Page 24: Daily Graphic, March 30, 2010.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Managing Director of the State Housing Company (SHC), Mr Mark Nii Akwei Ankrah, says the emergence of slums in urban centres indicate that human development is being compromised.
He said the failure to holistically address the challenges of planning meant that slums would continue to emerge no matter how good and well-intentioned government policies were.
Speaking during a courtesy call on the Managing Director of the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) Mr Ibrahim Awal, in Accra yesterday, Mr Ankrah said the SHC was to be reinvigorated to pursue a social housing scheme that would address the housing needs of Ghanaians.
In line with that, he said, a national housing road show would be organised this year to tour the various regions and climax it with a National Housing Conference to bring all stakeholders on board to streamline housing ownership.
Mr Ankrah said what currently existed in the country was a real estate enterprise, which did not factor in the needs of many Ghanaians.
According to him, home ownership was a gradual process but the present system made it appear that it was a one-stop process.
He said he was leading the SHC to revert to its core business of a social housing scheme provider through which prospective home owners would be assisted to own houses.
He said the company was also re-engineering its existing stock of houses through re-development and building of new ones with affordable high quality materials and to suit the needs of owners.
Mr Ankrah said the era of horizontal buildings in urban centres was over and it was important that vertical development was seen as the way out.
He said the vision of achieving affordable and quality houses would require the use of local materials and planning needs of the beneficiary communities, stressing that it should not be a wholesale package of using only a particular building material for all houses across the country.
He cited for instance that the use of clay and other materials could reduce the cost of pavements in the urban centres instead of cement.
“We are bringing in a lot of innovation and flexibility in the design of housing with the ultimate owner or user in mind,” he said.
Mr Ankrah stressed the need for Ghanaians to de-politicise the housing sector, adopt a collective responsibility and think outside the box to address the housing needs.
He explained that despite the low-key activities of the SHC, the company had been acquiring large tracts of land and would make them available for prospective home owners.
He said the company had set up a Professional Advisory Unit to assist prospective home owners, companies and interested groups in instituting home owning scheme for staff.
Mr Ankrah said the company would depend on the media, particularly the GCGL, to educate the populace on housing.
He also expressed concern about the challenges in house numbering in the country, as local assemblies often provided different house numbers other than what were provided by estate firms to their owners and, thus, created problems for identification and use of housings for business transactions.
Mr Awal pledged the support of the GCGL to partner the SHC to educate the populace.
He noted that housing was key in the socio-economic life of Ghanaians and it was, therefore, important that the populace were not only informed but educated as well on the sector.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Monday, March 29, 2010
Another case of defilement at Great Lamptey-Mills
Front Page: Daily Graphic, March 27, 2010.
Story: Albert K. Salia
A MUSIC teacher of Great Lamptey Mills Institute, Gideon Nana Ofei Dodoo, 26, has been arrested by the police for allegedly defiling a nine-year-old pupil of the school.
Police sources said a medical report had confirmed that the victim’s private part had been dangerously tampered with.
Dodoo was alleged to have gone into hiding since March 19, 2010 when the police started looking for him.
He was, however, arrested on Thursday, after school authorities assisted the police to locate his house.
The Tesano Divisional Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Emmanuel Bossoh, told the Daily Graphic that the suspect was alleged to have defiled the victim in November, 2009 but had warned her not to inform anyone about it.
He said the victim claimed that Dodoo told her she would die, if she informed anyone about it.
According to him, the victim said she had to endure the abuse in a toilet where Dodoo always had carnal knowledge of her.
Chief Supt Bossoh said the girl claimed Dodoo would usually ask her to wait for everyone to leave or when the school was very quiet.
He said the victim’s mother, however, detected the changes in the girl and upon interrogation, the girl informed her it was the Music teacher who had been sexually abusing her.
Chief Supt. Bossoh said the victim’s mother reported the matter to the police on March 19, 2010 and also indicated in her complaint that when she went to the school, the authorities allegedly wanted to “settle” her to keep the matter silent.
At the time of filing this report, Chief Supt. Bossoh said the docket was to be referred to the Accra Regional office of the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) to take over the investigations.
Story: Albert K. Salia
A MUSIC teacher of Great Lamptey Mills Institute, Gideon Nana Ofei Dodoo, 26, has been arrested by the police for allegedly defiling a nine-year-old pupil of the school.
Police sources said a medical report had confirmed that the victim’s private part had been dangerously tampered with.
Dodoo was alleged to have gone into hiding since March 19, 2010 when the police started looking for him.
