THE NEW Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, made history on Tuesday by doing what some might consider the unthinkable.
Mr Ofosu Ampofo, who resumed duty a day earlier than scheduled, put aside his busy schedule and visited the regional office of the main opposition party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), to call for collaboration to move the region’s development agenda forward.
Mr Ofosu Ampofo, who was enthusiastically received and was hugged by the NPP executive, said followers of the NDC and NPP should not be enemies, and that he was prepared to listen to any advice that would emanate from the NPP which would improve the living standards of the people in the region.
“We are one people, so do not allow politics, which is just ideological difference, to divide us; let us unite, be one another’s keeper and contribute to the welfare of the people whose interests we all seek”, he told the gathering.
The visit which was the first of its kind in the history of multi-party democracy in the region, witnessed the regional minister who was accompanied by Messrs Julius Debrah, Tawiah Boateng, Regional Chairman and Secretary respectively of the NDC, and other regional executive of the party interacting with the NPP executive, led by Alhaji Omar Bodinga, the First Vice Chairman in the region.
At the meeting which was conducted in a friendly atmosphere, it was agreed that another meeting involving the youth organisers of the two political parties in the region be held to iron out any differences with the potential of negatively affecting the security and orderly development of the region.
This, according to them, had become necessary since the youth groups in the two political parties had been accused of causing disturbances in the region.
That decision was taken after Mr Tawiah Boateng, in the course of the discussions, suggested that the best way to ensure peace in the region was to properly guide the youth, particularly at political gatherings, so that they would not cause any disturbances.
Alhaji Bodinga gave the assurance that the regional branch of the NPP would ensure that the party’s members would peacefully co-exist with members and supporters of the NDC, adding: “We are all from the same family called Ghana”.
For his part, the Regional Secretary of the NPP, Mr Agobo who described Mr Ofosu Ampofo’s visit as historic, said such a visit should be emulated by other political heads to cement relations between opposing camps.
Others who were present at the gathering were Mr Julius Debrah, Regional Chairman of the NDC; Alhaji Yusif Ahmed, Regional Youth Organiser of the NPP, and Madam Grace Ateffa, Regional Women’s Organiser of the NPP.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
OYOKO ASSEMBLIES OF GOD CHURCH BUILDS MISSION HOUSE (PAGE 20)
A NEW GH¢40,000 mission house for the Assemblies of God Church at Oyoko, near Koforidua was over the weekend dedicated to God.
The building which was constructed within a period of seven years, was funded with contributions from members of the church.
Inaugurating the building at a ceremony which was attended by a number of pastors and worshippers from the Koforidua area, the Deputy General Superintendent of the church, Rev. Moses S. Sumalia, stressed the need for reverend ministers to be properly accommodated in a serene atmosphere so that they could concentrate on their duty “to lead guide the flock”.
He said in that regard, the national headquarters of the church would continue to encourage the local branches to put up similar structures attached to church buildings throughout the country.
Rev. Sumalia commended members of the Oyoko branch for putting up the mission house.
Later in a sermon which was based on Ephesians Chapter 1 verses 15 to 19, Rev. Sumalia urged members of the congregation not only to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, but must also have faith in God for a good life on earth and salvation.
He said the church had been given the power to transform society for the better which could only be accomplished if Christians followed the footsteps of Christ.
The Eastern Regional Superintendent of the church, Rev. Alex Ofori Amankwaa was grateful to the Oyoko traditional authority for releasing land for the building.
Rev. Amankwaa urged members of the church to be united at all times since that was the only way the church could grow in numbers and infrastructure.
In another development, 11 ministers of the church who successfully passed out from pastoral training, have been ordained at an impressive ceremony conducted by the Rev. (Dr) Paul Dapaah,who doubles as the General Treasurer of the church and the Principal of the Mid-Ghana Bible College in Kumasi.
They are Reverends Mrs Edna Akofa Ametame, Prince Adu Gyamfi, Albert Anane, Samuel Lartyoung, Ben Koomson Sackey, Yaw K. Oppong Boadi, Abraham Satumia, Mrs Elizabeth Narh, Thomas E. Wornuku Mensah, George Ampomah Benefo and Emmanuel Kwaku Addo.
Delivering a sermon under the theme: “Moving in the power of the Holy Spirit” which was based on Acts of Apostles Chapter 10 verse 38, Rev. (Dr) Dapaah implored the new reverend ministers to always let the Holy Spirit guide them.
He said it was only in that direction that they would succeed in their ministerial work.
Rev. Ofori Amankwaa traced the history of the church in the region and said since the region was separated from Greater Accra in January, 1984, a total of 258 branches had been established with 117 ministers, out of which 84 had been ordained, 20 licensed and 13 exhorters.
He stressed that ordination was the highest level one could attain in the church, adding that a dynamic society demanded that one should study extensively to become proactive to meet the challenges of the time.
Rev. Ofori Amankwaa advised the new ministers not to be complacent, warning that they should never accept mediocrity as the norm.
He also advised them to always advance in education in order to excel in the ministry.
The building which was constructed within a period of seven years, was funded with contributions from members of the church.
Inaugurating the building at a ceremony which was attended by a number of pastors and worshippers from the Koforidua area, the Deputy General Superintendent of the church, Rev. Moses S. Sumalia, stressed the need for reverend ministers to be properly accommodated in a serene atmosphere so that they could concentrate on their duty “to lead guide the flock”.
He said in that regard, the national headquarters of the church would continue to encourage the local branches to put up similar structures attached to church buildings throughout the country.
Rev. Sumalia commended members of the Oyoko branch for putting up the mission house.
Later in a sermon which was based on Ephesians Chapter 1 verses 15 to 19, Rev. Sumalia urged members of the congregation not only to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, but must also have faith in God for a good life on earth and salvation.
He said the church had been given the power to transform society for the better which could only be accomplished if Christians followed the footsteps of Christ.
The Eastern Regional Superintendent of the church, Rev. Alex Ofori Amankwaa was grateful to the Oyoko traditional authority for releasing land for the building.
Rev. Amankwaa urged members of the church to be united at all times since that was the only way the church could grow in numbers and infrastructure.
In another development, 11 ministers of the church who successfully passed out from pastoral training, have been ordained at an impressive ceremony conducted by the Rev. (Dr) Paul Dapaah,who doubles as the General Treasurer of the church and the Principal of the Mid-Ghana Bible College in Kumasi.
They are Reverends Mrs Edna Akofa Ametame, Prince Adu Gyamfi, Albert Anane, Samuel Lartyoung, Ben Koomson Sackey, Yaw K. Oppong Boadi, Abraham Satumia, Mrs Elizabeth Narh, Thomas E. Wornuku Mensah, George Ampomah Benefo and Emmanuel Kwaku Addo.
Delivering a sermon under the theme: “Moving in the power of the Holy Spirit” which was based on Acts of Apostles Chapter 10 verse 38, Rev. (Dr) Dapaah implored the new reverend ministers to always let the Holy Spirit guide them.
He said it was only in that direction that they would succeed in their ministerial work.
Rev. Ofori Amankwaa traced the history of the church in the region and said since the region was separated from Greater Accra in January, 1984, a total of 258 branches had been established with 117 ministers, out of which 84 had been ordained, 20 licensed and 13 exhorters.
He stressed that ordination was the highest level one could attain in the church, adding that a dynamic society demanded that one should study extensively to become proactive to meet the challenges of the time.
Rev. Ofori Amankwaa advised the new ministers not to be complacent, warning that they should never accept mediocrity as the norm.
He also advised them to always advance in education in order to excel in the ministry.
NEWMONT MAKES POSITIVE IMPACT...In its operational area in Birim North (PAGE 20)
THE Birim North District, to be precise the forest zone surrounding New Abirem, the district capital, and other towns and communities such as Afosu, Hweakwae and Ntronang, is endowed with varieties of trees of economic value, such as odum, mahogany and sapele..
The land is arable and suitable for the cultivation of cash crops such as cocoa, citrus and oil palm, as well as plantain, maize and all types of tuber such as yams and cassava.
The exploitation of the forest products by local timber contractors, as well as the cultivation of the various crops by the farmers on small holdings due to lack of capital, could not make any significant impact on the people.
As a result, most of the towns and villages lack the necessary infrastructure such as good drinking water, roads, schools and clinics.
To address the imbalance, previous governments and their development partners, through the district assembly, initiated a number of development programmes to provide social amenities such as schools and potable water in the area.
But due to the area’s vastness, a number of communities could not benefit from the government’s development programme and that secluded a large segment of the population from benefiting from the necessary social amenities.
The discovery of gold in the area in the late 1990s, followed by the entry of Newmont, a multinational gold mining company, has given hope to the people for a better life.
Newmont, which is yet to be given its operational licence, has provided a number of social amenities in almost all the towns, villages and hamlets in its operational area.
It has provided amenities such as potable water, roads and schools for communities such as New Abirem, Afosu, Hweakwae, Mammas, Yayaso, Adausena and Old Abirem.
The company has also put in place a comprehensive poverty alleviation programme under which the people whose lands will be affected by its activities will be assisted with cash and training to engage in economic ventures to generate appreciable income for their sustenance.
