Page 11: Daily Graphic, November 30, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Minister of Education, Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo, says the utmost goal of research must be higher productivity, efficiency and total national development.
“Research should not be seen as just a means to getting academic progression for status or income,” he stated.
Speaking at the first research conference for polytechnics in Ghana, Mr Tettey-Enyo said academics and researchers must foster a closer collaboration with industry and commerce so that research findings would be utilised promptly and effectively.
The research conference, which was on the theme, “Contribution of Poytechnics towards nation building”, was organised by the Conference of Rectors of Polytechnics (CORP).
Mr Tettey-Enyo stressed on the need for researchers to help industry and commerce to satisfy consumer demands and work hard to win financial and material support from industry.
Touching on the oil find, he said Ghanaians needed not deceive themselves into thinking that the oil industry would be a panacea to the country’s problems overnight.
“We can only realise the full benefits of the industry if other productive sectors are modernised and adequately resourced to enhance our production of goods and services that would be needed by the industry and the citizenry,” he said.
Mr Tettey-Enyo stressed the need for efficient management of the eco-systems, fauna and flora and river bodies to minimise the degradation of natural resources.
A communique issued at the end of the conference called on the government to provide increased and sustained funding for research work in the polytechnics.
It also called on the government to povide significant funding to Technical, Vocational and Educational Training (TVET) as well as scholarship to TVET institutions in order to build capacity in those institutions.
The communique stressed the need for polytechnics to develop research partnerships with their counterparts both locally and internationally.
It urged polytechnics and industry to intensify collaboration on issues of attachment and internships for students and staff.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Prosecutor shows up after court ultimatum
Page 3: Daily Graphic, November 28, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE prosecutor in the 71.45 kilogrammes Tema cocaine case on Thursday showed up in court after the Accra Fast Track High Court had on Wednesday given him a 24-hour ultimatum to start prosecuting the case or have its case closed.
The trial judge, Mr Justice Samuel Marful-Sau, issued the ultimatum after the prosecutor in the case had indicated in a letter that he was unable to report in court because he was attending a training programme which began on Tuesday and was expected to end yesterday.
But at its sitting yesterday, Mr Asiamah Sampong, the prosecutor, showed up in court, during which two witnesses, Mr J. L. Otopah of the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) and Mrs Dorcas Wilson of Maersk Shipping Lines, testified.
The case has been adjourned to Monday, November 30, 2009, on which two more witnesses are scheduled to testify for the state.
Last Wednesday, Mr Sampong, in a letter, prayed the court to adjourn the matter to Thursday, December 3, 2009 but the court asked whether the prosecution was trying to dictate to it.
Mr Justice Marful-Sau said the prosecutor should have informed the court earlier about his inability to attend court and further indicated that the court would have no option but allow the alleged importer of the cocaine, Augustina Abu, to open her defence.
Augustina has been charged with importing narcotic drugs without lawful authority but she has denied any wrongdoing.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE prosecutor in the 71.45 kilogrammes Tema cocaine case on Thursday showed up in court after the Accra Fast Track High Court had on Wednesday given him a 24-hour ultimatum to start prosecuting the case or have its case closed.
The trial judge, Mr Justice Samuel Marful-Sau, issued the ultimatum after the prosecutor in the case had indicated in a letter that he was unable to report in court because he was attending a training programme which began on Tuesday and was expected to end yesterday.
But at its sitting yesterday, Mr Asiamah Sampong, the prosecutor, showed up in court, during which two witnesses, Mr J. L. Otopah of the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) and Mrs Dorcas Wilson of Maersk Shipping Lines, testified.
The case has been adjourned to Monday, November 30, 2009, on which two more witnesses are scheduled to testify for the state.
Last Wednesday, Mr Sampong, in a letter, prayed the court to adjourn the matter to Thursday, December 3, 2009 but the court asked whether the prosecution was trying to dictate to it.
Mr Justice Marful-Sau said the prosecutor should have informed the court earlier about his inability to attend court and further indicated that the court would have no option but allow the alleged importer of the cocaine, Augustina Abu, to open her defence.
Augustina has been charged with importing narcotic drugs without lawful authority but she has denied any wrongdoing.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Court summons 1BN Commanding Officer
Page 3: Daily Graphic, November 27, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Accra Fast Track High Court yesterday ordered the Commanding Officer of the First Infantry Battalion (1BN) to appear before it to tell the court the whereabouts of Private Seth Goka, one of the alleged killers of the former Northern Regional Chairman of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Alhaji Issa Mohammed.
The Commanding Officer is also expected to tell the court on December 2, 2009, which is the next adjourned date, the circumstances under which Goka escaped from military custody if Goka could not be produced in court.
The Presiding Judge, Mr Justice Senyo Dzamefe, gave the order after WOI Charles Amoako had confirmed to the court that three soldiers, Corporal Yaw Appiah, Private Eric Modzaka and Goka had been handed over to the 1BN.
Mr Justice Dzamefe said it was proper that the person in charge of the unit told the court and Ghanaians the whereabouts of Goka if, indeed, three soldiers had been handed over to the unit.
That was after Lt Peter Andoh told the court that he did not bring the third accused.
Counsel for Appiah and Modzaka, Mr Thaddeus Sory, objected to some media reportage on the matter, especially publications in The Enquirer and the Daily Post newspapers, saying that those publications contained conspiracy theories and tended to incite the public against his clients, even when the hearing had not commenced.
He said it was important that the accused were treated fairly.
Responding to the concerns, Mr Justice Dzamefe reminded journalists that an accused was innocent until proven guilty.
He, therefore, urged them to be cautious and careful when reporting on criminal matters, failure of which could land them in trouble.
Upon a request by the Deputy Attorney-General, Mr Ebo Barton-Oduro, for the accused persons to be remanded in prison custody, Mr Justice Dzamefe said even though there was an order from the High Court in Tamale for that purpose, he would wait for the Commanding Officer of the 1BN to explain the whereabouts of Goka before he would make a pronouncement on the request.
Alhaji Mobilla was arrested by the police on December 9, 2004 for allegedly supplying the youth in Tamale with guns to foment trouble.
While he was in custody, the police received information that his followers and sympathisers were mobilising to free him. The deceased was consequently transferred from police cells to the Kamina Military Barracks and handed over to the three accused persons.
According to the prosecution, Alhaji Mobilla died three hours after he had been handed over to the accused persons who were on duty on that day.
The chief pathologist’s report revealed that the deceased had been sent to the hospital dead and that he had died from multiple wounds.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Accra Fast Track High Court yesterday ordered the Commanding Officer of the First Infantry Battalion (1BN) to appear before it to tell the court the whereabouts of Private Seth Goka, one of the alleged killers of the former Northern Regional Chairman of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Alhaji Issa Mohammed.
The Commanding Officer is also expected to tell the court on December 2, 2009, which is the next adjourned date, the circumstances under which Goka escaped from military custody if Goka could not be produced in court.
The Presiding Judge, Mr Justice Senyo Dzamefe, gave the order after WOI Charles Amoako had confirmed to the court that three soldiers, Corporal Yaw Appiah, Private Eric Modzaka and Goka had been handed over to the 1BN.
Mr Justice Dzamefe said it was proper that the person in charge of the unit told the court and Ghanaians the whereabouts of Goka if, indeed, three soldiers had been handed over to the unit.
That was after Lt Peter Andoh told the court that he did not bring the third accused.
Counsel for Appiah and Modzaka, Mr Thaddeus Sory, objected to some media reportage on the matter, especially publications in The Enquirer and the Daily Post newspapers, saying that those publications contained conspiracy theories and tended to incite the public against his clients, even when the hearing had not commenced.
He said it was important that the accused were treated fairly.
Responding to the concerns, Mr Justice Dzamefe reminded journalists that an accused was innocent until proven guilty.
He, therefore, urged them to be cautious and careful when reporting on criminal matters, failure of which could land them in trouble.
Upon a request by the Deputy Attorney-General, Mr Ebo Barton-Oduro, for the accused persons to be remanded in prison custody, Mr Justice Dzamefe said even though there was an order from the High Court in Tamale for that purpose, he would wait for the Commanding Officer of the 1BN to explain the whereabouts of Goka before he would make a pronouncement on the request.
Alhaji Mobilla was arrested by the police on December 9, 2004 for allegedly supplying the youth in Tamale with guns to foment trouble.
While he was in custody, the police received information that his followers and sympathisers were mobilising to free him. The deceased was consequently transferred from police cells to the Kamina Military Barracks and handed over to the three accused persons.
According to the prosecution, Alhaji Mobilla died three hours after he had been handed over to the accused persons who were on duty on that day.
The chief pathologist’s report revealed that the deceased had been sent to the hospital dead and that he had died from multiple wounds.
Knights, Ladies of Marshall observe 83rd Founders Day
Page 21: Daily Graphic, November 27, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Parish Priest of St Joseph The Worker Catholic Church, Community Eight, Tema, has called on Christians to fight against the ills of society.
Very Reverend Fr. Alfred Attah Eshun, who made the call, said Christians must always find solutions to problems and challenges confronting the society.
He was preaching at a Holy Mass to commemorate the 83rd Founders Day celebration of the Noble Order of the Knights and Ladies of Marshall in Tema on Saturday.
The Marshallans later presented GH¢1,500 to the parish.
Very Rev. Fr Eshun, who is also the Greater Accra Regional Chaplain of the Noble Order, reminded the Marshallans that it was the need to resist and fight against the infiltration of secret societies into the Catholic Church that made the 13 founders start the Noble Order.
He admitted that the Marshallan fraternity had remained loyal and committed to the Catholic Church and assisted effectively in its lay apostolate in the church.
“I urge you to continue to do everything for the growth of the church as encapsulated in your motto, ‘Unity, Charity, Fraternity and Service’ ”, he said.
The Regional Grand Knight, Mr Charles Brew-Hammond, said the selfless leadership of the founders of the Marshallan fraternity would always be a point of reference for the Noble Order to build a stronger fraternal society.
“Whatever support we are giving to the church, the clergy and to other Ghanaians and whatever we are enjoying as Marshallans has come about as a result of the efforts of our founder members in establishing this Noble Order,” he said.
Mr Brew-Hammond promised that the Marshallan fraternity would be guided by the teachings of the Catholic Church and the tenets of the Noble Order.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Parish Priest of St Joseph The Worker Catholic Church, Community Eight, Tema, has called on Christians to fight against the ills of society.
Very Reverend Fr. Alfred Attah Eshun, who made the call, said Christians must always find solutions to problems and challenges confronting the society.
He was preaching at a Holy Mass to commemorate the 83rd Founders Day celebration of the Noble Order of the Knights and Ladies of Marshall in Tema on Saturday.
The Marshallans later presented GH¢1,500 to the parish.
Very Rev. Fr Eshun, who is also the Greater Accra Regional Chaplain of the Noble Order, reminded the Marshallans that it was the need to resist and fight against the infiltration of secret societies into the Catholic Church that made the 13 founders start the Noble Order.
He admitted that the Marshallan fraternity had remained loyal and committed to the Catholic Church and assisted effectively in its lay apostolate in the church.
“I urge you to continue to do everything for the growth of the church as encapsulated in your motto, ‘Unity, Charity, Fraternity and Service’ ”, he said.
The Regional Grand Knight, Mr Charles Brew-Hammond, said the selfless leadership of the founders of the Marshallan fraternity would always be a point of reference for the Noble Order to build a stronger fraternal society.
“Whatever support we are giving to the church, the clergy and to other Ghanaians and whatever we are enjoying as Marshallans has come about as a result of the efforts of our founder members in establishing this Noble Order,” he said.
