An Accra High Court yesterday refused bail to the publisher and editors of two weeklies who were last Wednesday remanded in custody by a circuit court for allegedly publishing stories likely to injure the reputation of the government. The publisher and Editor of the Free Press, Messrs Tommy Thompson and Eben Quarcoo as well as the Editor of the Chronicle, Mr Kofi Coomson, are alleged to have published false stories linking the government to a cocaine deal.
The Presiding Judge, Mr Justice P.K. Owusu-Sekyere, explained that having heard the submissions and supporting documents from the parties in the case, it is his considered view that bail should be refused. He, however, urged the defence in the case, to renew their bail application at the circuit court when the case comes up for hearing next week.
In an affidavit in opposition to bail, a Chief State Attorney, Mr Thomas Ahlijah stated that it is not true that there was no objection from him regarding the grant of bail to the applicants, when the case came before the circuit court. According to him, he intended raising an objection but he did not have the opportunity to do so.
He, however, maintained that bail is within the discretion of the trial judge who needs not necessarily ask the prosecutor for his reaction to the application for bail. Mr Ahlijah said he objects to bail and explained that this is "because the publications for which the accused were charged, were continuous and they may commit a further offence of false publication when on bail". He maintained that the offence is calculated to undermine the very existence of a constitutional government.
Nana Akuffo-Addo, leading counsel for the Free Press in a reaction to the affidavit in opposition, said it is not true that Mr Ahlijah intended to object to the bail application. According to him, in the record of proceedings, it is written that the prosecutor did not object to the application for bail. He submitted that the grounds on which the affidavit is basing its opposition to bail, should be rejected, stressing that, the said affidavit merely says the applicants may commit a similar offence if they are granted bail.
Counsel submitted that no further publications have been made on the issue since the arrest of the applicants and added that, this is a case for which the applicants must be granted bail. Prof. G.K.A. Ofosu-Amaah, another defence counsel, expressed similar views and added that the assertion in the affidavit in opposition to the effect that the applicants would continue to publish false reports when on bail, is "speculative". He said the court has no evidence to that effect, apart from the affidavit and urged it to consider granting bail. Prof. Ofosu-Amaah said the offence for which the applicants are charged is not treasonable for them to be refused bail and indicated that it is a second degree felony for which bail must be given.
Reacting to these submissions, Mr Ahlijah maintained that he did not have the opportunity to react to the bail application at the circuit court hence his inability to oppose it. He said there are indications that the false reports could have continued if the applicants had not been placed in custody.
Mr Justice Owusu-Sekyere, who refused the application, also clarified that last Thursday, he expressed misgivings at the situation where the defence fixed the date for the hearing of the case and not that, the court was served with the bail application by defence counsel.
THE Attorney-General is to submit to Parliament nine proposals for consideration as the first amendment to the 1992 Constitution. The proposals now before Cabinet, are meant to clarify certain aspects of the constitution which require clarification or need to be reconciled with each other.
Dr Obed Asamoah, Attorney-General and Minister of Justice who disclosed this in an interview, mentioned the provisions on dual citizenship, chiefs and politics and gratuities for Members of Parliament as some of the areas to be looked at. Other areas are the ratification of international business transactions, parliamentary by-elections, the status of para-military organisations such as the police, prisons and CEPS in relation with the Civil Service and the compulsory retiring age for civil servants.
President Jerry Rawlings gave an indication of the proposed amendment in his sessional address to Parliament on January 12, during which he said proposals would be submitted to Parliament to enable members and the general public to discuss them to ensure that any amendment to the constitution serves the best interest of the people.
Explaining the proposed amendment on dual citizenship, Dr Asamoah said it would permit dual citizenship, but noted that since a person with dual citizenship owes allegiance to another country other than Ghana, he would not qualify to enter parliament or hold any position that requires a qualification similar to those needed to enter Parliament. He said the amendment, would also seek to empower parliament to make laws relating to citizenship without changing the constitution.
On chiefs and politics, Dr Asamoah said the proposed amendment seeks to allow chiefs to take part in active politics and be appointed to political position but not to stand for seats in parliament or hold positions in political parties.
On by-election to parliament, he said the constitution in its present form requires that it is held 30 days after the seat had become vacant. This, the minister said, has proved too short and at times campaigns and elections had run side-by-side the funeral of the deceased and noted that this is at variance with the nation's culture. He disclosed that the proposed amendment seeks to extend it to 60 days.
On gratuities for Mps, Dr Asamoah mentioned that the current provision requires that the MP must serve for not less than four years to qualify and indicated that the proposed amendment will deal with cases where a member dies, resigns for health reasons or others, before the four years so that gratuities commensurate with the time served, can be paid to the family.
Dr Asamoah also said the present constitutional provision on the ratification of international business transactions cause delays and uncertainties as to which provision applies to what type of transaction and said this needs to be clarified.
He said the amendment provides that parliament, by a ballot of more than two-thirds, may exempt small and un controversial loans and other transactions from lengthy procedures in order to speed up business.
Dr Asamoah also mentioned that there is a proposal to remove the Police, Prisons, Fire Service and CEPS from the public service to ensure better administration of those institutions.
Mandatory retirement for public officers at 60, he added, would also be modified to allow for special cases where special expertise are required.
An amendment, he further added, would be sought to clarify that references to ministers in the constitution also apply to deputy ministers.
Dr Asamoah said the amendment would seek to remove the requirement for a statutory instrument to govern the exercise of discretionary power vested by law in a person or authority other than a judge.