This laudable intervention by Newmont, which is said to be operating within the required mining regulations and has already paid the agreed compensation to people whose lands and crops will be affected by its operations, has won the confidence of the people in the area.
The people, who registered their support during a public hearing on the matter at Yayaso, the epicentre of the company’s operations, last year, therefore, appealed to the government to hasten the process for the acquisition of an operational licence to enable the company to start digging for the mineral.
Although the actual quantity of gold deposit in the area is not yet known, it is estimated that production can last for a period ranging from 15 to 20 years.
In preparation for what can be termed as an economic boom in the area, new first-class hotels with recreational facilities, housing estates, shops and other facilities that will promote tourism have been constructed mostly by the indigenous people, most of whom are resident in the metropolises and abroad.
However, at such a crucial period when an operational licence is being considered for the company to go into full production of the mineral, a non-governmental organisation, the Wassa Communities Against Mining (WACAM), based in the Wassa area of the Western Region, has of late embarked on a campaign against the operations of Newmont in the area.
WACAM claims that Newmont’s activities will not be in the interest of the people, citing some environmental hazards.
The NGO’s claims have, however, been disputed by Newmont, which gave the assurance that inhabitants in its operational area will not under any situation be exposed to environmental hazards.
The company gave the assurance that everything had been done to safeguard the welfare of the people.
Newmont’s assurance was buttressed by the chiefs and people of the area who also expressed their displeasure at WACAM’s campaign which, according to them, had been calculated to deprive the area of development.
The Chief of Ntronang-Kotoku, Baffour Alimo, and Mr Arko Mensah, an opinion leader, for instance, strongly condemned WACAM’s agitation against Newmont in the area, describing it as a deliberate attempt to stagnate the development of the area.
According to them, the situation would also make the people to continue to wallow in abject poverty and underdevelopment in the midst of unexploited huge deposits of gold.
“We find it ridiculous for WACAM to come all the way from the Western Region to stand against Newmont, which has already done a lot for the communities, although it has not yet started digging for the mineral,” they stressed.
“The area contains gold to be extracted by an internationally reputed mining company such as Newmont and it will be disastrous for the people if Newmont pulls out because ‘galamsay’ operators who are already at nearby Noyem and Nyanfoman will take over and the communities will get nothing,” Mr Arko Mensah said.
Baffour Alimo, who was happy that Newmont had done a lot for the people, gave the assurance that traditional rulers in the area would give the necessary support for the company to operate in such a way that would not negatively affect the environment and the people.
He was hopeful that WACAM’s agitation would be disregarded so that Newmont would be given the official blessing to operate, saying that that was the only way to develop the area.
Mr Samuel Ansong, the Head Teacher of the Mamnaso District Assembly Junior High School, which was constructed by Newmont, and Mr Appiah Frempong of the Islamic School, also at Mamnaso, were full of praise for Newmont.
“Apart from constructing new buildings to replace the old dilapidated ones, the company has also been supplying educational materials and other items such as clothing to the pupils and some teachers,” they said.
Considering what Newmont has done so far in terms of infrastructural development in the communities within its operational areas, as well as the other poverty alleviation measures it has initiated to ensure that the people are not negatively affected by its operations, it is prudent for all stakeholders, especially the sector ministry, to listen to the people and do what is expected to enable the company to go into full production of the mineral as soon as possible.
The sector ministry, at the same time, should keep an eagle eye on Newmont so that it operates within the required mining laws.
This is the only way the area’s development can be enhanced, both in terms of infrastructure and poverty alleviation, for the benefit of the people.
The land is arable and suitable for the cultivation of cash crops such as cocoa, citrus and oil palm, as well as plantain, maize and all types of tuber such as yams and cassava.
The exploitation of the forest products by local timber contractors, as well as the cultivation of the various crops by the farmers on small holdings due to lack of capital, could not make any significant impact on the people.
As a result, most of the towns and villages lack the necessary infrastructure such as good drinking water, roads, schools and clinics.
To address the imbalance, previous governments and their development partners, through the district assembly, initiated a number of development programmes to provide social amenities such as schools and potable water in the area.
But due to the area’s vastness, a number of communities could not benefit from the government’s development programme and that secluded a large segment of the population from benefiting from the necessary social amenities.
The discovery of gold in the area in the late 1990s, followed by the entry of Newmont, a multinational gold mining company, has given hope to the people for a better life.
Newmont, which is yet to be given its operational licence, has provided a number of social amenities in almost all the towns, villages and hamlets in its operational area.
It has provided amenities such as potable water, roads and schools for communities such as New Abirem, Afosu, Hweakwae, Mammas, Yayaso, Adausena and Old Abirem.
The company has also put in place a comprehensive poverty alleviation programme under which the people whose lands will be affected by its activities will be assisted with cash and training to engage in economic ventures to generate appreciable income for their sustenance.
This laudable intervention by Newmont, which is said to be operating within the required mining regulations and has already paid the agreed compensation to people whose lands and crops will be affected by its operations, has won the confidence of the people in the area.
The people, who registered their support during a public hearing on the matter at Yayaso, the epicentre of the company’s operations, last year, therefore, appealed to the government to hasten the process for the acquisition of an operational licence to enable the company to start digging for the mineral.
Although the actual quantity of gold deposit in the area is not yet known, it is estimated that production can last for a period ranging from 15 to 20 years.
In preparation for what can be termed as an economic boom in the area, new first-class hotels with recreational facilities, housing estates, shops and other facilities that will promote tourism have been constructed mostly by the indigenous people, most of whom are resident in the metropolises and abroad.
However, at such a crucial period when an operational licence is being considered for the company to go into full production of the mineral, a non-governmental organisation, the Wassa Communities Against Mining (WACAM), based in the Wassa area of the Western Region, has of late embarked on a campaign against the operations of Newmont in the area.
WACAM claims that Newmont’s activities will not be in the interest of the people, citing some environmental hazards.
The NGO’s claims have, however, been disputed by Newmont, which gave the assurance that inhabitants in its operational area will not under any situation be exposed to environmental hazards.
The company gave the assurance that everything had been done to safeguard the welfare of the people.
Newmont’s assurance was buttressed by the chiefs and people of the area who also expressed their displeasure at WACAM’s campaign which, according to them, had been calculated to deprive the area of development.
The Chief of Ntronang-Kotoku, Baffour Alimo, and Mr Arko Mensah, an opinion leader, for instance, strongly condemned WACAM’s agitation against Newmont in the area, describing it as a deliberate attempt to stagnate the development of the area.
According to them, the situation would also make the people to continue to wallow in abject poverty and underdevelopment in the midst of unexploited huge deposits of gold.
“We find it ridiculous for WACAM to come all the way from the Western Region to stand against Newmont, which has already done a lot for the communities, although it has not yet started digging for the mineral,” they stressed.
“The area contains gold to be extracted by an internationally reputed mining company such as Newmont and it will be disastrous for the people if Newmont pulls out because ‘galamsay’ operators who are already at nearby Noyem and Nyanfoman will take over and the communities will get nothing,” Mr Arko Mensah said.
Baffour Alimo, who was happy that Newmont had done a lot for the people, gave the assurance that traditional rulers in the area would give the necessary support for the company to operate in such a way that would not negatively affect the environment and the people.
He was hopeful that WACAM’s agitation would be disregarded so that Newmont would be given the official blessing to operate, saying that that was the only way to develop the area.
Mr Samuel Ansong, the Head Teacher of the Mamnaso District Assembly Junior High School, which was constructed by Newmont, and Mr Appiah Frempong of the Islamic School, also at Mamnaso, were full of praise for Newmont.
“Apart from constructing new buildings to replace the old dilapidated ones, the company has also been supplying educational materials and other items such as clothing to the pupils and some teachers,” they said.
Considering what Newmont has done so far in terms of infrastructural development in the communities within its operational areas, as well as the other poverty alleviation measures it has initiated to ensure that the people are not negatively affected by its operations, it is prudent for all stakeholders, especially the sector ministry, to listen to the people and do what is expected to enable the company to go into full production of the mineral as soon as possible.
The sector ministry, at the same time, should keep an eagle eye on Newmont so that it operates within the required mining laws.
This is the only way the area’s development can be enhanced, both in terms of infrastructure and poverty alleviation, for the benefit of the people.
PUT ASIDE POLITICAL AFFILIATIONS FOR GROWTH — OFOSU AMPOFO (FEB 25)
THE Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, has called on the people of the region to put aside their political affiliations and come together to develop the region.
He said the region was rich in human and natural resources that could only be developed if its inhabitants could unite and support the regional administration in implementing the development agenda.
Mr Ofosu Ampofo made the call at his maiden meeting with the staff of the Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) shortly after he resumed office on Monday. Also present at the meeting were Mr D.S. Boateng, a former Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Julius Debrah, the Eastern Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), as well as some security chiefs in the region.
“All of us belong to different political parties which competed in the 2008 elections which the NDC won but the region could be developed if we put aside our political affiliations and joined hands in carrying out the development agenda,” he stated.
He said the region had all the resources to develop and he would ensure that with the implementation of the NDC’s development agenda, the development of the region would be greatly accelerated within the next four years.
Mr Ofosu Ampofo who gave the assurance that he would partner the RCC to develop the area said that could, however, be achieved if the RCC deepened its involvement in all matters rather than only seeing to the formulation of programmes.