Mr Brew-Hammond promised that the Marshallan fraternity would be guided by the teachings of the Catholic Church and the tenets of the Noble Order.
Pharmacy proprietor held over fake drug
Page 24: Daily Graphic, November 27, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE proprietor of Dunia Pharmacy at Tudu in Accra has been arrested by the police for allegedly selling a fake suspension used for the treatment of worms in babies.
The suspect, Alhaji Sulemana Iddrisu, who is currently on police enquiry bail, claimed that he did not know the supplier of the Griseofulvin suspension, although he allegedly admitted buying them.
The police retrieved 29 bottles of the fake drug.
The Accra South District Crime Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Nathan O. Papaye-Quaye, told the Daily Graphic that someone had gone to Dunia Pharmacy to buy the drug for his child but detected that the colour was dark green, while the suspension itself was very watery.
He said the producers of the drug, Midland Chemist Ltd, were contacted to verify its quality, since it bore the company’s label.
ASP Papaye-Quaye said the Chief Executive of Midland Chemists Ltd, Mr John Arthur, reported the matter to the police.
He said a worker at the Dunia Pharmacy led the police to arrest Iddrisu at his Kasoa residence, adding that the supervising pharmacist of the pharmacy, Ms Georgina Adzator, had so far failed to honour an invitation by the police.
He said the police had just received information that she was a member of staff of the 37 Military Hospital, noting that the police would write to the authorities of the hospital for her release to assist in investigations, since drug purchases were supposed to be done under the watch of the supervising pharmacist.
ASP Papaye-Quaye said the matter bordered on life and death.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE proprietor of Dunia Pharmacy at Tudu in Accra has been arrested by the police for allegedly selling a fake suspension used for the treatment of worms in babies.
The suspect, Alhaji Sulemana Iddrisu, who is currently on police enquiry bail, claimed that he did not know the supplier of the Griseofulvin suspension, although he allegedly admitted buying them.
The police retrieved 29 bottles of the fake drug.
The Accra South District Crime Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Nathan O. Papaye-Quaye, told the Daily Graphic that someone had gone to Dunia Pharmacy to buy the drug for his child but detected that the colour was dark green, while the suspension itself was very watery.
He said the producers of the drug, Midland Chemist Ltd, were contacted to verify its quality, since it bore the company’s label.
ASP Papaye-Quaye said the Chief Executive of Midland Chemists Ltd, Mr John Arthur, reported the matter to the police.
He said a worker at the Dunia Pharmacy led the police to arrest Iddrisu at his Kasoa residence, adding that the supervising pharmacist of the pharmacy, Ms Georgina Adzator, had so far failed to honour an invitation by the police.
He said the police had just received information that she was a member of staff of the 37 Military Hospital, noting that the police would write to the authorities of the hospital for her release to assist in investigations, since drug purchases were supposed to be done under the watch of the supervising pharmacist.
ASP Papaye-Quaye said the matter bordered on life and death.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Murder - 2 sisters grabbed
Front Page: Daily Graphic, November 26, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE attempt by a 19-year-old girl to teach her boyfriend a lesson for openly denouncing her turned tragic last Tuesday when an ensuing scuffle between them resulted in the death of her fiancé.
The suspect, Elizabeth Ackah, is now in the custody of the Darkuman Police for allegedly stabbing Boakye Ansah, 31, her boyfriend, to death.
Follow-up investigations resulted in the arrest of Elizabeth’s elder sister, Rose Ackah, 23, who was alleged to have gone to Ansah’s house with Elizabeth.
Briefing the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday, the Kaneshie District Police Commander, Superintendent Iddrisu Abu Yakubu, said about 9 p.m. on November 24, 2009, Elizabeth went to Ansah’s house at Darkuman with kerosene and a bottle of water which she claimed was acid.
He said Elizabeth allegedly informed Ansah that she was there to teach him a lesson for denying her before another lady, all because Ansah was having an affair with the new girl.
Supt Yakubu said Elizabeth threatened to burn down Ansah’s house and also pour the “acid” on him if he dared to end the relationship between them.
According to him, Ansah, who was said to be an employee of Mantra Ghana, indicated that he would not allow Elizabeth to enter the house and that resulted in the scuffle.
Supt Yakubu said Elizabeth claimed Boakye Ansah had gone for a knife and allegedly threatened to slash her stomach open if she did not leave.
Elizabeth, according to the police, allegedly called her sister, Rose, to come to her aid because Ansah was proving stubborn.
Supt Yakubu said Elizabeth claimed that she had attempted to take away the knife from Ansah but in the ensuing commotion Ansah’s thigh was stabbed.
He said Ansah was pronounced dead on arrival at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital where some neighbours had taken him for treatment.
He said another group of neighbours arrested Elizabeth and handed her over to the Darkuman Police, while Rose was arrested later.
Elizabeth told the Daily Graphic that the stabbing had been accidental, since she also had a little cut from the knife on her tummy as a result of the struggle.
She said she had decided to confront the deceased only because she had felt abused and used after they had just terminated a pregnancy.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE attempt by a 19-year-old girl to teach her boyfriend a lesson for openly denouncing her turned tragic last Tuesday when an ensuing scuffle between them resulted in the death of her fiancé.
The suspect, Elizabeth Ackah, is now in the custody of the Darkuman Police for allegedly stabbing Boakye Ansah, 31, her boyfriend, to death.
Follow-up investigations resulted in the arrest of Elizabeth’s elder sister, Rose Ackah, 23, who was alleged to have gone to Ansah’s house with Elizabeth.
Briefing the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday, the Kaneshie District Police Commander, Superintendent Iddrisu Abu Yakubu, said about 9 p.m. on November 24, 2009, Elizabeth went to Ansah’s house at Darkuman with kerosene and a bottle of water which she claimed was acid.
He said Elizabeth allegedly informed Ansah that she was there to teach him a lesson for denying her before another lady, all because Ansah was having an affair with the new girl.
Supt Yakubu said Elizabeth threatened to burn down Ansah’s house and also pour the “acid” on him if he dared to end the relationship between them.
According to him, Ansah, who was said to be an employee of Mantra Ghana, indicated that he would not allow Elizabeth to enter the house and that resulted in the scuffle.
Supt Yakubu said Elizabeth claimed Boakye Ansah had gone for a knife and allegedly threatened to slash her stomach open if she did not leave.
Elizabeth, according to the police, allegedly called her sister, Rose, to come to her aid because Ansah was proving stubborn.
Supt Yakubu said Elizabeth claimed that she had attempted to take away the knife from Ansah but in the ensuing commotion Ansah’s thigh was stabbed.
He said Ansah was pronounced dead on arrival at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital where some neighbours had taken him for treatment.
He said another group of neighbours arrested Elizabeth and handed her over to the Darkuman Police, while Rose was arrested later.
Elizabeth told the Daily Graphic that the stabbing had been accidental, since she also had a little cut from the knife on her tummy as a result of the struggle.
She said she had decided to confront the deceased only because she had felt abused and used after they had just terminated a pregnancy.
MTTU arrests 13 'Okada' riders
Page 24: Daily Graphic, November 26, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service yesterday arrested 13 motorcyclists for engaging in illegal commercial motorised activities, popularly called ‘Okada’.
The suspects were rounded up at the Rawlings Park, WATO, Korle-Bu and Mamprobi areas.
According to the Deputy Commander of the MTTU, Superintendent Deborah Addison-Campbell, the exercise was part of activities being conducted by the police to clamp down on indiscipline on the roads prior to the Christmas festivities.
She explained that it was illegal for motorcyclists to engage in commercial transportation in the country, since the law did not permit them to do so.
Explaining that vehicles that operated commercially were duly registered as such, Supt Addison-Campbell said although the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) registered motorcycles, they were not for commercial purposes.
She said those operating motorcycle transportation services commercially were doing so illegally.
According to her, the suspects were being processed for court on charges bordering on operating illegal commercial business, uninsured motorcycles and not possessing roadworthy certificates.
Surprisingly, she said, while the police were conducting the exercise, some onlookers started pelting them with stones, which eventually smashed a windscreen of the police vehicle.
Supt Addison-Campbell reminded the public, especially those who patronised the motorcycles, that they did so at the peril of their lives.
She explained that because the motorcycles were not registered for commercial purposes and had also not been insured, any form of injury or death to those who used them would not be compensated.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service yesterday arrested 13 motorcyclists for engaging in illegal commercial motorised activities, popularly called ‘Okada’.
The suspects were rounded up at the Rawlings Park, WATO, Korle-Bu and Mamprobi areas.
According to the Deputy Commander of the MTTU, Superintendent Deborah Addison-Campbell, the exercise was part of activities being conducted by the police to clamp down on indiscipline on the roads prior to the Christmas festivities.
She explained that it was illegal for motorcyclists to engage in commercial transportation in the country, since the law did not permit them to do so.
Explaining that vehicles that operated commercially were duly registered as such, Supt Addison-Campbell said although the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) registered motorcycles, they were not for commercial purposes.
She said those operating motorcycle transportation services commercially were doing so illegally.
According to her, the suspects were being processed for court on charges bordering on operating illegal commercial business, uninsured motorcycles and not possessing roadworthy certificates.
Surprisingly, she said, while the police were conducting the exercise, some onlookers started pelting them with stones, which eventually smashed a windscreen of the police vehicle.
Supt Addison-Campbell reminded the public, especially those who patronised the motorcycles, that they did so at the peril of their lives.
She explained that because the motorcycles were not registered for commercial purposes and had also not been insured, any form of injury or death to those who used them would not be compensated.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
2 Teenage thieves grabbed
Page 3: Daily Graphic, November 25, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
TWO teenagers who allegedly attempted to rob a taxi driver at knife point have been arrested by the police.
Joshua Gbormittah, 16, and Ebenezer Yalley, 17, allegedly told the police after their arrest that they intended to use the money from the robbery to pay for their Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) fees.
The victim of the attempted robbery, Mr Kofi Frimpong, claims to have lost GH¢80 and his driver’s licence.
Briefing the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday, the Kaneshie District Police Commander, Superintendent Iddrisu Abu Yakubu, said about 9 p.m. on November 11, 2009, the suspects hired a taxi, with registration number GE 8787-09, from the Orgle Road to North Kaneshie.
He said on the way, the suspects behaved as if they had lost the direction to where they were going and asked the driver to take them back to where they had boarded the car.
He said on the way back, the suspects asked the driver to stop for them to bargain the fare to be paid.
According to Supt Yakubu, Ebenezer, who was sitting at the back, grabbed the driver by the neck, while Joshua, who was seated in the front, pulled a knife at the driver and asked that he hand over all the sales he had made to them.
He said the driver managed to grab Joshua’s wrist which was wielding the knife and raised an alarm.
Supt Yakubu said when residents started responding to the distress calls by the driver, Joshua managed to escape but Ebenezer was arrested and handed over to the Kaneshie Police.
He said further investigations by the police led to Joshua’s arrest at North Kaneshie last Sunday.
During interrogation, the Kaneshie Police boss said, Joshua claimed he was an orphan and was staying with an aunt, while Ebenezer claimed he was staying with his brother.
Supt Yakubu said Ebenezer further claimed that his father was dead, while his mother lived in a village in the Western Region.
He advised parents and guardians to take keen interest in the welfare of their children and wards and not allow them to fend for themselves at a tender age.
He said the two suspects would soon be arraigned.
Story: Albert K. Salia
TWO teenagers who allegedly attempted to rob a taxi driver at knife point have been arrested by the police.
