24/07/08
Story: Mary Mensah & Christiana Asantewah Wiafe
THE Police Administration has appealed to the National House of Chiefs to find a permanent solution to the numerous chieftaincy and land disputes.
The Director-General in charge of Human Resource Development at the Ghana Police Service, Commissioner of Police (COP) Mrs Joana Osei Opoku, who made the appeal, noted that although the police had the capacity to deal with such negative developments, the disputes had the tendency to consume a large chunk of the service's meagre resources.
Mrs Opoku was speaking at the passing out of the third batch of trainees who have successfully completed their six- month basic police training at the National Police Training School in Accra last Tuesday.
The 80 recruits were made up of 65 males and 15 females.
Mrs Opoku also appealed to the public to co-operate with the police to eliminate crime from the society, emphasising that achieving public safety was a corporate responsibility.
She told the recruits that their success as full-fledged police officers would depend largely on the application of the skills and knowledge gained, in addition to civility and comportment towards the public.
The director-general also cautioned the recruits against acts of indiscipline that would drag the name of the service into disrepute and warned that the Police Administration would not countenance misconduct by any member of the service.
Mrs Opoku said the service was often pushed into the pool of public criticisms, which often led to public mistrust, and said a singular act could lead the public to question the integrity of the service.
She, therefore, advised the recruits to be circumspect and always work within the parameters of the Police Code of Ethics.
She reminded the recruits that they were passing out at a crucial period when Ghanaians were about to hold presidential and parliamentary elections, adding, "Circumspection, vision, loyalty and commitment on the part of police officers are major professional requirements to ensure peaceful elections.”
Mrs Opoku assured all Ghanaians and the international community that the needed mechanisms and strategies had been mapped out to achieve peaceful elections.
The Overall Best Recruit award went to General Recruit Kwabena Agbedanu.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
VEEP OPENS COMMONWEALTH EX-SERVICE LEACUE CONFAB(Centre Spread)
22/07/08
Story: Mary Mensah & Gifty Appiah-Adjei
The Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, says Ghana aims at producing a new soldier that is well equipped, not only for warfare but also capable of fitting well into civil life after military service.
He said the modern training programme being spearheaded by the Kofi Annan Peacekeeping Training Centre was, therefore, important to Ghana as well as beneficiary sister countries in Africa.
Alhaji Mahama was opening the 30th Triennial Conference of the Royal Commonwealth Ex-Service League (RCEL) in Accra yesterday.
The three-day conference is being organised by the Veterans Association of Ghana (VAG) in collaboration with RCEL.
The Vice-President said Ghana was proud to host the conference, since that was an indication of how the country was highly regarded worldwide.
Alhaji Mahama said the conference would also afford Ghana the opportunity to express its gratitude to ex-servicemen, especially those who sacrificed their lives to achieve independence for their countries.
He called on the present generation to emulate examples of the ex-servicemen by fighting the modern-day battle of ideas for economic and social development, so that generations unborn would enjoy from their sweat.
The Secretary General of RCEL, Mr Paul Advise, said RCEL would consider an increase in grant for veterans to help improve their welfare.
He said so far, participants had visited the Burma Camp and the Christianborg cemetery to pay respects to the lost veterans.
Mr Advise also disclosed that the constitution of RCEL required that it met once in every three years, adding that the league was proud to have its 30th Triennial Conference in Ghana.
The Veterans Association of Ghana VAG) is a member of the league, which is a charity organisation for Commonwealth countries.
With 65,000 eligible veterans and widows identified, the charity acts as a link for ex-service organisations across the globe and provides welfare for those in need with the aim of ensuring that no ex-serviceman or woman is without help if in need.
The league organises conferences for delegates from all member organisations every three years, and the Accra Conference forms the 30th since the establishment of the league in 1921 in Cape Town, South Africa.
Story: Mary Mensah & Gifty Appiah-Adjei
The Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, says Ghana aims at producing a new soldier that is well equipped, not only for warfare but also capable of fitting well into civil life after military service.
He said the modern training programme being spearheaded by the Kofi Annan Peacekeeping Training Centre was, therefore, important to Ghana as well as beneficiary sister countries in Africa.
Alhaji Mahama was opening the 30th Triennial Conference of the Royal Commonwealth Ex-Service League (RCEL) in Accra yesterday.
The three-day conference is being organised by the Veterans Association of Ghana (VAG) in collaboration with RCEL.
The Vice-President said Ghana was proud to host the conference, since that was an indication of how the country was highly regarded worldwide.
Alhaji Mahama said the conference would also afford Ghana the opportunity to express its gratitude to ex-servicemen, especially those who sacrificed their lives to achieve independence for their countries.
He called on the present generation to emulate examples of the ex-servicemen by fighting the modern-day battle of ideas for economic and social development, so that generations unborn would enjoy from their sweat.
The Secretary General of RCEL, Mr Paul Advise, said RCEL would consider an increase in grant for veterans to help improve their welfare.
He said so far, participants had visited the Burma Camp and the Christianborg cemetery to pay respects to the lost veterans.
Mr Advise also disclosed that the constitution of RCEL required that it met once in every three years, adding that the league was proud to have its 30th Triennial Conference in Ghana.
The Veterans Association of Ghana VAG) is a member of the league, which is a charity organisation for Commonwealth countries.
With 65,000 eligible veterans and widows identified, the charity acts as a link for ex-service organisations across the globe and provides welfare for those in need with the aim of ensuring that no ex-serviceman or woman is without help if in need.
The league organises conferences for delegates from all member organisations every three years, and the Accra Conference forms the 30th since the establishment of the league in 1921 in Cape Town, South Africa.
SLAIN COP'S BODY FLOWN HOME (Page 210
21/07/08
Story: Mary Mensah & Gifty Appiah-Adjei
The mortal remains of General Sergeant Joseph Stanhope Dawson, a member of the Ghanaian Police team on United Nations (UN) Peacekeeping Mission in Dafur, was received by the Police Administration at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) in Accra last Friday.
The body was flown into the country by the Emirates Airline that touched down at exactly 11 a.m.
The police mounted a parade at the airport to pay respect to the body and in attendance were Commissioner of Police (COP) Paul Quaye, Director General (SGM), and Mr J. Oppong Boamuah, Greater Accra Regional Commander.
COP Quaye said the Police Administration sympathised with the family and described General Sergeant Dawson as a dedicated and hardworking officer.
Family members present could not help but wail and shed tears as the silver casket containing the remains of the deceased was carried away in a police ambulance amidst the blowing of sirens from the airport to the Police Hospital mortuary.
In an address, COP Quaye said though the Ghana Police Peacekeeping contingent in Dafur had suffered some minor casualties like injuries and sicknesses, General Sergeant Dawson was the first to die.
He further said currently, there were 476 Ghanaian Police UN Peacekeeping officers in Dafur.
The death of General Sergeant Dawson, a native of Elmina in the Central Region, occurred on June 8, 2008, when 10 UN police officers, two military observers and two language assistants under the escort of 51 Rwandese armed personnel were ambushed by militia men between Gusa Jamat and Wadah in the north of Dafur.
The ambush resulted in the death of seven officers while 22 others sustained injuries.
Story: Mary Mensah & Gifty Appiah-Adjei
The mortal remains of General Sergeant Joseph Stanhope Dawson, a member of the Ghanaian Police team on United Nations (UN) Peacekeeping Mission in Dafur, was received by the Police Administration at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) in Accra last Friday.
The body was flown into the country by the Emirates Airline that touched down at exactly 11 a.m.
The police mounted a parade at the airport to pay respect to the body and in attendance were Commissioner of Police (COP) Paul Quaye, Director General (SGM), and Mr J. Oppong Boamuah, Greater Accra Regional Commander.
COP Quaye said the Police Administration sympathised with the family and described General Sergeant Dawson as a dedicated and hardworking officer.
Family members present could not help but wail and shed tears as the silver casket containing the remains of the deceased was carried away in a police ambulance amidst the blowing of sirens from the airport to the Police Hospital mortuary.
In an address, COP Quaye said though the Ghana Police Peacekeeping contingent in Dafur had suffered some minor casualties like injuries and sicknesses, General Sergeant Dawson was the first to die.
He further said currently, there were 476 Ghanaian Police UN Peacekeeping officers in Dafur.
The death of General Sergeant Dawson, a native of Elmina in the Central Region, occurred on June 8, 2008, when 10 UN police officers, two military observers and two language assistants under the escort of 51 Rwandese armed personnel were ambushed by militia men between Gusa Jamat and Wadah in the north of Dafur.
The ambush resulted in the death of seven officers while 22 others sustained injuries.
