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.
Monday, February 2, 2009
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.
Friday, January 16, 2009
THREE ARMED ROBBERS JAILED 150 YEARS (PAGE 34)
A KOFORIDUA High Court has sentenced three armed robbers to 50 years’ imprisonment each for robbing a household and killing one Nicholas Ofori, the husband of the owner of the house.
The incident occurred at Agormanya in the Eastern Region on December 3, 2001.
The three Moses Tetteh Nartey, Yaw Mark Kuma and Moses Balobe, pleaded not guilty on each of the two charges of conspiracy and robbery.
The court, however, found them guilty on both charges and sentenced them to 25 years on each of the two counts to run concurrently.
Three other accomplices Michael Osanyogbo, Tetteh Tsu and Emmanuel, whose taxi was used in the robbery all died in custody at different periods during the trial.
Before passing sentence, the judge, Justice F. Mieza Anyimiah, said the court was convinced that the three, together with their deceased accomplices, committed the act and as such it would deal drastically with them.
He said although the convicts said they were not at the scene of the crime, they failed to prove so.
Presenting the facts of the case to the court at an earlier sitting, Mrs Emily Addo-Okyireh, a Principal State Attorney, said on December 3, 2001, Mrs Veronica Ofori, together with her late husband and children were at midnight at Agormanya, when a gang of six robbers armed with guns and other implements attacked them.
She said the robbers shot dead Ofori, molested her and some of her children before they took away unspecified sum of money and jewels belonging to the family.
She said Moses Tetteh Nartey, who was first arrested, mentioned the names of the other accomplices after which they were also apprehended.
The deceased robbers, she said, died in the course of the trial.
The incident occurred at Agormanya in the Eastern Region on December 3, 2001.
The three Moses Tetteh Nartey, Yaw Mark Kuma and Moses Balobe, pleaded not guilty on each of the two charges of conspiracy and robbery.
The court, however, found them guilty on both charges and sentenced them to 25 years on each of the two counts to run concurrently.
Three other accomplices Michael Osanyogbo, Tetteh Tsu and Emmanuel, whose taxi was used in the robbery all died in custody at different periods during the trial.
Before passing sentence, the judge, Justice F. Mieza Anyimiah, said the court was convinced that the three, together with their deceased accomplices, committed the act and as such it would deal drastically with them.
He said although the convicts said they were not at the scene of the crime, they failed to prove so.
Presenting the facts of the case to the court at an earlier sitting, Mrs Emily Addo-Okyireh, a Principal State Attorney, said on December 3, 2001, Mrs Veronica Ofori, together with her late husband and children were at midnight at Agormanya, when a gang of six robbers armed with guns and other implements attacked them.
She said the robbers shot dead Ofori, molested her and some of her children before they took away unspecified sum of money and jewels belonging to the family.
She said Moses Tetteh Nartey, who was first arrested, mentioned the names of the other accomplices after which they were also apprehended.
The deceased robbers, she said, died in the course of the trial.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
ASSEMBLIES OF GOD CAUTIONS MEDIA (PAGE 20)
THE Eastern Regional Superintendent of the Assemblies of God Church, Reverend Alex Ofori Amankwaa, has cautioned journalists especially those in the regions to be prudent in their reportage at all times.
This, he said, would go a long way in preserving the peace currently prevailing in the regions and the country in general.
Rev. Amankwaa, who is also the Head Pastor of the Koforidua Central Chapel of the church, gave the caution in a New Year message he delivered on the first Sunday of the year at Koforidua.
He said journalists had the responsibility of providing the necessary information that would help maintain the country’s peaceful atmosphere where people would see themselves as one.
Rev. Amankwaa also called on the new government to see how best to address the problems associated with the recent general election, adding that it was the best way to unite the people.
“We are of the view that if journalists should be cautious in their reportage and feed the people with information that would unite them and the government also takes steps to address the problems encountered during the elections, the people would remain united and forge ahead in the development process,” he stated.