Joshua Gbormittah, 16, and Ebenezer Yalley, 17, allegedly told the police after their arrest that they intended to use the money from the robbery to pay for their Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) fees.
The victim of the attempted robbery, Mr Kofi Frimpong, claims to have lost GH¢80 and his driver’s licence.
Briefing the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday, the Kaneshie District Police Commander, Superintendent Iddrisu Abu Yakubu, said about 9 p.m. on November 11, 2009, the suspects hired a taxi, with registration number GE 8787-09, from the Orgle Road to North Kaneshie.
He said on the way, the suspects behaved as if they had lost the direction to where they were going and asked the driver to take them back to where they had boarded the car.
He said on the way back, the suspects asked the driver to stop for them to bargain the fare to be paid.
According to Supt Yakubu, Ebenezer, who was sitting at the back, grabbed the driver by the neck, while Joshua, who was seated in the front, pulled a knife at the driver and asked that he hand over all the sales he had made to them.
He said the driver managed to grab Joshua’s wrist which was wielding the knife and raised an alarm.
Supt Yakubu said when residents started responding to the distress calls by the driver, Joshua managed to escape but Ebenezer was arrested and handed over to the Kaneshie Police.
He said further investigations by the police led to Joshua’s arrest at North Kaneshie last Sunday.
During interrogation, the Kaneshie Police boss said, Joshua claimed he was an orphan and was staying with an aunt, while Ebenezer claimed he was staying with his brother.
Supt Yakubu said Ebenezer further claimed that his father was dead, while his mother lived in a village in the Western Region.
He advised parents and guardians to take keen interest in the welfare of their children and wards and not allow them to fend for themselves at a tender age.
He said the two suspects would soon be arraigned.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Land documentation goes electronic
Page 24: Daily Graphic, November 23, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Government has started implementation of a project for electronic record keeping of land transactions throughout the country.
The project, which is being funded by the World Bank, involves the intelligent scanning of all the manual land records in the Ghana Government Deed Registry at the Lands Commission into an electronic database.
It is being implemented by Josanti InfoImaging Ltd, the company that worked on a similar software for the Ghana Immigration Service and some major financial institutions in the country.
The Project Director of the Lands Administration Project (LAP) of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Dr W. Odame Larbi, told the Daily Graphic that the project would be completed in 15 months, during which period all the manual land records in the country would have been electronically converted for easy access and verification by interested parties in the land and property markets.
The software of the project, Electronic Records and Document Management Solution (ERDMS), prevents unauthorised access with function rights and access controls that maintain constant vigilance over user actions.
The solution also enhances operational efficiency, allows one to apply organisational records policies and procedures consistently, manages scanned images, faxes, word-processing documents and objects stored in off-site repositories.
It also improves disaster recovery and business continuity as the solution eliminates large-scale photocopying for off-site back-ups and simplifies records transport with CD, DVD, and optical storage support and reduces misfiling and document loss.
Successful implementation of the project is expected to facilitate electronic record keeping, not only for the Land Administration Project, but also for the entire Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.
The solution could also be a model for all ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), especially in the wake of the fire disaster that hit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration.
Dr Larbi explained that because the current land records keeping had been of manual storage and retrieval was difficult, leading to tear and wear.
According to him, land records were not necessarily archival but were living records, because of the continuous reference to the records.
Dr Larbi, who is also the acting Executive Secretary of the Lands Commission, said the electronic record keeping of land documents would also forestall the incidence of manipulation of land records which often led to multiple sale of lands, resulting in preventable disputes over land ownership.
He explained that when the project was completed, persons all over the world could access and verify the genuineness of land documents without necessarily going to the Lands Title Deed Registry to verify.
In that way, he said, there would be minimal contact with the hard copies, thereby prolonging the lifespan of the hard copies.
Dr Larbi expressed excitement with the take-off of the project, since there was no back-up strategy in case of any disaster such as fire or flood.
As to whether online users could not tamper with the documents, he answered in the negative, explaining that a lot of control measures had been put in place by Josanti InfoImaging Ltd, a locally owned Ghanaian company, to prevent that.
Dr Larbi said under the project, land documents registered in the regions would be automatically updated at the National Data Centre in Accra.
He commended Josanti InfoImaging Ltd for winning the international bidding process, saying that for a local company to beat international bidders, it showed that Ghanaian companies had come a long way.
The Chief Executive Officer of Josanti InfoImaging Ltd, Mr Joseph Amoh-Anti, who conducted the Daily Graphic round the centre where the project was underway, said although some of the documents were brittle and fragile, the company was very well equipped to handle the assignment to a successful completion.
“None of the bound materials in the Deed Registry will be torn apart during scanning and indexing process,” he said after scanning a bounded material, stressing that “our implementation strategy included preserving the original records in the state we meet them or better, while creating electronic copies that are as close to the original as possible in look and feel for online access and off-site storage”.
Mr Amoh-Anti said successful implementation of the project would allow the Ghanaian citizen, researchers, the judiciary and investors to have access to land records with fewer or no human interventions.
“As a country, we are all too familiar with generally poor manual records management practices, as a result of which there is a considerable delay when doing business with some offices in both private and public sectors,” he said.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Government has started implementation of a project for electronic record keeping of land transactions throughout the country.
The project, which is being funded by the World Bank, involves the intelligent scanning of all the manual land records in the Ghana Government Deed Registry at the Lands Commission into an electronic database.
It is being implemented by Josanti InfoImaging Ltd, the company that worked on a similar software for the Ghana Immigration Service and some major financial institutions in the country.
The Project Director of the Lands Administration Project (LAP) of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Dr W. Odame Larbi, told the Daily Graphic that the project would be completed in 15 months, during which period all the manual land records in the country would have been electronically converted for easy access and verification by interested parties in the land and property markets.
The software of the project, Electronic Records and Document Management Solution (ERDMS), prevents unauthorised access with function rights and access controls that maintain constant vigilance over user actions.
The solution also enhances operational efficiency, allows one to apply organisational records policies and procedures consistently, manages scanned images, faxes, word-processing documents and objects stored in off-site repositories.
It also improves disaster recovery and business continuity as the solution eliminates large-scale photocopying for off-site back-ups and simplifies records transport with CD, DVD, and optical storage support and reduces misfiling and document loss.
Successful implementation of the project is expected to facilitate electronic record keeping, not only for the Land Administration Project, but also for the entire Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.
The solution could also be a model for all ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), especially in the wake of the fire disaster that hit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration.
Dr Larbi explained that because the current land records keeping had been of manual storage and retrieval was difficult, leading to tear and wear.
According to him, land records were not necessarily archival but were living records, because of the continuous reference to the records.
Dr Larbi, who is also the acting Executive Secretary of the Lands Commission, said the electronic record keeping of land documents would also forestall the incidence of manipulation of land records which often led to multiple sale of lands, resulting in preventable disputes over land ownership.
He explained that when the project was completed, persons all over the world could access and verify the genuineness of land documents without necessarily going to the Lands Title Deed Registry to verify.
In that way, he said, there would be minimal contact with the hard copies, thereby prolonging the lifespan of the hard copies.
Dr Larbi expressed excitement with the take-off of the project, since there was no back-up strategy in case of any disaster such as fire or flood.
As to whether online users could not tamper with the documents, he answered in the negative, explaining that a lot of control measures had been put in place by Josanti InfoImaging Ltd, a locally owned Ghanaian company, to prevent that.
Dr Larbi said under the project, land documents registered in the regions would be automatically updated at the National Data Centre in Accra.
He commended Josanti InfoImaging Ltd for winning the international bidding process, saying that for a local company to beat international bidders, it showed that Ghanaian companies had come a long way.
The Chief Executive Officer of Josanti InfoImaging Ltd, Mr Joseph Amoh-Anti, who conducted the Daily Graphic round the centre where the project was underway, said although some of the documents were brittle and fragile, the company was very well equipped to handle the assignment to a successful completion.
“None of the bound materials in the Deed Registry will be torn apart during scanning and indexing process,” he said after scanning a bounded material, stressing that “our implementation strategy included preserving the original records in the state we meet them or better, while creating electronic copies that are as close to the original as possible in look and feel for online access and off-site storage”.
Mr Amoh-Anti said successful implementation of the project would allow the Ghanaian citizen, researchers, the judiciary and investors to have access to land records with fewer or no human interventions.
“As a country, we are all too familiar with generally poor manual records management practices, as a result of which there is a considerable delay when doing business with some offices in both private and public sectors,” he said.
MY LIFE IS IN DANGER *Judge reveals
Front Page: Daily Graphic, November 21, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
A justice of the High Court of Ghana, Mr Justice Iddrisu Mahamadu, says his life is in danger following the trial and conviction of six policemen and four civilians for armed robbery over which he presided.
The threat to Justice Mahamadu’s life was reported to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Paul Tawiah Quaye, by the Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Georgina Wood.
In her report, Mrs Justice Wood conveyed to the IGP that following the conviction of the six policemen and four civilians, Justice Mahamadu had received numerous threats to his life.
Consequently, the IGP has directed the Operations Department of the Ghana Police Service to take immediate steps to protect the life, family and property of the High Court judge.
Last Tuesday, Mr Justice Mahamadu convicted the six policemen, including Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Patrick Kwapong of the Rapid Deployment Force of the Ghana Police Service, and four other civilians to a total of 200 years after they had been found guilty of attacking and robbing a Switzerland-based Ghanaian businessman at a hotel in Accra on February 2, 2009.
The convicts are DSP Kwapong, Chief Inspector Thomas Adu, Sergeant John Agyapong, Corporal Lawrence Dennis Quansah, Lance Corporal Karimu Muntari and Constable Blejumah.
The rest are Aams Amanor, Kwasi Tawiah, Peter Kwame Gyasi and Bismark Ampofo.
The convicts, with the exception of Kwapong, who was charged with conspiracy, were convicted to 20 years each on each count to run concurrently.
Constable Ken Duodu Acheampong and Jeffrey Kwame Atta, alias Kay, who are currently on the run, were tried in absentia.
Responding to the Chief Justice’s complaint, the IGP said he had referred her request to the Police Operations Department to assess the present situation and discuss measures to protect Justice Mahamadu, who sat as a Circuit Court judge.
He said the Police Administration believed in the rule of law and would not tolerate any acts that would discredit the judicial and democratic credentials of the nation.
He explained that although the judge might have an escort, it was important that the threats were assessed on their merit and appropriate steps taken to deal with them.
Mr Quaye said the conviction of the policemen should send a signal to the rest of the personnel that the Police Administration would not tolerate any acts of indiscipline in the service.
Soon after the conviction of the convicts, some of their family members wailed and vented their anger on the judge and some journalists outside the courtroom.
They openly cursed and rained unprintable insults on the trial judge, who was escorted to his vehicle by court clerks and policemen.
It took the warrant officers of the court, other policemen, prosecutors, among others, to prevent violence between two of the convicts, Ampofo and DSP Kwapong.
Ampofo was eventually hurled out of the courtroom in handcuffs without his grey shirt, which got torn in his bid to attack DSP Kwapong.
Story: Albert K. Salia
A justice of the High Court of Ghana, Mr Justice Iddrisu Mahamadu, says his life is in danger following the trial and conviction of six policemen and four civilians for armed robbery over which he presided.
The threat to Justice Mahamadu’s life was reported to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Paul Tawiah Quaye, by the Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Georgina Wood.
In her report, Mrs Justice Wood conveyed to the IGP that following the conviction of the six policemen and four civilians, Justice Mahamadu had received numerous threats to his life.
Consequently, the IGP has directed the Operations Department of the Ghana Police Service to take immediate steps to protect the life, family and property of the High Court judge.
