03/12/2008
Story: Abdul Aziz & Mary Mensah
A Special voting exercise took place across the country today for security, electoral commission and media personnel who will perform duties on the elections day.
Voting started at the designated centres at 7 am in the morning and its expected to end at 5 pm after which the boxes will be kept under police guard till Sunday before it will be counted.
In the Greater Accra Region voting went on smoothly at most of the centres visited but there were some pockets of confusion at some centres.
At the Osu police barracks voting was halted by the NDC and CPP parliamentary candidates for Korley Klotttey constituency who claimed that the electoral officers were taking down names and polling station numbers and allowing people to vote instead of going according to the list of special voters they have.
Some people also complained that instead of stamping the back of the ballot papers it was signed by the electoral officers.
They challenged the electoral officers that if they continued with the exercise they will reject the voting from that centre and this generated into a heated argument and the police quickly sent a number of patrolmen to the area to avert any clash.
But according to the electoral officer at the police barracks, Mr Clement Adonae 3, 400 eligible voters who will perform special duties were supposed to vote at the centre.
He said the District electoral officer had a meeting with the representatives of the various parties and it was agreed that in order to allow more people to vote before 5 pm instead of going through the long list names should be written so that at the end of the day it will be reconciled.
He said voting started smoothly at 7am but it was stopped by the party representatives saying that because of the process people who are not special voters were being allowed to vote but the problem was resolved and voting continued only to be halted again by the parliamentary candidates.
At the Cantonments Police Station, Burma Hall, Teshie Military Academy, Teshie Police station, Kpeshie Divisional Police Command voting went on smoothly with the same process of writing down names.
At Amasaman apart from an incident where a campaign vehicle of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) pulled at the Electoral Commission near the area where the special voting exercise was taking place which attracted protests from the National Democratic Congress party accredited agent, the voting was conducted in a cordial atmosphere.
The NDC agent protested to the returning officer of the electoral commission who ordered the vehicle to leave the vicinity.
The occupant of the vehicle who was in a flowing Mohammadan gown popularly known in local parlance as ‘jalabia’ complied and jumped into the vehicle sped off.
Mr Richard Wormenor, the returning officer at the polling station said as at 10 am 229 voters had cast their votes from an expected number of 500 voters.
The Kotobabi Police station as at mid day the queues were still long as benches were made available for voters awaiting their turns to vote to sit down while others who could endure stood in the long queues.
Mr Edward Ofei Quansah, the returning officer at the Kotobabi Police Station Polling centre told the Graphic that as at 12.30 in the afternoon 260 people had voted out of a total of 500 expected to vote.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
BUSH FIRES COST NATION $210 MILLION ANNUALLY (Page 28)
13/12/2008
Story: Mary Mensah
The Minister of State for the Interior, Nana Obiri Boahen, has stated that bush fires cost the nation a whopping US$210 million every year.
This, he said, was an equivalent to about three per cent of the National Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Launching the 2008/2009 National Bush Fire Prevention Campaign, which was under the theme; ‘Prevent bush fires and save the environment”, at the Fire Academy and Training School in Accra , the minister said an estimated amount of approximately 65,000 hectares representing about three per cent of land was lost annually through human activities including mining and bush fires.
He said this year alone, a total of 88 bush fires were officially recorded and this cost the nation a lot of money.
The minister announced that this year the government has sourced for loans of $15 million and over $49 million from India and the USA respectively to procure fire tenders and they are expected to arrive in the country by next year.
Nana Boahen said since the early 1980s bush fires have become an annual ritual in the country particularly during the harmattan period, consuming large tracts of forest and farmlands bringing in its wake devastating destruction of crops and animals.
He said, the depletion of the forest cover aggravated through bush fires,was drying up water bodies and the drop in the water level of the Akosombo dam which led to the power rationing exercise in the country, was a direct result of this phenomenon.
He said the fire volunteer concept has proven to be the most effective way of dealing with fire disasters and noted that the Ghana National Fire Service has trained 2775 volunteers over the past year, bringing the number of volunteers to 22,000.
