GRi Newsreel 26-03-99

Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 26 March 

A burial service was held for the late Asantehene, Otumfuo Opoku Ware the second, at the Saint Cyprian Anglican Cathedral in Kumasi on Thursday.

The Right Reverend Daniel Yinka Sarfo, Anglican Bishop of Kumasi, officiated at the service and was assisted by the Right Rev. Peter Kwasi Sarpong, Catholic Bishop of Kumasi, the Rev. Kwaku Asamoah Okyere, Kumasi District Chairman of the Methodist Church, and Rev Dr Effah Ababio, Chairman of the Ashanti Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church.

Present were the Vice-President John Atta Mills and his wife, Naadu, Members of the Council of State, Ministers of State, Paramount Chiefs, leaders of political parties, the clergy, diplomats and heads of security services.

The casket of the Asantehene, draped in green and black flag and borne on the shoulders of eight soldiers and escorted by the clergy, arrived at the chapel by 3 p.m. The casket was put on a pier decorated with gold, black and green, the colours of Asanteman.

The soldiers thereafter stood at attention for some minutes, turned to the right and marched off amidst blowing of horns and dirges.

In a funeral oration, Bishop Sarpong said the Otumfuo was a symbol of unity and peace. He was of humble disposition and brought significant changes in the institution of chieftaincy.

The Asantehene exuded all that is beautiful about the institution of chieftaincy, adding that to him, the essence of Christianity is to have faith in Christ.

Bishop Sarpong said the Asantehene resolved conflicts between ethnic groups, chiefs and individuals, saying he was an apostle of peace, reconciliation and tranquillity.

Bishop Sarpong said the late Asantehene was a good Ambassador for Ghana, as he played host to the Pope, world leaders and statesmen and was also granted audience by leaders all over the world.

The Asantehene, he said, displayed the rich Ghanaian culture to the outside world. He was also magnanimous, humble and forgiving.

Bishop Sarpong prayed that God, in his mercies, grant Asanteman and the nation another "Asantehene who will continue the good works of the late Otumfuo".

A tribute by the government read by the vice-president said the Asantehene was a gracious and accommodating father who listened patiently to everybody and offered appropriate advice. He said his "death is therefore a great loss to Asante and the Nation". The Asantehene, Prof Mills said, promoted the exposure of the rich Asante cultural heritage to the international community, thus winning glory and honour for Asante and Ghana.

The tribute by the Council of State said the Asantehene was not only a King of Asante but also the father of the nation and a unifying factor.

The tribute by the National House of Chiefs recalled that the Otumfuo was a former President of the House and said chiefs play a very important and modernising role in national affairs.

There were also tributes by his children and the Anglican Church, as well as messages from world leaders and religious organisations from all parts of the world.

The Provost of the Cathedral, the Very Rev. Albert Mensah, in a welcoming address said the whole nation is bereaved by the death of the Asantehene.

"Asantehene was for all Churches and all Churches for the Asantehene", and as such, the burial service is non-denominational, he said.

Later, old students of Adisadel College clustered round the casket and sang a popular Adisadel school song, "Santa Clausian".

The military later carried the casket to a waiting Pinzgauer, as the army band struck a military tune and escorted the casket in a convoy of cars to the Bantama Royal mausoleum for a wreath laying ceremony, which formed part of the state burial.

Earlier, the casket was carried aloft by courtiers, chiefs and pall-bearers from the palace in a funeral procession along the Antoa road to Apagyafie.

The cortege then turned left to Allabar, through the Zongo police station to Maxwell road, then to the Saint Cyprian Church for the service.

People clad in mourning clothes flocked the sides of the road to catch a glimpse of the casket, as women sang dirges and others shouted appelations.

It was a solemn soul-gripping scene and a fitting memorial for an Asantehene, whose immeasurable patience, tolerance, sublime disposition and radiance were matchless.

The general consensus was that really, "odupon atutu" (a mighty tree has fallen), as Otumfuo Opoku Ware was sent to join his ancestors at the final resting place, the royal mausoleum at Breman, near Kumasi.

The mortal remains of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Opoku Ware the Second, finally got to the Bantama royal mausoleum at 6.40 p.m. last night. The ceremony was followed by a 45-minute wreath-laying ceremony. during which mourners held burning flames and torches from bundles of raffia and palm sticks (atene).

In the background, the military band played the solemn tune 'Ebenezer' to herald the arrival of the corpse from the Saint Cyprian Anglican Church after burial service amidst the booming of guns.

When the corpse, carried by eight strong men, reached the precincts of the Centre for National Culture (CNC), it was taken over by the military who placed it on a pinzguer and headed for the forecourt of the Mausoleum. Eight soldiers released the casket onto a platform which had been erected and well decorated with a white lace and stripped in the colours of Asanteman - black, green and yellow. A canopy erected to house the platform as well as the brownish casket were decorated with gold and draped in the colours of Asanteman.