The new regional minister who was the deputy regional minister eight years ago, promised to be fair but firm in dealing with all matters.
He thanked the people in the region especially the traditional rulers for their support.
Earlier, the Regional Co-ordinating Director, Mr Samuel Bawa pledged the support of the entire 110 staff made up of 80 women and 30 men to the regional minister to enable him to administer the region.
He, however, asked Mr Ofosu Ampofo not to hesitate in pointing out any mistake that might be committed by the staff of the RCC in the course of their deliberations.
He said the region was rich in human and natural resources that could only be developed if its inhabitants could unite and support the regional administration in implementing the development agenda.
Mr Ofosu Ampofo made the call at his maiden meeting with the staff of the Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) shortly after he resumed office on Monday. Also present at the meeting were Mr D.S. Boateng, a former Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Julius Debrah, the Eastern Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), as well as some security chiefs in the region.
“All of us belong to different political parties which competed in the 2008 elections which the NDC won but the region could be developed if we put aside our political affiliations and joined hands in carrying out the development agenda,” he stated.
He said the region had all the resources to develop and he would ensure that with the implementation of the NDC’s development agenda, the development of the region would be greatly accelerated within the next four years.
Mr Ofosu Ampofo who gave the assurance that he would partner the RCC to develop the area said that could, however, be achieved if the RCC deepened its involvement in all matters rather than only seeing to the formulation of programmes.
The new regional minister who was the deputy regional minister eight years ago, promised to be fair but firm in dealing with all matters.
He thanked the people in the region especially the traditional rulers for their support.
Earlier, the Regional Co-ordinating Director, Mr Samuel Bawa pledged the support of the entire 110 staff made up of 80 women and 30 men to the regional minister to enable him to administer the region.
He, however, asked Mr Ofosu Ampofo not to hesitate in pointing out any mistake that might be committed by the staff of the RCC in the course of their deliberations.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
APPLICATION TO NULLIFY WRIT DISMISSED (PAGE 3)
THE Koforidua High Court on Thursday dismissed an application to nullify a writ before it in connection with the recent parliamentary election in the Akwatia Constituency in the Eastern Region.
The court, which had a heavy police presence and was presided over by Mr Justice Surrubarreh, therefore, directed that the writ must take its normal course and awarded GH¢500 costs against the second defendant, Dr Kofi Asare, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate in the constituency
The writ was filed by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for the constituency, Baba Jamal Armed Muhammed, and two independent candidates, Samuel Abrokwa and Basil Ahiable.
The three prayed the court to order the Electoral Commission (EC) to re-run the elections in all the polling stations in the constituency, instead of only six polling stations, since the election in all the polling stations was fraught with malpractice.
In the course of the trial, Dr Asare came in as the second defendant and filed a petition praying the court to dismiss the writ, arguing that it was not proper and that the plaintiffs should rather seek redress through an election petition but not with a writ, since the event was an election whose grievances must be addressed through a petition.
Giving reasons for the ruling, which lasted for nearly 30 minutes, Justice Surrubarreh referred to similar cases as contained in the Ghana Law Reports, as well as other legal statutes, and said since nobody had been elected to be gazetted and presented to Parliament as in the case at Akwatia, the event could not be an election whose grievances should be redressed through an election petition.
He then dismissed the application, ordered the writ to go through its normal course and awarded GH¢500 costs against Dr Asare.
At the previous sitting, counsel for Dr Asare, Mr Amoako Adjei, had contended that although nobody had been elected during the Akwatia event, what happened there was an election and that any aggrieved person should seek redress at the court through an election petition but not with a writ.
Quoting legal statutes to buttress his argument, counsel told the court that an election must not necessarily mean that someone must be elected, gazetted and the name sent to Parliament and that although all the processes could not be completed as in the case of Akwatia, the event was an election and that if there should be any grievances, they must be addressed through an election petition but not with a writ.
He, therefore, prayed the court to strike out the writ, after which plaintiffs could come back to the court with an election petition if they should have some grievances.
“My Lord, if plaintiffs have grievances, they should come to court through the proper channel, instead of going through the wrong door,” Mr Adjei told the court.
Counsel for the EC, Mr James Quarshie-Idum, supported Mr Adjei’s argument and stated that although the process to elect a representative for Akwatia could not be completed, the event was an election.
Shortly after the judge had given his ruling, a large number of people gathered in front of the courtroom and suspected to be supporters of the NDC and the NPP nearly clashed, amidst insults. But the presence of a large number of policemen in riot control gear averted the clash.
The court, which had a heavy police presence and was presided over by Mr Justice Surrubarreh, therefore, directed that the writ must take its normal course and awarded GH¢500 costs against the second defendant, Dr Kofi Asare, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate in the constituency
The writ was filed by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for the constituency, Baba Jamal Armed Muhammed, and two independent candidates, Samuel Abrokwa and Basil Ahiable.
The three prayed the court to order the Electoral Commission (EC) to re-run the elections in all the polling stations in the constituency, instead of only six polling stations, since the election in all the polling stations was fraught with malpractice.
In the course of the trial, Dr Asare came in as the second defendant and filed a petition praying the court to dismiss the writ, arguing that it was not proper and that the plaintiffs should rather seek redress through an election petition but not with a writ, since the event was an election whose grievances must be addressed through a petition.
Giving reasons for the ruling, which lasted for nearly 30 minutes, Justice Surrubarreh referred to similar cases as contained in the Ghana Law Reports, as well as other legal statutes, and said since nobody had been elected to be gazetted and presented to Parliament as in the case at Akwatia, the event could not be an election whose grievances should be redressed through an election petition.
He then dismissed the application, ordered the writ to go through its normal course and awarded GH¢500 costs against Dr Asare.
At the previous sitting, counsel for Dr Asare, Mr Amoako Adjei, had contended that although nobody had been elected during the Akwatia event, what happened there was an election and that any aggrieved person should seek redress at the court through an election petition but not with a writ.
Quoting legal statutes to buttress his argument, counsel told the court that an election must not necessarily mean that someone must be elected, gazetted and the name sent to Parliament and that although all the processes could not be completed as in the case of Akwatia, the event was an election and that if there should be any grievances, they must be addressed through an election petition but not with a writ.
He, therefore, prayed the court to strike out the writ, after which plaintiffs could come back to the court with an election petition if they should have some grievances.
“My Lord, if plaintiffs have grievances, they should come to court through the proper channel, instead of going through the wrong door,” Mr Adjei told the court.
Counsel for the EC, Mr James Quarshie-Idum, supported Mr Adjei’s argument and stated that although the process to elect a representative for Akwatia could not be completed, the event was an election.
Shortly after the judge had given his ruling, a large number of people gathered in front of the courtroom and suspected to be supporters of the NDC and the NPP nearly clashed, amidst insults. But the presence of a large number of policemen in riot control gear averted the clash.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
COURT TO RULE ON AKWATIA ELECTIONS (PAGE 17)
A KOFORIDUA high court presided over by Justice Surrubarreh would on Friday rule whether or not a writ filed at the court, in connection with the recent elections in the Akwatia Constituency in the Eastern Region was proper.
The writ, which was filed by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for the constituency, Baba Jamal Muhammed Ahmed, and two other Independent Candidates, Samuel Abrokwa and Basil Ahiable, prayed the court to order the Electoral Commission (EC) to re-run the elections in all the polling stations in the constituency, instead of six polling boots, since the elections in the entire constituency were fraught with malpractices.
On the February 16 sitting, Mr Amoako Adjei, the counsel for the New Patriotic Party candidate, Dr Kofi Asare, who came in as second defender, argued that the writ was not proper and that it should have been an election petition.
The counsel stated that there was an election in the Akwatia Constituency and if the plaintiffs had any grievances at all, they should seek redress at the court through an election petition but not a writ.
Mr Amoako Adjei, who based his argument on similar cases dealt by the court of law, stated that it was therefore improper for the plaintiffs to file the writ and prayed the court to strike it out and award cost against the plaintiffs.
“There has been an election and grievances associated with elections are dealt at the law court through petitions, but not writs. My lord, if plaintiffs have any grievances at all, they must come in through the proper channel, but they have come in through the wrong door,” the counsel contended.
Mr Amoako Adjei’s argument was vehemently opposed by Mr Carlos De-Souza, the counsel for Baba Jamal.
He told the court that since the ballot papers for the elections in the Akwatia Constituency were not counted for by the EC to declare the winner whose name should be sent to the Clerk of Parliament, after which the whole process should be gazetted, the Akwatia issue could not be said to be an election whose grievances should be redressed through a petition.
The counsel, therefore, prayed the court to consider the writ as properly filed and then go ahead with the substantive case to enable the Akwatia Constituency to have its representation in Parliament.
“In an election, ballot papers must be counted to determine the winner whose name should be gazetted and sent to the Clerk of Parliament but that has not been the case with what happened at Akwatia to be resolved with a petition,” Mr De-Souza contended.
He therefore prayed the court to consider the writ as properly filed so that it could go into it to resolve the impasse over who should represent the Akwatia Constituency in Parliament.