The Chief Fire officer, Mr Felix K. Ferkah, noted that to succeed in the fight against bush fires, metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies have a huge role to play.
Mr Ferkah called for the amendment of PNDC law 229 on prevention and control of bush fires which has been in existence for over two decades and said the fine of Gh¢2.00 and GH¢10 which the law prescribes cannot be enough deterrent to offenders.
Story: Mary Mensah
The Minister of State for the Interior, Nana Obiri Boahen, has stated that bush fires cost the nation a whopping US$210 million every year.
This, he said, was an equivalent to about three per cent of the National Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Launching the 2008/2009 National Bush Fire Prevention Campaign, which was under the theme; ‘Prevent bush fires and save the environment”, at the Fire Academy and Training School in Accra , the minister said an estimated amount of approximately 65,000 hectares representing about three per cent of land was lost annually through human activities including mining and bush fires.
He said this year alone, a total of 88 bush fires were officially recorded and this cost the nation a lot of money.
The minister announced that this year the government has sourced for loans of $15 million and over $49 million from India and the USA respectively to procure fire tenders and they are expected to arrive in the country by next year.
Nana Boahen said since the early 1980s bush fires have become an annual ritual in the country particularly during the harmattan period, consuming large tracts of forest and farmlands bringing in its wake devastating destruction of crops and animals.
He said, the depletion of the forest cover aggravated through bush fires,was drying up water bodies and the drop in the water level of the Akosombo dam which led to the power rationing exercise in the country, was a direct result of this phenomenon.
He said the fire volunteer concept has proven to be the most effective way of dealing with fire disasters and noted that the Ghana National Fire Service has trained 2775 volunteers over the past year, bringing the number of volunteers to 22,000.
The Chief Fire officer, Mr Felix K. Ferkah, noted that to succeed in the fight against bush fires, metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies have a huge role to play.
Mr Ferkah called for the amendment of PNDC law 229 on prevention and control of bush fires which has been in existence for over two decades and said the fine of Gh¢2.00 and GH¢10 which the law prescribes cannot be enough deterrent to offenders.
TWO PUPILS DROWNED AT DANSOMAN BEACH (Page 25)
02/12/2008
Story: Mary Mensah
Two pupils of the Oral Roberts International School at Dansoman got drowned at the Dansoman beach last Friday when they went swimming after being asked by the school authorities to go home and bring their school fees.
The two boys — Joaken Larnyoh, aged 10, and Mohammed Tekpor, nine years — both class three pupils, together with three others, went to the Dansoman beach to swim and the two were swept away by the strong waves.
Narrating the unfortunate incident to the Daily Graphic in Accra, the grandfather of one of the victims, Mr Joshua Yabaku Oblokuteye, who could not hold back his tears, said on Friday while in the house the three other boys wearing only their briefs with sand all over their bodies arrived in a taxi at the house looking frightened and confused.
They informed them that they were sacked from school to go home and bring their school fees but on their way home one of them suggested that they should rather go to the beach to swim and they went.
He said according to the three boys while swimming the two deceased boys, who were the oldest among them, decided to venture into the deep waters and were swept away by the waves without any trace.
They became frightened so they ran away holding their uniforms and that of the two when they met a taxi driver who took them home after narrating the incident to him.
Mr Oblokuteye said a report was quickly made to the Dansoman Police, who accompanied some family members to the beach to inform the fishermen there to be on the lookout for the bodies of the boys.
He said on Sunday, they were informed by the fishermen that the bodies had been washed ashore at the Korle Gonno beach so they went there but the bodies had already been taken away by the Korle-Bu Police.
They proceeded to the police station and they were informed that one of the bodies was washed ashore on Saturday morning and the other on Sunday but both bodies had been deposited at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital mortuary awaiting autopsy while investigations were still underway.
He said the school authorities were notified about the incident and the headmaster, Mr Daniel Johnson, together with the proprietor of the school, Mr Albert Osei Kessi, came to plead with the families to forgive them because they did not know that the boys would go elsewhere aside their homes.
