GRi Newsreel 17-02-99

Sister Georgina Yaa Achiaa, 36, the Catholic Nun, who was alleged to have eloped with an ex-convict Henry Kofi Anim-Blankson, is currently undergoing physical and mental treatment as well as spiritual upliftment exercises at the Asante-Mampong Roman Catholic Mission House as part of her rehabilitation programme.

Speaking to the GNA at Asante-Mampong, Sister Achiaa contended that she did not deliberately fall victim to the Anim-Blankson in her efforts to have him rehabilitated into society.

She said she needed the sympathy, love and acceptance from the Rt. Rev. Bishop Akwasi Sarpong, Catholic Bishop of Kumasi and not a hasty condemnation and expulsion from the Sisterhood.

She described her purported expulsion from the Sisterhood in absentia as improper and a display of human insensitivity.Sister Achiaa expressed her gratitude to all Christians, whose prayers redeemed her from "hell on earth" to her Christian faith.

"Bishop Sarpong's instant application of the Canon Law to the ordeal I had survived is at variance with the basic principles of the Bible, which enjoins the church to help down-trodden individuals to have the feel of belonging and love", she said.

Narrating her ordeal, Sister Achiaa said she had not had any formal training in prison ministration and that she fell victim to Anim-Blankson's tricks due to lack of knowledge, and she should, therefore, not be left to her fate.She noted that the communion service to inmates of the Kumasi Central Prison was not sufficient because convicts, whom they had ministered to return to the prison shortly on similar offences after their release.The Nun said with the assistance of the church, she had been able to rehabilitate four ex-convicts of the prison and thought she could add Anim-Blankson to her credit but he deceived her.

Sister Achiaa said Anim-Blankson, under false pretences,claimed he had repented and gave testimonies at the Ahinsan andOffinso Catholic churches as well as the Saint Peter's Cathedral in Kumasi on how God, by virtue of his repentance, had cured his impotence. According to sister Achiaa, she unwittingly honoured Anim-Blankson's invitation to his house, ate some food offered to her and this landed her into that unhealthy situation.

She said when they left Ghana for Nigeria, she was later initiated into occultism against her wishes in Lagos. After that, she alleged Anim-Blankson sold her out to be killed but she survived the ordeal through the powers of God and returned to Ghana.Sister Achiaa, who was sobbing while narrating her ordeal,said her plight had been worsened by the sudden death of hermother, who died a week after her return from Nigeria after a short illness.

"My mother, who because of the incident looked desperate until heruntimely death, was my regular visitor at the Mampong Police Station", she sobbed.

Kumasi, (Ashanti Region) 17 Feb. The Kumasi Traditional Council has ruled that, Nana Kusi Asiamah Yeboah is a true royal of the Ahwiaa Stool and that his nomination, election and enstoolment as Ahwiaahene were proper and valid.

This was contained in the judgement sheet of a three-member Judicial Committee, which comprised Nana Adu Akyampong the second, Ohwimhene as chairman, Nana Kwaku Offeh the second, Omantihene and Nana Darko Mprah the second, Kyeame/Nitibansohene, as members.

The ruling was the result of a suit filed by Opanin Kwabena Sefa of Ahwiaa against Nana Kusi Asiamah Yeboah declaring that he was not eligible to the Ahwiaa stool and his purported nomination to occupy the Ahwiaa stool and installation as Ahwiaahene was null and void.

The judgement recalled that the late Ahwiaahene Nana Osei Kwame Bonsu was destooled for exhibiting gross insubordination to Otumfuo Asantehene.

It said, "the Otumfuo gave the green light for the installation of a new Ahwiaahene, after which Nana Asiamah Yeboah, begged for the stool from Abusuapanin Kwadwo Fordwo of Abira and was nominated for the Kingmakers' approval. =93The Kingmakers and the Assenefuo Fekuo of Ahwiaa, therefore, led Nana Asiamah Yeboah to Nana Atipihene, the sub-clan of Ahwiaa within the Ankobea clan, who in turn escorted him to Otumfuo Asantehene on July 14, 1997, and Otumfuo allowed him to swear allegiance to him as Ahwiaahene".

The Judicial Committee concluded that, "Opanin Kwabena Sefa is not the Ahwiaa Stool Abusuapanin. The substantive Abusuapanin is Opanin Kwadwo Fordwo of Abira".

It also said "Nana Kusi Asiamah Yeboah is a royal to the Ahwiaa Stool and that his nomination, election and enstoolment were proper. It was also proper on the part of Atipinhene to lead Nana Kusi Asiamah Yeboah to swear allegiance to Otumfuo Asantehene".

Accra, (Greater Accra) 17 Feb.

The Meteorological Services Department today said the country will experience early rainfall in February to April which will be "normal to above normal".