He was, however, arrested on Thursday, after school authorities assisted the police to locate his house.
The Tesano Divisional Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Emmanuel Bossoh, told the Daily Graphic that the suspect was alleged to have defiled the victim in November, 2009 but had warned her not to inform anyone about it.
He said the victim claimed that Dodoo told her she would die, if she informed anyone about it.
According to him, the victim said she had to endure the abuse in a toilet where Dodoo always had carnal knowledge of her.
Chief Supt Bossoh said the girl claimed Dodoo would usually ask her to wait for everyone to leave or when the school was very quiet.
He said the victim’s mother, however, detected the changes in the girl and upon interrogation, the girl informed her it was the Music teacher who had been sexually abusing her.
Chief Supt. Bossoh said the victim’s mother reported the matter to the police on March 19, 2010 and also indicated in her complaint that when she went to the school, the authorities allegedly wanted to “settle” her to keep the matter silent.
At the time of filing this report, Chief Supt. Bossoh said the docket was to be referred to the Accra Regional office of the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) to take over the investigations.
Injunction against Methodist Church
Page 3: Daily Graphic, March 27, 2010.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE embattled Administrative Bishop of the Methodist Church, Ghana, Rt Rev Kow Bosomefi Egyir, on Thursday obtained an interlocutory injunction against the church from holding its extraordinary conference.
The conference, which was to have deliberated on recommendations of the Disciplinary Committee’s Report on the alleged sexual misconduct of Bishop Egyir, was postponed after the Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church, Ghana, Most Rev Emmanuel Asante-Antwi, was served with the injunction.
The church has, however, applied to the Human Rights Court to set aside the injunction.
According to the reliefs sought by Bishop Egyir, the procedures adopted by the Disciplinary Committee were in violation of the church’s constitution.
Moreover, he (Bishop Egyir) was also not given an opportunity to be heard.
It was also the contention of Bishop Egyir that he did not know the complainant or who was complaining and what was being complained about.
Confirming the development in an interview, Most Rev Asante-Antwi said as a law-abiding institution, the church had to comply with the orders of the court.
He said the church, however, took the necessary steps thereafter and had accordingly applied to set the injunction aside.
He explained that as the highest decision-making body of the church, Conference would have to validate or nullify any recommendation by any sub-unit of the church.
Bishop Egyir, who is currently on suspension and holidaying in the United States of America (USA), is alleged to have sexually misconducted himself by allegedly raping the 23-year-old daughter of another high-ranking member of the church.
The alleged victim, a student in a tertiary institution in Ghana, was alleged to have been sent by her father to deliver a parcel to the bishop when the incident allegedly took place.
Bishop Egyir was summoned to appear before the Disciplinary Committee of the church by February 3, 2010.
He was suspended after he had allegedly admitted before a pastoral committee set up to investigate the matter that he had misconducted himself sexually.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE embattled Administrative Bishop of the Methodist Church, Ghana, Rt Rev Kow Bosomefi Egyir, on Thursday obtained an interlocutory injunction against the church from holding its extraordinary conference.
The conference, which was to have deliberated on recommendations of the Disciplinary Committee’s Report on the alleged sexual misconduct of Bishop Egyir, was postponed after the Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church, Ghana, Most Rev Emmanuel Asante-Antwi, was served with the injunction.
The church has, however, applied to the Human Rights Court to set aside the injunction.
According to the reliefs sought by Bishop Egyir, the procedures adopted by the Disciplinary Committee were in violation of the church’s constitution.
Moreover, he (Bishop Egyir) was also not given an opportunity to be heard.
It was also the contention of Bishop Egyir that he did not know the complainant or who was complaining and what was being complained about.
Confirming the development in an interview, Most Rev Asante-Antwi said as a law-abiding institution, the church had to comply with the orders of the court.
He said the church, however, took the necessary steps thereafter and had accordingly applied to set the injunction aside.
He explained that as the highest decision-making body of the church, Conference would have to validate or nullify any recommendation by any sub-unit of the church.
Bishop Egyir, who is currently on suspension and holidaying in the United States of America (USA), is alleged to have sexually misconducted himself by allegedly raping the 23-year-old daughter of another high-ranking member of the church.
The alleged victim, a student in a tertiary institution in Ghana, was alleged to have been sent by her father to deliver a parcel to the bishop when the incident allegedly took place.
Bishop Egyir was summoned to appear before the Disciplinary Committee of the church by February 3, 2010.