Story: Mary Mensah
Two pupils of the Oral Roberts International School at Dansoman got drowned at the Dansoman beach last Friday when they went swimming after being asked by the school authorities to go home and bring their school fees.
The two boys — Joaken Larnyoh, aged 10, and Mohammed Tekpor, nine years — both class three pupils, together with three others, went to the Dansoman beach to swim and the two were swept away by the strong waves.
Narrating the unfortunate incident to the Daily Graphic in Accra, the grandfather of one of the victims, Mr Joshua Yabaku Oblokuteye, who could not hold back his tears, said on Friday while in the house the three other boys wearing only their briefs with sand all over their bodies arrived in a taxi at the house looking frightened and confused.
They informed them that they were sacked from school to go home and bring their school fees but on their way home one of them suggested that they should rather go to the beach to swim and they went.
He said according to the three boys while swimming the two deceased boys, who were the oldest among them, decided to venture into the deep waters and were swept away by the waves without any trace.
They became frightened so they ran away holding their uniforms and that of the two when they met a taxi driver who took them home after narrating the incident to him.
Mr Oblokuteye said a report was quickly made to the Dansoman Police, who accompanied some family members to the beach to inform the fishermen there to be on the lookout for the bodies of the boys.
He said on Sunday, they were informed by the fishermen that the bodies had been washed ashore at the Korle Gonno beach so they went there but the bodies had already been taken away by the Korle-Bu Police.
They proceeded to the police station and they were informed that one of the bodies was washed ashore on Saturday morning and the other on Sunday but both bodies had been deposited at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital mortuary awaiting autopsy while investigations were still underway.
He said the school authorities were notified about the incident and the headmaster, Mr Daniel Johnson, together with the proprietor of the school, Mr Albert Osei Kessi, came to plead with the families to forgive them because they did not know that the boys would go elsewhere aside their homes.
50 VEHICLES FOR PARTIES (Front Page)
19/11/2008
Story: Mary Mensah
FIFTY cross-country pick-up vehicles have been released for distribution to political parties which have 10 or more parliamentary candidates in the December general election.
The vehicles will be distributed on the basis of the number of candidates fielded for the parliamentary elections, with each party qualifying for one vehicle if it fields more than 10 candidates.
The Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC), Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, who announced this in Accra yesterday at the opening of a one-day forum for parliamentary candidates, said the gesture was to assist in electioneering by the political parties.
He announced that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) would each be allocated 12 vehicles, as the two parties fielded the same number of parliamentary candidates.
He said the Convention People’s Party (CPP) would be given 10 vehicles; the People’s National Convention (PNC), seven; the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP), six; the Democratic People’s Party (DPP), two, while the Reform Patriotic Democrats (RPD) would get one.
Dr Afari-Gyan also announced that copies of the voters register were ready to be collected by the political parties, adding that each party would be given 10 copies.
He stated that the register had been cleaned with the removal of 349,000 names comprising minors, foreigners and the dead, adding that 76,000 people had also engaged in multiple registration. He gave the assurance that the exercise was still ongoing to ensure a clean register during the elections.
He said printing of the ballot papers was well advanced, saying they would be ready way ahead of time before the elections on December 7, 2008.
Dr Afari-Gyan advised the aspiring parliamentarians to report any complaints or differences they might have to the EC, not the media, especially the radio stations which might not be able to solve their problems for them.
The EC Chairman said a number of changes had been made to reduce the number of rejected ballot papers after voting, explaining that this year’s ballot paper would be the longest, with wide, thick black lines to distinguish between candidates.
He said during the polls any fingerprint or mark would be accepted by the EC if it clearly showed the intention of the voter.
He expressed concern over the fact that during the exhibition of the voters register recently only 23 per cent of registered voters showed up to check their names and said that always created problems on voting day.
Dr Afari-Gyan assured all that measures had been put in place by the EC to ensure free, fair and transparent elections and advised parties to appoint good people who could make reasonable judgement as their agents, not macho men.
