Nation Mourns Limann
		A non-denominational funeral service was held at the Independence Square on Thursday February 26, 1998, to offer Ghanaians the opportunity to pay their last respect to the late Dr. Hilla Limann, President of the Third Republic. The service, which lasted for almost four hours, however, did not attract the kind o crowd as was expected as there were more dignitaries than ordinary people. People assembled at the service attributed the low patronage of the service to its timing since most people were attending to their business activities. Notwithstanding that factor, supporters of political parties and their leading members, pressure groups, the clergy, members of the Diplomatic Corps, MP’s and the traditional authorities graced the occasion to add color and grandeur to it. The organizations included the Youth Wing of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the Veranda Boys and Girls Club and the Young Traders Association (YTA) of the club who came in four buses and were clad in Nkrumah-Rawlings apparel; People’s National Convention (PNC), New Patriotic Party (NPP), People’s Convention Party (PCP), National Convention Party (NCP) and the Democratic People’s Party (DPP). The body of the departed leader, after the morning procession from the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital through special streets, was finally laid in state at the Independence Square draped in national colors. The clergy followed by President Rawlings, the Vice-President Professor Atta-Mills, Ministers of State and other dignitaries then filed past the mortal remains of the departed ex-president. The service begun with the pouring of libation for Gods’ protection for the departed leader as well as special Sisala prayers. In addition, Muslim and Christian were said for him. After singing the hymn “Give me the wings of faith” the congregation listened to tributes paid to the ex-President by Dr. Issa Igala, Chairman of the funeral committee, Dr. Baba Limann, the ex-President’s son, Mrs. Nabilla Williams on behalf of the bereaved wife, Mrs. Fulera Limann; Professor Joe de-Graft Johnson, Vice-President of the Third Republic and Nana Akuoko Sarpong on behalf o the government. Other bodies like the Trades Union Congress also paid a glowing tribute to the late Dr Limann. The sermon, which marked the end of proceedings for the service, was then delivered by Reverend David Dartey, General Secretary of the Christian Council. The next day, Friday 27th February, the funeral cortege left Accra by road with the body at 5.00 am a long journey to Gwollu, the late ex-President’s hometown. The funeral cortege drove through all the towns and villages en route for all sympathizers to pay their last respects. At Nsawam, Suhum and Nkawkaw in the Eastern Region, the funeral cortege was reduced to a slow drive for sympathizers to catch a glimpse of the body. The body arrived at Kumasi at about 10.00 am and it was laid in state at the Prempeh Assembly Hall. From there, the funeral cortege left the Ashanti Region the same day and, on arrival at Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region, there was another slow drive through Sunyani, Techiman and Kintampo. At Tamale in the Northern Region, a short ceremony was held at the Police Park between 6.00pm and 7.00pm and thence to Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region for Wake-keeping till day break at the St. Johns Catholic Park The body continued its long final journey through Navrongo where it made a stop-over at the Navropio’s Palace. Finally, the family of the late Dr. Hilla Limann and the members of the Gwollu Traditional council received the mortal remains of the late ex-President for a private internment during the nigh at Gwollu, in the Upper West Region as custom demands. On Sunday, 1st March, the Gwollu traditional area, of which the late ex-President was a Paramount Chief, commenced a three-day the final funeral rites. The late Dr. Hilla Limann, died on Friday, 23rd January, 1998, at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital after a short heart-related problem. He left behind a wife and seven children. They are Mrs. Fulera Limann (wife), Mrs. Lariba Montia, Dr Baba Limann, Miss Sibi Limann, Miss Leda Limann, Mr. Daani Limann, Miss Zilla Limann and Miss Salma Limann.
		MRS LIMANN INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT
		The wife of the late President Hilla Limann, Mrs. Fulera Limann and two other got injured when the vehicle in which they were travelling crashed at Kadelso, about 200 kilometers from Tamale. While initially being treated at the Tamale Regional Hospital Mrs. Limann was moved to the Korle-Bu hospital. Those injured alongside Mrs. Limann have been identified as Mrs. Nabila Williams, an elder sister of Mrs. Limann and one Mrs. Gbadamosi. According to the driver o the vehicle who escaped unhurt, Mr. Nsiah Mensah, he was trying to swerve an on-coming bicycle when he lost control. He said the vehicle fell on the right side and skidded off the road. However, an eye witness said the driver was trying to overtake a vehicle when he saw a bicycle. He said the driver tried to swerve but the vehicle fell and somersaulted. They were travelling on a Toyota Landcruiser with registration number GR 1668 A. The accident happened at about 10am. When the Daily Graphic visited the hospital, two of the victims were on drips whils Mrs. Limann was at the theatre on anesthesia. According to Dr. Edward Mahama of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Mrs. Fulera Limann sustained injury on the shoulder and abrasion of the skin. Meanwhile, the funeral program went on as schedule. Hundreds of people filed past the body of the late President at the Tamale Police Park at 1pm Among the large crowd was the Northern Regional Minister and his deputy, members of the various political parties and the general public. In Kumasi, hundreds of people from all walks of life paid their last respects to the late Dr. Limann at the Jackson Park where his body was laid in state after a brief stop-over at the Prempeh Assembly Hall. By 7pm, a large number of mourners had gathered at the park and lined up along the road from Ejisu to Kumasi. When the funeral cortege finally arrived in Kumasi at 10pm, large mourners thronged the Jackson Park to catch a glimpse of the ex-President and pay their respects to him. Security personnel had a tough time dispersing mourners before the body was laid in state.