SIC BOARD HOLDS MAIDEN MEETING (Page 44)
21/07/08
Story: Mary Mensah
The new nine-member board of directors of the SIC Insurance Company Limited yesterday held its maiden meeting in Accra with a pledge to move the company to other parts of Africa.
The new board, which has Mr Ayikoi Otoo, former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, as its chairman, said plans were far advanced for the company to expand its operations to other African countries.
He said with the floating of shares the company was now being owned by some 13,000 shareholders who approved the appointment of the new directors at the last shareholders meeting to steer the affairs of the company.
The chairman said in accordance with the new Insurance Act the State Insurance Company was split into two entities and the general business division became “SIC Insurance Company” whilst the life division became “SIC Life Insurance Company”.
He said even though SIC Insurance company owned 20 per cent of the SIC Life the two companies had separate board of directors and were completely different from each other.
Mr Ayikoi Otoo said with the oil find in the country the company was poised to break grounds in order to generate more profits.
Members of the new board include Mr Rex Osei Wusu, Managing Director of Fairwork Limited, Mr Kwasi Osei, an actuarian and a fellow of the Societies of Actuaries and a member of the American Academy of Actuaries; Mr Kofi Amoah, Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC); and Mrs Elizabeth K. T. Sackey, Member of Parliament.
The others are Mr Daniel K. M. Soadzedey, a director of SIC; Mr Franklin O. Owusu Asafo Adjei, Deputy Managing Director (Administration and Finance); Mr Peter Osei Duah, Managing Director of SIC; and Dr Kofi Kodua Sarpong, Managing Director of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR).
Story: Mary Mensah
The new nine-member board of directors of the SIC Insurance Company Limited yesterday held its maiden meeting in Accra with a pledge to move the company to other parts of Africa.
The new board, which has Mr Ayikoi Otoo, former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, as its chairman, said plans were far advanced for the company to expand its operations to other African countries.
He said with the floating of shares the company was now being owned by some 13,000 shareholders who approved the appointment of the new directors at the last shareholders meeting to steer the affairs of the company.
The chairman said in accordance with the new Insurance Act the State Insurance Company was split into two entities and the general business division became “SIC Insurance Company” whilst the life division became “SIC Life Insurance Company”.
He said even though SIC Insurance company owned 20 per cent of the SIC Life the two companies had separate board of directors and were completely different from each other.
Mr Ayikoi Otoo said with the oil find in the country the company was poised to break grounds in order to generate more profits.
Members of the new board include Mr Rex Osei Wusu, Managing Director of Fairwork Limited, Mr Kwasi Osei, an actuarian and a fellow of the Societies of Actuaries and a member of the American Academy of Actuaries; Mr Kofi Amoah, Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC); and Mrs Elizabeth K. T. Sackey, Member of Parliament.
The others are Mr Daniel K. M. Soadzedey, a director of SIC; Mr Franklin O. Owusu Asafo Adjei, Deputy Managing Director (Administration and Finance); Mr Peter Osei Duah, Managing Director of SIC; and Dr Kofi Kodua Sarpong, Managing Director of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR).
FAKE DOCTOR ARRESTED (Page 44)
21/07/08
Story: Mary Mensah
The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service have arrested a 34 year old man for allegedly posing as a medical doctor from the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.
The suspect, Kwabena Kissih succeeded in duping unsuspecting members of the public especially patients monies running into several thousands of cedis.
When his room was searched at Dama Estate at Satellite in Kuntunse after his arrest an amount of ¢640.00 and GH¢50.00 was retrieved from the room.
Two passports, passport application forms, application for employment forms, Ministry of Health folder No. 254684 bearing the name Sally Boakye Yiadom from Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, prospectus form the Nurses Training College, Korle-Bu Accra different passport pictures and other documents were found.
According to the Public Relations Officer of the CID, Inspector J. B. Darkwa somewhere in October, 2006 the suspect approached the complainant, a manager of a reputable organisation in Accra for assistance.
He introduced himself to the manager as being a medical doctor attached to Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital but later disappeared.
He re-surfaced in February this year at complainants office and gave an excuse that he had to travelled to Canada for a course in medicine hence his long absence.
Suspect (Dr.) Kwabena Kissih visited complainant a number of times in the during February and March this year and each time he enters the complainant’s office his mobile phone rings and he will be giving instructions to his nurses to monitor conditions of patients.
Inspector Darkwa said there was a time when the complainant’s child fell sick and was taken to a clinic at Tesano and the suspect accompanied him there to examine the child and if needs be he will refer the child to a specialist, one Professor Antwi, a colleague of his at Korle-Bu.
He frequents complainant office and always heard him talking to his (in-law) in Canada about his wife's immigrant visa and he offered to assist because he doubles as a consulting doctor at the Canadian High Commission and could assist him by talking to the High Commissioner personally.
He later collected $ 1,340 for the processing of documents for the issuance of the visa but he kept telling him stories.
He went to complainants office in June, 2008 while he was on his way to the University of Ghana, Legon to check on his boss son admission letter.
Suspect called the head of Science Department on his phone to the hearing of complainant and later collected GH¢500.00 to enable him facilitate work on the admission process.
He again took GH¢180.00 on the admission issue and later brought admission forms which had been signed by the Deputy Registrar, Prof. (Mrs) Christiana Owusu Badu but it looked suspicious.
When the letter was taken to the to the University for verification it turned out to be fake so a report was made to the police and he was subsequently arrested.
Upon interrogation, the suspect admitted he forged the signature of the deputy registrar.
Suspect admitted to investigators that he completed Adisadel College and has not been to any University and neither has he read medicine therefore he is not a doctor of medicine as claimed. Investigation is on going.
Story: Mary Mensah
The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service have arrested a 34 year old man for allegedly posing as a medical doctor from the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.
The suspect, Kwabena Kissih succeeded in duping unsuspecting members of the public especially patients monies running into several thousands of cedis.
When his room was searched at Dama Estate at Satellite in Kuntunse after his arrest an amount of ¢640.00 and GH¢50.00 was retrieved from the room.
Two passports, passport application forms, application for employment forms, Ministry of Health folder No. 254684 bearing the name Sally Boakye Yiadom from Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, prospectus form the Nurses Training College, Korle-Bu Accra different passport pictures and other documents were found.
According to the Public Relations Officer of the CID, Inspector J. B. Darkwa somewhere in October, 2006 the suspect approached the complainant, a manager of a reputable organisation in Accra for assistance.
He introduced himself to the manager as being a medical doctor attached to Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital but later disappeared.
He re-surfaced in February this year at complainants office and gave an excuse that he had to travelled to Canada for a course in medicine hence his long absence.
Suspect (Dr.) Kwabena Kissih visited complainant a number of times in the during February and March this year and each time he enters the complainant’s office his mobile phone rings and he will be giving instructions to his nurses to monitor conditions of patients.
Inspector Darkwa said there was a time when the complainant’s child fell sick and was taken to a clinic at Tesano and the suspect accompanied him there to examine the child and if needs be he will refer the child to a specialist, one Professor Antwi, a colleague of his at Korle-Bu.
He frequents complainant office and always heard him talking to his (in-law) in Canada about his wife's immigrant visa and he offered to assist because he doubles as a consulting doctor at the Canadian High Commission and could assist him by talking to the High Commissioner personally.
He later collected $ 1,340 for the processing of documents for the issuance of the visa but he kept telling him stories.
He went to complainants office in June, 2008 while he was on his way to the University of Ghana, Legon to check on his boss son admission letter.
Suspect called the head of Science Department on his phone to the hearing of complainant and later collected GH¢500.00 to enable him facilitate work on the admission process.
He again took GH¢180.00 on the admission issue and later brought admission forms which had been signed by the Deputy Registrar, Prof. (Mrs) Christiana Owusu Badu but it looked suspicious.
When the letter was taken to the to the University for verification it turned out to be fake so a report was made to the police and he was subsequently arrested.
Upon interrogation, the suspect admitted he forged the signature of the deputy registrar.
Suspect admitted to investigators that he completed Adisadel College and has not been to any University and neither has he read medicine therefore he is not a doctor of medicine as claimed. Investigation is on going.
POLICE WILL ENSURE PEACEFUL ELECTIONS (Centre Spread)
10/07/08
Story: Mary Mensah
THE Police Administration has put in place national and regional task forces to minimise any breaches of the law before, during and after this year's general election.
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Patrick K. Acheampong, who made this known, therefore expressed strong optimism that the December 7 Presidential and Parliamentary elections would be conducted in a peaceful atmosphere.
