A 22-year-old student, Augustine Torgbo, has been sentenced to six months imprisonment in hard labour for registering twice as a voter.
Torbgo registered at the Ho Polytechnic Registration Centre on October 4 and at the Ho Pleasure Gardens Centre on October 5. He pleaded guilty with explanation to the charge of double registration before the Ho Magistrate Court Grade One, presided over by Mr. Tom Bentil.
Prosecuting, Inspector W.K. Dzogbevia of the Ho Central police station said on October 4, the accused registered at the Ho Polytechnic Registration Centre and was issued with a voters identity card with registration number 071813074 but without a passport picture on it. He said the accused later went to the Ho Pleasure Garden Registration Centre on October 5 in an attempt to register again so that he could be issued with a voters ID card with a picture. It was however, detected that he had registered already because of the presence of indelible ink on his left thumb According to Inspector Dzobgevia when the accused was questioned, he told the registration officers that he initially wanted to register at a centre at Kpando but was not allowed. The Prosecutor said registration officers who noticed the ink on his left thumb became suspicious and caused his arrest.
Mr. Dzogbevia told the court that during interrogation the accused admitted having already registered at the Ho Polytechnic Registration Centre. He said when the police cross-checked, it was confirmed that the accused had already registered at the Ho Polytechnic. In his defence, Torgbo said he was tempted to obtain a Photo ID card because it fascinates him. Torgbo who claims to be a student, appealed to the court to have mercy on him because he did not know that his action constituted an offence.
Passing sentence, Mr. Bentil said the conviction of the accused should serve as a deterrent to others to comport themselves during important national exercises.
FROM TIM DZAMBOE, HO
The shortage of registration materials in some parts of the Accra metropolis still persists, a situation which rendered many registration centres virtually deserted.
A visit by the Graphic to La, Osu, Dansoman and Adabraka, to ascertain the situation on the ground showed inactivity at the various centres. Most of the party agents and registration officials were just idling about the centres, with some of them chatting and sleeping on the desks provided. Though most of the centres did not have registration forms, lamination and photo facilities, as well as indelible ink, another problem that is seemingly engendering the lukewarm attitude in the registration attendants is the issue of the payment of allowances.
A source at the La Presbytarian Senior Secondary School also told the Graphic that the allowance issue has been so disturbing that attendants converged at the school early in the morning, singing slogans in protest of what they termed scanty allowance. At the registration centres at La Wireless cluster of schools, De Gaulle Park, Osu Castle PWD and at the St. Barnabas Anglican School, the situation was no different. Miss Juliana Anyetei, who had just arrived for registration at one of the deserted centres at La, wondered why the Electoral Commission (EC) was not making any serious efforts to salvage the situation. At Dansoman, and Adabraka, however, it was found that most of the registration centres had adequate materials but there were very few people at the various centres.
At the Wesley Grammar Schooll, Miss Doris Otoo, a registration officer, urged the EC to take immediate steps to increase allowances for both party agents and registration officials. Later in a telephone interview, Mr. David Adzeenze-Kanga, Deputy Chairman (Operations) of the EC said the commission is making every effort to rectify it. He said the EC sent out 10.5 million registration forms at the beginning of the exercise even though the registerable population was estimated at about 8.5 million. 'We expect over 2 million forms to be in excess, granted that even a good number of about 500,000 get spoilt,' he explained. He hinted that the EC has got in touch with the printers who will make available 500,000 forms by the end of yesterday. On the question of payment of allowances, Mr. Kanga said it would be paid after exercise.
BY HAROLD WIREDU-GYAN
FROM BRILLIANT HUSHIE, TAMALE
Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, Chairman of the Electoral Commission, has stated that the commission is not convinced that there are not enough forms to go round the estimated nine-million voters expected to be registered during the voters registration exercise.
Dr. Afar-Gyan, briefing the press at Tamale, said almost 10 million registration forms were released to all the registration centres throughout the country. The commission, he therefore said, has begun a nation-wide exercise to collect registration forms from areas with excess to be sent to areas where they are most needed. Dr. Afari-Gyan, however, reiterated that the commission does not intend to extend the registration period beyond the stipulated period, unless there are some pressing circumstances which would demand it. He said despite the initial teething problems of communication, distribution and transport which plagued the exercise, an overwhelming majority of registration centres have witnessed a quite, peaceful and orderly exercise.
