Page 3: Daily Graphic, July 28, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE acquittal and discharge of Kwabena Amaning, alias Tagor, and Alhaji Issah Abass of cocaine charges by the Court of Appeal has been welcomed as an opportunity for the state to reopen investigations into some high profile narcotic cases in the country.
A former Executive Secretary of the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB), Mr Kofi Bentum Quantson, said the decision of the Court of Appeal should, indeed, pave the way for President John Evans Atta Mills to fulfil his promise of having all high profile narcotic cases comprehensively investigated.
“This is a must. That is the only way to reclaim Ghana’s integrity and credibility in the war against the drug menace,” he stated in an interview with the Daily Graphic yesterday.
Mr Quantson, who is also a former National Security Co-ordinator, said the verdict of the Court of Appeal should not be a surprise at all.
“Indeed, from the way the whole MV Benjamin cocaine saga and other narcotic cases were manipulated to suppress vital information, it is the expectable outcome,” he said.
He said there were far too many pertinent questions and issues that needed to be addressed by the Georgina Wood Committee, the Kojo Armah Committee, the Ghana Police Service, NACOB, the Attorney-General’s Department and the then Office of the Minister of National Security.
Mr Quantson, who also served as the Director of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), said in his view, the judgement of the Court of Appeal was an indictment on the prosecution and the investigators as a whole.
He wondered why ACP Kofi Boakye was not called to court, either as a prosecution or a defence witness, and why Mr Benjamin Ndego was also not called to court.
He said the manner in which the investigations were handled, resulting in the mysterious escape of key persons involved in the saga, left much to be desired.
For his part, Dr Kwesi Aning, who is the Head of the Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution Department (CPMRD) of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, said the judgement raised very serious issues about the quality of investigations and also the prosecutorial skills of those empowered by the state to deal with such cases.
“There is no doubt at all that there is the need to re-open investigations into all high profile narcotics cases and ensure that we deal with this challenge once and for all,” he said.
He said the danger with drug-related cases was that there were several ancillary threats to the state: Security, communities, business, national reputation and danger to public health.
“It is crucial that the Mills administration establishes a bi-partisan parliamentary or national commission to examine the threat of drugs to Ghana across board,” he said.
The Court of Appeal last Friday acquitted and discharged Tagor and Alhaji Abass after they had spent almost 20 months in prison for an alleged narcotic-related offence.
The court, presided over by Mr Justice E.K. Piesare, set aside the November 27, 2007 conviction by the Accra Fast Track High Court of 15 years’ imprisonment each with hard labour.
Other members of the panel were Mr Justice Yaw Apau and Mr Justice E.A. Addo.
The appellants were on November 27, 2007 convicted and sentenced when the court, presided over by Mr Justice Jones Victor Dotse, then a Court of Appeal judge with additional responsibility as a High Court judge, found them guilty on charges of conspiracy and engaging in prohibited business related to narcotics without authority.
That was after the Georgina Wood Committee set up to investigate an alleged 76 parcels of cocaine missing on board the MV Benjamin at the Tema Port had recommended the trial of the appellants.
In its unanimous decision, the court ordered the immediate release of the two, saying the conviction and the sentence were flawed and against the weight of Criminal Law.
The court described the lower court’s decision as a nullity and a cancerous tumour in the country’s legal anatomy which needed to be flushed out of the system.
According to the court, the charges, together with the accompanying particulars, were defective and deficient, while the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against the appellants.
Monday, July 27, 2009
HORROR AT McCARTHY HILL * 65-year-old man murdered in apartment
Front Page: Daily Graphic, July 27, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Managing Director of Summit Industries Limited, Mr Kwame Kyei Apenteng-Mensah, has allegedly been killed by unknown assailants in his room at his McCarthy Hills apartment.
Residents of the area woke up to the gruesome scene on Saturday morning when the body of the 65-year-old man was found near his bed with a stab at the back of the neck.
According to the police, there were no signs that the apartment or the bedroom had been broken into, as all the doors were locked but without the keys.
A search around the area, however, showed that the bush behind the deceased’s apartment had been disturbed, meaning that someone used the bush to enter the house, the police noted.
Mr Apenteng-Mensah, whose company produces Le Country mineral water, was said to be living alone with his house help in a separate apartment from that of the other members of his family.
The Deputy Accra Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Christian Tetteh Yohuno, told newsmen that when the deceased’s house help realised the he had not come out of his room about 9 a.m., which was unusual of him, she informed other members of his family who live in different apartments but in the same yard that her boss had still not woken up.
Based on that, he said, the family members decided to check on him but found that all doors to the deceased’s apartment were locked.
The deputy commander said the family members decided to use a ladder to check through the window of the deceased’s bedroom, only to find him lying by his bed in a pool of blood.
According to him, the family members allegedly broke through the glass window of the bedroom and entered the room, upon which they found the deep cut on his neck.
ACP Yohuno said when the house help was interrogated, she claimed that she had heard a brief noise from the deceased’s room about 12 midnight.
The Odorkor District Police Commander, Superintendent Kwaku Asare, told the Daily Graphic that the deceased only had a shirt on when the room was broken into.
He said the police did not find any implement which could have been used to commit the crime in the room.
He, however, said a search around the area showed that the bush behind the deceased’s apartment had been disturbed, an indication that someone used the bush to enter the house.
Supt Asare said everything in the deceased’s apartment was intact, except that there was no key in the door lock.
Investigations continue.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Managing Director of Summit Industries Limited, Mr Kwame Kyei Apenteng-Mensah, has allegedly been killed by unknown assailants in his room at his McCarthy Hills apartment.
Residents of the area woke up to the gruesome scene on Saturday morning when the body of the 65-year-old man was found near his bed with a stab at the back of the neck.
According to the police, there were no signs that the apartment or the bedroom had been broken into, as all the doors were locked but without the keys.
A search around the area, however, showed that the bush behind the deceased’s apartment had been disturbed, meaning that someone used the bush to enter the house, the police noted.
Mr Apenteng-Mensah, whose company produces Le Country mineral water, was said to be living alone with his house help in a separate apartment from that of the other members of his family.
The Deputy Accra Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Christian Tetteh Yohuno, told newsmen that when the deceased’s house help realised the he had not come out of his room about 9 a.m., which was unusual of him, she informed other members of his family who live in different apartments but in the same yard that her boss had still not woken up.
Based on that, he said, the family members decided to check on him but found that all doors to the deceased’s apartment were locked.
The deputy commander said the family members decided to use a ladder to check through the window of the deceased’s bedroom, only to find him lying by his bed in a pool of blood.
According to him, the family members allegedly broke through the glass window of the bedroom and entered the room, upon which they found the deep cut on his neck.
ACP Yohuno said when the house help was interrogated, she claimed that she had heard a brief noise from the deceased’s room about 12 midnight.
The Odorkor District Police Commander, Superintendent Kwaku Asare, told the Daily Graphic that the deceased only had a shirt on when the room was broken into.
He said the police did not find any implement which could have been used to commit the crime in the room.
He, however, said a search around the area showed that the bush behind the deceased’s apartment had been disturbed, an indication that someone used the bush to enter the house.
Supt Asare said everything in the deceased’s apartment was intact, except that there was no key in the door lock.
Investigations continue.
Friday, July 24, 2009
We will deal with criminals — National Security vows
Page 17: Daily Graphic, July 24, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE national security apparatus has expressed its determination to deal with armed robbery and related crimes to ensure peace and safety for all Ghanaians.
In separate interviews with the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday, Lt Col Larry Gbevlo-Lartey, the National Security Co-ordinator, and Mr Paul Tawiah Quaye, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), said the war against armed robbery and other criminal activities was on course.
Lt Col Gbevlo-Lartey said the security agencies would stay focused on the task ahead of them, especially when investors, as well as hardworking and peace-loving people, needed serenity to work and sleep soundly.
“We will not allow these miscreants to torment decent people and put the whole country in fear,” he said, adding, “We will prove to all that we are, indeed, on top of the situation and that Ghana is safe for investment.”
He said the recent presentation of vehicles by the government to the security agencies was a demonstration of the administration’s commitment to fight crime.
For his part, Mr Quaye said his pledge to change the face of policing was on course, as the seeming lethargy and the lack of commitment to work as professionals on the part of policemen were over.
He said the initial response was slow but indicated that professionalism, commitment, dedication and a re-orientation to work were taking root “and the results are what we are seeing now”.
He said although there had been a drastic decline in robbery cases, the fear of armed robbery attacks was enough psychological trauma that the police wanted to deal with.
“We still have a long way to go in equipping the personnel and re-training them to deal with the changing strategies of the criminals,” he added.
Mr Quaye said he was particularly happy with the re-awakening of communities, resulting in some donating vehicles and motorcycles to the police.
He said the police had also responded appropriately to their responsibilities, although some still seemed to be living in the past.
“I am quite encouraged by the output of personnel and public co-operation so far,” he said.
He said the reward system instituted by the Police Administration was also yielding positive results because credible informants got rewarded without risking their lives.
According to the IGP, the robustness of the police in the Volta, Accra, Tema and Ashanti regions in fighting the robbers had been amazing.
He noted, for instance, that although there were few robbery cases in the Volta Region, the speed with which members of robbery gangs were arrested between 24 and 48 hours, even after they had escaped, was amazing.
Mr Quaye said the Police Administration was determined to improve the working conditions of the personnel and urged them to continue with the good work.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE national security apparatus has expressed its determination to deal with armed robbery and related crimes to ensure peace and safety for all Ghanaians.
In separate interviews with the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday, Lt Col Larry Gbevlo-Lartey, the National Security Co-ordinator, and Mr Paul Tawiah Quaye, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), said the war against armed robbery and other criminal activities was on course.
Lt Col Gbevlo-Lartey said the security agencies would stay focused on the task ahead of them, especially when investors, as well as hardworking and peace-loving people, needed serenity to work and sleep soundly.
“We will not allow these miscreants to torment decent people and put the whole country in fear,” he said, adding, “We will prove to all that we are, indeed, on top of the situation and that Ghana is safe for investment.”
He said the recent presentation of vehicles by the government to the security agencies was a demonstration of the administration’s commitment to fight crime.
For his part, Mr Quaye said his pledge to change the face of policing was on course, as the seeming lethargy and the lack of commitment to work as professionals on the part of policemen were over.
He said the initial response was slow but indicated that professionalism, commitment, dedication and a re-orientation to work were taking root “and the results are what we are seeing now”.
He said although there had been a drastic decline in robbery cases, the fear of armed robbery attacks was enough psychological trauma that the police wanted to deal with.
“We still have a long way to go in equipping the personnel and re-training them to deal with the changing strategies of the criminals,” he added.
Mr Quaye said he was particularly happy with the re-awakening of communities, resulting in some donating vehicles and motorcycles to the police.
He said the police had also responded appropriately to their responsibilities, although some still seemed to be living in the past.
“I am quite encouraged by the output of personnel and public co-operation so far,” he said.
He said the reward system instituted by the Police Administration was also yielding positive results because credible informants got rewarded without risking their lives.
According to the IGP, the robustness of the police in the Volta, Accra, Tema and Ashanti regions in fighting the robbers had been amazing.
He noted, for instance, that although there were few robbery cases in the Volta Region, the speed with which members of robbery gangs were arrested between 24 and 48 hours, even after they had escaped, was amazing.
Mr Quaye said the Police Administration was determined to improve the working conditions of the personnel and urged them to continue with the good work.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Korle Bu MRI suffers another breakdown
Page 72: Daily Graphic, July 23, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Magnetic Resonance Imagery (MRI) machine at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital is out of order again.
The MRI, which was inaugurated on July 27, 2005, broke down in May, 2007 due to the absence of a stabiliser to regulate and protect power supply to its Computed Tomography (CT) Scan and took more than a year before it was reconditioned.
The breakdown resulted in the flying out of Ghanaian footballer John Paintsil to Nigeria for medical examination, during the Ghana 2008 Cup of Nations.
Daily Graphic enquiries about the facility has revealed that the MRI at Korle-Bu became dysfunctional after it corroded and after power fluctuation at the hospital resulted in the burning of some key machinery.
The MRI is primarily used in medical imaging to visualise the structure and function of the body. It provides detailed images of the body in any plane and has much greater soft tissue contrast than CT, making it especially useful in neurological, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular and oncolological diseases.
Unlike the CT, it uses no ionising radiation.
The Head of the Radiology Department of the hospital, Dr Alex Yeboah, told the Daily Graphic that this time round, inadequate water supply to the cheeler which cools the machine caused the breakdown.
He explained that the cheeler needed consistent water supply to ensure operations of the machine but no provision was made for a water reservoir and a pumping machine.
He said several attempts to draw the attention of the authorities to the anomaly proved futile.
He said his attention had just been drawn to the fact that there had been a leakage in the cooling system and that meant that the leakage would have to be repaired before working on the main system.
Dr Yeboah explained that although the MRI was still under warranty, it did not make business and patient-care sense to allow the machine to lie idle when all measures could have been taken to ensure that the purposes for which it was installed were realised.
He was, however, happy that the 37 Military Hospital had just installed an MRI machine while a private institution was also setting up another centre to provide options to patients.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Magnetic Resonance Imagery (MRI) machine at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital is out of order again.
The MRI, which was inaugurated on July 27, 2005, broke down in May, 2007 due to the absence of a stabiliser to regulate and protect power supply to its Computed Tomography (CT) Scan and took more than a year before it was reconditioned.
The breakdown resulted in the flying out of Ghanaian footballer John Paintsil to Nigeria for medical examination, during the Ghana 2008 Cup of Nations.
Daily Graphic enquiries about the facility has revealed that the MRI at Korle-Bu became dysfunctional after it corroded and after power fluctuation at the hospital resulted in the burning of some key machinery.
The MRI is primarily used in medical imaging to visualise the structure and function of the body. It provides detailed images of the body in any plane and has much greater soft tissue contrast than CT, making it especially useful in neurological, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular and oncolological diseases.
Unlike the CT, it uses no ionising radiation.
The Head of the Radiology Department of the hospital, Dr Alex Yeboah, told the Daily Graphic that this time round, inadequate water supply to the cheeler which cools the machine caused the breakdown.
He explained that the cheeler needed consistent water supply to ensure operations of the machine but no provision was made for a water reservoir and a pumping machine.
He said several attempts to draw the attention of the authorities to the anomaly proved futile.
He said his attention had just been drawn to the fact that there had been a leakage in the cooling system and that meant that the leakage would have to be repaired before working on the main system.
Dr Yeboah explained that although the MRI was still under warranty, it did not make business and patient-care sense to allow the machine to lie idle when all measures could have been taken to ensure that the purposes for which it was installed were realised.
He was, however, happy that the 37 Military Hospital had just installed an MRI machine while a private institution was also setting up another centre to provide options to patients.
One suspected robber dies in shoot-out
Page 53: Daily Graphic, July 23, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
A MEMBER of a gang of suspected armed robbers was killed at dawn yesterday during a shoot-out with security personnel at Omanjor in the Ga West District.
The police later found blood-stained clothes believed to be those of another suspect,who managed to escape with his gun-shot wounds. The clothes were found about two miles away from the house that was attacked by the armed robbers.
The escapee robber was later found dead at Adabraka, ostensibly on his way to Agbogbloshie.
The deceased have been identified only as Ofori, who died at the scene of the robbery, and Teddy, whose body was picked up at Adabraka later in the day. They are both said to be ex-convicts.
Retrieved from the assailants were two pump action guns, two locally manufactured pistols, 11 rounds of ammunition and five empty shells.
Another suspect, Moses Kwame, was saved from being lynched around Dansoman when a patrol team saw residents had pounded on him with all manner of implements.
The Accra Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Rose Bio Atinga, told the Daily Graphic that the police received a distress call from a Good Samaritan who had heard of the gunshots by the robbers in a nearby house and had gone out to seek assistance for the victims.
Upon that, a team of security personnel from the police and the military was despatched to the scene about 3 a.m.
She said when the police team arrived, the Good Samaritan led it to the scene.
DCOP Atinga said 20 metres to the house, one of the robbers who appeared to be keeping watch for the rest started firing at the police and alerted his colleagues that the police had arrived.
According to her, the suspected robber was shot in the arm to demobilise him from the weapon he was holding but he later died of the wound.
She said the second robber, who was shot in the thigh, opened fire when he realised that his colleague was down.
The police boss said before the police could move into the house, the other robbers scaled the wall and disappeared, explaining that because it was still dark it was difficult to trail them.
DCOP Atinga, however, said during the day when the police followed the bloodstains, they realised that one of the suspects had abandoned his clothes about two miles away from the scene.
She, therefore, appealed to health facilities to be on the look out for anyone who might go to them with suspected gunshot wounds.
She also urged members of the public to look out for persons who might go to any chemical or pharmacy shop to seek first aid.
DCOP Atinga commended the Good Samaritan who had called and met the police on their way to the crime scene.
Story: Albert K. Salia
A MEMBER of a gang of suspected armed robbers was killed at dawn yesterday during a shoot-out with security personnel at Omanjor in the Ga West District.
The police later found blood-stained clothes believed to be those of another suspect,who managed to escape with his gun-shot wounds. The clothes were found about two miles away from the house that was attacked by the armed robbers.
The escapee robber was later found dead at Adabraka, ostensibly on his way to Agbogbloshie.
The deceased have been identified only as Ofori, who died at the scene of the robbery, and Teddy, whose body was picked up at Adabraka later in the day. They are both said to be ex-convicts.
Retrieved from the assailants were two pump action guns, two locally manufactured pistols, 11 rounds of ammunition and five empty shells.
Another suspect, Moses Kwame, was saved from being lynched around Dansoman when a patrol team saw residents had pounded on him with all manner of implements.
The Accra Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Rose Bio Atinga, told the Daily Graphic that the police received a distress call from a Good Samaritan who had heard of the gunshots by the robbers in a nearby house and had gone out to seek assistance for the victims.