Mr Acheampong was speaking in an encounter with the Editorial Board of the Daily Graphic in Accra on Tuesday.
Mr Acheampong said preparatory work towards the peaceful conduct of the elections was on course and called for a collective effort on the part of all stakeholders to achieve this objective.
He said the Police Administration had also beefed up security in conflict areas through the provision of equipment and vehicles to forestall any possible disturbances during the electioneering.
"We do not think we would have much problems in the conflict areas as far as campaigns and the elections are concerned," he said in answer to a probing question concerning election in trouble spots in the country.
He, however, cautioned politicians not to fuel ethnic sentiments during the campaign period, since such sentiments had the potential to foment trouble.
The IGP also urged them not to politicise security matters, since they were matters for the security agencies to address.
Mr Acheampong said there had been instances where some political party activists had gone to the extent of reading politics into some criminal activities, pointing out that this did not augur well for the country's democratic dispensation.
He called for mutual co-operation between the security agencies and the civilian population to ensure peaceful, free and fair elections.
Earlier at a meeting with the management of the Graphic Communications Group Limited, the Managing Director, Mr Ibrahim Awal, assured the IGP of the company’s resolve to partner the police in their fight against crime and other social vices, reports Mary Mensah.
Mr Awal stressed that both institutions had a responsibility to maintain peace, order and unity in the country at all times and it was important that the two collaborated.
He said the GCGL would support the police by providing free space for adverts and tit bits to educate the public about trends of crime and what to do to avoid falling victim.
Mr Awal indicated that the products of the company would only thrive in a peaceful atmosphere, stating that currently the company published seven newspapers with a wide readership.
The managing director said the flagship newspaper of the company, the Daily Graphic, had maintained its position as the leading newspaper in the country because it always strove to be objective and fair in its reportage in order to maintain standards.
The General Manager for Newspapers, Mr Yaw Boadu Ayeboafoh, said the Daily Graphic had always supported the police by publishing details of wanted persons to assist the police to track them down.
Mr Ayeboafoh indicated that both institutions were interested in the stability of the nation and urged the police administration to be very open with the public it served, so that the integrity of its personnel would be better appreciated by the people.
For his part, the IGP expressed his appreciation to the management of GCGL for its support and said the police had put in place stringent measures to combat the recent spate of armed robberies and other crimes in the country.
He stressed, however, that the police could not fight crime without the support and collaboration from the public and corporate organisations like the GCGL.
Story: Mary Mensah
THE Police Administration has put in place national and regional task forces to minimise any breaches of the law before, during and after this year's general election.
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Patrick K. Acheampong, who made this known, therefore expressed strong optimism that the December 7 Presidential and Parliamentary elections would be conducted in a peaceful atmosphere.
Mr Acheampong was speaking in an encounter with the Editorial Board of the Daily Graphic in Accra on Tuesday.
Mr Acheampong said preparatory work towards the peaceful conduct of the elections was on course and called for a collective effort on the part of all stakeholders to achieve this objective.
He said the Police Administration had also beefed up security in conflict areas through the provision of equipment and vehicles to forestall any possible disturbances during the electioneering.
"We do not think we would have much problems in the conflict areas as far as campaigns and the elections are concerned," he said in answer to a probing question concerning election in trouble spots in the country.
He, however, cautioned politicians not to fuel ethnic sentiments during the campaign period, since such sentiments had the potential to foment trouble.
The IGP also urged them not to politicise security matters, since they were matters for the security agencies to address.
Mr Acheampong said there had been instances where some political party activists had gone to the extent of reading politics into some criminal activities, pointing out that this did not augur well for the country's democratic dispensation.
He called for mutual co-operation between the security agencies and the civilian population to ensure peaceful, free and fair elections.
Earlier at a meeting with the management of the Graphic Communications Group Limited, the Managing Director, Mr Ibrahim Awal, assured the IGP of the company’s resolve to partner the police in their fight against crime and other social vices, reports Mary Mensah.
Mr Awal stressed that both institutions had a responsibility to maintain peace, order and unity in the country at all times and it was important that the two collaborated.
He said the GCGL would support the police by providing free space for adverts and tit bits to educate the public about trends of crime and what to do to avoid falling victim.
Mr Awal indicated that the products of the company would only thrive in a peaceful atmosphere, stating that currently the company published seven newspapers with a wide readership.
The managing director said the flagship newspaper of the company, the Daily Graphic, had maintained its position as the leading newspaper in the country because it always strove to be objective and fair in its reportage in order to maintain standards.
The General Manager for Newspapers, Mr Yaw Boadu Ayeboafoh, said the Daily Graphic had always supported the police by publishing details of wanted persons to assist the police to track them down.
Mr Ayeboafoh indicated that both institutions were interested in the stability of the nation and urged the police administration to be very open with the public it served, so that the integrity of its personnel would be better appreciated by the people.
For his part, the IGP expressed his appreciation to the management of GCGL for its support and said the police had put in place stringent measures to combat the recent spate of armed robberies and other crimes in the country.
He stressed, however, that the police could not fight crime without the support and collaboration from the public and corporate organisations like the GCGL.
GLO GETS LICENCE TO OPERATE (Centre Spread)
17/07/08
Story: Mary Mensah
GLOBACOM (Glo) Telecommunication network, was yesterday granted a licence by the National Communications Authority (NCA) to commence its operations.
The company thus becomes the sixth GSM licensed operator in the country.
Globacom signed the licence agreement with the NCA at a ceremony in Accra and shortly after that its Chief Operating Officer (COO), Mr M. A. Jameel, told journalists that the company would begin full operations by the end of the year.
He said the company would leverage its expertise in top notch technology to deliver superior service on the Ghanaian market and projected two million customers by the end of its first year of operations, which is expected to generate more than 3000 jobs.
The COO was full of praise for the Ghanaian authorities for granting the company the licence, adding that “this is a moment of truth, satisfaction and achievement”.
He said the company, which had a history of innovative products and services, hoped to deploy high-level technology and innovative products and services to the Ghanaian public.
The COO stated that the company presently had about 19 million subscribers in Nigeria and had over 300,000 subscribers in Benin after only a few months of operation in that country.
He said the company hoped to increase its subscriber base in Nigeria to 35 million and a million subscribers in Benin in its first year of operation next year.
Mr Jameel said the story about GLO started in Nigeria about five years ago and aimed at building one of Africa’s best and biggest networks.
He said the journey had been smooth, moving from Nigeria to Benin and currently to Ghana, where they intend to revolutionise the market.
The COO announced that GLOBACOM had begun the construction of an under sea cable from the United Kingdom to Ghana to improve the communications system in the country.
He expressed his appreciation to the government, NCA and the people of Ghana for the opportunity and re-affirmed the company’s commitment to serve the people better with a world-class network.
The NCA on June 12, 2008, declared Glo Mobile winner of the international bid for the mobile cellular licence in Ghana.
The licence followed over one-and-a-half months of global bidding for the sixth GSM licence in Ghana and the company had only recently flagged off services in Benin.
According to NCA, Glo Mobile was the preferred bidder because of the superiority of its technical presentation, pedigree and extensive rollout plan for Ghana.
Glo Mobile also emerged tops in the commercial bid, leading to its eventual announcement as the winner of the sixth GSM licence in Ghana.
Glo Mobile’s management is chaired by Dr Mike Adenuga Jr.
Story: Mary Mensah
GLOBACOM (Glo) Telecommunication network, was yesterday granted a licence by the National Communications Authority (NCA) to commence its operations.
The company thus becomes the sixth GSM licensed operator in the country.
Globacom signed the licence agreement with the NCA at a ceremony in Accra and shortly after that its Chief Operating Officer (COO), Mr M. A. Jameel, told journalists that the company would begin full operations by the end of the year.
He said the company would leverage its expertise in top notch technology to deliver superior service on the Ghanaian market and projected two million customers by the end of its first year of operations, which is expected to generate more than 3000 jobs.
The COO was full of praise for the Ghanaian authorities for granting the company the licence, adding that “this is a moment of truth, satisfaction and achievement”.
He said the company, which had a history of innovative products and services, hoped to deploy high-level technology and innovative products and services to the Ghanaian public.
The COO stated that the company presently had about 19 million subscribers in Nigeria and had over 300,000 subscribers in Benin after only a few months of operation in that country.
He said the company hoped to increase its subscriber base in Nigeria to 35 million and a million subscribers in Benin in its first year of operation next year.
Mr Jameel said the story about GLO started in Nigeria about five years ago and aimed at building one of Africa’s best and biggest networks.
He said the journey had been smooth, moving from Nigeria to Benin and currently to Ghana, where they intend to revolutionise the market.
