Bartels about what led to his interdiction, perceived to be a victimisation by Management then headed by Mr Charles Agyei.
“I proved a few things to him about mismanagement of resources and victimisation and the Minister realised the need for my case to be looked into… probably that might have led to the setting up of this committee”, Fugar told the five member committee in his usual aggressive manner.
David Fugar holds that he was interdicted since 1998 until recently because of his penchant at attempting to expose the rot at GWCL.
GRi…/
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Split in Volta Regin NPP
Nine government appointees to the Ketu Volta Regin have had their appointments revoked and withdrawn, according to the Free Press.
No apparent reasons have been assigned for this unfortunate action. But political pundits in the region have attributed this situation to the Kufuor, Akufo-Addo dichotomy prevailing the region. If immediate steps are no taken to address the impasse it will go beyond bounds and the party (NPP) would be torn apart to allow the NDC have full control and firm grasp of the area.
A revocation and withdrawal letter signed by the Volta Regional Minister, Mr Kwasi Owusu Yeboah dated 20/6/2001 with reference number LG/ELEC/14 and addressed to the affected persons copied to the Minister of Local Government and the district coordinating director stated inter alia that the minister had been directed by the President John Kufuor to revoke and withdraw their appointments under the provisions of Article 249 of the 1992 Constitution and section 9(6)(1) (a) of Act 462.
The affected persons, mostly educationists, include Messrs Justice Cudjo, Samuel Cofie, Hammond Agboked and Samuel Ayesuxede. The rest are Madam Comelia Hadzide, Mr Ayivor, Mr avorfodi, James amenyo and one other.
When the Free Press contacted the Ketu DCE, Mr Goodman Linus Cofie to know the reasons for such action, the story was different. Until the paper got to the assembly he (DCE) claimed he had not seen any letter supposed to have been written to the nine affected persons and even if it had been so he was not party to it.
Free Press investigations revealed that the nine assembly members have already been replaced with new appointees currently undergoing orientation.
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New Nkrumaist Club is born
A new club within the Nkrumaists family, which aims at winning more support for the Convention People’s Party (CPP), has been formed in Kumasi.
The club, “Osagyefo’s Own Club” has Dr. J.A. Amoateng, a leading member of the CPP in Ashanti, as the convener.
According to Dr. Amoateng, the club is a social institution open to all well-wishers and supporters who are determined to ensure that the party achieves its objective for the good of Ghana.
He said the club would undertake research into electoral, organisational and programme areas to arm field organisers with current facts and materials to carry out their education work in the wards and constituencies.
Dr Amoateng therefore appealed to the leadership of the party to plan a new socio-economic approach to revamp the economy in case the party comes to power.
The CPP leading member urged all men of goodwill to join the club and asked the party to adopt a realistic plan for the future.
GRi…/
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Armed Robbers in trouble
The Daily Guide says it can confirm that the joint Police cum Military day-and-night patrols in the city of Accra and its environs has began yielding fruits.
The soldiers were sent to town last Friday July 20 to beef up the efforts of the Police in containing the rising cases of armed robbery some of which are brazenly carried out in broad daylight by heavily built men of doubt of Ghanaian identity.
The soldier-police team reportedly had their first engagement with a group of armed robbers on Monday evening who engaged them in a shootout and a quick response from the security agencies resulted in the death of one.
The deceased, named as ‘Shaba’ or ‘Landlord’, was identified as a notorious criminal already on Police wanted list.
The arrests were made at about 8 pm at Adabraka in Accra when the gang attempted driving through a red traffic light signal.
The gang reportedly attracted the attention of the patrol team with their reckless driving as they attempted to jump the traffic light warning.
Those arrested are being kept at the Criminal Investigations Department of the Police Headquarters while the body of the deceased has been deposited at the Police Hospital mortuary.
Guide investigations learnt that Shaba had gained notoriety for his role in many robberies in the metropolis. Some officers indicated that he had threatened their lives in the past.
Upon close inspection the police team found that the registration number on the licensed plates of their Mazda saloon car was different from that on the insurance and VELD certificates displayed on the windscreen.
In an effort to check the crime wave in the country, the government last Friday sent the police and the military unto the streets of Accra to help stem the incidence of armed-robbery which is now being done in both broad day light and in the night.
A statement signed by the National Security Advisor, Lt. Gen Joshua Hamidu said that government has decided to fight the brazen armed robberies that have increased of late with a combined task force of the police and the military.
GRi…/
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NDC is a divided house
The former Vice President and Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2000 elections, Professor John Evans Atta Mills last Saturday dropped a hint suggesting that the NDC lost the elections because the centre of the party could not hold, reports The Independent.
Addressing a zonal meeting of NDC supporters at Winneba Professor Atta Mills disclosed that soon after the 2000 elections, some of the party’s members ran away for unexplained reasons.