Later in a sermon, Rev. Amankwaa asked Christians to continue to show compassion to the needy.
He said christians should not compromise their faith but to follow the footsteps of Jesus Christ for a happy life that would at the same time lead to salvation.
A member of the clergy of the church, Prophet Stephen Vidzro, advised members of the congregation, especially the youth, not to take decisions that would impact negatively on them in the future.
This, he said, would go a long way in preserving the peace currently prevailing in the regions and the country in general.
Rev. Amankwaa, who is also the Head Pastor of the Koforidua Central Chapel of the church, gave the caution in a New Year message he delivered on the first Sunday of the year at Koforidua.
He said journalists had the responsibility of providing the necessary information that would help maintain the country’s peaceful atmosphere where people would see themselves as one.
Rev. Amankwaa also called on the new government to see how best to address the problems associated with the recent general election, adding that it was the best way to unite the people.
“We are of the view that if journalists should be cautious in their reportage and feed the people with information that would unite them and the government also takes steps to address the problems encountered during the elections, the people would remain united and forge ahead in the development process,” he stated.
Later in a sermon, Rev. Amankwaa asked Christians to continue to show compassion to the needy.
He said christians should not compromise their faith but to follow the footsteps of Jesus Christ for a happy life that would at the same time lead to salvation.
A member of the clergy of the church, Prophet Stephen Vidzro, advised members of the congregation, especially the youth, not to take decisions that would impact negatively on them in the future.
CURBING MOTOR ACCIDENTS EASTERN REGION (PAGE 20)
THE Eastern Region with a population of approximately 2.5 million is one of the 10 political entities with a well-developed road network.
It has 1,453 kilometres of well-maintained trunk roads and 3,150 kilometres of feeder roads, most of which are passable throughout the year.
Such a good road network said to be among the best in the country, with few dangerous spots such as the Suhum Roundabout on the main Accra-Kumasi Highway and the Amanprobi curve near Mamfe on the Koforidua-Mamfe Road, should under normal circumstances have limited number of vehicular accidents.
However, various factors particularly the inability of motorists, especially commercial drivers, to adhere to traffic regulations has resulted in a high rate of motor accidents, making the region the graveyard of not only passengers but pedestrians.
For instance between January and December, 2007, 1,307 motor accidents involving 1,570 vehicles were recorded in the region in which 215 people lost their lives and 1,568 sustained various degrees of injury.
The following year (2008) the number of deaths increased to 245 while 1,465 were injured with 322 of them in serious conditions.
A worrying aspect of the 2008 accidents is that 86 of the dead comprising 62 males and 24 females were knocked down by vehicles along the streets in towns and villages.
That was because drivers of such vehicles did not comply with traffic regulations that stipulate that they should not exceed 50 kilometres while driving through towns and villages.
To help minimise the motor accidents, a number of organisations such as the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Police, the Regional Office of the Road Safety Commission and the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) have for the past year being taking measures to address the calamity.
The MTTU, under the command of Superintendent J. Sarfo Peprah, has for instance put personnel at vantage points throughout the region, especially in the centre of municipalities and towns that have heavy concentration of people.
They include Koforidua, Akyem Oda, Somanya, Nkawkaw, Asamankese and Suhum, as well as many villages dotted along the highways.
The policemen, who have been instructed to ensure that drivers observe traffic regulations as enshrined in the Road Traffic Act 683 (2004), are also mandated to see to it that all vehicles plying the roads are roadworthy.
“Most of the roads are good and under normal circumstances should not be death traps but a lot of accidents occur due to the recklessness of drivers some of who do not obey the regulations as enshrined in the Road Traffic Act so we will always be on guard to see that the proper thing is done.
“We will also ensure that the law takes its course on recalcitrant drivers most of who should also be well educated on road safety,” Superintendent Peprah stated.
Superintendent Peprah, who had just celebrated 60 days in office as the regional MTTU boss, said his men would now be using a special equipment, the falcon radar gun, an improved version of the radar gun that was previously used to check speeding on the roads.