The COO announced that GLOBACOM had begun the construction of an under sea cable from the United Kingdom to Ghana to improve the communications system in the country.
He expressed his appreciation to the government, NCA and the people of Ghana for the opportunity and re-affirmed the company’s commitment to serve the people better with a world-class network.
The NCA on June 12, 2008, declared Glo Mobile winner of the international bid for the mobile cellular licence in Ghana.
The licence followed over one-and-a-half months of global bidding for the sixth GSM licence in Ghana and the company had only recently flagged off services in Benin.
According to NCA, Glo Mobile was the preferred bidder because of the superiority of its technical presentation, pedigree and extensive rollout plan for Ghana.
Glo Mobile also emerged tops in the commercial bid, leading to its eventual announcement as the winner of the sixth GSM licence in Ghana.
Glo Mobile’s management is chaired by Dr Mike Adenuga Jr.
O-r-d-e-r,O-r-d-e-r... PETER IS GONE (Front Page)
16/07/08
Story: Mary Mensah
ALA ADJETEY’S FINAL MOMENTS
FOR a man of his fitness, the demise of former Speaker of Parliament, Peter Ala Adjetey, at dawn yesterday must be one of the most shocking examples of sudden death.
By the account of his eldest son, Mr Larry Adjetey, a few days before that, the 76-year-old man had complained that he had difficulty urinating and that when he urinated, the urine was accompanied with blood.
He, therefore, checked into the Trust Hospital in Accra for a CTC scan, after which he was referred to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital for a surgery. He was scheduled to be admitted at the Cardiothoracic Centre at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital today for a minor surgery the following day.
Last Thursday, July 10, the former Speaker had gone to his office, Nii Okantey Chambers, opposite the General Post Office in Accra, where, as usual, a number of young lawyers came to consult him on cases they were handling, after which he left for home a few minutes after 5.00 p.m.
The following day, the former Speaker said he needed to see his doctor, Prof Bekoe, at Korle-Bu, so he left the house with his driver about 10.00 a.m.
He later called to inform the family that the doctor had decided to detain him for further observation, after diagnosing excess aspirin in his system which needed to be flushed out before the surgery could be performed.
Upon the visit of the family to the hospital last Friday, “Daddy was doing fine, so after staying with him for some hours, we all returned home,” Larry recalled.
On Saturday and Sunday the family was “back at the hospital and on both occasions he looked hearty and well”.
But his condition was said to have changed dramatically on Monday and the family was informed that the situation was very critical and that he had been taken to the Intensive Care Unit.
After waiting for some time, members of the family had to leave because they were not allowed to see him, “only to received a call from doctors at 3.00 a.m. yesterday that he had passed away”.
Mr Adjetey had undergone a successful operation in the US for prostrate cancer and had been travelling there for periodic check-ups.
An outstanding lawyer and former chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Adjetey was a recipient of the Order Of the Star Of Ghana (Member Division) at the recent National Awards Day.
He was also the Head of the Nii Adjetey Okantey We of La Dzrasee and sub-chief at Abiriw in the Akuapem Traditional Area of the Eastern Region under the stool name Nana Otuamfom Bekoe.
Shortly after the news of his death broke, the NPP flag bearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and other NPP heavyweights visited his residence to sympathise with the family.
They included the Chairman of the NPP, Mr Peter Mac Manu; Mr Dan Botwe, Mr Alan Kyerematen, Nana Ohene Ntow and Mr Kwabena Agyepong.
They described his death as a shock and a big blow to the party in particular and a great loss to the nation.
Nana Ohene Ntow said party members were devastated by the news because they never heard about him being taken ill.
“He is a great icon who knows the law at the back of his hand and is one of those who made parliamentary democracy work by insisting on the rule of law,” he said.
He left behind his wife, Johanna, six children, three of whom are lawyers.
THE MAN PETER ALA ADJETEY (Credit: Augustina Tawiah, Junior Graphic)
As early as Standard Five, Young Peter Ala Adjetey had a strong attraction to politics. His regular visits to meetings of the Legislative Council to listen to speeches by prominent Ghanaians such as the Chief of Prampram, Nene Anorkwei; the Chief of Manya Krobo, Nene Azu Mate-Korle, and a founder member of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC), Dr J.B. Danquah, aroused the political instinct in him.
His interest in politics at that tender age was so high that he supported the UGCC in full when it was formed in 1947, when he was only a Standard Seven pupil.
"I was very interested in the politics of the UGCC and the internal difference of opinion in it," he said.
So deep was his love for politics that he pledged to himself that if he had education, he would do the things those prominent people were doing at the Legislative Council.
And, true to his pledge, he, indeed, became one of the most respected lawyers, politicians and statesmen in the country.
No wonder he has left an indelible mark in the political history of the country which cannot be fully written without the name of the former Speaker of Parliament and one-time National Chairman of the ruling NPP, the Right Hon Peter Ala Adjetey.
Not only was Mr Adjetey a prominent politician; he was also a successful legal practitioner. His law firm, Nii Okantey Chambers, located at the Accra Post Office Square, is a place any budding lawyer would love to have his or her training.
Giving the Junior Graphic a peep into his childhood at his chambers, he was so nice and affable, contrary to public perception that he was so strict and regimental. Amidst laughter, he delved into his past and answered all questions posed to him.
Mr Adjetey, who started school very late, at nine, was the only child, out of his 10 siblings, to complete secondary school and receive higher education. All the others ended their education after Standard Seven because there was no money in the family.
Having realised the importance of education very early, he recalled that whenever he learnt about other people's achievements, he believed he could also make it if he had the required education. The desire to excel drove him to pursue education, despite the difficulties and lack of money in the family.
"My ambition, as a child, was to acquire higher education. I wanted to go to secondary school, " he stressed repeatedly.
As a result, walking the four-mile journey from La, where he was born and raised, to his school, Bishop Boys in Accra, and back was not a big deal. To break the journey home after school, he recalled that he and his friends "used to go to the beach and fight. Sometimes we were beaten, at other times we won".
He explained that he had to walk that distance to school because he was given only a penny to buy lunch at school and he could not afford to spend everything on transport.
During weekends or when he was out of school, Young Ala Adjetey accompanied his father, who was a farmer, to his farm. In those days, he explained, areas such as Cantonments, Labone and Burma Camp were all farmlands. He also helped in household chores such as fetching water and keeping the house tidy.
Living in a fishing community and having a father who was also a fisherman, Young Ala Adjetey was expected to know how to go to sea at a young age. But that was not the case.
Hear him: "I was too young then. I went to the beach but never learnt how to go to sea.”
Young Ala Adjetey's dream of having secondary education was nearly shattered when it was time to go to secondary school. His parents were unable to raise about £16 to add up to a scholarship he had won to study at Adisadel College. He explained that the scholarship was £35 a year, while his fees for the year was £51. Left with no other choice, he sadly declined the scholarship.
But luck later smiled on him when somebody informed him that Accra Academy had just become an approved government secondary school so he could go there as a day student if his scholarship could still be maintained. He, therefore, appealed to the then Education Department, now the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports, for the scholarship to be transferred to Accra Academy. And that was done for him.
During his first year at Accra Academy, Young Ala Adjetey had to walk to school every day from La, but he was never late to school. Eventually, he became a boarder, after he won another scholarship. At Accra Academy, he was the editor of the school's journal and a house prefect as well. His adherence to discipline also made students describe him as a strict person.
He completed secondary school in 1951 and had another scholarship to study at the University College of the Gold Coast (now the University of Ghana, Legon), the only university in the country at the time. That year, he and two others were the only students from his school who won scholarships for direct entry to the university college without going to Sixth Form.
After his two-year intermediate Bachelor of Arts programme, he started an honours degree course in Sociology, with Prof K.A. Busia, the first African Professor at the university and then Head of the Sociology Department, as his lecturer. He, however, abandoned his Sociology course midstream after winning yet another scholarship from the Government of Ghana to study law in Britain.
He studied Law at the University of Nottingham and graduated in 1958 with Second Class (Upper Division) honours. He also did a summer course in Public International Law in the Netherlands. He returned to London, and after successfully passing his exams, he was called to the English Bar in February 1959. He returned to Ghana in May 1959 and worked at the Attorney-General's Office as an Assistant Crown Counsel.
From there, he went into private practice and had been doing so ever since, except for the four years he became the Speaker of Parliament from 2000 to 2004. The 76-year-old former Speaker of Parliament had held a number of positions, including being the former President of the Ghana Bar Association and President of the African Bar Association.