The commissioner noted that certain area visited showed that some of the centres are beginning to enter the zero registration period. He said as at 3 p.m. last Sunday, some centres with materials had not registered anybody whilst some had under 10 people registering with the highest outside the city area being 26. This would seem to indicate that in these areas they are about to complete the registration of the eligible persons, he said.
Dr. Afari-Gyan appealed to parents not to push their children who are not qualified by age to register since they would have the chance later. He explained that the new laws on registration allows the opening of the register each year. The commissioner also warned that it is illegal for anybody to be in possession of another person's ID card adding that any such person caught should be handed over or reported to the police for the necessary action.
On the payment of allowances to the registration clerks some of whom he was told had besieged the EC office back in Accra, he assured them that payments will be effected after the exercise.
BY JOE BRADFORD NYINAH
The troubled voters registration exercise suffered another severe setback when registration officials abandoned their posts and took to the streets protesting against what they called the Electoral Commission's mishandling of the exercise.
The protesters, who said they represented the interest of all registration personnel made up of registration officers, assistants, party agents and photographers, complained about the remuneration the commission intends to pay them for their services and the frequent shortage of materials for the exercise.
A spokesman Mr. Konney Laryea, said the commission has failed to monitor their work to ensure that they have enough materials to work with and where they run short of materials they are required to use part of their already inadequate stipend to go to the commission's offices to collect materials. They said they work for 11 hours and are paid only C50,000 for registration officers, C40,000 for assistants and C9,000 for party agents. Asked if they were not aware of their stipends before hand, Mr. Laryea replied in the negative and said they got to know of it from radio and newspapers announcements last Thursday.
They said their training which was supposed to last for two days lasted only for a day and they were told that the issue of the stipend would be discussed later but nothing was heard till the Thursday announcement. They also complained that instead of four persons at a registration centre, there are only three making the work slow and tedious. The protesters said unless something is done about the situation, the exercise could be in jeopardy. In a telephone interview, Mr. David Adzeenze-Kanga, Deputy Chairman, Operations of the commission said what the commission is giving the operatives of the exercise is only an allowance and not salary. He agreed that the issue of the allowance was not discussed before hand but said the issue has now been explained to their satisfaction and they have agreed to go back to their posts.
On the issue of the materials for the exercise, he said, the commission has supervisors who are responsible materials for the exercise, he said, the commission has supervisors who are responsible for supplying the materials and officers have to get in touch with them over all such issues. He agreed that out of enthusiasm to work, an officer who run short of materials and whose supervisor does not come around might want to go to the commission's office to collect some. He said if this is allowed and officers paid their transport, the commission would end up being burdened with unbudgeted for expenditure.
Mr. Adzeenze-Kanga said the commission is not responsible for paying the party agents. He said they are paid by the government and the USAID and the money is only channelled through the commission. He was hopeful that there would be more disruption in the exercise since the operatives accepted all the explanations and even accepted a bus from the commission to go back to their duty posts.
FROM KWAME ASARE BOADU, SUNYANI
The Sunyani police have arrested a 45-year-old bailiff of the Brong Ahafo Regional house of chiefs, who attempted to register twice in the on-going voters registration exercise.
Perhaps realising the danger ahead of him, the man, who claims to be married with seven children wept like a baby at the Regional Police Headquarters and defecated into his pair of trousers. The man, whose real name is Me S.K. Agyemang, had registered at a centre with the name Kwadwo Nsiah before attempting to register again at the police headquarters centre with the name Kwadwo Manu.He told the police that he was influenced by somebody to register twice. He however refused to name that person. Police said the man who is now in cells, will be arraigned before the court soon.
Ofosuhene told the Graphic at the regional police headquarters last Monday that Agyemang came to the centre at about 3:45 p.m. that day to register. Mr. Ofosuhene said he asked Mr. Agyemang a number of questions in line with the procedure of even enquired from him whether he had not registered already. He said at the point, Mr Agyemang took offence and insulted him. The registration officer said after filling the form, he decided to apply some indelible ink to the thumb of Mr. Agymang and to his surprise, some indelible ink was seen on the finger of Agyemang. He however, insisted that he had not registered. When he was searched by the officials at the centre, two photo ID cards of his , one from his workplace, bearing the name of S.K. Agyemang and one voters registration card bearing the name of Kwadwo Nsiah were found on him.