		Parliament pays glowing tribute to the late limann
		PARLIAMENT has paid tribute to the late former President Hilla Limann and expressed its deep condolences to his bereaved family. Summing up the feelings of members, the Speaker, Mr. Justice Daniel Annan, said former President Limann will be forever be remembered for his integrity, humility and commitment to constitutional democracy. This followed a glowing tribute paid to him by Mr. Kojo Armah (PCP Evalue-Gwira) who said the late Limann entered “the political landscape in 1979 unsung and quietly departed in 1998 apparently unsung.” Mr. Armah submitted that Dr. Limann lived up to the signal he sent during his inauguration as President: “I am not promising the moon. What I am promising is a government that will be open and honest, modest yet vigorous, one that will wage a relentless war on poverty and corruption, indiscipline, inefficiency and dishonesty while upholding the rule of law.”
		GHANAIANS TAKE NDC TO CLEANERS OVER LIMANN
		Seventeen years after Dr. Hilla Limann was overthrown as Head of State of the Republic of Ghana and was made t suffer ignominious existence, the ex-head of State is being rehabilitated in the hearts of Ghanaians. The outpouring of anger from the people following the death of the only surviving Head of State of the Republic has eaten at the confidence base of President Rawlings’ National Democratic Congress (NDC). The offer of a State Burial by President Rawlings was promptly rejected by the bereaved family although they later agreed to include the State Protocol Department. Many callers to Joy FM’s program, Front Page, roundly condemned the government for the shabby treatment meted out to the man who was until his death, the only surviving ex-Head of State of this country. One caller identified simply as Christie said: “It is silly to tell me that they are now going to rehabilitate the man when they had overthrown him for 17 years. It is sad that such a person died in a mess" because whenever NDC members suffer from even the nose, they fly them abroad"If they survive, the survive. If they die, are brought home and given state burial. What prevented them from sending Dr. Limann abroad?” Another caller, Pauline was even more angry. he invited members of the Government to bow down their heads in shame. “They should bow down their heads in shame and stop making noise because one day it would be their turn. The NDC is not going to rule for ever.” Kojo Oteng, calling from Accra said: “You (government) rejected this man for 17 years and now you are telling us that you wanted to rehabilitate him. That is very sad. I think the family should reject the state burial and go in for People’s burial.” The intervention followed a call by Dr. Attah Bossomtwe, a NDC activist, who said the government was going to rehabilitate the ex-President when he died. “We were about to rehabilitate the man; so his death came as a shock to us and we think that nobody should think the NDC neglected him.” Mr. Elvis Aryeh, Editor of the Daily Graphic was also on the line. He tried to defend the Government and in the process only succeeded in courting the people’s anger. He said Dr. Limann was not in control of the Government machinery which had been hijacked by party bosses. “The economy was also in a mess,” he said. The program, featuring Dr. Jones Ofori-Attah, retired member of the New Patriotic Party, Dr. Yao Graham, Editor of the Public Agenda newspaper and former member of the National Defence Committee of the Provisional Council that overthrew the Limann Government and Mr. Kwasi Pratt, Deputy Secretary of the People’s Convention Party were unanimous in their verdict that the coup plotters who overthrew the Third Republic did not fare any better with their administration of the country.
		GHANA RATIONS POWER AS HYDRO SOURCES WHITTLES
		Shopping for affordable generating sets is all the rage in Ghana today for those who can afford. But for the greater majority of Ghanaians, the routine is to check on the prices of every device ranging from lanterns to bush-lamps. Business, no doubt, is thriving for petty traders who hawk batteries, candles and bushlamps. "Over the past two weeks, I have been able to record a 200 per cent increase in sales of batteries," says Kwame Anamuah, a petty trader. Some British firms conscious of the desperation of Ghanaians have also joined the fray. They have placed adverts in the local media advertising their brand of generators. For these service providers, it is an avenue to fill in the desperation of Ghanaians who are experiencing an energy crisis, the impact of which has been very severe especially on industry resulting in some lay-offs of workers. Since January, this year, Ghana has suffered not just an unusually hot temperature but frequent power cuts, making conditions quite unbearable for the people. A nation-wide power rationing exercise is underway. Under the exercise,half the country receives power for 24 hours while the other awaits its turn. In some parts of the country, the rationing is not well coordinated and power stays off for days or there is intermittent cuts. The objective of the exercise is to address the huge electricity supply deficit. Lack of rainfall in the catchment area of the Volta lake which feeds Ghana's hydro-electric power stations, the Akosombo and Kpong dams, has been the cause of the problem coupled with a rising demand for power especially in the urban areas.Until recently, most Ghanaians who use electricity saw the Akosombo and Kpong generating stations, commissioned in 1965 and 1982 respectively,as sources of uninterruptible power. Memories still linger here of the unprecedented drought of 1983/84 which compelled the rationing of electricity and other controls. The dams were not fed with the needed water inflow. In 1994, a similar rationing exercise was undertaken after the dams again experienced low rainfall. In between these periods, there has been the interplay of floods and drought. But this year has been the most severe. The present water level of the Volta Lake, according to the Volta River Authority (VRA), the statutory power generating body, is 240 feet, eight feet below the worst previous level of 248 feet. As a result of the low level of the lake, the VRA is generating power from only three out of its six turbines at the station. The maximum operating level is 278 feet. "Our country is facing an energy crisis. There is no doubt about it,"admits Fred Ohene-Kena, Mines and Energy minister. He believes that part of the problem has to do with the fact that the VRA does not have enough funds to meet replacement and maintenance costs. Last year, attempts by the government to hike the price of electricity received a jolt after Ghanaians kicked against it. Hydro sources alone account for 3,800 gigawatt (gwh) while a recently commissioned thermal plant, accounts for 1,800 gwh. The total output of 5,600 gwh from both sources is nowhere near sufficient to meet in full, the estimated demand of 8,100 gwh including contractual obligations to Togo, Benin and the US-operated VALCO aluminium smelter in Ghana, which is the largest dometic consumer. hospitalised. A pensioner had his building completely burnt when petrol he was using for his generator caught fire. In Kumasi, Ghana's second largest city, a candle left overnight by a young woman completely burnt a compound house. The list is exhaustive. On the industrial front, VALCO unable to contain the situation has laid off 265 workers out of a work force of 2,500 and is contemplating laying off 500 workers in