The Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms Hannah Tetteh, has thrown a challenge to Municipal and District Chief Executives (MDCEs) whose areas have been selected to participate in the Rural Enterprises Project (REP) to ensure that the project was successfully implemented in their respective communities.
She maintained that the success or collapse of the REP, which was an integrated rural development package aimed at improving the living conditions in the rural areas and contribute to the reduction of poverty through increased self employment, depended largely on the beneficiary municipal and district assemblies.
Ms Tetteh threw the challenge at a day’s orientation seminar for new MDCEs and coordinating directors of participating districts of the REP at Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region.
The REP, which is in its second phase of implementation, is mainly funded by the Government of Ghana (GoG), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the African Development Bank (AfDB), at a cost of about $29 million.
Currently, the project is being implemented actively in 53 districts countrywide and in all the regions. Since its inception in 1995, the REP has gradually evolved to become a strong force in employment generation and poverty reduction efforts in the country and achieving its objective of building a competitive micro and small scale enterprises sector in the participating district.
The minister pointed out that the main drivers of the REP were the districts while the ministry only acted as an overseer, adding that the commitment on the part of the MDCEs was the panacea to the success or otherwise of the project.
Ms Tetteh reminded the participants that during the run-up to the 2008 general election, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) made a lot of promises to the people of Ghana and that the pivot of all those promises was to make the country a better one.
She said Ghana could only be better when the people had jobs and subsequently had money in their pockets, and it was when they were satisfied with that, that they would acknowledge that indeed, the NDC government they voted for had brought a change into their lives.
I know your passion to make these promises work and I trust that you will create the opportunities for the people to have jobs and I know your qualities and capabilities and I want you to think about the promises that we made,” the minister stressed.
Ms Tetteh emphasised that “we as a government have the responsibility to show to Ghanaians that we meant what we said and that we would deliver better lives for the people and so we need to move away from mere rhetorics to realities”.
She urged the MDCEs to pay much more attention to the project by committing the needed resources towards its implementation in their respective districts since she said, the REP had a lot to show, adding that,“Your reward will be in the people having their lives changed to a better one”.
The minister declared, “Be at the forefront of making the project work and do not only make it work but also patronise the products of the REP to encourage your people to do same and let all of us give priority to made in Ghana goods but not to disregard or discard them”.
Mr Kwasi Atta-Antwi, the Project Coordinator, in a welcoming address disclosed that, the current phase of the project which started in 2003, was expected to end in 2011, saying that with about 58 per cent physical achievement and 45 per cent level of disbursement of donor funds as of March this year, there was a lot to be done in the few months ahead to complete the entire project.
He indicated that the institutional framework for the implementation of the project, had now been firmly established and a lot of impact was already being achieved in the areas of operation.
According to him, at the district level, Business Advisory Centres had been set up in each district with the full support and contribution from the district assembly and the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI).
Similarly, Mr Atta-Antwi said, 18 Rural Technology Facilities were being established at some selected districts and that, those centres and facilities were being resourced by the REP to serve as a one-stop shop for all Micro and Small Enterprise activities within the districts.
“From our experience, the sustainable functioning of these two main district-based implementing units can only be attained with the strong commitment, dedication, ownership and leadership of the district assemblies”, the project coordinator said.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Monday, July 13, 2009
WORK ON ROAD PROGRESSING (PAGE 3)
REHABILITATION work on the 60-kilometre Techiman-Kintampo trunk road and the reconstruction of the 30-km Techiman-Wenchi road in the Brong Ahafo Region are progressing steadily.
The Techiman-Kintampo road, which is an integral part of the national route linking the northern and southern parts of the country and also provides a transit corridor for Ghana’s landlocked neighbours, is expected to be completed by March 1, 2011 with asphaltic concrete at a cost of GHҐ 36,058,579.20.
It is being jointly financed by the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Government of Ghana (GoG) and the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) Fund and executed by Messrs Shinsung Engineering and Construction Corporation Limited of South Korea. The Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) is the implementing agency with Conterra Limited as the engineers.
When completed, the road will increase economic activities, facilitate marketing of agricultural produce, generate employment and subsequently reduce poverty in the area.
It will also reduce travelling time and cost of transportation of goods and generate higher transit traffic, thereby encouraging increased economic activity in the local service.
Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, last Thursday inspected the project, as well as the Techiman-Wenchi road, which was solely being funded by the GoG at a cost of GHҐ 15,310,888.64, with the GHA as the implementing agency and Messrs P & W Ghanem Limited as the local contractor. The project is expected to be completed by May, 2010.
Briefing the Regional Minister, who was accompanied by the Regional Director of the GHA , Mr Emmanuel Pireku, the Resident Engineer, Mr William Owusu-Banahene, pointed out that since the project was purely rehabilitation, the work component involved bush clearing, earthworks, widening the road from 0.9 metres to 12.3 metres and pavement finishing.