Upon that, a team of security personnel from the police and the military was despatched to the scene about 3 a.m.
She said when the police team arrived, the Good Samaritan led it to the scene.
DCOP Atinga said 20 metres to the house, one of the robbers who appeared to be keeping watch for the rest started firing at the police and alerted his colleagues that the police had arrived.
According to her, the suspected robber was shot in the arm to demobilise him from the weapon he was holding but he later died of the wound.
She said the second robber, who was shot in the thigh, opened fire when he realised that his colleague was down.
The police boss said before the police could move into the house, the other robbers scaled the wall and disappeared, explaining that because it was still dark it was difficult to trail them.
DCOP Atinga, however, said during the day when the police followed the bloodstains, they realised that one of the suspects had abandoned his clothes about two miles away from the scene.
She, therefore, appealed to health facilities to be on the look out for anyone who might go to them with suspected gunshot wounds.
She also urged members of the public to look out for persons who might go to any chemical or pharmacy shop to seek first aid.
DCOP Atinga commended the Good Samaritan who had called and met the police on their way to the crime scene.
Police arrest suspected criminal
Page 53: Daily Graphic, July 23, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
A 28-year-old man, described by the police as a hardened criminal, was arrested yesterday morning at the Achimota Overhead.
George Aryeetey had been on the police wanted list since he engaged the police in an exchange of fire and escaped at Kwabenya six weeks ago, according to the police.
They say he is on record as having been convicted of a similar crime in 1999.
A pump action gun, three locally manufactured pistols, one empty shell and Aryeetey’s personal effects were retrieved from his room in a hotel.
He had scars from what the police said were bullet wounds on his legs, thighs and palm.
Two jewellery shops at Adabraka, with which Aryeetey was said to be associated, have been put under police guard after their owner, identified only as Alhaji and said to be the agent of Aryeetey and his gang for stolen jewellery, had absconded, leaving behind his Infinity 4x4 vehicle, with registration number GR 9943-09, on hearing that the police had arrested Aryeetey and were heading to the two shops, labelled Afebu Jewellery.
Police investigations revealed that Aryeetey, the ex-convict, had been lodging at the Akyaa Memorial Hotel for two weeks at a rate of GH¢30 per night. But there was no documentation at the hotel indicating that he was lodging there.
From Achimota to the Accra Regional Police Headquarters, people applauded the police for their efforts in dealing with the armed robbers, who have made many homes restless.
Aryeetey told the police and the media at his hotel, “I cannot count the number of robberies I have been engaged in.”
He, however, told the operational team, led by ACP Christian Yohuno, the Deputy Accra Regional Police Commander, that after the Kwabenya incident, in which he was part of a gang that had robbed some Indians and Sri Lankans, he had been directing affairs from behind.
He had been imprisoned in 1999, he said, and had earlier been granted police enquiry bail in a similar robbery incident after his accuser allegedly exonerated him.
The Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP Rose Bio Atinga, and his deputy, ACP Yohuno told newsmen yesterday that six weeks ago, there was a robbery incident at Kwabenya, near Accra, which resulted in a shoot-out with the police.
She said in the course of escaping, the taxi the robbers used, with registration number GN 6813 Y, ran into a ditch.
She said Aryeetey’s father, Johnson Yeboah, later reported to the Kwabenya Police that armed robbers had attacked and seized his taxi, which was found to be the same as what Aryeetey and his gang had used.
At the time, she said, the vehicle had been towed to the Regional Police Headquarters and a search led to a laptop suspected to have been stolen.
According to her, when Aryeetey’s father was referred to the Accra Police Headquarters, he confessed to lying and admitted that it was his son who had asked him to come and claim ownership of the taxi.
DCOP Atinga said the father was charged for abetment and was currently on court bail.
For his part, ACP Yohuno said Aryeetey was arrested at the Achimota Overhead yesterday morning with the support of some passers-by.
He said Aryeetey had been responsible for most of the robberies around Achimota, Dome Pillar One and Two and Kisseman.
He said it was some members of Aryeetey’s gang who had been planning to attack the Star Oil Filling Station last Sunday but who had been arrested.
He expressed his disappointment with hoteliers who hosted persons without checking their identities.
ACP Yohuno commended the public for their support in dealing with robbers and promised to sustain the fight.
Story: Albert K. Salia
A 28-year-old man, described by the police as a hardened criminal, was arrested yesterday morning at the Achimota Overhead.
George Aryeetey had been on the police wanted list since he engaged the police in an exchange of fire and escaped at Kwabenya six weeks ago, according to the police.
They say he is on record as having been convicted of a similar crime in 1999.
A pump action gun, three locally manufactured pistols, one empty shell and Aryeetey’s personal effects were retrieved from his room in a hotel.
He had scars from what the police said were bullet wounds on his legs, thighs and palm.
Two jewellery shops at Adabraka, with which Aryeetey was said to be associated, have been put under police guard after their owner, identified only as Alhaji and said to be the agent of Aryeetey and his gang for stolen jewellery, had absconded, leaving behind his Infinity 4x4 vehicle, with registration number GR 9943-09, on hearing that the police had arrested Aryeetey and were heading to the two shops, labelled Afebu Jewellery.
Police investigations revealed that Aryeetey, the ex-convict, had been lodging at the Akyaa Memorial Hotel for two weeks at a rate of GH¢30 per night. But there was no documentation at the hotel indicating that he was lodging there.
From Achimota to the Accra Regional Police Headquarters, people applauded the police for their efforts in dealing with the armed robbers, who have made many homes restless.
Aryeetey told the police and the media at his hotel, “I cannot count the number of robberies I have been engaged in.”
He, however, told the operational team, led by ACP Christian Yohuno, the Deputy Accra Regional Police Commander, that after the Kwabenya incident, in which he was part of a gang that had robbed some Indians and Sri Lankans, he had been directing affairs from behind.
He had been imprisoned in 1999, he said, and had earlier been granted police enquiry bail in a similar robbery incident after his accuser allegedly exonerated him.
The Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP Rose Bio Atinga, and his deputy, ACP Yohuno told newsmen yesterday that six weeks ago, there was a robbery incident at Kwabenya, near Accra, which resulted in a shoot-out with the police.
She said in the course of escaping, the taxi the robbers used, with registration number GN 6813 Y, ran into a ditch.
She said Aryeetey’s father, Johnson Yeboah, later reported to the Kwabenya Police that armed robbers had attacked and seized his taxi, which was found to be the same as what Aryeetey and his gang had used.
At the time, she said, the vehicle had been towed to the Regional Police Headquarters and a search led to a laptop suspected to have been stolen.
According to her, when Aryeetey’s father was referred to the Accra Police Headquarters, he confessed to lying and admitted that it was his son who had asked him to come and claim ownership of the taxi.
DCOP Atinga said the father was charged for abetment and was currently on court bail.
For his part, ACP Yohuno said Aryeetey was arrested at the Achimota Overhead yesterday morning with the support of some passers-by.
He said Aryeetey had been responsible for most of the robberies around Achimota, Dome Pillar One and Two and Kisseman.
He said it was some members of Aryeetey’s gang who had been planning to attack the Star Oil Filling Station last Sunday but who had been arrested.
He expressed his disappointment with hoteliers who hosted persons without checking their identities.
ACP Yohuno commended the public for their support in dealing with robbers and promised to sustain the fight.
Drugs control your life ... Stop it!
Page 9: Daily Graphic, July 23, 2009.
Article: Albert K. Salia
GHANA joined the rest of the world on Friday, June 26, 2009, to climax a three-year anti-drugs campaign launched by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on the sub-theme, “Illicit drug trafficking”.
The campaign, which was launched on June 26, 2007 with the slogan, "Do drugs control your life? Your life. Your community. No place for drugs", had been celebrated with focus on different aspects of drug control to commemorate the International Day Against Illicit Drug Trafficking. In 2007, the sub-theme was drug abuse while in 2008 the emphasis was on drug cultivation and production. For this year, the focus is on illicit drug trafficking.
The sub-theme for this year’s commemoration of the International Day Against Illicit Drug Trafficking aims at raising awareness of the major problem that illicit drugs represent to society. No individual, family or community is safe where illicit drugs take control. Drugs may control the body and mind of individual consumers, the drug crop and drug cartels may control farmers, illicit trafficking and crime may control communities.
It is in the light of this that the campaign seeks to inspire people and mobilise support for drug control. The international campaign "Do drugs control your life? Your life. Your community. No place for drugs" communicates that the destructive effects of illicit drugs concern us all. Their use harms individuals, families and society at large.
Teenagers and young adults are particularly vulnerable to using illicit drugs. The prevalence of drug use among young people is more than twice as high as that among the general population. At this age, peer pressure to experiment with illicit drugs can be strong and self-esteem is often low. Also, those who take drugs tend to be either misinformed or insufficiently aware of the health risks involved.
The Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Antonio Maria Costa, notes that, "drugs are also poisoning the region’s (West Africa) youth since the foot soldiers in this growing trade are paid for their services with cocaine. As a result, the vulnerability of West Africa to drugs and crime is deepening even further".
A consultant psychiatrist and a member of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), Dr J. B. Asare, also notes that, “the use of drugs in Ghana is mainly an activity of the youth. About 80 per cent of drug related admissions to the Accra Psychiatric Hospital are between the ages of 16 and 29 years. As more youth become addicted, our investment in our children and the human resource base of our country is being threatened”.
It is in this vein that the UNODC campaign seeks to reach out to young people, who often talk about the "highs" induced by illicit drugs but may not be aware of the many "lows". Illicit drug use is a concern because it poses a threat to their health. Negative effects vary depending on the type of drug consumed, the doses taken and the frequency of use. All illicit drugs have immediate physical effects, but they can also severely hinder psychological and emotional development, especially among young people. Leading a healthy lifestyle requires making choices that are mindful of body and mind. To make these choices, young people need guidance from role models and need to get the facts about drug use. The international campaign provides young people and others with tools to educate themselves about the health risks associated with illicit drug use.
One cannot run away from the untimely deaths through accidents; upsurge in the number of the mentally derailed; increase in crime rate; unnecessary deformities; disorderliness and disregard for elders. These are obvious dangers posed by illicit drugs on Ghana and its citizens.
The economic impact of drug abuse on businesses whose employees abuse drugs can be significant. Economically, businesses often are affected because employees who abuse drugs sometimes steal cash or supplies, equipment, and products that can be sold to get money to buy drugs.
Moreover, absenteeism, lost productivity and increased use of medical and insurance benefits by employees who abuse drugs affect a business financially.
It is important to appreciate that other crimes whose effect might not be physical but subtle are the economic and commercial crimes associated with drugs. Counterfeiting, currency trafficking, smuggling, tax evasion, bribery, corruption, money laundering are examples of such drug-related crimes which hit weak national economies of states where drug trafficking thrives.
It must be understood that these are corrosive crimes since they undermine the nation, thereby, directly or indirectly generating negative forces that can create political, economic and social tensions. They are crimes that kill slowly but surely.
As K. B. Quantson puts it, "weak economies, with weak weightless currencies, over-liberalised economic policies, in an environment of inordinate, even irrational dependence on foreign consumer items, some of them more exotic than our circumstances dictate, are particularly attractive to drug-dealing because of the ready foreign exchange that they provide".
Certainly, we need not forget the impact on our criminal justice system and the various state institutions that no more function as required because the drug cartels have taken hold of them.
According to the UNODC, many assume that the illicit drug trade is a source of employment without any costs for those unable to find productive work in other sectors. But inevitably the employment gains generated by the drug trade are more than offset by various side effects. Two such effects include the inevitable spillover from drug production into consumption, which impacts negatively on productivity, and the sacrifice of resources diverted from legitimate and more sustainable investments.
Criminal entrepreneurship in any economy introduces a parasitic, anti-competitive approach to doing business as intimidation, violence and extortion rather than free-market competition serve as the primary determinants of resource allocation.
It is important to note that because drug addicts attach little or no value at all to their lives, they consider it a strenuous task to value other people’s lives. To them, life is valueless. Most gory accident scenes that characterize the roads of this country could be a resultant effect of the actions of these addicts who ride bikes or drive cars under the influence of drugs. While some victims lost their lives in the process, others are left with permanent deformities.
David Friedman contends that the link between drugs and violent crime could occur in three ways: violent crime by consumers of drugs, violent crime associated with the production and distribution of drugs, or violent crime directly associated with the attempt to enforce drug prohibition.
Besides, there are crimes such as armed robberies, rape and other violent ones that leave in their wake not only the physical damage inflicted but traumatic scars that haunt the victims for a long time.
The Executive Director of the UNODC, Antonio Maria Costa, warns that the drug problem in West Africa, "is growing exponentially and threatening to turn the region into an epicentre of lawlessness and instability. This is the last thing West Africa needs".
Certainly, no one can run away from the fact that drugs controls his or her life. You might not be trading in drugs or consuming drugs. But it is important to note that drugs do indeed control everyone’s life.
The onus of curbing this menace from escalating lies on all and sundry; nobody is exempted. From the home-front, parents should take it upon themselves to educate, monitor and caution their children on inherent dangers these drugs pose to their lives. This responsibility neither lies on parents alone non the teachers in schools. Both parents and teachers, community elders, government authorities and the general public should be involved in the collective fight against this social menace.
Educational institutions are not left out. They have an enormous task being a key player in children’s life. The task before them involves educating the children on the negative effect of drugs. This could be enhanced by establishing Drug Free Club in schools with the view to propagate the message effectively through debate, drama, workshops and seminars. This means augmenting the efforts of parents who are playing their roles at the home-front and the government through its agencies such as the Narcotics Control Board, Ghana Education Service and the police.
Article: Albert K. Salia
GHANA joined the rest of the world on Friday, June 26, 2009, to climax a three-year anti-drugs campaign launched by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on the sub-theme, “Illicit drug trafficking”.
The campaign, which was launched on June 26, 2007 with the slogan, "Do drugs control your life? Your life. Your community. No place for drugs", had been celebrated with focus on different aspects of drug control to commemorate the International Day Against Illicit Drug Trafficking. In 2007, the sub-theme was drug abuse while in 2008 the emphasis was on drug cultivation and production. For this year, the focus is on illicit drug trafficking.
The sub-theme for this year’s commemoration of the International Day Against Illicit Drug Trafficking aims at raising awareness of the major problem that illicit drugs represent to society. No individual, family or community is safe where illicit drugs take control. Drugs may control the body and mind of individual consumers, the drug crop and drug cartels may control farmers, illicit trafficking and crime may control communities.
It is in the light of this that the campaign seeks to inspire people and mobilise support for drug control. The international campaign "Do drugs control your life? Your life. Your community. No place for drugs" communicates that the destructive effects of illicit drugs concern us all. Their use harms individuals, families and society at large.
Teenagers and young adults are particularly vulnerable to using illicit drugs. The prevalence of drug use among young people is more than twice as high as that among the general population. At this age, peer pressure to experiment with illicit drugs can be strong and self-esteem is often low. Also, those who take drugs tend to be either misinformed or insufficiently aware of the health risks involved.
The Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Antonio Maria Costa, notes that, "drugs are also poisoning the region’s (West Africa) youth since the foot soldiers in this growing trade are paid for their services with cocaine. As a result, the vulnerability of West Africa to drugs and crime is deepening even further".
A consultant psychiatrist and a member of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), Dr J. B. Asare, also notes that, “the use of drugs in Ghana is mainly an activity of the youth. About 80 per cent of drug related admissions to the Accra Psychiatric Hospital are between the ages of 16 and 29 years. As more youth become addicted, our investment in our children and the human resource base of our country is being threatened”.
It is in this vein that the UNODC campaign seeks to reach out to young people, who often talk about the "highs" induced by illicit drugs but may not be aware of the many "lows". Illicit drug use is a concern because it poses a threat to their health. Negative effects vary depending on the type of drug consumed, the doses taken and the frequency of use. All illicit drugs have immediate physical effects, but they can also severely hinder psychological and emotional development, especially among young people. Leading a healthy lifestyle requires making choices that are mindful of body and mind. To make these choices, young people need guidance from role models and need to get the facts about drug use. The international campaign provides young people and others with tools to educate themselves about the health risks associated with illicit drug use.
One cannot run away from the untimely deaths through accidents; upsurge in the number of the mentally derailed; increase in crime rate; unnecessary deformities; disorderliness and disregard for elders. These are obvious dangers posed by illicit drugs on Ghana and its citizens.
The economic impact of drug abuse on businesses whose employees abuse drugs can be significant. Economically, businesses often are affected because employees who abuse drugs sometimes steal cash or supplies, equipment, and products that can be sold to get money to buy drugs.
Moreover, absenteeism, lost productivity and increased use of medical and insurance benefits by employees who abuse drugs affect a business financially.
It is important to appreciate that other crimes whose effect might not be physical but subtle are the economic and commercial crimes associated with drugs. Counterfeiting, currency trafficking, smuggling, tax evasion, bribery, corruption, money laundering are examples of such drug-related crimes which hit weak national economies of states where drug trafficking thrives.
It must be understood that these are corrosive crimes since they undermine the nation, thereby, directly or indirectly generating negative forces that can create political, economic and social tensions. They are crimes that kill slowly but surely.
As K. B. Quantson puts it, "weak economies, with weak weightless currencies, over-liberalised economic policies, in an environment of inordinate, even irrational dependence on foreign consumer items, some of them more exotic than our circumstances dictate, are particularly attractive to drug-dealing because of the ready foreign exchange that they provide".
Certainly, we need not forget the impact on our criminal justice system and the various state institutions that no more function as required because the drug cartels have taken hold of them.
According to the UNODC, many assume that the illicit drug trade is a source of employment without any costs for those unable to find productive work in other sectors. But inevitably the employment gains generated by the drug trade are more than offset by various side effects. Two such effects include the inevitable spillover from drug production into consumption, which impacts negatively on productivity, and the sacrifice of resources diverted from legitimate and more sustainable investments.