Story: Mary Mensah
ALA ADJETEY’S FINAL MOMENTS
FOR a man of his fitness, the demise of former Speaker of Parliament, Peter Ala Adjetey, at dawn yesterday must be one of the most shocking examples of sudden death.
By the account of his eldest son, Mr Larry Adjetey, a few days before that, the 76-year-old man had complained that he had difficulty urinating and that when he urinated, the urine was accompanied with blood.
He, therefore, checked into the Trust Hospital in Accra for a CTC scan, after which he was referred to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital for a surgery. He was scheduled to be admitted at the Cardiothoracic Centre at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital today for a minor surgery the following day.
Last Thursday, July 10, the former Speaker had gone to his office, Nii Okantey Chambers, opposite the General Post Office in Accra, where, as usual, a number of young lawyers came to consult him on cases they were handling, after which he left for home a few minutes after 5.00 p.m.
The following day, the former Speaker said he needed to see his doctor, Prof Bekoe, at Korle-Bu, so he left the house with his driver about 10.00 a.m.
He later called to inform the family that the doctor had decided to detain him for further observation, after diagnosing excess aspirin in his system which needed to be flushed out before the surgery could be performed.
Upon the visit of the family to the hospital last Friday, “Daddy was doing fine, so after staying with him for some hours, we all returned home,” Larry recalled.
On Saturday and Sunday the family was “back at the hospital and on both occasions he looked hearty and well”.
But his condition was said to have changed dramatically on Monday and the family was informed that the situation was very critical and that he had been taken to the Intensive Care Unit.
After waiting for some time, members of the family had to leave because they were not allowed to see him, “only to received a call from doctors at 3.00 a.m. yesterday that he had passed away”.
Mr Adjetey had undergone a successful operation in the US for prostrate cancer and had been travelling there for periodic check-ups.
An outstanding lawyer and former chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Adjetey was a recipient of the Order Of the Star Of Ghana (Member Division) at the recent National Awards Day.
He was also the Head of the Nii Adjetey Okantey We of La Dzrasee and sub-chief at Abiriw in the Akuapem Traditional Area of the Eastern Region under the stool name Nana Otuamfom Bekoe.
Shortly after the news of his death broke, the NPP flag bearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and other NPP heavyweights visited his residence to sympathise with the family.
They included the Chairman of the NPP, Mr Peter Mac Manu; Mr Dan Botwe, Mr Alan Kyerematen, Nana Ohene Ntow and Mr Kwabena Agyepong.
They described his death as a shock and a big blow to the party in particular and a great loss to the nation.
Nana Ohene Ntow said party members were devastated by the news because they never heard about him being taken ill.
“He is a great icon who knows the law at the back of his hand and is one of those who made parliamentary democracy work by insisting on the rule of law,” he said.
He left behind his wife, Johanna, six children, three of whom are lawyers.
THE MAN PETER ALA ADJETEY (Credit: Augustina Tawiah, Junior Graphic)
As early as Standard Five, Young Peter Ala Adjetey had a strong attraction to politics. His regular visits to meetings of the Legislative Council to listen to speeches by prominent Ghanaians such as the Chief of Prampram, Nene Anorkwei; the Chief of Manya Krobo, Nene Azu Mate-Korle, and a founder member of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC), Dr J.B. Danquah, aroused the political instinct in him.
His interest in politics at that tender age was so high that he supported the UGCC in full when it was formed in 1947, when he was only a Standard Seven pupil.
"I was very interested in the politics of the UGCC and the internal difference of opinion in it," he said.
So deep was his love for politics that he pledged to himself that if he had education, he would do the things those prominent people were doing at the Legislative Council.
And, true to his pledge, he, indeed, became one of the most respected lawyers, politicians and statesmen in the country.
No wonder he has left an indelible mark in the political history of the country which cannot be fully written without the name of the former Speaker of Parliament and one-time National Chairman of the ruling NPP, the Right Hon Peter Ala Adjetey.
Not only was Mr Adjetey a prominent politician; he was also a successful legal practitioner. His law firm, Nii Okantey Chambers, located at the Accra Post Office Square, is a place any budding lawyer would love to have his or her training.
Giving the Junior Graphic a peep into his childhood at his chambers, he was so nice and affable, contrary to public perception that he was so strict and regimental. Amidst laughter, he delved into his past and answered all questions posed to him.
Mr Adjetey, who started school very late, at nine, was the only child, out of his 10 siblings, to complete secondary school and receive higher education. All the others ended their education after Standard Seven because there was no money in the family.
Having realised the importance of education very early, he recalled that whenever he learnt about other people's achievements, he believed he could also make it if he had the required education. The desire to excel drove him to pursue education, despite the difficulties and lack of money in the family.
"My ambition, as a child, was to acquire higher education. I wanted to go to secondary school, " he stressed repeatedly.
As a result, walking the four-mile journey from La, where he was born and raised, to his school, Bishop Boys in Accra, and back was not a big deal. To break the journey home after school, he recalled that he and his friends "used to go to the beach and fight. Sometimes we were beaten, at other times we won".
He explained that he had to walk that distance to school because he was given only a penny to buy lunch at school and he could not afford to spend everything on transport.
During weekends or when he was out of school, Young Ala Adjetey accompanied his father, who was a farmer, to his farm. In those days, he explained, areas such as Cantonments, Labone and Burma Camp were all farmlands. He also helped in household chores such as fetching water and keeping the house tidy.
Living in a fishing community and having a father who was also a fisherman, Young Ala Adjetey was expected to know how to go to sea at a young age. But that was not the case.
Hear him: "I was too young then. I went to the beach but never learnt how to go to sea.”
Young Ala Adjetey's dream of having secondary education was nearly shattered when it was time to go to secondary school. His parents were unable to raise about £16 to add up to a scholarship he had won to study at Adisadel College. He explained that the scholarship was £35 a year, while his fees for the year was £51. Left with no other choice, he sadly declined the scholarship.
But luck later smiled on him when somebody informed him that Accra Academy had just become an approved government secondary school so he could go there as a day student if his scholarship could still be maintained. He, therefore, appealed to the then Education Department, now the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports, for the scholarship to be transferred to Accra Academy. And that was done for him.
During his first year at Accra Academy, Young Ala Adjetey had to walk to school every day from La, but he was never late to school. Eventually, he became a boarder, after he won another scholarship. At Accra Academy, he was the editor of the school's journal and a house prefect as well. His adherence to discipline also made students describe him as a strict person.
He completed secondary school in 1951 and had another scholarship to study at the University College of the Gold Coast (now the University of Ghana, Legon), the only university in the country at the time. That year, he and two others were the only students from his school who won scholarships for direct entry to the university college without going to Sixth Form.
After his two-year intermediate Bachelor of Arts programme, he started an honours degree course in Sociology, with Prof K.A. Busia, the first African Professor at the university and then Head of the Sociology Department, as his lecturer. He, however, abandoned his Sociology course midstream after winning yet another scholarship from the Government of Ghana to study law in Britain.
He studied Law at the University of Nottingham and graduated in 1958 with Second Class (Upper Division) honours. He also did a summer course in Public International Law in the Netherlands. He returned to London, and after successfully passing his exams, he was called to the English Bar in February 1959. He returned to Ghana in May 1959 and worked at the Attorney-General's Office as an Assistant Crown Counsel.
From there, he went into private practice and had been doing so ever since, except for the four years he became the Speaker of Parliament from 2000 to 2004. The 76-year-old former Speaker of Parliament had held a number of positions, including being the former President of the Ghana Bar Association and President of the African Bar Association.
Monday, July 21, 2008
POLICE INFORMANT SUBJECTED TO SEVERE ASSAULT
16/07/08
Story: Mary Mensah
The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service have arrested a 34 year old man for allegedly posing as a medical doctor from the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.
The suspect, Kwabena Kissih succeeded in duping unsuspecting members of the public especially patients monies running into several thousands of cedis.
When his room was searched at Dama Estate at Satellite in Kuntunse after his arrest an amount of ¢640.00 and GH¢50.00 was retrieved from the room.
Two passports, passport application forms, application for employment forms, Ministry of Health folder No. 254684 bearing the name Sally Boakye Yiadom from Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, prospectus form the Nurses Training College, Korle-Bu Accra different passport pictures and other documents were found.
According to the Public Relations Officer of the CID, Inspector J. B. Darkwa somewhere in October, 2006 the suspect approached the complainant, a manager of a reputable organisation in Accra for assistance.
He introduced himself to the manager as being a medical doctor attached to Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital but later disappeared.
He re-surfaced in February this year at complainants office and gave an excuse that he had to travelled to Canada for a course in medicine hence his long absence.