Last Tuesday, Mr Justice Mahamadu convicted the six policemen, including Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Patrick Kwapong of the Rapid Deployment Force of the Ghana Police Service, and four other civilians to a total of 200 years after they had been found guilty of attacking and robbing a Switzerland-based Ghanaian businessman at a hotel in Accra on February 2, 2009.
The convicts are DSP Kwapong, Chief Inspector Thomas Adu, Sergeant John Agyapong, Corporal Lawrence Dennis Quansah, Lance Corporal Karimu Muntari and Constable Blejumah.
The rest are Aams Amanor, Kwasi Tawiah, Peter Kwame Gyasi and Bismark Ampofo.
The convicts, with the exception of Kwapong, who was charged with conspiracy, were convicted to 20 years each on each count to run concurrently.
Constable Ken Duodu Acheampong and Jeffrey Kwame Atta, alias Kay, who are currently on the run, were tried in absentia.
Responding to the Chief Justice’s complaint, the IGP said he had referred her request to the Police Operations Department to assess the present situation and discuss measures to protect Justice Mahamadu, who sat as a Circuit Court judge.
He said the Police Administration believed in the rule of law and would not tolerate any acts that would discredit the judicial and democratic credentials of the nation.
He explained that although the judge might have an escort, it was important that the threats were assessed on their merit and appropriate steps taken to deal with them.
Mr Quaye said the conviction of the policemen should send a signal to the rest of the personnel that the Police Administration would not tolerate any acts of indiscipline in the service.
Soon after the conviction of the convicts, some of their family members wailed and vented their anger on the judge and some journalists outside the courtroom.
They openly cursed and rained unprintable insults on the trial judge, who was escorted to his vehicle by court clerks and policemen.
It took the warrant officers of the court, other policemen, prosecutors, among others, to prevent violence between two of the convicts, Ampofo and DSP Kwapong.
Ampofo was eventually hurled out of the courtroom in handcuffs without his grey shirt, which got torn in his bid to attack DSP Kwapong.
Murder suspect gunned down
Front Page: Daily Graphic, November 21, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
A murder suspect who was on the police wanted list for allegedly gunning down the late Godfrey Cobblah, a senior officer of the Internal Revenue Service, in 2005, has himself been shot dead.
Mallam Yahaya, the deceased, was shot dead on Wednesday as he advanced towards an unarmed policeman after he (Yahaya) had been ordered to drop a knife he had pulled on a chief at Mamprobi.
Yahaya, a known land guard, allegedly killed the late Cobblah, then a senior administrator of the IRS at Achiaman, near Amasaman, on Boxing Day in 2005 when the officer, who was also an international boxing referee/judge, had gone to inspect some parcels of land purchased by the IRS for its staff.
The suspect was said to have absconded to Smere, a town in Benin, after murdering Cobblah, after which the Ghana Police Service declared him wanted and placed a GH¢2,000 bounty on his head.
A combined team of security operatives from Ghana, Togo and Benin tried several times to apprehend Yahaya as he shuttled from one country to another to avoid arrest.
Briefing the Daily Graphic on last Wednesday’s incident in which Yahaya was killed, the Director of Public Affairs of the Ghana Police Service, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Kwasi Ofori, said the police received a call that the life of a chief at Mamprobi, identified as Nii Ashun Gyekye, was in danger as someone had entered his house and pulled a knife on him, threatening to kill him.
He said the caller also indicated that the deceased was demanding GH¢10,000 from the chief or he would kill him.
He said Yahaya had earlier, through such threats, collected GH¢4,000 from the chief.
DSP Ofori said on reaching the scene, the police ordered Yahaya to drop the knife but he refused and rather turned towards an unarmed policeman with the knife.
He said the heavily built Yahaya was about to pounce on the policeman when another armed police man shot him.
It would be recalled that on December 26, 2005, Cobblah was murdered in cold blood at the site of the land purchased by workers of the IRS, following which Yahaya was declared wanted as the suspected murderer.
Story: Albert K. Salia
A murder suspect who was on the police wanted list for allegedly gunning down the late Godfrey Cobblah, a senior officer of the Internal Revenue Service, in 2005, has himself been shot dead.
Mallam Yahaya, the deceased, was shot dead on Wednesday as he advanced towards an unarmed policeman after he (Yahaya) had been ordered to drop a knife he had pulled on a chief at Mamprobi.
Yahaya, a known land guard, allegedly killed the late Cobblah, then a senior administrator of the IRS at Achiaman, near Amasaman, on Boxing Day in 2005 when the officer, who was also an international boxing referee/judge, had gone to inspect some parcels of land purchased by the IRS for its staff.
The suspect was said to have absconded to Smere, a town in Benin, after murdering Cobblah, after which the Ghana Police Service declared him wanted and placed a GH¢2,000 bounty on his head.
A combined team of security operatives from Ghana, Togo and Benin tried several times to apprehend Yahaya as he shuttled from one country to another to avoid arrest.
Briefing the Daily Graphic on last Wednesday’s incident in which Yahaya was killed, the Director of Public Affairs of the Ghana Police Service, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Kwasi Ofori, said the police received a call that the life of a chief at Mamprobi, identified as Nii Ashun Gyekye, was in danger as someone had entered his house and pulled a knife on him, threatening to kill him.
He said the caller also indicated that the deceased was demanding GH¢10,000 from the chief or he would kill him.
He said Yahaya had earlier, through such threats, collected GH¢4,000 from the chief.
DSP Ofori said on reaching the scene, the police ordered Yahaya to drop the knife but he refused and rather turned towards an unarmed policeman with the knife.
He said the heavily built Yahaya was about to pounce on the policeman when another armed police man shot him.
It would be recalled that on December 26, 2005, Cobblah was murdered in cold blood at the site of the land purchased by workers of the IRS, following which Yahaya was declared wanted as the suspected murderer.
Register all SIM card subscribers by Xmas *National Security's ultimatum to mobile phone service providers
Front Page: Daily Graphic, November 20, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
MOBILE phone service providers in the country have been given up to Christmas to comply with a National Communications Authority (NCA) directive which requires them to initiate the process of registering all new SIM card subscribers.
Making its intervention in Accra yesterday, the National Security Council Secretariat said the delay by the mobile phone operators to register their SIM card holders was facilitating the rate at which criminals used mobile phones to threaten citizens and commit other crimes, after which the SIM cards were discarded.
Although the mobile phone operators are asking for more time due to resource constraints, the Security Council Secretariat and the NCA believe the operators are delaying unduly.
The Head of Public Information at the secretariat, Mrs Jackie Annan, confirmed to the Daily Graphic that the delay in the registration of the SIM cards was disturbing.
She referred to a May 5, 2009 Daily Graphic publication in which the operators were directed to speed up the process of registering the SIM cards to help identify customers.
The National Security Co-ordinator, Lt Col Larry Gbevlo-Lartey, also expressed concern over the fact that criminals often intensified their activities bordering on kidnapping, Sakawa and advanced fee fraud when Christmas was approaching.
According to him, with the success the police had chalked up in combating violent crime, the security agencies needed to deal with technological crime, noting that it was only when SIM cards were registered that the owners or users could be appropriately identified to facilitate investigations.
He said it was unacceptable in these times for anyone to be able to buy a sim card off the street which could not be traced to a specific person, whereas in other countries that was not the situation.
He said the registration of sim cards would enable the security agencies to identify those who used the technology to commit crime.
Lt Col Gbevlo-Lartey said security was a need-driven effort which warranted a continuing analysis of the security situation, as well as the predisposition of existing institutions to handle any emerging security threats.
“Our analysis of these emerging developments will dictate the required responses and that is why we expect the operators to initiate the process by Christmas,” he added.
He observed that kidnapping had become a real threat all over the West African sub-region and said Ghana was positioned to address the challenges, especially with the discovery of oil and its attendant businesses.
The security co-ordinator said the mobile phone operators were being asked to start the registration of SIM cards with the issuance of new ones, while they initiated programmes to register existing customers over a period of time.
He said a public education exercise would be mounted for members of the public, particularly those already using SIM cards, to appreciate the importance of the exercise.
The Head of the Legal Directorate of the NCA, Mrs Abena Asafu Adjei, said although there was no specific regulation compelling mobile phone operators to register SIM cards, the general mandate of the NCA, which required it to protect the public interest, was enough grounds to issue directives to the mobile phone operators.
She, however, said discussions had been held with the Attorney-General’s Department for the processes of passing specific legislation regarding the registration of SIM cards, stressing that it was done all over the world.
Story: Albert K. Salia
MOBILE phone service providers in the country have been given up to Christmas to comply with a National Communications Authority (NCA) directive which requires them to initiate the process of registering all new SIM card subscribers.
Making its intervention in Accra yesterday, the National Security Council Secretariat said the delay by the mobile phone operators to register their SIM card holders was facilitating the rate at which criminals used mobile phones to threaten citizens and commit other crimes, after which the SIM cards were discarded.
Although the mobile phone operators are asking for more time due to resource constraints, the Security Council Secretariat and the NCA believe the operators are delaying unduly.
The Head of Public Information at the secretariat, Mrs Jackie Annan, confirmed to the Daily Graphic that the delay in the registration of the SIM cards was disturbing.
She referred to a May 5, 2009 Daily Graphic publication in which the operators were directed to speed up the process of registering the SIM cards to help identify customers.
The National Security Co-ordinator, Lt Col Larry Gbevlo-Lartey, also expressed concern over the fact that criminals often intensified their activities bordering on kidnapping, Sakawa and advanced fee fraud when Christmas was approaching.
According to him, with the success the police had chalked up in combating violent crime, the security agencies needed to deal with technological crime, noting that it was only when SIM cards were registered that the owners or users could be appropriately identified to facilitate investigations.
He said it was unacceptable in these times for anyone to be able to buy a sim card off the street which could not be traced to a specific person, whereas in other countries that was not the situation.
He said the registration of sim cards would enable the security agencies to identify those who used the technology to commit crime.
Lt Col Gbevlo-Lartey said security was a need-driven effort which warranted a continuing analysis of the security situation, as well as the predisposition of existing institutions to handle any emerging security threats.
“Our analysis of these emerging developments will dictate the required responses and that is why we expect the operators to initiate the process by Christmas,” he added.
He observed that kidnapping had become a real threat all over the West African sub-region and said Ghana was positioned to address the challenges, especially with the discovery of oil and its attendant businesses.
The security co-ordinator said the mobile phone operators were being asked to start the registration of SIM cards with the issuance of new ones, while they initiated programmes to register existing customers over a period of time.
He said a public education exercise would be mounted for members of the public, particularly those already using SIM cards, to appreciate the importance of the exercise.
The Head of the Legal Directorate of the NCA, Mrs Abena Asafu Adjei, said although there was no specific regulation compelling mobile phone operators to register SIM cards, the general mandate of the NCA, which required it to protect the public interest, was enough grounds to issue directives to the mobile phone operators.
She, however, said discussions had been held with the Attorney-General’s Department for the processes of passing specific legislation regarding the registration of SIM cards, stressing that it was done all over the world.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
The fight against armed robbery ... so far, so ....
Page 34: Daily Graphic, November 19, 2009.
By Albert K. Salia
IN an article in the May 19, 2009 issue of the Daily Graphic, the writer raised pertinent issues that were confronting the Ghana Police Service. The writer indicated that for the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Paul Tawiah Quaye, to succeed, those issues, some of which bordered on professionalism, ethics, right leadership, motivation and patronage, needed to be addressed.