Story: Mary Mensah
FIFTY cross-country pick-up vehicles have been released for distribution to political parties which have 10 or more parliamentary candidates in the December general election.
The vehicles will be distributed on the basis of the number of candidates fielded for the parliamentary elections, with each party qualifying for one vehicle if it fields more than 10 candidates.
The Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC), Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, who announced this in Accra yesterday at the opening of a one-day forum for parliamentary candidates, said the gesture was to assist in electioneering by the political parties.
He announced that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) would each be allocated 12 vehicles, as the two parties fielded the same number of parliamentary candidates.
He said the Convention People’s Party (CPP) would be given 10 vehicles; the People’s National Convention (PNC), seven; the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP), six; the Democratic People’s Party (DPP), two, while the Reform Patriotic Democrats (RPD) would get one.
Dr Afari-Gyan also announced that copies of the voters register were ready to be collected by the political parties, adding that each party would be given 10 copies.
He stated that the register had been cleaned with the removal of 349,000 names comprising minors, foreigners and the dead, adding that 76,000 people had also engaged in multiple registration. He gave the assurance that the exercise was still ongoing to ensure a clean register during the elections.
He said printing of the ballot papers was well advanced, saying they would be ready way ahead of time before the elections on December 7, 2008.
Dr Afari-Gyan advised the aspiring parliamentarians to report any complaints or differences they might have to the EC, not the media, especially the radio stations which might not be able to solve their problems for them.
The EC Chairman said a number of changes had been made to reduce the number of rejected ballot papers after voting, explaining that this year’s ballot paper would be the longest, with wide, thick black lines to distinguish between candidates.
He said during the polls any fingerprint or mark would be accepted by the EC if it clearly showed the intention of the voter.
He expressed concern over the fact that during the exhibition of the voters register recently only 23 per cent of registered voters showed up to check their names and said that always created problems on voting day.
Dr Afari-Gyan assured all that measures had been put in place by the EC to ensure free, fair and transparent elections and advised parties to appoint good people who could make reasonable judgement as their agents, not macho men.
OIL FIND POSES CHALLENGES FOR INSURANCE AGENCES (Business page)
26/11/2008
Story: Mary Mensah
The Ghana Reinsurance Company Limited will increase its capital base and train staff in oil, gas and energy to take advantage of the emerging oil industry.
“We will endeavour to enhance the technical and professional competence of out team through various educational and training programmes so as to provide the best and most reliable services to our clients”.
Speaking at the Annual General Meeting of the company in Accra today, the Chairperson of the Board of Directors, Mrs Christine Dowuona-Hammond admitted that the licensing of insurance companies posed a great challenge to Ghana Re and that it will step up its marketing activities to widened and increased its premium base.
She said already the company had seen slight increases in its management expenses from GH¢ 6.36 million in 2006 to Gh¢ 6.51 million in 2007, an increase of 2.49 per cent attributable to increased marketing activities.
Mrs Dowuona-Hammond indicated that consequently the company managed to grow its Gross premium Income by 20 percent from GH¢ 29.27 million in 2006 to GH¢ 35.10 million last year.
She said however that the product mix remained relatively the same with non-marine as well as marine and aviation contributing 87.88 per cent and 12.34 percent in 2007 respectively compared to the previous year’s ratio of 88.67 and 11.33 per cent.
She said the company posted a net profit of Gh¢ 10.69 million, an increase of 86.76 percent over and above the Gh¢ 5.72 million recorded in the preceding year adding that included in the profit was GH¢1.98 million and GH¢ 1.98 million accounted for respectively by exchange gain and miscellaneous income out of which GH¢ 1.98 represents from sale of equities.
According to her the company’s balance sheet expanded by 33.12 per cent with an improved capital adequacy and financial security ratios and underwriting exposure measured by net premium to equity improved from 91.70 per cent to 85.89 percent in 2007.
