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.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
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.
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