The last post was sounded by four burgle blowers from the military after which prayers were said by the Right Reverend Major D.Y. Sarfo, Anglican Bishop of Kumasi, followed by the final interment rites.

Wreaths were laid by General Arnold Quainoo, Member of the Council of State, on behalf of the government and people of Ghana, Mr Owusu Bempah, also a Member of the Council of State, on behalf of the government and people of Togo, and Lieutenant-Colonel E.K.T. Donkor, Minister of Defence, on behalf of the government and people of Cote d'Ivoire.

They were followed by Mr Ian Mackley, British High Commissioner in Ghana, on behalf of Queen Elizabeth of Britain, Mr Kojo Yankah, Ashanti Regional Minister, on behalf of the Ashanti Regional Co-ordinating Council, and Nana Osei Bonsu the Second, Mamponghene, on behalf of Asanteman.

Nana Afua Kobi Serwaa Ampem, Asantehemaa, laid one on her own behalf, followed by Bantamahene, Baffour Awuah the Fifth, on behalf of the Kumasi traditional Council, Nana Akyaa, on behalf of the children, and the Most Reverend Robert Okine, Anglican Archbishop of the Province of West Africa, on behalf of the Anglican church.

Mr A.K. Deku, former Commissioner of Police and member of the erstwhile National Liberation Council (NLC) laid a wreath on behalf of the Council.

He told the GNA that it was during the reign of the council that the Asantehene served as the Commissioner of Transport and Communications before he was enstooled Asantehene in 1970. Wreaths were also laid on behalf of organisations, institutions and companies.

Nana Osei Bonsu, in a vote of thanks, expressed his appreciation and gratitude to the government, clergy and Asanteman for their contribution towards the success of the burial of the Asantehene.

Nana Osei Bonsu the second, Mamponghene has asked the media to let the enmity and euphoria which characterised the announcement of the sudden death of Otumfuo Opoku Ware the Second without consultation from the palace be buried for ever, adding: "we should let bygones be bygones".

He asked the media to ensure that the cordial relationship which has existed between them and Nananom during the burial of the Asantehene continues.

The Mamponghene, who is also the "Nwisiahene", appealed to the clergy to pray for God's wisdom and guidance for the kingmakers and Asanteman to elect a successor who has the same qualities as Otumfuo Opoku Ware to continue with the legacy he left behind.

After the ceremony, the corpse was handed over to Baffour Ani Agyei the Second, Baamuhene of Asante,to continue with the customary rites for the burial of Asante Kings at Breman, near Kumasi.

Over 100 clergymen participated in the burial service of Otumfuo Opoku Ware the second, Asantehene, at the St. Cyrprian the Martyr Cathedral.

They came from the Anglican, Catholic, Methodist, Presbyterian and Pentecostal Churches.

While the Anglican and Catholic clergy wore white vestments, the Protestants and Pentecostals were in black suits. The non-denominational service used the Anglican order of service. Six hymns, venite, benedicte and Psalm 119 were sung. The Guild of the Servants of the Sanctuary served the mass. The Right Rev. (Major) D.Y. Safo, Anglican Bishop of Kumasi, was the principal celebrant.

-A total of nine persons were rushed to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) and Kumasi Polyclinic from the Manhyia palace grounds during the period of the burial rites of the late Otumfuo Opoku Ware the second, Asantehene.

Five out of the number were taken to the medical unit suffering from various ailments, for immediate attention.

The remaining four were, however, rushed to the casualty ward of the KATH. .

Mrs Cecilia Jackson and Mrs Beatrice Botchway, both Principal Nursing Officers at the Kumasi Polyclinic, confirmed the casualties figures on Thursday .

The figure caters for the four-day period of the burial rites of the Asantehene.

Mrs Jackson said eight of the victims have been treated and discharged. The ninth, one 38-year-old Kojo Manu from Sampa whose two fingers were chopped off while firing a musketry at the funeral grounds, is still on admission.

Mrs Botchway attributed the low casualty figures recorded at the polyclinic to the fact that treatment points at the funeral grounds catered for most medical complaints.

Accra (Greater Accra), 26 March

A four-member government delegation led by Mr Emmanuel Baah-Danquah, Member of Parliament for Asutifi North, yesterday left for Strasbourg, France, to attend the 28th session of the African-Caribbean-Pacific (ACP)-European Union(EU) joint assembly.

Mr Baah-Danquah told newsmen at the Kotoka International Airport in Accra before departure last night that Ghana would present a paper on climate change and its effect on production and poverty eradication.

Items to be discussed at the four-day meeting include regional co-operation and integration between member-states, future of the Lome Convention, and the effect of climate change on small island states.

