Special Report By Kofi Coomson
FIRST HAND REPORTS corroborated by Vice-President Kow Nkensen Arkaah's own account suggest that he was attacked from the blind side - his back was facing the President and, therefore, did not see the Fist of Fury that thundered on to his shoulder blade and sent him sprawling at last Thursday's Cabinet meeting.
The force of the punch was enough to drop him on the floor, and as he lay spread-eagled, the 48-year-old Kung-Fu aficionado, President Jerry John Rawlings attempted to pick him up and in Arkaah's own words continue the punch up. But the 68-year-old MBA from Harvard University calculated that it was safer to stay on the floor. The force of JJ on the Veep's coat was enough to rip his coat.
The heavily built six-footer President who was recently awarded two honorary doctorate degrees in America executed two kicks into the ailing Arkaah's groin, screaming rather ironically "BASTARD! BASTARD!" as he pummelled his fater. At this stage the packed Cabinet moved in to restrain the President. Nenyi Arkaah who is a chief of Senya Breku returned three weeks ago from a medical trip in London.
Dr. Rawlings is the chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and a peace maker. The actual peacemaker of the Day was Health Minister Cdr. Steve Obimpeh who created a "Human Shield" - ACDR style - and shepherded the shaken Veep through the door following supplication from other members of the Cabinet for Arkaah to listen to the President's orders for him to leave the room.
All this time, the bodyguards were still outside the door nervously wondering what was going on. It was when Obimpeh heavily stepped out with Arkaah that they understood what the commotion was all about. Obimpeh personally drove Arkaah to his new official residence at Cantoments. No one reprimanded the President and the Council of State including Chairman Bawumia and Dr. Mary Grant saw nothing wrong with that and maintained a studied silence. The Chronicle has learnt that the Cabinet meeting was 'gatecrashed' by at least two people, confirming what the Veep had complained of earlier in the year.
The Veep has been accused of leaking information obtained from Cabinet meetings. All kinds of people who have not sworn the oath of secrecy and may well be the source of any leaks, if any. The two clearly identified by Chronicle Intelligence and confirmed in Police records were Colonel Baryeh, Chief of Staff and Mrs Valerie Sackey of the Public Affairs Secretariat at the Castle. The Police Headquarters according to informed sources was a flurry of activity when the Vice-President made his formal report to the Inspector General of Police. He went with his torn jacket and went through the due process filling the complaint form which he handed over to Mr. J.Y.A.Kwofie and all the three most senior men in the force.
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press.. I DEEM IT MY duty to bring to the notice of the nation, an incident that took place yesterday the 28th instant. Due notification was sent to me by the Cabinet Secretary to attend Cabinet meeting scheduled for Thursday, December 28th, 1995 at 10:00 am, I arrived at the Cabinet room at 10:05 a.m. on Thursday, 28th December and by 10:20 a.m. the majority of members had arrived.
At 10:30 a.m. the President, H.E. Flt. Lt. J.J. Rawlings entered the room and as courtesy demands all present rose. He bid us to resume our seats and he remained standing when he got to his seat which was immediately to my left. He begun to make a statement on the recently held congress of my Party, the National Convention Party, but stopped short midway and without any provocation from me, physically assaulted me. He gave me a terrible blow on the shoulder which sent me falling to the floor. He then attempted to pull me up by the shoulder which sent me falling to the floor. He then attempted to pull me up by the shoulder in order to his me further, he tore the shoulder of the jacket in the process. In his frustration, he kicked me a couple of times in the groin, before members present were able to restrain him. He then declared he did not want me to attend further meetings of the Cabinet because of allegations that I had made statements to the effect that the Cabinet was corrupt.
These allegations were vehemently denied by me but my attempt to stand my ground was met with pleadings from colleagues to leave the room for my own safety as the President was shoving and pushing his way towards me declaring that I should leave forthwith. Throughout all this commotion, I did not attempt at any moment to hit back or throw anything against him due to my respect for him as President of the Republic. I take this opportunity to assure the nation that this extra-ordinary and unfortunate incident will not deter me from carrying out my functions as Vice-President of the Republic as stipulated in the constitution of Ghana. I shall continue to contribute my quota in a collective effort to steer this our nation on the right path to peace, democratic governance, economic and social progress and the general well-being of all our people. Ghana has a glorious destiny and I would appeal to us all to so manage our individual fate to achieve that glorious collective destiny. I wish you all a happy and rewarding New Year and God Bless.
GNA
THE University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) on Sunday said the enhanced allowances announced by the government last Friday do not meet their demands. Mr. Daniel Shardow, President of UTAG, told the GNA "these did not feature in our negotiations with the technical committee appointed by the Speaker of Parliament" He said it was not the government that determined the allowances on rent, vehicle maintenance's on rent, vehicle maintenance, responsibility and entertainment, among others.
