THE EASTERN Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Affram Asiedu, has reiterated the call on polytechnics to design appropriate programmes to help address the country’s technological challenges.
Mr Affram Asiedu made the call at the 13th matriculation of the Koforidua Polytechnic in Koforidua last Saturday. In all, 1,757 out of 2,029 applicants were offered admission to pursue various programmes.
The Regional Minister stressed the need for the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE) to nurture, protect, guide and encourage the polytechnics to take full advantage of the autonomy that had been granted them to offer their own degrees in areas such as manufacturing, commerce, science, technology, applied social science and applied arts.
He said the National Accreditation Board (NAB) must also be proactive rather than being reactionary in its dealings with the polytechnics on programmes of accreditation as such institutions geared up to start degree programmes to update the skills of Higher National Diploma (HND) holders.
He stated that the government recognised the need for polytechnic education and that was why it was assisting polytechnics in various ways, particularly in infrastructure and logistics, and advised the students to make good use of the opportunity offered them
The Rector of the polytechnic, Dr George Afrane, said the polytechnic would introduce summer modular programmes next year to provide access for more applicants and to enhance internally generated funds.
Dr Afrane said the polytechnic would introduce a B.Tech programme next academic year, adding that other degree programmes in accountancy, procurement and waste management would also start soon.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
LOW ATTENDANCE AT VOTING CENTRES (PAGE 17)
RESPONSE to the exhibition of the voters register has been slow at the various centres in the New Juaben Municipality in the Eastern Region.
In all the centres visited so far, only a handful of people have trickled in at an average interval of 10 minutes per person.
This has made the exhibition officers idle.
At the St Dominic Polling Centre at Adweso, out of the 757 people in the register, only 55 had checked their names as of 11 a.m. on Monday.
At the Anglican Primary Centre at Ohemma Park, Betspoom, only 48 people had come to check on their names, and according to the Exhibition Officer, Miss Hilda A Boateng, with the low patronage, it would be difficult for registered voters to check on their names within the seven-day period of the exhibition.
At the St Mary’s KG Centre, also at Bettspom one Godfred Austen Boateng was identified to have registered double and the exhibition officers at the two centres where Austen Boateng’s name had appeared had sent for him to indicate which of the two centres he would like to vote so that his name would be deleted from one of the registers.
The name of another person who was said to be dead was also identified at the centre.
The situation was not different at the Legion Hall Centre and according to the official, Mr Manfold Emmanuel, only 65 out of the 655 persons who registered had visited the centre to check on their names.
When contacted on the issue, the Eastern Regional Director of the Electoral Commission, Mr Paul Boateng, said although the initial response to the exercise had been very low, the situation would reverse, and that by the end of the seven-day exercise, most of those registered would be able to check on their names.
In Takoradi, Kwame Asiedu Marfo reports that there was also very low patronage of the exhibition of the voters register for people who had registered to check on their names.
A total of 41 registered voters had gone to check on their names at the Army School Ranch Barracks ‘A’ polling station when the Daily Graphic went round some of the polling stations on Sunday.
Seventeen people checked their names on Sunday when the exhibition began, while 24 had gone to check on their names as of 12 noon on Monday.
The polling station has 765 registered voters on the old list of the registered voters and 228 on the new list of the limited registered voters.
At the Army School Ranch Barracks ‘B’ polling station 36 registered voters had checked on their names, 17 on Sunday, while 19 as of 12 noon on Monday. The polling station has 761 registered voters on the old list and 283 voters on the new list.
The story was the same at the Police Canteen polling station where a total of 24 registered voters had so far checked on their names. Fourteen people checked on their names on Sunday, with 10 people checking theirs on Monday.
The polling station has 616 registered voters on the old list and 200 voters on the new list.
An Exhibition Officer for the Army School Ranch Barracks ‘A’ and ‘B’ Polling Stations, Mr Columbus Brace was not happy about the pace at which the people were trickling in to check their names.
"They are not coming. They come one after the other", he said.
An Exhibition Officer at the Police Canteen polling station, Mr Slyvester Ankomah also expressed similar concern since nobody had been there to check on his or her name.
In all the centres visited so far, only a handful of people have trickled in at an average interval of 10 minutes per person.
This has made the exhibition officers idle.
At the St Dominic Polling Centre at Adweso, out of the 757 people in the register, only 55 had checked their names as of 11 a.m. on Monday.
At the Anglican Primary Centre at Ohemma Park, Betspoom, only 48 people had come to check on their names, and according to the Exhibition Officer, Miss Hilda A Boateng, with the low patronage, it would be difficult for registered voters to check on their names within the seven-day period of the exhibition.