That requirement, he explained, is superfluous since the constitution requires such powers to be exercised fairly and provides remedies for a person who considers he has been unfairly treated, to seek redress.
The amendment to the chairmanship of the councils of the security agencies, he said, seeks to require that the President, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, in consultation with the Council of State, appoints his representative to chair the police and prison councils.
POLICE reinforcement from the Brong Ahafo, Ashanti and Greater Accra police commands, have been deployed at Techiman and surrounding villages to help contain a chieftaincy class which has left five persons dead and several others injured at the weekend. Over 14 houses and property running into millions of cedis, were destroyed while business activities, particularly, at Techiman came to a halt. The dead and the injured have been sent to the Techiman Holy Family Hospital while the seriously injured have been transferred to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi.
The incident was sparked off by the announcement last week by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Opoku Ware II, that he had elevated 17 divisional chiefs in the Ashanti and Brong Ahafo regions to paramountcies. Four of the elevated towns namely Tanoso, Tuobodom, Tano Boase and Buoyam fall under the Techiman Traditional Area.
The chiefs and people of the traditional area, led by the Omanhene Nana Osabarima Dodobiribi Takyi Ameyaw, have vowed not to relinquish their authority over the towns or allow them to assume paramountcy status. For sometime now, peace has eluded the four towns as each town has two chiefs, one installed by the Kingmakers of the Techiman Traditional Area and the other by the Asantehene.
The announcement by the Asantehene on February 12, has worsened the already tense situation at Techiman and the four towns, forcing the elevated chiefs to flee.
On Friday when the press arrived at Techiman for a news conference by the Omanhene and his elders in reaction to Otumfuo's pronouncement, the whole town was charged with angry young men and women in red and black outfit chanting war songs and firing guns into the air. Vehicles loaded with armed young men were seen moving to the troubled towns while those who could not go, besieged the Omanhene's palace to give him their support.
Later, at a news conference, Omanhene Nana Takyi Ameyaw, said the four towns belonged to the Techiman Traditional Area and that the Asantehene has no power to give them a paramountcy status. Besides, he said the 1992 Constitution explicitly reserves the right of elevation of chiefs to the various regional houses of chiefs and that it was wrong for the Asantehene to meddle in the internal affairs of other regional house of chiefs. "The elevation of those towns by the Asantehene implies that those towns now belong to the Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs and we are not prepared to allow this", Nana Takyi Ameyaw emphasised.
He said in 1990 the Brong Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs set up a five-member committee of enquiry headed by the Goasohene, Nana Agyei Ampofo, to investigate the reasons for two chiefs each in the four towns and that the outcome went in favour of the Techiman Traditional Council and wondered why the Asantehene should still go ahead to create paramountcies in those towns. He said the Asantehene's actions undermine the sovereignty of the Techiman Traditional Council and called on him to remove all the chiefs he had installed in those areas or hold himself responsible for any calamity that would befall them.
Nana Takyi Ameyaw said the people are particularly worried about Buoyam, which he said, is the Ahenkro and seat of the queenmother of the traditional area, and pointed out that taking Buoyam out of the traditional area, would mean the demise of the traditional authority. He indicated that the people are prepared to fight to claim the land if all avenues of peaceful settlement fail. The omanhene has therefore appealed to the government, Parliament and the National House of Chiefs to intervene as a matter of urgency to avert a situation similar to what happened in the north.
The Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the Brong Ahafo Region, Mr W.A. Kumi, in a telephone interview, at the time of filing this report said the regional security council had met with the chiefs and that the Omanhene of Techiman has promised to prevail upon his people to end the hostilities. He said the area is now calm.
A young man of about 25 years of age was shot dead late last Sunday at Buoyem in the current chieftaincy clash in the Techiman area. The deceased, Kwabena Yeboah, was said to have protested against a group of people who were setting fire to his father's house.
One other person had earlier in the day been killed. He is yet to be identified. This brings to seven the number of deaths recorded in the clash which erupted at the weekend following the elevation of some divisional stools in the area to paramountcies, by the Asantehene.
A citizen of the town told the Graphic that the group after setting the house ablaze, chased Yeboah to the outskirts of the town and shot him dead.
Though the combined police and military detachment deployed at Techiman and its surrounding villages has been able to enforce a cease-fire in some of the areas, tension is still mounting at Techiman, Buoyem and Tuobodom. At about 4 p.m. on Sunday, two groups of people set fire to two Datsun pick-ups under repairs at Techiman, which were believed to be owned by people from Buoyem.
In order to ensure that peace is restored, the combined detachment has placed 35 men and officers at Tuobodom and 70 at Buoyem where fighting has been intensified and recorded more casualties. When the leadership of the detachment visited Okumafo Dwamena Akenten, one of the elevated chiefs from Buoyem, he said fighting has been going on since Friday night and said he suspects many more deaths could be traced to the bush where the fighting went on.
Apart from the dead, 29 people and one policeman Sgt. Peter Antwi were wounded in the clash and are receiving treatment at the Techiman Holy Family Hospital.
Meanwhile, the National Security Council has appealed for calm and cautioned parties involved in the Techiman dispute to refrain from any acts likely to aggravate the situation.
A statement signed by the Minister of Information, Mr Kofi Totobi Quakyi and issued in Accra yesterday said the security agencies will act appropriately to restore peace. The statement said at an emergency meeting held yesterday, the National Security Council reviewed the weekend disturbances in the Techiman Area in the Brong Ahafo Region, which resulted in the loss of lives and property.