Criminal entrepreneurship in any economy introduces a parasitic, anti-competitive approach to doing business as intimidation, violence and extortion rather than free-market competition serve as the primary determinants of resource allocation.
It is important to note that because drug addicts attach little or no value at all to their lives, they consider it a strenuous task to value other people’s lives. To them, life is valueless. Most gory accident scenes that characterize the roads of this country could be a resultant effect of the actions of these addicts who ride bikes or drive cars under the influence of drugs. While some victims lost their lives in the process, others are left with permanent deformities.
David Friedman contends that the link between drugs and violent crime could occur in three ways: violent crime by consumers of drugs, violent crime associated with the production and distribution of drugs, or violent crime directly associated with the attempt to enforce drug prohibition.
Besides, there are crimes such as armed robberies, rape and other violent ones that leave in their wake not only the physical damage inflicted but traumatic scars that haunt the victims for a long time.
The Executive Director of the UNODC, Antonio Maria Costa, warns that the drug problem in West Africa, "is growing exponentially and threatening to turn the region into an epicentre of lawlessness and instability. This is the last thing West Africa needs".
Certainly, no one can run away from the fact that drugs controls his or her life. You might not be trading in drugs or consuming drugs. But it is important to note that drugs do indeed control everyone’s life.
The onus of curbing this menace from escalating lies on all and sundry; nobody is exempted. From the home-front, parents should take it upon themselves to educate, monitor and caution their children on inherent dangers these drugs pose to their lives. This responsibility neither lies on parents alone non the teachers in schools. Both parents and teachers, community elders, government authorities and the general public should be involved in the collective fight against this social menace.
Educational institutions are not left out. They have an enormous task being a key player in children’s life. The task before them involves educating the children on the negative effect of drugs. This could be enhanced by establishing Drug Free Club in schools with the view to propagate the message effectively through debate, drama, workshops and seminars. This means augmenting the efforts of parents who are playing their roles at the home-front and the government through its agencies such as the Narcotics Control Board, Ghana Education Service and the police.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
8 suspected Indian hemp dealers arrested
Page 48: Daily Graphic, July 22, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
EIGHT suspected dealers in Indian hemp have been arrested in two separate operations by the Accra Regional Police Command.
In the operations, 23 maxi bags of the leaves suspected to be Indian hemp and the truck into which it was packed were impounded.
The suspects are Emmanuel Akonortey, 29, the driver of the truck, and his mate, Alex Apetey, 23, who were both arrested on the Madina-Pantang road last Sunday after the police had declined their GH¢5,000 bribe.
The rest — Amidu Mahama, 20, Larkotey Lartey, 34, Mohammed Lamptey, 44, Samuel Armah, 48, Joseph Quartey, 28, and Kojo Baidoo, 20, were all arrested at Avenor in Accra yesterday.
Briefing newsmen after the arrests, the Accra Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Rose Bio Atinga, said last Sunday night a snap check mounted by a team of police personnel intercepted the KIA truck, with registration number GW 3392 V, carrying fresh maize.
She said a thorough search revealed that Akonortey and Apetey had concealed 14 maxi bags of leaves suspected to be Indian hemp beneath the maize.
She said the suspects then offered GH¢5,000 for the police to set them free but they were arrested in the process.
Upon interrogation, the suspects claimed that they were coming from Ehiamankyene, near Begoro, and that they were to discharge the Indian hemp at Agbogbloshie and Ashaiman.
With regard to the Avenor arrest, she said the police had information that some persons had taken delivery of goods and were about disposing of them.
She said a team was immediately dispatched to the scene, resulting in the arrest of Amidu, Larkotey, Mohammed, Samuel, Joseph and Kojo.
DCOP Atinga said Larkotey, Mohammed and Samuel allegedly claimed ownership of the nine maxi bags of suspected Indian hemp, while Amidu, Joseph and Kojo were in the process of buying the leaves when they were arrested.
Story: Albert K. Salia
EIGHT suspected dealers in Indian hemp have been arrested in two separate operations by the Accra Regional Police Command.
In the operations, 23 maxi bags of the leaves suspected to be Indian hemp and the truck into which it was packed were impounded.
The suspects are Emmanuel Akonortey, 29, the driver of the truck, and his mate, Alex Apetey, 23, who were both arrested on the Madina-Pantang road last Sunday after the police had declined their GH¢5,000 bribe.
The rest — Amidu Mahama, 20, Larkotey Lartey, 34, Mohammed Lamptey, 44, Samuel Armah, 48, Joseph Quartey, 28, and Kojo Baidoo, 20, were all arrested at Avenor in Accra yesterday.
Briefing newsmen after the arrests, the Accra Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Rose Bio Atinga, said last Sunday night a snap check mounted by a team of police personnel intercepted the KIA truck, with registration number GW 3392 V, carrying fresh maize.
She said a thorough search revealed that Akonortey and Apetey had concealed 14 maxi bags of leaves suspected to be Indian hemp beneath the maize.
She said the suspects then offered GH¢5,000 for the police to set them free but they were arrested in the process.
Upon interrogation, the suspects claimed that they were coming from Ehiamankyene, near Begoro, and that they were to discharge the Indian hemp at Agbogbloshie and Ashaiman.
With regard to the Avenor arrest, she said the police had information that some persons had taken delivery of goods and were about disposing of them.
She said a team was immediately dispatched to the scene, resulting in the arrest of Amidu, Larkotey, Mohammed, Samuel, Joseph and Kojo.
DCOP Atinga said Larkotey, Mohammed and Samuel allegedly claimed ownership of the nine maxi bags of suspected Indian hemp, while Amidu, Joseph and Kojo were in the process of buying the leaves when they were arrested.
Robbery attempt at fuel station foiled.
Page 3: Daily Graphic, July 21, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
A robbery attempt at the Star Oil Filling Station at Apenkwa in Accra last Sunday was foiled by the police.
Three of the suspected robbers were picked in the process at Sue's Inn Hotel near the filling station. They included the wife of another suspected armed robber who was arrested earlier last Friday.
They are Richardson Owusu, said to be a dealer in stolen items; Eddy, a police informant, and Nana Ama, the wife of the suspected robber who was arrested at Abofu, near Achimota, last Friday.
The Deputy Accra Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Christian Yohuno, confirmed to the Daily Graphic yesterday that an informant had notified her outfit that an armed robbery gang was planning to attack the filling station either at 3 p.m. on Sunday when the last matches of the Premier League would be played or 9 a.m. yesterday.
He said police officers decided to go to the filling station to alert the manager that the station had been put on ‘Red Alert’ and to discuss security issues with him.
He said in the course of discussing the security arrangements, the police had information that the suspected robbers had assembled at a nearby hotel.
ACP Yohuno said the Police Information Room was called for assistance and just as the police team left the station manager’s office, they saw a policeman wielding an kA 47 within the vicinity and immediately signalled him to standby for an exercise.
He said the police moved to the rendezvous of the robbers and upon seeing the police, Richardson and Eddy attempted to speed off on a motorbike but they were arrested by some persons close by, while Nana Ama was arrested later.
He said during interrogation, Richardson allegedly confessed to always receiving and selling the stolen items brought to him by the now wanted robber, identified only as Aryeetey.
He said the suspects, however, denied that they were planning to attack the filling station but explained that they were trying to mobilise funds to seek the release of Nana Ama’s husband, Nicholas Wuda, alias Paapa, 29, who was arrested last Friday along with two others.
ACP Yohuno said a search in Richardson’s room led to the retrieval of a laptop. Richardson later led the police to the houses of two other suspects, Kennedy Kofi Osei and Totti, where a DVD player, GH¢4,700, as well as a laptop, were retrieved.
With regard to Wuda’s arrest last Friday, ACP Yohuno said the police received information that four persons were sharing money and other items suspected to have been stolen.
He said personnel were, therefore, mobilised to Abofu, near Achimota, where Wuda was arrested.
He said when Wuda was interrogated, he allegedly admitted to leading a gang to rob a white man at vicinity of the Kotoka Airport where he claimed he and his gang operated.
ACP Yohuno said Wuda led the police to arrest Kwasi Ansah, alias Nima Yaro, 25, at Achimota, although he stays at Nii Boi Town, where a 32-inch LCD and other items were retrieved.
He said while at the police station, Seidu Mamoud, who claimed to be a brother of Ansah’s, showed up seeking for bail for Ansah.
According to the police boss, the police found $200 on Seidu and upon interrogation he allegedly admitted to being part of the Airport robbery operations.
ACP Yohuno said when the police went to search Mamoud’s room, CD players, a plasma TV and a DVD player were retrieved.
Story: Albert K. Salia
A robbery attempt at the Star Oil Filling Station at Apenkwa in Accra last Sunday was foiled by the police.
Three of the suspected robbers were picked in the process at Sue's Inn Hotel near the filling station. They included the wife of another suspected armed robber who was arrested earlier last Friday.
They are Richardson Owusu, said to be a dealer in stolen items; Eddy, a police informant, and Nana Ama, the wife of the suspected robber who was arrested at Abofu, near Achimota, last Friday.
The Deputy Accra Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Christian Yohuno, confirmed to the Daily Graphic yesterday that an informant had notified her outfit that an armed robbery gang was planning to attack the filling station either at 3 p.m. on Sunday when the last matches of the Premier League would be played or 9 a.m. yesterday.
He said police officers decided to go to the filling station to alert the manager that the station had been put on ‘Red Alert’ and to discuss security issues with him.
He said in the course of discussing the security arrangements, the police had information that the suspected robbers had assembled at a nearby hotel.
ACP Yohuno said the Police Information Room was called for assistance and just as the police team left the station manager’s office, they saw a policeman wielding an kA 47 within the vicinity and immediately signalled him to standby for an exercise.
He said the police moved to the rendezvous of the robbers and upon seeing the police, Richardson and Eddy attempted to speed off on a motorbike but they were arrested by some persons close by, while Nana Ama was arrested later.
He said during interrogation, Richardson allegedly confessed to always receiving and selling the stolen items brought to him by the now wanted robber, identified only as Aryeetey.
He said the suspects, however, denied that they were planning to attack the filling station but explained that they were trying to mobilise funds to seek the release of Nana Ama’s husband, Nicholas Wuda, alias Paapa, 29, who was arrested last Friday along with two others.
ACP Yohuno said a search in Richardson’s room led to the retrieval of a laptop. Richardson later led the police to the houses of two other suspects, Kennedy Kofi Osei and Totti, where a DVD player, GH¢4,700, as well as a laptop, were retrieved.
With regard to Wuda’s arrest last Friday, ACP Yohuno said the police received information that four persons were sharing money and other items suspected to have been stolen.
He said personnel were, therefore, mobilised to Abofu, near Achimota, where Wuda was arrested.
He said when Wuda was interrogated, he allegedly admitted to leading a gang to rob a white man at vicinity of the Kotoka Airport where he claimed he and his gang operated.
ACP Yohuno said Wuda led the police to arrest Kwasi Ansah, alias Nima Yaro, 25, at Achimota, although he stays at Nii Boi Town, where a 32-inch LCD and other items were retrieved.
He said while at the police station, Seidu Mamoud, who claimed to be a brother of Ansah’s, showed up seeking for bail for Ansah.
According to the police boss, the police found $200 on Seidu and upon interrogation he allegedly admitted to being part of the Airport robbery operations.
ACP Yohuno said when the police went to search Mamoud’s room, CD players, a plasma TV and a DVD player were retrieved.
World hockey chief calls on Prez Mills
Page 62: Daily Graphic, July 20, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
PRESIDENT John Evans Atta Mills has pledged the government’s commitment to continue the development and expansion of hockey facilities in the country to attract more people into the game.
He said Ghana was endowed with skilful persons to play hockey but the inadequacy of the facilities had made many of them to coil.
President Atta Mills made the pledge when a delegation of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) led by its President, Mr Leandro Negre, paid a courtesy call on him at the Castle, Osu, to thank him for the government’s support for the hosting of the 9th Hockey African Cup of Nations which ended in Accra last Saturday.
He said hockey had had serious challenges in the last two decades in the country but said the hosting of the competition had reignited some enthusiasm in the game.
According to him, with hockey, organisers must endeavour to catch the players young to sustain their interest and pledged to continue from where the Africa Hockey Federation (AfHF) had left off so that many more people, especially the youth would be attracted to the game.
President Atta Mills expressed satisfaction at the success of the competition and reminded the teams that it was the spirit with which they played the matches that made it successful and not by winning or losing.
He commended the AfHF for the support in selecting Ghana to host the event and also providing technical assistance.
President Atta Mills commended the chairman of the Ghana Hockey Association, Mr Oko Nikoi Dzani, and his colleagues for making the games a success.
He said hockey was close to his heart and indicated that but for politics, “I will still be playing hockey.”
The President and his Chief of Staff, Mr Newman, used to play hockey together but Mr Newman later quit for cricket.
The acting Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo, said it was the commitment of the ministry to make hockey the most sought-after game after soccer in Ghana.
The President of International Federation of Hockey, Mr Negre, said he was impressed with hockey pitch and the facilities provided for the competition.
He observed that hockey was still developing in Ghana but was hopeful that with the kind of facilities being provided, Ghana would soon be a household name in hockey circles.
Story: Albert K. Salia
PRESIDENT John Evans Atta Mills has pledged the government’s commitment to continue the development and expansion of hockey facilities in the country to attract more people into the game.
He said Ghana was endowed with skilful persons to play hockey but the inadequacy of the facilities had made many of them to coil.
President Atta Mills made the pledge when a delegation of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) led by its President, Mr Leandro Negre, paid a courtesy call on him at the Castle, Osu, to thank him for the government’s support for the hosting of the 9th Hockey African Cup of Nations which ended in Accra last Saturday.
He said hockey had had serious challenges in the last two decades in the country but said the hosting of the competition had reignited some enthusiasm in the game.
According to him, with hockey, organisers must endeavour to catch the players young to sustain their interest and pledged to continue from where the Africa Hockey Federation (AfHF) had left off so that many more people, especially the youth would be attracted to the game.
President Atta Mills expressed satisfaction at the success of the competition and reminded the teams that it was the spirit with which they played the matches that made it successful and not by winning or losing.
He commended the AfHF for the support in selecting Ghana to host the event and also providing technical assistance.
President Atta Mills commended the chairman of the Ghana Hockey Association, Mr Oko Nikoi Dzani, and his colleagues for making the games a success.
He said hockey was close to his heart and indicated that but for politics, “I will still be playing hockey.”
The President and his Chief of Staff, Mr Newman, used to play hockey together but Mr Newman later quit for cricket.
The acting Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo, said it was the commitment of the ministry to make hockey the most sought-after game after soccer in Ghana.
The President of International Federation of Hockey, Mr Negre, said he was impressed with hockey pitch and the facilities provided for the competition.
He observed that hockey was still developing in Ghana but was hopeful that with the kind of facilities being provided, Ghana would soon be a household name in hockey circles.
Show interest in cases involving suspected criminals
Page 47: Daily Graphic, July 20, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
A SECURITY analyst, Mr Emmanuel Sowatey, has called on Ghanaians to show interest in cases involving suspected criminals to their logical conclusion.
He said the people’s interest in cases of crime should not just be the jubilation at the arrest of suspected criminals but should be followed through to their logical conclusion.
“Laudable as the efforts of the security agencies are in dealing with armed robberies, we need also to concurrently monitor the prosecution process of suspected armed robbers,” he told the Daily Graphic at the weekend.
Mr Sowatey explained that the success of the security agencies in dealing with crime hinged on the efficiency and collaboration of other actors in the fight against crime.
“This means that the overall success of Operation Calm Life is partly dependent on the efficiency and effectiveness of the entire criminal justice system.
According to him, there had been instances where the zeal of security operatives had diminished as a consequence of badly prepared prosecutors and sometimes suspicious judgements.
Mr Sowatey said there was, therefore, the need for oversight bodies such as the legislature and its various select committees on security issues, the media and civil society organisations to show keen interest in how the prosecution of suspected armed robbers, for instance, would be handled.
“If the justice system is seen to be fair, transparent and fast, other critical components of our security will fall in place. Additionally, people will be less willing to employ instant action as a way to punish and deter criminals,” he stated.
He said security personnel might also not be trigger happy if after they had risked their lives to apprehend suspects, they saw the suspects on the streets sometimes going back to commit the same or similar crime that led to their earlier arrest.
“Thus a cynical cycle of arrested, released on bail and re-arrested is engendered or put into motion. I am not arguing that suspects are criminals and that every such suspect be treated as a criminal. I believe in following the due process of the law. Yet, I have a serious problem if the prosecution of suspects is slow and not given the needed attention,” he stressed.
Mr Sowatey urged Ghanaians to report those who illegally dealt in arms, whether civilians or security personnel, to the appropriate authorities.
Story: Albert K. Salia
A SECURITY analyst, Mr Emmanuel Sowatey, has called on Ghanaians to show interest in cases involving suspected criminals to their logical conclusion.
He said the people’s interest in cases of crime should not just be the jubilation at the arrest of suspected criminals but should be followed through to their logical conclusion.
“Laudable as the efforts of the security agencies are in dealing with armed robberies, we need also to concurrently monitor the prosecution process of suspected armed robbers,” he told the Daily Graphic at the weekend.
Mr Sowatey explained that the success of the security agencies in dealing with crime hinged on the efficiency and collaboration of other actors in the fight against crime.
“This means that the overall success of Operation Calm Life is partly dependent on the efficiency and effectiveness of the entire criminal justice system.
According to him, there had been instances where the zeal of security operatives had diminished as a consequence of badly prepared prosecutors and sometimes suspicious judgements.
Mr Sowatey said there was, therefore, the need for oversight bodies such as the legislature and its various select committees on security issues, the media and civil society organisations to show keen interest in how the prosecution of suspected armed robbers, for instance, would be handled.