At the St Mary’s KG Centre, also at Bettspom one Godfred Austen Boateng was identified to have registered double and the exhibition officers at the two centres where Austen Boateng’s name had appeared had sent for him to indicate which of the two centres he would like to vote so that his name would be deleted from one of the registers.
The name of another person who was said to be dead was also identified at the centre.
The situation was not different at the Legion Hall Centre and according to the official, Mr Manfold Emmanuel, only 65 out of the 655 persons who registered had visited the centre to check on their names.
When contacted on the issue, the Eastern Regional Director of the Electoral Commission, Mr Paul Boateng, said although the initial response to the exercise had been very low, the situation would reverse, and that by the end of the seven-day exercise, most of those registered would be able to check on their names.
In Takoradi, Kwame Asiedu Marfo reports that there was also very low patronage of the exhibition of the voters register for people who had registered to check on their names.
A total of 41 registered voters had gone to check on their names at the Army School Ranch Barracks ‘A’ polling station when the Daily Graphic went round some of the polling stations on Sunday.
Seventeen people checked their names on Sunday when the exhibition began, while 24 had gone to check on their names as of 12 noon on Monday.
The polling station has 765 registered voters on the old list of the registered voters and 228 on the new list of the limited registered voters.
At the Army School Ranch Barracks ‘B’ polling station 36 registered voters had checked on their names, 17 on Sunday, while 19 as of 12 noon on Monday. The polling station has 761 registered voters on the old list and 283 voters on the new list.
The story was the same at the Police Canteen polling station where a total of 24 registered voters had so far checked on their names. Fourteen people checked on their names on Sunday, with 10 people checking theirs on Monday.
The polling station has 616 registered voters on the old list and 200 voters on the new list.
An Exhibition Officer for the Army School Ranch Barracks ‘A’ and ‘B’ Polling Stations, Mr Columbus Brace was not happy about the pace at which the people were trickling in to check their names.
"They are not coming. They come one after the other", he said.
An Exhibition Officer at the Police Canteen polling station, Mr Slyvester Ankomah also expressed similar concern since nobody had been there to check on his or her name.
Friday, October 3, 2008
IT'S TIME TO VOTE CPP — SAKARA (PAGE 12)
THE running mate of the flag bearer of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Dr Abu Sakara, has called on Ghanaians to rally behind the CPP to win this year’s general election.
He explained that since both the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) had had their turn to resuscitate the economy but could not do so, it was time the CPP was given the political mantle to resuscitate the economy.
He said such an opportunity to serve the nation would enable the CPP to implement its humane policies to put the economy on sound footing and bring relief to the people.
Dr Sakara made the statement when he met the party’s Eastern Regional executive members at Koforidua last Tuesday.
He also paid a courtesy call on the leaders of the Koforidua Zongo Community.
The CPP running mate, who was accompanied by Dr Kwaku Safo, a leading member of the party, and other national executive members, was in the Eastern Regional capital to confer with the executive members in the region on strategies to be adopted to convincingly win the elections.
According to Dr Sakara, although both the NPP and the NDC had the opportunity to rule the country for two consecutive terms, they could not streamline the economy to improve the living condition of the people, who, he said, should not make the unpardonable mistake of voting for any of the two parties again but rather support the CPP, which, he said, was capable of providing the necessary amenities and programmes that would make life worth living for all.
“Both the NPP and the NDC have had their time but could not do anything to alleviate the suffering of the people and it is now time for you to support the CPP to come to power to implement its humane policies to alleviate the suffering of the people,” Dr Sakara stated to a thunderous applause.
“The CPP is now rejuvenated, growing from strength to strength and poised for victory to take over from the NPP after which we shall fight for emancipation from poverty, which has been the order of the day due to the maladministration of the NPP and the NDC,” he said.
Dr Sakara, who indicated some of the measures to be taken if CPP won the elections as separation of the Attorney-General’s Department from the Ministry of Justice and the election of district chief executives instead of having them appointed, gave the assurance that the CPP had the men capable of leading the country to progress.
For his part, Dr Kwaku Safo said despite losing the presidential slot for the CPP, he decided to devote his resources to the campaign of Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, the flag bearer, and Dr Sakara, to enable the party to win back power, which was violently taken away from it by the military in 1966.
He gave the assurance that the CPP would come out with a lot of initiatives such as a housing programme that would make it possible for the poor to also own houses.
Dr Safo, who catalogued a number of problems such as high school fees at the secondary and tertiary levels and the sale of state property by the NPP Administration, stated that the only way to reverse such a bad trend was for every member of the party to go to the rural areas “to propagate the CPP gospel of humane policies” to get the necessary support for it to win the elections.
He explained that since both the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) had had their turn to resuscitate the economy but could not do so, it was time the CPP was given the political mantle to resuscitate the economy.