He was suspended after he had allegedly admitted before a pastoral committee set up to investigate the matter that he had misconducted himself sexually.
Ayariga receives US trade delegation
Page 32: Daily Graphic, March 27, 2010.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Mahama Ayariga has pledged the government’s commitment to create a conducive business environment to help reduce the cost of doing business in the country.
He said the government acknowledged the challenges of non-availability of capital and technological skills as handicaps which greatly affected the private sector and investment generally.
Speaking during a courtesy call on him by a Louisiana State trade delegation, Mr Ayariga said the government would initiate policies that would reduce the cost of doing business in the country.
He said there already existed incentives in investing in the Free Zones and the deprived areas, particularly in the northern part of the country.
He said the US government continued to support Ghana through a number of initiatives and noted in particular training support being provided by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
The Commercial Counsellor of the US Embassy in Accra, Ms Heather Byrnes, who led the team to the ministry, described the response and support of the government and companies to the delegation as tremendous.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Mahama Ayariga has pledged the government’s commitment to create a conducive business environment to help reduce the cost of doing business in the country.
He said the government acknowledged the challenges of non-availability of capital and technological skills as handicaps which greatly affected the private sector and investment generally.
Speaking during a courtesy call on him by a Louisiana State trade delegation, Mr Ayariga said the government would initiate policies that would reduce the cost of doing business in the country.
He said there already existed incentives in investing in the Free Zones and the deprived areas, particularly in the northern part of the country.
He said the US government continued to support Ghana through a number of initiatives and noted in particular training support being provided by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
The Commercial Counsellor of the US Embassy in Accra, Ms Heather Byrnes, who led the team to the ministry, described the response and support of the government and companies to the delegation as tremendous.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Minister gets tough on shoddy jobs
Page 24: Daily Graphic, March 25, 2010.
Story: Albert K. Salia
ALL contractors, engineers and consultants who undertake, certify and get paid for shoddy jobs at the expense of the taxpayer are to be blacklisted by the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing.
The move has become necessary following the realisation that some firms undertake projects but those projects become non-functional after they have been inaugurated.
The sector minister, Mr Alban Bagbin, told the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday that the ministry was revisiting the possibility of enforcing technical standards in development projects as part of efforts to reduce, if not eliminate, shoddy jobs by contractors and engineers.
He noted that some firms undertook shoddy jobs but got certified and paid for non-operational systems.
He cited the last major works on the Weija pumping station, which was inaugurated in November 2008 but had remained non-functional ever since it was constructed.
Mr Bagbin said the situation had contributed immensely to the water problem facing residents in the Accra and Tema metropolitan areas and indicated that those blacklisted would never be awarded government contracts again.
He noted that although 1,920 cubic millimetres of water was needed for daily urban water supply in 2010, only 634.740 cubic millimetres was produced, leaving a shortfall of 1,285.260 millimetres for managers of the country’s urban water systems to manage.
He said the ministry had outlined a short to medium and long-term strategy to address the water needs of Ghanaians.
In the short-term, the ministry was seeking to address the challenges of sources of water supply, the production, distribution, uses and sustainability of water.
Mr Bagbin said a major challenge to address seriously was that of training the personnel and making them to be disciplined and responsive, passionate and committed to their duties.
“We have a critical number of experienced and knowledgeable personnel but it is important to inspire them to be disciplined and productive,” he said.
He said the short-term objectives also called for more vigilance and protection of the distribution networks to avoid vandalism and tampering of water facilities.
That, he said, would also mean meeting some key users such as hospitals, educational institutions and industries to solicit their assistance in the rationalisation and control of water usage.
Mr Bagbin said the essence of the short-term programme was to reduce the percentage of unaccountable water to liberate the systems to ensure equitable distribution.
He said the percentage of unaccountable water had been put at more than 50 per cent but was quick to add that that amount included water supplied freely to government facilities.
He said that would also call for extensive metering of both government and private sector players to determine the quantum of free water being given out.
In the medium-term, he said, the ministry was seeking to replace all pieces of obsolete equipment and concentrate on the maintenance of the rest to make them functional.
He said the ministry had instituted a buffer zone programme under which people would be encouraged to plant economic trees along the banks of water basins.
Mr Bagbin said the programme was in place at Bawku and indicated that an impact assessment of the programme would soon be done so that it would be replicated in all other areas.
He said there was also a programme to get the youth involved in all activities of the Water Resources Commission so as to catch them young to appreciate the importance of protecting, conserving and managing the country’s water resources.