The Chairperson indicated that Ghana Re’s investment portfolio continues to grow and a 30 per cent increase has been recorded in the year under review with a realised return of 8 percent and said the company will continue to restructure its investment portfolio to ensure an optimum mix designed not only to maximise returns on investment but in the main also to ensure that the company always has sufficient funds to meet its obligations as a global reinsurer of choice.
Mrs Dowuana-Hammond stated that Ghana Re in order to positively position itself in anticipation of the eventual withdrawal of the legal cession and also to be able to underwrite a meaningful share of the large risks in the oil and gas industry, urgently needed to enhance its capital base.
“In view of the above the Board of Directors is confident that the proposed resolution to increase the slated capital by the transfer of Gh¢ 4.40 million from income surplus account will be approved by shareholders”, she said.
She said on the recommendation of the management and the board an annual dividend of GH¢1.2 million has been approved for shareholders and this represents 20 per cent over the GH¢1.0 million paid in 2006.
She assured that the company will be resolute in the coming year to market actively and exhibit a strong commitment to its clients as this is the surest way to income growth and sustainability.
Story: Mary Mensah
The Ghana Reinsurance Company Limited will increase its capital base and train staff in oil, gas and energy to take advantage of the emerging oil industry.
“We will endeavour to enhance the technical and professional competence of out team through various educational and training programmes so as to provide the best and most reliable services to our clients”.
Speaking at the Annual General Meeting of the company in Accra today, the Chairperson of the Board of Directors, Mrs Christine Dowuona-Hammond admitted that the licensing of insurance companies posed a great challenge to Ghana Re and that it will step up its marketing activities to widened and increased its premium base.
She said already the company had seen slight increases in its management expenses from GH¢ 6.36 million in 2006 to Gh¢ 6.51 million in 2007, an increase of 2.49 per cent attributable to increased marketing activities.
Mrs Dowuona-Hammond indicated that consequently the company managed to grow its Gross premium Income by 20 percent from GH¢ 29.27 million in 2006 to GH¢ 35.10 million last year.
She said however that the product mix remained relatively the same with non-marine as well as marine and aviation contributing 87.88 per cent and 12.34 percent in 2007 respectively compared to the previous year’s ratio of 88.67 and 11.33 per cent.
She said the company posted a net profit of Gh¢ 10.69 million, an increase of 86.76 percent over and above the Gh¢ 5.72 million recorded in the preceding year adding that included in the profit was GH¢1.98 million and GH¢ 1.98 million accounted for respectively by exchange gain and miscellaneous income out of which GH¢ 1.98 represents from sale of equities.
According to her the company’s balance sheet expanded by 33.12 per cent with an improved capital adequacy and financial security ratios and underwriting exposure measured by net premium to equity improved from 91.70 per cent to 85.89 percent in 2007.
The Chairperson indicated that Ghana Re’s investment portfolio continues to grow and a 30 per cent increase has been recorded in the year under review with a realised return of 8 percent and said the company will continue to restructure its investment portfolio to ensure an optimum mix designed not only to maximise returns on investment but in the main also to ensure that the company always has sufficient funds to meet its obligations as a global reinsurer of choice.
Mrs Dowuana-Hammond stated that Ghana Re in order to positively position itself in anticipation of the eventual withdrawal of the legal cession and also to be able to underwrite a meaningful share of the large risks in the oil and gas industry, urgently needed to enhance its capital base.
“In view of the above the Board of Directors is confident that the proposed resolution to increase the slated capital by the transfer of Gh¢ 4.40 million from income surplus account will be approved by shareholders”, she said.
She said on the recommendation of the management and the board an annual dividend of GH¢1.2 million has been approved for shareholders and this represents 20 per cent over the GH¢1.0 million paid in 2006.
She assured that the company will be resolute in the coming year to market actively and exhibit a strong commitment to its clients as this is the surest way to income growth and sustainability.
538 CASES SETTLED THROUGH ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION (Page 34)
26/11/2008
Story: Mary Mensah & Jennifer Dornoo
THE Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) settlement mechanism instituted by the Judicial Service disposed of 583 cases between January and September this year.