It was also suggested that a Crime Intelligence Unit be established within the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service to source intelligence on crime and criminality to enhance proactive policing.
The IGP was also reminded of the fact that he could not afford to disappoint the President and the personnel of the Service who see him as someone to turn around the fortunes of the service.
Almost six months on assumption of office, the IGP has so far proved that he is a man of deeds, whose paramount objective is to provide leadership to the rest of the personnel.
The successes of the Ghana Police Service in fighting violent crime, particularly armed robbery in the last few months, is very heart-warming. Gradually, the lingering fear and the sense of insecurity among the populace as a result of the prevalence of armed robbery and other forms of criminality is giving way.
What is particularly heart-warming to some of us has been the ability of the police to arrest some of the perpetrators of those violent crimes even after the offences had been committed. The police have also been able to identify suspected robbers arrested as belonging to the same gangs involved in past undetected crimes. It should be noted that because past robberies and other crimes went undetected, it gave the perpetrators a false sense of security and courage to continue their activities with impunity. With the police going back to old files to trail criminals, it should send signals that they can run but for how long?
The police have also been able to closely monitor some of those robberies right from their planning stages up to the points of commission, resulting in the Accra Regional Police Command alone successfully busting more than 60 armed robberies by between June and September, this year, while 10 attempted robberies were foiled. More than 100 suspects have also been arrested.
Besides, the police have so far been able to identify a particular brand of cars as the most preferred for the commission of violent crimes. Most often, either the robbers dispossess you of such a vehicle or they use their own, which had been acquired for such purposes.
All these indicate that the security agencies are conducting intelligence-based mission-oriented operations to clamp down on identified criminal gangs.
Maybe, a rundown of some of the successes will suffice. After terrorising residents of Dzorwulu and Abelenkpe, during which a gym instructor, Daniel Owusu Sekyere was killed, the suspected robbers, Kwabena Buadi, Bright Agyei, alias Kudwo, William Dorglo, Francis Bediako, Danlad Ibrahim, among others, were arrested. A bunch of other robbers, whose speciality was to trail persons arriving at the Kotoka International Airport to their houses before robbing them have also been arrested.
The operations of another robbery group, including suspects Ebenezer Obese, Napoleon Gomez and Obuor, which had been attacking filling stations since 2008, was brought to an end on August 22, 2009 when they were arrested. The arrest of suspect Kwabena Takyi, who is alleged to be part of the gang that killed Chief Inspector Nyame in Kumasi, was also arrested while on his way to rob a prominent footballer at Kakasunanka.
A number of weapons, including pistols, pump action guns, machetes, knives, clubs and ammunition, cars, motorcycles, talisman, mobile phones and laptops were retrieved from the suspects. Certainly, the police deserve commendation and thumbs up.
One could feel a sense of satisfaction and happiness on the faces of the IGP, Mr Paul Quaye, and his top officials during a press conference to announce the successes chalked up by the police in dealing with violent crime.
It shows that given the requisite logistical support and motivation, the police can deliver to make Ghana more peaceful and safe. That would require more governmental support. The presidential backing to support the police to deliver is certainly working out for all Ghanaians. As Mr Quaye said at the press conference, sometimes it is not always monetary incentives that provides motivation, but a handshake, a certificate and an assurance that your leaders are behind you is encouraging enough for personnel to work even harder. That is true, Mr IGP, I also hope that the Police Administration, apart from dealing with all outstanding promotion issues, the personnel who have so far proved their might in making Ghanaians enjoy the present peace be also promoted, even if it is just a step above their present ranks. At least, that would also cushion their salary levels.
While commending the police for the successes so far, the Police Administration needs to seriously look within its fold to address some lapses, which might negate all the achievements. The lapses include shoddy investigations, which might result in known or self-confessed armed robbers being set free by courts. Although the courts have been accused of acquiting and discharging suspects, a close study of the case would indicate that the investigators did not do their work well.
Furthermore, the leadership of the police at all levels must exercise proper supervision of their subordinates to ensure that at every point of investigation or in pursuit of any operation, the superiors are well-informed and provided the necessary guidance. At least, at the Accra Regional Police Command, a lance corporal was interdicted for granting police enquiry bail to a suspected armed robber, without the knowledge of the superiors. There have also been instances where investigators fail to renew remand warrants of suspects, resulting in the suspects lawyers securing bail for them at the courts.
After all, of what benefit is it to the public and the police, if after risking their lives day and night to deal with miscreants in society, the suspects are unleashed back into society for want of prosecution?
While appreciating whatever support the Government has provided the police, it could still do more in the area of providing more than enough bullet-proof vests for the Ghana Police Service. More durable vehicles are also needed, as well as communication gadgets for the police. Sometimes, the delay in responding to distress calls is because a patrol team could be far off from the area of crime, while those close to the area do not have a vehicle to move immediately.
The Government must be particularly commended for supporting the Police Service with financial incentive, which is being used to motivate citizens, that is, the informant reward system to provide valuable pieces of information and clues towards crime detection. All the agencies and personalities, right from the Presidency, the National Security Council Secretariat and civil society organisations to the ordinary man in the street, deserve commendation. They have played their part well so far in terms of support, strategy, operations, tactics and co-operation.
Members of the public and organisations must also come in one way or the other to support the police in their respective communities. The public and the organisations appreciate the challenges confronting the police in their localities and must rise up to the task of supporting them. However, the donors should not hide behind such assistance for perpetrating crime or abusing the laws of the land, thinking that the police would look the other way.
As the Daily Graphic noted in its editorial, “The task of attaining and securing a safer and sounder society with the minimum level of threat to lives and property is a collective one, and it behoves all of us to work together to rout these social misfits.”
By Albert K. Salia
IN an article in the May 19, 2009 issue of the Daily Graphic, the writer raised pertinent issues that were confronting the Ghana Police Service. The writer indicated that for the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Paul Tawiah Quaye, to succeed, those issues, some of which bordered on professionalism, ethics, right leadership, motivation and patronage, needed to be addressed.
It was also suggested that a Crime Intelligence Unit be established within the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service to source intelligence on crime and criminality to enhance proactive policing.
The IGP was also reminded of the fact that he could not afford to disappoint the President and the personnel of the Service who see him as someone to turn around the fortunes of the service.
Almost six months on assumption of office, the IGP has so far proved that he is a man of deeds, whose paramount objective is to provide leadership to the rest of the personnel.
The successes of the Ghana Police Service in fighting violent crime, particularly armed robbery in the last few months, is very heart-warming. Gradually, the lingering fear and the sense of insecurity among the populace as a result of the prevalence of armed robbery and other forms of criminality is giving way.
What is particularly heart-warming to some of us has been the ability of the police to arrest some of the perpetrators of those violent crimes even after the offences had been committed. The police have also been able to identify suspected robbers arrested as belonging to the same gangs involved in past undetected crimes. It should be noted that because past robberies and other crimes went undetected, it gave the perpetrators a false sense of security and courage to continue their activities with impunity. With the police going back to old files to trail criminals, it should send signals that they can run but for how long?
The police have also been able to closely monitor some of those robberies right from their planning stages up to the points of commission, resulting in the Accra Regional Police Command alone successfully busting more than 60 armed robberies by between June and September, this year, while 10 attempted robberies were foiled. More than 100 suspects have also been arrested.
Besides, the police have so far been able to identify a particular brand of cars as the most preferred for the commission of violent crimes. Most often, either the robbers dispossess you of such a vehicle or they use their own, which had been acquired for such purposes.
All these indicate that the security agencies are conducting intelligence-based mission-oriented operations to clamp down on identified criminal gangs.
Maybe, a rundown of some of the successes will suffice. After terrorising residents of Dzorwulu and Abelenkpe, during which a gym instructor, Daniel Owusu Sekyere was killed, the suspected robbers, Kwabena Buadi, Bright Agyei, alias Kudwo, William Dorglo, Francis Bediako, Danlad Ibrahim, among others, were arrested. A bunch of other robbers, whose speciality was to trail persons arriving at the Kotoka International Airport to their houses before robbing them have also been arrested.
The operations of another robbery group, including suspects Ebenezer Obese, Napoleon Gomez and Obuor, which had been attacking filling stations since 2008, was brought to an end on August 22, 2009 when they were arrested. The arrest of suspect Kwabena Takyi, who is alleged to be part of the gang that killed Chief Inspector Nyame in Kumasi, was also arrested while on his way to rob a prominent footballer at Kakasunanka.
A number of weapons, including pistols, pump action guns, machetes, knives, clubs and ammunition, cars, motorcycles, talisman, mobile phones and laptops were retrieved from the suspects. Certainly, the police deserve commendation and thumbs up.
One could feel a sense of satisfaction and happiness on the faces of the IGP, Mr Paul Quaye, and his top officials during a press conference to announce the successes chalked up by the police in dealing with violent crime.
It shows that given the requisite logistical support and motivation, the police can deliver to make Ghana more peaceful and safe. That would require more governmental support. The presidential backing to support the police to deliver is certainly working out for all Ghanaians. As Mr Quaye said at the press conference, sometimes it is not always monetary incentives that provides motivation, but a handshake, a certificate and an assurance that your leaders are behind you is encouraging enough for personnel to work even harder. That is true, Mr IGP, I also hope that the Police Administration, apart from dealing with all outstanding promotion issues, the personnel who have so far proved their might in making Ghanaians enjoy the present peace be also promoted, even if it is just a step above their present ranks. At least, that would also cushion their salary levels.
While commending the police for the successes so far, the Police Administration needs to seriously look within its fold to address some lapses, which might negate all the achievements. The lapses include shoddy investigations, which might result in known or self-confessed armed robbers being set free by courts. Although the courts have been accused of acquiting and discharging suspects, a close study of the case would indicate that the investigators did not do their work well.
Furthermore, the leadership of the police at all levels must exercise proper supervision of their subordinates to ensure that at every point of investigation or in pursuit of any operation, the superiors are well-informed and provided the necessary guidance. At least, at the Accra Regional Police Command, a lance corporal was interdicted for granting police enquiry bail to a suspected armed robber, without the knowledge of the superiors. There have also been instances where investigators fail to renew remand warrants of suspects, resulting in the suspects lawyers securing bail for them at the courts.
After all, of what benefit is it to the public and the police, if after risking their lives day and night to deal with miscreants in society, the suspects are unleashed back into society for want of prosecution?
While appreciating whatever support the Government has provided the police, it could still do more in the area of providing more than enough bullet-proof vests for the Ghana Police Service. More durable vehicles are also needed, as well as communication gadgets for the police. Sometimes, the delay in responding to distress calls is because a patrol team could be far off from the area of crime, while those close to the area do not have a vehicle to move immediately.
The Government must be particularly commended for supporting the Police Service with financial incentive, which is being used to motivate citizens, that is, the informant reward system to provide valuable pieces of information and clues towards crime detection. All the agencies and personalities, right from the Presidency, the National Security Council Secretariat and civil society organisations to the ordinary man in the street, deserve commendation. They have played their part well so far in terms of support, strategy, operations, tactics and co-operation.
Members of the public and organisations must also come in one way or the other to support the police in their respective communities. The public and the organisations appreciate the challenges confronting the police in their localities and must rise up to the task of supporting them. However, the donors should not hide behind such assistance for perpetrating crime or abusing the laws of the land, thinking that the police would look the other way.
As the Daily Graphic noted in its editorial, “The task of attaining and securing a safer and sounder society with the minimum level of threat to lives and property is a collective one, and it behoves all of us to work together to rout these social misfits.”