He, however, stated that since it was not possible to station policemen at all vantage points to check drivers who would disregard traffic regulations, the travelling public must also play a part by prevailing on drivers to adhere to speed limits.
The GPRTU, the oldest and best organised private road transport organisation, on its part has now intensified its road safety awareness programme to ensure that its members do the right thing at all times.
According to the Principal Industrial Relations Officer at the regional secretariat of the union, Mr Salifu Alhassan, officers at the various stations of the union ensure that vehicles do not overtake one another in a rush to offload and re-load passengers.
“Most of the time it is only drivers of vehicles that go in for passengers along the road who over-speed to overtake one another leading to accidents and so far as such a trend picks up, accidents will continue to occur,” Mr Alhassan stated.
The regional office of the Road Safety Commission under Mr Stephen Anokye has also of late intensified education on road safety at various lorry parks, notably Kpong, Koforidua, Nkawkaw and Akyem Oda where a lot of drivers have been schooled on what to do to avoid motor accidents.
Mr Anokye’s outfit in collaboration with the MTTU and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has also in addition planned to establish a drivers’ academy at Koforidua this year to offer theoretical training on road safety to drivers.
The school, to be christened Eastern Regional Drivers’ Academy, would also educate drivers on the psychological effects of motor accidents so that they would be mindful of their recklessness on the road.
Although these relevant stakeholders have done what is expected of them to reduce the high rate of motor accidents in the region, much depends on the drivers to ensure decency on the roads.
This is because such bad drivers, some of who are not even licensed to drive, would continue to be at the steering wheel, posing a big danger to other road users.
It is therefore expected that the new government would re-examine the issue carefully so that the prescribed penalty which would deter drivers from going “wayward” would be given to offenders.
This will go a long way in keeping drivers on track to curb the high rate of vehicular accidents in the region.
It has 1,453 kilometres of well-maintained trunk roads and 3,150 kilometres of feeder roads, most of which are passable throughout the year.
Such a good road network said to be among the best in the country, with few dangerous spots such as the Suhum Roundabout on the main Accra-Kumasi Highway and the Amanprobi curve near Mamfe on the Koforidua-Mamfe Road, should under normal circumstances have limited number of vehicular accidents.
However, various factors particularly the inability of motorists, especially commercial drivers, to adhere to traffic regulations has resulted in a high rate of motor accidents, making the region the graveyard of not only passengers but pedestrians.
For instance between January and December, 2007, 1,307 motor accidents involving 1,570 vehicles were recorded in the region in which 215 people lost their lives and 1,568 sustained various degrees of injury.
The following year (2008) the number of deaths increased to 245 while 1,465 were injured with 322 of them in serious conditions.
A worrying aspect of the 2008 accidents is that 86 of the dead comprising 62 males and 24 females were knocked down by vehicles along the streets in towns and villages.
That was because drivers of such vehicles did not comply with traffic regulations that stipulate that they should not exceed 50 kilometres while driving through towns and villages.
To help minimise the motor accidents, a number of organisations such as the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Police, the Regional Office of the Road Safety Commission and the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) have for the past year being taking measures to address the calamity.
The MTTU, under the command of Superintendent J. Sarfo Peprah, has for instance put personnel at vantage points throughout the region, especially in the centre of municipalities and towns that have heavy concentration of people.
They include Koforidua, Akyem Oda, Somanya, Nkawkaw, Asamankese and Suhum, as well as many villages dotted along the highways.
The policemen, who have been instructed to ensure that drivers observe traffic regulations as enshrined in the Road Traffic Act 683 (2004), are also mandated to see to it that all vehicles plying the roads are roadworthy.
“Most of the roads are good and under normal circumstances should not be death traps but a lot of accidents occur due to the recklessness of drivers some of who do not obey the regulations as enshrined in the Road Traffic Act so we will always be on guard to see that the proper thing is done.
“We will also ensure that the law takes its course on recalcitrant drivers most of who should also be well educated on road safety,” Superintendent Peprah stated.