Mr James Quarshie-Idun, the counsel for the EC, in his turn, defined an election as a process to elect but not only when someone has been elected before it could be referred to as an election.
He told the court that although nobody was declared a winner in the case of Akwatia, the event there was an election.
After further arguments by the counsel for all parties, some of whom made references to legal statutes on similar cases, the Judge, Justice Surrubarreh, adjourned sittings to Friday, February 20 for ruling on the matter.
The writ, which was filed by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for the constituency, Baba Jamal Muhammed Ahmed, and two other Independent Candidates, Samuel Abrokwa and Basil Ahiable, prayed the court to order the Electoral Commission (EC) to re-run the elections in all the polling stations in the constituency, instead of six polling boots, since the elections in the entire constituency were fraught with malpractices.
On the February 16 sitting, Mr Amoako Adjei, the counsel for the New Patriotic Party candidate, Dr Kofi Asare, who came in as second defender, argued that the writ was not proper and that it should have been an election petition.
The counsel stated that there was an election in the Akwatia Constituency and if the plaintiffs had any grievances at all, they should seek redress at the court through an election petition but not a writ.
Mr Amoako Adjei, who based his argument on similar cases dealt by the court of law, stated that it was therefore improper for the plaintiffs to file the writ and prayed the court to strike it out and award cost against the plaintiffs.
“There has been an election and grievances associated with elections are dealt at the law court through petitions, but not writs. My lord, if plaintiffs have any grievances at all, they must come in through the proper channel, but they have come in through the wrong door,” the counsel contended.
Mr Amoako Adjei’s argument was vehemently opposed by Mr Carlos De-Souza, the counsel for Baba Jamal.
He told the court that since the ballot papers for the elections in the Akwatia Constituency were not counted for by the EC to declare the winner whose name should be sent to the Clerk of Parliament, after which the whole process should be gazetted, the Akwatia issue could not be said to be an election whose grievances should be redressed through a petition.
The counsel, therefore, prayed the court to consider the writ as properly filed and then go ahead with the substantive case to enable the Akwatia Constituency to have its representation in Parliament.
“In an election, ballot papers must be counted to determine the winner whose name should be gazetted and sent to the Clerk of Parliament but that has not been the case with what happened at Akwatia to be resolved with a petition,” Mr De-Souza contended.
He therefore prayed the court to consider the writ as properly filed so that it could go into it to resolve the impasse over who should represent the Akwatia Constituency in Parliament.
Mr James Quarshie-Idun, the counsel for the EC, in his turn, defined an election as a process to elect but not only when someone has been elected before it could be referred to as an election.
He told the court that although nobody was declared a winner in the case of Akwatia, the event there was an election.
After further arguments by the counsel for all parties, some of whom made references to legal statutes on similar cases, the Judge, Justice Surrubarreh, adjourned sittings to Friday, February 20 for ruling on the matter.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
AMOATENG REFUTES ALLEGATIONS (PAGE 14)
THE Eastern Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Mr Yaw Gyekye Amoabeng, has refuted allegations that his conduct led to the party’s abysmal performance in the region.
He also described as false an allegation that he personally made use of GH¢40,000 meant for the party’s campaign in the region.
The NPP Regional Chairman was reacting to a publication in the February 9, 2009 edition of The Democrat which said he was the cause of the low performance of the party in the recent general elections in the region.
The story under the headline “Akufo Addo Man Chops GH¢40,000” categorically stated that the incompetence of the Regional Chairman who pursued his selfish interest led to the party’s downfall in the region, a stronghold of the NPP.
It also stated that Mr Amoabeng personally “blew”GH¢40,000 meant for the electioneering campaign in the region.
At a press conference in Koforidua on Thursday, Mr Amoabeng said although so many factors could have led to the party’s low performance during the election, he was not personally responsible.
He said in view of that, a three-member committee had been set up to investigate the circumstances that led to the party’s slow performance to enable it to address any problem that would negatively affect the 2012 elections.
With regard to the allegation that he personally made use of GH¢40,000 meant for campaigns for the elections in the region, he said all funds allocated to him were disbursed.
Giving details on how he disbursed such moneys, he said he divided the region which has 28 constituencies into eight zones headed by co-ordinators who took their allocations from him, adding that the bulk sums for all the constituencies were made known to the co-ordinators.
“Every money given to me were given to the co-ordinators who know the actual figure of the bulk sum and considering that there are 28 constituencies, the GH¢40,000 which was said to have been given to me is even too small for that purpose”, Mr Amoabeng stated.
Mr Amoako said he was not surprised that The Democrat had come out with such a story to tarnish his image since it had done that before by falsely publishing that he had acquired some plots of land near the Opeibea House in Accra.
He said he would have written a rejoinder to what The Democrat wrote but its offices could not be traced, hence the press conference.
Mr Amoabeng has however opted for a legal suit to redeem his image .
He also described as false an allegation that he personally made use of GH¢40,000 meant for the party’s campaign in the region.
The NPP Regional Chairman was reacting to a publication in the February 9, 2009 edition of The Democrat which said he was the cause of the low performance of the party in the recent general elections in the region.
The story under the headline “Akufo Addo Man Chops GH¢40,000” categorically stated that the incompetence of the Regional Chairman who pursued his selfish interest led to the party’s downfall in the region, a stronghold of the NPP.
It also stated that Mr Amoabeng personally “blew”GH¢40,000 meant for the electioneering campaign in the region.
At a press conference in Koforidua on Thursday, Mr Amoabeng said although so many factors could have led to the party’s low performance during the election, he was not personally responsible.
He said in view of that, a three-member committee had been set up to investigate the circumstances that led to the party’s slow performance to enable it to address any problem that would negatively affect the 2012 elections.
With regard to the allegation that he personally made use of GH¢40,000 meant for campaigns for the elections in the region, he said all funds allocated to him were disbursed.
Giving details on how he disbursed such moneys, he said he divided the region which has 28 constituencies into eight zones headed by co-ordinators who took their allocations from him, adding that the bulk sums for all the constituencies were made known to the co-ordinators.
“Every money given to me were given to the co-ordinators who know the actual figure of the bulk sum and considering that there are 28 constituencies, the GH¢40,000 which was said to have been given to me is even too small for that purpose”, Mr Amoabeng stated.
Mr Amoako said he was not surprised that The Democrat had come out with such a story to tarnish his image since it had done that before by falsely publishing that he had acquired some plots of land near the Opeibea House in Accra.
He said he would have written a rejoinder to what The Democrat wrote but its offices could not be traced, hence the press conference.
Mr Amoabeng has however opted for a legal suit to redeem his image .
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
MANYA KROBO SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL ...A rising star in the East (PAGE 22)
ABOUT 150 years ago, the Basel missionaries extended their activities to the Krobo area, to be precise, Odumase Krobo, the traditional capital.
The main aim of the missionaries was first to convert the indigenous people, adherents of traditional practices to Christianity as a result of which a large segment of the population became Christians.
The second objective which was to introduce formal education to enable the new converts to read and understand the Bible started with the establishment of primary schools in the area in the 1920s.
Realising that education at the secondary level had the potential of totally transforming the living standards of the people, the Basel missionaries in the late 1930s came up with the idea of a grammar school which was whole-heartedly supported by the traditional rulers under the leadership of the Konor (Paramount Chief).
The Konor and his courtiers readily made land available, near the premises of the palace where the school, the Presbyterian Boys Secondary School, was finally established and the students, apart from going through the normal academic programme, were also introduced to the strict Presbyterian doctrine and discipline.
Especially children of the chiefs and elders got enrolled in the school.
Other beneficiaries were students from all parts of the country who rushed to the school due to its laudable achievement in producing disciplined scholars most of whom climbed the academic ladder to tertiary institutions and came out as professionals in various fields such as medicine, education, law, religion and engineering.
Such academic successes chalked up by the school, coupled with the quality of its products, made PRESEC as it was popularly known, a household name not only in the Krobo area but the country as a whole.
However, at a time that the school was making tremendous impact on the people with the consequent transformation of the area, a decision was made to relocate it to Legon, near Accra.
The relocation was mainly due to limited space for additional infrastructure to cater for its ever increasing number of students.
But to ensure that the relocation would not negatively affect students in the area most of whose parents could hardly finance their education outside the area, the traditional rulers led by the late Konor, Oklemekuku Azu Mate Korle II however, acted swiftly by establishing a new school at Nuaso, about three kilometres away as a replacement.
The school, christened the Manya Krobo Secondary School (MAKROSEC) started modestly in September 1968 in dilapidated buildings of the Basel Mission (now property of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana) with Rev S.K. Aboa as its first headmaster.
It was initially a boys’ educational institution with a dual academic programme, offering courses in teacher training with 18 students and a secondary (grammar) school which had a single student.
On July 14, 1969, the Training College Department was scrapped and all 39 students on admission at the time were transferred to the Adukrom Training College on the Akuapem Scarp.
In September 1971, the school became co-educational and shifted to its present spacious premises at Nuaso.
As a new school, it encountered the teething problem of inadequate and proper infrastructure such as dormitories, classrooms and other facilities and logistics.
Such a situation compelled the school authorities to use one of the blocks for classrooms and administration while the visual arts building was used as dormitories for the girls.