FROM GEORGE FOLEY, TAKORADI
Seventeen suspects have been provisionally charged with the murder of Nana Amoah Gyeby Xiv, Chief Of Apowa. They appeared before the Sekondi Magistrate Grade One Court on Monday. They were remanded in prison custody and are to re-appear on October 16. Their plea was not taken.
They are John Kweku Boadu, Emmanuel Essien, Moses Kwame Joe, Bernard Quaicoo, Kwesi Nsonyameye, Kwabena Panyin, Evangelist Inkumsah, John Eshun and Isaac Biney. The rest are Kwesi Boadu Anamong, Seth Quayson, Cromwell Nketiah, Moses Kwame Peter Essian, Anthony Essian, Emmanuel Arhu and Pious Yankey.. Prosecuting, Sergeant Seth Akowuah told the court presided over by Mr. M.K. Osam that, in the early hours of Thursday October 5 1995, a mob attacked the palace of the chief, assaulted and inflicted severe cutlass wounds on him. He said the chief was later rushed to the Effia-Nkwanta Hospital where died in the evening of the same day.
Sergeant Akowuah said police investigations revealed that the suspects actively took part in the action and were consequently arrested. He said investigations continue. In a related development, a reliable source at the Regional Police Headquarters in Sekondi has disclosed that four other suspects (name withheld) now on the ran, have been identified as those who master-minded the mob action. The source said the police are working around the clock to get the four arrested and explained that the police do not want to make any indiscriminate arrest which will affect the on-going registration exercise. The source said a middle-aged woman who stripped the chief naked during the attack is also helping the police in their investigations.
Meanwhile the riot has adversely affected the registration exercise in that town. This is because many residents deserted the town for fear of their lives. When the Graphic visited the town yesterday, there was virtually no activity as all the registration centres. While some registration officials and party agents were found sleeping, others were idling about. At Apowa Methodist Primary centre, the registration officer, Robert K. Mensah said that until the incident, the residents were registering in their numbers and said so far 572 have registered. Since the problem however, only women, mainly the elderly are registering he added. At Apowa JSS Centre, Felix Aninakwah also said 708 people have registered since the exercise started.
After successfully duping a Tema based car dealer to the tune of c2.7million, a self-acclaimed retired chaplain of the Ghana army, reverend captain John Sam met his waterloo when he was nabbed by his victim at a hotel in south Odorkor, where he was having a good time with his girlfriend.
Mr. Andrews Owusu Asare, who deals in automobiles near the Meridian Hotel is reported to have apprehended the swindler in room number 23 of the hotel (name withheld) upon a tip off on September 16 this year. That was after he had fruitlessly searched for him for about six months, over a fake traveller's cheque sold to him by the ex-army chaplain. A Tema police source hinted that the self-acclaimed ex-chaplain of the Army allegedly approached Mr. Asare at his work place in March this year and pleaded with him to purchase a German traveller's cheque of DM4,500, the equivalent of C2.7million. 'Initially, the car dealer allegedly declined the offer since he did not know Rev. Capt. John Sam, but upon persistent pleading, he bought it for his younger brother who was on holidays from Europe,' narrated the source.
Mr. Asare, the source stated, made an initial down-payment of C1.7million that first day and later settled the rest. The source however hinted that, no sooner had the younger brother of the complainant travelled back to Europe than he was arrested for selling fake traveller's cheque to someone in Amsterdam, Holland. The traveller's cheques was later certified as counterfeit. According to the source, this was revealed when it was realised that the bank whose address the cheque bore had been out of operation for the past six years. The car dealer then tried tracing the ex-army officer cumRev. Minister's home at East Legon, based on the address given him by the ex-soldier, only to realise that it was a fake one. 'Mr. Asare also tried the mobitel number the suspect had given him. It was non-existent.' 'However, luck finally eluded the chaplain when the car dealer, acting on a tip-off, went with a policeman to the South Odorkor hotel.
They found him having a good time with his girlfriend in room 23 of the hotel and was immediately arrested. The source alleged that when the complainant initially knocked at the door of the said room of the hotel, the girlfriend of the ex-soldier came out to tell them her lover was not in, but he showed up when the former introduced himself as a pastor.