March. Other firms in food processing and steel works have given an indication that they would have to shed off some labour. The energy crisis is coming at a time when in line with government's investment drive, more companies are being established or are expanding. Dr Eric Kwei, Managing Director of Pioneer Food Cannery, a food processing company describes the situation as, "very depressing." The industries, which are already facing stiff competition from foreign imports are now crying out for help as the energy crisis deepens. Several industries have been plunged into darkenesss for days on end -there is tension and panic. In the wake of this, the government has announced new measures to bail the country out of its present predicament. Duties and sales tax on solar cells and panels have been waived to encourage investment in the solar energy sector. Ironic as this may be, Ghana which is located in a favourable position to receive large quantities of solar energy has not given this the due attention. Now the government wants to act. "Indeed, it is the policy of government to promote the wide application of energy systems such as solar to complement conventional energy sources," says Ohene-Kena. Government priorities now, he says, have been focussed on health institutions, senstive installations and above all industries. "We are doing everything possible to ensure that industry does not suffer unduly," he adds, stressing that, "the effect on industry, on employment and on investment is what represents the real crisis facing us as a nation." The precarious situation cannot be lost on Ghanaians. A national appeal to conserve energy is being heeded to. Radio stations have even joined the crusade to cut down their hours of tranmissions. In offices, conservation measures are underway. In the homes, Ghanaians have been asked to cut down their consumption by 30 per cent. The rains are expected probably in May but already prayers are being said for the nation by religious groups to enable the rains to come early enough to save the dams. "The social inconveniences notwithstanding, we are prepared to heed the call to save our hydro-electric stations," says Pastor James Anane who together with his small congregation of worshippers in Accra continue to pray for the nation. He is not alone in this. Indeed, all Ghanaians are.
		IMPORTATION OF OVER-AGED VEHICLES BANNED
		The government is proposing that the importation of vehicles which are older than 10 years should be banned. Consequently, any vessel which lands a vehicle which is 10 years old or more at any of the country’s ports will pay a surcharge per vehicle. The ban, as well as the surcharge on offending vehicles which are scheduled to take effect from May 1, this year, are part of the 1998 budget statement submitted by Mr. Kwame Peprah, Minister of Finance to parliament for consideration and approval. As part of the proposal, the over-aged penalty on vehicles are to be abolished as part of a general tariff rationalization measures which aims at stripping certain zero-rated items of their status. Other rates are also slated to be reduced. The minister did not give details on this. He however explained that these changes are intended to improve the import tax structure and eliminate the loopholes which facilitate abuses. Taxation of commercial vehicles such as the high occupancy passenger buses (tro-tro) and wet cargo vehicles are to be reduced from 10 to five per cent. The minister told the House that there will be tax audit to plug the loopholes to ensure that even when the importers evade duty, they will be found out after the audit and penalties be prescribed for them.
		SCANDALS GALORE .. "As Gov’t Sacks Minister over Keta Sea Defence Wall Project"
		The Government has directed Pentrexx Ghana Limited and its Managing Director, Mr. Atta Qwusu-Ansah to refund a total amount of 43,326,759,822 (three billion, three hundred and twenty-five million, seven hundred and fifty-nine thousand, eight hundred and twenty-two cedis). About 41.529 billion of the sum will be a refund of an overpayment for demolition works on the Keta Project. Pentrexx is also to repay an amount of 41.795 billion being 15% down payment for an Export Credit Guarantee Department of UK facility and the purchase of equipment made by the Ministry of Works and Housing on behalf of the company. A statement announcing these directives, signed by the Minister of Works and Housing also said the government has terminated the appointment of Mr. Kobina Fosu, the man in charge of the Ministry of Works and Housing but who is now a Minister at the Office of the President. The statement also directed that an outstanding payments certificate for an amount of 449,684,098 (forty-nine million, six hundred and eighty-our thousand, ninety-eight cedis) should not be honored. Bascom Works Limited is also to refund 4396,343,447 (three hundred and ninety-six million, three hundred and forty-three thousand, four hundred and forty-seven cedis) being commitment fee paid by the Ministry to Bascom for works in no way connected with the Keta Project. The government’s directives follow the acceptance of the report of a three member committee established in July, 1997 to undertake a technical evaluation of preparatory works carried out so far in respect of the Keta Sea Project. Meanwhile, four senior officials of the Ministry of Works and Housing well as the Architectural and Engineering Services Limited (AESL) are to remain interdicted. They are Dr. J.K.B. Atta, Chief Director of the Ministry; Mr. Victor Ababio, Technician Engineer (AESL) and Messrs. Bernard Acheampong and Emmanuel Kwapong, both of AESL.
		¢51M SPENT ON MEDICAL BILL FOR 3 NDC MEN
		n medical bills for three National Democratic Congress (NDC) men within the past 15 months. The three are among a list of so many other top government officials who have also been sent out on medical treatment within the period under consideration. This was disclosed by The Dispatch, an Accra weekly newspaper after a survey it carried out. According to the report, the paper wrote down all the names of those sent out within the stated time frame and then drew out (as in a lucky dip) three names, two Ministers of State and a former Member of Parliament. They are Mr. Edward Salia, Minister of Roads and Transport; Mr. J.A. Tawiah, former Member of Parliament for Krowor and Mr. Lee Ocran, Deputy Minister for Environment, Science and Technology. The paper said, the government spent a total of about pnd 2,700 (two thousand, seven hundred pounds sterling) and about US$17,405 (seventeen thousand, four hundred and five UD dollars), the cedi equivalent being about ¢51.58 million (fifty-one million, five hundred and eighty thousand cedis). The paper did not mention the nature of their various medical problems, but added that by raising the amounts of monies spent, “we want the government to take another look at those being sent overseas for medical treatment”. According to the paper, the total amount withdrawn from the Overseas Medical Treatment Account runs into hundreds millions of cedis. It then drew a parallel with the allegations that the ex-President Hilla Limann was reportedly refused medical attention outside the country. A panelist on a program on a Radio Universe on Dr. Limann’s death alleged that when the ex-President was asked about being sent for treatment overseas, Dr. Limann is said to have said that when he had a foot problem in the late 80’s, he was allegedly refused treatment for a foot problem which hospitalized him in Accra for three months.