He said such an opportunity to serve the nation would enable the CPP to implement its humane policies to put the economy on sound footing and bring relief to the people.
Dr Sakara made the statement when he met the party’s Eastern Regional executive members at Koforidua last Tuesday.
He also paid a courtesy call on the leaders of the Koforidua Zongo Community.
The CPP running mate, who was accompanied by Dr Kwaku Safo, a leading member of the party, and other national executive members, was in the Eastern Regional capital to confer with the executive members in the region on strategies to be adopted to convincingly win the elections.
According to Dr Sakara, although both the NPP and the NDC had the opportunity to rule the country for two consecutive terms, they could not streamline the economy to improve the living condition of the people, who, he said, should not make the unpardonable mistake of voting for any of the two parties again but rather support the CPP, which, he said, was capable of providing the necessary amenities and programmes that would make life worth living for all.
“Both the NPP and the NDC have had their time but could not do anything to alleviate the suffering of the people and it is now time for you to support the CPP to come to power to implement its humane policies to alleviate the suffering of the people,” Dr Sakara stated to a thunderous applause.
“The CPP is now rejuvenated, growing from strength to strength and poised for victory to take over from the NPP after which we shall fight for emancipation from poverty, which has been the order of the day due to the maladministration of the NPP and the NDC,” he said.
Dr Sakara, who indicated some of the measures to be taken if CPP won the elections as separation of the Attorney-General’s Department from the Ministry of Justice and the election of district chief executives instead of having them appointed, gave the assurance that the CPP had the men capable of leading the country to progress.
For his part, Dr Kwaku Safo said despite losing the presidential slot for the CPP, he decided to devote his resources to the campaign of Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, the flag bearer, and Dr Sakara, to enable the party to win back power, which was violently taken away from it by the military in 1966.
He gave the assurance that the CPP would come out with a lot of initiatives such as a housing programme that would make it possible for the poor to also own houses.
Dr Safo, who catalogued a number of problems such as high school fees at the secondary and tertiary levels and the sale of state property by the NPP Administration, stated that the only way to reverse such a bad trend was for every member of the party to go to the rural areas “to propagate the CPP gospel of humane policies” to get the necessary support for it to win the elections.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
EX-CONVICT HELD OVER MURDER (PAGE 34)
THE Koforidua police have arrested a 30-year-old man, Abraham Narh, who is alleged to have shot dead one Stephen Tetteh at Huhunya, near Koforidua.
The deceased, who was said to have refused a request from Narh to join his armed robbery gang, was found dead in his house at Huhunya in the early hours of last Thursday, September 25.
Two others, Korkor Atteh, 25, said to be Tetteh’s sister, and Narh’s girlfriend, and Nathan Komlon, 23, suspected to be accomplices in the murder, have also been apprehended.
Briefing the press in Koforidua last Monday, the New Juaben Municipal Police Commander, Superintendent John Naami, said on September 24, this year, Narh asked Tetteh to join an armed robbery gang of which he (Narh) was a member.
He said Tetteh declined the request and reported the matter to a prominent person at Huhunya who advised him to report it to the police.
According to Supt Naami, Tetteh, however, did not report to the police but went home. He was found dead in the house the following day, his body riddled with bullets.
He said police investigations led to the arrest of the suspect, who had in his possession a locally manufactured gun and substances believed to be Indian hemp.
Supt Naami stated that Narh, who the police said was once a convict, told the police that he had shot Tetteh because he had been contracted to do so by a group of people who accused him (Tetteh) of being responsible for the death of their relative.
The police commander said when Narh was questioned about the Indian hemp in his possession, he said he had assisted some farmers who cultivated the plant and it was they who had given the stuff to him as payment.
The suspect later led a police contingent, under the command of ASP Manase Nyasem, who is in charge of Operations in the region, to the farm, where four persons — Joseph Tetteh, Comfort Koryo, Dawutey Emmanuel and Ben Anterkyi — were arrested.
ASP Nyasem said the four, who were apprehended while they were busily working on the farm, had also been placed in cells, while further investigations continued.
The body of the deceased has been deposited at the morgue of the Regional Hospital, Koforidua, while the suspects have been put in cells at the Koforidua Central Police Station.
The deceased, who was said to have refused a request from Narh to join his armed robbery gang, was found dead in his house at Huhunya in the early hours of last Thursday, September 25.
Two others, Korkor Atteh, 25, said to be Tetteh’s sister, and Narh’s girlfriend, and Nathan Komlon, 23, suspected to be accomplices in the murder, have also been apprehended.
Briefing the press in Koforidua last Monday, the New Juaben Municipal Police Commander, Superintendent John Naami, said on September 24, this year, Narh asked Tetteh to join an armed robbery gang of which he (Narh) was a member.