The cases were settled through mediation in nine district courts within the Accra /Tema metropolis.
Most of the cases had been pending before the law courts for more than 11 years but were settled within two hours or one week by the ADR mechanism.
The ADR was set up in 2003 to determine an appropriate ADR system for the Judicial Service with the aim of reducing the number of cases in the backlog in Courts, provide justice at cheaper, faster and more satisfactory ways to the poor and vulnerable in the communities.
The National Co-ordinator of the ADR, Mr Senyo M. Adjabeng made this known at a press briefing in Accra as part of activities commemorating ADR Week which started on Monday November 17, 2008.
He said most of the cases were civil cases such as property settlement, divorce, land litigation, family dispute and very minor criminal cases such as minor assault.
According to him, as part of the ADR Week, parties with cases pending in court who had not entered any appearance within the past 12 conservative months were afforded to appear in court or had their cases struck out for want of prosecution.
As a result of this summons exercise, more than 1,000 cases were struck out nation-wide during each term of the ADR week.
Mr Adjabeng said the ADR programme of the Judicial Service aims at offering parties in court an opportunity to resolve their disputes by means other than court room trial.
He said in recognition of the need for efficient mechanism for adjudication of cases pending in the courts, the Lord Chief Justice in 2003 set up the ADR Task Force with the objective to determine an appropriate and customised policy direction that incorporated the ADR in the court adjudication process.
Mr Adjabeng said the Task Force recommended the adoption of a court connected ADR system which would use private neutrals in mediating cases referred to the ADR by Magistrates and Judges.
He said based on the recommendations of the Task Force, the Lord Chief Justice issued a policy directive which adopted and incorporated ADR as part of the adjudication process of the Judicial Service of Ghana.
He said the ADR had become an available option to parties in disputes who filed cases in the courts or whose cases were already pending in court.
Mr. Adjabeng said in 2006, the Lord Chief Justice directed that the first week of each legal term be set aside as ADR week during which cases were referred to ADR in selected Magistrate courts to be settled through ADR, and especially through mediation.
He stated that the programme had proven to be one of the most suitable ways of making justice accessible to the poor in the districts and communities because it was free, voluntary, informal and faster for persons with cases before the courts.
He said the programme had resulted in the reduction of a backlog of cases pending before the law courts.
Mr Adjabeng mentioned delay in payments of allowances as some of the challenges facing the programme but indicated that DANIDA was in the process of setting up a fund to take care of the mediators and the ADR programme.
Story: Mary Mensah & Jennifer Dornoo
THE Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) settlement mechanism instituted by the Judicial Service disposed of 583 cases between January and September this year.
The cases were settled through mediation in nine district courts within the Accra /Tema metropolis.
Most of the cases had been pending before the law courts for more than 11 years but were settled within two hours or one week by the ADR mechanism.
The ADR was set up in 2003 to determine an appropriate ADR system for the Judicial Service with the aim of reducing the number of cases in the backlog in Courts, provide justice at cheaper, faster and more satisfactory ways to the poor and vulnerable in the communities.
The National Co-ordinator of the ADR, Mr Senyo M. Adjabeng made this known at a press briefing in Accra as part of activities commemorating ADR Week which started on Monday November 17, 2008.
He said most of the cases were civil cases such as property settlement, divorce, land litigation, family dispute and very minor criminal cases such as minor assault.
According to him, as part of the ADR Week, parties with cases pending in court who had not entered any appearance within the past 12 conservative months were afforded to appear in court or had their cases struck out for want of prosecution.
As a result of this summons exercise, more than 1,000 cases were struck out nation-wide during each term of the ADR week.
Mr Adjabeng said the ADR programme of the Judicial Service aims at offering parties in court an opportunity to resolve their disputes by means other than court room trial.
He said in recognition of the need for efficient mechanism for adjudication of cases pending in the courts, the Lord Chief Justice in 2003 set up the ADR Task Force with the objective to determine an appropriate and customised policy direction that incorporated the ADR in the court adjudication process.