		MURDER AT DINNER
		THE Homicide Unit of the Ghana Police Service has mounted a hunt for a Chinese who is on the run, after murdering three Chinese women by shooting them at close range at their Achimota home in Accra early last month. Fei Jian Gang, alias Daniel, allegedly shot dead Sah Yumei, 40, a businesswoman; Marian, 16, Yumei’s daughter and Linda Li-ping, 21, Yumei’s cousin and girlfriend of Gang, at their New Achimota residence on February 6, 1998, at about 7.45pm The reason for the murder was that the deceased persons allegedly persuaded him to invest in a non-profitable business venture which had brought him a lot of hardships. What was more, he alleged that ever since the business collapsed, the three have been tormenting him, so he decided to “finish them” and have his peace of mind. The police have since retrieved one pump action gun, 19 live cartridge and four spent shells from the house. After a thorough search in the house by the police, they retrieved the pump action gun and a four page letter written in Chinese language lying on the bed of the suspect. Nineteen live cartridges and four empty shells were also found at the scene of the shooting while Gang was nowhere to be found. Inspector Eklu said based on suspicion by the police that the letter might have something to do with the incident, it was sent to the Chinese Embassy in Accra for translation. According to the translated version, Gang is alleged to have stated in the said letter that the three had persuaded him to invest in a non-profitable business which had brought him a lot of hardships and they had been tormenting him ever since the business collapsed, so he decided to take their lives so as to have his peace of mind. Meanwhile, the three bodies have been deposited at the Police Hospital awaiting autopsy.
		RAWLINGS HEALTH ALERT !
		More than a decade of work without leave, fatigue and stress conspired to take a toll on President Rawlings. He NEARLY collapsed while performing a state assignment at Manso-Nkran in the Amansie West District of the Ashanti Region. And as the President’s near double disaster unfolded, guests, workers and inhabitants of Manso-Nkran watched in visible shock as his aides dashed to offer him the needed prop and prevent him from falling. Castle sources close to the President approached by the Ghanaian Chronicle pointed at stress, fatigue and poor eating habits of the President whom they claimed has been living on vitamins. Three days after the President’s NEAR collapse, he is reported to be doing well. “He is doing fine. He needs to rest though”, said Mr. John Mahama, Deputy Minister of communications, when he was reached on phone to comment on the President’s health. The near collapse of the President B twice at the commissioning of the Obotan Gold Project of the Amansie Gold Resources B began when he was eight pages inside his 10-page prepared speech being delivered as the guest speaker. He stood momentarily, looking visibly dazed, and had to be led to his seat. President Rawlings returned to the rostrum after cooling off the heat with a glass of water which he had requested. He managed to do two further pages of reading only to go black-out again, two pages away to the end of his prepared speech. WO1 Andrews Tetteh, the President’s body-guard, ably assisted by Brigadier henry Anyidoho, Second Infantry Brigade Commander and Mr. Albert Brown Gaisie, Regional Fire Officer, were just on hand to prevent the President from falling. Confused Presidential guards rushed to the scene and attempted to whisk the President away, but he would not budge and decided to continue. For the second time, he had to take his seat on the dais. At one stage, the President jokingly said: “My brother, al die be one die. I just have to take proper care of my health.” While the President admitted his ill health was due to tiredness, he claimed he had not gone on leave for 17 years. On his part, Mr. Ohene Agyekum, Regional Minister attributed it to “bad flight aboard a bad plane”. Later on MEDICAL experts have declared President J.J. Rawlings fit and healthy. The declaration followed a thorough medical check-up. The opinion of the doctors is that the fainting spell was caused by pypoglycaemia (low sugar level) caused by bad eating, coupled with loss of fluids as a result of sweating whilst standing in the excessive heat caused by the scorching sun at a time when he was recovering from a bout of malaria. A senior medical officer of the teams who made this known to the media explained that the President is known to frequently skip his meals due to extreme pressure of work and “his determination to deliver”. He added though that what happened to the President could have happened to any other person, given the same circumstances. According to him, though the incident could have proved fatal, the President recovered quickly because he is a healthy man. Col. D. A. Twum, Commanding Officer in charge of the 37 Military Hospital, who is also a member of the team of doctors, said the President has been advised to religiously maintain a regular eating schedule and also make time for rest. He said this is extremely important, especially since the President is no longer a young man. He said the doctors, after the examination, were satisfied that what happened was a transient episode. Col. Twum gave the assurance that the President undergoes a routine medical check-up twice a year and as and when it is necessary. Apart from this, he as a pilot, is also examined once a year in accordance with aviation regulations.