The disturbances followed the elevation of some chiefs in the area to paramount status by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Opoku Ware II. The statement said the National Security Council has taken note of steps initiated by the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) to bring the situation under control and has instituted additional measures to maintain law and order. "The government wishes to take this opportunity to express its deepest condolences to the bereaved families, and expresses sympathy to those who have suffered injuries and other losses during the disturbances", it added.
A TOTAL of 260 electorates have been disqualified in four districts of the Brong Ahafo Region. In all 825 were challenged in the district during last year's registration exercise. The districts are Asutifi, Tano, Asunafo and Sunyani. They were challenged on nationality, age, double registration and soundness of mind.
The Brong Ahafo Regional Electoral Commission explained that the committee could not trace 79 of those disqualified. On double registration, the source said the people bolted when they heard that the committee was to investigate them. In all the committee sat for 56 times.
MOREE, a predominantly fishing community in the Central Region is to benefit from a ¢17 billion national fisheries sub-sector capacity building project.
Launching the five-year project, Mr Ibrahim Adam, Minister for Agriculture said it would address the problem of dwindling fishing stocks in Ghana's marine and inland water resources. The fishing industry provides employment for thousands of people in about 42 coastal communities in the region.
Mr Adam said within the last five years, the fishing industry has declined due to many constraints facing the fishermen. The minister said with the rehabilitation of the Tema Food Complex Company and Starkist, the value on exports of fish products will increase, adding that the fishery sector earned the country 17 million US dollars in 1995 and expressed the hope that with the launching of the project, Ghana's earning in fish export will increase.
The World Bank representative in Ghana, Mr K.K. Franyi said the industry is the 13th agricultural project the World Bank has financed since the Economic Recovery Programme (ERP). The Central Regional Minister, Dr E.A. Ayirebi Acquah who chaired the function said the project seeks to increase fish production for the country.
ALMOST 50 per cent of blood samples collected by the Ghana National Blood Transfusion are contaminated with various diseases. Topping the list of diseases is hepatitis (jaundice) followed closely by HIV virus.
Mr George K. Ahiadzro, Senior Blood Programme Organiser of the Ghana National Blood Transfusion announced this in Accra at a mobile voluntary blood donation at the St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School in Accra. He said the contaminated blood had affected the bank's regular supply of blood to the needy who reported to the leading hospital in Ghana, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.
Mr Ahiadzro said the blood situation at the bank since the crisis in September last year had improved but still needed more blood to help save lives at the hospital. He said response from educational and social clubs is very encouraging and appealed for more to donate to the bank.
THE government is to put 37 out of the 43 agricultural stations in the country under divestiture. The remaining six will be developed by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture into demonstration centres and breeding grounds for livestock. The six are Amrahia, Nungia, Pong-Tamale, Bebile, Kintampo and Ejura.
The Public Relations Officer of the Ministry, Mr K. Ofori-Adoboe who announced this said the divestiture has become imperative in view of the food situation and the fact that the Ministry does not have sufficient funds to maintain all the stations. Mr Ofori-Adoboe said the Ministry was working out the modalities for it and the divestiture programme would be made public soon. According to him in areas where compensation had not been paid to the traditional land owners the government would enter into negotiations with them to see how best they could take over the ministry's assets on the land.
THE government has set a revenue target of ¢1.3 trillion for the customs, Excise and Preventive Service CEPS) this year, to help run the affairs of the nation, Mr Isaac T. Ewun-Tohma, Commissioner of CEPS, said at Tema on Monday.
The board and management have therefore set a target of ¢900 billion which is about 75 per cent of the entire revenue targeted to be collected from the Tema CEPS Long room, he added. Mr Ewun-Tohma who was addressing Customs Officers at Tema, said last year CEPS was able to collect ¢863 billion which is about revenue for the government, however, "we were short of the CEPS target by three per cent".
He praised the personnel of Customs for achieving 97 per cent of the revenue target last year, in spite of the withdrawal of the Value Added Tax (VAT). Mr Ewun-Tohma said the personnel were able to achieve this through a lot of sacrifice, noting that management had not been able to refund medical bills and other payable allowances to the staff for the past one year. Mr Ewun-Tohma announced that the government has approved ¢16 billion out of the ¢21 billion CEPS requested from the Ministry of Finance and assured the officers that management was still negotiating with the authorities for the rest of the request.
Mr Opoku Boamah, Deputy Commissioner of CEPS in charge of Operations, said the rate of duty on imported items remains unchanged, and advised the officers not to make unnecessary increases to create problems for importers.
ONE of the eight persons swapped for Mr Michael Soussoudis in the espionage matter between Ghana and the USA in 1985, Mr Abel Edusei, yesterday lost his bid before the Supreme Court for the return of his Ghanaian passport.
The court by a 3-2 majority dismissed the application for want of jurisdiction. It held that it has no jurisdiction in the enforcement of fundamental human rights which it claimed falls within the purview of the high courts. Mr Edusei, it added, should have brought the action before the high court for redress and not the Supreme Court whose jurisdiction, excludes the enforcement of the fundamental human rights.
Justices A.M.K. Ampiah, F.Y. Kpegah, E.D.K. Adjabeng ruled against the application whilst Justices C.F. Hayfron-Benjamin and K.E. Amua-Sekyi ruled in its favour.
The thrust of Mr Edusei's application was that the government had refused to give him back his old passport which was impounded in the course of investigations into the espionage case, to enable him travel to Ghana. He had contended that he needed the old one to be able to apply for a new one but the government has refused to accede to his request. Mr Edusei, therefore, brought an action to assert his rights before the Supreme court.