The school also had no reliable means of transport to convey students on educational tours as well as other services because the only truck donated by the VALCO Fund about 40 years ago could not go on such trips.
There was also virtually no residential accommodation for staff and the headmaster had to share such a facility on the compound with other items of the school such as lorry tyres and wheelbarrows packed in front of the hall and other parts of the facility.
Despite these challenges, the school over the years made significant academic gains in addition to successes in sports, quizzes and other extracurricular activities.
For instance the school which now has a student population of 1,200 out of which 800 are boarders and witnessed an increase of final-year students from 127 in 1999 to 327 in 2005, recorded passes in the final examinations ranging from 85 per cent in 1999 to 100 per cent in 2005. The results for 2006, 2007 and 2008 have also been very good.
It is therefore not surprising that MAKROSEC, just like its predecessor, PRESEC, has had many of its products getting into the universities and other professional and tertiary institutions to come out as highly trained professionals who are also found in all sectors of the country.
Some of these distinguished professionals are Professor Samuel Offei and Dr Kwaku Dawson, dean and lecturer respectively of the School of Agriculture, University of Ghana, Legon; Dr Martin Tamatey of the Cardio-Thoracic Centre of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Mr Vance Azu, a journalist with The Mirror, the country’s leading weekend newspaper and Messrs Sam Frederick and Joe Muno, both well-known businessmen.
Such a significant achievement of the school is due to the able manner the headmasters administered it.
They were the Reverend S.K. Aboah, the first headmaster who was at post between 1968 and 1973; J.N. Antwi, 1973-74; S.K. Afari, 1974-1977; E.L. Chapman, January 1977 - August 1977; H.D. Narh, 1977-81; A.N.Tetteh, 1981-94, Reverend S. Peprah Yeboah, 1994-2004; C. C. Amenga Etego, Jan 2004 - March 2004 and E. N. Sackitey, 2004 to date.
Although all the headmasters did their best in raising the academic status of the school, the contributions of Reverend Aboah, the first headmaster who, despite the numerous problems the school faced in its initial stages managed it and the present one, E.N. Sackitey who was able to improve on the academic performance of the students at a time that infrastructural amenities could hardly match its ever increasing population, make the two educationists stand tall among their colleagues.
Speaking at the school’s 40th anniversary which was recently marked on the school premises, Mr Sackitey said the numerous challenges especially inadequate infrastructure did not, however, deter the tutors and students to put in their best.
He said although the authorities had decided to address the infrastructural problem, construction work on a GH¢120,000 complex to house a computer laboratory and staff common room being funded by the government through the district assembly which started three years ago had come to a standstill.
Another project which has almost been abandoned is an administrative block being funded by the African Development Bank through the Presidential Initiative.
“We do not have the necessary amenities but we are doing well. For instance, we have been able to guide students, particularly those admitted from deprived junior high schools in the area with not-too-good grades at the BECE, to also enter the universities and other tertiary educational and professional institutions”, Mr Sackitey said.
Although Mr Sackitey and his staff have improved the school’s academic performance to place it as one of the best in the region, the performance of the students in the future would depend on the dedication and commitment of the next headmaster who would take over from the educationist, who would be retiring this month.
The main aim of the missionaries was first to convert the indigenous people, adherents of traditional practices to Christianity as a result of which a large segment of the population became Christians.
The second objective which was to introduce formal education to enable the new converts to read and understand the Bible started with the establishment of primary schools in the area in the 1920s.
Realising that education at the secondary level had the potential of totally transforming the living standards of the people, the Basel missionaries in the late 1930s came up with the idea of a grammar school which was whole-heartedly supported by the traditional rulers under the leadership of the Konor (Paramount Chief).
The Konor and his courtiers readily made land available, near the premises of the palace where the school, the Presbyterian Boys Secondary School, was finally established and the students, apart from going through the normal academic programme, were also introduced to the strict Presbyterian doctrine and discipline.
Especially children of the chiefs and elders got enrolled in the school.
Other beneficiaries were students from all parts of the country who rushed to the school due to its laudable achievement in producing disciplined scholars most of whom climbed the academic ladder to tertiary institutions and came out as professionals in various fields such as medicine, education, law, religion and engineering.
Such academic successes chalked up by the school, coupled with the quality of its products, made PRESEC as it was popularly known, a household name not only in the Krobo area but the country as a whole.
However, at a time that the school was making tremendous impact on the people with the consequent transformation of the area, a decision was made to relocate it to Legon, near Accra.
The relocation was mainly due to limited space for additional infrastructure to cater for its ever increasing number of students.
But to ensure that the relocation would not negatively affect students in the area most of whose parents could hardly finance their education outside the area, the traditional rulers led by the late Konor, Oklemekuku Azu Mate Korle II however, acted swiftly by establishing a new school at Nuaso, about three kilometres away as a replacement.
The school, christened the Manya Krobo Secondary School (MAKROSEC) started modestly in September 1968 in dilapidated buildings of the Basel Mission (now property of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana) with Rev S.K. Aboa as its first headmaster.
It was initially a boys’ educational institution with a dual academic programme, offering courses in teacher training with 18 students and a secondary (grammar) school which had a single student.
On July 14, 1969, the Training College Department was scrapped and all 39 students on admission at the time were transferred to the Adukrom Training College on the Akuapem Scarp.
In September 1971, the school became co-educational and shifted to its present spacious premises at Nuaso.
As a new school, it encountered the teething problem of inadequate and proper infrastructure such as dormitories, classrooms and other facilities and logistics.
Such a situation compelled the school authorities to use one of the blocks for classrooms and administration while the visual arts building was used as dormitories for the girls.
The school also had no reliable means of transport to convey students on educational tours as well as other services because the only truck donated by the VALCO Fund about 40 years ago could not go on such trips.
There was also virtually no residential accommodation for staff and the headmaster had to share such a facility on the compound with other items of the school such as lorry tyres and wheelbarrows packed in front of the hall and other parts of the facility.
Despite these challenges, the school over the years made significant academic gains in addition to successes in sports, quizzes and other extracurricular activities.
For instance the school which now has a student population of 1,200 out of which 800 are boarders and witnessed an increase of final-year students from 127 in 1999 to 327 in 2005, recorded passes in the final examinations ranging from 85 per cent in 1999 to 100 per cent in 2005. The results for 2006, 2007 and 2008 have also been very good.
It is therefore not surprising that MAKROSEC, just like its predecessor, PRESEC, has had many of its products getting into the universities and other professional and tertiary institutions to come out as highly trained professionals who are also found in all sectors of the country.
Some of these distinguished professionals are Professor Samuel Offei and Dr Kwaku Dawson, dean and lecturer respectively of the School of Agriculture, University of Ghana, Legon; Dr Martin Tamatey of the Cardio-Thoracic Centre of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Mr Vance Azu, a journalist with The Mirror, the country’s leading weekend newspaper and Messrs Sam Frederick and Joe Muno, both well-known businessmen.
Such a significant achievement of the school is due to the able manner the headmasters administered it.
They were the Reverend S.K. Aboah, the first headmaster who was at post between 1968 and 1973; J.N. Antwi, 1973-74; S.K. Afari, 1974-1977; E.L. Chapman, January 1977 - August 1977; H.D. Narh, 1977-81; A.N.Tetteh, 1981-94, Reverend S. Peprah Yeboah, 1994-2004; C. C. Amenga Etego, Jan 2004 - March 2004 and E. N. Sackitey, 2004 to date.
Although all the headmasters did their best in raising the academic status of the school, the contributions of Reverend Aboah, the first headmaster who, despite the numerous problems the school faced in its initial stages managed it and the present one, E.N. Sackitey who was able to improve on the academic performance of the students at a time that infrastructural amenities could hardly match its ever increasing population, make the two educationists stand tall among their colleagues.
Speaking at the school’s 40th anniversary which was recently marked on the school premises, Mr Sackitey said the numerous challenges especially inadequate infrastructure did not, however, deter the tutors and students to put in their best.
He said although the authorities had decided to address the infrastructural problem, construction work on a GH¢120,000 complex to house a computer laboratory and staff common room being funded by the government through the district assembly which started three years ago had come to a standstill.
Another project which has almost been abandoned is an administrative block being funded by the African Development Bank through the Presidential Initiative.
“We do not have the necessary amenities but we are doing well. For instance, we have been able to guide students, particularly those admitted from deprived junior high schools in the area with not-too-good grades at the BECE, to also enter the universities and other tertiary educational and professional institutions”, Mr Sackitey said.
Although Mr Sackitey and his staff have improved the school’s academic performance to place it as one of the best in the region, the performance of the students in the future would depend on the dedication and commitment of the next headmaster who would take over from the educationist, who would be retiring this month.
TWO DIE IN APASARE ACCIDENT (BACK PAGE)
AN Opel Kadett taxi, loaded with nine persons on their way to Apasare from Akropong Akuapem, has crashed at Apasare near Adawso in the Eastern Region, killing two persons on the spot.
The dead have been identified as Charles Asirifi, the driver, and Yaw Adu. The bodies have been deposited at the Tetteh Quarshie Memorial Hospital morgue at Mampong-Akuapem.
Seven others who sustained injury were first sent to the same hospital from where they were referred to the Regional Hospital in Koforidua.