		Wham Bam, Elder delivers two slaps in church
		nsion had been brewing between two factions of the Dzorwulu Presbyterian Church for the past six months but no one expected what happened at church on Sunday, February 8, 1998. As church member and choir secretary, Miss Mavis Adu was delivering what was supposed to be a testimony as part of the church service, a much respected male member, Mr. Steve Opare-Obisaw, who is also vice chairman of the Men’s Fellowship, walked the length of the aisle and gave her two slaps, wham! bam! across the face. Mr. Opare-Obisaw was said not to have taken kindly to remarks made by Mavis during her testimony and attacked her. This held up proceedings for over 20 minutes as efforts were made to restrain some of the members, especially the youth, from flexing their muscles. Giving a background to the incident, a staunch member of the church who pleaded anonymity, told The Mirror that there had been a rift among members of the top hierarchy of the church over the transfer of Rev. Kwabena Owusu-Amoah from the church to another district. While some supported the transfer, others opposed it. AS part of efforts to settle the issue, a meeting was called on February 4, this year, at which some well meaning members wanted a petition they had prepared to be sent to the District Pastor, Rev. Agyen Frempong, at Kaneshie, urging him to streamline affairs of the church brought up for discussion. The petition, among other things, called for the suspension of the entire session of presbyters and put in its place an Interim Management Committee (IMC) to run the affairs of the church until a substantive session is elected. The petition also suggested that the IMC should see to change signatories to the church’s bank accounts as well as to reconstitute the finance committee and the auditing procedure of the church’s accounts. This apparently did not go down well with a section of those who were present. According to the source, Dr. E. K. Opuni, chairman of the Men’s Fellowship who chaired the meeting, blocked the discussion of the petition and told those not satisfied to go ahead and submit their petition. This was supported by Mr. Opare-Obisaw who also asked all those who want to leave the church to do so. These comments brought some confusion which almost resulted in a fight. Then on Sunday, February 8, during testimony time, Mavis was said to have raised certain issues discussed at the meeting, but the Catechist, Mr. Enoch Ampofo, tried to stop her. She refused ad went ahead to make reference to some comments made at the meeting by Dr. Opuni and Mr. Opare-Obisaw. According to the source, this did not go down well with the two men who got up and started briskly down the aisle toward Mavis. The source said Mavis attempted to move away from the rostrum but before she could do so, Mr. Opare-Obisaw held her by the neck of her “T” shirt and slapped her then followed it up a flurry of punches. Some members went to separate them but not satisfied, Mr. Opare-Obisaw was said to have chased Mavis to where she had taken refuge and further kicked her several times. Matters were not helped when the Senior Presbyter, Mr. Akuamoah Boateng, instead of cooling down tempers, asked the congregation to sing at the top of their voices to subdue the noise in the church. This was met with boos. Mavis has made a formal report to the Achimota police who are investigating. Her medical report indicate that she had abrasions on the right forearm, swelling on the doldrums of the right big toe and tenderness over the right groin and upper pubic region. Meanwhile, a section of the congregation, citing the Moderator’s moves to instill discipline in the church, have called for a thorough investigation of the matter.
		INCEST!
		A 46-year-old driver whose flaps went so loose it caught up with his 19-year-old daughter, is in the grips of the law after he lost control and attacked the unfortunate lady because she refused to allow him to continue with the sordid incestuous relations. The driver, Emmanuel Kumi, according sources, had been taking advantage of the absence of his daughter’s mother to have daily sex sessions with her, threatening to kill her whenever she decided she wanted to squeal. A police source at the Tesano Police station told newsmen that Kumi, who hails from Agbozume in the Volta Region but lives at Nii Boye Town in Accra, had actually made it a daily chore to sexually abuse his own daughter. Luck, however, run out for him on Monday February 10, 1998, when he attempted to have his daily dose around 11.20am. His daughter is reported to have refused to give in but Kumi threatened to kill her. She nevertheless remained adamant and in a fit of fury, her father butted her with his head, leaving her with a swollen left eye. Unable to carry the physical and emotional injury to her womanhood, the poor girl got into a crying fit until a woman passer-by saw her and upon ascertaining what had happened, recommended that the matter be reported to the police. Kumi was apprehended and placed in police cells after his daughter had lodged a formal complaint.
		VILLAGERS IN OIL BONANZA
		The residents of Lagos Town, a suburb of Takoradi, had a lucky day on Tuesday, January 27, 1998, when an articulated fuel tanker loaded with some 32,400 liters of gas oil skidded off the main Takoradi-Tarkwa road directly opposite the Kwesimintsim Police Station and landed on its side, spilling part of its contents. An eye-witness, Mr. Charles Sackey, who works with the Nuampong Furniture Works where the tanker fell, said the accident occurred when the driver swerved to avoid hitting a taxi which had suddenly stopped right in front of it in the middle of the slopping road before turning left in the direction of Airport Ridge. Within minutes of the accident which occurred at bout 4.00pm scores of people - men, women, children - had converged on the tanker with al types of receptacles and were collecting the gas-oil which kept gushing out from openings in the sealed tanks. The police had a hectic time controlling traffic and trying to prevent the people from stealing the fuel. The Station Officer of the Kwesimintsim Police Station, Chief Inspector T.K. Bosomtwe, said in an interview that the action of the residents in taking away the gas-oil constituted a criminal offence, and cautioned the general public, particularly those in Lagos Town and Sawmill, to desist from taking things from accident vehicles and victims. The Kenworth tanker was conveying the fuel from Takoradi to the Teberebie Goldfields at Tarkwa when the incident occurred. The driver, Mr. Wallata Mohammed, an employee of Mobil, expressed regret at the incident, but said he was glad there were no loss of lives. He said if he had not swerved to the right, his heavy tanker would have crushed all the persons in the taxi to death.
