Wednesday, October 7, 2009

60 Robberies foiled

Page 3: Daily Graphic, October 8, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
MORE than 60 armed robberies were successfully busted by the Accra Regional Police Command between June and September, this year.
Ten attempted robberies were foiled while more than 100 suspects were arrested.
A number of weapons, including pistols, pump action guns, machetes, knives, clubs and ammunition, cars, motor-cycles, talisman, mobile phones and laptops were retrieved from the suspects.
The successes are as a result of the reward scheme instituted by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Paul Tawiah Quaye, to reward any member of the public who would provided information that would lead to the arrest and prosecution of criminals, particularly armed robbers.
On assumption of office, Mr Quaye promised cash rewards in the range of GH¢2,000 to GH¢5,000 with the quantum of reward being dependent on the value of the input, as well as the quality and usefulness of the information provided.
The Accra Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Rose Bio Atinga, and her deputy, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Christian Tetteh Yohuno, told the Daily Graphic yesterday that the reward system had greatly enhanced the work of the police, with more people willing to provide information to the police on suspected armed robbers, even after robberies had been committed.
DCOP Atinga said such information led to the arrest of suspected armed robbers, resulting in the retrieval of some of the stolen items.
She said some of the suspects were busted some hours or a day or two after they had committed those robberies due to information provided by members of the public.
She noted, for instance, that after robbing someone at the Angelica Hotel on May 31, 2009, at about 10.30 p.m, one of the suspects, Michael Allotey, was arrested the next day, June 1, 2009.
DCOP Atinga said the timely response of the police to information received resulted in the busting of a number of robberies as well.
She said the timely response of the police, for instance, led to the arrest of two suspects who robbed someone of GH¢580 while the victim was on his way to deposit the money at the bank.
She said most of the dockets on such armed robberies were currently with the Attorney-General’s Department awaiting prosecution, while the police were also investigating others.
Regarding the foiled robberies, ACP Yohuno said the information provided led to the foiling of those robberies even before they were committed.
He cited the arrest of George Ayittey, who was arrested on July 22, 2009 while planning to rob a filling station at Nii Boi Town upon a tip-off.
He said when the suspect took the police to his hotel hide-out at Achimota, three locally made pistols, which were to be used for the robbery, were retrieved.
ACP Yohuno said in another case, suspect Kofi Takyi, who was being looked for by the police for killing Detective Chief Inspector Nyame in Kumasi, was arrested on August 17, 2009 at Kakasunanka having two pistols while he and others were on the way to rob a footballer.
He said the transparency and sincerity of the IGP had made members of the public have confidence in the police to volunteer information willingly.
He noted that the security of the state was a shared responsibility and expressed his happiness that the reward system was facilitating the work of the police.
ACP Yohuno said the public had also been cautious of the warning issued by the IGP to deal with intelligence fabricators and, therefore, had been very helpful.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Ghanaian fugitive arrested