Those referred to Koforidua are Atta Kwasi, Kofi Awuku and Kwadwo Awuku, while Vida Asante, 31, Kwamena Amaning, 28, Prince Amoako, 16, and Kwame Annor, 19, were all treated and discharged.
Briefing the Daily Graphic, the Eastern Regional Commander of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service, Superintendent James Sarfo Peprah, said at about 11 p. m. on that day, the victims, all from Akropong-Akuapem, were travelling to Apasare, a few kilometres from Adawso on the Mamfe-Koforidua road, when the accident occurred.
He said Asirifi lost control of the vehicle when descending the mountain near Nyameyede and crashed into the dense forest.
A Senior Nursing Officer at the Regional Hospital, Miss Grace Arthur, said the three who were admitted on Saturday were all responding to treatment.
At the Tetteh Quarshie Memorial Hospital, Mrs Devine Nartey said the three victims were referred to the Regional Hospital.
According to her, the others on admission opted to be discharged against medical advice, adding that since they were consenting adults, there was no way their request could be turned down.
The dead have been identified as Charles Asirifi, the driver, and Yaw Adu. The bodies have been deposited at the Tetteh Quarshie Memorial Hospital morgue at Mampong-Akuapem.
Seven others who sustained injury were first sent to the same hospital from where they were referred to the Regional Hospital in Koforidua.
Those referred to Koforidua are Atta Kwasi, Kofi Awuku and Kwadwo Awuku, while Vida Asante, 31, Kwamena Amaning, 28, Prince Amoako, 16, and Kwame Annor, 19, were all treated and discharged.
Briefing the Daily Graphic, the Eastern Regional Commander of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service, Superintendent James Sarfo Peprah, said at about 11 p. m. on that day, the victims, all from Akropong-Akuapem, were travelling to Apasare, a few kilometres from Adawso on the Mamfe-Koforidua road, when the accident occurred.
He said Asirifi lost control of the vehicle when descending the mountain near Nyameyede and crashed into the dense forest.
A Senior Nursing Officer at the Regional Hospital, Miss Grace Arthur, said the three who were admitted on Saturday were all responding to treatment.
At the Tetteh Quarshie Memorial Hospital, Mrs Devine Nartey said the three victims were referred to the Regional Hospital.
According to her, the others on admission opted to be discharged against medical advice, adding that since they were consenting adults, there was no way their request could be turned down.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
NEW JUABEN IN MASSIVE CLEAN UP (PAGE 22)
Zoomlion Ghana Limited, a waste management company, last Saturday organised a clean–up exercise in the New Juaben Municipality.
The exercise, the biggest of its kind in the area in recent times, brought together workers from the company and personnel from the Fire and Police service led by the Municipal Police Commander, Superintendent John Naami. Personnel were supplied with the necessary equipment by Zoomlion to clear choked drainage, gutters and places where public functions are held.
These included the Jackson Park, the Central Police Station, the business area and the Residency.
After the exercise, the Eastern Regional Operational Director of Zoomlion, Mr Ernest Kusi told the press that although his outfit had been clearing the area of filth daily, it decided to do it on a large scale by supplying refuse collection equipment to personnel of the Police service, Fire Service and the assembly to cover a wide area in the municipality.
This, he said, was in line with a call from President John Evans Atta Mills for a clean environment especially in the metropolises and municipalities, which contained a large number of people with the attendant environmental challenges.
“As a waste management company, we have to respond to the call from the President for a clean environment, especially in the metropolitan and municipal areas where the people are so many and generate a lot of refuse, which should be regularly disposed,” Mr Kusi stated.
Mr Kusi, who asked the people to use the company’s numerous refuse bins placed at vantage points in the municipality, said that was the only way the area would be clean at all times.
He, however, gave the assurance that his outfit would continue with its daily exercises in the municipality and other parts of the region.
The exercise, the biggest of its kind in the area in recent times, brought together workers from the company and personnel from the Fire and Police service led by the Municipal Police Commander, Superintendent John Naami. Personnel were supplied with the necessary equipment by Zoomlion to clear choked drainage, gutters and places where public functions are held.
These included the Jackson Park, the Central Police Station, the business area and the Residency.
After the exercise, the Eastern Regional Operational Director of Zoomlion, Mr Ernest Kusi told the press that although his outfit had been clearing the area of filth daily, it decided to do it on a large scale by supplying refuse collection equipment to personnel of the Police service, Fire Service and the assembly to cover a wide area in the municipality.
This, he said, was in line with a call from President John Evans Atta Mills for a clean environment especially in the metropolises and municipalities, which contained a large number of people with the attendant environmental challenges.
“As a waste management company, we have to respond to the call from the President for a clean environment, especially in the metropolitan and municipal areas where the people are so many and generate a lot of refuse, which should be regularly disposed,” Mr Kusi stated.
Mr Kusi, who asked the people to use the company’s numerous refuse bins placed at vantage points in the municipality, said that was the only way the area would be clean at all times.
He, however, gave the assurance that his outfit would continue with its daily exercises in the municipality and other parts of the region.
Friday, February 6, 2009
FARMERS NETWORK CALLS FOR READY MARKET (PAGE 22)
A FOUR-Day annual general meeting of the Farmers Organisation Network in Ghana (FONG), a body comprising small-scale farmers in the country, ended at Koforidua with a call on the government and other bodies to assist farmers have ready market for their produce.
The meeting, which was funded by Agritera of Belgium, a body dedicated to the welfare of small-scale farmers in developing countries, was attended by 120 delegates mostly women from the region and other parts of the country.
Also present were representatives from other farmers’ organisations such as the Ghana National Association of Farmers and Fishers (GNAF), Association of Peasant Farmers of Ghana (APFOG) and Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG).
At the meeting, the organisation’s previous year’s activities were discussed with the view of addressing the numerous problems facing members.
In his address, the President of FONG, Dr King David Amoah, said although small- scale farmers produced the chunk of the country’s food requirement, numerous problems such as unfavourable land tenure system, lack of finance and subsidy on farming inputs especially fertiliser, made them unable to expand their farms.
He said what was most worrying was the lack of ready market for perishable farm produce, and called on all stakeholders for assistance.
A senior official of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), Mr Osei Owusu, who represented the Chief Director, advised the farmers to form groups to be assisted with processing machines to add value to their produce.
The Eastern Regional Agricultural Extension Officer, Mr Sam Allotey, stressed the need for relevant bodies as well as non governmental organisations to assist FONG stand firm.
Alhaji Nasiru Adams, president of PFAG, appealed to the farmers to always pay back the loans given them to enable others also to benefit from the facility .
The Queen of Dawu, Nana Manko Asumadu Sakyi, who graced the occasion, called for more assistance for female farmers.
Earlier, in an address, the National Coordinator of FONG, Madam Lydia Sasu, had given the assurance that the organisation would continue to strengthen the capacity of its members to boost their activities and improve their lot.
The meeting, which was funded by Agritera of Belgium, a body dedicated to the welfare of small-scale farmers in developing countries, was attended by 120 delegates mostly women from the region and other parts of the country.
Also present were representatives from other farmers’ organisations such as the Ghana National Association of Farmers and Fishers (GNAF), Association of Peasant Farmers of Ghana (APFOG) and Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG).
At the meeting, the organisation’s previous year’s activities were discussed with the view of addressing the numerous problems facing members.
In his address, the President of FONG, Dr King David Amoah, said although small- scale farmers produced the chunk of the country’s food requirement, numerous problems such as unfavourable land tenure system, lack of finance and subsidy on farming inputs especially fertiliser, made them unable to expand their farms.
He said what was most worrying was the lack of ready market for perishable farm produce, and called on all stakeholders for assistance.
A senior official of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), Mr Osei Owusu, who represented the Chief Director, advised the farmers to form groups to be assisted with processing machines to add value to their produce.
The Eastern Regional Agricultural Extension Officer, Mr Sam Allotey, stressed the need for relevant bodies as well as non governmental organisations to assist FONG stand firm.
Alhaji Nasiru Adams, president of PFAG, appealed to the farmers to always pay back the loans given them to enable others also to benefit from the facility .
The Queen of Dawu, Nana Manko Asumadu Sakyi, who graced the occasion, called for more assistance for female farmers.
Earlier, in an address, the National Coordinator of FONG, Madam Lydia Sasu, had given the assurance that the organisation would continue to strengthen the capacity of its members to boost their activities and improve their lot.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
RELY ON GOD FOR PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE (PAGE 14)
THE Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG), the Rt Rev Dr Yaw Frempong-Manso, has said if President John Evans Atta Mills has attributed the peaceful nature of the recent general election to God, then Ghanaians should always rely on God for peaceful co-existence among the various ethnic groups.
That, he said, was necessary because a united Ghana would need peace for its development to improve the lives of the people.
The Rt Rev Dr Frempong-Manso made these remarks when he inaugurated an ultra-modern building with offices for the church at Nsukwao, a suburb of Koforidua.
The edifice, christened the Calvary Congregation, is the latest and one of the most modern church buildings to be constructed by the PCG in the Eastern Region.
The Rt Rev Dr Frempong-Manso stated that Ghanaians were one people and that was why God ensured that the elections came off peacefully, saying that since President Mills had acknowledged God’s hand in the peaceful conduct of the elections, then Ghanaians should always rely on God in whatever they did for the country to continue to have peace.