In his ruling, Mr Justice Kpegah, said the Supreme Court has no jurisdiction over the enforcement of the human rights and freedoms assigned to high courts. He said the plaintiff's action does not disclose any cause for action that warrants an interpretation from the court, more so since the passport in question, has expired and the plaintiff has not requested for a new one. Mr Justice Kpegah upheld the earlier submissions of the Attorney-General and accordingly declined jurisdiction.
Mr Justice Adjabeng said the plaintiff's action cannot be sustained, adding that, this is not a constitutional matter to be dealt with by the Supreme Court. He described the action as misconceived.
On his part, Mr Justice Ampiah said Mr Edusei's insistence that he be given his old passport to enable him request for a new one, is ill-conceived. "To say a new passport cannot be obtained since the old one has not been returned, is most unconvincing and speculative", he stressed. He questioned whether the action is an exercise intended to provoke a reaction from the government before a new passport is issued to the plaintiff.
Though agreeing that the plaintiff should have started his action from the high court, Mr Justice Hayfron-Benjamin, however, said the plaintiff should not be made to forfeit his right to recognition and protection. He, therefore, indicated that the plaintiff be given his passport.
Mr Justice Amua-Sekyi stated that the imposition of restrictions on a citizen is an unlawful act and any person by birth cannot be deprived of citizenship.
MR E.K. Fosu, Acting Minister of Works and Housing yesterday assured that government will not privatise the Ghana Water and Sewerage Corporation (GWSC).
Addressing a durbar of workers of the Accra-Tema Metropolitan Area (ATMA) of the GWSC in Accra, he said government intends inviting private companies to invest their own capital and resources in new operations in the water sector, to complement the efforts of the GWSC. He, however, added that private sector participation in water supply will be done along well-defined guidelines.
Mr Fosu further announced that government is putting in place a Water Resources Commission to grant water rights for the new operations. "A regulatory body would also be formed to regulate tariffs and promote efficiency and to protect customer's interest," he added. This, the minister said, has become necessary in view of the pressing and urgent need for government to expand the supply of potable water in the urban areas.
He said with the current rapid population growth in the urban areas, the GWSC alone cannot cater for the people, hence the need for private sector involvement, which he said, is the best way to address the issues confronting the water sector. He, however, emphasised that the new water policy which has been placed before Cabinet for approval and for parliamentary consideration, does not affect the rural water supply, which is being managed by the Community Water Sanitation Division of the GWSC.
Mr Fosu said the GWSC is undertaking a major rehabilitation work in the Accra-Tema metropolis to increase the present water supply of 58 million gallons to 70 million gallons a day, at the cost of $125 million. Earlier, the minister had inspected the pumping stations at Tema, Okponglo and James Town where major rehabilitation works are being undertaken. He expressed satisfaction at work done so far and hoped that the water problem facing the Accra-Tema municipality will be solved on completion.
A SEVEN-MEMBER board for the Eximguaranty Company, a private company which provides credit support schemes for Ghanaian businesses and enterprises, was inaugurated in Accra yesterday. The board is chaired by Mr M.B.K. Bentil, a director of the Bank of Ghana.
Dr G.K. Agama, Governor of the Bank of Ghana, inaugurating the board, said the company, which started operations in 1994, has made remarkable progress in credit guarantee operations. He mentioned the recent budget statement which indicated that government will support viable businesses to obtain credit with a guarantee from local institutions.
Dr Agama therefore suggested that the company explore the possibility of handling all guarantees on behalf of the government. He said experience has shown that guarantee and refinance institutions in the private sector are doing better than the public sector institutions which tend to be constrained by bureaucracy. Consequently, he said, the Bank of Ghana will reduce its holdings in the company as soon as private investors are attracted to it. He urged the board members to pool their expertise and skills in the banking, accounting and related fields, to formulate broad policy framework for the operations of the company.
THE Eastern Regional Security Committee has averted what could have been a bloody clash between two Muslim factions at Adoagyiri-Zongo near Nsawam.
For sometime now, a rift has developed between the local Ahli-Sunna Muslim sect and the orthodox Muslims (Tijaniya) over the decision of the former to have their Friday congregational prayers at a different mosque. The Ahli-Sunna sect has acquired a land which it is developing as a place of worship and has served notice that its new site will be the venue for the celebration to mark the end of Ramadan next Wednesday.
This was said to have infuriated the orthodox Muslims which nearly resulted in a clash between the two factions last week but for the prompt intervention of the police.
At a public forum organised by the Eastern Regional Security Committee (REGSEC) at Adoagyiri-Zongo last Friday, the leaders of the two factions agreed to work towards peaceful resolution of the conflict. The forum was attended by the Regional Minister, Major Emmanuel Ted Tetteh (rtd), Mr W.B. Asante, Deputy Regional Minister in-charge of Agriculture, Mr K.D. Akumiah, Regional Police Commander, all members of REGSEC and Muslim leaders including the Eastern Regional Imam, Alhaji Abubakar Abdallah, a representative of the National Chief Imam, Alhaji Yahaya Amin and Dr Issaka Abdullai of the University of Ghana.
The leaders of the two factions, Mr S.A. Kadri and Alhaji Sofo shook hands openly after the chief of the Grushie Community, Alhaji Abdul Rahman had appealed to the REGSEC to allow leaders in the community to resolve the dispute amicably.