Superintendent Peprah, who had just celebrated 60 days in office as the regional MTTU boss, said his men would now be using a special equipment, the falcon radar gun, an improved version of the radar gun that was previously used to check speeding on the roads.
He, however, stated that since it was not possible to station policemen at all vantage points to check drivers who would disregard traffic regulations, the travelling public must also play a part by prevailing on drivers to adhere to speed limits.
The GPRTU, the oldest and best organised private road transport organisation, on its part has now intensified its road safety awareness programme to ensure that its members do the right thing at all times.
According to the Principal Industrial Relations Officer at the regional secretariat of the union, Mr Salifu Alhassan, officers at the various stations of the union ensure that vehicles do not overtake one another in a rush to offload and re-load passengers.
“Most of the time it is only drivers of vehicles that go in for passengers along the road who over-speed to overtake one another leading to accidents and so far as such a trend picks up, accidents will continue to occur,” Mr Alhassan stated.
The regional office of the Road Safety Commission under Mr Stephen Anokye has also of late intensified education on road safety at various lorry parks, notably Kpong, Koforidua, Nkawkaw and Akyem Oda where a lot of drivers have been schooled on what to do to avoid motor accidents.
Mr Anokye’s outfit in collaboration with the MTTU and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has also in addition planned to establish a drivers’ academy at Koforidua this year to offer theoretical training on road safety to drivers.
The school, to be christened Eastern Regional Drivers’ Academy, would also educate drivers on the psychological effects of motor accidents so that they would be mindful of their recklessness on the road.
Although these relevant stakeholders have done what is expected of them to reduce the high rate of motor accidents in the region, much depends on the drivers to ensure decency on the roads.
This is because such bad drivers, some of who are not even licensed to drive, would continue to be at the steering wheel, posing a big danger to other road users.
It is therefore expected that the new government would re-examine the issue carefully so that the prescribed penalty which would deter drivers from going “wayward” would be given to offenders.
This will go a long way in keeping drivers on track to curb the high rate of vehicular accidents in the region.
Monday, December 1, 2008
ARMED FORCES TO DEPLOY ON ELECTION DAY (PAGE 15)
THE Ghana Armed Forces intends to deploy its personnel to support the police and other security officers detailed for the general election on Sunday.
This, according to the Chief of Defence Staff, Lt General J.B. Danquah, would provide security and an enabling environment for all to exercise their franchise without fear.
He explained that the deployment of the military was in consultation with the Electoral Commission (EC), taking into consideration the gloomy insecurity painted during the last voters’ registration exercise.
Lt General J.B. Danquah, an old student of the Pope John Senior High School, Koforidua, was speaking at the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the school and its junior seminary in Koforidua on Saturday.
The gathering brought together a number of old students such as the Catholic Metropolitan Archbishop for Accra, Most Rev Gabriel Palmer-Buckle, and the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Asiedu Afram, who read the message on behalf of President Kufuor.
The event also coincided with the inauguration of teachers’ flats built with the GETfund.
According to Lt. General J.B. Danquah, the country’s political atmosphere had been charged, and that the deployment of the military would prevent chaos, senseless killings or carnage with its attendant state of hopelessness as experienced by other countries.
“In 1990, I was in Liberia as the Commanding Officer of GHANBATT 2 at the onset of the carnage in that country, and in 1995 and 1997, I was in Rwanda and Sierra Leone respectively, and I saw in real terms the extent to which man’s insensitivity to his neighbour could drive a nation, including its people especially women, children and its resources to a state of hopelessness and we have to avoid such a situation,” the Chief of Defence Staff stated.
Lt General J.B. Danquah said it was therefore the wish of the entire Armed Forces, other security services and all Ghanaians to do what was right between now, the day of the elections or after in a peaceful manner to enable Ghana to continue to be the shining example in Africa.
Lt General J.B. Danquah, who also dwelt extensively on education, advised parents to properly cater for the educational needs of their children and wards, who he said, must not be involved in negative tendencies such as pornography, in order to be able to climb the academic ladder.