According to Mr Owusu-Banahene, the major problems facing the contractor were the failure of drivers to obey road directional signs within the constructional area, and suggested that the contractor should adopt stiffer measures to check those recalcitrant drivers.
He also indicated that some chiefs and landowners were making high demands for royalties, a situation which he said had become difficult for the contractor.
The Regional Minister underscored the importance of that stretch of road not only to Ghana but also to the neighbouring countries, giving the assurance that the government would provide the necessary assistance towards successful completion of the project.
Nana Fosu Gyeabour, a representative of the contractor working on the Techiman-Wenchi road, conducted the Regional Minister to inspect the road, which he said was 58 per cent complete.
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo commended the two contractors for a good work done, and urged them to continue in that spirit of commitment.
The Techiman-Kintampo road, which is an integral part of the national route linking the northern and southern parts of the country and also provides a transit corridor for Ghana’s landlocked neighbours, is expected to be completed by March 1, 2011 with asphaltic concrete at a cost of GHҐ 36,058,579.20.
It is being jointly financed by the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Government of Ghana (GoG) and the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) Fund and executed by Messrs Shinsung Engineering and Construction Corporation Limited of South Korea. The Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) is the implementing agency with Conterra Limited as the engineers.
When completed, the road will increase economic activities, facilitate marketing of agricultural produce, generate employment and subsequently reduce poverty in the area.
It will also reduce travelling time and cost of transportation of goods and generate higher transit traffic, thereby encouraging increased economic activity in the local service.
Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, last Thursday inspected the project, as well as the Techiman-Wenchi road, which was solely being funded by the GoG at a cost of GHҐ 15,310,888.64, with the GHA as the implementing agency and Messrs P & W Ghanem Limited as the local contractor. The project is expected to be completed by May, 2010.
Briefing the Regional Minister, who was accompanied by the Regional Director of the GHA , Mr Emmanuel Pireku, the Resident Engineer, Mr William Owusu-Banahene, pointed out that since the project was purely rehabilitation, the work component involved bush clearing, earthworks, widening the road from 0.9 metres to 12.3 metres and pavement finishing.
According to Mr Owusu-Banahene, the major problems facing the contractor were the failure of drivers to obey road directional signs within the constructional area, and suggested that the contractor should adopt stiffer measures to check those recalcitrant drivers.
He also indicated that some chiefs and landowners were making high demands for royalties, a situation which he said had become difficult for the contractor.
The Regional Minister underscored the importance of that stretch of road not only to Ghana but also to the neighbouring countries, giving the assurance that the government would provide the necessary assistance towards successful completion of the project.
Nana Fosu Gyeabour, a representative of the contractor working on the Techiman-Wenchi road, conducted the Regional Minister to inspect the road, which he said was 58 per cent complete.
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo commended the two contractors for a good work done, and urged them to continue in that spirit of commitment.
Friday, July 3, 2009
HOLY FAMILY HOSPITAL COMPLETES REHABILITATION (PAGE 43)
WORK on four projects at the Holy Family Hospital at Techiman in the Brong Ahafo Region has been completed at a total cost of GH¢251,750.16.
The projects involve the extension and refurbishment of the paediatric ward, reconditioning of the operating theatre and the construction of a physiotherapy complex and a surgical ward.
Ghana Nuts Limited (GNL), a Techiman-based company, financed the paediatric ward project while the remaining three were sponsored by Foundation Medical Help of Holland, through the instrumentality of Dr H. H. J. Wegdam, a retired surgical specialist from Holland, who worked at the hospital for about 12 years.
In addition, GNL donated and installed two industrial washing machines and two dryers to improve on the sanitary conditions at the hospital.
All the projects were dedicated and inaugurated by the Catholic Bishop of Techiman, Most Reverend Dominic Yeboah Nyarko, at a ceremony at the hospital’s premises last Monday, during a send-off party for Dr Wegdam and another retiree, Ms Rita Wilson, the former matron.
Speaking at the function, Most Rev. Nyarko lauded the outgoing surgical specialist, and acknowledged that through his efforts, many medical officers and nurses had come to work and train at the hospital.
“His personal and collaborative contribution to the infrastructural development of the Holy Family Hospital is phenomenal,” the Bishop said of Dr Wegdam.
“We would have liked to keep him for many more years, but life demands, personal health and family issues require that he retires at this stage of his life,” Most Rev. Nyarko stressed.
He asked for God’s blessing for him and Ms Wilson, who he said, had also served the hospital with a lot of commitment and dedication for the past 13 years.
Most Rev. Nyarko noted that the central location of Techiman in the country made it challenging to all workers at the hospital, adding that such a challenge called for due diligence to ensure that they rendered the best services in a very professional manner.
He pointed out that supervision, customer-centred attitude, professionalism, discipline, cleanliness and maintenance culture were a few areas that needed very serious attention by the management team and the diocesan health directorate.