Page 24/25: Daily Graphic, October 7, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
A COLLABORATION among security operatives of Ghana, the United States of America and the British High Commission has led to the arrest of a Ghanaian fugitive, Edmund Osei, alias Jamal Michaels.
Osei had escaped from the state of New Jersey in the USA on February 8, 2000, where he had been indicted to be in court for what the US officials described as numerous violations that included seven counts of first degree armed robbery, eight counts of terrorist threats, three counts of hindering apprehension and seven counts of possession of an imitation firearm — all felonies under the laws of New Jersey.
After his failure to appear in court on January 10, 2000 following his arrest on July 29, 1999, the FBI issued a warrant charging Osei with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.
The Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, DCOP Frank Adu-Poku, told the Daily Graphic yesterday that Osei was arrested on Monday, outside the premises of the British High Commission after his application for a British visa was turned down.
He said the state was preparing extradition proceedings at the court to extradite Osei, who is also known as Matthew Osei, to the US to face trial.
A top US security official in New Jersey, Mr Weysan Dun, is quoted to have said after the arrest of Osei that, “there aren’t many better examples of international law enforcement co-operation than this”.
“Beginning with the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety, extending through the FBI in New Jersey and abroad, through New Scotland Yard, and finally ending with law enforcement in Ghana, the grasp of justice around Osei got tighter and tighter until he couldn’t escape.
“The original charges he faced were for very violent behaviour that threatened the safety of everyone around him, regardless of whether he was in the US or abroad. Today, the world is a little bit safer because of the international teamwork of law enforcement. I extend my congratulations to all for a job well done,” he said.
For her part, New Jersey Attorney General Anne Milgram said the USA was “grateful to the FBI for their tenacity and thoroughness in tracking down and apprehending this fugitive, who has been wanted for nearly a decade for seven armed robberies in Atlantic City”.
“Those who commit serious crimes in New Jersey cannot escape the reach of the law by crossing state borders or even international borders,” she said.
Osei, a former poker dealer, had originally been arrested by New Jersey authorities on July 29, 1999 for an armed robbery in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Through subsequent investigation, state authorities determined Osei was allegedly responsible for a total of seven armed robberies in Atlantic City that included six casinos and a bank.
According to the state indictment, the casinos involved included Showboat, Resorts, Tropicana, and Bally’s Park Place Wild West Casino, in addition to a branch of Commerce Bank.
The seven robberies occurred between May 19, 1999 and the day of his apprehension on July 29, 1999. Osei posted bail in October of 1999 and was released. The State of New Jersey returned a 25-count indictment against him shortly thereafter.
When Osei failed to show up for his arraignment in January of 2000, a warrant was issued for his arrest and his bail was revoked.
Law enforcement agents later determined that Osei fled the state of New Jersey and on February 8, 2000, the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety, Division of Criminal Justice made a formal request to the FBI to assist in locating and apprehending the fugitive.
With the assistance of New Scotland Yard in Great Britain, FBI agents overseas were able to locate Osei in Accra North, Ghana, in April of 2009.
The long diplomatic process to arrange the arrest of Osei began and was completed last week.

Monday, October 5, 2009

Ghana sixth best in Africa

Front Page: Daily Graphic, October 5, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
GHANA has been ranked the sixth best governed country in Africa.
This is an improvement on its position as far as the governance index is concerned. When it was first released in 2007, Ghana occupied the eighth position.
According to the annual Index of African Governance report released by Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Governance, Mauritius, The Seychelles and Cape Verde, all small islands, are the continent’s three best governed countries.
At the bottom of the list are Chad, The Sudan and Somalia.
Reacting to the latest rankings, a senior lecturer of the Political Science Department of the University of Ghana, Legon, Mr Kwesi Jonah, told the Daily Graphic that it was a good reflection the progress Ghana had made in its democratic path, saying that “the ranking is very real”.
He said although the citizenry often doubted the progress made so far, the ranking showed that Ghana was better off than a lot of African countries.
He noted that Ghanaians had had the opportunity to hold elections and also change governments on two occasions since 2000.
Mr Jonah said in many African countries, the people had not been able to hold any elections, with some elections degenerating into conflicts, citing Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia and Kenya as examples.
He said although Ghanaians often had reservations about the democracy in the country, “let us all resolve to move forward to be number one on the continent”.
That, he said, would require civil society organisations, political parties, the Ghana Armed Forces and the media in particular to continue to champion the cause of democratic values for Ghanaians to appreciate the importance of democracy.
Mr Jonah, however, said Ghana needed to tackle the problem of political corruption with all the seriousness it deserved to move upward.
He said Ghana’s position on the corruption index, as issued by Transparency International, was not good for its democracy.
He also suggested that efforts must be intensified to tackle poverty in the country.
When the Governance Index report was first published in 2007, Ghana was eighth, making the current position an improvement on the first.
For the first time, the index included North African countries and Tunisia and Algeria were in the top 10. Even though Tunisia’s human rights record has been described as ‘appalling’, the country is noted to rate so well in terms of human development, economic opportunity and security, which scores compensated for the human rights record.
South Africa, however, slipped from fifth to ninth. The report noted that that was due to the country’s low scores in the areas of respect for civil and political rights and the rule of law.
Zimbabwe ranked 45th out of the 53 nations surveyed. Top oil producers Angola and Nigeria landed at 46th and 38th, respectively.
The data for this survey was collected in 2007 and, therefore, the election related violence in Zimbabwe in 2008 was not covered.
The survey is funded by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation of the wealthy Sudanese telecom investor by that name. He is expected to release his own version of the report next week.
The 2009 Index of African Governance used 57 indicators, including maternal mortality, gross domestic product per capita, respect for human rights and judicial independence, to rate governance in the continent’s 53 nations. It was co-ordinated by Robert Rotberg and Rachel Gisselquist.
The authors have said in a statement, “Bettering the lives of all of Africa’s peoples is the overriding purpose of the index,” adding, “By noting which indicators lag and which have advanced, governments can improve the outcomes for their populations.”