Suspect (Dr.) Kwabena Kissih visited complainant a number of times in the during February and March this year and each time he enters the complainant’s office his mobile phone rings and he will be giving instructions to his nurses to monitor conditions of patients.
Inspector Darkwa said there was a time when the complainant’s child fell sick and was taken to a clinic at Tesano and the suspect accompanied him there to examine the child and if needs be he will refer the child to a specialist, one Professor Antwi, a colleague of his at Korle-Bu.
He frequents complainant office and always heard him talking to his (in-law) in Canada about his wife's immigrant visa and he offered to assist because he doubles as a consulting doctor at the Canadian High Commission and could assist him by talking to the High Commissioner personally.
He later collected $ 1,340 for the processing of documents for the issuance of the visa but he kept telling him stories.
He went to complainants office in June, 2008 while he was on his way to the University of Ghana, Legon to check on his boss son admission letter.
Suspect called the head of Science Department on his phone to the hearing of complainant and later collected GH¢500.00 to enable him facilitate work on the admission process.
He again took GH¢180.00 on the admission issue and later brought admission forms which had been signed by the Deputy Registrar, Prof. (Mrs) Christiana Owusu Badu but it looked suspicious.
When the letter was taken to the to the University for verification it turned out to be fake so a report was made to the police and he was subsequently arrested.
Upon interrogation, the suspect admitted he forged the signature of the deputy registrar.
Suspect admitted to investigators that he completed Adisadel College and has not been to any University and neither has he read medicine therefore he is not a doctor of medicine as claimed. Investigation is on going.
Story: Mary Mensah
The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service have arrested a 34 year old man for allegedly posing as a medical doctor from the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.
The suspect, Kwabena Kissih succeeded in duping unsuspecting members of the public especially patients monies running into several thousands of cedis.
When his room was searched at Dama Estate at Satellite in Kuntunse after his arrest an amount of ¢640.00 and GH¢50.00 was retrieved from the room.
Two passports, passport application forms, application for employment forms, Ministry of Health folder No. 254684 bearing the name Sally Boakye Yiadom from Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, prospectus form the Nurses Training College, Korle-Bu Accra different passport pictures and other documents were found.
According to the Public Relations Officer of the CID, Inspector J. B. Darkwa somewhere in October, 2006 the suspect approached the complainant, a manager of a reputable organisation in Accra for assistance.
He introduced himself to the manager as being a medical doctor attached to Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital but later disappeared.
He re-surfaced in February this year at complainants office and gave an excuse that he had to travelled to Canada for a course in medicine hence his long absence.
Suspect (Dr.) Kwabena Kissih visited complainant a number of times in the during February and March this year and each time he enters the complainant’s office his mobile phone rings and he will be giving instructions to his nurses to monitor conditions of patients.
Inspector Darkwa said there was a time when the complainant’s child fell sick and was taken to a clinic at Tesano and the suspect accompanied him there to examine the child and if needs be he will refer the child to a specialist, one Professor Antwi, a colleague of his at Korle-Bu.
He frequents complainant office and always heard him talking to his (in-law) in Canada about his wife's immigrant visa and he offered to assist because he doubles as a consulting doctor at the Canadian High Commission and could assist him by talking to the High Commissioner personally.
He later collected $ 1,340 for the processing of documents for the issuance of the visa but he kept telling him stories.
He went to complainants office in June, 2008 while he was on his way to the University of Ghana, Legon to check on his boss son admission letter.
Suspect called the head of Science Department on his phone to the hearing of complainant and later collected GH¢500.00 to enable him facilitate work on the admission process.
He again took GH¢180.00 on the admission issue and later brought admission forms which had been signed by the Deputy Registrar, Prof. (Mrs) Christiana Owusu Badu but it looked suspicious.
When the letter was taken to the to the University for verification it turned out to be fake so a report was made to the police and he was subsequently arrested.
Upon interrogation, the suspect admitted he forged the signature of the deputy registrar.
Suspect admitted to investigators that he completed Adisadel College and has not been to any University and neither has he read medicine therefore he is not a doctor of medicine as claimed. Investigation is on going.
Friday, July 11, 2008
MADINA POLICE SWOOP ON CRIMINALS (Page 39)
11/07/08
Story: Mary Mensah
THE Madina Police yesterday arrested 47 suspected criminals at their hideouts in a dawn swoop to flush out criminals within its jurisdiction.
The three-hour exercise was carried out at the Atomic Junction, Haatso, Agbogba, IPS, Madina, Agyiriganno and Nmai Dzor areas.
Items retrieved from the suspected criminals, who were made up of 27 Ghanaians, 19 Nigerians and a Liberian, included whitish substances suspected to be cocaine and dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp, computers, laptops, mobile phones, machetes, knives, screw drivers and other implements used in committing crimes.
According to the Madina Divisional Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Paul Ayittey, the exercise followed directives from the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to regional, district and unit commanders to ensure that crimes were brought down to the barest minimum.
He said already similar exercises had been carried out at Adabraka, Alajo, Avenor, the Neoplan Station, Circle, Kaneshie and La Wireless, all in Accra, to arrest narcotic dealers and peddlers, suspected armed robbers and violent criminals.
He said those arrested would be screened, after which an identification parade would be organised to enable their victims to identify them.
The Commander said appropriate charges would be preferred against those found culpable.
He said the exercise would be sustained to ensure that law-abiding citizens went about their duties without fear.
Chief Supt Ayittey said investigations were far advanced into the Ecobank robbery case and soon findings would be made public.
Story: Mary Mensah
THE Madina Police yesterday arrested 47 suspected criminals at their hideouts in a dawn swoop to flush out criminals within its jurisdiction.
The three-hour exercise was carried out at the Atomic Junction, Haatso, Agbogba, IPS, Madina, Agyiriganno and Nmai Dzor areas.
Items retrieved from the suspected criminals, who were made up of 27 Ghanaians, 19 Nigerians and a Liberian, included whitish substances suspected to be cocaine and dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp, computers, laptops, mobile phones, machetes, knives, screw drivers and other implements used in committing crimes.
According to the Madina Divisional Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Paul Ayittey, the exercise followed directives from the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to regional, district and unit commanders to ensure that crimes were brought down to the barest minimum.
He said already similar exercises had been carried out at Adabraka, Alajo, Avenor, the Neoplan Station, Circle, Kaneshie and La Wireless, all in Accra, to arrest narcotic dealers and peddlers, suspected armed robbers and violent criminals.
He said those arrested would be screened, after which an identification parade would be organised to enable their victims to identify them.
The Commander said appropriate charges would be preferred against those found culpable.
He said the exercise would be sustained to ensure that law-abiding citizens went about their duties without fear.
Chief Supt Ayittey said investigations were far advanced into the Ecobank robbery case and soon findings would be made public.
GHANAIAN COP KILLED IN DAFUR (CENTRE SPREAD)
11/07/08
Story: Mary Mensah
The Police Administration has confirmed the death of General Sergeant Joseph Stanhope Dawson, 39, of the Airport Police Station in Accra during a United Nations (UN) Peace mission in Dafur Sudan.
Sgt Dawson, a native of Elmina in the Central Region, was among seven UN peace keeping personnel who died during an attack on them by Sudanese rebels on June 8, 2008.
Two other Ghanaian Police Officers, DSP Andrews Ekumah Boadu and ASP Yaw Ohene Takyi from the Brong Ahafo and Central Regional Police Commands respectively were among the 22 who sustained severe injuries during the attack.
According to the Administration, information received from the United Nations Department of Peace Keeping Operations (UNDPKO) in New York indicated that 10 UN police personnel, two military observers and two language assistants under escort of 51 Rwandese armed personnel were ambushed by militia men between Gusa Jamat and Wadah in North Darfur.
The incident led to the death of six others which included one Ugandan and four Rwandese while 22 others sustained injuries.
Meanwhile the Secretary-General of the UN, Mr Ban Ki Moon has condemned the attack as an unacceptable act of extreme violence against UN-AU peace keepers and called on the government of Sudan to do its utmost to ensure that the perpetrators are swiftly identified and brought to justice.
Mr Ban also expresses his deepest condolences to the families of the peacekeepers who lost their lives.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) has been in force since the beginning of this year trying to end the conflict that has raged in the Western Sudanese region since 2003, pitting rebels against government forces and allied militia, known as the Janjaweed.
An estimated 300,000 people have died either through direct combat or because of disease, malnutrition or reduced life expectancy, over the past five years in Darfur. Some 2.7 million people are now displaced, with many living across the border in eastern Chad.