He disclosed that prior to the 2000 elections, the NDC was divided into blocks and camps of power brokers and said, “this resulted in the defeat of the party in the 2000 elections”.
“There are some people in the party”, who Professor Mills said” are bent on disorganizing the party.”
Despite these machinations, Prof. Mils said the NDC still has a vision and will definitely win the next elections in 2004.
While calling on all NDC supporters and activists to stand firm and team up with the leadership to ensure victory in 2004, he emphasised that those willing to leave the party could do so peacefully.
According to the former Vice President, barely six months into office of the new administration, Ghanaians are crying and calling on the NDC to organise itself properly to win the next elections.
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NPP gets set for Elections 2004
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) will go to the polls on August 25, 2001 to elect new national officers for the party at its Annual National Delegates Conference, slated for the auditorium of the School of Administration, University of Ghana Legon.
A release issued to the press said the impending election is in accordance with the party’s constitution, which states that elections shall be held every three years to choose new national officers to steer the affairs of the party.
Positions very likely to be contested for are National Chairperson, 1st National Vice-Chairperson, and 2nd National Treasurer.
The position of National Chairperson is likely to become vacant with the likely appointment of incumbent-Samuel Odoi-Sykes as an ambassador.
Information reaching The Independent indicates that Prof. Mike Ocquaye of the University of Ghana could be the likely successor of Odoi-Sykes.
With the appointment of 1st National Chairperson Ama Busia to the Council of State, another person is needed to fill the void whilst that of Treasurer would also be vacant for the taking.
Incumbent Hackman Owusu Agyemang is now the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Another office that is to be competed for is the second vice-Chairperson, left vacant with the appointment of Dr Kweku Afriyie as the Minister of Lands, Forestry and Mines. The post of General Secretary of the party however, is largely expected to be re-conferred on the current occupant, Mr Dan Botwe.
All members of the party (NPP) are eligible to contest for the publicized positions according to the press release signed by the party’s press secretary, Kwadwo Afari.
Interested members would only be required to apply immediately in writing to the General Secretary after would be required to complete and return application forms not later than 5 pm on Saturday, August 11, 2001.
GRi…/
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Kakra Essamuah stages comeback
There are indications that the former NPP firebrand, Kakra Essamuah who fell out with his party months before last year’s election and asked Ghanaians to vote for Professor Atta Mills instead, is worming his way back into favour with President Kufuor, writes The Evening News.
Kakra Essamuah, until his dramatic switch of allegiance would not allow any criticism of his party’s actions by members of the Progressive alliance go unanswered, but openly called on Ghanaians in a letter to a national daily to vote for NDCs flagbearer Atta Mills.
Information from the grapevine is that the Special Advisor to the President, Dr Amoako Tuffour, is in the process of engaging Mr Essamuah to work in his outfit at the office of the President.
Whether President Kufuor is aware of this arrangement or not could not be immediately ascertained, but sources at his office confirmed to the paper that Mr Essamuah would be working with them but could not tell in what capacity.
They, however, explained that it was most unlikely that Dr Tuffuor would decide on his own to get Essamuah on board the Kufuor governance team without first clearing with the President.
The likely event of Mr Essamuah securing the job at the presidency is sure to arouse the anger of some NPP faithfuls who considered his action as “unpardonable” and a bailout at a time when the going appeared tough for the party.
Already a few NPP supporters at the party’s headquarters whose views the paper sampled wondered how the man could ever think of working with the same people he deserted.
“This is becoming too much; the other day it was Alhaji Inusah announcing his return to the Party and now this man. What do they think of some of us? Why must we struggle through thick and thin for self-seeking fellows like him to come and lick the sweet victory?” One supporter asked.
Mr Dan Botwe who contested with Mr Essamuah for the position of General Secretary of the party in 1998 would neither deny or confirm the story when contacted saying that appointment are the sole preserve of the President and not within the domain of the party executive.
After failing to win the bid as the Party’s general secretary at the party’s congress in August 1998, Essamuah withdrew into the shadows until his surprise letter.
He, in that letter, lauded President Kufuor’s opponent, Professor Mills then flagbearer of he NDC, for his performance at a press conference in Accra.
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League takes 10-day break
The Star premier soccer league goes on a 10-day break to give room for the Black Stars versus Super Eagles final World Cup qualifier slated for Port Harcourt this Saturday.
It means the league will bounce back into action next Wednesday, August 1, 2001.
According to a Ghana Football Association (GFA) source the 16-club league will resume with the 12th week pairings.
That will call to action Adansiman and Okwawu United at Obuasi, King Faisal versus GHAPOHA at Kumasi, Olympics face Hearts in a local derby in Accra while Kotoko trek to Berekum to sort things out with Arsenals.