“If the justice system is seen to be fair, transparent and fast, other critical components of our security will fall in place. Additionally, people will be less willing to employ instant action as a way to punish and deter criminals,” he stated.
He said security personnel might also not be trigger happy if after they had risked their lives to apprehend suspects, they saw the suspects on the streets sometimes going back to commit the same or similar crime that led to their earlier arrest.
“Thus a cynical cycle of arrested, released on bail and re-arrested is engendered or put into motion. I am not arguing that suspects are criminals and that every such suspect be treated as a criminal. I believe in following the due process of the law. Yet, I have a serious problem if the prosecution of suspects is slow and not given the needed attention,” he stressed.
Mr Sowatey urged Ghanaians to report those who illegally dealt in arms, whether civilians or security personnel, to the appropriate authorities.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Let's promote justice - IGP
Page 31: Daily Graphic, July 17, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Paul Quaye, has called for a healthy partnership and collaboration among all institutions involved in the criminal justice delivery system to ensure effectiveness and efficiency in the dispensation of justice in the country.
“Criminals should not celebrate or feast over the spoils of criminality on account of the weaknesses which arise from our non-co-operation,” he said.
In an interview after participating in a high-level dialogue on the promotion of justice for stakeholder institutions, including human rights advocacy groups, in Accra yesterday, Mr Quaye stressed the need for the Ghana Police Service, the Attorney-General’s Department, the Judicial Service, the Ghana Prisons Service (GPS) and the Ghana Bar Association to co-operate as interrelated, inter-connected and interdependent institutions to achieve the ends of justice.
He said those institutions should be complementing one another’s statutory work towards the same goal, that is, the greater benefit of the country, but not see themselves as “being in competition with one another as sister institutions”.
The IGP cited areas such as criminal prosecutions, dealing with remand prisoners, granting of bail and delays in the criminal justice systems which required greater collaboration to resolve.
He said the responsibility for enforcing law and order in any legal jurisdiction had never been the sole burden of the police.
He said the enterprise of criminal justice administration entailed a positive collaborative involvement of the police, the courts, the A-G’s Department, the GPS, the Legal Aid Scheme, the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), as well as other civil society stakeholder institutions whose mandate made them important partners in the pursuit of the promotion and protection of human rights, towards achieving freedom and justice.
“Besides these institutions, individual citizens also have a civic duty to contribute towards the maintenance of law and order and the preservation of societal harmony.
Mr Quaye explained that law enforcement was sometimes seen as being at odds with civil liberties, as the process of enforcing the law sometimes led to the use of minimum levels of force in order to restrain individual members of society.
Touching on the specific challenges confronting justice delivery, he said by law the police had responsibility for mounting criminal prosecutions, mostly in second degree felonies and misdemeanours.
He said although the A-G’s Department had the power to prosecute in a large majority of cases, it did not preclude the role of the police to conduct investigations, prepare case dockets, charge suspects for court, initially arraign and escort suspects to the courts.
“In all these processes, the general public tends to make the police the focal point of sharp criticisms when problems such as delays or lapses in the judicial processes occur. Regrettably, the police often take the blame, even for adjournments made by the courts of competent jurisdiction,” he said.
Mr Quaye said fingers were also often pointed at the police when accused persons were discharged for lack of evidence or delays by the A-G’s office delays in studying criminal dockets.
He, however, conceded that some policemen also, by their professional incompetence or negligence, contributed in a large measure to stalling and undermining the judicial process.
According to him, another area of serious concern to the Police Administration was the problem investigators and prosecutors encountered in dealing with remand prisoners.
He said although the problems of dealing with remand prisoners cut across the work of all the institutions involved in criminal justice administration, “the police often come up for adverse comments when things go wrong, especially when there are problems regarding transporting prisoners/suspects to and from the prisons/police stations, the expeditious issue of remand warrants and the custody and feeding of prisoners for short periods when cases are adjourned.
Mr Quaye expressed regret that sometimes prisoners were escorted all the way from the Nsawam Prison to Accra only for the mentioning of the cases, for duties or adjournments by the courts.
He said bail granting had become the “waterloo” of many police investigations and the entire trial process.
The IGP said the discretionary power to grant police enquiry bail had often been abused by some police investigators, with suspects involved in serious cases being granted bail under dubious circumstances without regard to appropriate procedures.
He said in other circumstances, the courts had granted bail on the merits of individual cases in which the police got the blame when problems cropped up, especially in cases when suspects absconded.
Mr Quaye said it was in view of some of those challenges that he was calling for healthy partnership among all the stakeholder institutions to ensure that the motto of the country, “Freedom and Justice”, was exercised.
“The Police Administration is doing all it can to ensure that its personnel involved in criminal investigations and prosecutions in all our communities accord the maximum levels of co-operation to our sister institutions,” he said.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Paul Quaye, has called for a healthy partnership and collaboration among all institutions involved in the criminal justice delivery system to ensure effectiveness and efficiency in the dispensation of justice in the country.
“Criminals should not celebrate or feast over the spoils of criminality on account of the weaknesses which arise from our non-co-operation,” he said.
In an interview after participating in a high-level dialogue on the promotion of justice for stakeholder institutions, including human rights advocacy groups, in Accra yesterday, Mr Quaye stressed the need for the Ghana Police Service, the Attorney-General’s Department, the Judicial Service, the Ghana Prisons Service (GPS) and the Ghana Bar Association to co-operate as interrelated, inter-connected and interdependent institutions to achieve the ends of justice.
He said those institutions should be complementing one another’s statutory work towards the same goal, that is, the greater benefit of the country, but not see themselves as “being in competition with one another as sister institutions”.
The IGP cited areas such as criminal prosecutions, dealing with remand prisoners, granting of bail and delays in the criminal justice systems which required greater collaboration to resolve.
He said the responsibility for enforcing law and order in any legal jurisdiction had never been the sole burden of the police.
He said the enterprise of criminal justice administration entailed a positive collaborative involvement of the police, the courts, the A-G’s Department, the GPS, the Legal Aid Scheme, the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), as well as other civil society stakeholder institutions whose mandate made them important partners in the pursuit of the promotion and protection of human rights, towards achieving freedom and justice.
“Besides these institutions, individual citizens also have a civic duty to contribute towards the maintenance of law and order and the preservation of societal harmony.
Mr Quaye explained that law enforcement was sometimes seen as being at odds with civil liberties, as the process of enforcing the law sometimes led to the use of minimum levels of force in order to restrain individual members of society.
Touching on the specific challenges confronting justice delivery, he said by law the police had responsibility for mounting criminal prosecutions, mostly in second degree felonies and misdemeanours.
He said although the A-G’s Department had the power to prosecute in a large majority of cases, it did not preclude the role of the police to conduct investigations, prepare case dockets, charge suspects for court, initially arraign and escort suspects to the courts.
“In all these processes, the general public tends to make the police the focal point of sharp criticisms when problems such as delays or lapses in the judicial processes occur. Regrettably, the police often take the blame, even for adjournments made by the courts of competent jurisdiction,” he said.
Mr Quaye said fingers were also often pointed at the police when accused persons were discharged for lack of evidence or delays by the A-G’s office delays in studying criminal dockets.
He, however, conceded that some policemen also, by their professional incompetence or negligence, contributed in a large measure to stalling and undermining the judicial process.
According to him, another area of serious concern to the Police Administration was the problem investigators and prosecutors encountered in dealing with remand prisoners.
He said although the problems of dealing with remand prisoners cut across the work of all the institutions involved in criminal justice administration, “the police often come up for adverse comments when things go wrong, especially when there are problems regarding transporting prisoners/suspects to and from the prisons/police stations, the expeditious issue of remand warrants and the custody and feeding of prisoners for short periods when cases are adjourned.
Mr Quaye expressed regret that sometimes prisoners were escorted all the way from the Nsawam Prison to Accra only for the mentioning of the cases, for duties or adjournments by the courts.
He said bail granting had become the “waterloo” of many police investigations and the entire trial process.
The IGP said the discretionary power to grant police enquiry bail had often been abused by some police investigators, with suspects involved in serious cases being granted bail under dubious circumstances without regard to appropriate procedures.
He said in other circumstances, the courts had granted bail on the merits of individual cases in which the police got the blame when problems cropped up, especially in cases when suspects absconded.
Mr Quaye said it was in view of some of those challenges that he was calling for healthy partnership among all the stakeholder institutions to ensure that the motto of the country, “Freedom and Justice”, was exercised.
“The Police Administration is doing all it can to ensure that its personnel involved in criminal investigations and prosecutions in all our communities accord the maximum levels of co-operation to our sister institutions,” he said.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Police to deal with armed thugs
Page 55: Daily Graphic, July 16, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Police Administration has directed its personnel to go all out to use every legitimate means to deal with armed thugs.
“The police personnel have been asked to use the appropriate force that is legitimate, legal and reasonable and also to be accountable to the people of Ghana in whatever situation they find themselves,” it said.
The Director of Public Affairs of the Ghana Police Service, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Samuel Kwesi Ofori, told the Daily Graphic in response to accusations of extra-judicial killings against personnel engaging in shoot-out with armed robbers that those making the accusations were insincere with themselves.
According to him, instead of submitting themselves to arrest after the police had intervened in the Anwiankwanta incident for instance, the robbers started shooting at the police, resulting in an injury to one of the policemen.
He also cited another incident at Mampong in the Ashanti Region recently in which the armed thugs made passengers to have sex in the open after robbing them of their personal effects and another incident at Anwiankwanta in which a policeman was shot dead.
DSP Ofori said whatever the level of gunshot injury a police personnel sustained, it was a threat to their survival, for which reason the police must respond appropriately.
“If armed thugs can with impunity shoot to kill legitimate officers such as the police and the military with their illegal weapons in their unlawful acts, then the police have the right to fight crime and defend themselves,” he said, stressing that “we see it as acts of insurgency and will not allow this banditry to continue”.
He stated that the security personnel were paid to engage in fighting crime, to ensure that decent and hardworking people enjoyed their rest and the fruits of their hard work, therefore, they would do whatever it could within any logistics constraints to fulfil that mandate.
Meanwhile, the Director-General in charge of Administration and Human Resource, Commissioner of Police (COP) Mohammed Alhassan, has commended the personnel of the service who were engaged in thwarting the Anwiankwanta, Ashaiman and Madina robberies on Monday.
At the weekly Inspector General of Police (IGP) parade yesterday, Mr Alhassan assured members of the public that the police would use all legitimate means they could marshall to bring the scourge of armed robbery under control.
He said the personnel were psychologically and physically prepared to combat crime and, therefore, called on the public to support the police.
He reminded the public of the reward package of GH¢2,000 to GH¢5,000 for those who provided information leading to the arrest and successful prosecution of criminals.
Between the dawn of Monday, July 13, 2009 to about 8pm that same day, three robberies were foiled by the Accra, Tema and Ashanti Regional Police Commands.
In the first case at Madina, the armed robbers fled and left behind an AK47 rifle with 34 rounds of ammunition while at Ashaiman later in the day, the Tema police foiled a robbery at the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) cash point which resulted in the death of one of the robbers.
Then at about 7:30pm at Anwiankwanta on the Bekwai-Obuasi road, eight armed robbers, all believed to be of Fulani extraction, were killed in a shoot-out with a team from the Police Buffalo Unit.
Four others believed to have sustained gunshot wounds managed to escape into the bush and the police have called on the public, especially those manning medical centres, to be on the lookout for anyone with suspected gunshot wounds who might seek medical attention.
The robbers had barricaded the road about 7 p.m. and succeeded in robbing and molesting many travellers on the road when a detachment from the Police Buffalo Unit descended on them.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Police Administration has directed its personnel to go all out to use every legitimate means to deal with armed thugs.
“The police personnel have been asked to use the appropriate force that is legitimate, legal and reasonable and also to be accountable to the people of Ghana in whatever situation they find themselves,” it said.
The Director of Public Affairs of the Ghana Police Service, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Samuel Kwesi Ofori, told the Daily Graphic in response to accusations of extra-judicial killings against personnel engaging in shoot-out with armed robbers that those making the accusations were insincere with themselves.
According to him, instead of submitting themselves to arrest after the police had intervened in the Anwiankwanta incident for instance, the robbers started shooting at the police, resulting in an injury to one of the policemen.
He also cited another incident at Mampong in the Ashanti Region recently in which the armed thugs made passengers to have sex in the open after robbing them of their personal effects and another incident at Anwiankwanta in which a policeman was shot dead.
DSP Ofori said whatever the level of gunshot injury a police personnel sustained, it was a threat to their survival, for which reason the police must respond appropriately.
“If armed thugs can with impunity shoot to kill legitimate officers such as the police and the military with their illegal weapons in their unlawful acts, then the police have the right to fight crime and defend themselves,” he said, stressing that “we see it as acts of insurgency and will not allow this banditry to continue”.
He stated that the security personnel were paid to engage in fighting crime, to ensure that decent and hardworking people enjoyed their rest and the fruits of their hard work, therefore, they would do whatever it could within any logistics constraints to fulfil that mandate.
Meanwhile, the Director-General in charge of Administration and Human Resource, Commissioner of Police (COP) Mohammed Alhassan, has commended the personnel of the service who were engaged in thwarting the Anwiankwanta, Ashaiman and Madina robberies on Monday.
At the weekly Inspector General of Police (IGP) parade yesterday, Mr Alhassan assured members of the public that the police would use all legitimate means they could marshall to bring the scourge of armed robbery under control.
He said the personnel were psychologically and physically prepared to combat crime and, therefore, called on the public to support the police.
He reminded the public of the reward package of GH¢2,000 to GH¢5,000 for those who provided information leading to the arrest and successful prosecution of criminals.
Between the dawn of Monday, July 13, 2009 to about 8pm that same day, three robberies were foiled by the Accra, Tema and Ashanti Regional Police Commands.
In the first case at Madina, the armed robbers fled and left behind an AK47 rifle with 34 rounds of ammunition while at Ashaiman later in the day, the Tema police foiled a robbery at the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) cash point which resulted in the death of one of the robbers.
Then at about 7:30pm at Anwiankwanta on the Bekwai-Obuasi road, eight armed robbers, all believed to be of Fulani extraction, were killed in a shoot-out with a team from the Police Buffalo Unit.
Four others believed to have sustained gunshot wounds managed to escape into the bush and the police have called on the public, especially those manning medical centres, to be on the lookout for anyone with suspected gunshot wounds who might seek medical attention.
The robbers had barricaded the road about 7 p.m. and succeeded in robbing and molesting many travellers on the road when a detachment from the Police Buffalo Unit descended on them.
Police arrest member of armed robbery gang
Page 47: Daily Graphic, July 16, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Kwabenya Police have arrested a member of the robbery gang that allegedly attacked a house at Ashongman Estates in Accra on June 28, 2009.
Rauf Sulemana alias Buttocks, was arrested at his hideout at Nima after he had left his known residence at Konkomba market.
He was alleged to have done the surveillance on the house in question and informed other members of the five-member gang to rob it.
The Daily Graphic in its July 1, 2009 issue published the story of the arrest of two suspected armed robbers after they attacked a house at Ashongman Estates in Accra.
The suspects, Joseph Adam, 21, a Nigerian, and Ben Kwame, 22, a Ghanaian, were among five armed robbers who attacked the house at about 7:20p.m. on June 28. Two cartridges were retrieved from Adam when the police pursued him after they were called by a resident of the house.
Three locally manufactured weapons and some bangles were later retrieved from a kiosk belonging Sulemana Rauf at the Konkomba Market, although he and two others escaped.
During the robbery at Ashongman, the suspects took away £1,000, $1,000 and GH¢2,800.
The Deputy Accra Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Christian Yohuno, told the Daily Graphic in Accra last Tuesday that after his arrest, Rauf allegedly admitted knowing about the robbery but denied taking part in it.
He said Rauf claimed that he was invited by Joseph Adams to participate in the robbery but he declined.
According to him, Rauf claimed that one of the suspects on the run, who had been identified only as Aminu, later asked him (Rauf) to meet him at Circle for his share of the money for the role he played in the exercise.
ACP Yohuno said the suspect claimed that Aminu failed to show up when he went to Circle to meet him and indicated that it was at that point that Rauf’s sister called to inform him that the police were after him.
Accordingly, he said, the suspect said he went to stay in Nima to avoid being arrested.
In a related development, the Cantonments Police are also investigating three young men on suspicion of being armed robbers.
The three, Ibrahim Issah, Eric Nyarko and Benjamin Dumfeh, are currently in custody.
Briefing the Daily Graphic in Accra last Tuesday, the Cantonments District Police Commander, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Alex Kumangtani, said Issah Ibrahim was rushed to the 37 Military Hospital at about 8:30p.m. on July 8, 2009 with wounds on his head and back.
He said at about 12 noon on July 9, 2009, while still on admission, Eric and Benjamin went to the hospital and attempted to smuggle Issah out but they were arrested by the Military Police.
According to ASP Kumangtani, Eric and Benjamin claimed upon interrogation that someone called them that Issah had been discharged and that they should go the hospital to take him home.
He said they claimed that the three of them were co-tenants at Shiashie, a surburb of Accra.
ASP Kumangtani said when Issah was questioned on the cause of his wounds, he claimed he was attacked by some people.
He, however, said Issah failed to mention where the incident took place, neither did he report the attack to the police.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Kwabenya Police have arrested a member of the robbery gang that allegedly attacked a house at Ashongman Estates in Accra on June 28, 2009.
Rauf Sulemana alias Buttocks, was arrested at his hideout at Nima after he had left his known residence at Konkomba market.
He was alleged to have done the surveillance on the house in question and informed other members of the five-member gang to rob it.
The Daily Graphic in its July 1, 2009 issue published the story of the arrest of two suspected armed robbers after they attacked a house at Ashongman Estates in Accra.