Armed robbers kill man, 33

Page 3: Daily Graphic, October 5, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
ARMED robbers on Sunday allegedly killed a 33-year-old gym instructor at Dzorwulu after robbing him and a co-tenant.
The deceased, Daniel Owusu-Sekyere, was said to have been cut severally with a machete and died while escaping from his assailants.
Although initial reports indicated that Owusu-Sekyere was allegedly killed by some soldiers after he allegedly jumped the wall of the house into the next house, the police and co-tenants of the deceased say he could not have jumped a wall considering the machete wounds on him.
Narrating the incident to the Daily Graphic, the landlord, Mr Patrick Kutame, who is a member of staff of the Survey Department, said at about 2:30a.m. on Sunday, he heard a shout for him to open the door to his main room.
He said when he enquired about who it was, there was a lull before the security man the deceased had brought to the house responded.
He said he suddenly became suspicious and refused to open the door.
According to him, he heard a big bang on his door ostensibly from a cement block with the view to breaking open the door.
Mr Kutame said he was shaken by that development and decided to call the police.
He said the next moment, he heard the robbers move to the boys quarters of the building and asked the occupants to open the door.
He said he spoke from his room asking the tenants not to open, since the people were armed robbers.
Mr Kutame said he heard another heavy bang on the doors at the boys quarters.
He said he later heard Owusu-Sekyere, who was said to be heavily built, plead with the robbers not to kill him.
For his part, Mr Princewill Ola, who is a student at the University of Ghana, Legon, said after the robbers, who numbered eight, had broken into his room they started scrambling for his belongings and asked for money.
He said the robbers took away his GH¢300, a DVD player, three wristwatches, four pairs of shoes, among others, after which they tied his hands and asked him to lie face down in the yard.
He said from his room, the robbers entered Owusu-Sekyere’s room where they took the deceased’s laptop, two Iphones, some money and items belonging to an ex-girlfriend of Owusu-Sekyere’s who was on a visit.
According to Mr Ola, the robbers then took Owusu-Sekyere to his car, which was parked outside, and asked him to open the boot.
He said when Owusu-Sekyere, who just returned from abroad four days ago, indicated that there was nothing in the boot, the robbers started hitting him.
Mr Ola said after a while, the robbers said Owusu-Sekyere was stubborn and started using the machetes on him.
He said the robbers later wanted to use him (Ola) as a decoy to gain access to the landlord’s room but Mr Kutame refused to open.
He said it was at that point in time that Owusu-Sekyere, whose brother is said to be a registrar at the Kumasi High Court, attempted to escape from the robbers but they pursued him and took him along to a place where they abandoned him.
Mr Ola said he saw Owusu-Sekyere dazed and struggled to stand on his feet and might have fallen in the bush just before some soldiers came around on hearing some gunshots in the area.
The Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP Rose Bio-Atinga, confirmed the incident to the Daily Graphic and said investigations were underway.