Addressing the forum, Major Ted Tetteh, warned against the repetition of the recent bloody clash at Akyem Oda Zongo, adding "the security forces will move swiftly to nib such threats in the bud to allow us peace to develop the country". He made it clear that freedom of worship and association as enshrined in the Fourth Republican Constitution does not give licence to persons or group of persons to create insecurity in the country.
THE Bank of Ghana (BOG) has selected a number of efficient rural banks and stockbrokers to participate in the wholesale auction of treasury bills and securities. These banks will operate alongside commercial banks by July this year as part of the BOG's efforts to mop up about 40 per cent excess liquidity in the system.
The decision is also to encourage members of rural communities who are believed to be keeping large sums of moneys in their homes, to take advantage of the enormous benefit of the new system.
Mr Wisdom Dordor of the Research Department of the BOG, announced this at a seminar on wholesale auction of securities of the bank and the Government of Ghana at Cape Coast at the weekend. He said the new money market instrument which replaces the old retail auction system, is aimed at removing all bottlenecks associated with the old one, decentralise its operations, and stabilise the economy. Mr Dordor said the new auction system will require an initial deposit of ¢50,000 and above, with a maturity period of 90 days for medium term or two years. He said prospective buyers of the bills and securities will earn an attractive interest rate while their money can be used as collateral for a loan, assuring that they can retrieve their money anytime.
Dr E.A. Ayirebi-Acquah, acting Central Regional Minister appealed to the Bank of Ghana to adopt effective communication strategy especially in rural communities to inform and educate the people on the new money market instrument and the advantages to be derived from it.
A NUMBER of people in the rural areas of the Upper West Region, are losing their sight because of self-medication. The victims are said to be applying the content of antibiotic capsules for the treatment of eye diseases.
Dr Alex-Wryter, Regional Ophthalmologist, told the Graphic that the victims often have their cornea (the tough transparent part of the eye ball covering the pupil and iris) melting away after persistent application of the antibiotic.
Dr Wryter said the situation became known during outreach programmes undertaken late last year and early this year. He said, the victims use those drugs out of ignorance and ill-advice from quack doctors. Dr Wryter expressed concern that majority of the victims are in the 20 to 30 years age group and said some of them have already suffered irreparable damage to their eyes. He stressed the need for the people to desist from self-medication and to visit the nearest health institution whenever they have eye problems.
JAPAN is to provide Ghana with two grants totalling 1.2 billion Yen ($11.6 million) under the Japanese Food Aid and Non-Project Type Grant in support of two projects.
One billion Yen ($9.5 million) out of the amount, is to be used in procuring various items including industrial parts, machinery for farming activities and vehicles for transporting cargo. The remaining 200 million Yen ($1.9 million), is to be used in purchasing Thai Rice for domestic consumption. An agreement to this effect was signed between the two countries in Accra yesterday.
Mr Akihisa Tanaka, Japanese Ambassador to Ghana said the grant was provided because of Ghana's remarkable achievement in the Economic Recovery Programme (ERP). He said the Non-Project Grant Aid is aimed at supporting the country's international balance of payment and enhance the accessibility of foreign currency for the private sector.
Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs who represented Ghana, said the grant will be used judiciously to support efforts at achieving growth and development in the economy.
A THIRTY-SEVEN-YEAR-OLD MAN, Daniel Ghann of Abiriw, who was being held by the Akropong Akwapim Police for allegedly threatening to kill his girl-friend, was found dead in his cells last Wednesday. A source at the police station said Ghann committed suicide by hanging himself with a blanket. They suspect the police have put up the suicide story to cover up their involvement in the death of Ghann.
According to the police source, at about 6 p.m. on February 13, the police had a report that Ghann had threatened to kill Victoria Owusu Keteku, his girlfriend, at Abiriw. The source said Ghann was subsequently arrested and placed in custody but the next morning, he was found dead. It said Ghann committed suicide by tying a blanket around the ventilation window with which he succeeded in hanging himself. The source said the deceased was found dead in a sitting position with the blanket around his neck because of the height of the ceiling.
Residents who are disputing the police account admitted that Ghann who returned from Canada recently, where he had a wife and children, had threatened his girlfriend "in connection with Ghann's concern about Victoria's unfaithfulness to him". The eyewitnesses said when Ghann threatened to deal with the situation by taking a car from Victoria, she went to the police and reported his conduct and was subsequently arrested. They said at the police station, Ghann was tortured and put in cells in handcuffs, adding that he screamed all night.
Meanwhile, the police have impounded the Toyota Mini Bus with registration number TRC 9153, with the inscription "Watch the flex", which was said to be at the centre of the controversy. The body of Ghann has been deposited at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital for post-mortem examination.
Two children of Madam Afua Aborah, 55, who resurrected on February 7 after being considered dead for over 20 hours are shunning her for fear of being a ghost. They claim she is now a ghost.
According to a family member, the children refused to accept her into their family home, forcing their mother to put up with the local catechist. On February 12, they started coming to her following persistent appeals from other members of the family.
The catechist, Mr Charles Frimpong said Madam Aborah's two children who were attending to her before she was pronounced dead found it difficult to believe that someone could die and resurrect without becoming a ghost. According to Mr Frimpong, Madam Aborah is improving steadily and by the will of God, she would live a normal life because before her death, she could not eat, walk or go to the wash room but now does all those things unaided.
Dr Oduro, Senior Medical Officer at Afigya-Sekyere who examined her, assured the family that she was in stable condition.