He said Tetteh declined the request and reported the matter to a prominent person at Huhunya who advised him to report it to the police.
According to Supt Naami, Tetteh, however, did not report to the police but went home. He was found dead in the house the following day, his body riddled with bullets.
He said police investigations led to the arrest of the suspect, who had in his possession a locally manufactured gun and substances believed to be Indian hemp.
Supt Naami stated that Narh, who the police said was once a convict, told the police that he had shot Tetteh because he had been contracted to do so by a group of people who accused him (Tetteh) of being responsible for the death of their relative.
The police commander said when Narh was questioned about the Indian hemp in his possession, he said he had assisted some farmers who cultivated the plant and it was they who had given the stuff to him as payment.
The suspect later led a police contingent, under the command of ASP Manase Nyasem, who is in charge of Operations in the region, to the farm, where four persons — Joseph Tetteh, Comfort Koryo, Dawutey Emmanuel and Ben Anterkyi — were arrested.
ASP Nyasem said the four, who were apprehended while they were busily working on the farm, had also been placed in cells, while further investigations continued.
The body of the deceased has been deposited at the morgue of the Regional Hospital, Koforidua, while the suspects have been put in cells at the Koforidua Central Police Station.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
MANYA KROBO ASSEMBLY GOES GAY ...Over status of Akuse
THERE was jubilation during the annual general meeting of the Lower Manya Krobo District Assembly at Odumase-Krobo last Thursday when it was announced that Akuse had been confirmed to be part of the district.
The controversy over the once flourishing town near the Volta River, which had for a long time been the bone of contention between the Manya Krobo District in the Eastern Region and Dangbe West in the Greater Accra, with both claiming it, was settled by a Supreme Court ruling on July 23, this year, ceding it to Manya Krobo.
As soon as the District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr David Sackitey Asare, announced the ruling of the court, which was confirmed by the Presiding Member (PM), Mr Emmanuel Agyarko, the assembly members went into jubilation, making it difficult for the PM to control the proceedings.
Most of the assembly members, in their happy mood, expressed their satisfaction about the court’s ruling and called on the House to organise a victory parade in the town on September 27, this year.
The House also suggested that the people whose efforts led to the declaration of Akuse’s new status should be acknowledged and possibly rewarded.
They were the late Konor of Manya Krobo, Nene Mate Kole; the present Konor, Nene Sakitey; Nene Sasraku 1V, acting Konor; Nene Asada Ahor, the Chief of Akuse; Mr Sackitey Asare, the DCE; Mr Agyarko and the six assembly members from the Akuse area, who, despite the problem, continued to attend the assembly meetings.
In his speech, Mr Sackitey Asare said now that the issue of Akuse had been resolved, all revenues that the Volta River Authority should have paid to the district assembly, but had been withheld due to the uncertainty over the status of the town, would now flow in to the assembly.
That, he stated, would make it possible to develop the district, especially communities that were adversely affected by the construction of the Kpong Dam.
For his part, Nene Sasraku expressed happiness over the court ruling and stated that the Manya Traditional Council would partner the assembly to bring development to Akuse, which, he said, had suffered over the years as a result of the unfortunate incident.
Addressing the House later, Mr Sackitey Asare said apart from a number of social amenities that had been provided, construction work on additional ones would soon begin.
The projects include extension of electricity to five communities, the tarring of Asite town roads, Atua Hospital-Mount Mary, Nuaso town, Airport-Agbom-Ablotsi, and Odumase-Junction-Public Cemetery roads, Akuse town roads and the Kpong Kotokoli-Ahudzo road.
Other projects, which would be funded by the European Union, are teachers’ bungalows at Obelemanya and Oborpa East, a culvert at Abanse, a modern public place of convenience at Lorlornyo and a school building at Kpong.
Mr Sackitey Asare said the assembly had also taken delivery of 12 skip-loader refuse containers to augment 10 others to improve sanitation in the area.
With regard to the financial standing of the assembly, Mr Sackitey stated that although it had received its quarter allocation of the District Assemblies Common Fund of GH¢42,556.29, the situation was still a serious one, because from January to July, this year, a total revenue of GH¢68,517.21, out of a projected figure of GH¢155,018.46, representing 44 per cent had been collected.
He, however, stated that the assembly had expended GH¢115,000.63 out of its budget of GH¢188,777.48, adding that such a precarious situation had led to the assembly’s indebtedness to a number of service providers, workers and other institutions.
The DCE, therefore, implored the revenue collectors to intensify their activities.
As regards the report on the dispute over the limestone-rich deposits along the common border between Manya Krobo and Yilo Krobo, which were being claimed by both traditional areas, he stated that it had not been accepted by the two parties, and, therefore, appealed to them to passionately study it to ensure a lasting solution to the problem.