		WOMAN, 70, ACCUSED OF WITCHCRAFT
		When on January 17, this year, 70-year-old Madam Elizabeth Nunoo was summoned by two rasta haired self acclaimed spiritualists to attend to her bed-ridden son, she was very hopeful that her son would get some relief. Events however turned the other way when she was picked locked up in a room engulfed in a thick cloud of “pepperish” choking smoke. Her offence: she is suspected to be a witch and the cause of her son, Joseph Antwi’s stroke. The poor woman, who could not stand the suffocating smoke, collapsed and had to be rushed to the hospital by some neighbors where she was revived and has since been on medication. Narrating the case before a sitting at the offices of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), a family spokesman said Antwi, who has four wives and 10 children, became hypertensive some seven months ago but the family could not keep him on medication as prescribed by doctors due to financial constraints. The family spokesman said the hypertension degenerated into a stroke and instead of seeking medical advice from hospitals, a section of the family decided to seek the help of two Chorkor Lighthouse-based rasta haired spiritualists. After receiving an amount of ¢30,000 and some items, the spiritualists then claimed there was an evil spirit in the house and demanded that Madam Nunoo who they suspected to be part of the bad spirits, be brought to undergo a test. The rat-smoking style of test was too much for the old woman who had to be rushed to the hospital and the case reported to the Greater Accra office of CHRAJ. Mr. Kwabla Senanu, CHRAJ Greater Accra boss, presiding over the case, said the action against Madam Nunoo contravenes Articles 14, 15 and 26 of the Constitution and that culprits could be arrested by the police and arraigned before court “but if I cause their arrest there would not be anyone left to work and take care of the bed-ridden stroke patient, Antwi. Mr. Senanu however, directed that the ailing man be sent back to hospital and that no member of the family should accuse Madam Nunoo as a witch and that no further monies should be paid to the rasta spiritualists. The family is to report back to Mr. Senanu later in February this year on the progress made.
		RAPE VICTIM IN SUSPENSE
		The fate of a 17-year-old nursing mother who was allegedly raped by a man at knife point will not be known until six weeks from now. The victim, who is carrying a five-month old baby, has been asked to report at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in six weeks time for a pregnancy test. The accused, Fred Quarshie Tamakloe, 33, has appeared before an Accra Community tribunal chaired by Mr. Kojo Owusu. Tamakloe pleaded guilty to the charge of rape and he was scheduled to re-appear on February 18, this year. The prosecution had it that on January 12, this year, at about 8.30am after the girl had sent her little sister to school, she met Tamakloe standing in front of his abandoned drinking bar. The prosecution said when she got near Tamakloe who lives in the same vicinity with the victim at Russia in Accra, called her to buy him some food across the street. Not suspecting anything, the victim went over, but as Tamakloe stretched his hands to give the money to her, he rather dragged her into the bar instead. The prosecution said in an attempt to shout, Tamakloe took a bottle and hit his victim on the shoulders to weaken her. He again pulled a knife and threatened to kill her if she dared to shout. AS she tried to shout, Tamakloe held her mouth, tore her dress and pants and forcibly had sex with her on the floor three times. After the act, the prosecution said, Tamakloe again warned the girl to keep her mouth shut or else he would kill her and then pushed her out of the bar. Unfortunately for the victim when she got home, her parents had gone out so she reported the matter to one Sophia Acquah, a neighbor, who in turn reported the case to the Kaneshie police and then to the girl’s parents. The girl was later taken to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital where after treatment, she was asked to report in six weeks time for a pregnancy test since she gave birth not too long ago. Tamakloe has however admitted committing the offence. Investigations have also revealed that Tamakloe had sex with another teenage girl and discharged into the victims mouth. The case is still pending in court.
		PACIFY US BEFORE BURIAL’ Family urges widower
		The death of a 20-year-old woman has generated a controversy among a family at Ziavi, a farming community near Ho in the Volta Region with the relatives of the deceased demanding certain items for pacification from the widower before the body can be buried. The widower has also been accused of the death of the couple’s premature baby at the Sokode-Gbogame Musama Disco Christo Church (MDCC) near Ho and was secretly buried. The body of the deceased, Florence Adzo Adzanku, who died on January 26, this year, has been deposited at the Peki Government Hospital mortuary until the pacification rites have been performed. Items for the pacification include a number of sheep and various brands of alcoholic beverages costing about ¢1 million. Information gathered by the media revealed that Adzo lived with her husband, Kwaku Ohene, for over one year without the knowledge of the girl’s parents. Then on January 25 this year, Adzo who was then eight months pregnant was taken ill and Ohene decided to take her to the MDCC at Sokode-Gbogame for treatment. While at the church, Adzo was said to have sought permission from both Ohene and the local pastor of the church, Emmanuel Shatey, to attend to nature’s call but when after sometime she was not coming, the pastor went to the lavatory to find out what was wrong. According to the information, the pastor met Adzo in labor. She happened to have a still birth and the child was buried secretly at Hoviefe, near Ho, the husband’s hometown. The information revealed that soon after the delivery of the baby, Adzo’s health began to take a downward plunge. When the pastor realized things were getting out of hand, he was said to have alleged that Adzo had been cursed for violating a taboo and ordered her to be sent back to her family. The deceased was said to have been rushed in a taxi around 7pm to the door step of her mother at Klefe-Demefe and dumped there. Before the mother could come to the aid of her daughter, she died. The information further revealed that when news reached Adzo’s father, Mr. Walter Adzanku at Ziavi about her death, he allegedly ordered an immediate inquiry into the circumstances leading to the death of his daughter. An emergency family meeting decided on the penalty. According to Pastor Shatey, the couple came to the MDCC camp on January 25, this year, and he realized Adzo was anemic so he prescribed tinned tomatoes mixed with oats for her. According to the pastor, Adzo had a smooth delivery but it was later in the evening that he asked that she be sent home because her condition was not improving.