"These allowances already exist and they are internal administrative issues that are handled by the University administration". "We want allowances that cut across the board for all academic staff". "What about those lecturers who do not have means of transport and live outside the universities" he asked. He said if anything, the government's unilateral decision on the allowances should have gone through the National Council on Tertiary Education. "That public statement wasn't the line of communication." Reacting to the hike in vehicle maintenance allowance from ¢240,000 to ¢960,000, he said it was not the money per se that UTAG wanted but incentives that would motivate lecturers to stay and attract more to the campus.
Mr. Shardow said what UTAG wanted was the quantification of the benefits "ordinarily granted" to the judiciary since the government had agreed to peg them on salaries of the bench. These benefits include domestic staff, free utility services among others. He said during negotiations with the Technical Committee, UTAG asked for 50 percent of these benefits based on the basic salary of its members. Mr. Shardow said, however, that UTAG was waiting for the government to communicate to them the announced allowance for the executive to meet over it. In its statement on the allowances last Friday, the government directed that academic staff of the universities should pay 50 percent of their assessed rent instead of 75 percent. Lecturers off campus are to enjoy between 12 to 20 gallons of fuel per month.
A woman 24 died a few minutes on admission at the hospital and a man was seriously injured when a sports car on which they were travelling plunged into a drain adjoining the Odaw River near the Kwame Nkrumah Circle at about 2:30 am on Sunday.
The dead has been identified as Miss Cecilia Sam while the injured, Nii Henry Tetteh, is responding to treatment at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. Meanwhile, the Kaneshie division of the Motor Transport and Traffic Union (MTTU) are investigating the background of the victims and the cause of the accident.
From Tony Prempeh, Kumasi
The Narcotics Unit of the Ashanti Regional Police Command had since its establishment arrested 66 people for dealing in narcotic drugs such as Indian Hemp, heroin and cocaine. Of the number 31 are on remand, 27 on court bail, while eight are on police enquiry bail.
Detective Inspector S.B. Sarfo, a member of the unit, disclosed this to the 'Times' in an interview here at the weekend. He said that the 66 persons were rounded up in 26 different cases at Buase, Kumasi Sports Stadium, Zongo, Anloga, Kwadasi, old Amakom and Tinker Island all in Kumasi. Inspector Safor said 16 of the cases were of Indian hemp, seven of heroin and three of cocaine. He appealed to the public to assist the unit to flush out all those involved in the illegal drug trade
By Betsy Okan
THE Odorkor Police have arrested a 42-year-old man who inflicted several cutlass wounds on his wife because she had threatened to seek divorce. The suspect, Kwetei Quartey after committing the act attempted ending his life by drinking the poisonous substance D.D.T. but was saved by relatives who saw him drinking it and rushed him to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital where he is on admission under police guard.
The woman, Madam Agyeman Gyenim, 46, who sustained deep cuts on her face, head and back is also receiving treatment at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. Narrating her story to the "Spectator" at her bedside at the Accident Ward, Madam Agyeman a sand and stone contractor who lives at Nii Boi Town, said she married Kwatei about four years ago and all the years that they've lived together the husband has refused to work although she had encouraged him to join her in her business. She said since her husband was unemployed she bore all the family's expenses and even gave him pocket money daily which he used on drinks.
She decided to divorce the husband with the knowledge of the two families and last week Wednesday the man left for his family house at Palladium in Accra. On Boxing Day Mr. Quartey went to the wife's work side and threatened her in the presence of other workers. The following day at around 12 noon, Madam Agyeman said she went to the site to see her workers. On her way she heard unusual noise behind her, she turned and saw her husband hit her head with the club and she fell down in pain and started bleeding. Mr. Quartey then used a cutlass to slash the left side of her face her head and the back of her neck. He later picked her lady's handbag containing ¢65,000 and other important documents and fled.
Madam Agyeman said she had to crawl from the bush at her worksite at Gbawe to the main road where a good Samaritan saw her and picked her to the Odorkor Police Station where she was sent to the hospital for treatment. Thinking that his wife was dead, Mr. Quartey drank D.D.T. to end his life but was saved by relatives and was rushed to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in a critical condition where he is also on admission. When I contacted him at the hospital in the presence of the police he denied attempting to kill his wife, adding that he is surprised the police suspect him. He said he rather hoped they would settle the issue when they are both out of the hospital.
Contacted Police Inspector B.Y. Attidgogui confirmed the story, saying the case is still under investigation.