He said the Water Resources Commission had taken delivery of kits to help individuals along water bodies and water systems to measure the pollution levels of those water bodies so as to help them appreciate the effects of activities on the water sources and their attendant health hazards to the populace.
Mr Bagbin said a heavy dose of investment was required in the long term to address the production and distribution chain but that, he indicated, required a better management system to convince investors to pump money into the sector.
He said the ministry would, therefore, provide leadership to implement good programmes to win the confidence of all stakeholders.
Story: Albert K. Salia
ALL contractors, engineers and consultants who undertake, certify and get paid for shoddy jobs at the expense of the taxpayer are to be blacklisted by the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing.
The move has become necessary following the realisation that some firms undertake projects but those projects become non-functional after they have been inaugurated.
The sector minister, Mr Alban Bagbin, told the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday that the ministry was revisiting the possibility of enforcing technical standards in development projects as part of efforts to reduce, if not eliminate, shoddy jobs by contractors and engineers.
He noted that some firms undertook shoddy jobs but got certified and paid for non-operational systems.
He cited the last major works on the Weija pumping station, which was inaugurated in November 2008 but had remained non-functional ever since it was constructed.
Mr Bagbin said the situation had contributed immensely to the water problem facing residents in the Accra and Tema metropolitan areas and indicated that those blacklisted would never be awarded government contracts again.
He noted that although 1,920 cubic millimetres of water was needed for daily urban water supply in 2010, only 634.740 cubic millimetres was produced, leaving a shortfall of 1,285.260 millimetres for managers of the country’s urban water systems to manage.
He said the ministry had outlined a short to medium and long-term strategy to address the water needs of Ghanaians.
In the short-term, the ministry was seeking to address the challenges of sources of water supply, the production, distribution, uses and sustainability of water.
Mr Bagbin said a major challenge to address seriously was that of training the personnel and making them to be disciplined and responsive, passionate and committed to their duties.
“We have a critical number of experienced and knowledgeable personnel but it is important to inspire them to be disciplined and productive,” he said.
He said the short-term objectives also called for more vigilance and protection of the distribution networks to avoid vandalism and tampering of water facilities.
That, he said, would also mean meeting some key users such as hospitals, educational institutions and industries to solicit their assistance in the rationalisation and control of water usage.
Mr Bagbin said the essence of the short-term programme was to reduce the percentage of unaccountable water to liberate the systems to ensure equitable distribution.
He said the percentage of unaccountable water had been put at more than 50 per cent but was quick to add that that amount included water supplied freely to government facilities.
He said that would also call for extensive metering of both government and private sector players to determine the quantum of free water being given out.
In the medium-term, he said, the ministry was seeking to replace all pieces of obsolete equipment and concentrate on the maintenance of the rest to make them functional.
He said the ministry had instituted a buffer zone programme under which people would be encouraged to plant economic trees along the banks of water basins.
Mr Bagbin said the programme was in place at Bawku and indicated that an impact assessment of the programme would soon be done so that it would be replicated in all other areas.
He said there was also a programme to get the youth involved in all activities of the Water Resources Commission so as to catch them young to appreciate the importance of protecting, conserving and managing the country’s water resources.
He said the Water Resources Commission had taken delivery of kits to help individuals along water bodies and water systems to measure the pollution levels of those water bodies so as to help them appreciate the effects of activities on the water sources and their attendant health hazards to the populace.
Mr Bagbin said a heavy dose of investment was required in the long term to address the production and distribution chain but that, he indicated, required a better management system to convince investors to pump money into the sector.
He said the ministry would, therefore, provide leadership to implement good programmes to win the confidence of all stakeholders.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Mumuni launches bio-passports
Page 25: Daily Graphic, March 24, 2010.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Alhaji Muhammed Mumuni, yesterday launched Ghana’s biometric passports with a call on Ghanaians with valid passports not to rush for the biometric ones.
He said the current generation of machine readable passports would be in use until November 24, 2015, and, therefore, any rush for the biometric passports by even those with valid passports would put unnecessary pressure on the Passport Office.
The launch attracted members of government, Diplomatic Corps, officials of the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, the Ghana Immigration Service, the Ghana Police Service, among others.
With the launch yesterday, Ghana thus joins Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal and Togo in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to be issuing biometric passports.
A Ghanaian company, Buck Press Limited, has been contracted to produce the passport booklets and also set up the Passport Application Centres (PACs).
Under the arrangements, Ecobank, the National Investment Bank, the Ghana Commercial Bank and the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) would sell the passport application forms until such time that selected Ghana Post offices would be included.