'Rev. Cpt.(RTD) John Sam was escorted to the Community Two police station where he was put behind bars. Just as the case was about to be processed for court, one of the ex-soldier's sureties came to plead for time. He was said to have pledged to settle the bill within the fortnight. Meanwhile. a taxi driver whose services the swindler is reported to have hired without paying, is alleged to have traced the ex-captain to the Community Two police station to demand the settlement of his bill.
BY OWUSU GYAMFI-KUMAINING
The 28 years old unemployed Kobena Abebrese, who was placed in police custody for allegedly stealing a sack load of plantain has also been charged with causing public nuisance when he smeared himself with human excreta he collected from the cells toilet.
Speaking to the 'Ghanaian Voice' at the Central Police Station in Cape Coast, Chief Inspector S.E. Nii-Boye, said at about 12.30 a.m. one October night, Policemen on patrol met the suspect carrying a sack full of plantain. When confronted he could not give any tangible explanation and was therefore arrested and place in police custody.
According to Chief Inspector Nii-Boye, barely some 20 minutes after the suspect had been placed in cell, he started behaving abnormally and went into the toilet in the cell, smeared himself with faeces and later threw some of the stuff into the charge office and its surroundings. The station Inspector said with the help of other cell-mates, the suspect was overpowered and brought out of the cell and put in chains. According to Chief Inspector Nii-Boye, the attitude of the suspect attracted the people living in and around the police station who identified him as a normal person and that he geigned insane in order to have police sympathy.
Chief Inspector Nii-Boye however stated that with the help of personnel from the national fire-service, the cell, Charge Office and its surroundings have been tidied for work to continue.
BY J.W. DADSON, CAPE COAST
A 34-year-old marine engineer is standing trail at an Accra Circuit Tribunal for allegedly shooting two men in their legs with a commando friend's pistol at Teshie near Accra, during the Homowo festival.
The bullet, fired at close range, tore through the leg bone (tibia) of the first victim Mr. Kingsley Pebi, a farmer of Odumase-Samsam in the Eastern Region and hit Mr. Emmanuel Ashitey Armah, a driver at Teshie, also in the leg and finally crashed into a concrete wall. Both men were rushed to the 37 Military Hospital where Ashitey Armah was treated and discharged while Pebi is still on admission
Prosecuting Assistant Superintendent of Police P.A. Sarpong told the tribunal that both men had visited Speedy Drinking bar at Teshie on that fateful Saturday after observing the Homowo celebrations and were enjoying drinks at separate tables when a gun went of suddenly. Pebi, who sat very close to where the sound of the gunshot came from, looked up to see the second victim Ashitey Armah screaming in pain and it was then that he realised blood was oozing from his own left leg, Apparently from the closeness in distance he did not fell the impact of the bullet on his leg at his first.
The sight of the gushing blood dawned on him that he had been shot and turning round, saw the suspect, Emmanuel Armah Ashitey, a marine engineer officer, handling over the pistol to another man who wore a military uniform. The uniformed man bolted with the gun and both victims held unto him and demanded that they were taken to the hospital. When they reported to a nearby clinic, they were referred to the 37 military hospital, where upon interrogation the suspect, Armah Ashitey was detained at the Burma Camp Military Police. The bar owner who was absent at the time of the incident later reported the matter to the Teshie Police.
Defence counsel for the suspect however maintained that the gun went off accidentally when Armah Ashitey was trying to pick a bag which contained the pistol from under a table. He said Armah Ashitey had received his commando friend, Corporal Kwaofio Francis of the 64 Infantry Regiment - Burma Cammp in the early hours of Saturday 16th of September 1995. After a brief chat, Armah decided he was going to Tema and so lifted Kwaofio in his car to a junction and continued his journey. On his return from Tema in the afternoon, he realised the friend had forgotten his bag in the car and followed to the friend's house where he was told Kwafio had left for his station at Asutsuare. Armah Ashitey continued to a spot near Speedy drinking bar to observe the Homowo celebrations. Counsel said he later went to enjoy some drinks at the bar, carrying along the friend's bag whose contents he did not know, for fear of being burgled. That was around 5.30 p.m.
It was later when Kwafio decided to go back and attempted to pick the bag that the gun went off. The police are yet to retrieve both the pistol and the bag. Armah is to re-appear on October 18 on a charge of possessing firearm without license while docket on two other counts of attempted murder has been referred to the attorney- General's office for lack of jurisdiction.
Last Updated: 14-10-95 18:28