The current Lome Convention, which was revised in 1995, would expire in 2000 and negotiations for a new convention will be based on a "Green Paper on relations between the EU and the ACP countries on the eve of the 21st century" published before the Libreville Declaration, he said.

Mr Baah-Danquah noted that ACP states in the Libreville Declaration also reaffirmed their commitment to the values of democracy, good governance, the rule of law and respect for human rights.

He hoped that the session would, among other things, enhance the successes so far chalked and address the challenges of economic globalisation.

Accra (Greater Accra), 26 March

Voters at Ablekuma Central Constituency in Accra go to the polls today in a by-election following the death of the New Patriotic Party candidate (NPP), Clement Crabbe.

The Electoral Commission said 93,995 registered voters, including one newly transferred voter, are eligible to vote. There will be 106 polling stations.

Five candidates, including an independent one, are contesting the seat.

They are Alhaji Ismail Bawa for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Victor Nortey for the New patriotic Party (NPP), Hajia Fati for the Convention Party, Solomon Bayugo Suleman, an independent candidate supported by the Reform Movement, and Musah Nartey for the People's National Convention.

In 1996, Mr Crabbe won with only 40.5 per cent of the vote (30,158 votes) while Mr Bawa, who was also the NDC candidate at the time, came second with 38.8 per cent (28,952 votes).

An independent candidate, Cornelius Adablah, came third with 9.5 per cent of the votes, the People's National Convention (PNC) candidate, Ahmed Ramadan, had 8.8 per cent and People's Convention Party (PCP) candidate, Mr Ellis Quaye, came last with 2.4 per cent.

In the presidential election for that year in the constituency, President Rawlings won 51.7 per cent of the votes (37,783) followed by Mr J.A. Kufuor with 44.9 per cent (32,749 votes).

Dr Edward N. Mahama polled 2,485 votes (3.4 per cent) to place third.

Meanwhile, Mr David Kanga, deputy Electoral Commissioner, says the Electoral Commission has taken all security measures to ensure a smooth election. Counting will start at the polling stations when the polls close and the result would be known tonight.

Agona Swedru (Central Region) 26 March

Two inhabitants of Ngleshie Amanfrom, near Kasoa in the Central Region, have been arrested by Agona Swedru police for their alleged involvement in a case of trespassing for which 13 landguards are standing trial at the Agona Swedru community tribunal.

Nii Amartey Armah, Krontihene of the town, and Madam Patience Dade, a trader, have been charged with unlawful entry onto a piece of land allocated by government to artisans at Iron City, an industrial village near Kasoa in the Central region.

According to Police Detective Inspector Abichab Boye, Nii Armah was apprehended for being a member of the group of people who sold the piece of land on which the landguards were working to an Accra businesswoman, Mrs Evelyn Darko, now on the run.

Madam Dade was alleged to have aided one of the accused persons, Komla Atama, to escape from lawful custody on March 18.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the tribunal, Mr L. A. Bimpong, has remanded the remaining 12 landguards in prison custody for the second time until March 29.

They are Boli Kuma, Forson Hadzor, Ashiagbor Okai Eric, Everlasting Amaleji, Komla Francis and David Asibroni. The rest are Tsatsu William, Moses Ashina, Atitso Ayisu, Ankrah Frederick Kumah, William K. Nukpetah and Akakpo Akpelo.

Accra (Greater Accra) 26 March

The Accra Central Police, in a joint exercise with the Copyright Society of Ghana (COSGA), on Wednesday arrested 15 persons who were dealing in pirated cassettes of both local and foreign artistes. They had also displayed cassettes for sale without banderoles.

A statement issued by Inspector Andy Vortia of the Police Public Relations Unit said following complaints by COSGA of "massive faked and pirated cassettes on the market", a team of policemen, led by DSP Darko Nyinaku, Adabraka District Commander, undertook the exercise at Katamanto and Kwame Nkrumah Circle.

Other cassettes were found to have been imported from Togo, Nigeria and Singapore." It said over 8,000 pieces of cassettes were retrieved and are being scrutinised.

Those arrested would be put before court early next week. The statement said the exercise would be conducted periodically to control the situation.

Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 26 March

The mortal remains of Otumfuo Opoku Ware the Second, Asantehene, made a brief stop-over at Kumasi Baamu at Bantama on the way to the final resting place at Breman A canopy draped in Asante colours of yellow, black and green have been erected at the front of the Baamu, where the body would be received.

At the portals of the Baamu to receive Otumfuo was the Asanteman Baamuhene, Nana Baffour Ani Agyei, supported by five sub- chiefs.

The chiefs were clad in red that contrasted with the dominant black worn by the majority of the people, who had besmeared themselves with ochre.