In a statement issued in Accra yesterday, it said available data suggests early start of the rains. This is indicated in the last December and January rainfall patterns which showed "positive sign with normal to above normal rainfall mostly over the Southern Sector and occasionally some areas in the Northern Sector".

The Department said the Western, Central, Eastern, Ashanti and parts of Brong Ahafo Regions will experience normal rainfall during February to March while April is expected to record above normal rains.

The rest of the country is expected to have "near normal to normal" rain in February to April. Temperatures are expected to be slightly above normal over the entire country during the period.

Accra, (Greater Accra) 17 Feb.

 A four-member committee, which investigated the shooting of Isaac Kofi Biney, alias Joe, at his residence at Dansoman last year says the Police Inspector, who allegedly fired the shot should be held liable for murder.The committee rejected the evidence of Inspector Patrick Kuzorli that he fired the gun that killed the deceased in self-defence.

The committee=92s report issued in Accra said though the Police were on a lawful exercise, they could have arrested the deceased without necessarily killing him. This, it said, exhibited "unprofessional application of unnecessary force by the Inspector, which led to the unnecessary death of Isaac".

The committee comprised Mr E. Owusu Poku, Commissioner of Police, who was the chairman, Mrs Angela Dwamena-Aboagye, State Attorney, Police Detective Inspector Robert Azantilow. Mr J. K Owusu, a retired Chief Superintendent was a co-opted member.

The report noted that Mr Biney had committed three offences by stabbing a Policeman in 1993 and one Robert Owusu-Asirifi and his friend Kofi Srebour on May 11, 1998 around the Dansoman Telecom area. It said the deceased damaged five telephone booths installed at the Dansoman telephone office on the same day.

Despite these offences the committee "found that the deceased could neither be described as a psychiatric patient nor a notorious criminal as suggested by the Police ".

The committee recommended that disciplinary action must be taken against Corporal Peter Acheampong and Corporal Isaac Andoh in accordance with Police Service regulations for dereliction of duty and misconduct.

They also accepted that the Dansoman Police, who handled the dockets in respect of the two incidents in November 1998 against the deceased be disciplined for lack of supervision and misconduct.

Officers at the homicide squad, who were charged with investigating the shooting incident should also be disciplined for various acts of misconduct as outlined in the report. The report directed that the Commissioner Criminal Investigations Department (CID) must investigate the circumstances surrounding the discovery of leaves suspected to be cannabis on Mr Biney, 21 days after he was killed.

It said Mr George Dennis, who was present to identify the body challenged the Police and said they must have planted it. "The results of (an) examination of the leaves showed for cannabis, but the urine sample showed negative for the active ingredients found in cannabis, the presence of which would have proved that the deceased had smoked cannabis before his death."

The IGP should issue appropriate instructions regarding warning shots and stray bullets, which are not provided for under Section 97 of the Police Service and retrain all policemen in the handling of weapons, and instructions concerning the use of firearm scrupulously.

Accra, (Greater Accra) 17 Feb.

The Ministry of the Interior has directed the Inspector General of Police to ensure that the case docket on the Dansoman shooting of Isaac Biney be forwarded to the Attorney General for further action.

The directive followed the release of the report of a four-member committee, which investigated the shooting of Isaac Kofi Biney, alias Joe, by the Police at his residence at Dansoman last year.

The report, among other things, said the Police Inspector, who allegedly fired the shot be held liable for murder.The committee rejected the evidence of Inspector Patrick Kuzorli that he fired the gun that killed the deceased in self-defence.

It said though the Police were on a lawful exercise, they could have arrested the deceased without necessarily killing him.The Ministry recommended that disciplinary action against various Policemen should be carried out without delay. The Ministry directed that the Police Administration should impress upon all levels of officers the need to present correct accounts of situations in either reports presented to the Minister of the Interior and at all levels of Service in order to maintain their credibility and integrity.

It directed that copies of Police service regulations and other relevant documents must be made available to all Police personnel.

The Ministry also recommended for the consideration of the Attorney General the payment of adequate compensation to the estate of the deceased. This shall take note of all relevant factors including his burial and funeral.

Accra, (Greater Accra) 17 Feb. 

Construction work on the Kejetia roundabout to reduce traffic congestion in the central business area of Kumasi will be completed in May this year, Mr Godwin Brocke, Acting Director of Urban Roads said yesterday.

Speaking newsmen in Accra, Mr Brocke dismissed press reports that the project would be completed in the year 2000 to coincide with the elections of that year to woo voters for the ruling National Democratic Congress.

''To set the records straight, it is of no benefit to government to delay the project. Every effort is being made to complete it as scheduled''. Mr Brocke said the project, awarded to Limex Bau Construction Company, which was to have been completed in December last year had been delayed by financial problems.

He said the problem stemmed from the late extension of credit from the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), which affected the cash flow to the contractor.