Madam Aborah was pronounced dead and wake was kept all night but in the afternoon of the burial day, she resurrected just before the corpse was to be put into the coffin.
THERE was a pandemonium among the passengers in a city express bus from Sampa to Sunyani as they witnessed a sad spectacle last week when a 42-year-old woman they were travelling with was found dead in the bus when it arrived at Sunyani.
A nine-month-old baby which she was carrying had been crying unattended to shortly before the bus reached Sunyani but other passengers thought the deceased, Nana Yaa Akyaa, was asleep. The body has since been deposited at the Sunyani Hospital mortuary for autopsy.
According to sources, she reported sick at the nearby Sampa Health Centre and was referred to the Sunyani Government Hospital and therefore boarded the bus for Sunyani. An eye-witness account revealed that when the journey started the baby was seen lying quietly on the lap of the deceased but on reaching the outskirts of Sunyani it started crying but it did not receive attention.
The eye-witness continued, when all the passengers got down except the deceased, the other passengers started shaking her but there was no reply or response. The passengers then raised an alarm and people who came around pronounced her dead and therefore the bus driver drove to the Sunyani Hospital.
FIVE persons have been arraigned before an Accra circuit tribunal for defrauding a Canadian businessman of $190,000 (about ¢300 million) in August last year. The five said to be miners, allegedly promised to supply the Canadian, Mr Michael Glynn with 800 grammes of gold but did not fulfil the promise after collecting the money from him.
They are Francis Hagan, 64, Nana Kumi Haizel, 52, Alhaji Telli, 46, Joseph Awotwi-Dadzie, 44, and Philip Kwasi Akuffo, 36. They all pleaded not guilty to the charges of conspiracy to defraud and defrauding by false pretences at the court, presided over by Mr C.K. Nyewolema, last Wednesday. They were granted bail in the sum of ¢50 million each with two sureties each to be justified. The accused persons were also ordered to report to the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) once every week until the case is concluded.
Prosecuting, Mrs Asare-Korang, Principal State Attorney, said the five accused persons have a mining company known as Continental Mining Resource Centre (CMRC) at Prestea in the Western Region. She said in August last year, they approached Mr Glynn, President of FORB International Incorporated, a Canadian mining company, to supply him with some gold. The prosecutor said Mr Glynn who was on a business trip became interested and paid $190,000 for the 800 grammes of gold to the accused persons.
After paying the money, Mr Glynn went back to Canada and asked his two friends, Messrs Frank Ackah and Rock to take care of the transactions. Mrs Asare-Korang said later the accused persons informed Messrs Ackah and Rock that the gold had to be deposited in the bank until it was ready to be airlifted. On the day the gold was supposed to be airlifted, all the accused persons except Nana Kumi Haizel as well as Mr Ackah went to the High Street branch of the Ghana Commercial Bank in Accra and collected two boxes which Hagan alleged contained the gold.
The prosecutor said on their way to the airport, one of the accused persons said he had left the keys to the boxes in the house and asked permission to go for them at Dansoman. The court heard that the accused persons used three cars while going to the airport, one was carrying the alleged gold with Hagan, another was carrying Mr Ackah, whilst the third, carried the rest of the accused persons.
Mrs Asare-Korang said Hagan later asked Mr Ackah to stop, and informed him that Alhaji Telli (one of the accused persons) had refused to go to the Golden Tulip Hotel to call Mr Rock (Mr Glynn's representative) who was to accompany the gold to Canada. Mr Ackah therefore took up that duty whilst the others continued to the airport. She said at the airport, the driver of the car carrying the alleged gold, informed Mr Ackah that the gold had been deposited at the security section of the airport and that Hagan had gone for lunch whilst Alhaji Telli was working on the airway bill which, according to him, would be completed at 6 p.m.
She said Mr Ackah left the airport and returned at about 5.30 p.m., where he met Hagan and the rest of the accused persons, who assured him that the gold had been deposited on the plane. "As a result, Mr Rock boarded the plane but on his arrival in Canada, he discovered that no gold had been put on the plane", the prosecutor said.
Mrs Asare-Korang said, as a result, the authorities of the Canadian company sent Mr Rock back to Ghana to inform the accused persons about it. The prosecutor said on his arrival in Ghana, Mr Rock asked the accused persons to either refund the $190,000 or give him the gold which they failed to do and this brought Mr glynn and his solicitor to Ghana. She said on their arrival, Hagan and the other accused persons organised a party for them (Mr Glynn and his solicitor) at Nana Kumi Haizel's house.
He was said to have introduced himself as a Member of the Council of State and vice-president of the Western Regional House of Chiefs as well as a member of the security council. According to the prosecutor, Nana Kumi Haizel assured them (Mr Glynn and his solicitor) that he would use his influence to let the CMRC supply them with the gold but that too never materialised. Mr Glynn therefore reported the matter to the police and the accused persons were arrested.
The case is adjourned to February 28.
IT was the magic of an ordinary sweeping broom that saved the life of little Thomas from the grip of a 'human monster' at the Kumasi Railway Station last week Monday. The 'human monster' was in the person of a middle-aged unidentified cripple believed to be of Togolese or Beninois origin who was said to have arrived at the station on Saturday.
The eyewitness, who asked not to be named, said the cripple pitched camp at the Kumasi Railway Station where he was sleeping with other passengers. He said on the day in question he, the eye witness, was walking with his brother who sells tea around the railway station and on reaching where the cripple was sleeping they found him squatting. The eye witness said the cripple's eyes looked red like fire and when they asked him what he wanted, he said something in French which they understood to mean water. They did not pay any more attention to him and walked away.
