GRi Press Review Ghana 15 - 09 – 2001
Rapist flees
Nepotism affects police training
Anonymous letter scares police
Sodomy: Ghana haven for gay life?
Indian throws in the towel
Jealous man causes blaze
Rapist flees
The Ghanaian Times reports that the Sunyani Police have mounted an intensive search for the storekeeper of the Brong-Ahafo Regional Administration, Twumasi Mensah, for allegedly defiling a girl, 9.
Mensah, who is also the Assemblyman for Bakonuaba, a suburb of Sunyani, fled after the incident on Wednesday.
The victim's uncle, Mr Osei Ampare, and one Afua, whom the victim was living with at Nkwabeng, in Sunyani were arrested for attempting to "kill" the case. They are on police, enquiry bail.
The "Times" says it gathered that last Wednesday afternoon, after the victim had returned from school, the suspect asked her to fetch some water for his water closet in his office after which he sent her again for a broom to tidy up the place.
While she was performing the task, the suspect allegedly grabbed her and defiled her.
After the act, the suspect gave the girl ˘1,000, warning that she would die if she disclosed it to anyone because he would break her legs spiritually.
Out of fear, the girl kept quiet on the incident until it was detected that she couldn’t walk properly. She narrated her ordeal during an interrogation.
Afua and the girl's uncle were said to have confronted the suspect only to drop the case. But a sympathizer informed the police.
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Nepotism affects police training
The Times in another story writes that Interference in the selection and training of recruits at Police Training Schools has been identified as a major cause of indiscipline in the Police Service.
Inspector Bankas Suleiman, a Senior Drill Instructor of Police Training Schools, who disclosed this at a Police/Military Durbar at the police Headquarters in Accra on Friday said personnel who passed through the school of late did not acquire the necessary skills and expressed regret at the situation.
He explained that some Senior Officers manoeuvred to get their relatives or wards of other associates, who were not fit for the service, admitted into the training schools.
"Because of their relationship with the senior officers, some of the recruits refuse to take orders", while others complained about the treatment they were receiving, to the senior officers who then interfere with operations.
"Some of the trainees have mobile phones in their trunks and before you know, a Senior officer is calling the school to find out which instructor is disturbing his or her relative".
Inspector Suleiman said that because of the intimidation, most instructors were afraid to order such trainees to do any hard work, let alone reprimand them when they went wrong.
He therefore advised all senior officers who have relatives in the training schools to stop the interference or "take them out of the schools if you cannot keep yourselves from interfering."
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Anonymous letter scares police
An anonymous letter in which some senior police officers, men and their families of the Railway and Harbour Police in Takoradi, are being threatened with death through juju has created fear and panic at the station, according to the Mirror.
Although evidence and subsequent events are pointing towards the brains behind the said letter, the fear of the super-natural seems to be delaying justice. The letter, which bore no name, is suspected to have been written by two constables at the station.
The police officers are being targeted because they try to ensure discipline among personnel. It was addressed to Superintendent A.M. Sumailah, officer in-charge of the unit and inspector Asante Krobia of the same unit.
The letter threatens, "if you don't stop worrying us at our duty posts at the banks, we would take away your life either by burning you alive in your car, shoot you or use juju".
The subsequent death of a Chief inspector, the terminal illness of three others of the same station on the trot, and the refusal of a detective and typist to assume duty at the station, have not only affected morale and discipline at the station, but have also created fear in personnel of the station.
The writers claimed in the letter that they had used the same supernatural means to cause the death or ailment of a number of personnel in the Railway and Port Unit. It singled out Inspector Asante Krobia, who they described as spiritually strong, hence his ability to escape death after being hospitalized for six months.
The writers claimed to have caused the death of Chief Inspector Ebenezer Bortey, a station officer who has since been buried. The whole juju saga, which had persisted in the unit for some years, intensified when Superintendent Sumailah was posted to the unit early this year.
The strict disciplinarian that he is, Superintendent Sumailah detected that most police personnel sign to show that they have reported for duty only to desert their posts and go home to sleep.
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Sodomy: Ghana haven for gay life?
The National Programme Director of the International Labour Organisation and the International Programme for the Elimination of Child Labour, (ILO/IPEC), Mrs Sylvia Hinson-Ekong, has disclosed that boy prostitution, (sodomy) is on the increase in Ghana and that "the country is now on the internet as a place for gay life".
She said this sex trade is creating a bad image for Ghana, and suggested strongly that concerted efforts should be made to stop gay life in Ghana.
Mrs. Hinson-Ekong made the disclosure at a meeting with the Akatsi District Chief Executive, Nicholas Negble, during her one-day working visit to the Akatsi District.
The visit was to find out the best way her organisations and the district assembly would co-operate to find solutions to children's problems. She observed that though tourism earns Ghana about $400 million a year, its social cost is very high.
According to Mrs. Hinson-Ekong, tourists prey on boys, sleep with them in hotels, drop $50 in their pockets, and the boys are happy, adding that girls, including students are not left out in this sex trade, reports the Mirror.
GRi…/
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Indian throws in the towel
The Spectator says Harry Khup-Chandani, the Managing Director of Plastic Packaging Products, has now agreed to pay Emmanuel Sokpor, the 90-year-old security-man of his company, some money to settle and rest at home.
"I am prepared to settle the old man and I have instructed my lawyers to meet his legal team to talk", said Khup-Chandani. Earlier he had said he owed the old man no amount, although the old man had worked for him and his father for 67 years.
Even though Harry Khup-Chandani would not disclose the amount he is prepared to pay the 90-year old man, he said if the two legal teams settled on an amicable amount acceptable to all the parties, he would pay.
Khup-Chandani is reported to have told the paper at his plush Tandoor Hotel on Wednesday that he did not sack the old man or refuse to pay his August salary or stipend when he came to collect it. He said he simply asked him to see his lawyers and after an amicable settlement, his money would be paid to him.
He said any money he would pay the old man, would be a golden handshake and out of sheer sympathy for Sokpor, because he has never violated any labour laws of the country, adding that, the old man was about 60 years old 30 years ago when he engaged him for light duties just to keep him from boredom.
Khup-Chandani said he knew some unscrupulous people, especially Sokpor's children, are pushing him to claim money, which he himself would not live long to enjoy.
Sokpor later told the Spectator that he felt highly disappointed when Khup-Chandani failed to pay his August salary even though he had faithfully worked for the month.
Sokpor said he wouldn't have been able to pay for his rent and feed himself for the month of August if his 15 children had not contributed ˘20,000 each for his upkeep.
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Jealous man causes blaze
A man who suspected his girlfriend of having an affair and poured petrol on her in a jealous rage, succeeded in severely burning himself, the girl and one other person.
Those burnt are Miss Adjeley Odua, Nikoi Nortey, 21 and Olive Lamptey, 35, a fisherman, who committed the act.
Odua whose burns are said to be severe, is on admission at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, while Lamptey whose skin is said to have peeled off due to the burns is receiving treatment at the Tema General Hospital. Nikoi, sustained light burns and is on admission at Tema Port Clinic.
The Tema Regional Police Commander, Chief Supt. Agnes Sikanartey, told the The Spectator" that on that day, Lamptey who suspected his girlfriend Odua of having an affair, confronted her over the issue, which stirred an argument.
This brought neighbours to the scene and the issue was settled. However, Lamptey, brought out a container of petrol from a rubber bag he was holding, opened it before a naked hurricane lantern, and poured some of the contents on his girlfriend.
This caused an explosion resulting in severe burns on the two lovers. Nikoi who was also at the scene sustained injuries.
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