Mr Adjabeng said the Task Force recommended the adoption of a court connected ADR system which would use private neutrals in mediating cases referred to the ADR by Magistrates and Judges.
He said based on the recommendations of the Task Force, the Lord Chief Justice issued a policy directive which adopted and incorporated ADR as part of the adjudication process of the Judicial Service of Ghana.
He said the ADR had become an available option to parties in disputes who filed cases in the courts or whose cases were already pending in court.
Mr. Adjabeng said in 2006, the Lord Chief Justice directed that the first week of each legal term be set aside as ADR week during which cases were referred to ADR in selected Magistrate courts to be settled through ADR, and especially through mediation.
He stated that the programme had proven to be one of the most suitable ways of making justice accessible to the poor in the districts and communities because it was free, voluntary, informal and faster for persons with cases before the courts.
He said the programme had resulted in the reduction of a backlog of cases pending before the law courts.
Mr Adjabeng mentioned delay in payments of allowances as some of the challenges facing the programme but indicated that DANIDA was in the process of setting up a fund to take care of the mediators and the ADR programme.
OFFICIALS OF CUSTOMS INTERCEPTED 664 INDIAN HEMP (Front Page)
24/10/2008
Story: Albert K. Salia & Mary Mensah
OFFICIALS of the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) on Thursday evening intercepted 664 kilogrammes of compressed Indian hemp and hashish which had been parcelled for export to the United Kingdom.
The 240 parcels were made up of 192 slabs of compressed cannabis, 40 plastic bowls of hashish and eight cylindrically shaped containers of hashish.
As of the time of filing this report, CEPS officials had made no arrest, as the vehicle which had sent the items was said to have sped off, while the clearing agent, identified as Kennedy Biney, was also let off the hook.
The Chief Collector in charge of Investigations and Narcotics of CEPS, Nana Agyin Buadu, told journalists that not much information had been gathered so far on the exporter.
He explained that the agent had not even started processing the goods for export when it was detected that they were drugs.
The substances had been well packaged and concealed under boxes covered with cocoyam, plantain and Fante kenkey.
According to the chief collector, the vehicle which sent the goods sped off when the driver sensed that CEPS officials inspecting the goods had become suspicious of the contents of the boxes.
Nana Buadu said CEPS dealt with clearing agents and not exporters per se and indicated that it was only when an agent had presented documents for processing that CEPS would know the exporter of an item and the consignee.
Responding to questions, he said the interception was normal, and so was the mode of concealment.
He, however, said it had been a while since such a large quantity of drugs was intercepted at the airport.
Story: Albert K. Salia & Mary Mensah
OFFICIALS of the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) on Thursday evening intercepted 664 kilogrammes of compressed Indian hemp and hashish which had been parcelled for export to the United Kingdom.
The 240 parcels were made up of 192 slabs of compressed cannabis, 40 plastic bowls of hashish and eight cylindrically shaped containers of hashish.
As of the time of filing this report, CEPS officials had made no arrest, as the vehicle which had sent the items was said to have sped off, while the clearing agent, identified as Kennedy Biney, was also let off the hook.
The Chief Collector in charge of Investigations and Narcotics of CEPS, Nana Agyin Buadu, told journalists that not much information had been gathered so far on the exporter.
He explained that the agent had not even started processing the goods for export when it was detected that they were drugs.
The substances had been well packaged and concealed under boxes covered with cocoyam, plantain and Fante kenkey.
According to the chief collector, the vehicle which sent the goods sped off when the driver sensed that CEPS officials inspecting the goods had become suspicious of the contents of the boxes.
Nana Buadu said CEPS dealt with clearing agents and not exporters per se and indicated that it was only when an agent had presented documents for processing that CEPS would know the exporter of an item and the consignee.
Responding to questions, he said the interception was normal, and so was the mode of concealment.
He, however, said it had been a while since such a large quantity of drugs was intercepted at the airport.
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