He said around midnight a woman arrived with her five-year-old son, Thomas, to wait for the early morning train to Takoradi. The eye witness said around 2.30 a.m., they heard the screams of a child and that of other women around shouting for help. The cripple had thrown the chain of a wheel chair around the neck of the child and was pulling in a bid to kill the child. "We tried to save the child but the cripple looked more like a monster which kept us at bay until some women suggested that we use something more powerful to overpower him.
'Find a used broom' someone said. We picked an old broom lying nearby and kept hitting the man with it. That did the trick and we were able to save the child from being killed' the witness said. The eye witness said even when the chain fell from the child's neck, they were still afraid to go near because of the posture of the cripple. He said even when the cripple was in kneeling position he was about five feet tall.
The next day the eye witness said the cripple was found dead around the railway crossing area. He was believed to have been stoned by an angry mob. When the Railway police were contained they confirmed the incident but said they could not give any reliable information immediately.
NANA Mansa Ama, a fishmonger who could not endure another beating from her cousin, Nana Adwoa Akromah, allegedly bit off her lower lip, chewed it to make sure it could not be replaced. She then spat out the flesh to the amazement of bewildered onlookers. In five previous encounters Mansa had suffered severe beatings from Akromah and it appeared that this time round, Mansa was determined to win and win well.
A source close to the Shama Police told The Mirror that the two women are cousins living in the Akodo vicinity of Shama and had been at loggerheads very often. The source said on the many occasions that there had been brawls between the two, Ama had lost and was therefore looking for the opportunity to turn the scales.
The source said that when on February 11, this year, one Awortwe told Ama that her cousin's wardrobe was nicer than her's, it sparked off a confrontation between them. Soon they were locked in a fight and when they were separated and Akromah left the scene for her house, Ama followed her casting insinuations on her. This infuriated Akromah and the fight was resumed between them.
When contacted, Miss Felicia Adjeiwaa, Medical Assistant of the Shama Health Post said that when the two were brought for medical attention, part of Akromah's lower lip was missing and after treatment she had to be referred to the Effia Nkwanta Teaching Hospital for further treatment. She said that Ama, who sustained a deep cut on the upper lip, multiple abrasions was however treated and discharged.
According to the police source, investigations are underway after which the two women would be put before court.
]STEPHEN Aboani was sure he had found a faithful friend who was so willing to help him retrieve his stolen articles. To his surprise, Mfum, has been mentioned as one of the thieves who burgled his room one night. In the dock before a Koforidua Magistrate Court to answer the charge of stealing are Kofi Sammy, 23, and Isaac Mfum, 30, both farmers at Asokore near Koforidua.
Giving the facts of the case, the prosecutor, Police Sergeant Josephine Akpoak, told the crowded court presided over by Justice ELK. Ayirebi that on December 10, last year, Mr Stephen Aboani woke up around 3 a.m. and discovered that his black and white television set, tape recorder and electric iron were missing. The prosecutor said he immediately reported the incident to the Effiduase Police.
After reporting the incident, Aboani, the victim, started to conduct his own investigations and came across the second accused, Mfum, who willingly accepted to assist in the search for the missing items. The prosecutor said after a fruitless search, Mfum later hinted the police of the possibility of locating the gadgets at Sammy's house.
Mfum, in the company of the police and the victim, went to Sammy's house but on seeing them, the first accused bolted by jumping through a window. When later a search was conducted in Sammy's room, all the lost electrical gadgets were found. The prosecutor said Sammy, the first accused, was later arrested by the police and upon interrogation, mentioned the second accused, Mfum, as an accomplice.
YAW Kumi, a customs officer who has a reputation for detecting criminals became the victim of Alhaji Ali Ibrahim, a 36-year-old travel agent who licked him neat of ¢6 million under the pretext of securing him visas. Ibrahim has been arraigned before an Accra Circuit Court presided over by Alhaji Nuhu Billa charged with defrauding by false pretences.
He pleaded not guilty and was granted a ¢7 million bail with a surety to be justified. However, for two consecutive occasions when the case came up for hearing no one stood surety for him and as a result he is still in custody.
According to the prosecutor, Inspector Benedicta Akolgo, somewhere in October, 1994, Kumi received a contribution of ¢6 million from his brother and his friends based in Germany to help three of their relatives to join them. The prosecutor said Kumi, who started making enquiries about how best he could secure visas for the people, was subsequently introduced to Ibrahim, who readily offered to help. After waiting for a long time without any results, he reported the case to the police.
During police interrogation, Ibrahim admitted the offence and was accordingly charged before court. The case had been adjourned to February 26.
FOUR persons who aided a 32-year-old farmer of Kigbrikpe, a village in the Northern Region to bury his mother after shooting her dead, have appeared before a Tamale magistrate court. The accused, Dari Kawura, 45, Mankeri Kitangbun, 35, Ayawu Wari, 30, and Shaibu Kawura, 45, are charged with hindering an inquest. The farmer, Salifu Moro shot his mother Jinche Mariama on February 1, on suspicion that she was a witch.
Giving the facts of the case, the prosecution said when Moro shot his mother, he sought the assistance of the four accused persons to bury the body. After some days, the prosecution said he felt haunted by the spirit of the deceased and therefore reported the crime to the GPRTU chairman in the village, who in turn reported the matter to the police.