The Armed Forces Chief, who also appealed to the tutors of the school to continue with their dedicated services to the school and students, praised the Catholic Church for its contribution to education and national development.
In a speech read on his behalf by Mr Asiedu Afram, President Kufuor said his term of office deepened democracy and as an ardent believer of democracy, he had no desire of entrenching himself in power and would graciously hand over to whoever would be elected by the people.
He, therefore, appealed to Ghanaians to exercise maximum restraint before, during and after the elections, adding that the government would not interfere with the work of the EC.
“While exercising our franchise, let us exult in victory with moderation and accept defeat with equanimity” President Kufuor stated.
In his report, the Headmaster of the school, Mr Isaac Larweh, said the school, which started with a few students 50 years ago, now had a student population of 1,530.
He said its academic record had been excellent over the years, and that it had 99.8 per cent success at the 2008 WASSCE.
The school, which Mr Larweh stated had also excelled in extra curricula activities had a number of challenges. These include perennial shortage of water, poor drainage system and inappropriate library and called on the authorities for assistance.
This, according to the Chief of Defence Staff, Lt General J.B. Danquah, would provide security and an enabling environment for all to exercise their franchise without fear.
He explained that the deployment of the military was in consultation with the Electoral Commission (EC), taking into consideration the gloomy insecurity painted during the last voters’ registration exercise.
Lt General J.B. Danquah, an old student of the Pope John Senior High School, Koforidua, was speaking at the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the school and its junior seminary in Koforidua on Saturday.
The gathering brought together a number of old students such as the Catholic Metropolitan Archbishop for Accra, Most Rev Gabriel Palmer-Buckle, and the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Asiedu Afram, who read the message on behalf of President Kufuor.
The event also coincided with the inauguration of teachers’ flats built with the GETfund.
According to Lt. General J.B. Danquah, the country’s political atmosphere had been charged, and that the deployment of the military would prevent chaos, senseless killings or carnage with its attendant state of hopelessness as experienced by other countries.
“In 1990, I was in Liberia as the Commanding Officer of GHANBATT 2 at the onset of the carnage in that country, and in 1995 and 1997, I was in Rwanda and Sierra Leone respectively, and I saw in real terms the extent to which man’s insensitivity to his neighbour could drive a nation, including its people especially women, children and its resources to a state of hopelessness and we have to avoid such a situation,” the Chief of Defence Staff stated.
Lt General J.B. Danquah said it was therefore the wish of the entire Armed Forces, other security services and all Ghanaians to do what was right between now, the day of the elections or after in a peaceful manner to enable Ghana to continue to be the shining example in Africa.
Lt General J.B. Danquah, who also dwelt extensively on education, advised parents to properly cater for the educational needs of their children and wards, who he said, must not be involved in negative tendencies such as pornography, in order to be able to climb the academic ladder.
The Armed Forces Chief, who also appealed to the tutors of the school to continue with their dedicated services to the school and students, praised the Catholic Church for its contribution to education and national development.
In a speech read on his behalf by Mr Asiedu Afram, President Kufuor said his term of office deepened democracy and as an ardent believer of democracy, he had no desire of entrenching himself in power and would graciously hand over to whoever would be elected by the people.
He, therefore, appealed to Ghanaians to exercise maximum restraint before, during and after the elections, adding that the government would not interfere with the work of the EC.
“While exercising our franchise, let us exult in victory with moderation and accept defeat with equanimity” President Kufuor stated.
In his report, the Headmaster of the school, Mr Isaac Larweh, said the school, which started with a few students 50 years ago, now had a student population of 1,530.
He said its academic record had been excellent over the years, and that it had 99.8 per cent success at the 2008 WASSCE.
The school, which Mr Larweh stated had also excelled in extra curricula activities had a number of challenges. These include perennial shortage of water, poor drainage system and inappropriate library and called on the authorities for assistance.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)