		FARMER CLUBS BABY DAUGHTER TO DEATH
		The Police at Ahwerwah in the Ashanti Region are hunting for a farmer who is on the run after hitting his one-year-old baby girl with a club that killed her. The farmer, Kwaku Mensah who wanted to hit his wife with the stick, missed and rather hit the baby resulting in her death. A police source said that on January 25, this year, at about 9.0pm Kwaku Mensah picked up a quarrel with his wife Yaa Gyamfuaa at Mpatuom near Ahwrewah. The source said in the course of the exchanges, Mensah, who could not control his anger, picked a club and decided to silence the wife whose verbal attack on Mensah had then reached a deafening crescendo. However, Mensah missed his target and the stick landed on the head of their one-year-old baby girl, Abena Nyabianye, who was then on the back of Gyamfuaa, the source added. It continued that the small girl sustained serious head injuries and was rushed to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital for treatment but she died shortly after admissions. Sensing danger, Kwaku Mensah fled the town and has since not been seen. The police are seriously searching for him. The body of little Abena has been deposited at the Komfo Anokye hospital for autopsy.
		WOMAN RAPED IN CHAPEL
		Two young men, unable to stand the chilly harmattan weather at Zam, Koforidua, decided to warm themselves up. This they did by allegedly pouncing on a girl returning from a wake-keeping with her finance and sexually assaulted her four times. Ebenezer Kugblenu Tei and Emmanuel Kwabena Boateng who are helping the Koforidua police in their investigations, have denied the allegation. The victim, a 19-year-old, has been girl, has been examined by Dr. Benjamin Dadebo of the Koforidua Central Hospital who said he observed “abrasion at both sides of the vulva near the thigh” and added that the “the vagina is tender on digital, no sign of freshness as hymen is already broken”. Investigations indicate that the two young men stuffed their victim’s mouth with rags and took turns to rape her twice each. The victim told the police that at about 2am on January 17, this year, she was returning from a wake-keeping when Tei and two others dragged her to an uncompleted Apostolic Church building at Betom, a suburb of Koforidua, and raped her. According to her, she went to the wake-keeping the previous night at about 10pm and met her boy-friend, called Kofi. She said they went and stood behind a nearby house to converse, during which they saw three young men approaching them. She claimed the boyfriend who thought the young men were her brothers, took to his heels. Tei was said to have told the victim that his personal effects had been stolen and he suspected her boyfriend. Tei and his two friends then requested the victim to join them to search for her boyfriend and when they got to the uncompleted building, Tei and Boateng forcibly had sex with her one after the other.
		EGYPT ARE CHAMPS
		EGYPT completely dominated South Africa, beating the defending champions 2-0 in Ouagadougou on Saturday to equal Ghana’s record of four times African champions. The one-sided cup final, watched by a full crowd including Burkinabe President, Blaise Compaore, climaxed three weeks of events marking the 21st edition of the African cup of Nations, a tournament full of upsets. A stormy controversy over his eligibility for the final, Lucas Radebe emerged from the dressing room wearing the captain’s band and psyched for his familiar role in the South African defence. Pairing there with Mark Fish, Andrew Rabtula and William Jackson, the south African defence gave early indication it would play it hard on Hossam Hassan and his men in the Egyptian attack. Egypt were physically and tactically prepared for it, to trade their skills for the South African muscle. The first such contact saw Rabtula mowing down Hossam for a free-kick. South Africa was yet to recover fully from this early charge at their defence when midfielder Ahmed Hassan prevailed on them again. From his own half, Ahmed kept coming at the retreating South African defence. As he neared the South African box, the cunning Egyptian had confused the thoughts of those marking him, creating a wide gap to be exploited. Ahmed exploited it to the fullest, unleashing from afar, Egypt’s opening goal in the fourth minute. Playing a fluent and compact game, Egypt’s tactical superiority was no more in doubt and their relaxed disposition earned robust response from South Africa. Under an Egyptian pressure, they least expected South Africa were to pay for another foul tackle close to their box seven minutes after conceding the first goal. As if hypnotized by the menacing presence of Hossam, Mark Fish and his colleagues in defence had their attention focused on the man who had netted seven of Egypt’s eight goals, expecting him to take off with the ball when the set piece was laid to him. But the 32-year-old wise man did nothing like that. Rather, he flicked the ball through the bemused defenders for Tarek Mostafa to strike the second goal for Egypt. While over concentration on Hossam had turned South Africans into a porous defensive network, Egypt paid little heed to the presence of Benedict McCarthy, South African version of Hossam, leaving him only to the efficient care of Abdel Medhat, who sometimes had the luxury of joining the attack. With the packed stadium heavily behind them, South Africa appeared miserable and incapable of finding a way out of Egypt’s tactical and technical domination. Their adoption of foul means earned Radebe and Helman Mkhalele yellow cards before the first half ended. The reality of their African football championship title slipping away, South Africa came out more industrious in the second half, pushing at the very tight Egyptian defence but reluctance to shoot at goal severely restrained their maneuvers. By the 83rd minute, Egypt had won the crowd over to their side, stringing together a wide network of passes to a tremendous cheer. At the end of the game, President Compaore presented the magnificent African Cup to Egyptian captain Hossam Hassan with the silver going to South Africa and bronze to the Congo Democratic Republic.
		AKUNNOR IN AFRICA X1
		The Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) technical study group has selected position by position, the best eleven players from the 21st African Cup of Nations with Ghana’s C.K. Akunnor earning enlistment as one of the best midfielders on the continent. Akunnor, who plays professional football with Fortuna Koln in Germany, was the only Ghanaian selected. The team comprises Nader El-Sayed (Egypt) as goalkeeper. The defenders are Fernandes Jorge (Mozambique), Mohammed Amara (Egypt), Mark Fish (South Africa) and Nouredine Naybet (Morocco). The midfielders are Hassen Gabsi (Tunisia), Simba Ekanza (Congo), Guel Tchiressoua (Cote d’Ivoire) and Charles Akunnor (Ghana). The strikers are Benedict McCarthy of South Africa and Hossam Hassan of Egypt. The Committee also elected Benedict McCarthy as the Best Player of the tournament, and Cote d’Ivoire as winner of the Fair Play Trophy, followed by Egypt. Hossam Hassan and Benedict McCarthy were declared joint winner of the top scorer award with seven goals each. Egypt had the highest aggregate, scoring 10 and conceding one. Hassan scored seven out of the Egyptian 10 while South Africa scored a total of nine and conceded six. Both Hassan and McCarthy did not score in the final. Two referees, Charles Nassembe of Uganda and Sid-Bekaye Megassa of Mali were dismissed from the tournament for poor performance.