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Cop held over robbery
Page 31: Daily Graphic, November 18, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
A POLICE Lance Corporal with the Tema Community One police has been arrested for his alleged involvement in robbery-related activities within the Tema Metropolis and the Volta Region.
The suspect, Delali Osae, who is currently on interdiction and in custody pending prosecution, was arrested as part of an ongoing special in-house cleaning by the Police Administration.
Since the beginning of the year, 38 police personnel have been dismissed while 34 are currently on interdiction for various acts of indiscipline, including misconduct, extortion, bribery and other offences.
Disclosing the arrest and interdiction of Osae to the Daily Graphic, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Paul Tawiah Quaye, said preliminary investigations had revealed that Osae had partnered a robbery gang in a number of robbery escapes.
He said some robbery suspects arrested by the police had identified Osae as one of their accomplices.
He renewed his pledge to weed out all miscreants in the service to ensure that only decent, patriotic and committed personnel remained in the service.
“I will like to assure members of the public that the Police Administration will not shield or provide a cover-up for any wrong-doers. Such characters will be exposed and dealt with according to law,” he said.
Story: Albert K. Salia
A POLICE Lance Corporal with the Tema Community One police has been arrested for his alleged involvement in robbery-related activities within the Tema Metropolis and the Volta Region.
The suspect, Delali Osae, who is currently on interdiction and in custody pending prosecution, was arrested as part of an ongoing special in-house cleaning by the Police Administration.
Since the beginning of the year, 38 police personnel have been dismissed while 34 are currently on interdiction for various acts of indiscipline, including misconduct, extortion, bribery and other offences.
Disclosing the arrest and interdiction of Osae to the Daily Graphic, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Paul Tawiah Quaye, said preliminary investigations had revealed that Osae had partnered a robbery gang in a number of robbery escapes.
He said some robbery suspects arrested by the police had identified Osae as one of their accomplices.
He renewed his pledge to weed out all miscreants in the service to ensure that only decent, patriotic and committed personnel remained in the service.
“I will like to assure members of the public that the Police Administration will not shield or provide a cover-up for any wrong-doers. Such characters will be exposed and dealt with according to law,” he said.
Monday, November 16, 2009
CHRAJ, Police in blame game * Over granting of bail to robbery suspects
Page 24: Daily Graphic, November 17, 2009.
Story: Caroline Boateng & Albert K. Salia
THE criminal records of three suspected armed robbers among the four who were killed in a shoot-out with the police in Kumasi last Friday have stoked the debate over the granting of bail to suspects in cases of violent crime.
While the police are expressing frustration at the development, a Deputy Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Mr Richard Quayson, says the granting of bail to crime suspects by the courts is due to the lack of thorough investigations by the police.
Reacting to the frustrations expressed by the police, Mr Quayson said the police were sometimes too quick to arrest on mere suspicion or allegation.
Three of four armed robbery suspects who were killed in last Friday’s shoot-out with the police were identified with their past records as being repeated offenders.
Two were ex-convicts and one was on bail for armed robbery.
That, the police explained, was the result of the courts granting bail to suspected criminals, a development which the police had no control over.
Elaborating further, the Director of Public Affairs of the Ghana Police Service, DSP Samuel Kwasi Ofori, described as baseless and unwarranted any suggestion that the police had not been thorough in their investigations.
He explained that because the police needed evidence or facts which could stand in court, they undertook painstaking investigations, including getting witnesses to testify in court.
“We do not engage in kangaroo investigations, since we are aware that one will need facts to successfully make a case in court. Anything short of that will not stand in court,” he said.
DSP Ofori reminded critics of the police about the scientific process the police went through in gathering evidence, including the use of the Crime Scene Management Team to gather as much evidence as possible.
He said due to some of the challenges the police encountered in gathering evidence, they had, on numerous occasions, warned members of the public to stay away from crime scenes so that they would not tamper with evidence.
According to him, the police were mindful of the democratic structures in place and would, therefore, not do anything to abuse the rights of any citizen.
DSP Ofori said the granting of bail to suspects was the preserve of the courts and that each time the police did not have evidence immediately available, they pleaded for the suspects to be remanded, but if the courts thought otherwise, “we cannot do anything”.
He said the police did not manufacture evidence.
“If we fall short, we tell the court,” he said, stressing that “even when suspects have been granted bail or acquitted and discharged, we continue with our investigations”.
DSP Ofori said as and when new facts emerged, anyone culpable was arrested and new charges drafted and the suspect charged.
He said it was to forestall any problems that a committee, under the auspices of the Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Georgina Wood, had been set up to streamline criminal cases before the courts.
He said the committee had been working tirelessly to ensure harmony in the work of the police, the Attorney-General’s Department and the Judiciary.
According to him, as part of reforms initiated by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Paul Quaye, police lawyers were now heading the Prosecutions Units of the various regional police commands, with the exception of the Upper East, Upper West and Volta regions.
He said the appointment of lawyers to head the prosecution units in the regions and also at the CID Headquarters was to enable the lawyers to lead prosecutions, serve as advisors on criminal, civil and administrative matters, as well as liaise with the Attorney-General’s representatives in the regions.
Mr Quayson, however, argued that the presumption of innocence until a suspect was proven guilty was a universal right and all suspects had a right to that.
However, the inability of the police to thoroughly investigate a matter before arresting meant a lawyer could argue his case before a judge for bail to be granted to the suspect, he noted.
He said when a crime occurred, the police had to thoroughly investigate it and bring out unquestionable evidence in court that would lead to the smooth prosecution of suspects.
For that to be achieved, the government needed to strengthen the police with more people and resources, Mr Quayson added.
He said despite the fact that most Ghanaians condoned the killing of robbers, fundamental human rights demanded that any processes leading to the arrest of suspected criminals were undertaken in a humane manner.
“This is particularly so when the public can sometimes be caught in a crossfire between the police and suspected criminals,” he added.
Story: Caroline Boateng & Albert K. Salia
THE criminal records of three suspected armed robbers among the four who were killed in a shoot-out with the police in Kumasi last Friday have stoked the debate over the granting of bail to suspects in cases of violent crime.
While the police are expressing frustration at the development, a Deputy Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Mr Richard Quayson, says the granting of bail to crime suspects by the courts is due to the lack of thorough investigations by the police.
Reacting to the frustrations expressed by the police, Mr Quayson said the police were sometimes too quick to arrest on mere suspicion or allegation.
Three of four armed robbery suspects who were killed in last Friday’s shoot-out with the police were identified with their past records as being repeated offenders.
Two were ex-convicts and one was on bail for armed robbery.
That, the police explained, was the result of the courts granting bail to suspected criminals, a development which the police had no control over.
Elaborating further, the Director of Public Affairs of the Ghana Police Service, DSP Samuel Kwasi Ofori, described as baseless and unwarranted any suggestion that the police had not been thorough in their investigations.
He explained that because the police needed evidence or facts which could stand in court, they undertook painstaking investigations, including getting witnesses to testify in court.
“We do not engage in kangaroo investigations, since we are aware that one will need facts to successfully make a case in court. Anything short of that will not stand in court,” he said.
DSP Ofori reminded critics of the police about the scientific process the police went through in gathering evidence, including the use of the Crime Scene Management Team to gather as much evidence as possible.
He said due to some of the challenges the police encountered in gathering evidence, they had, on numerous occasions, warned members of the public to stay away from crime scenes so that they would not tamper with evidence.
According to him, the police were mindful of the democratic structures in place and would, therefore, not do anything to abuse the rights of any citizen.
DSP Ofori said the granting of bail to suspects was the preserve of the courts and that each time the police did not have evidence immediately available, they pleaded for the suspects to be remanded, but if the courts thought otherwise, “we cannot do anything”.
He said the police did not manufacture evidence.
“If we fall short, we tell the court,” he said, stressing that “even when suspects have been granted bail or acquitted and discharged, we continue with our investigations”.
DSP Ofori said as and when new facts emerged, anyone culpable was arrested and new charges drafted and the suspect charged.
He said it was to forestall any problems that a committee, under the auspices of the Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Georgina Wood, had been set up to streamline criminal cases before the courts.
He said the committee had been working tirelessly to ensure harmony in the work of the police, the Attorney-General’s Department and the Judiciary.
According to him, as part of reforms initiated by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Paul Quaye, police lawyers were now heading the Prosecutions Units of the various regional police commands, with the exception of the Upper East, Upper West and Volta regions.
He said the appointment of lawyers to head the prosecution units in the regions and also at the CID Headquarters was to enable the lawyers to lead prosecutions, serve as advisors on criminal, civil and administrative matters, as well as liaise with the Attorney-General’s representatives in the regions.
Mr Quayson, however, argued that the presumption of innocence until a suspect was proven guilty was a universal right and all suspects had a right to that.
However, the inability of the police to thoroughly investigate a matter before arresting meant a lawyer could argue his case before a judge for bail to be granted to the suspect, he noted.
He said when a crime occurred, the police had to thoroughly investigate it and bring out unquestionable evidence in court that would lead to the smooth prosecution of suspects.
For that to be achieved, the government needed to strengthen the police with more people and resources, Mr Quayson added.
He said despite the fact that most Ghanaians condoned the killing of robbers, fundamental human rights demanded that any processes leading to the arrest of suspected criminals were undertaken in a humane manner.
“This is particularly so when the public can sometimes be caught in a crossfire between the police and suspected criminals,” he added.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Three LOC officials cited for theft
Pages 24/25: Daily Graphic, November 13, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THREE persons, including the former Chief Executive of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the Africa Nations Hockey Championship in Ghana, Mr Magnus Rex Danquah, have been cited by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) for allegedly attempting to steal GH¢72,141.50 belonging to the state.
The other suspects are Mr Herbert Prebi, a Principal Auditor at the Audit Service, and one Ebenezer Lomotey.
Deferring his comments on the SFO’s findings till later, Mr Danquah said he would prefer to wait till a committee which was auditing the LOC’s accounts finished its work before making any statement on the issue.
According to the SFO, its investigations had revealed that after the completion of the July 2009 hockey tournament, which Ghana hosted, some amount of money was left in the LOC’s account at the Bank of Ghana which Messrs Lomotey and Danquah decided to withdraw for their personal use.
It said Mr Prebi, who was seconded to the Ghana Education Service, was contacted to find a company to assist in withdrawing the money.
The SFO findings indicated that Mr Prebi, on agreeing to assist in withdrawing the money, renewed an enterprise registration of his company, IBERP Enterprise, which, until then, had become dormant.
It said an account was then opened at the Makola branch of the International Commercial Bank (ICB), with number 10260259504, in the name of IBERP Enterprise.
It noted that the plot was to fake supplies of furniture and other office equipment and five cheques were issued to cover a range of items on five vouchers and sent to one Mr Jones Ocloo for verification and processing, after Mr Danquah had authorised the "ghost" transaction.
According to the SFO, the cheques were then lodged into the account of IBERP Enterprise at the ICB.
“Messrs Danquah, Lomotey, Ocloo and Prebi then met in Mr Lomotey's office at the Ministry of Youth and Sports to decide on a formula for sharing the booty,” it noted.
It alleged that at the said meeting, the parties adopted a formula to distribute the net amount of GH¢72,141.50, with Mr Danquah due to take GH¢25,000; Mr Lomotey, GH¢10,000; Mr Jones Ocloo, GH¢10,000; Mr Prebi, GH¢10,000, while GH¢10,000 was set aside for Mr Lomotey, the external auditor.
It said fake VAT returns of GH¢7.141.50 was paid to Mr Prebi, bringing the total sum to GH¢72,141.50.
The investigators indicated that the cheques for withdrawing the money were not issued in bulk to any of the conspirators.