A Mobile Passport Application Centre has also been set up to facilitate the applications of physically challenged persons in various institutions.
Alhaji Mumuni said only those in possession of hand-written passports were obliged to change them by April 1, 2010.
Fortunately, he said, some Ghanaians in the Diaspora were in possession of the hand-written passports and indicated that efforts were underway to replace all of them before the April 1, 2010 deadline.
He said the ministry recognised that there would be initial challenges and, therefore, appealed to applicants to exercise restraint, co-operate and support the Passport Office during the early days of the programme.
On the choice of colours for the passports, Alhaji Mumuni explained that the red, blue and green for Diplomatic, Service and Ordinary passports were in conformity with ECOWAS integration agenda.
Alhaji Mumuni said with the commencement of issuance of the biometric passports, there was going to be a reduction of identity theft and other problems associated with the old passports.
He commended the media, particularly the Daily Graphic, which had been in the forefront of educating the public on the transition to biometric passports.
He also expressed appreciation to members of the National Implementation Committee, which was established in 2005, for their dedication and commitment to the successful launch.
Alhaji Mumuni was hopeful that with time, the PACs would be decentralised throughout the country to make them more accessible to Ghanaians.
The acting Chief Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ambassador Lawrence Satuh, said the biometric passport was intended to enhance the dignity of Ghanaians anywhere in the world when they came face to face with immigration and other security agencies.
He noted that the introduction of the biometric passports would not be welcome news to middlemen, passport contractors and connection men, who made it their business to stand between genuine applicants for passports and the issuing authority for their personal gain.
He, therefore, warned them to desist from resorting to any kind of sabotage tactics, since the security agencies had been alerted to deal with them.
The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Ambassador Victor James Gbeho, in an address read on his behalf, described the launch as a significant milestone towards regional integration.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Alhaji Muhammed Mumuni, yesterday launched Ghana’s biometric passports with a call on Ghanaians with valid passports not to rush for the biometric ones.
He said the current generation of machine readable passports would be in use until November 24, 2015, and, therefore, any rush for the biometric passports by even those with valid passports would put unnecessary pressure on the Passport Office.
The launch attracted members of government, Diplomatic Corps, officials of the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, the Ghana Immigration Service, the Ghana Police Service, among others.
With the launch yesterday, Ghana thus joins Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal and Togo in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to be issuing biometric passports.
A Ghanaian company, Buck Press Limited, has been contracted to produce the passport booklets and also set up the Passport Application Centres (PACs).
Under the arrangements, Ecobank, the National Investment Bank, the Ghana Commercial Bank and the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) would sell the passport application forms until such time that selected Ghana Post offices would be included.
A Mobile Passport Application Centre has also been set up to facilitate the applications of physically challenged persons in various institutions.
Alhaji Mumuni said only those in possession of hand-written passports were obliged to change them by April 1, 2010.
Fortunately, he said, some Ghanaians in the Diaspora were in possession of the hand-written passports and indicated that efforts were underway to replace all of them before the April 1, 2010 deadline.
He said the ministry recognised that there would be initial challenges and, therefore, appealed to applicants to exercise restraint, co-operate and support the Passport Office during the early days of the programme.
On the choice of colours for the passports, Alhaji Mumuni explained that the red, blue and green for Diplomatic, Service and Ordinary passports were in conformity with ECOWAS integration agenda.
Alhaji Mumuni said with the commencement of issuance of the biometric passports, there was going to be a reduction of identity theft and other problems associated with the old passports.
He commended the media, particularly the Daily Graphic, which had been in the forefront of educating the public on the transition to biometric passports.
He also expressed appreciation to members of the National Implementation Committee, which was established in 2005, for their dedication and commitment to the successful launch.
Alhaji Mumuni was hopeful that with time, the PACs would be decentralised throughout the country to make them more accessible to Ghanaians.
The acting Chief Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ambassador Lawrence Satuh, said the biometric passport was intended to enhance the dignity of Ghanaians anywhere in the world when they came face to face with immigration and other security agencies.
He noted that the introduction of the biometric passports would not be welcome news to middlemen, passport contractors and connection men, who made it their business to stand between genuine applicants for passports and the issuing authority for their personal gain.
He, therefore, warned them to desist from resorting to any kind of sabotage tactics, since the security agencies had been alerted to deal with them.
The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Ambassador Victor James Gbeho, in an address read on his behalf, described the launch as a significant milestone towards regional integration.