The Police Administration has meanwhile expressed its condolence to the bereaved family.
Story: Mary Mensah
The Police Administration has confirmed the death of General Sergeant Joseph Stanhope Dawson, 39, of the Airport Police Station in Accra during a United Nations (UN) Peace mission in Dafur Sudan.
Sgt Dawson, a native of Elmina in the Central Region, was among seven UN peace keeping personnel who died during an attack on them by Sudanese rebels on June 8, 2008.
Two other Ghanaian Police Officers, DSP Andrews Ekumah Boadu and ASP Yaw Ohene Takyi from the Brong Ahafo and Central Regional Police Commands respectively were among the 22 who sustained severe injuries during the attack.
According to the Administration, information received from the United Nations Department of Peace Keeping Operations (UNDPKO) in New York indicated that 10 UN police personnel, two military observers and two language assistants under escort of 51 Rwandese armed personnel were ambushed by militia men between Gusa Jamat and Wadah in North Darfur.
The incident led to the death of six others which included one Ugandan and four Rwandese while 22 others sustained injuries.
Meanwhile the Secretary-General of the UN, Mr Ban Ki Moon has condemned the attack as an unacceptable act of extreme violence against UN-AU peace keepers and called on the government of Sudan to do its utmost to ensure that the perpetrators are swiftly identified and brought to justice.
Mr Ban also expresses his deepest condolences to the families of the peacekeepers who lost their lives.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) has been in force since the beginning of this year trying to end the conflict that has raged in the Western Sudanese region since 2003, pitting rebels against government forces and allied militia, known as the Janjaweed.
An estimated 300,000 people have died either through direct combat or because of disease, malnutrition or reduced life expectancy, over the past five years in Darfur. Some 2.7 million people are now displaced, with many living across the border in eastern Chad.
The Police Administration has meanwhile expressed its condolence to the bereaved family.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
POLICE NABBED SIX SUSPECTS (Page 3)
10/07/08
Story: Mary Mensah & Edward Turkson
The Accra Regional Police Command in collaboration with the Kumasi Police has arrested six armed robbers including a woman who were believed to have committed the Madina Ecobank robbery.
The group was paraded together with four other robbers in Accra yesterday but victims of armed robbery attacks failed to identify any of them.
The woman was not paraded alongside the other suspects but was interrogated by the investigation team.
The victims and eyewitnesses at Madina took turns trying to identify the suspects out of the lot but none of them could recognise any of the robbers.
Police sources said they were not deterred by the failure of the victims to identify the robbers and that they would continue with their investigations till the perpetrators were caught.
The six were arrested in Kumasi in another bank robbery attempt and were brought to Accra.
According to the police, the group were all resident in Accra but had been involved in several robberies in Kumasi and Accra.
It would be recalled that the Tuesday, June 24, 2008 issue of this paper carried the story of gunmen numbering about five who struck at the Madina branch of Ecobank in broad daylight the previous day, shot and killed a cop guarding a bullion van and made away with GH¢60,000.
The operation brought activities on the busy streets of Madina to a halt for more than three hours, during which eyewitnesses said the robbers disembarked from a blue-black Toyota Corolla saloon car with no registration number, and took positions on the premises of the bank to wait for the arrival of the bullion van.
When the van arrived, the gunmen proceeded to enact with precision what appeared like a well-rehearsed military operation.
Story: Mary Mensah & Edward Turkson
The Accra Regional Police Command in collaboration with the Kumasi Police has arrested six armed robbers including a woman who were believed to have committed the Madina Ecobank robbery.
The group was paraded together with four other robbers in Accra yesterday but victims of armed robbery attacks failed to identify any of them.
The woman was not paraded alongside the other suspects but was interrogated by the investigation team.
The victims and eyewitnesses at Madina took turns trying to identify the suspects out of the lot but none of them could recognise any of the robbers.
Police sources said they were not deterred by the failure of the victims to identify the robbers and that they would continue with their investigations till the perpetrators were caught.
The six were arrested in Kumasi in another bank robbery attempt and were brought to Accra.
According to the police, the group were all resident in Accra but had been involved in several robberies in Kumasi and Accra.
It would be recalled that the Tuesday, June 24, 2008 issue of this paper carried the story of gunmen numbering about five who struck at the Madina branch of Ecobank in broad daylight the previous day, shot and killed a cop guarding a bullion van and made away with GH¢60,000.
The operation brought activities on the busy streets of Madina to a halt for more than three hours, during which eyewitnesses said the robbers disembarked from a blue-black Toyota Corolla saloon car with no registration number, and took positions on the premises of the bank to wait for the arrival of the bullion van.
When the van arrived, the gunmen proceeded to enact with precision what appeared like a well-rehearsed military operation.
FUND ORGANISES SCIENCE SCHOOL FOR JHS GRADUATES (Page 25)
1/07/08
Story: Mary Mensah
THE Tetteh Quarshie Educational Fund, promoters of science education in the rural areas in collaboration with Hershey Corporation of Pensylvania, USA, has organised a vacation science school for junior high school graduates in Mampong in the Eastern Region.
The aim of the vacation school was to help graduates in the rural areas to focus on science education and to give them a head start before going to senior high school.
According to the President and Founder of the fund, Mr Horace Dei, it was the belief of the organisers that if special programmes were made available to the young ones from the early primary to middle school age it would help them to make informed choices in the future.
He said the fund was established some eight years ago to assist schools in Mampong and its environs and so far it had developed a complete computer learning centre, a carpentry centre and an uncompleted home science centre for students in the community.
Mr Dei said the fund had also supplied computers, textbooks and other learning materials to some schools in Mampong.
Opening the school, Professor Marian Addy from the University of Ghana advised the students not to shy away from science and mathematics.
She said science was very important in the life of every nation, and that all advanced countries had taken science very seriously.
She said many pupils saw science as a subject for only brilliant pupils and that “you are just as good as anybody else so talk to yourself and examine yourself”.
She urged the participants to take the vacation school very seriously because by so doing they would become citizens who took decisions based on facts and knowledge.
For his part, Rev J. K. B. Appiah-Acheampong, Supt Minister of the Methodist Church, advised the participants to take the training very seriously.
“As young ones it is important to take every opportunity that comes your way and try to do something that will benefit you and the society you live in,” he said.
Learning materials were distributed to the participants.
Story: Mary Mensah
THE Tetteh Quarshie Educational Fund, promoters of science education in the rural areas in collaboration with Hershey Corporation of Pensylvania, USA, has organised a vacation science school for junior high school graduates in Mampong in the Eastern Region.
The aim of the vacation school was to help graduates in the rural areas to focus on science education and to give them a head start before going to senior high school.
According to the President and Founder of the fund, Mr Horace Dei, it was the belief of the organisers that if special programmes were made available to the young ones from the early primary to middle school age it would help them to make informed choices in the future.
He said the fund was established some eight years ago to assist schools in Mampong and its environs and so far it had developed a complete computer learning centre, a carpentry centre and an uncompleted home science centre for students in the community.
Mr Dei said the fund had also supplied computers, textbooks and other learning materials to some schools in Mampong.
Opening the school, Professor Marian Addy from the University of Ghana advised the students not to shy away from science and mathematics.
She said science was very important in the life of every nation, and that all advanced countries had taken science very seriously.
She said many pupils saw science as a subject for only brilliant pupils and that “you are just as good as anybody else so talk to yourself and examine yourself”.
She urged the participants to take the vacation school very seriously because by so doing they would become citizens who took decisions based on facts and knowledge.
For his part, Rev J. K. B. Appiah-Acheampong, Supt Minister of the Methodist Church, advised the participants to take the training very seriously.
“As young ones it is important to take every opportunity that comes your way and try to do something that will benefit you and the society you live in,” he said.
Learning materials were distributed to the participants.
ANOTHER MURDER IN TEMA (Page 1B )
26/06/08
Story: Mary Mensah
Unknown assailants on Tuesday night ambushed the manager of the Total Filling Station at La, gunned him down in his house and escaped without taking anything from him.
The deceased, Solomon Lamptey-George, 69, and his wife had just returned to their home at Tema Community 11 after the close of work when the incident occurred.
Mr Lamptey-George was still behind the steering wheel, while his wife, who had come down to open the gate, was first attacked by the assailants, who were wielding machetes and guns.
They then approached the deceased in his car and, without demanding anything, shot him in the forehead and ran out of the house.
According to Stephen Lamptey-George, a son of the deceased, who also works at the filling station, on Tuesday his father officially handed over the management of the station to officials of Total and left for the house about 5:30 p.m. with his wife, Madam Beatrice Dowuona, who is his (Stephen’s) stepmother.