Instead, Mr Prebi allegedly issued between three to four cheques to each of the conspirators and post-dated them to be cashed as and when they were due.
It said when investigations started, GH¢3,200 withdrawals had been made, of which Mr Lomotey took GH¢2,000 and Prebi GH¢1,200.
It said Mr Prebi had also cashed GH¢700 and withdrawn GH¢8,350 and sent to Mr Danquah through Lomotey.
The SFO said the suspects were made to refund the amounts they had withdrawn from the account so far, including the tax component deducted in favour of IBERP Enterprise.
“An amount of GH¢15,928 was retrieved and paid into the LOC 2009 Hockey Account, while the balance stands frozen in the ICB account belonging to IBERP Enterprise,” it said.
The Executive Director of the SFO, Mr Biadela Mortey Akpadzi, confirmed to the Daily Graphic the submission of such findings to the Ministry of Justice and Attorney-General but declined further comment on the issue.
“I suggest you wait until we go to court when all the facts and all that you need to know will be put before the court,” he said.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THREE persons, including the former Chief Executive of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the Africa Nations Hockey Championship in Ghana, Mr Magnus Rex Danquah, have been cited by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) for allegedly attempting to steal GH¢72,141.50 belonging to the state.
The other suspects are Mr Herbert Prebi, a Principal Auditor at the Audit Service, and one Ebenezer Lomotey.
Deferring his comments on the SFO’s findings till later, Mr Danquah said he would prefer to wait till a committee which was auditing the LOC’s accounts finished its work before making any statement on the issue.
According to the SFO, its investigations had revealed that after the completion of the July 2009 hockey tournament, which Ghana hosted, some amount of money was left in the LOC’s account at the Bank of Ghana which Messrs Lomotey and Danquah decided to withdraw for their personal use.
It said Mr Prebi, who was seconded to the Ghana Education Service, was contacted to find a company to assist in withdrawing the money.
The SFO findings indicated that Mr Prebi, on agreeing to assist in withdrawing the money, renewed an enterprise registration of his company, IBERP Enterprise, which, until then, had become dormant.
It said an account was then opened at the Makola branch of the International Commercial Bank (ICB), with number 10260259504, in the name of IBERP Enterprise.
It noted that the plot was to fake supplies of furniture and other office equipment and five cheques were issued to cover a range of items on five vouchers and sent to one Mr Jones Ocloo for verification and processing, after Mr Danquah had authorised the "ghost" transaction.
According to the SFO, the cheques were then lodged into the account of IBERP Enterprise at the ICB.
“Messrs Danquah, Lomotey, Ocloo and Prebi then met in Mr Lomotey's office at the Ministry of Youth and Sports to decide on a formula for sharing the booty,” it noted.
It alleged that at the said meeting, the parties adopted a formula to distribute the net amount of GH¢72,141.50, with Mr Danquah due to take GH¢25,000; Mr Lomotey, GH¢10,000; Mr Jones Ocloo, GH¢10,000; Mr Prebi, GH¢10,000, while GH¢10,000 was set aside for Mr Lomotey, the external auditor.
It said fake VAT returns of GH¢7.141.50 was paid to Mr Prebi, bringing the total sum to GH¢72,141.50.
The investigators indicated that the cheques for withdrawing the money were not issued in bulk to any of the conspirators.
Instead, Mr Prebi allegedly issued between three to four cheques to each of the conspirators and post-dated them to be cashed as and when they were due.
It said when investigations started, GH¢3,200 withdrawals had been made, of which Mr Lomotey took GH¢2,000 and Prebi GH¢1,200.
It said Mr Prebi had also cashed GH¢700 and withdrawn GH¢8,350 and sent to Mr Danquah through Lomotey.
The SFO said the suspects were made to refund the amounts they had withdrawn from the account so far, including the tax component deducted in favour of IBERP Enterprise.
“An amount of GH¢15,928 was retrieved and paid into the LOC 2009 Hockey Account, while the balance stands frozen in the ICB account belonging to IBERP Enterprise,” it said.
The Executive Director of the SFO, Mr Biadela Mortey Akpadzi, confirmed to the Daily Graphic the submission of such findings to the Ministry of Justice and Attorney-General but declined further comment on the issue.
“I suggest you wait until we go to court when all the facts and all that you need to know will be put before the court,” he said.
SFO indicts Quashigah, two others
Pages 24/25: Daily Graphic, November 13, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has indicted Major Courage Quashigah (retd), the Minister of Health under the Kufuor administration, and two other officials of the ministry for impropriety in the award and execution of a GH¢1.2 million preventive maintenance contract.
According to the SFO, although an amount of GH¢646,000 was released as advance mobilisation fee to enable the contractor to undertake the planned periodic maintenance of all 52 health training institutions under the ministry, its investigations to ascertain the scope of work done at all the facilities showed that no work had been done in most of them.
It was also found that besides the fraudulent award of the contract, all the five companies which won the bids were found to be under the control of the same person.
Major Quashigah and the two officials, Mr Peter Azumah, the acting Director of Administration, and the Estate Officer, have been granted bail awaiting prosecution.
The Executive Director of the SFO, Mr Biadela Mortey Akpadzi, and his two deputies, Messrs Charles Nii Akrong (Operations) and Justice A.Y. Tsar (Research and Monitoring), confirmed to the Daily Graphic yesterday that the SFO had undertaken a number of investigations into other public sector institutions and not the Ministry of Health alone.
They said other public officials had also been indicted in various financial scandals, with the MoH findings being a ‘minor’ one.
Mr Akpadzi was emphatic that those investigations had been ongoing for some time now and had not been initiated recently.
He explained that because the work of the SFO was done on the quiet, it often came into public domain after the office had submitted its report to its supervising ministry, the Ministry of Justice.
Other investigations conducted by the SFO and cited by the Daily Graphic indicated that it had also looked into the issue of unauthorised payments to the former Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), Mr Robert Ahomka-Lindsay.
The documents explained that following a petition by the acting CEO of the GIPC in September 2009, the SFO investigated the allegations against Mr Ahomka-Lindsay.
It was revealed that in March 2008 the GIPC paid $8,138 as the cost of air tickets for Mr Ahomka-Lindsay’s wife and his children during an investment promotion mission to the UAE, India and China, although the wife and the children were not part of the official delegation.
Further investigations revealed that in February 2008 Mrs Ahomka-Lindsay had booked and paid for Economy Class tickets for herself and two of her children in preparation for the trip but the tickets were later upgraded to First Class and re-issued to tally with Mr Ahomka-Lindsay’s schedule at his instance and paid for by GIPC.
It was also established by the SFO that in 2008 an amount of US$100,000 was paid to Mr Ahomka-Lindsay as salary advance pending the formalisation of a consultancy contract with the Presidency.
With regard to the US$100,000 salary advance paid to Mr Ahomka-Lindsay, investigations revealed that the GIPC board, at its 57th meeting, approved of the amount to him with the intention that the CEO would refund funds received under the Public Services Commission but they were not refunded.
With regard to MASLOC, the SFO said the investigations focused primarily on the loans granted to MDAs and micro financing institutions (MFIs) through irregular means.
It said the aim principally was to salvage the scheme from virtual collapse, in the light of the ineptitude of MASLOC officials and the participating banks in making recoveries from beneficiaries.
It said it was established that disbursement to MDAs made in 2008 exceeded the threshold, without proper approval, and included disbursements of GH¢200,000 to the SEN's programme, GH¢2,445,380 to the NYEP ICT training programme by ROAGRAM Link Ltd, GH¢735,250 to RUMSEC in respect of the Presidential Special Initiatives and GH¢2,000,000 to Messrs Plant Pool Gh Ltd/GPRTU).
The report on it mentioned the former CEO of MASLOC, Mr Lawrence Prempeh, and Mrs Amina Montia, the Head of Administration, as approving those transactions, in violation of established procedures.
It said Mrs Montia was currently on interdiction and put on caution bail.
The SFO has, however, been able to recover GH¢1,408,500, being recoveries of GH¢800,000 from the NYEP ICT programme, GH¢439,000 from the PSIIRUMSEC programme, GH¢100,000 from Plant Pool Ghana Ltd and GH¢69,500 being the full payment, including interest and penalty, to the Asontaba Cottage Industry.
According to the SFO, investigations into the transfer of some amounts into the personal accounts of some officers of MASLOC from a GH¢2 million Japanese grant meant to be disbursed to support flood victims in the three Northern Regions were ongoing.
It said the officers had been interdicted and put on bail as well.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has indicted Major Courage Quashigah (retd), the Minister of Health under the Kufuor administration, and two other officials of the ministry for impropriety in the award and execution of a GH¢1.2 million preventive maintenance contract.
According to the SFO, although an amount of GH¢646,000 was released as advance mobilisation fee to enable the contractor to undertake the planned periodic maintenance of all 52 health training institutions under the ministry, its investigations to ascertain the scope of work done at all the facilities showed that no work had been done in most of them.
It was also found that besides the fraudulent award of the contract, all the five companies which won the bids were found to be under the control of the same person.
Major Quashigah and the two officials, Mr Peter Azumah, the acting Director of Administration, and the Estate Officer, have been granted bail awaiting prosecution.
The Executive Director of the SFO, Mr Biadela Mortey Akpadzi, and his two deputies, Messrs Charles Nii Akrong (Operations) and Justice A.Y. Tsar (Research and Monitoring), confirmed to the Daily Graphic yesterday that the SFO had undertaken a number of investigations into other public sector institutions and not the Ministry of Health alone.
They said other public officials had also been indicted in various financial scandals, with the MoH findings being a ‘minor’ one.
Mr Akpadzi was emphatic that those investigations had been ongoing for some time now and had not been initiated recently.
He explained that because the work of the SFO was done on the quiet, it often came into public domain after the office had submitted its report to its supervising ministry, the Ministry of Justice.
Other investigations conducted by the SFO and cited by the Daily Graphic indicated that it had also looked into the issue of unauthorised payments to the former Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), Mr Robert Ahomka-Lindsay.
The documents explained that following a petition by the acting CEO of the GIPC in September 2009, the SFO investigated the allegations against Mr Ahomka-Lindsay.
It was revealed that in March 2008 the GIPC paid $8,138 as the cost of air tickets for Mr Ahomka-Lindsay’s wife and his children during an investment promotion mission to the UAE, India and China, although the wife and the children were not part of the official delegation.
Further investigations revealed that in February 2008 Mrs Ahomka-Lindsay had booked and paid for Economy Class tickets for herself and two of her children in preparation for the trip but the tickets were later upgraded to First Class and re-issued to tally with Mr Ahomka-Lindsay’s schedule at his instance and paid for by GIPC.
It was also established by the SFO that in 2008 an amount of US$100,000 was paid to Mr Ahomka-Lindsay as salary advance pending the formalisation of a consultancy contract with the Presidency.
With regard to the US$100,000 salary advance paid to Mr Ahomka-Lindsay, investigations revealed that the GIPC board, at its 57th meeting, approved of the amount to him with the intention that the CEO would refund funds received under the Public Services Commission but they were not refunded.
With regard to MASLOC, the SFO said the investigations focused primarily on the loans granted to MDAs and micro financing institutions (MFIs) through irregular means.
It said the aim principally was to salvage the scheme from virtual collapse, in the light of the ineptitude of MASLOC officials and the participating banks in making recoveries from beneficiaries.