The suspects, Joseph Adam, 21, a Nigerian, and Ben Kwame, 22, a Ghanaian, were among five armed robbers who attacked the house at about 7:20p.m. on June 28. Two cartridges were retrieved from Adam when the police pursued him after they were called by a resident of the house.
Three locally manufactured weapons and some bangles were later retrieved from a kiosk belonging Sulemana Rauf at the Konkomba Market, although he and two others escaped.
During the robbery at Ashongman, the suspects took away £1,000, $1,000 and GH¢2,800.
The Deputy Accra Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Christian Yohuno, told the Daily Graphic in Accra last Tuesday that after his arrest, Rauf allegedly admitted knowing about the robbery but denied taking part in it.
He said Rauf claimed that he was invited by Joseph Adams to participate in the robbery but he declined.
According to him, Rauf claimed that one of the suspects on the run, who had been identified only as Aminu, later asked him (Rauf) to meet him at Circle for his share of the money for the role he played in the exercise.
ACP Yohuno said the suspect claimed that Aminu failed to show up when he went to Circle to meet him and indicated that it was at that point that Rauf’s sister called to inform him that the police were after him.
Accordingly, he said, the suspect said he went to stay in Nima to avoid being arrested.
In a related development, the Cantonments Police are also investigating three young men on suspicion of being armed robbers.
The three, Ibrahim Issah, Eric Nyarko and Benjamin Dumfeh, are currently in custody.
Briefing the Daily Graphic in Accra last Tuesday, the Cantonments District Police Commander, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Alex Kumangtani, said Issah Ibrahim was rushed to the 37 Military Hospital at about 8:30p.m. on July 8, 2009 with wounds on his head and back.
He said at about 12 noon on July 9, 2009, while still on admission, Eric and Benjamin went to the hospital and attempted to smuggle Issah out but they were arrested by the Military Police.
According to ASP Kumangtani, Eric and Benjamin claimed upon interrogation that someone called them that Issah had been discharged and that they should go the hospital to take him home.
He said they claimed that the three of them were co-tenants at Shiashie, a surburb of Accra.
ASP Kumangtani said when Issah was questioned on the cause of his wounds, he claimed he was attacked by some people.
He, however, said Issah failed to mention where the incident took place, neither did he report the attack to the police.
Police Service lists crime prone areas
Page 14: Daily Graphic, July 16, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Operations Department of the Ghana Police Service has listed all the crime-prone areas within the Greater Accra and Ashanti regions for appropriate strategies to deal with the criminal activities in those areas.
While intensifying its measures to deal with criminal activities in those areas, it has also asked residents, motorists and pedestrians within those areas to be extra vigilant and take personal security measures to augment that of the police.
It has also extended its activities to areas which were not listed as crime prone, as precautionary measures to stem any attempt of criminals to change to those areas.
In the Greater Accra Region, the police listed areas as Adenta Housing Down, Dome Pillar 2, Ashalley Botwe, East Legon, South Odorkor, Dansoman and Nungua-Batsoona as crime-prone areas.
Other areas include Tantra Hills, Lartebiokoshie, Ablekuma-Awoshie, Ritz Madina, Santa Maria, South Ofankor, Spintex Road, Haatso, Adjiringanor, Pokuasi, Awudome Cemetery, Bubiashie cemetery, Dzorwulu, Dome and Nungua.
The rest are Kotobabi, Odorkor, Kwashieman, Kwabenya, Nima Big Gutter, Sowutuom, North Kaneshie, Anyaa, Pig Farm, Obetsebi Lamptey roundabout, Bishop roundabout at Bubiashie and Kaneshie.
In the Ashanti Region, the police named Buorkrom, New Tafo, Ash-Town, Oforikrom, Obuasi, Asokwa, Krofrom, Agona-Asokore, KNUST area, Tafo Nhyiaso, Gyinase, Santasi, Kwamang, Aputagya, Effiduase, Kokorbra and Sepe-Buorkrom.
The rest are Ala Bar area, Race Course area, Ejisu, Essan-Dabiso, Akurem, Adukrom, Okyerekrom, Amakom, Kejetia-Asafo, Bantama, Obuasi-Anyaa, Kokoben, Asokore, Mampong, Kwapanin and Mamponteng.
The Director of Police Public Affairs, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Kwesi Ofori, told the Daily Graphic that people living in those areas must take their personal security and that of their property very seriously.
He said although the police had increased their operations in those areas, it was incumbent on residents to contribute their part.
He said what residents or property owners could do was to reinforce their doors and also provide good lighting systems on their premises.
DSP Ofori said people must also be observant of things and movement of suspicious and even known persons, as well as vehicles and motorcycles.
He said the communities could also start forming neighbourhood watch committees, members of which must be screened by the police to ensure that criminals did not take over the watch committees.
DSP Ofori advised that anytime that they heard of gunshots within their areas, they should immediately call the police hotlines.
He urged parents and residents to take keen interest in persons they found talking to their children as such persons could be soliciting information from them.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Operations Department of the Ghana Police Service has listed all the crime-prone areas within the Greater Accra and Ashanti regions for appropriate strategies to deal with the criminal activities in those areas.
While intensifying its measures to deal with criminal activities in those areas, it has also asked residents, motorists and pedestrians within those areas to be extra vigilant and take personal security measures to augment that of the police.
It has also extended its activities to areas which were not listed as crime prone, as precautionary measures to stem any attempt of criminals to change to those areas.
In the Greater Accra Region, the police listed areas as Adenta Housing Down, Dome Pillar 2, Ashalley Botwe, East Legon, South Odorkor, Dansoman and Nungua-Batsoona as crime-prone areas.
Other areas include Tantra Hills, Lartebiokoshie, Ablekuma-Awoshie, Ritz Madina, Santa Maria, South Ofankor, Spintex Road, Haatso, Adjiringanor, Pokuasi, Awudome Cemetery, Bubiashie cemetery, Dzorwulu, Dome and Nungua.
The rest are Kotobabi, Odorkor, Kwashieman, Kwabenya, Nima Big Gutter, Sowutuom, North Kaneshie, Anyaa, Pig Farm, Obetsebi Lamptey roundabout, Bishop roundabout at Bubiashie and Kaneshie.
In the Ashanti Region, the police named Buorkrom, New Tafo, Ash-Town, Oforikrom, Obuasi, Asokwa, Krofrom, Agona-Asokore, KNUST area, Tafo Nhyiaso, Gyinase, Santasi, Kwamang, Aputagya, Effiduase, Kokorbra and Sepe-Buorkrom.
The rest are Ala Bar area, Race Course area, Ejisu, Essan-Dabiso, Akurem, Adukrom, Okyerekrom, Amakom, Kejetia-Asafo, Bantama, Obuasi-Anyaa, Kokoben, Asokore, Mampong, Kwapanin and Mamponteng.
The Director of Police Public Affairs, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Kwesi Ofori, told the Daily Graphic that people living in those areas must take their personal security and that of their property very seriously.
He said although the police had increased their operations in those areas, it was incumbent on residents to contribute their part.
He said what residents or property owners could do was to reinforce their doors and also provide good lighting systems on their premises.
DSP Ofori said people must also be observant of things and movement of suspicious and even known persons, as well as vehicles and motorcycles.
He said the communities could also start forming neighbourhood watch committees, members of which must be screened by the police to ensure that criminals did not take over the watch committees.
DSP Ofori advised that anytime that they heard of gunshots within their areas, they should immediately call the police hotlines.
He urged parents and residents to take keen interest in persons they found talking to their children as such persons could be soliciting information from them.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
New measures to fight crime
Page 3: Daily Graphic, July 15, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Police Administration has announced new measures to help deal with armed robbery and other criminal activities.
Accordingly, and with immediate effect, all riders of motorbikes and drivers of model of vehicles known to be used for armed robbery will be seriously interrogated if found after 8 p.m.
That follows the realisation that most armed robbers are using motorbikes and some cars to perpetrate crime.
It has also announced a 24-hour patrol system to avoid any gaps in police duties.
Senior officers are now to lead police patrols with immediate effect.
Expatiating on the new measures in an interview yesterday, the Director-General of Police Operations, DCOP John Kudalor, said the questioning and interrogation would, however, not be limited to the known cars used in robberies or criminal activities but other vehicles as well.
He said anyone found on a motorbike after 8 p.m. would be thoroughly interrogated by the police. According to him, it did not matter whether the motorbike was registered or not.
DCOP Kudalor reminded the public that it was unlawful to use an unregistered vehicle after 6 p.m. and gave indication that the police would strictly enforce that law.
With regard to the 24-hour patrol system, he explained that there used to be a lull when patrol teams were taking over from those “falling-out” after performing their duties.
He, however, said with effect from today patrol teams falling out would have to wait till their counterparts took over from them.
DCOP Kudalor said senior police officers from the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police to Superintendent would now lead the various patrol teams, instead of Inspectors and Chief Inspectors.
He said there would also be increased snap checks at various locations and appealed to members of the public to co-operate.
He said the tent cities introduced three weeks ago were to be increased to more vulnerable communities and urged the communities to buy the tent city idea to ensure its success.
An initiative of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Paul Tawiah Quaye, the tent cities are to serve as the first points of call by residents of communities in which they are sited to relay information on suspected criminal activities or suspicious characters within those areas.
Each tent city will be provided with a telephone number to serve the communities and reduce time of response to distress calls.
Already, the tent cities have been mounted at East Legon, the Achimota Golf Club and Dzorwulu, while other areas such as Taifa, Dansoman, Dome Pillar II and Awoshie were being considered, depending on the co-operation of the residents to the citing of the cities there.
Officers on duty at the tent cities will relay any information to the patrol teams within their vicinities.
DCOP Kudalor urged members of the communities in which the tent cities would be located to visit them to interact with the police personnel and share relevant information with them.
He also urged the public to call the Police Operations hotlines 021-773906 and 021-773695 or 191 on Tigo, Vodafone and Kasapa networks.
Meanwhile, the police have advised that people who are not in need of police assistance should not call the numbers to afford people in trouble the opportunity to access those numbers.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Police Administration has announced new measures to help deal with armed robbery and other criminal activities.
Accordingly, and with immediate effect, all riders of motorbikes and drivers of model of vehicles known to be used for armed robbery will be seriously interrogated if found after 8 p.m.
That follows the realisation that most armed robbers are using motorbikes and some cars to perpetrate crime.
It has also announced a 24-hour patrol system to avoid any gaps in police duties.
Senior officers are now to lead police patrols with immediate effect.
Expatiating on the new measures in an interview yesterday, the Director-General of Police Operations, DCOP John Kudalor, said the questioning and interrogation would, however, not be limited to the known cars used in robberies or criminal activities but other vehicles as well.
He said anyone found on a motorbike after 8 p.m. would be thoroughly interrogated by the police. According to him, it did not matter whether the motorbike was registered or not.
DCOP Kudalor reminded the public that it was unlawful to use an unregistered vehicle after 6 p.m. and gave indication that the police would strictly enforce that law.
With regard to the 24-hour patrol system, he explained that there used to be a lull when patrol teams were taking over from those “falling-out” after performing their duties.
He, however, said with effect from today patrol teams falling out would have to wait till their counterparts took over from them.
DCOP Kudalor said senior police officers from the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police to Superintendent would now lead the various patrol teams, instead of Inspectors and Chief Inspectors.
He said there would also be increased snap checks at various locations and appealed to members of the public to co-operate.
He said the tent cities introduced three weeks ago were to be increased to more vulnerable communities and urged the communities to buy the tent city idea to ensure its success.
An initiative of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Paul Tawiah Quaye, the tent cities are to serve as the first points of call by residents of communities in which they are sited to relay information on suspected criminal activities or suspicious characters within those areas.
Each tent city will be provided with a telephone number to serve the communities and reduce time of response to distress calls.
Already, the tent cities have been mounted at East Legon, the Achimota Golf Club and Dzorwulu, while other areas such as Taifa, Dansoman, Dome Pillar II and Awoshie were being considered, depending on the co-operation of the residents to the citing of the cities there.
Officers on duty at the tent cities will relay any information to the patrol teams within their vicinities.
DCOP Kudalor urged members of the communities in which the tent cities would be located to visit them to interact with the police personnel and share relevant information with them.
He also urged the public to call the Police Operations hotlines 021-773906 and 021-773695 or 191 on Tigo, Vodafone and Kasapa networks.
Meanwhile, the police have advised that people who are not in need of police assistance should not call the numbers to afford people in trouble the opportunity to access those numbers.
Govt to revamp forensic lab with EU grant
Page 48: D aily Graphic, July 14, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE government has secured a two-million-euro grant from the European Union (EU) for the revamping of the Police Forensic Laboratory.
The collapsed building of the Detective Training School is also to be reconstructed within the next two years to offer training for detectives.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Paul Quaye, who announced this in Accra yesterday, noted that the collapse of the detective training school and the deplorable state of the forensic laboratory had hampered successful investigations.
He was speaking in Accra at the opening of a six-day training course to develop the professional competencies of senior detectives drawn from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) headquarters and the Accra and Tema regions.
Mr Quaye said the detective school played a pivotal role in producing world-class detectives, who served as the bedrock for the successful detection, investigation and prosecution of many high-profile criminal cases in the country.
“The collapse of the school has had significant negative ramifications for crime management in the country, since many detectives working on cases in recent times have not been formally trained,” he said, adding that “that could probably explain the increasing level of cases still under investigations as our crime statistics are low”.
He said the consistent high number of unresolved cases was worrying and pointed out that the success or otherwise of the course would be measured by the number of cases that they were able to resolve afterwards.
On the forensic laboratory, he said apart from its deplorable state, it had been under-utilised and attributed it to the insufficient awareness of detectives of its potency in authenticating disputed exhibits before the law courts.
Mr Quaye reminded the personnel that if they succeeded in preventing all preventable crimes but failed in detecting all detectable crimes then they had failed as the prime internal security agency of the country.
The IGP, therefore, urged the participants to not only stay focussed on the course but familiarise themselves as a brotherhood of crime officers to facilitate information sharing.
The Director-General of the CID, DCOP Frank Adu-Poku, noted that crime detection and investigation was a specialised field requiring constant training of the personnel.
He said to be able to rise up to the challenges of modern crime, security personnel needed to be constantly trained and resourced.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE government has secured a two-million-euro grant from the European Union (EU) for the revamping of the Police Forensic Laboratory.
The collapsed building of the Detective Training School is also to be reconstructed within the next two years to offer training for detectives.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Paul Quaye, who announced this in Accra yesterday, noted that the collapse of the detective training school and the deplorable state of the forensic laboratory had hampered successful investigations.
He was speaking in Accra at the opening of a six-day training course to develop the professional competencies of senior detectives drawn from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) headquarters and the Accra and Tema regions.
Mr Quaye said the detective school played a pivotal role in producing world-class detectives, who served as the bedrock for the successful detection, investigation and prosecution of many high-profile criminal cases in the country.
“The collapse of the school has had significant negative ramifications for crime management in the country, since many detectives working on cases in recent times have not been formally trained,” he said, adding that “that could probably explain the increasing level of cases still under investigations as our crime statistics are low”.
He said the consistent high number of unresolved cases was worrying and pointed out that the success or otherwise of the course would be measured by the number of cases that they were able to resolve afterwards.
On the forensic laboratory, he said apart from its deplorable state, it had been under-utilised and attributed it to the insufficient awareness of detectives of its potency in authenticating disputed exhibits before the law courts.
Mr Quaye reminded the personnel that if they succeeded in preventing all preventable crimes but failed in detecting all detectable crimes then they had failed as the prime internal security agency of the country.
The IGP, therefore, urged the participants to not only stay focussed on the course but familiarise themselves as a brotherhood of crime officers to facilitate information sharing.
The Director-General of the CID, DCOP Frank Adu-Poku, noted that crime detection and investigation was a specialised field requiring constant training of the personnel.
He said to be able to rise up to the challenges of modern crime, security personnel needed to be constantly trained and resourced.
Monday, July 13, 2009
It's a moving experience
Pages 14/15: Daily Graphic, July 13, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia, Cape Coast.
PRESIDENT Barack Husein Obama has described his tour of the Cape Coast Castle as “a moving experience, a moving moment” and commended those who organised the tour and Ghanaians for preserving that history.
“As painful as it is, I think that it helps to teach all of us that we have to do what we can to fight against the kinds of evils that, sadly, still exist in our world, not just on this continent but in every corner of the globe,” he said.
In a three-minute remark to the press corps at the castle after the tour, President Obama said the castle should be a source of hope as well as repository of painful memories, stressing that, “It reminds us that as bad as history can be, it's always possible to overcome.”
He said the tour was particularly important for his two daughters, Malia and Sasha, who were growing up in such a blessed way, to be reminded that history could take very cruel turns.
The US President was, however, hopeful that one of the things that were imparted to the children during the trip to Ghana, “is their sense of obligation to fight oppression and cruelty wherever it appears, and that any group of people who are degrading another group of people have to be fought against with whatever tools we have available to us.”
He said the extraordinary tour of the castle, was reminiscent of the trip he took to Buchenwald, because it reminded them of the ability of human beings to commit great evil.
“One of the most striking things that I heard was that right above the dungeons in which male captives were kept was a church, and that reminds us that sometimes we can tolerate and stand by great evil even as we think that we're doing good,” he lamented.
Mr Obama said as Americans, and as African Americans, obviously there was a special sense that on one hand, the castle was a place of profound sadness while on the other hand, it was the beginning of journey of experience for most African American .
“And symbolically, to be able to come back with my family, with Michelle and our children, and see the portal through which the Diaspora began, but also to be able to come back here in celebration with the people of Ghana of the extraordinary progress that we've made because of the courage of so many, black and white, to abolish slavery and ultimately win civil rights for all people, I think is a source of hope. It reminds us that as bad as history can be, it's also possible to overcome,” he stated.