“If President Mills has said God made it possible for the elections to come off peacefully, then all of us should be grateful to God and conduct ourselves in such a way that the country will continue to have peace,” he stated.
The Moderator called on politicians to play their expected roles to ensure peace and the orderly development of the country.
Later in a sermon on the theme, “Jesus Has Authority Over Unclean Spirits”, the Rt Rev Dr Frempong-Manso cautioned Christians and Ghanaians as a whole not to have anything to do with demons, since such spirits could have a negative impact on one’s spiritual and physical well-being.
Basing his sermon on Deuteronomy 18:15-20, 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 and Mark 1:21-28, he said demons and all kinds of evil spirits exist, ready to destroy any person associating himself or herself with them, and that Christians should always rely on God, through Jesus Christ, in whatever they do.
“Many people, including some highly trained professionals, believe that demons do not exist, but they do, ready to destroy the lives of those who associate with them. But, as Christians, we are to rely on God through Jesus Christ for a happy life on earth and salvation,” the Rt Rev Dr Frempong-Manso told the congregation.
The Moderator, who commended the Calvary congregation for putting up the building, asked both the clergy and the laity to reach out to people within the community to draw them to Christ.
Rev Barima Appiah-Dankwa, who is in charge of the district, enumerated the difficulties encountered in putting up the edifice and said at the moment three new preaching points, namely, Kyeremakrom, Nyamekrom and Kwakyekrom, were to be administered under the Calvary Chapel.
Goodwill and fraternal messages were delivered by Rev Dr J.O.Y. Mantey, the Akuapem Presbytery Chairperson; Rev E. Ahenkora-Mensah, the District Minister for Effiduasi-Koforidua, and Rev Emmanuel Okyere Otu, the Chaplain of the Presbyterian Senior High School, Larteh, who is also the second minister in charge of the Samuel Otu Memorial Congregation.
A number of people, both the clergy and the laity, who contributed significantly to the construction of the new church building were also honoured.
That, he said, was necessary because a united Ghana would need peace for its development to improve the lives of the people.
The Rt Rev Dr Frempong-Manso made these remarks when he inaugurated an ultra-modern building with offices for the church at Nsukwao, a suburb of Koforidua.
The edifice, christened the Calvary Congregation, is the latest and one of the most modern church buildings to be constructed by the PCG in the Eastern Region.
The Rt Rev Dr Frempong-Manso stated that Ghanaians were one people and that was why God ensured that the elections came off peacefully, saying that since President Mills had acknowledged God’s hand in the peaceful conduct of the elections, then Ghanaians should always rely on God in whatever they did for the country to continue to have peace.
“If President Mills has said God made it possible for the elections to come off peacefully, then all of us should be grateful to God and conduct ourselves in such a way that the country will continue to have peace,” he stated.
The Moderator called on politicians to play their expected roles to ensure peace and the orderly development of the country.
Later in a sermon on the theme, “Jesus Has Authority Over Unclean Spirits”, the Rt Rev Dr Frempong-Manso cautioned Christians and Ghanaians as a whole not to have anything to do with demons, since such spirits could have a negative impact on one’s spiritual and physical well-being.
Basing his sermon on Deuteronomy 18:15-20, 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 and Mark 1:21-28, he said demons and all kinds of evil spirits exist, ready to destroy any person associating himself or herself with them, and that Christians should always rely on God, through Jesus Christ, in whatever they do.
“Many people, including some highly trained professionals, believe that demons do not exist, but they do, ready to destroy the lives of those who associate with them. But, as Christians, we are to rely on God through Jesus Christ for a happy life on earth and salvation,” the Rt Rev Dr Frempong-Manso told the congregation.
The Moderator, who commended the Calvary congregation for putting up the building, asked both the clergy and the laity to reach out to people within the community to draw them to Christ.
Rev Barima Appiah-Dankwa, who is in charge of the district, enumerated the difficulties encountered in putting up the edifice and said at the moment three new preaching points, namely, Kyeremakrom, Nyamekrom and Kwakyekrom, were to be administered under the Calvary Chapel.
Goodwill and fraternal messages were delivered by Rev Dr J.O.Y. Mantey, the Akuapem Presbytery Chairperson; Rev E. Ahenkora-Mensah, the District Minister for Effiduasi-Koforidua, and Rev Emmanuel Okyere Otu, the Chaplain of the Presbyterian Senior High School, Larteh, who is also the second minister in charge of the Samuel Otu Memorial Congregation.
A number of people, both the clergy and the laity, who contributed significantly to the construction of the new church building were also honoured.
Monday, February 2, 2009
BLUEPRINT FOR MILLS.. Economic think-tank at work at Akosombo (LEAD STORY, JAN 30)
MEMBERS of the government’s economic management team and a group of experts have begun a three-day retreat at Akosombo, to design an economic blueprint for the four-year tenure of President John Evans Atta Mills.
Addressing the group at the opening of the programme yesterday, President Mills called for a fiscal policy that would support the country’s financial and development agenda for the next four years and beyond.
He said such a proposal should take into consideration the world economic and development strategies that could deliver the promises contained in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) manifesto.
He tasked the think tank to ensure that this year’s budget statement and fiscal policy covered not only the country’s financial and development agenda for the year but for the government’s entire first four-year term and beyond.
Such a budget proposal, he said, should take into consideration the country’s broad economic development strategies.
The four-day meeting is being attended by economic experts drawn from the various sectors of the economy, as well as from the other political parties, to examine the country’s economic situation with the view of coming out with a budget and financial policy that would address inherent problems for the growth of the economy.
The President said although the country’s development agenda would be based on the manifesto of the NDC, since his administration was for all Ghanaians, the aspirations of the other sections of the population as captured in the manifestos of the other political parties also required evaluation.
He said if such aspirations were found positive, complimentary and serving the wider course of the country’s development, they would be fused into the broader development agenda, adding, “My concept of inclusiveness includes human capital, intellectual resource and tested ideas.”
The President also stated that as the country searched for a compact and responsive financial and development programme based on the social democratic values of the NDC, the meeting should also pay significant attention to the values of justifiable continuity.
In that respect, President Mills suggested to the gathering that policies and programmes initiated by the NPP and were currently in the pipeline that supported positive national development must be thoroughly reviewed, preserved and made additional to the new initiatives that they would like to recommend.
President Mills further stated that all hands should be on deck, the reason for which not only card-bearing members of the NDC had been assembled for the job but also people from the other political parties, academia and industry, and explained that the purpose for such co-operation was to begin the formation of an alliance of patriotic partners to help drive the national development programme.
He gave the assurance that sections of the Ghanaian community not represented at the meeting would be called to join in subsequent exercises.
According to President Mills, the task ahead would not be easy looking at the economic difficulties that had been identified and that the budget must promote the private sector, make it possible for the new-found oil deposits to be exploited in such a way that would support the economy and also improve the living condition of the people.
The budget, according to him, must also be tailored to meet the current global economic downturn.
A member of the Transition Team, Mr P.V. Obeng, said the gathering was to come out with a development programme that would last for at least four years.
President Mills later on his way to Accra stopped briefly at Atimpoku and Kpong where he was mobbed by a large crowd, mostly hawkers.
Addressing the group at the opening of the programme yesterday, President Mills called for a fiscal policy that would support the country’s financial and development agenda for the next four years and beyond.
He said such a proposal should take into consideration the world economic and development strategies that could deliver the promises contained in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) manifesto.
He tasked the think tank to ensure that this year’s budget statement and fiscal policy covered not only the country’s financial and development agenda for the year but for the government’s entire first four-year term and beyond.
Such a budget proposal, he said, should take into consideration the country’s broad economic development strategies.
The four-day meeting is being attended by economic experts drawn from the various sectors of the economy, as well as from the other political parties, to examine the country’s economic situation with the view of coming out with a budget and financial policy that would address inherent problems for the growth of the economy.
The President said although the country’s development agenda would be based on the manifesto of the NDC, since his administration was for all Ghanaians, the aspirations of the other sections of the population as captured in the manifestos of the other political parties also required evaluation.
He said if such aspirations were found positive, complimentary and serving the wider course of the country’s development, they would be fused into the broader development agenda, adding, “My concept of inclusiveness includes human capital, intellectual resource and tested ideas.”
The President also stated that as the country searched for a compact and responsive financial and development programme based on the social democratic values of the NDC, the meeting should also pay significant attention to the values of justifiable continuity.
In that respect, President Mills suggested to the gathering that policies and programmes initiated by the NPP and were currently in the pipeline that supported positive national development must be thoroughly reviewed, preserved and made additional to the new initiatives that they would like to recommend.
President Mills further stated that all hands should be on deck, the reason for which not only card-bearing members of the NDC had been assembled for the job but also people from the other political parties, academia and industry, and explained that the purpose for such co-operation was to begin the formation of an alliance of patriotic partners to help drive the national development programme.
He gave the assurance that sections of the Ghanaian community not represented at the meeting would be called to join in subsequent exercises.