The controversy over the once flourishing town near the Volta River, which had for a long time been the bone of contention between the Manya Krobo District in the Eastern Region and Dangbe West in the Greater Accra, with both claiming it, was settled by a Supreme Court ruling on July 23, this year, ceding it to Manya Krobo.
As soon as the District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr David Sackitey Asare, announced the ruling of the court, which was confirmed by the Presiding Member (PM), Mr Emmanuel Agyarko, the assembly members went into jubilation, making it difficult for the PM to control the proceedings.
Most of the assembly members, in their happy mood, expressed their satisfaction about the court’s ruling and called on the House to organise a victory parade in the town on September 27, this year.
The House also suggested that the people whose efforts led to the declaration of Akuse’s new status should be acknowledged and possibly rewarded.
They were the late Konor of Manya Krobo, Nene Mate Kole; the present Konor, Nene Sakitey; Nene Sasraku 1V, acting Konor; Nene Asada Ahor, the Chief of Akuse; Mr Sackitey Asare, the DCE; Mr Agyarko and the six assembly members from the Akuse area, who, despite the problem, continued to attend the assembly meetings.
In his speech, Mr Sackitey Asare said now that the issue of Akuse had been resolved, all revenues that the Volta River Authority should have paid to the district assembly, but had been withheld due to the uncertainty over the status of the town, would now flow in to the assembly.
That, he stated, would make it possible to develop the district, especially communities that were adversely affected by the construction of the Kpong Dam.
For his part, Nene Sasraku expressed happiness over the court ruling and stated that the Manya Traditional Council would partner the assembly to bring development to Akuse, which, he said, had suffered over the years as a result of the unfortunate incident.
Addressing the House later, Mr Sackitey Asare said apart from a number of social amenities that had been provided, construction work on additional ones would soon begin.
The projects include extension of electricity to five communities, the tarring of Asite town roads, Atua Hospital-Mount Mary, Nuaso town, Airport-Agbom-Ablotsi, and Odumase-Junction-Public Cemetery roads, Akuse town roads and the Kpong Kotokoli-Ahudzo road.
Other projects, which would be funded by the European Union, are teachers’ bungalows at Obelemanya and Oborpa East, a culvert at Abanse, a modern public place of convenience at Lorlornyo and a school building at Kpong.
Mr Sackitey Asare said the assembly had also taken delivery of 12 skip-loader refuse containers to augment 10 others to improve sanitation in the area.
With regard to the financial standing of the assembly, Mr Sackitey stated that although it had received its quarter allocation of the District Assemblies Common Fund of GH¢42,556.29, the situation was still a serious one, because from January to July, this year, a total revenue of GH¢68,517.21, out of a projected figure of GH¢155,018.46, representing 44 per cent had been collected.
He, however, stated that the assembly had expended GH¢115,000.63 out of its budget of GH¢188,777.48, adding that such a precarious situation had led to the assembly’s indebtedness to a number of service providers, workers and other institutions.
The DCE, therefore, implored the revenue collectors to intensify their activities.
As regards the report on the dispute over the limestone-rich deposits along the common border between Manya Krobo and Yilo Krobo, which were being claimed by both traditional areas, he stated that it had not been accepted by the two parties, and, therefore, appealed to them to passionately study it to ensure a lasting solution to the problem.
FIGHTING CRIME IN THE EASTERN REGION...Police on the warpath (PAGE 20)
EASTERN Region, the third most populous political entity after the Ashanti and Greater Accra regions, has for some time now been experiencing crime.
Its thriving municipalities such as Koforidua, the capital, Akyem Oda, Nkawkaw, Asamankese as well as towns like Suhum, Somanya, Akropong-Akuapem, which have large concentration of people, are associated with all sorts of crimes.
These include armed robbery, murder, rape and defilement, fraud and petty thefts involving food crops such as plantain, cassava, livestock and poultry.
Another crime in the region that normally occurs in the municipalities involves tricksters, popularly known as “419”, who manage to trick people to part with various sums of money.
The crime-prone areas include Okorase, Mile 50, Asokorekuma, Nyamekrom, all new settlements within the New Juaben Municipality, Nsukwao and the business area of Koforidua, also in New Juaben, and big towns such as Oda, Somanya, Akropong and Nkawkaw.
Other worrying issues are chieftaincy disputes in some of the traditional areas, disputes between farmers and Fulani herdsmen, especially in the Kwahu area and fatal motor accidents that continue to claim life.
Differences that occasionally arise among the Muslim community, especially during this year’s Ramadan, are also some of the problems in the area.