Monday, March 22, 2010
$5,000 ROBBERY * Four cops interdicted
Front Page: Daily Graphic, March 23, 2010.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Police Administration has interdicted four policemen who allegedly attacked and robbed a Belgian national of $5,000, GH¢700 and other personal effects.
The four policemen are Lance Corporal David Koomson of the Panthers Unit; L/Cpl Franklin Turkson of the James Town Police Station; Constable Isaac Shiburah of the Police Hospital and Constable Edward Opoku of the Armoured Car Squadron.
Corporals Shiburah and Opoku are on the run, while L/Cpls Koomson and Turkson, who appeared before the Osu Magistrate Court yesterday on charges of conspiracy to rob and robbery, have been remanded in prison custody to reappear on March 30, 2010.
They will also face a service enquiry.
The Police Administration has, subsequently, placed a handsome bounty on Shiburah and Opoku.
Briefing newsmen in Accra yesterday, the Director of Public Affairs of the Ghana Police Service, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Kwesi Ofori, said the complainant, Thierry Boinnard, a Belgian resident in the USA, was suspected to have been lured into the country by two unidentified men.
He said the two unidentified men met the complainant at the Fiesta Royale Hotel and took him in a taxi to show him a gold refinery.
On reaching a spot near the main entrance of the Achimota Forest, four policemen in a black VW Golf, with registration number AS 3115 T, allegedly intercepted the taxi carrying the Belgian and the two other men.
According to DSP Ofori, the policemen handcuffed the complainant, beat him and took him to a spot near the Kumbaya Hotel, behind Peace FM in Accra, where the four policemen allegedly robbed the complainant of $5,000, GH¢700, a mobile phone worth $1,000 and a gold wristwatch valued at $25.
He said following a public announcement on an Accra-based radio station that some policemen had robbed a foreigner, all the patrol teams were alerted with the description of the VW Golf car the policemen were driving.
He said one of the patrol teams saw a VW Golf being driven by a policeman around the Achimota Golf Club and stopped it.
He said after initial interrogation, the policeman/driver was arrested and driven to the CID Headquarters for further questioning and it was in the course of that that the policeman allegedly admitted to committing the offence and mentioned the names of the others.
DSP Ofori described the two escapees as a risk to society and, therefore, appealed to members of the public to volunteer information leading to their arrest for a handsome reward.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Police Administration has interdicted four policemen who allegedly attacked and robbed a Belgian national of $5,000, GH¢700 and other personal effects.
The four policemen are Lance Corporal David Koomson of the Panthers Unit; L/Cpl Franklin Turkson of the James Town Police Station; Constable Isaac Shiburah of the Police Hospital and Constable Edward Opoku of the Armoured Car Squadron.
Corporals Shiburah and Opoku are on the run, while L/Cpls Koomson and Turkson, who appeared before the Osu Magistrate Court yesterday on charges of conspiracy to rob and robbery, have been remanded in prison custody to reappear on March 30, 2010.
They will also face a service enquiry.
The Police Administration has, subsequently, placed a handsome bounty on Shiburah and Opoku.
Briefing newsmen in Accra yesterday, the Director of Public Affairs of the Ghana Police Service, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Kwesi Ofori, said the complainant, Thierry Boinnard, a Belgian resident in the USA, was suspected to have been lured into the country by two unidentified men.
He said the two unidentified men met the complainant at the Fiesta Royale Hotel and took him in a taxi to show him a gold refinery.
On reaching a spot near the main entrance of the Achimota Forest, four policemen in a black VW Golf, with registration number AS 3115 T, allegedly intercepted the taxi carrying the Belgian and the two other men.
According to DSP Ofori, the policemen handcuffed the complainant, beat him and took him to a spot near the Kumbaya Hotel, behind Peace FM in Accra, where the four policemen allegedly robbed the complainant of $5,000, GH¢700, a mobile phone worth $1,000 and a gold wristwatch valued at $25.
He said following a public announcement on an Accra-based radio station that some policemen had robbed a foreigner, all the patrol teams were alerted with the description of the VW Golf car the policemen were driving.
He said one of the patrol teams saw a VW Golf being driven by a policeman around the Achimota Golf Club and stopped it.
He said after initial interrogation, the policeman/driver was arrested and driven to the CID Headquarters for further questioning and it was in the course of that that the policeman allegedly admitted to committing the offence and mentioned the names of the others.
DSP Ofori described the two escapees as a risk to society and, therefore, appealed to members of the public to volunteer information leading to their arrest for a handsome reward.
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