Led by Mr Fritz Baffour, Member of Parliament for Ablekuma South, President Obama, his wife Michelle, their daughters and the first lady's mother, Marian Robinson and the godmother of the children, Mama Kay, toured the grounds as a festive crowd of thousands milled outside, pounding drums and dancing in the streets.
People crowded outside the castle to greet Mr Obama, with others climbing onto nearby roofs, vehicle tops and balconies just to catch a glimpse of the US leader.
President Obama also unveiled a plaque to commemorate his visit to the Cape Coast Castle.
Michelle Obama is the great-great granddaughter of African slaves.
Mr Obama smiled and waved at the crowd as he beat protocol arrangement to come outside after the tour, before disappearing with his family and entourage for Accra.
Earlier, the Omanhen of the Oguaa Traditional Area, Osabarima Kwesi Atta had bestowed on the first couple of the USA the titles, Okukurdofo Kofi Obiekwan and Obatan Efua Nyamekye and also offered land to Mr Obama to develop anytime he desired.
The traditional leader also named the street in front of the Castle, Obama Street while the University of Cape Coast honoured the couple with honorary doctorate degrees although they could not be presented with the honours.
Speaking to journalists after President Obama had left, the Central Regional Minister, Ms Ama Benyiwa Doe, described the tour as a boost to the region.
“As a regional minister, I feel a high sense of contentment for the successful hosting of President Obama in Cape Coast. We were given a responsibility and we delivered,” he said.
She said she was particularly happy that God heard the prayers of the people and restrained the rains for period that Mr Obama was in Cape Coast and allowed people to come out in their numbers to watch and celebrate the historic visit.
Ms Benyiwa-Doe was hopeful that the region would benefit greatly from the visit in terms of tourism
She said the people the world over would want to come visit where President Obama visited ,moreso, when the whites thrive on history.
Story: Albert K. Salia, Cape Coast.
PRESIDENT Barack Husein Obama has described his tour of the Cape Coast Castle as “a moving experience, a moving moment” and commended those who organised the tour and Ghanaians for preserving that history.
“As painful as it is, I think that it helps to teach all of us that we have to do what we can to fight against the kinds of evils that, sadly, still exist in our world, not just on this continent but in every corner of the globe,” he said.
In a three-minute remark to the press corps at the castle after the tour, President Obama said the castle should be a source of hope as well as repository of painful memories, stressing that, “It reminds us that as bad as history can be, it's always possible to overcome.”
He said the tour was particularly important for his two daughters, Malia and Sasha, who were growing up in such a blessed way, to be reminded that history could take very cruel turns.
The US President was, however, hopeful that one of the things that were imparted to the children during the trip to Ghana, “is their sense of obligation to fight oppression and cruelty wherever it appears, and that any group of people who are degrading another group of people have to be fought against with whatever tools we have available to us.”
He said the extraordinary tour of the castle, was reminiscent of the trip he took to Buchenwald, because it reminded them of the ability of human beings to commit great evil.
“One of the most striking things that I heard was that right above the dungeons in which male captives were kept was a church, and that reminds us that sometimes we can tolerate and stand by great evil even as we think that we're doing good,” he lamented.
Mr Obama said as Americans, and as African Americans, obviously there was a special sense that on one hand, the castle was a place of profound sadness while on the other hand, it was the beginning of journey of experience for most African American .
“And symbolically, to be able to come back with my family, with Michelle and our children, and see the portal through which the Diaspora began, but also to be able to come back here in celebration with the people of Ghana of the extraordinary progress that we've made because of the courage of so many, black and white, to abolish slavery and ultimately win civil rights for all people, I think is a source of hope. It reminds us that as bad as history can be, it's also possible to overcome,” he stated.
Led by Mr Fritz Baffour, Member of Parliament for Ablekuma South, President Obama, his wife Michelle, their daughters and the first lady's mother, Marian Robinson and the godmother of the children, Mama Kay, toured the grounds as a festive crowd of thousands milled outside, pounding drums and dancing in the streets.
People crowded outside the castle to greet Mr Obama, with others climbing onto nearby roofs, vehicle tops and balconies just to catch a glimpse of the US leader.
President Obama also unveiled a plaque to commemorate his visit to the Cape Coast Castle.
Michelle Obama is the great-great granddaughter of African slaves.
Mr Obama smiled and waved at the crowd as he beat protocol arrangement to come outside after the tour, before disappearing with his family and entourage for Accra.
Earlier, the Omanhen of the Oguaa Traditional Area, Osabarima Kwesi Atta had bestowed on the first couple of the USA the titles, Okukurdofo Kofi Obiekwan and Obatan Efua Nyamekye and also offered land to Mr Obama to develop anytime he desired.
The traditional leader also named the street in front of the Castle, Obama Street while the University of Cape Coast honoured the couple with honorary doctorate degrees although they could not be presented with the honours.
Speaking to journalists after President Obama had left, the Central Regional Minister, Ms Ama Benyiwa Doe, described the tour as a boost to the region.
“As a regional minister, I feel a high sense of contentment for the successful hosting of President Obama in Cape Coast. We were given a responsibility and we delivered,” he said.
She said she was particularly happy that God heard the prayers of the people and restrained the rains for period that Mr Obama was in Cape Coast and allowed people to come out in their numbers to watch and celebrate the historic visit.
Ms Benyiwa-Doe was hopeful that the region would benefit greatly from the visit in terms of tourism
She said the people the world over would want to come visit where President Obama visited ,moreso, when the whites thrive on history.
Impersonator arrested for fraud
Page 25: The Mirror, July 11, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Accra Regional Police have arrested a young man who allegedly posed as a nephew of the flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Election 2008, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to defraud a number of persons of more than GH¢50,000.
The suspect, who introduced himself as “Dr” Kelvin Addo-Dankwah, also told his unsuspecting victims that he was a Level 700 student of the University of Ghana Medical School (UGMS).
He, however, told the police after his arrest that he was known as Kelvin Owusu.
The Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP Rose Bio Atinga, told the Daily Graphic that the suspect befriended a lady some time in October last year, during which he claimed he was a final-year student at the UGMS.
She said the elated lady introduced Kelvin to her elder sister with whom she was staying at Anyaa NIC.
She said in the course of their relationship, Kelvin informed his girlfriend about an intended conference Nana Akufo-Addo was holding in London as part of his campaign to win the 2008 December elections.
According to DCOP Atinga, Kelvin asked if any member of the family of his “sweatheart” was interested in participating in the conference so that he or she could be added to the list.
She said based on that, the girlfriend’s sister was asked to pay GH¢3,100 to facilitate the purchase of a ticket and “oil” the palms of the conference organisers.
She said after collecting the money, Kelvin could no longer be traced and all his three cell phones were switched off.
She said the victim, out of desperation, went to the UGMS to look for Kelvin but the authorities could not trace any student by that name.
The Regional Commander said Kelvin called some time this year on a different number and introduced himself as Ransford, claiming that Kelvin had given him the number to call to allay their fears about the aborted trip.
DCOP Atinga said the victim recognised the voice as that of Kelvin but he denied it and later cut the call.
According to her, the victim later received another call from someone in Sunyani claiming that he too had been defrauded by Kelvin.
She said the caller indicated that he got the lady’s number from Kelvin’s SIM card when they searched his house at Sunyani and that they had seen some communication pertaining to a similar transaction that led to the caller losing more than GH¢8,000.
DCOP Atinga said the caller then informed the lady that the suspect was alleged to be staying at Awoshie Mangoase and requested that she should contact the police in Accra to arrest Kelvin.
She said the lady then lodged a complaint with the police, who, together with the lady, went to Awoshie to arrest Kelvin.
She said soon after the arrest of Kelvin two other complainants reported that they had been defrauded of £1,000 and $1,200.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Accra Regional Police have arrested a young man who allegedly posed as a nephew of the flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Election 2008, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to defraud a number of persons of more than GH¢50,000.
The suspect, who introduced himself as “Dr” Kelvin Addo-Dankwah, also told his unsuspecting victims that he was a Level 700 student of the University of Ghana Medical School (UGMS).
He, however, told the police after his arrest that he was known as Kelvin Owusu.
The Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP Rose Bio Atinga, told the Daily Graphic that the suspect befriended a lady some time in October last year, during which he claimed he was a final-year student at the UGMS.
She said the elated lady introduced Kelvin to her elder sister with whom she was staying at Anyaa NIC.
She said in the course of their relationship, Kelvin informed his girlfriend about an intended conference Nana Akufo-Addo was holding in London as part of his campaign to win the 2008 December elections.
According to DCOP Atinga, Kelvin asked if any member of the family of his “sweatheart” was interested in participating in the conference so that he or she could be added to the list.
She said based on that, the girlfriend’s sister was asked to pay GH¢3,100 to facilitate the purchase of a ticket and “oil” the palms of the conference organisers.
She said after collecting the money, Kelvin could no longer be traced and all his three cell phones were switched off.
She said the victim, out of desperation, went to the UGMS to look for Kelvin but the authorities could not trace any student by that name.
The Regional Commander said Kelvin called some time this year on a different number and introduced himself as Ransford, claiming that Kelvin had given him the number to call to allay their fears about the aborted trip.
DCOP Atinga said the victim recognised the voice as that of Kelvin but he denied it and later cut the call.
According to her, the victim later received another call from someone in Sunyani claiming that he too had been defrauded by Kelvin.
She said the caller indicated that he got the lady’s number from Kelvin’s SIM card when they searched his house at Sunyani and that they had seen some communication pertaining to a similar transaction that led to the caller losing more than GH¢8,000.
DCOP Atinga said the caller then informed the lady that the suspect was alleged to be staying at Awoshie Mangoase and requested that she should contact the police in Accra to arrest Kelvin.
She said the lady then lodged a complaint with the police, who, together with the lady, went to Awoshie to arrest Kelvin.
She said soon after the arrest of Kelvin two other complainants reported that they had been defrauded of £1,000 and $1,200.
Friday, July 10, 2009
It's historic
Page 40: Daily Graphic, July 9, 2009.
Compiled By: Albert K. Salia
POLITICAL relations between Ghana and the United States of America (USA) has been quite friendly since independence except on a few occasions where the relations were strained. However, in the last two decades, the relations have been excellent which have resulted in the visit of two sitting US Presidents, President Bill Clinton in 1998 and President George Bush in 2008.
President Barack Obama’s July 10-11, visit to Ghana has been hailed in many circles with Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Johnnie Carson describing it as a “historic occasion” .
The visit is ostensibly to recognise the progress Ghana has made — particularly in the area of democratisation — which serves as an example to the rest of Africa.
Ghana is a country that has achieved a great deal and is setting up a path of progress both on the economic and the political side which Carson said President Obama’s visit was in part to acknowledge Ghana’s success and progress.
In a June 17 interview with America.gov, Carson commended Ghana for holding “a very successful presidential and parliamentary election in December 2008 and January of this year, which resulted in President John Atta Mills coming to power.
Carson said the change in power was the fifth successful democratic transition of power since the end of military rule in Ghana in 1992, but, more importantly, for all of Africa, it served as an example of the power of democracy.
Carson said: “Ghana was also the first state in sub-Saharan Africa to gain its independence and … today is one of the most vibrant economic and politically important countries in West Africa. Ghana has been a strong contributor to regional stability to African peacekeeping missions in West Africa as well as around the world, and it shortly will become a major producer of petroleum”.
Carson said that “in recognition of Ghana’s success, both in the management of its democracy in country and the management of its economy, it has been recipient of one of the largest Millennium Challenge Account grants given by the United States — an amount in excess of $500 million, which will help to serve as a further catalyst to the development of one of Africa’s most important countries.”
The President and Mrs Obama look forward to strengthening the U.S. relationship with one of her most trusted partners in sub-Saharan Africa, and to highlighting the critical role that sound governance and civil society play in promoting lasting development.
But it is important to note that the relations between Ghana-United States have generally been friendly since Ghana's independence, except for a period of strained relations during the later years of the Nkrumah regime. Ghana was the first country which had United States Peace Corps volunteers sent to in 1961.
Ghana and the United States are signatories to twenty agreements and treaties covering such matters as agricultural commodities, aviation, defense, economic and technical cooperation, education, extradition, postal matters, telecommunications, and treaty obligations. The refusal of the United States to join the International Cocoa Agreement, given Ghana's heavy dependence on cocoa exports to earn hard currency, is the most serious bilateral issue between the two countries.
Relations between the United States and Ghana were particularly rocky in the early 1980s, apparently because of Ghana's relations with Libya. The PNDC government restored diplomatic relations with Libya shortly after coming to power. Libya came to the aid of Ghana soon afterward by providing a much-needed economic assistance. Libya also has extensive financial holdings in Ghana. Rawlings has supported Libya's position that two Libyans accused of bombing a Pan American Airlines flight over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988 should be tried in a neutral country rather than in Britain or the United States.
Relations between the United States and Ghana were further strained by a series of diplomatic incidents in the mid-1980s. In July 1985, a distant relative of Rawlings, Michael Soussoudis, was arrested in the United States and charged with espionage. Despite Soussoudis's conviction, he was exchanged the following December for several known United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) agents in Accra, but not before diplomats had been expelled in both Accra and Washington. In March 1986, a Panamanian-registered ship carrying arms and a number of mercenaries and United States veterans of the Vietnam War was seized off the coast of Brazil. The PNDC charged that the arms and soldiers were destined for Ghana and that they had been financed by a Ghanaian dissident with links to the CIA. During their trial, several crew members admitted that the charges were substantially true. Although they were convicted and imprisoned, three subsequently escaped with what the PNDC alleged was with CIA assistance.
In spite of these incidents, relations between the United States and Ghana improved markedly in
the late 1980s. Former United States president Jimmy Carter visited Ghana in 1986 and again in 1988 and was warmly received by the PNDC. Carter’s Global 2000 agricultural program, which is quite popular with Ghanaian farmers, is helping promote good relations with the United States. In 1989 the United States forgave US$114 million of Ghana's foreign debt, part of a larger debt relief effort by Western nations.
The United States has strongly favoured Ghana's economic and political reform policies, and since the birth of the Fourth Republic and Ghana's return to constitutional rule, has offered assistance to help Ghana institutionalise and consolidate its steps toward democratic governance. In the 1994 financial year, United States development aid totaled about $38 million; in addition, the United States supplied more than $16 million in food aid.
Thousands of Ghanaians have been educated in the United States. Close relations are maintained between educational and scientific institutions, and cultural links, particularly between Ghanaians and African-Americans, are strong.
Through the U.S. International Visitor Programme, Ghanaian parliamentarians and other government officials have become acquainted with U.S. congressional and state legislative practices and have participated in programmes designed to address other issues of interest.
The U.S. and Ghanaian militaries have cooperated in numerous joint training exercises, culminating in Ghanaian participation in the African Crisis Response Initiative, an international activity in which the U.S. facilitates the development of an interoperable peacekeeping capacity among African nations. U.S.-Ghanaian military cooperation continues under the new African Contingency Operations Training and Assistance programme; Ghana’s military was one of the first militaries to receive ACOTA training in early 2003. In addition, there is an active bilateral International Military Education and Training programme. Additionally, Ghana is the site of a U.S.-European Command-funded Exercise Reception Facility that was established to facilitate troop deployments for exercises or crisis response within the region. The facility is a direct result of Ghana's partnership with the United States on a Fuel Hub Initiative. Ghana is one of few African nations selected for the State Partnership Programme, which will promote greater economic ties with U.S. institutions, including the National Guard.
The United States is among Ghana's principal trading partners. The Office of the President of Ghana worked closely with the U.S. Embassy in Accra to establish an American Chamber of Commerce to continue to develop closer economic ties in the private sector. Major U.S. companies operating in the country include Newmont, ADM, Kosmos Energy, Anadarko, DHL, FedEx, UPS, KPMG, ACS, CMS Energy, Coca Cola, S.C. Johnson, Ralston Purina, Star-Kist, A.H. Robins, Sterling, Pfizer, IBM, 3M, Motorola, Stewart & Stevenson, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, and National Cash Register (NCR).
The discovery of major oil reserves in deep water in the Gulf of Guinea has led numerous American petroleum exploration firms to enter the Ghanaian market, and many other firms involved in oil and gas auxiliary services express an interest in starting operations in the country. Mining companies and agri-businesses from the U.S. increased their investments in Ghana recently. Political stability, overall sound economic management, a low crime rate, competitive wages, and an educated, English-speaking workforce have increased Ghana's potential to serve as a West African hub for American businesses.
U.S. development assistance to Ghana in fiscal year 2007 was implemented by USAID, the African Development Foundation, Millennium Challenge Corporation, and others. U.S. development assistance to Ghana in fiscal year 2007 totaled more than $55.1 million, with programmes in small farmer competitiveness, health, including HIV/AIDS and maternal child health, education, and democracy/governance. Ghana was the first country in the world to accept Peace Corps volunteers, and the programme remains one of the largest. Currently, there are more than 150 volunteers in Ghana. Almost half are in the education sector and the others in agro-forestry, small business development, health education, water sanitation, and youth development. Ghana's $547 million compact with the Millennium Challenge Corporation is the most recent achievement in the U.S.-Ghanaian development partnership.
Compiled By: Albert K. Salia
POLITICAL relations between Ghana and the United States of America (USA) has been quite friendly since independence except on a few occasions where the relations were strained. However, in the last two decades, the relations have been excellent which have resulted in the visit of two sitting US Presidents, President Bill Clinton in 1998 and President George Bush in 2008.
President Barack Obama’s July 10-11, visit to Ghana has been hailed in many circles with Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Johnnie Carson describing it as a “historic occasion” .
The visit is ostensibly to recognise the progress Ghana has made — particularly in the area of democratisation — which serves as an example to the rest of Africa.
Ghana is a country that has achieved a great deal and is setting up a path of progress both on the economic and the political side which Carson said President Obama’s visit was in part to acknowledge Ghana’s success and progress.
In a June 17 interview with America.gov, Carson commended Ghana for holding “a very successful presidential and parliamentary election in December 2008 and January of this year, which resulted in President John Atta Mills coming to power.