In his statement to the police, Kawura the first accused who is Moro's uncle said whilst asleep on February 1, Ayawu Wari, the third accused who lived close to the deceased, came to inform him that he heard a gun-shot at the deceased's house and since the deceased was his sister, he went there to find out what was happening. According to Kawura, Wari told him, he found the door of the deceased ajar and when he entered, he saw her lying in a pool of blood with wounds on her back and the chest. Kawura said he reported the incident to the village chief who in turn invited Moro, the deceased's son but he denied knowledge of the murder.
Kawura said since he also did not know who committed the murder, he suggested to the chief that they should bury the body and they did that. He said Moro refused to take part in the burial.
On February 3, 1996, however, Kawura said Moro started "behaving like somebody being haunted and confessed killing his mother". He was therefore, handed over to the police, Kawura said.
THE penis of a 70-year-old pensioner of the Accra Metropolis was pulled by the wife and daughter until blood started oozing and consequently collapsed. The man, Mr Emmanuel Nii Lamptey Mills, lives at Abossey Okai with the wife, Cecilia Mills and Peggy Mills, the daughter until the bizarre incident occurred on January 17, this year. The two assailants have since been arrested.
The facts of the case as presented to the press were that on January 17, Mr Mills complained to his son about the indecent behaviour of Peggy, but in the process Peggy met them. This infuriated Peggy and subsequently attacked her father pulling his penis and when her mum got wind of the scuffle, she joined in pulling the husband's penis until he bled and became unconscious.
THE Interim Chairman of Kumasi Asante Kotoko F.C., Mr George Adusei Poku has been confirmed substantive Chief Executive of the club with immediate effect. The confirmation was made by the Chief Life Patron of the Club, Asantehene Otumfuo Opoku Ware II in Kumasi last weekend.
Otumfuo further mandated Mr Adusei-Poku alias Georgido to appoint his own executive to the board of directors. Consequently, he has provided the Asantehene 13-member list which excludes former IMC members notably ELK. Adu, R.K. Atta Pepra and Aboagye Adjei who resigned earlier.
However, the Chief Executive declined to disclose names of the 13-member executive until they have been accepted and confirmed by the Asantehene. However, investigations revealed that names like George Ayisi Boateng, manager of Asafo Goil Service Station in Kumasi, Alhaji Karim alias Photo de Best, Kumasi, Yaw Obeng, a transporter and Major Yaw Larson.
THE acting coach of Kumasi Asante Kotoko, Kwasi Appiah alias Mayele, has flown to the United Kingdom for an attachment training with Tony Yeboah's Leeds United.
According to the Chief Executive of the club, Mr George Adusei-Poku discussions with super striker Tony Yeboah has taken place already on Kwasi Appiah's case. Kwasi Appiah, the most dependable defender of Kumasi Asante Kotoko joined the club from Prestea Mine Stars alongside Albert Asase, Kofi Badu, Papa Arko among others and soon joined the Stars in their qualifying match against Zaire at the Accra Stadium and has since remained faithful.
A SWAG laureate, Coach Appiah's assistant Sarpong has been assigned to handle the Kotoko Under-20 side. Meanwhile, the Chief Executive, Mr Adusei-Poku has appointed coach ELK. Afranie as head coach assisted by Okoe Aryee.
ACCRA Hearts of Oak's deadly striker, Shamo Quaye is to join a club side in either England or Sweden to continue his professional stint that was jilted in Saudi Arabia two years back. English first division side Wolverhampton Wanderers and Malmo from Sweden have approached and even asked for video clips on the lethal Shamo Quaye.
Shamo since returning to his mother club from the abortive professional stint with Al Qadissia, has demonstrated his genius in the local scene. He has played a meaningful role in uplifting the image of the club.
If this deal goes through, it will be his third having started with Africa sports of Cote d'Ivoire and was transferred to Saudi Arabia where his two-year contract was cut short by a bizarre treatment by his host. Meanwhile, the club has acquired a 66-seater 170,000 deutsche marks bus from Germany.
GHANA's coach Samuel Haywood Arday of the victorious Starlets '95 has been designated to succeed Ismael Kurtz who left the technical job after the disgrace of the Black Stars in South Africa.
Coach Arday who also guided the Ghana's Olympic team Black Meteors to their first and Africa's first bronze medal at the Barcelona Olympic games in 1993 is the choice of the Ghana Football Association (GFA).
Another coach Ibrahim Sunday who as a captain of Asante Kotoko won the African Cup in 1970, triumph again as a coach of the club and helped Africa Sports of Cote d'Ivoire to his third African victory has been targeted for the post of technical director.
According to a source close to the GFA, since the Stars would soon begin their campaign for the France '98 World Cup for which Ghana is fighting for one of the five places allotted Africa, it would be too late to wait for a foreign coach before preparation begins. Asked about Ismael Kurtz's assistants John Eshun and Malik Jabir, the source said they are likely to be deplored to other national teams but will not be involved in the Black Stars again.
THE SIX home match ban placed on Fabulous Asante Kotoko has been lifted after playing fourth home a match away under the ban. This is the outcome of a persistent appeals made by the management to the Ghana Football Association, following the efficient and effective manner they have repaired the damage caused to the Kumasi Stadium.
Kotoko was banned for six home matches after their fans went on rampage destroying properties at the stadium as well as attacking the Tema based referee when they lost 0-1 to Ghpoha in Kumasi in the first round. One person died while four people sustained bullet wounds from warning shots in their bid to install peace during the violence.
Ovwe the ¢4.5 million was spent by Kotoko to repair the damages which will be completed at the end of February.