By Gyamfi Boaten
The Special Police Command at the Police Head quarters is sitting on a case in which an Accra landlord has petitioned the Inspector General of Police against a decision taken by the Kpeshie Divisional Police in a case involving him and one of his tenants. The landlord, Mr. L.C. Odai of House no. J,476/3, West Klorsai Nungua in Accra is alleged to have picked a quarrel with the wife of a deceased tenant over the balance of a rent advance during which a soldier who intervened was beaten into unconsciousness. He rushed to the Kpeshie Police station ata Nungua and reported that he had been assaulted. But when the police investigated, he was found to be the course of the quarrel and asked to pay the money together with some compensation to the soldier.
Narrating how the incident happened Miss Monica Ofori of the P&T Training school in Accra said she witnessed the tenancy agreement between Mr. L.E. Odai the landlord who is also a illegal to be a teacher at the Presbyterian Secondary School at Nungua and her son--in-law, Mr. Benjamin Debrah on October, 1994. In the agreement Mr. Odai asked Mr. Debrah to pay ¢9,500 a month which the latter agreed to pay. Miss Ofori said Mr. Odai demanded an advance of ¢250,000 being two years rent. He also asked that Mr. Debrah introduces any visitor or stranger that he receives immediately to him.
According to him alcohol and tobacco are strictly forbidden in the house. If he is found to be abusing any of these regulations, he was going to be sacked. Mrs Debrah moved into the room in December of the same year and Mr. Debrah joined her in March this year. But he died a month later in April. According to her Mr. Odai on November 13, 1995 wrote a letter asking the deceased tenant's wife to quit the house by November 30 and collected the balance of the rent advance. But when the woman packed out on November 30 1995 the deadline given by Mr. Odai, he refused and instead asked her to go to the deceased's home town and bring the head of his family. She said a reverend father who accompanied them drew his attention to the fact that the woman is a wedded wife and was the right person to collect the remaining rent advance, but Mr. Odai insulted him.
She said when the widow of the late Debrah who invited the Rev. Father and his brother to assist her collect the money intervened, Mr. Odai pounced on her. The Rev. Father's brother who could not look on unconcerned while the man assaulted the mother also went to her aid but was severely beaten by Mr. Odai and his relatives until he collapsed. He was revived at the 37 Military Hospital.
By Devine Ankamah
Mr. Emmanuel Kwasi Asiedu, 32, driver who could not control his temper when he heard that another man had made love to his wife and therefore sought the assistance of seven strong men to set ablaze the man's kiosk is in trouble. An Amasaman Community Tribunal where Asiedu was arraigned last week Friday has ordered that Asiedu should put up a new kiosk for the man, Kwabena Pascal, 37, from Keta in the Volta Region. He should in addition pay to him an amount of ¢70,000 which got burnt in the process. Asiedu has also been fined ¢50,000 or in default, will go to prison for four months.
Mr. Asiedu, a native of Obo Kwahu told the Tesano police in Accra that on December 12, the wife of Pascal, Abena, came to his house at Akweteman where he lives with his wife, Vivian Abena Asante, that Pascal was flirting with (Asiedu's) wife. According to Asiedu, based on the strength of this information, he confronted his wife, Abena Asante. She initially denied it but later admitted flirting with Pascal. Asiedu said when he later confronted Pascal on the issue, he also denied it. However, he said, Pascal later threatened to beat him if he dare pursue the matter. Asiedu angered by Pascal's behaviour decided to teach him some sense. According to him he mobilised seven young men, and went to Pascal's kiosk at Abeka, pushed it down, poured Kerosene on it and set it ablaze. Abena Asante, 27, also told the police that she had been on good terms with Pascal since he sells her wares near his workshop at Abeka. According to her, four months ago, Pascal proposed love to her but she refused on the grounds that she is married. However, she claimed Pascal asked her to find him a girl which she did. Abena Asante, also a native of Obo Kwahu in the Eastern Region, said she and the friend once visited Pascal at his Amasaman home.
A few days later, Abena Asante said, she told Pascal of her frequent miscarriage she experienced whenever she was pregnant. She said Pascal promised to give her medicine to cure her 'sickness' and therefore invited her to his house at Amasaman for the medicine. At Amasaman, Abena Asante said Pascal gave her a liquid to drink which he claimed was medicine, but she became intoxicated after drinking it and fell asleep. "All I saw later was Pascal on top of me making love to me" she said. According to the woman, Pascal gave her some of the medicine to be taken to her home at Akweteman. She said when she went home she could not inform her husband about the affair. She again told the police that some few days later when she used some of the medicine to wash her face, she found herself in the house of Pascal at Amasaman who again had sex with her. It was at this time, Abena Asante said that she decided to eport the conduct of Pascal to her husband.
Pascal, a block moulder at Abeka on his part, did not confirm or deny to the police whether he had had an affair with Asiedu's wife or not. All he said was that a labourer, Chef de Poste, 24, who sleeps in the kiosk informed him at Amasaman on Friday, December 15 that Asiedu in the company of others had set his kiosk ablaze.