		COACHES: WE ARE RESPONSIBLE
		CUP of Nations preliminary drop-outs, the Black Stars of Ghana, returned home with a disappointing story for a disappointed nation. And they did so in compliance with a standing CAF order for eliminated teams to vacate the Games Village within 48 hours, before the shock of their elimination dies down in Ouagadougou. Even Congo who dealt the fatal blow appeared surprised at their achievement. “We came in to do our best hoping at least not to lose but the victory over Ghana is a feeling I cannot describe,” said Congolese coach Iyolo Watunda. While Watunda savors the euphoria, coaches Rinus Israel and Sam Arday were tasting the bitterest side of defeat, a kind of player-rebellion at the games Ouga 2000 Village. With evidence in abundance, the players drowned in remorse. The defeat had imposed on all the ultimate in shame and there was noting much to lose by opening up frankly on what went wrong. So player by player, almost all of them took turns to pour out frustration at the way Rinus and Arday handled affairs in Ouagadougou. The trend has now grown irritating that over the past 15 years each time Ghana sets of on a course to rehabilitate its football image, a demon emerges from somewhere to eat up all the effort. Consistently, it has run from last-minute technical change to Bouake; Abedi-Yeboah divide in Tunisia or player indiscipline in South Africa. This time, all the players were unanimous that they had done everything to confide the player’s part of the problem to the reuse dump o history but were terribly let down by a petty and intransigent expatriate who was also not helped by his local assistant. It took some time before the core of the team realized that the coach had personal problems with some of the players, unrelated to form or skill; indeed he was not on speaking terms with Ablade Kumah, Arthur Moses and Ofori Quaye. This they got to know after one of the best games in the tournament against Tunisia. And because of their lack of knowledge of the personal problem matter, team spirit and harmony remained high in the game. Thereafter, it dawned on them that in subsequent games, they who felt the real steam on the pitch would need the services o some o their experienced colleagues including Ablade Kumah and Arthur Moses. In an effort to get this suggestion through, key players like Abedi Pele, Osei Kuffour and C. K. Akunnor ran into the real but petty. When the players’ own effort at harmonizing relations between player and coach failed, they turned to local assistant, Arday, whom they thought could understand their language better and relate it better to the foreigner but Arday dodged the issue with the excuse tht the man would suspect he was taking sides with the players against him. The players did not end there. They went to higher authority bringing in the GFA Chairman Alhaji Jawula and his colleagues. At a meeting with the coaches, Jawula and his men made it clear that the players’ feelings on some of the players tallied with reactions from a wide spectrum of Ghanaians back home but the coaches rebuffed this with the threat “if you impose any player on me, I will pack and leave before the match against Congo.” Trapped in that blackmail and dread of being charged with interference, the GFA allowed Arday and Israel to leave with their right of being the final authority on who plays and who does not. Their leverage was further enhanced with the injury of Gargo to feature full time, one of the contested cases, Eric Addo, a fresh teenager in a competition of matured African players, and Emmanuel Kuffour. There was a belated attempt to bring on Ofori Quaye and Ablade Kumah when the going got tough but Arthur Moses remained there, knocked out by ego, to watch Ghana play three matches without any of the three stickers, Kuffour, Emmanuel Tetteh and Felix Aboagye, scoring a goal. The three goals Ghana scored were all by defenders Alex Nyarko, Sam Johnson and Mohammed Gargo. At the time Ghana was using tactful diplomacy to get a change of heart and mind on the part of Arday and Israel, Cameroon was being pushed with no room for coaches option. A day to their match against Algeria, a special envoy of Camerounian President Paul Biya arrived in Ouagadougou, summoned coach Manga Ougene to a special meeting with the technical team. After the meeting at Hotel Independence, Manya came up with a new team, replacing captain Songo Jacques with his third choice goalkeeper Ongandzi Vincent and starting Joseph Desire Job, instead of Salomon Olembe. For good or bad, Cameroon came up stronger against their previous suspicious stamina, winning 2-1 from a 0-1 down over Algeria. In a post-match chat, coach Israel and Arday took full responsibility for the Black Stars’ performance and when asked whether they were satisfied with their work, replied “that is not for me but for Ghanaians to judge.” Israel has a contract with the GFA which expires in June with the option of renewal.
		NANA YAW RETAINS TITLE OF World Boxing Association (WBA)
		Bantamweight champion, Nana yaw Konadu, ought to a second round knock-out victory over the Venezuelan challenger, Abraham Torres in his title defence in Argentina at the weekend. It took the Ghana champion 1 minute 32 seconds inside the second round of their scheduled 12-rounder to stop the Venezuelan who fell unconscious and only regained consciousness after 30 minutes. According reports, Torres opened the first round fiercely but the champion took all his shots and then began to force the challenger to retreat with a barrage of blows in the middle of the round. And by the end of the round, the piston-like shots of Nana Yaw Konadu had already done enough damage to the body of Torres for the Ghanaian champion to finish off the weary Venezuelan in the second round to retain his title. Last Saturday night’s fight in Argentina was Nana Yaw’s first defence of the title he reclaimed late last year by beating Daorung Siriwat of Thailand in their re-match in Florida. The victory raises Nana Yaw’s professional record to 37 with 29 KO’s, one draw and two losses. The Ghana champion and his trainer, Baba Sumaila have since left Argentina for the United States enroute back home.