The rest of the battles will be between Dawu and Goldfields at Dawu, Maxbees-Real Tamale United at Koforidua and Hasaacas versus Kwaebibirem at Sekondi. Liberty Professionals will sort things out with Bofoakwa at Sunyani.
The GFA source said due to the frequent break in the league, the battles will continue four days later with the 13th week pairings.
It will bring to battle Real-Tamale United versus Liberty at Tamale, Goldfields will face Maxbees at Obuasi, Kotoko will lock horns with Dawu at Kumasi with Hearts taking on Arsenals in Accra.
At Tema, GHAPOHA will play Olympics, Okwawu and King Faisal meet at Nkawkaw, Kwaebibirem versus Adansiman at Asuom and Hasaacas encounter Bofoakwa at Sekondi.
Since the Accra Sports Stadium disaster, which caused the league to go on recess for a month, the premier competition has suffered four more breaks which have affected the smooth running of the league with many expressing fears that it may not end before CAF's deadline of December 15.
But the Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA) has vowed to ensure the completion of the league on scheduled.
GRi…/
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Kofi Wayo to leave the NPP?
There is absolutely no doubt that the New Patriotic Party's storm tropper, Mr Kofi Wayo is getting more and more impatient with his own Party and may sooner than later breakaway from the Party he helped to win power.
The Weekly Insight quotes Mr Wayo as saying that the only reason why he hasn't left the yet is that "there are a few people in there who I respect and who can do the job"
Speaking in a radio interview in Accra, Mr Wayo mentioned the "few people" as President J.A. Kufuor, Nana Akufo Addo and Mr Jake Obetsebi Lamptey.
"If it were not for these people I would have quit a long time ago," he said.
He says he is giving the NPP "a little more time" to see if they can deliver on their promises.
He said most of the Ministers are not serious. "They are not working. They are traveling all over the place spending our money on airfares when the solution to our problems is here".
Mr Wayo said he promised to create 750,000 jobs during the last election campaign but he is unable to do that because of frustrations from his own party.
He said it is becoming increasingly difficult for him to see the difference between the NPP and the NDC.
"The NDC stole with guns and some of my people are stealing with pens. What is the difference?" He asked.
There have been mixed reactions to Mr Wayo's statements from the NPP.
Whiles some have dismissed him as an upstart who has nothing to offer, others have said that his exit will be a big blow to the party.
GRi…/
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Asantehene orders return of land
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has asked the Ghana Railway Corporation in Kumasi to return the land allocated them, according to The Accra Mail.
He said the land was leased and that does not therefore make it the corporation's property.
The king's action was informed by the corporation's selling of land surrounding the station to developers.
It will be recalled that last month the 18 branch of the Kejetia Traders Association went on a peaceful demonstration to demand the pulling down of structures congesting the area. A petition was later sent to the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA).
The Otumfuo was speaking to members of the KMA led by the Metro-Mayor, Mr Maxwell Jummah, when they paid a courtesy call on him to welcome him back from his trip to the United States and Scotland.
He cautioned those who go rushing to tell tales to the President.
Reports reaching the palace indicate that as early as 5 am on a particular day an Assemblyman called the President to complain about the Metro-mayor.
Otumfuo said assembly matters should be openly discussed and solved at that level.
GRi…/
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Ghana traffics in children report
A United States Department Trafficking in Persons Report, released this month at the US Congress covering 82 countries stated that "Ghana is a source, transit and destination country for internationally trafficked persons, primarily children, independent paper, The Dispatch reports.
“Trafficking of children for labor and sexual exploitation also occurs within Ghana. …Children are trafficked to and from Cote D'Ivoire, Togo and Nigeria for indentured or domestic servitude, farm labor and prostitution. Children trafficked from Burkina Faso transit Ghana on the way to Cote D'Ivoire".
The Report also criticized the "practice of 'Trokosi" a localized form of slavery or ritual servitude in which girls are forced into slavery for local fetish shrines in repayment for offences committed by members of the girls' families. Young women are trafficked to Europe and the Middle East for sexual exploitation".
The Government of Ghana does not yet fully meet the minimum standards; however, the Government is making significant efforts to combat trafficking despite resources constraints.
There is no law specifically prohibiting trafficking in persons; however, the Government can prosecute traffickers under laws against slavery, prostitution, and underage labor. The Government does not actively investigate or prosecute traffickers and has difficulties adequately monitoring its borders.
Trokosi is illegal in Ghana, but no action have been undertaken to eliminate its shrines or prosecute either the fetish priests or parent who have given away their daughters.
The Government supports programmes to prevent trafficking, including poverty alleviation and access to education. The Government is participating in a two-part ILO trafficking project with eight other countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cote D'Ivoire, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, and Togo). The Government works to repatriate trafficked children and reunite them with their parents. Assistance to victims is provided by NGO's.
GRi…/
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