Mr Brocke said issues regarding the cash flow to the contractor have been resolved and the company is now being paid regularly from the OPEC fund adding that work is now going on smoothly.

The scope of work, which is the re-alignment of roads around the Kejetia round-about and the rehabilitation of the central market, remains the same.

Accra, (Greater Accra) 17 Feb. 

The Police Administration has directed the immediate interdiction of five police officers at the Achimota - Mile Seven Police station for detaining Madam Mary Ahiaxornu in the same cell with her husband and 15 other male detainees.

They are Chief Inspector A .K Tabiri , in charge of the

station, Inspector

F.A Addo, his deputy, Detective Corporal S. B Mensah,

investigator of the case, General Sergeant C. Henyo and General Corporal I. Okoe who were on duty at the Charge Office.

A release issued by the in Accra today, said the action followed recommendations by the Greater Accra Police Commander, Mr Cephas K. Agbeli. The statement said the Police Administration will continue to act promptly to ensure that justice is done. "Any Policeman officer, who is found to have misconducted himself contrary to the service regulations will be dealt with accordingly, the release added.

Keta, (Volta Region) 17 Feb.  

Mr.Samuel Nuamah Donkor, Minister of Health, yesterday directed contractors working on the Keta district hospital rehabilitation project to complete and hand it over to the ministry by June this year.

The minister gave this ultimatum when he paid a working visit to the hospital.

He said while visiting the hospital that poor management and lack of proper co-ordination between the contractors and the end users on one hand, and the Ministry's Project Implementation Unit [PIU] on the other, is causing the delay of the project.

Mr. Nuamah-Donkor, who was accompanied by the Keta district chief executive, Mrs.Eugenia Abla Kumassah, ordered the immediate installation of all equipment meant for the hospital. Mrs. Kumassah appealed to the minister to assist the assembly to complete a six-unit doctor's flat at Keta, and upgrade the Tregui and Anloga health posts. She said the early completion of these projects would minimise health problems and possible congestion at the Keta hospital when the sea defence wall project starts this year. Mrs. Kumassah asked the contractors to find a suitable method for the disposal of the liquid waste of the hospital, instead of dumping it into the Keta Lagoon which is the main source of livelihood for the people.

Apam (Central Region) 17 Feb.  

The Roman Catholic Hospital at Apam has taken delivery of a quantity of equipment valued about 80 million cedis donated by 'Commune de Nogara Verona', an NGO based in Italy.

The items include an incubator, beds, cots, couches, lockers, stretchers, sterilizers, and mattresses. Mr Stephen Kennedy Cobbinah, a citizen of the town resident in Italy handed over the items to the medical officer in charge of the hospital, Dr Frederick Vormawor at Apam.

Dr Vormawor reiterated the hospital's commitment to render quality and valuable services to the community at moderate cost. He however stressed that this could only be achieved if the hospital is well equipped, and called on other citizens to emulate the Italian NGO and the Gomoa-Apam citizens resident in Italy.

The Medical Officer said the hospital's needs include a defence wall, a kitchen, more rooms for in-patients and washing machines, and called on the well-to-do citizens in the area to come to its aid.

Nana Afrimu the tenth, Apaahene, expressed gratitude to the donors and appealed to Gomoa citizens, resident both at home and elsewhere in the country to contribute positively to help improve living conditions in their various towns and communities.

Mr Cobbinah assured the hospital's authorities that the town's citizens resident in Italy would continue to assist the hospital to render quality service.

Nkoranza (Brong Ahafo), 17 Feb.

Mr Donald Adabre, Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, has appealed to the people of Nkoranza to abandon violence in the resolution of problems for the peaceful and sustained development of the area.

He stressed that the frequent use of violence by various groups in the district has for instance caused either the removal or transfer of certain key personalities from the district.

Opening the first session of the district assembly at Nkoranza yesterday, Mr Adabre said the increasing use of violence, instead of lawful and peaceful methods, has had a toll on the image and development of the district.

He appealed to the assembly and chiefs in the area to help rid the district of this culture of violence by constituting themselves into arbitration committees to settle problems amicably and promptly.

"No meaningful development can take place in an atmosphere of tension, hostility and fear, and we must help promote peace among ourselves and in our communities to ensure rapid development", he stated.

Mr Adabre, who is the acting district chief executive (DCE) for the area tasked the assembly to set up a complaints bureau to find a quick solution to the conflict over the ownership and management of the town's lorry park.

On the government's decentralisation programme, Mr Adabre stressed the need for principal actors as DCE's, chiefs, members of parliament and assemblymembers to be aware of their responsibilities and rights.

He said the government of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) had done a lot to strengthen the decentralisation process to empower the masses to participate in decision-making through the provision of the necessary institutional and financial support.

The presiding member of the assembly, Mr D. Offei-Fosu called for unity and commitment to the implementation of programmes of the assembly to help speed up the development of the area.