Another factor that has led to the increase in the crime rate is the large number of ex-convicts from other parts of the country who are periodically released from the country’s premier prison at Nsawam, and other prisons at Akuse, Koforidua and in the Kwahu North District (Afram Plains), all located within the region.
These ex-convicts, who do not normally go to their home towns after gaining their freedom, continue to live in the region to involve in more criminal activities.
Such issues have, therefore, been a big challenge to the police in the region whose ratio per inhabitant is not far from the national ratio of one policeman to about 1,000 people, thus putting severe pressure on the force.
To effectively tackle the crime wave, the Police Administration in the region under the command of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) George Anko-Bil, has instituted a number of measures to rid the communities of criminals and make the area safe for habitation.
The measures, which were vigorously enforced, particularly from April, this year, include intensification of police patrols, especially at night, mounting of barriers at entry points to Koforidua and periodic raids in the hideouts of suspected criminals.
The recent acquisition of the Gota, a special communication gadget (walkie-talkie), for the police officers to enhance communication, and the inauguration of a rapid police deployment force, have contributed significantly in tracking down criminals and reduced crime in the communities.
For instance, in the first half of 2007, 48 people were murdered as against 30 this year, while narcotic cases (wee) went down from 72 to 48, rape from 74 to 23, defilement from 122 to 72, all within the same period.
Armed robbery, however, increased slightly from 32 to 36 within the stipulated period. The most interesting aspect of such a heinous crime such as the armed robbery is that most of the robbers have been arrested and are being tried at the law courts.
“Apart from this, we recently resolved the differences between the traditional authorities and the Saviour Church at Osiem, as well as trying to resolve the impasse among the Moslem community in Koforidua which occurred during this Ramadan. Both parties are, however, co-operating on the issue,” ACP Anko-Bil stated.
With regard to motor accidents, the region continues to encounter such problems. Between January and August, 2007, as many as 790 accidents, involving 1,038 vehicles were recorded, during which 168 people lost their lives, with 1,038 sustaining various degrees of injury.
The figure increased within the same period this year with 807 motor accidents, involving 1,038 vehicles, of which 166 died and 1,055 injured.
According to ACP Anko-Bil, the unfortunate situation could be attributed to a significant increase in the number of vehicles in the region and others from various parts of the country, which use the region’s stretch of the main Accra-Kumasi highway.
To reduce such traffic accidents to the barest minimum, the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Police Service has been vigorously conducting checks on the roads. It also teams up with the Road Safety Commission to periodically organise durbars to educate drivers and the general public on road safety.
On political activities, the police have made the necessary preparations to deal with any situation that has the potential to disturb the relative peace being enjoyed in the country before, during and after the December 7 general election.
“There are 500 policemen on standby, ready to go to identified flash points or trouble spots in the area, and with the assistance of other security agencies, we can double or even triple the number of our men in such places,” ACP Anko-Bil said.
“Although we have made a significant breakthrough in fighting crime, we are not resting at all, both officers and men are on the alert ready to flush out the criminals in their hideouts at any time. So we appeal to members of the public to bear with us whenever we conduct unexpected operations in their communities,” ACP Anko-Bil stated.
To complement efforts being made by the police, ACP Anko-Bil is of the view that neighbourhood watch committees should be formed in all the communities with active participation from the youth.
He stressed the need for people to be prepared to volunteer information on criminals to the police who would treat the issue confidential in order not to expose such informants to danger.
The municipal and district assemblies must also come to the rescue of their people by improving the lighting system in the communities, especially the crime-prone areas, while landlords and workers must also team up to engage watchmen in their areas.
ACP Anko-Bil emphasised that if such measures were adhered to coupled with the able manner in which the commanders in the six divisions, namely Akosombo, Akropong, Nkawkaw, Kyebi, Koforidua and Akyem Oda, were discharging their duties, the region would in the near future become one of the safest places in the country.
Its thriving municipalities such as Koforidua, the capital, Akyem Oda, Nkawkaw, Asamankese as well as towns like Suhum, Somanya, Akropong-Akuapem, which have large concentration of people, are associated with all sorts of crimes.
These include armed robbery, murder, rape and defilement, fraud and petty thefts involving food crops such as plantain, cassava, livestock and poultry.
Another crime in the region that normally occurs in the municipalities involves tricksters, popularly known as “419”, who manage to trick people to part with various sums of money.
The crime-prone areas include Okorase, Mile 50, Asokorekuma, Nyamekrom, all new settlements within the New Juaben Municipality, Nsukwao and the business area of Koforidua, also in New Juaben, and big towns such as Oda, Somanya, Akropong and Nkawkaw.
Other worrying issues are chieftaincy disputes in some of the traditional areas, disputes between farmers and Fulani herdsmen, especially in the Kwahu area and fatal motor accidents that continue to claim life.