Man killed in yam fight

Front Page: Daily Graphic, October 3, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
A FIGHT between two farmers over the alleged theft of yam has resulted in the death of one of them after the deceased’s son, in his attempt to rescue his father, rather shot him.
In the bizarre incident which occurred on a farm at Bugubele, near Tumu, the other person in the fight sustained multiple machete wounds after the deceased’s son and three others allegedly vented their anger on him and took him for dead.
Presently, the Upper West Regional Police are holding Sumani Saaka Jnr of Bugubele in custody for the murder of his father, while the other farmer, Bashiru Salifu, who was embroiled in the fight with Saaka Snr, is on admission at the Upper West Regional Hospital.
Salifu is receiving treatment from multiple machete wounds allegedly inflicted on him by Saaka Jnr and three others currently at large.
The Upper West Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Alex Bedia, told the Daily Graphic yesterday that Saaka Jnr reported to the police about 2:30 p.m. on September 13, 2009 that his father had not returned from the farm since morning and indicated that he (the father) might have allegedly been murdered by Salifu.
He said Saaka Jnr then led the police to a spot in the bush about two miles from the town where the body of Sumani Saaka Snr, 47, was found with deep wounds suspected to be caused by gunshots on the left thigh.
According to ACP Bedia, the mutilated left thigh created the impression that Saaka Snr might have been shot from behind at a close range.
He said a further search in the area led to the discovery of an unconscious Salifu in a pool of blood, with multiple machete wounds all over his body.
He said the body of Sumani Snr was conveyed to the Wa Regional Hospital mortuary for autopsy, while Salifu was admitted at the same hospital, where he is responding to treatment.
ACP Bedia said the police made a second visit to the scene of the crime the next day, together with Saaka Jnr, where he pointed to the spot where he had allegedly found the father lying with the gunshot wound.
He said the police found a piece of bone suspected to have fallen from the thigh of the deceased and the empty shell of a cartridge.
According to him, the police also found a hat belonging to Salifu at the spot where he was found with the machete wounds.
The police boss said investigations revealed that the deceased and Salifu had their farms close to each other.
ACP Bedia said on the day of the incident, the deceased visited his farm and noticed that someone had harvested his yam.
He said the deceased suspected that Salifu might have harvested the yam and so he, together with three others, confronted Salifu.
He said in the process, a fight broke out between the deceased and Salifu but Salifu was able to overpower the deceased, while the other three stood watching.
ACP Bedia said the deceased allegedly ordered his son, who was then holding a gun belonging to his father, to shoot at Salifu, but the bullet rather hit the deceased’s left thigh.
He said the three others then vented their anger on Salifu and started slashing him with machetes until he became unconscious.
He said the assailants then took Salifu for dead and abandoned him in the bush before attempting to convey Saaka Snr to hospital but he died on the way.
ACP Bedia said Saaka Jnr then rushed to the police, on realising that his father had died, and reported that Salifu had killed him.
He said Saaka Jnr had, however, denied shooting his father and also going to the farm with the three others.
He said the police were yet to retrieve the exhibit gun and the machete and also arrest the other suspects currently at large.
He said a post-mortem performed on Saaka Snr indicated that he died from haemorrhage shock and secondary shot injury of the left thigh.

Friday, October 2, 2009

Ghanaians urged to be tolerant of each other

Page 38: Daily Graphic, October 1, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Parish Priest of the Corpus Christi Catholic Church at Sakumono, Reverend Father Fred Agyemang, has called on Ghanaians to be tolerant of one another.
He said no one could lay claim to the monopoly of knowledge, skills or any other gift.
He said it was, therefore, important that Ghanaians learnt to affirm the positive things in one another and complement one another's efforts for the development of the country.
Rev. Fr Agyemang made the call during a thanksgiving service on the installation of Sir Knight Brother Anthony C. Kemevor as the 28th Supreme Knight of the Knights of Marshall in Accra on Sunday. Present at the thanksgiving service was the leadership of the Knights of St John International led by its Supreme Second Vice-President, Lt Gen. Joseph William Biney.
Sir Knight Kemavor was installed by the Supreme Director, Sir Kt. Veteran Dr E. S. K. Kwaw, the Supreme Spiritual Director, Most Rev. Joseph Osei Bonsu, the Installation Chaplain, Sir Kt. Commander Lawrence Owusu A. Prempeh and Sir Kt. James Adomako, the Installation Secretary and Guard respectively.
Sir Knight Kemevor will lead the Marshallan fraternity for the 2009/11 administration with Worthy Brother Derx Baffour as the Deputy Supreme Knight. Other officers include Worthy Bros. Andy Agyekum, Supreme Communication Officer, J. K. Harlley, Supreme Advocate, Naval Captain J. K. Boateng, Supreme Youth Co-ordinator, Worthy Bros. Francis Arthur-Collins, Supreme Information Technologist, Ernest Amoako-Arhen, Supreme Secretary of Finance, Prof Dzigbodi-Adjimah, Supreme Propagandist and Stephen Yaw Manu, Assistant Supreme Secretary.
Preaching on the sermon, based on the Bible readings for the day, Numbers 11:25-29 and Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48, Rev. Fr Agyemang said the day’s readings challenged Ghanaians to see the good in other persons be it in their home, offices or communities.
“We are there to complement one another so that together we can build a formidable home, community, church, company and country,” he said.
Rev. Fr Agyemang noted, for instance, the good work evangelists and other churches were doing to inspire the nation.
He said the problem with most people was that they tried to undermine any good thing coming from someone else and were often not ready to accept it, especially on the political front.
In his acceptance speech, Sir Knight Kemevor, who is the Head of Money Transfer and Remittances of the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB), pledged to collaborate with all members to develop existing structures of the Noble Order.
He said the presence of the leadership of Knights of St Johns International, gave hope for the church.