Stephen said he usually accompanied his parents home but on Tuesday he had other businesses to attend to so he asked them to take the lead.
He said about 8.00 p.m. he had a call from his stepmother that his father had been shot by three men.
Stephen said he rushed home and his stepmother informed him that when they reached the house, she got out and opened the gate, after which his father drove into the compound.
Madam Dowuona told Stephen that as she was about to close the gate, two young men, one wielding a machete and another a gun, pushed her and opened the gate. Another also jumped the wall into the compound and shouted, “Where is the money?”, to which she replied that she had no money.
After that, Stephen said, the assailants turned their attention to Mr Lamptey-George, who was still sitting in the car, and shot him on the forehead.
He said his stepmum started screaming and the men ran out of the house.
The Tema Regional Crime Officer, Chief Superintendent J. Dogbeda, confirmed the incident and said the body of the deceased had been deposited at the Police Hospital mortuary awaiting autopsy, while investigations continued to ascertain whether it was a robbery attack or otherwise.
He said nothing was taken from the car, adding that an amount of Gh¢1,200, mobile phones and other valuables were all intact in the car.
Early last year, two men, the then Deputy Managing Director (Operations) of the Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB), Mr Rokko Frempong, and a retired officer of the Public Works Department (PWD), Nii Kwartey Quartey, were gunned down under similar circumstances in Tema.
Story: Mary Mensah
Unknown assailants on Tuesday night ambushed the manager of the Total Filling Station at La, gunned him down in his house and escaped without taking anything from him.
The deceased, Solomon Lamptey-George, 69, and his wife had just returned to their home at Tema Community 11 after the close of work when the incident occurred.
Mr Lamptey-George was still behind the steering wheel, while his wife, who had come down to open the gate, was first attacked by the assailants, who were wielding machetes and guns.
They then approached the deceased in his car and, without demanding anything, shot him in the forehead and ran out of the house.
According to Stephen Lamptey-George, a son of the deceased, who also works at the filling station, on Tuesday his father officially handed over the management of the station to officials of Total and left for the house about 5:30 p.m. with his wife, Madam Beatrice Dowuona, who is his (Stephen’s) stepmother.
Stephen said he usually accompanied his parents home but on Tuesday he had other businesses to attend to so he asked them to take the lead.
He said about 8.00 p.m. he had a call from his stepmother that his father had been shot by three men.
Stephen said he rushed home and his stepmother informed him that when they reached the house, she got out and opened the gate, after which his father drove into the compound.
Madam Dowuona told Stephen that as she was about to close the gate, two young men, one wielding a machete and another a gun, pushed her and opened the gate. Another also jumped the wall into the compound and shouted, “Where is the money?”, to which she replied that she had no money.
After that, Stephen said, the assailants turned their attention to Mr Lamptey-George, who was still sitting in the car, and shot him on the forehead.
He said his stepmum started screaming and the men ran out of the house.
The Tema Regional Crime Officer, Chief Superintendent J. Dogbeda, confirmed the incident and said the body of the deceased had been deposited at the Police Hospital mortuary awaiting autopsy, while investigations continued to ascertain whether it was a robbery attack or otherwise.
He said nothing was taken from the car, adding that an amount of Gh¢1,200, mobile phones and other valuables were all intact in the car.
Early last year, two men, the then Deputy Managing Director (Operations) of the Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB), Mr Rokko Frempong, and a retired officer of the Public Works Department (PWD), Nii Kwartey Quartey, were gunned down under similar circumstances in Tema.
I'LL PURGE POLICE PRESIDENT KUFOUR PLEDGES (Lead Story)
21/06/08
Story: Mary Mensah
President J.A. Kufuor has pledged to clean up the Ghana Police Service and purge it of the cocaine controversies that have stigmatised the institution lately.
He noted that the image of the Police Service had been brought into disrepute by the questionable handling of narcotic cases but commended the men and officers for the high professionalism displayed during the country’s 50th anniversary celebration, the African Union Summit, African Nations Cup tournament and the 12th UNCTAD conference.
The President was addressing the 41st cadet officers graduation at the Police College in Accra yesterday.
To regain their dignity in the eyes of the public, the President urged all personnel of the service to resolve to expose the bad lot in their ranks, whom he said were tarnishing the hard-won image of the service.
Commending the police for their good work during the international events hosted by Ghana, the President said, “The Police Service was at its best in all these landmark occasions and this should convince the nation of the great potential of the service,” adding that the government would go to all ends to help the service to realise and sustain that potential to underpin the law and order of the country.
Reflecting on the state of the service eight years ago when he assumed office, President Kufuor indicated that the entire service stood at 15,983 in a country with a population of about 22 million and that worked out to a ratio of 1,126 people to one policeman.
The President said over the past seven and a half years the strength of the police had been increasing steadily to the current 22,313, which had improved the ratio to one policeman to 994 citizens, bringing Ghana closer to achieving the UN standard of one policeman for every 500 individuals.
He said additionally, police divisions had increased from 30 to 54, police districts from 140 to 188 and police stations from 626 to 675, adding that the government’s goal was to extend the services of the police to the remotest communities in the country.
The President indicated that the government appreciated the enormity of the accommodation problems facing the service and hinted that substantial investments were already being made to provide residential accommodation in many of the barracks.
He added that the government was engaged with some companies in designing modern and suitable barracks for service personnel in strategic areas in the cities and that in the course of this year, an agreement would be reached for the actual implementation of the housing policy.
Other policies, one for the provision of vehicles, communication gadgets and modern office equipment, he said, had already been approved by Cabinet.
President Kufuor said in pursuance of the policy of modernising the service and making it more efficient, the government hads adopted a programme to standardise the vehicles and models that were suitable for the nation’s security services, taking into account the terrain, durability and maintenance.
“There must be no room for the violation of the rules and regulations of the service. This is what the nation expects you, the graduating cadet officers, to uphold and your conduct should reflect the quality of training you have received at this college,” he said.
In all, 135 cadet officers and two officer cadets passed out from the college after six months’ training.
The overall best cadet award went to Cadet Officer Charles Asiamah Agyei.
Story: Mary Mensah
President J.A. Kufuor has pledged to clean up the Ghana Police Service and purge it of the cocaine controversies that have stigmatised the institution lately.
He noted that the image of the Police Service had been brought into disrepute by the questionable handling of narcotic cases but commended the men and officers for the high professionalism displayed during the country’s 50th anniversary celebration, the African Union Summit, African Nations Cup tournament and the 12th UNCTAD conference.
The President was addressing the 41st cadet officers graduation at the Police College in Accra yesterday.
To regain their dignity in the eyes of the public, the President urged all personnel of the service to resolve to expose the bad lot in their ranks, whom he said were tarnishing the hard-won image of the service.
Commending the police for their good work during the international events hosted by Ghana, the President said, “The Police Service was at its best in all these landmark occasions and this should convince the nation of the great potential of the service,” adding that the government would go to all ends to help the service to realise and sustain that potential to underpin the law and order of the country.
Reflecting on the state of the service eight years ago when he assumed office, President Kufuor indicated that the entire service stood at 15,983 in a country with a population of about 22 million and that worked out to a ratio of 1,126 people to one policeman.
The President said over the past seven and a half years the strength of the police had been increasing steadily to the current 22,313, which had improved the ratio to one policeman to 994 citizens, bringing Ghana closer to achieving the UN standard of one policeman for every 500 individuals.
He said additionally, police divisions had increased from 30 to 54, police districts from 140 to 188 and police stations from 626 to 675, adding that the government’s goal was to extend the services of the police to the remotest communities in the country.
The President indicated that the government appreciated the enormity of the accommodation problems facing the service and hinted that substantial investments were already being made to provide residential accommodation in many of the barracks.
He added that the government was engaged with some companies in designing modern and suitable barracks for service personnel in strategic areas in the cities and that in the course of this year, an agreement would be reached for the actual implementation of the housing policy.
Other policies, one for the provision of vehicles, communication gadgets and modern office equipment, he said, had already been approved by Cabinet.
President Kufuor said in pursuance of the policy of modernising the service and making it more efficient, the government hads adopted a programme to standardise the vehicles and models that were suitable for the nation’s security services, taking into account the terrain, durability and maintenance.
“There must be no room for the violation of the rules and regulations of the service. This is what the nation expects you, the graduating cadet officers, to uphold and your conduct should reflect the quality of training you have received at this college,” he said.
In all, 135 cadet officers and two officer cadets passed out from the college after six months’ training.
The overall best cadet award went to Cadet Officer Charles Asiamah Agyei.
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