Differences that occasionally arise among the Muslim community, especially during this year’s Ramadan, are also some of the problems in the area.
Another factor that has led to the increase in the crime rate is the large number of ex-convicts from other parts of the country who are periodically released from the country’s premier prison at Nsawam, and other prisons at Akuse, Koforidua and in the Kwahu North District (Afram Plains), all located within the region.
These ex-convicts, who do not normally go to their home towns after gaining their freedom, continue to live in the region to involve in more criminal activities.
Such issues have, therefore, been a big challenge to the police in the region whose ratio per inhabitant is not far from the national ratio of one policeman to about 1,000 people, thus putting severe pressure on the force.
To effectively tackle the crime wave, the Police Administration in the region under the command of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) George Anko-Bil, has instituted a number of measures to rid the communities of criminals and make the area safe for habitation.
The measures, which were vigorously enforced, particularly from April, this year, include intensification of police patrols, especially at night, mounting of barriers at entry points to Koforidua and periodic raids in the hideouts of suspected criminals.
The recent acquisition of the Gota, a special communication gadget (walkie-talkie), for the police officers to enhance communication, and the inauguration of a rapid police deployment force, have contributed significantly in tracking down criminals and reduced crime in the communities.
For instance, in the first half of 2007, 48 people were murdered as against 30 this year, while narcotic cases (wee) went down from 72 to 48, rape from 74 to 23, defilement from 122 to 72, all within the same period.
Armed robbery, however, increased slightly from 32 to 36 within the stipulated period. The most interesting aspect of such a heinous crime such as the armed robbery is that most of the robbers have been arrested and are being tried at the law courts.
“Apart from this, we recently resolved the differences between the traditional authorities and the Saviour Church at Osiem, as well as trying to resolve the impasse among the Moslem community in Koforidua which occurred during this Ramadan. Both parties are, however, co-operating on the issue,” ACP Anko-Bil stated.
With regard to motor accidents, the region continues to encounter such problems. Between January and August, 2007, as many as 790 accidents, involving 1,038 vehicles were recorded, during which 168 people lost their lives, with 1,038 sustaining various degrees of injury.
The figure increased within the same period this year with 807 motor accidents, involving 1,038 vehicles, of which 166 died and 1,055 injured.
According to ACP Anko-Bil, the unfortunate situation could be attributed to a significant increase in the number of vehicles in the region and others from various parts of the country, which use the region’s stretch of the main Accra-Kumasi highway.
To reduce such traffic accidents to the barest minimum, the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Police Service has been vigorously conducting checks on the roads. It also teams up with the Road Safety Commission to periodically organise durbars to educate drivers and the general public on road safety.
On political activities, the police have made the necessary preparations to deal with any situation that has the potential to disturb the relative peace being enjoyed in the country before, during and after the December 7 general election.
“There are 500 policemen on standby, ready to go to identified flash points or trouble spots in the area, and with the assistance of other security agencies, we can double or even triple the number of our men in such places,” ACP Anko-Bil said.
“Although we have made a significant breakthrough in fighting crime, we are not resting at all, both officers and men are on the alert ready to flush out the criminals in their hideouts at any time. So we appeal to members of the public to bear with us whenever we conduct unexpected operations in their communities,” ACP Anko-Bil stated.
To complement efforts being made by the police, ACP Anko-Bil is of the view that neighbourhood watch committees should be formed in all the communities with active participation from the youth.
He stressed the need for people to be prepared to volunteer information on criminals to the police who would treat the issue confidential in order not to expose such informants to danger.
The municipal and district assemblies must also come to the rescue of their people by improving the lighting system in the communities, especially the crime-prone areas, while landlords and workers must also team up to engage watchmen in their areas.
ACP Anko-Bil emphasised that if such measures were adhered to coupled with the able manner in which the commanders in the six divisions, namely Akosombo, Akropong, Nkawkaw, Kyebi, Koforidua and Akyem Oda, were discharging their duties, the region would in the near future become one of the safest places in the country.
PNC TO PATNER TRADITIONAL RULERS FOR DEVELOPMENT ...Pledges Dr Mahama (PAGE 16)
THE flag bearer of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Dr Edward Mahama, has said when voted into power, his government will partner traditional rulers in all aspects for the development of the communities.
That, he said, had become necessary, since traditional rulers were endowed with the requisite knowledge to be tapped for the development of the communities to improve the living condition of the people.
The PNC flag bearer made the statement when he paid a courtesy call on Osabarima Awua Kotoko II, the Begorohene and Benkumhene of the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area, at his palace on Monday.
During the call, Dr Mahama introduced Mr William Nkansah, the party’s parliamentary aspirant for the area, to the gathering.