Carson said the change in power was the fifth successful democratic transition of power since the end of military rule in Ghana in 1992, but, more importantly, for all of Africa, it served as an example of the power of democracy.
Carson said: “Ghana was also the first state in sub-Saharan Africa to gain its independence and … today is one of the most vibrant economic and politically important countries in West Africa. Ghana has been a strong contributor to regional stability to African peacekeeping missions in West Africa as well as around the world, and it shortly will become a major producer of petroleum”.
Carson said that “in recognition of Ghana’s success, both in the management of its democracy in country and the management of its economy, it has been recipient of one of the largest Millennium Challenge Account grants given by the United States — an amount in excess of $500 million, which will help to serve as a further catalyst to the development of one of Africa’s most important countries.”
The President and Mrs Obama look forward to strengthening the U.S. relationship with one of her most trusted partners in sub-Saharan Africa, and to highlighting the critical role that sound governance and civil society play in promoting lasting development.
But it is important to note that the relations between Ghana-United States have generally been friendly since Ghana's independence, except for a period of strained relations during the later years of the Nkrumah regime. Ghana was the first country which had United States Peace Corps volunteers sent to in 1961.
Ghana and the United States are signatories to twenty agreements and treaties covering such matters as agricultural commodities, aviation, defense, economic and technical cooperation, education, extradition, postal matters, telecommunications, and treaty obligations. The refusal of the United States to join the International Cocoa Agreement, given Ghana's heavy dependence on cocoa exports to earn hard currency, is the most serious bilateral issue between the two countries.
Relations between the United States and Ghana were particularly rocky in the early 1980s, apparently because of Ghana's relations with Libya. The PNDC government restored diplomatic relations with Libya shortly after coming to power. Libya came to the aid of Ghana soon afterward by providing a much-needed economic assistance. Libya also has extensive financial holdings in Ghana. Rawlings has supported Libya's position that two Libyans accused of bombing a Pan American Airlines flight over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988 should be tried in a neutral country rather than in Britain or the United States.
Relations between the United States and Ghana were further strained by a series of diplomatic incidents in the mid-1980s. In July 1985, a distant relative of Rawlings, Michael Soussoudis, was arrested in the United States and charged with espionage. Despite Soussoudis's conviction, he was exchanged the following December for several known United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) agents in Accra, but not before diplomats had been expelled in both Accra and Washington. In March 1986, a Panamanian-registered ship carrying arms and a number of mercenaries and United States veterans of the Vietnam War was seized off the coast of Brazil. The PNDC charged that the arms and soldiers were destined for Ghana and that they had been financed by a Ghanaian dissident with links to the CIA. During their trial, several crew members admitted that the charges were substantially true. Although they were convicted and imprisoned, three subsequently escaped with what the PNDC alleged was with CIA assistance.
In spite of these incidents, relations between the United States and Ghana improved markedly in
the late 1980s. Former United States president Jimmy Carter visited Ghana in 1986 and again in 1988 and was warmly received by the PNDC. Carter’s Global 2000 agricultural program, which is quite popular with Ghanaian farmers, is helping promote good relations with the United States. In 1989 the United States forgave US$114 million of Ghana's foreign debt, part of a larger debt relief effort by Western nations.
The United States has strongly favoured Ghana's economic and political reform policies, and since the birth of the Fourth Republic and Ghana's return to constitutional rule, has offered assistance to help Ghana institutionalise and consolidate its steps toward democratic governance. In the 1994 financial year, United States development aid totaled about $38 million; in addition, the United States supplied more than $16 million in food aid.
Thousands of Ghanaians have been educated in the United States. Close relations are maintained between educational and scientific institutions, and cultural links, particularly between Ghanaians and African-Americans, are strong.
Through the U.S. International Visitor Programme, Ghanaian parliamentarians and other government officials have become acquainted with U.S. congressional and state legislative practices and have participated in programmes designed to address other issues of interest.
The U.S. and Ghanaian militaries have cooperated in numerous joint training exercises, culminating in Ghanaian participation in the African Crisis Response Initiative, an international activity in which the U.S. facilitates the development of an interoperable peacekeeping capacity among African nations. U.S.-Ghanaian military cooperation continues under the new African Contingency Operations Training and Assistance programme; Ghana’s military was one of the first militaries to receive ACOTA training in early 2003. In addition, there is an active bilateral International Military Education and Training programme. Additionally, Ghana is the site of a U.S.-European Command-funded Exercise Reception Facility that was established to facilitate troop deployments for exercises or crisis response within the region. The facility is a direct result of Ghana's partnership with the United States on a Fuel Hub Initiative. Ghana is one of few African nations selected for the State Partnership Programme, which will promote greater economic ties with U.S. institutions, including the National Guard.
The United States is among Ghana's principal trading partners. The Office of the President of Ghana worked closely with the U.S. Embassy in Accra to establish an American Chamber of Commerce to continue to develop closer economic ties in the private sector. Major U.S. companies operating in the country include Newmont, ADM, Kosmos Energy, Anadarko, DHL, FedEx, UPS, KPMG, ACS, CMS Energy, Coca Cola, S.C. Johnson, Ralston Purina, Star-Kist, A.H. Robins, Sterling, Pfizer, IBM, 3M, Motorola, Stewart & Stevenson, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, and National Cash Register (NCR).
The discovery of major oil reserves in deep water in the Gulf of Guinea has led numerous American petroleum exploration firms to enter the Ghanaian market, and many other firms involved in oil and gas auxiliary services express an interest in starting operations in the country. Mining companies and agri-businesses from the U.S. increased their investments in Ghana recently. Political stability, overall sound economic management, a low crime rate, competitive wages, and an educated, English-speaking workforce have increased Ghana's potential to serve as a West African hub for American businesses.
U.S. development assistance to Ghana in fiscal year 2007 was implemented by USAID, the African Development Foundation, Millennium Challenge Corporation, and others. U.S. development assistance to Ghana in fiscal year 2007 totaled more than $55.1 million, with programmes in small farmer competitiveness, health, including HIV/AIDS and maternal child health, education, and democracy/governance. Ghana was the first country in the world to accept Peace Corps volunteers, and the programme remains one of the largest. Currently, there are more than 150 volunteers in Ghana. Almost half are in the education sector and the others in agro-forestry, small business development, health education, water sanitation, and youth development. Ghana's $547 million compact with the Millennium Challenge Corporation is the most recent achievement in the U.S.-Ghanaian development partnership.
Police foil takeover of Kasapa company * 19 persons arrested
Page 3: Daily Graphic, July 8, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
NINETEEN persons were yesterday arrested, when their attempt to take over the head office of Kasapa Company was foiled by the timely response of the police.
The suspects were said to have entered the premises of the company and engaged in a scuffle with security officials of the company.
One Mr Kofi Kludjeson, a director of the company, who was alleged to have asked those arrested to take over the place, was later invited by the police and charged for abetment.
Some of the workers were alleged to have sustained injury during the confusion with the machete and club-wielding young men.
At the time of filing this report, the Accra Regional Police Command were taking the statements of the suspects including Mr Kludjeson.
Mr Kludjeson, however, told the police that there was no assault and that those persons being described as thugs were new security personnel he had asked to take over from personnel of InterCom Security on the premises of the company.
The Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP Rose Bio Atinga, told newsmen that the police received a call at about 7 a.m. yesterday that some armed thugs had invaded the premises of Kasapa and assaulting workers on the compound.
She said the information also indicated that the attackers claimed that they had been asked to take over the company.
She said a police detachment sent to the scene resulted in the arrest of the 19 persons.
Investigations are continuing into the case.
Story: Albert K. Salia
NINETEEN persons were yesterday arrested, when their attempt to take over the head office of Kasapa Company was foiled by the timely response of the police.
The suspects were said to have entered the premises of the company and engaged in a scuffle with security officials of the company.
One Mr Kofi Kludjeson, a director of the company, who was alleged to have asked those arrested to take over the place, was later invited by the police and charged for abetment.
Some of the workers were alleged to have sustained injury during the confusion with the machete and club-wielding young men.
At the time of filing this report, the Accra Regional Police Command were taking the statements of the suspects including Mr Kludjeson.
Mr Kludjeson, however, told the police that there was no assault and that those persons being described as thugs were new security personnel he had asked to take over from personnel of InterCom Security on the premises of the company.
The Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP Rose Bio Atinga, told newsmen that the police received a call at about 7 a.m. yesterday that some armed thugs had invaded the premises of Kasapa and assaulting workers on the compound.
She said the information also indicated that the attackers claimed that they had been asked to take over the company.
She said a police detachment sent to the scene resulted in the arrest of the 19 persons.
Investigations are continuing into the case.
Police nab gang member
Page 31: Daily Graphic, July 7, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Tesano District Police have arrested a member of a three-man gang that had been terrorising motorists and pedestrians in and around Abeka Lapaz and robbing them of their personal effects.
Ebenezer Agyapong was arrested after he and two others attacked a ‘trotro’ driver and robbed him of his mobile phone.
The two others — identified only as Eric, alias Shamo, and Tawiah, alias Empire — are currently at large.
The Tesano District Police Commander, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Theodore Hlormenu, told the Daily Graphic that at about 3 a.m. on June 23, 2009, the driver, Mr Kwabena Annor, was waiting at the Apostolic Church Junction at Lapaz for his mate.
He said Agyapong emerged with Eric and Tawiah from the dark wielding machetes and cudgels.
According to him, they attacked the driver and demanded money and his mobile phone from him.
ASP Hlormenu said the driver, however, told Agyapong and his accomplices that he was yet to start work and did not have any money on him.
Based on that, he said, the suspects took away the driver’s mobile phone and left.
He said the Tesano Police launched investigations into the incident as soon as the driver made a report to them.
ASP Hlormenu said it was in the course of the investigations that Agyapong was arrested the same day.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Tesano District Police have arrested a member of a three-man gang that had been terrorising motorists and pedestrians in and around Abeka Lapaz and robbing them of their personal effects.
Ebenezer Agyapong was arrested after he and two others attacked a ‘trotro’ driver and robbed him of his mobile phone.
The two others — identified only as Eric, alias Shamo, and Tawiah, alias Empire — are currently at large.
The Tesano District Police Commander, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Theodore Hlormenu, told the Daily Graphic that at about 3 a.m. on June 23, 2009, the driver, Mr Kwabena Annor, was waiting at the Apostolic Church Junction at Lapaz for his mate.
He said Agyapong emerged with Eric and Tawiah from the dark wielding machetes and cudgels.
According to him, they attacked the driver and demanded money and his mobile phone from him.
ASP Hlormenu said the driver, however, told Agyapong and his accomplices that he was yet to start work and did not have any money on him.
Based on that, he said, the suspects took away the driver’s mobile phone and left.
He said the Tesano Police launched investigations into the incident as soon as the driver made a report to them.
ASP Hlormenu said it was in the course of the investigations that Agyapong was arrested the same day.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Incestuous father jailed 5 years* FIDA says sentence too lenient
Front Page: Daily Graphic, July 4, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE man who fathered five children with his own daughter, Anthony Roland Sampson Bleworda, has been sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for incest.
But a member of the Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Ms Ursla Owusu, says the five-year sentence is too lenient to serve as a deterrent to others.
Reacting to the sentence on various radio programmes later, Ms Owusu suggested that the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) should appeal against the sentence.
Other legal opinions, however, held that the sentence was within the three to 25 years prescribed by the law of the country for such culprits.
The 28-year-old victim in the case is currently being catered for by a non-governmental organisation, while the two daughters she had with her father are being kept at a shelter in Accra.
The other three children (all males) are deceased.
The Accra Circuit Court, presided over by Mr Justice C. A. Wilson, found Bleworda guilty on the incestuous charges preferred against him by the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service.
The Daily Graphic in its September 30, 2008 edition published the bizarre story of Bleworda, a self-proclaimed prophet of the ‘I am-I am’ Nazareth Church, who allegedly fathered five children with his own daughter.
Three of the five children, who were all males, died under mysterious circumstances and were buried secretly after the suspect, Bleworda, 52, had performed some occultic rituals.
The daughter “wife” was hospitalised for treatment and counselling while their two female children were sent to a shelter for rehabilitation.
The facts of the case were that neighbours of Bleworda saw the “couple” naked in their yard with the man running after the woman.
The Public Affairs Officer of DOVVSU, Chief Inspector Irene Oppong, said the couple later dragged their two little daughters into their room and locked themselves inside.
She said some of the onlookers, sensing danger that something could be happening to the family, broke into the room and rescued the two children and their mother to the premises of Christ Miracle Power Mission International at New Ashongman, on suspecting that the woman was mentally disturbed.
According to Chief Inspector Oppong, some of the neighbours later handed over the suspect to the police for investigation.
She said the woman, on September 26, 2008, openly confessed to being the biological daughter of Bleworda.
Chief Inspector Oppong said investigations had revealed that the suspect, an ex-soldier, left Ghana in 1986 for Germany at a time the daughter was only six years old.
According to her, the victim was staying with her aunt at Teshie Camp and joined her father for about a month before he (suspect) returned to Germany again.
Chief Inspector Oppong said the suspect developed interest in his daughter on seeing her and often allegedly laced drinks and food with Indian hemp for her.
She said the suspect would then sexually abuse the victim, something which she said took place for the one-month duration that she stayed with her father.
Upon returning to her aunt, she said, it was detected that the victim was pregnant but she failed to disclose the person responsible for the pregnancy.
Chief Inspector Oppong said the suspect returned from Germany the second time and took custody of the daughter to Brekuso in the Eastern Region.
She explained that on his first return in 2002, the suspect was staying at Taifa Burkina before relocating to Brekuso and finally to Kwabenya.
Chief Inspector Oppong said the victim told investigators that she confessed to her mother about what had been going on between her and her father after reading from the Bible that it was a sin for one to sleep with his or her parents or siblings.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE man who fathered five children with his own daughter, Anthony Roland Sampson Bleworda, has been sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for incest.
But a member of the Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Ms Ursla Owusu, says the five-year sentence is too lenient to serve as a deterrent to others.
Reacting to the sentence on various radio programmes later, Ms Owusu suggested that the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) should appeal against the sentence.
Other legal opinions, however, held that the sentence was within the three to 25 years prescribed by the law of the country for such culprits.
The 28-year-old victim in the case is currently being catered for by a non-governmental organisation, while the two daughters she had with her father are being kept at a shelter in Accra.
The other three children (all males) are deceased.
The Accra Circuit Court, presided over by Mr Justice C. A. Wilson, found Bleworda guilty on the incestuous charges preferred against him by the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service.
The Daily Graphic in its September 30, 2008 edition published the bizarre story of Bleworda, a self-proclaimed prophet of the ‘I am-I am’ Nazareth Church, who allegedly fathered five children with his own daughter.
Three of the five children, who were all males, died under mysterious circumstances and were buried secretly after the suspect, Bleworda, 52, had performed some occultic rituals.
The daughter “wife” was hospitalised for treatment and counselling while their two female children were sent to a shelter for rehabilitation.
The facts of the case were that neighbours of Bleworda saw the “couple” naked in their yard with the man running after the woman.
The Public Affairs Officer of DOVVSU, Chief Inspector Irene Oppong, said the couple later dragged their two little daughters into their room and locked themselves inside.
She said some of the onlookers, sensing danger that something could be happening to the family, broke into the room and rescued the two children and their mother to the premises of Christ Miracle Power Mission International at New Ashongman, on suspecting that the woman was mentally disturbed.
According to Chief Inspector Oppong, some of the neighbours later handed over the suspect to the police for investigation.
She said the woman, on September 26, 2008, openly confessed to being the biological daughter of Bleworda.
Chief Inspector Oppong said investigations had revealed that the suspect, an ex-soldier, left Ghana in 1986 for Germany at a time the daughter was only six years old.
According to her, the victim was staying with her aunt at Teshie Camp and joined her father for about a month before he (suspect) returned to Germany again.
Chief Inspector Oppong said the suspect developed interest in his daughter on seeing her and often allegedly laced drinks and food with Indian hemp for her.
She said the suspect would then sexually abuse the victim, something which she said took place for the one-month duration that she stayed with her father.
Upon returning to her aunt, she said, it was detected that the victim was pregnant but she failed to disclose the person responsible for the pregnancy.
Chief Inspector Oppong said the suspect returned from Germany the second time and took custody of the daughter to Brekuso in the Eastern Region.
She explained that on his first return in 2002, the suspect was staying at Taifa Burkina before relocating to Brekuso and finally to Kwabenya.
Chief Inspector Oppong said the victim told investigators that she confessed to her mother about what had been going on between her and her father after reading from the Bible that it was a sin for one to sleep with his or her parents or siblings.
2 Kidnappers nabbed
Page 20: Daily Graphic, July 4, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
TWO members of a gang that kidnapped two men on Thursday have been arrested by the police.
The suspects, Edward Sena Kabutey, 28, who claims to be the Marketing Manager of Beta Solutions, and Osman Ibrahim, 21, unemployed, allegedly demanded GH¢7,000 from the parents of one of the victims.
Kabutey allegedly used his wife, Beatrice Akuffo, to lure Mr Dickson Anane, 22, at the InterContinental Bank at Osu, where Anane, who was then in the company of his friend, Mr Festus Botchway, 22, forced them into a private car and took them to Fadama at about 12 noon till 10p.m. when they were rescued.
Three others are said to be at large but Kabutey claims he did not kidnap them.
The victims were allegedly beaten, at an uncompleted building at Fadama, while their captors waiting for the ransom money.
The Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP Rose Bio Atinga, told newsmen in Accra that at about 7p.m. on Thursday, four persons reported to the Police Headquarters Information Room that their relatives had been kidnapped.
According to her, the complainants indicated that the kidnappers were demanding GH¢7,000 or “their relative would be dead meat”.
She said a team of policemen were despatched to the Fadama Cluster of Schools park where the kidnappers had agreed to pick up the ransom.