It said it was established that disbursement to MDAs made in 2008 exceeded the threshold, without proper approval, and included disbursements of GH¢200,000 to the SEN's programme, GH¢2,445,380 to the NYEP ICT training programme by ROAGRAM Link Ltd, GH¢735,250 to RUMSEC in respect of the Presidential Special Initiatives and GH¢2,000,000 to Messrs Plant Pool Gh Ltd/GPRTU).
The report on it mentioned the former CEO of MASLOC, Mr Lawrence Prempeh, and Mrs Amina Montia, the Head of Administration, as approving those transactions, in violation of established procedures.
It said Mrs Montia was currently on interdiction and put on caution bail.
The SFO has, however, been able to recover GH¢1,408,500, being recoveries of GH¢800,000 from the NYEP ICT programme, GH¢439,000 from the PSIIRUMSEC programme, GH¢100,000 from Plant Pool Ghana Ltd and GH¢69,500 being the full payment, including interest and penalty, to the Asontaba Cottage Industry.
According to the SFO, investigations into the transfer of some amounts into the personal accounts of some officers of MASLOC from a GH¢2 million Japanese grant meant to be disbursed to support flood victims in the three Northern Regions were ongoing.
It said the officers had been interdicted and put on bail as well.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Police take fight to armed robbers
Pages 24/25: Daily Graphic, November 10, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
TWO suspected members of a bank and bullion van robbery group were killed at the weekend in a crossfire engaged in by both the robbers and the police, who were on an operation that also resulted in the arrest of five other robbers in Accra, Kumasi and Denu.
Two AK47 rifles of the police that earlier had been seized by the suspected armed robbers and a quantity of ammunition were retrieved in the exercise.
Those killed were identified as Dotse Babanawo, alias Thunder or C.K, and another identified only as Dropam, both of whom were said to be the gang leaders.
Those in custody and assisting in investigations include two brothers, Kofi Afoakwa, alias Kofi Rasta alias Not Nice and Yaw Afoakwa alias Dadisen. The others are Isaac Oppong, a driver, Kingsley Lawani or Benin Boy, and Sulley Ibrahim.
Another member of the gang, identified only as Awudu, is reported to have escaped to his native country, Nigeria.
Those arrested have allegedly confessed to taking part in the bank robberies and attacks on bullion vans, which resulted in the death of two policemen, one at the Madina branch of Ecobank and Lashibi-Klagon area three weeks ago, in which the AK47 of the deceased policeman was taken. The other robberies which the robbers allegedly confessed to have been their handiwork were the attacks on Atala Company Ltd, Iron and Paint Company belonging to the Sethi Brothers, Ga Rural Bank at Taifa, St John’s Forex Bureau at Dome and others in Tema.
The most recent attack was on October 27, 2009 in which the gang attacked Antis Company Ltd at Agbogba, where a policeman’s AK 47 rifle was snatched.
Other items retrieved from the five-day exercise, which started from November 2, 2009 to November 7, 2009, included two foreign pistols, two locally manufactured pistols, ammunition, a Ford four-by-four vehicle, a police cap, military camouflage trousers, Air-borne force beret, a military raincoat, a motorbike, a quantity of vehicle number plates, 26 half pieces of cloth, ID cards, a passport, a driver’s licence and other documents.
At a news conference in Accra yesterday to announce the successes of the police in dealing with violent crime, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Paul Tawiah Quaye, noted that 80 per cent of persons involved in robberies that had occurred since the introduction of measures instituted by the Police Administration had been arrested.
He said most of the robberies were closely monitored from their planning stages to the points of commission, thus making it possible for the police to link individual perpetrators to specific crimes, using crime intelligence, crime profiles and other investigative indices.
Mr Quaye, who was flanked by the Director-General of Administration and Welfare, COP Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan, and the Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP Rose Bio Atinga, attributed the successes so far to the creation of an Intelligence Unit for gathering crime intelligence, re-introduction of informant reward system and re-activation of traditional policing methods, especially day and night patrols.
He said the effects of the positive achievements by the police was the relative peace and tranquillity which members of the public were enjoying, making them go about their legitimate social, economic and political pursuits without undue fear or hindrance.
Mr Quaye, however, said the police were not being fooled into complacency by those achievements, stressing that “we will continue to develop and strengthen the operational strategies adopted with a view to enhancing their effectiveness in combating the ugly spectre of armed robberies”.
He said the Police Administration was identifying the sociological and criminological root causes of the problem so as to bring on board all partner institutions to adopt a holistic and scientific approach towards solving the disturbing phenomenon of armed robbery.
Giving details on the operation which resulted in the arrests, DCOP Atinga said on November 2, 2009, the police went to a house at Agbogba upon a tip-off.
She said a thorough search in the two-room self-contained apartment resulted in the retrieval of an AK 47 rifle and a magazine with eight rounds of ammunition. The AK 47 rifle was later found to be the one snatched from a policeman at Trede, near Kumasi, in Ashanti Region.
She said four armed plain clothes policemen were subsequently detailed to mount surveillance within the house.
DCOP Atinga said on November 5, 2009, a young man, Leonard Shikabli and a lady, Antoinette Ama Shikabli, went to the house at Agbogba and were arrested.
According to her, Ama told the police upon interrogation that she was asked to tidy up the house, which belonged to her sister’s husband, who had been admitted to a hospital in Kumasi.
She said at about 6p.m. that very day, a team of policemen were detailed to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital where Kofi Afoakwa was on admission.
She said while at the hospital, Yaw Afoakwa, who is the elder brother of Kofi, was arrested when he went on a visit.
DCOP Atinga said upon interrogation, Kofi and Yaw mentioned Isaac Oppong, a resident of Ashaiman, as a member of the gang, who often led the gang in all robberies within the Tema -Ashaiman areas.
She said a search at the residence of Oppong after his arrest resulted in the retrieval of an AK47 rifle (AZ2901) with three magazines containing 16 ammunitions, one silent pistol with one magazine and other items.
DCOP Atinga said Oppong also led the police to Nungua to arrest Benin Boy with the help of some neighbours while Benin Boy’s partner, Dropam, was not in the house.
According to her, at about 5:15a.m. on November 7, 2009, the police trailed Dropam to the Coco Beach at Nungua, and he opened fire on seeing the Benin Boy in the company of the police. Dropam fell dead when the police returned the fire.
DCOP Atinga said later the police managed to lure Thunder from his hideout at Aflao to Denu, on hearing that the suspect was hiding there.
She said when Thunder realised that he had been lured into a police den, he opened fire on the police with the view to escaping but was hit by a police bullet, resulting in his death.
Story: Albert K. Salia
TWO suspected members of a bank and bullion van robbery group were killed at the weekend in a crossfire engaged in by both the robbers and the police, who were on an operation that also resulted in the arrest of five other robbers in Accra, Kumasi and Denu.
Two AK47 rifles of the police that earlier had been seized by the suspected armed robbers and a quantity of ammunition were retrieved in the exercise.
Those killed were identified as Dotse Babanawo, alias Thunder or C.K, and another identified only as Dropam, both of whom were said to be the gang leaders.
Those in custody and assisting in investigations include two brothers, Kofi Afoakwa, alias Kofi Rasta alias Not Nice and Yaw Afoakwa alias Dadisen. The others are Isaac Oppong, a driver, Kingsley Lawani or Benin Boy, and Sulley Ibrahim.
Another member of the gang, identified only as Awudu, is reported to have escaped to his native country, Nigeria.
Those arrested have allegedly confessed to taking part in the bank robberies and attacks on bullion vans, which resulted in the death of two policemen, one at the Madina branch of Ecobank and Lashibi-Klagon area three weeks ago, in which the AK47 of the deceased policeman was taken. The other robberies which the robbers allegedly confessed to have been their handiwork were the attacks on Atala Company Ltd, Iron and Paint Company belonging to the Sethi Brothers, Ga Rural Bank at Taifa, St John’s Forex Bureau at Dome and others in Tema.
The most recent attack was on October 27, 2009 in which the gang attacked Antis Company Ltd at Agbogba, where a policeman’s AK 47 rifle was snatched.
Other items retrieved from the five-day exercise, which started from November 2, 2009 to November 7, 2009, included two foreign pistols, two locally manufactured pistols, ammunition, a Ford four-by-four vehicle, a police cap, military camouflage trousers, Air-borne force beret, a military raincoat, a motorbike, a quantity of vehicle number plates, 26 half pieces of cloth, ID cards, a passport, a driver’s licence and other documents.
At a news conference in Accra yesterday to announce the successes of the police in dealing with violent crime, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Paul Tawiah Quaye, noted that 80 per cent of persons involved in robberies that had occurred since the introduction of measures instituted by the Police Administration had been arrested.
He said most of the robberies were closely monitored from their planning stages to the points of commission, thus making it possible for the police to link individual perpetrators to specific crimes, using crime intelligence, crime profiles and other investigative indices.
Mr Quaye, who was flanked by the Director-General of Administration and Welfare, COP Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan, and the Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP Rose Bio Atinga, attributed the successes so far to the creation of an Intelligence Unit for gathering crime intelligence, re-introduction of informant reward system and re-activation of traditional policing methods, especially day and night patrols.
He said the effects of the positive achievements by the police was the relative peace and tranquillity which members of the public were enjoying, making them go about their legitimate social, economic and political pursuits without undue fear or hindrance.
Mr Quaye, however, said the police were not being fooled into complacency by those achievements, stressing that “we will continue to develop and strengthen the operational strategies adopted with a view to enhancing their effectiveness in combating the ugly spectre of armed robberies”.
He said the Police Administration was identifying the sociological and criminological root causes of the problem so as to bring on board all partner institutions to adopt a holistic and scientific approach towards solving the disturbing phenomenon of armed robbery.
Giving details on the operation which resulted in the arrests, DCOP Atinga said on November 2, 2009, the police went to a house at Agbogba upon a tip-off.
She said a thorough search in the two-room self-contained apartment resulted in the retrieval of an AK 47 rifle and a magazine with eight rounds of ammunition. The AK 47 rifle was later found to be the one snatched from a policeman at Trede, near Kumasi, in Ashanti Region.
She said four armed plain clothes policemen were subsequently detailed to mount surveillance within the house.
DCOP Atinga said on November 5, 2009, a young man, Leonard Shikabli and a lady, Antoinette Ama Shikabli, went to the house at Agbogba and were arrested.
According to her, Ama told the police upon interrogation that she was asked to tidy up the house, which belonged to her sister’s husband, who had been admitted to a hospital in Kumasi.
She said at about 6p.m. that very day, a team of policemen were detailed to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital where Kofi Afoakwa was on admission.
She said while at the hospital, Yaw Afoakwa, who is the elder brother of Kofi, was arrested when he went on a visit.
DCOP Atinga said upon interrogation, Kofi and Yaw mentioned Isaac Oppong, a resident of Ashaiman, as a member of the gang, who often led the gang in all robberies within the Tema -Ashaiman areas.
She said a search at the residence of Oppong after his arrest resulted in the retrieval of an AK47 rifle (AZ2901) with three magazines containing 16 ammunitions, one silent pistol with one magazine and other items.
DCOP Atinga said Oppong also led the police to Nungua to arrest Benin Boy with the help of some neighbours while Benin Boy’s partner, Dropam, was not in the house.
According to her, at about 5:15a.m. on November 7, 2009, the police trailed Dropam to the Coco Beach at Nungua, and he opened fire on seeing the Benin Boy in the company of the police. Dropam fell dead when the police returned the fire.
DCOP Atinga said later the police managed to lure Thunder from his hideout at Aflao to Denu, on hearing that the suspect was hiding there.
She said when Thunder realised that he had been lured into a police den, he opened fire on the police with the view to escaping but was hit by a police bullet, resulting in his death.
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