According to President Mills, the task ahead would not be easy looking at the economic difficulties that had been identified and that the budget must promote the private sector, make it possible for the new-found oil deposits to be exploited in such a way that would support the economy and also improve the living condition of the people.
The budget, according to him, must also be tailored to meet the current global economic downturn.
A member of the Transition Team, Mr P.V. Obeng, said the gathering was to come out with a development programme that would last for at least four years.
President Mills later on his way to Accra stopped briefly at Atimpoku and Kpong where he was mobbed by a large crowd, mostly hawkers.
THREE DIE IN ACCIDENT AT APEDWA JUNCTION (PAGE 14, JAN 29)
THREE persons died and six others sustained various degrees of injury when a Kia Sportage vehicle veered off the road and knocked them down at Apedwa Junction on the Kumasi-Accra Highway last Tuesday.
The vehicle, which was being driven by one Joe Adu with two others on board, was travelling from Kumasi to Accra.
The dead have been identified as Perpetual Dede, 7; Michael Akualo, 8, and Kwame Asare, 9.
The injured are Irene Agyeiwaa, 8; Elizabeth Nyaho, 36; Abena Gyamfua, 36; Abena Esther, 35; Isaac Asare, 21, and Mary Akyere, 5. They are on admission at the Suhum and Kyebi Government hospitals and are said to be responding to treatment.
The Commander of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) in the Eastern Region, Superintendent James Sarfo Peprah, told the Daily Graphic that the victims were by the side of the road at Apedwa Junction when they were knocked down by the vehicle.
He said Perpetual, Michael and Kwame had sustained severe injuries and were pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital.
Supt Peprah, who said the police were conducting investigations into the tragedy, appealed to drivers to adhere to the speed limit of not more than 50 kilometres per hour within towns and villages along the highways.
The vehicle, which was being driven by one Joe Adu with two others on board, was travelling from Kumasi to Accra.
The dead have been identified as Perpetual Dede, 7; Michael Akualo, 8, and Kwame Asare, 9.
The injured are Irene Agyeiwaa, 8; Elizabeth Nyaho, 36; Abena Gyamfua, 36; Abena Esther, 35; Isaac Asare, 21, and Mary Akyere, 5. They are on admission at the Suhum and Kyebi Government hospitals and are said to be responding to treatment.
The Commander of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) in the Eastern Region, Superintendent James Sarfo Peprah, told the Daily Graphic that the victims were by the side of the road at Apedwa Junction when they were knocked down by the vehicle.
He said Perpetual, Michael and Kwame had sustained severe injuries and were pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital.
Supt Peprah, who said the police were conducting investigations into the tragedy, appealed to drivers to adhere to the speed limit of not more than 50 kilometres per hour within towns and villages along the highways.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
AKUFO-ADDO GRATEFUL TO EASTERN REGION (PAGE 16, JAN 23)
THE presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the just-ended election, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has expressed his appreciation to the people of the Eastern Region for voting massively for him during the election.
He said although most voters in the region supported him, as well as the NPP, the party lost the elections narrowly to the National Democratic Congress (NDC), and expressed the hope that the NPP would win back power in four years’ time.
Nana Akufo-Addo was addressing a large gathering of NPP supporters at the Jackson Park in Koforidua on Tuesday to thank the people in the region for their support during the elections.
He was accompanied by a large entourage of party heavyweights such as Messrs Yaw Osafo-Maafo, Jake Okanta Obetsebi-Lamptey, both former ministers of state in the Kufuor administration, Agyarko Kyeremanteng, who contested the NPP presidential slot with Nana Akufo-Addo; Mr Peter Mac Manu, National Chairman of the NPP, Nana Ohene Ntow, General Secretary, some outgoing municipal and district chief executives, as well as some NPP Members of Parliament in the region.
According to Nana Akufo-Addo, although the Electoral Commission (EC) declared him the loser with deficit of about 40,000 votes, he accepted the results in the interest of Ghana and as such did not do anything that would disturb the peace prevailing in the country.
He said what was needed was for the rank and file of the NPP, as well as its teeming supporters, not to apportion blame among themselves, but to be more united than before to win more sympathisers to its side for a resounding victory at the 2012 polls.
“The people in the Eastern Region, as usual, gave their massive support to the NPP, but we lost the elections narrowly and we should not blame anybody within our big family; stay united for a resounding victory in four years’ time,” Nana Akufo-Addo told the gathering to a thunderous applause.
Nana Akufo-Addo, who said he was happy that no blood was shed during the elections, added that the NPP would definitely take over from the NDC to continue with its good policies, explaining that it was only the NPP that had the capacity to improve the fortunes of Ghanaians.
Messrs Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Yaw Osafo-Maafo, Agyarko Kyeremanteng, Ohene Ntow, as well as other officials of the party, took turns to condemn some of the policies of the NDC. They said the NDC could not do anything to improve the lots of the people and gave the assurance that the NPP would, at all cost, kick out the NDC from power through the ballot box, after its first term.
He said although most voters in the region supported him, as well as the NPP, the party lost the elections narrowly to the National Democratic Congress (NDC), and expressed the hope that the NPP would win back power in four years’ time.
Nana Akufo-Addo was addressing a large gathering of NPP supporters at the Jackson Park in Koforidua on Tuesday to thank the people in the region for their support during the elections.
He was accompanied by a large entourage of party heavyweights such as Messrs Yaw Osafo-Maafo, Jake Okanta Obetsebi-Lamptey, both former ministers of state in the Kufuor administration, Agyarko Kyeremanteng, who contested the NPP presidential slot with Nana Akufo-Addo; Mr Peter Mac Manu, National Chairman of the NPP, Nana Ohene Ntow, General Secretary, some outgoing municipal and district chief executives, as well as some NPP Members of Parliament in the region.
According to Nana Akufo-Addo, although the Electoral Commission (EC) declared him the loser with deficit of about 40,000 votes, he accepted the results in the interest of Ghana and as such did not do anything that would disturb the peace prevailing in the country.
He said what was needed was for the rank and file of the NPP, as well as its teeming supporters, not to apportion blame among themselves, but to be more united than before to win more sympathisers to its side for a resounding victory at the 2012 polls.
“The people in the Eastern Region, as usual, gave their massive support to the NPP, but we lost the elections narrowly and we should not blame anybody within our big family; stay united for a resounding victory in four years’ time,” Nana Akufo-Addo told the gathering to a thunderous applause.
Nana Akufo-Addo, who said he was happy that no blood was shed during the elections, added that the NPP would definitely take over from the NDC to continue with its good policies, explaining that it was only the NPP that had the capacity to improve the fortunes of Ghanaians.
Messrs Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Yaw Osafo-Maafo, Agyarko Kyeremanteng, Ohene Ntow, as well as other officials of the party, took turns to condemn some of the policies of the NDC. They said the NDC could not do anything to improve the lots of the people and gave the assurance that the NPP would, at all cost, kick out the NDC from power through the ballot box, after its first term.
COURT TO HEAR AKWATIA ELECTORAL DISPUTE FRIDAY (PAGE 35, JAN 21)
A HIGH Court in Koforidua will from Friday, January 23 start hearing a case in which three parliamentary candidates for the Akwatia Constituency have filed a writ to compel the Electoral Commission (EC) to re-run the elections in all the polling stations in the constituency.
They are Baba Jamal Muhamed Ahmed of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Samuel Abrokwa and Basil Ahiable, both independent candidates.
The three contended that it was not only six polling stations that were fraught with malpractices during the 2008 elections, but the entire polling centres in the constituency and so the re-run should be held throughout the constituency.
The court, presided by Justice Surubarreh, after listening to arguments on the legality of the time frame on some aspects of the trial by Tony Lithur, lead counsel for Baba Jamal and E.O Armah who led a team of lawyers to represent the EC, adjourned the sitting to Friday.
Shortly after the adjournment, groups of people, some of whom were in political party ‘T’-shirts and standing in front of the court building, rained insults on one another, compelling policemen on duty to move in to put the situation under control.
It would be recalled that a group of people seized ballot boxes at six polling stations in the Akwatia Constituency during the elections, making it impossible to declare results in the constituency.
As a result of that, the EC had decided to re-run the elections only in the affected six polling stations, but the complainants want the court to order a re-run in all the 89 polling centres in the Akwatia Constituency.
They are Baba Jamal Muhamed Ahmed of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Samuel Abrokwa and Basil Ahiable, both independent candidates.
The three contended that it was not only six polling stations that were fraught with malpractices during the 2008 elections, but the entire polling centres in the constituency and so the re-run should be held throughout the constituency.
The court, presided by Justice Surubarreh, after listening to arguments on the legality of the time frame on some aspects of the trial by Tony Lithur, lead counsel for Baba Jamal and E.O Armah who led a team of lawyers to represent the EC, adjourned the sitting to Friday.
Shortly after the adjournment, groups of people, some of whom were in political party ‘T’-shirts and standing in front of the court building, rained insults on one another, compelling policemen on duty to move in to put the situation under control.
It would be recalled that a group of people seized ballot boxes at six polling stations in the Akwatia Constituency during the elections, making it impossible to declare results in the constituency.
As a result of that, the EC had decided to re-run the elections only in the affected six polling stations, but the complainants want the court to order a re-run in all the 89 polling centres in the Akwatia Constituency.
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