DCOP Atinga said when the team got to the scene, Ibrahim was waiting for the money and was accordingly arrested.
She said Kabutey, who was suspected to be close by, drove away and was pursued by the team.
She said the team pursued Kabutey to the Kaneshie Police Station where he (suspect) claimed he was going to lodge a complaint of fraud against Anane.
Kabutey, however, said Anane defrauded him in South Africa for which Anane was being sought after by the police in South Africa.
As to why he did not report the matter to the police in Ghana, Kabutey said he decided to report the matter after apprehending Anane.
He claimed that he actually went to the Darkuman Police and the CID Headquarters on Thursday night to lodge complaints but he was driven away.
As to whether he went with the suspect to the various police stations, Kabutey said he left the victims in the care of his friends at Fadama.
Story: Albert K. Salia
TWO members of a gang that kidnapped two men on Thursday have been arrested by the police.
The suspects, Edward Sena Kabutey, 28, who claims to be the Marketing Manager of Beta Solutions, and Osman Ibrahim, 21, unemployed, allegedly demanded GH¢7,000 from the parents of one of the victims.
Kabutey allegedly used his wife, Beatrice Akuffo, to lure Mr Dickson Anane, 22, at the InterContinental Bank at Osu, where Anane, who was then in the company of his friend, Mr Festus Botchway, 22, forced them into a private car and took them to Fadama at about 12 noon till 10p.m. when they were rescued.
Three others are said to be at large but Kabutey claims he did not kidnap them.
The victims were allegedly beaten, at an uncompleted building at Fadama, while their captors waiting for the ransom money.
The Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP Rose Bio Atinga, told newsmen in Accra that at about 7p.m. on Thursday, four persons reported to the Police Headquarters Information Room that their relatives had been kidnapped.
According to her, the complainants indicated that the kidnappers were demanding GH¢7,000 or “their relative would be dead meat”.
She said a team of policemen were despatched to the Fadama Cluster of Schools park where the kidnappers had agreed to pick up the ransom.
DCOP Atinga said when the team got to the scene, Ibrahim was waiting for the money and was accordingly arrested.
She said Kabutey, who was suspected to be close by, drove away and was pursued by the team.
She said the team pursued Kabutey to the Kaneshie Police Station where he (suspect) claimed he was going to lodge a complaint of fraud against Anane.
Kabutey, however, said Anane defrauded him in South Africa for which Anane was being sought after by the police in South Africa.
As to why he did not report the matter to the police in Ghana, Kabutey said he decided to report the matter after apprehending Anane.
He claimed that he actually went to the Darkuman Police and the CID Headquarters on Thursday night to lodge complaints but he was driven away.
As to whether he went with the suspect to the various police stations, Kabutey said he left the victims in the care of his friends at Fadama.
Police arrest 3 armed robbers
Page 21: Daily Graphic, July 4, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
ANOTHER swift response by the police on Friday afternoon led to the arrest of three suspected armed robbers who attacked Atala Limited, dealers in building materials, at Christian Village, near Achimota.
The robbers were pursued to the vicinity of the Dome Railway Lines where they were arrested by the police.
The suspects, Dawuda Salifu, 18, Joseph Mensah, 34, and Michael Aryeetey, 23, are currently in custody at the Police Headquarters.
The two motorbikes the robbers used for the robbery have been impounded.
A pistol and some ammunition were also retrieved from them.
It is also suspected that the occupants of a vehicle that accompanied them in the operation might have taken the money the robbers snatched from a cashier and the one in a trunk in the bullion vehicle.
The Director of Operations, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Richmond Boi-Bi-Boi told the Daily Graphic that the police received the distress call in connection with the robbery at about 2:30p.m.
He said the attention of the patrol teams within the area was drawn to the incident and “they pursued them from different angles” resulting in the arrest.
He said on realising that the police were closing in on them, the armed robbers abandoned their motorbikes and took to their heels.
ACP Boi-Bi-Boi said the police, however, arrested them after a hot chase.
He explained that officials of The Trust Bank had gone to the company to collect sales for the period when the incident happened.
According to him, the robbers hit a cashier of the bank who was then holding a bag containing the money she had collected from the Atala Limited.
ACP Boi-Bi-Boi said the robbers again went to the waiting bullion which had been opened to collect the sales of Atala to be placed in it.
He said the money that the officials had earlier collected from their clients in the bullion and kept in a small trunk was also whisked away.
He said the police was, however, not informed about the vehicle hence their attention was on the robbers on the two motorbikes.
Story: Albert K. Salia
ANOTHER swift response by the police on Friday afternoon led to the arrest of three suspected armed robbers who attacked Atala Limited, dealers in building materials, at Christian Village, near Achimota.
The robbers were pursued to the vicinity of the Dome Railway Lines where they were arrested by the police.
The suspects, Dawuda Salifu, 18, Joseph Mensah, 34, and Michael Aryeetey, 23, are currently in custody at the Police Headquarters.
The two motorbikes the robbers used for the robbery have been impounded.
A pistol and some ammunition were also retrieved from them.
It is also suspected that the occupants of a vehicle that accompanied them in the operation might have taken the money the robbers snatched from a cashier and the one in a trunk in the bullion vehicle.
The Director of Operations, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Richmond Boi-Bi-Boi told the Daily Graphic that the police received the distress call in connection with the robbery at about 2:30p.m.
He said the attention of the patrol teams within the area was drawn to the incident and “they pursued them from different angles” resulting in the arrest.
He said on realising that the police were closing in on them, the armed robbers abandoned their motorbikes and took to their heels.
ACP Boi-Bi-Boi said the police, however, arrested them after a hot chase.
He explained that officials of The Trust Bank had gone to the company to collect sales for the period when the incident happened.
According to him, the robbers hit a cashier of the bank who was then holding a bag containing the money she had collected from the Atala Limited.
ACP Boi-Bi-Boi said the robbers again went to the waiting bullion which had been opened to collect the sales of Atala to be placed in it.
He said the money that the officials had earlier collected from their clients in the bullion and kept in a small trunk was also whisked away.
He said the police was, however, not informed about the vehicle hence their attention was on the robbers on the two motorbikes.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
High port charges affecting business
Page 50: Daily Graphic, July 2, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE high port charges in Ghana have been identified as the major contributory factor to the re-routing of imports meant for the country through the Lome Port.
The other factors are the easy manipulation of the system at the land borders and negligible fees charged at the ports of neighbouring countries.
To compound the problem ,Ghana’s loose borders have facilitated smuggling, high interest rates, depreciation of the cedi against the major foreign currencies and the unpredictable petroleum market.
The Corporate Affairs Manager of the Finatrade Group of Companies, Mr John Awuni, told the Daily Graphic that unless the government, port authorities and the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) took drastic measures to stem the tide, more businesses would use the Lome port and resort to illegal activities, a situation, which he noted would let the state lose a lot of revenue.
He explained that besides the ECOWAS and EDIF charges, importers had to pay VAT and NHIL at the ports in Ghana bringing levies alone to about 17 per cent.
That, he said, was apart from other charges such as duties, inspection fees, service charges and fees to the Ghana Shippers Council that importers had to pay.
According to him, the problem would worsen should the government impose 20 per cent levy on rice imports because total levies would rise to about 37 per cent which would result in the relocation of more shipments to the Lome port and its attendant smuggling into the country.
Mr Awuni said the result of such activities was that same products at the market were sold at different prices with those from other ports being sold at lower prices than the products from the Ghanaian ports.
He said smuggling was rampant particularly in the Volta, Western, Brong Ahafo and Ashanti regions.
He said the situation had led to the under-cutting of prices of the smuggled goods particularly rice and canned tomatoes.
According to him, those firms which were still importing their products through the Takoradi and Tema ports suffered the most, as a result most of such firms were re-locating to Lome.
Mr Awuni said there had not been any sustained effort from governments to stop smuggling adding that since genuine business owners did not want to suffer losses, they also had to relocate to Lome where the goods were classified as transit.
He explained that the goods were then reloaded at the land borders where those who used the official entry points paid pittances because they were able to manipulate the system whereas the smugglers used unapproved routes to bring in their commodities without paying anything.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE high port charges in Ghana have been identified as the major contributory factor to the re-routing of imports meant for the country through the Lome Port.
The other factors are the easy manipulation of the system at the land borders and negligible fees charged at the ports of neighbouring countries.
To compound the problem ,Ghana’s loose borders have facilitated smuggling, high interest rates, depreciation of the cedi against the major foreign currencies and the unpredictable petroleum market.
The Corporate Affairs Manager of the Finatrade Group of Companies, Mr John Awuni, told the Daily Graphic that unless the government, port authorities and the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) took drastic measures to stem the tide, more businesses would use the Lome port and resort to illegal activities, a situation, which he noted would let the state lose a lot of revenue.
He explained that besides the ECOWAS and EDIF charges, importers had to pay VAT and NHIL at the ports in Ghana bringing levies alone to about 17 per cent.
That, he said, was apart from other charges such as duties, inspection fees, service charges and fees to the Ghana Shippers Council that importers had to pay.
According to him, the problem would worsen should the government impose 20 per cent levy on rice imports because total levies would rise to about 37 per cent which would result in the relocation of more shipments to the Lome port and its attendant smuggling into the country.
Mr Awuni said the result of such activities was that same products at the market were sold at different prices with those from other ports being sold at lower prices than the products from the Ghanaian ports.
He said smuggling was rampant particularly in the Volta, Western, Brong Ahafo and Ashanti regions.
He said the situation had led to the under-cutting of prices of the smuggled goods particularly rice and canned tomatoes.
According to him, those firms which were still importing their products through the Takoradi and Tema ports suffered the most, as a result most of such firms were re-locating to Lome.
Mr Awuni said there had not been any sustained effort from governments to stop smuggling adding that since genuine business owners did not want to suffer losses, they also had to relocate to Lome where the goods were classified as transit.
He explained that the goods were then reloaded at the land borders where those who used the official entry points paid pittances because they were able to manipulate the system whereas the smugglers used unapproved routes to bring in their commodities without paying anything.
Two arrested for robbery
Page 19: Daily Graphic, July 1, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
TWO suspected armed robbers were on Sunday night arrested by the police after they attacked a house at Ashongman Estates in Accra.
The suspects, Joseph Adam, 21, a Nigerian, and Ben Kwame, 22, a Ghanaian, were among five armed robbers who attacked the house at about 7:20pm on Sunday.
Two cartridges were retrieved from Adam when the police pursued him after they were called by a resident of the house.
Three locally manufactured weapons and some bangles were later retrieved from a kiosk of one of the suspects, Sulemana Rauf, at the Konkomba Market.
Sulemana and two others are currently on the run.
The suspects took away £1,000, $1,000 and GH¢2,800 from the house.
The Accra Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Rose Bio Atinga, told the Daily Graphic that following the distress call, all patrol teams were notified to be on the lookout.
She said a team that was close to the area pursued the robbers but only Adam was arrested.
She said another team arrested Kwame later.
According to her, the police went to the Konkomba Market on Monday after getting information that the other three suspects were hiding there.
DCOP Atinga said none of suspects was found at the hideout when the police called, but were able to retrieve the locally manufactured weapons and bangles in the kiosk that accommodated them.
She reiterated the need for the public to co-operate with the police by providing timely information on suspected criminal activities within their vicinity.
DCOP Atinga said the police had stepped up their fight against armed robbery and other criminal activities through intelligence operations.
She said the police could only succeed if the public shared information that the police might otherwise not be privy to.
Story: Albert K. Salia
TWO suspected armed robbers were on Sunday night arrested by the police after they attacked a house at Ashongman Estates in Accra.
The suspects, Joseph Adam, 21, a Nigerian, and Ben Kwame, 22, a Ghanaian, were among five armed robbers who attacked the house at about 7:20pm on Sunday.
Two cartridges were retrieved from Adam when the police pursued him after they were called by a resident of the house.
Three locally manufactured weapons and some bangles were later retrieved from a kiosk of one of the suspects, Sulemana Rauf, at the Konkomba Market.
Sulemana and two others are currently on the run.
The suspects took away £1,000, $1,000 and GH¢2,800 from the house.
The Accra Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Rose Bio Atinga, told the Daily Graphic that following the distress call, all patrol teams were notified to be on the lookout.
She said a team that was close to the area pursued the robbers but only Adam was arrested.
She said another team arrested Kwame later.
According to her, the police went to the Konkomba Market on Monday after getting information that the other three suspects were hiding there.
DCOP Atinga said none of suspects was found at the hideout when the police called, but were able to retrieve the locally manufactured weapons and bangles in the kiosk that accommodated them.
She reiterated the need for the public to co-operate with the police by providing timely information on suspected criminal activities within their vicinity.
DCOP Atinga said the police had stepped up their fight against armed robbery and other criminal activities through intelligence operations.
She said the police could only succeed if the public shared information that the police might otherwise not be privy to.
IGP orders transfer of CID personnel
Page 3: Daily Graphic, July 1, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Paul Tawiah Quaye, has ordered the immediate transfer of all personnel of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Accra Regional Police Command.
The IGP has further ordered the Regional Command to audit all robbery dockets in the last two years to ascertain the status of the cases.
It formed part of the exercise by the Police Administration to re-organise the department and inject more professionalism into their work.
Mr Quaye has also asked that a service enquiry be instituted against Detective Lance Corporal, Number 39369, Prince Owiredu Bitihene of the CID Unit for allegedly releasing a hardened criminal on police enquiry bail without due recourse to his superiors.
Bitihene is also to be charged as an accomplice in armed robbery.
Sources close to the Regional Police Command told the Daily Graphic that Bitihene was alleged to have released Rauf Abass on or before June 12, 2009, a day or two after he had been arrested together with two others for attacking the Easy Internet Cafe at Tesano at gunpoint and taking away mobile phones, cash and 11 laptops.
Bitihene allegedly collected GH¢200 from the suspect’s agents after which he released him on police enquiry bail.
The other suspects in the case, Sadat Mohammed and Muntari Adams, are still in custody.
The sources described the conduct of Bitihene, who was the investigator in the case, as “unprofessional and unpardonable”.
Sources close to the Office of the IGP told the Daily Graphic yesterday that the IGP had intelligence report that a suspected armed robber, identified as Rauf Abass, had been released by Bitihene.
The sources said when Bitihene got to know that the release of Rauf had reached the IGP, he went into hiding until June 22, 2009 when he resurfaced in the office.
They said Bitihene was alleged to have collected GH¢200 from the suspect’s agents and released him.
Bitihene, the sources said, was also referred to the Police Intelligence and Professional Standards Bureau (PIPS) for further investigations.
The IGP, the sources said, had given strong indication that he would deal ruthlessly with any misguided policeman or woman and recalled telling the personnel to either change or be blown away by the wind of change in the Ghana Police Service.
The sources said the IGP wanted to assure the public that the Police Administration’s effort to combat crime, particularly armed robbery, would not spare any officer who was found culpable in any way.
“The IGP is also fighting crime from within by dealing with indiscipline, misconduct or complicity of personnel in any form of crime,” they said.
The sources said the IGP, therefore, wanted members of the public to have confidence in the Police Administration to relay any information about suspected criminals to senior police officers or to him personally.
“The IGP is determined to purge the Police Service and needs the co-operation of the public,” they added.
Mr Quaye recently announced between GH¢2,000 and GH¢5,000 reward for informants whose information lead to successful arrest and prosecution of criminals.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Paul Tawiah Quaye, has ordered the immediate transfer of all personnel of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Accra Regional Police Command.
The IGP has further ordered the Regional Command to audit all robbery dockets in the last two years to ascertain the status of the cases.
It formed part of the exercise by the Police Administration to re-organise the department and inject more professionalism into their work.
Mr Quaye has also asked that a service enquiry be instituted against Detective Lance Corporal, Number 39369, Prince Owiredu Bitihene of the CID Unit for allegedly releasing a hardened criminal on police enquiry bail without due recourse to his superiors.
Bitihene is also to be charged as an accomplice in armed robbery.
Sources close to the Regional Police Command told the Daily Graphic that Bitihene was alleged to have released Rauf Abass on or before June 12, 2009, a day or two after he had been arrested together with two others for attacking the Easy Internet Cafe at Tesano at gunpoint and taking away mobile phones, cash and 11 laptops.
Bitihene allegedly collected GH¢200 from the suspect’s agents after which he released him on police enquiry bail.
The other suspects in the case, Sadat Mohammed and Muntari Adams, are still in custody.
The sources described the conduct of Bitihene, who was the investigator in the case, as “unprofessional and unpardonable”.
Sources close to the Office of the IGP told the Daily Graphic yesterday that the IGP had intelligence report that a suspected armed robber, identified as Rauf Abass, had been released by Bitihene.
The sources said when Bitihene got to know that the release of Rauf had reached the IGP, he went into hiding until June 22, 2009 when he resurfaced in the office.
They said Bitihene was alleged to have collected GH¢200 from the suspect’s agents and released him.
Bitihene, the sources said, was also referred to the Police Intelligence and Professional Standards Bureau (PIPS) for further investigations.
The IGP, the sources said, had given strong indication that he would deal ruthlessly with any misguided policeman or woman and recalled telling the personnel to either change or be blown away by the wind of change in the Ghana Police Service.
The sources said the IGP wanted to assure the public that the Police Administration’s effort to combat crime, particularly armed robbery, would not spare any officer who was found culpable in any way.
“The IGP is also fighting crime from within by dealing with indiscipline, misconduct or complicity of personnel in any form of crime,” they said.
The sources said the IGP, therefore, wanted members of the public to have confidence in the Police Administration to relay any information about suspected criminals to senior police officers or to him personally.
“The IGP is determined to purge the Police Service and needs the co-operation of the public,” they added.
Mr Quaye recently announced between GH¢2,000 and GH¢5,000 reward for informants whose information lead to successful arrest and prosecution of criminals.
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