Dr Mahama, who was on a campaign tour of the Eastern Region, was accompanied by the General Secretary of the party, Mr Bernard Mornah; the National Women’s Organiser, Hajia Hajara Boya; the Publicity Chairman, Mr Henry Asante, and the Eastern Regional Vice-Chairman,, Mr Godwin Tay.
According to Dr Mahama, although chiefs were good statesmen who assisted the colonial administrators to govern the country, successive governments after independence relegated them to the background and that had imparted negatively on the development of the communities.
What had worsened the situation, he stated, was the inability of successive governments to offer the necessary assistance to chiefs in the form of logistics.
He, therefore, gave the assurance that he would reverse the situation when voted into power and called on the chiefs and the people for their support.
“A PNC government will partner chiefs, give them the necessary assistance, especially means of transport, to undertake activities to improve the lot of the people,” he said.
On education, Dr Mahama stated that although the government had implemented the School Feeding Programme and free transport for schoolchildren, only a limited number of schoolchildren were currently benefiting, leaving out majority of them, especially those in the rural areas where poverty was the order of the day.
Dr Mahama, who indicated that his administration would make it possible for all schoolchildren of poor parentage to be covered by the School Feeding Programme and free transportation and also improve the Capitation Grant, gave the assurance that a public university would be put up in the region to make tertiary education accessible to students in the area.
He also promised to improve farming by promoting the cultivation of food crops such as cassava, yam, plantain and maize, in addition to cocoa and other cash crops.
For his part, Osabarima Awua Kotoko advised the PNC leader to conduct his campaign peacefully and wished him well.
Mr Mornah, who addressed the people shortly before the PNC leader called on Osabarima Awua Kotoko, condemned the NPP administration for selling viable state assets and called on the people to rally behind the PNC to win the election to reverse that trend.
Hajia Hajara Boya also called on the women to support the PNC, which she said had a lot of initiatives to be implemented to improve their lot.
The PNC flag bearer had earlier in the day paid a courtesy call on the Krontihene of Kwabeng, Baffuor Twum Ampofo, to solicit the support of the chiefs and people of Kwabeng and also addressed a gathering at New Tafo.
That, he said, had become necessary, since traditional rulers were endowed with the requisite knowledge to be tapped for the development of the communities to improve the living condition of the people.
The PNC flag bearer made the statement when he paid a courtesy call on Osabarima Awua Kotoko II, the Begorohene and Benkumhene of the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area, at his palace on Monday.
During the call, Dr Mahama introduced Mr William Nkansah, the party’s parliamentary aspirant for the area, to the gathering.
Dr Mahama, who was on a campaign tour of the Eastern Region, was accompanied by the General Secretary of the party, Mr Bernard Mornah; the National Women’s Organiser, Hajia Hajara Boya; the Publicity Chairman, Mr Henry Asante, and the Eastern Regional Vice-Chairman,, Mr Godwin Tay.
According to Dr Mahama, although chiefs were good statesmen who assisted the colonial administrators to govern the country, successive governments after independence relegated them to the background and that had imparted negatively on the development of the communities.
What had worsened the situation, he stated, was the inability of successive governments to offer the necessary assistance to chiefs in the form of logistics.
He, therefore, gave the assurance that he would reverse the situation when voted into power and called on the chiefs and the people for their support.
“A PNC government will partner chiefs, give them the necessary assistance, especially means of transport, to undertake activities to improve the lot of the people,” he said.
On education, Dr Mahama stated that although the government had implemented the School Feeding Programme and free transport for schoolchildren, only a limited number of schoolchildren were currently benefiting, leaving out majority of them, especially those in the rural areas where poverty was the order of the day.
Dr Mahama, who indicated that his administration would make it possible for all schoolchildren of poor parentage to be covered by the School Feeding Programme and free transportation and also improve the Capitation Grant, gave the assurance that a public university would be put up in the region to make tertiary education accessible to students in the area.
He also promised to improve farming by promoting the cultivation of food crops such as cassava, yam, plantain and maize, in addition to cocoa and other cash crops.
For his part, Osabarima Awua Kotoko advised the PNC leader to conduct his campaign peacefully and wished him well.
Mr Mornah, who addressed the people shortly before the PNC leader called on Osabarima Awua Kotoko, condemned the NPP administration for selling viable state assets and called on the people to rally behind the PNC to win the election to reverse that trend.
Hajia Hajara Boya also called on the women to support the PNC, which she said had a lot of initiatives to be implemented to improve their lot.
The PNC flag bearer had earlier in the day paid a courtesy call on the Krontihene of Kwabeng, Baffuor Twum Ampofo, to solicit the support of the chiefs and people of Kwabeng and also addressed a gathering at New Tafo.
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