There were two big umbrellas in front of the Baamu, recently whitewashed, and its gates painted black The black gates of the Baamu contrast with the blue gates of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital mortuary.

A large crowd in sombre mood - some singing, dirges, some dancing "Kete" - awaited the arrival of the departing King.

Nana Afua Kobi Serwaa Ampem the second, Asantehemaa, has temporarily assumed responsibility as the Asantehene following the interment of the late Asantehene, Otumfuo Opoku Ware the second, in the early hours of today at the Royal Mausoleum at Breman, near Kumasi.

She becomes the regent until a new king is nominated, elected, installed and enstooled as Asantehene.

By custom, the Asantehemaa assumes responsibility for the royal household, provides daily market money to feed the king's personal attendants and his widows.

Prospective royal contenders for the golden stool can now formalise their candidatures through making official approaches to some chiefs who are expected to intercede on their behalf to the Asantehemaa who has the prerogative to nominate a successor.

The Bantamahene, Baffour Awuah the fifth, is the head of the kingmakers to the stool and acting president of the Kumasi Traditional Council. Other members of the kingmakers include the "fekutire" (heads of the clans).

Five royals have been named as contenders. They are Nana Kwaku Duah, a businessman and son of the Asantehemaa, Nana Akwasi Agyemang, Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive, Barima Osei Tutu, a businessman, Nana Osei Tutu Owusu, a businessman and Dr James Acheampong Yeboah, a medical officer of Port Clinic, Takoradi.

Mr David Kanga, Deputy Electoral Commissioner, on Friday stressed that there was no way the Ablekuma Central by-election could be rigged.

He said all suspicions should stop so that voting would end peacefully.

Mr Kanga was speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) which informed him about an incident in which the New Patriotic Party (NPP) had allegedly accused the National Democratic Congress (NDC) of dumping "some papers" in its office at Zabon Zongo,(Gaskia) which, they claimed, were ballot papers.

This led to misunderstanding and trading of insults at the Gaskia area.

Mr Kanga said with the voting system introduced by the Electoral Commission, there was no way for anybody to rig the poll.

"Even me, David Kanga, if I have ballot papers in my pocket I cannot dump them in a ballot box without detection."

He said Ghanaian voting practices have been the envy of the outside world and he would condemn any lawlessness and violence that might erupt during the voting.

"We want peace and fair play in this country and with the vigilance of polling agents, there should be no disturbances."

Mr Kanga said no major problem has been brought to his notice, adding that everything was being done smoothly.

"Although the turn-out is encouraging, I expect it will increase during the course of the day."

He said the presence of any Minister or party official in the constituency should not create panic unless they interfere with the voting procedures.

Abesim,(Brong Ahafo) 26 March

The death has been reported of Barima Ansu Gyeabour the second, chief of Abesim, near Sunyani and Kyidomehene of the Dormaa traditional area. He was 75.

Barima Ansu Gyeabour who ruled for 27 years died at the Sunyani government hospital on March 13 this year after a short illness.

A family source told the GNA that the late chief will be laid in state on Friday April nine and buried at the Abesim royal mausoleum on Sunday April 11.

He is survived with one wife and seven children.

Tamale (Northern Region) 26 March

A three member committee under the chairmanship of Dr Karbo Naaninong of the Animal Research Institute, was inaugurated at Tamale ine Wednesday to investigate allegations of impropriety against a former district chief executives in the Northern Region.

They are Alhaji A.Y.M.B.Ibrahimah of the Tamale Municipal Assembly, Mr Issaka Bawa, of East Mamprusi District and Alhaji Karimu Seidu of East Gonja district.

Chief F.Y.Wari, chief Local Government Inspector and Mr J.N.K. Appiah, principal auditor at the Audit Service, are other members of the committee.

The committee is to probe among other things the 120 million- cedi Poverty Alleviation fund allegedly missing from the Tamale municipal assembly common fund account with a commercial bank. .

It is also to investigate the illegal and unauthorised award of contracts by the former chief executives.

Mr Joshua Alabi, Northern Regional Minister, who inaugurated the committee, charged it to find out the circumstances surrounding the award of all contracts between January one to February 28, this year and whether the awards were in accordance with laid down procedures.

It will also assess the impact of such awards on the finances of the respective district assemblies and any other matters reasonably related to their terms of reference.

The committee is to submit its report within five weeks to the regional minister giving reasons for its findings and making such recommendations as it considered fit.

Mr Alabi said the committee would sit in camera at the conference room of the Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC).

Persons with relevant information are invited to testify or send memorandum to the committee stating their full names and addresses.

The committee will also move to the other districts under investigations.

Dr Haaninoug thanked the RCC for the confidence reposed in them and promised that they "will do every thing possible to come out with the facts to allay all fears among the general public".