The Bishop announced that work on the proposed Nurses Training College at the hospital would soon begin since a lot of preparation had already been done.
Rev. Fr. Dominic Yaw Assuahene, Director of the Diocesan Health Services, said as a Catholic health institution, it was the vision and ultimate goal of the hospital to give to those who were ill, a reason of hope by showing them God’s love and compassion.
“For us as a Catholic healthcare provider, service to the sick is service to God and what is left is the assistance all of us can give to the hospital just as our able sponsors for these projects have done,” he added.
The Managing Director of GNL, Mr Obed Asante, pointed out that the company had a firm belief in good corporate citizenship and had expressed its commitment to set aside a significant proportion of the company’s budget for the society in which it operated.
“We appreciate the immense contribution of this community to the survival and growth of our company and hereby affirm our unwavering commitment to a partnership with Holy Family Hospital,” he stated.
Mr. Asante expressed the hope that the existing partnership between GNL and the hospital would be strengthened for the ultimate benefit of the community that they mutually cherish and were committed to serve.
A letter from the donors read by Dr Wegdam said in part that, “We as a donor are only interested in good use of all items we bring to you. We have done our part the last twelve and a half years and we pray you will be able to match our efforts in also doing your part in maintaining a good surgical programme that can make good use of our donation.”
The projects involve the extension and refurbishment of the paediatric ward, reconditioning of the operating theatre and the construction of a physiotherapy complex and a surgical ward.
Ghana Nuts Limited (GNL), a Techiman-based company, financed the paediatric ward project while the remaining three were sponsored by Foundation Medical Help of Holland, through the instrumentality of Dr H. H. J. Wegdam, a retired surgical specialist from Holland, who worked at the hospital for about 12 years.
In addition, GNL donated and installed two industrial washing machines and two dryers to improve on the sanitary conditions at the hospital.
All the projects were dedicated and inaugurated by the Catholic Bishop of Techiman, Most Reverend Dominic Yeboah Nyarko, at a ceremony at the hospital’s premises last Monday, during a send-off party for Dr Wegdam and another retiree, Ms Rita Wilson, the former matron.
Speaking at the function, Most Rev. Nyarko lauded the outgoing surgical specialist, and acknowledged that through his efforts, many medical officers and nurses had come to work and train at the hospital.
“His personal and collaborative contribution to the infrastructural development of the Holy Family Hospital is phenomenal,” the Bishop said of Dr Wegdam.
“We would have liked to keep him for many more years, but life demands, personal health and family issues require that he retires at this stage of his life,” Most Rev. Nyarko stressed.
He asked for God’s blessing for him and Ms Wilson, who he said, had also served the hospital with a lot of commitment and dedication for the past 13 years.
Most Rev. Nyarko noted that the central location of Techiman in the country made it challenging to all workers at the hospital, adding that such a challenge called for due diligence to ensure that they rendered the best services in a very professional manner.
He pointed out that supervision, customer-centred attitude, professionalism, discipline, cleanliness and maintenance culture were a few areas that needed very serious attention by the management team and the diocesan health directorate.
The Bishop announced that work on the proposed Nurses Training College at the hospital would soon begin since a lot of preparation had already been done.
Rev. Fr. Dominic Yaw Assuahene, Director of the Diocesan Health Services, said as a Catholic health institution, it was the vision and ultimate goal of the hospital to give to those who were ill, a reason of hope by showing them God’s love and compassion.
“For us as a Catholic healthcare provider, service to the sick is service to God and what is left is the assistance all of us can give to the hospital just as our able sponsors for these projects have done,” he added.
The Managing Director of GNL, Mr Obed Asante, pointed out that the company had a firm belief in good corporate citizenship and had expressed its commitment to set aside a significant proportion of the company’s budget for the society in which it operated.
“We appreciate the immense contribution of this community to the survival and growth of our company and hereby affirm our unwavering commitment to a partnership with Holy Family Hospital,” he stated.
Mr. Asante expressed the hope that the existing partnership between GNL and the hospital would be strengthened for the ultimate benefit of the community that they mutually cherish and were committed to serve.
A letter from the donors read by Dr Wegdam said in part that, “We as a donor are only interested in good use of all items we bring to you. We have done our part the last twelve and a half years and we pray you will be able to match our efforts in also doing your part in maintaining a good surgical programme that can make good use of our donation.”
Thursday, June 25, 2009
NDC TO FULFIL PROMISE — MAHAMA (PAGE 16)
The government of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has so far achieved 28 per cent out of the total 40 per cent target of appointments for women as promised in the party’s manifesto for the 2008 general election, Mr John Mahama, the Vice-President, has disclosed.
He, therefore, gave the assurance that in subsequent official appointments, the government would focus on women to meet the maximum set target of 40 per cent that the NDC promised.
“I want to encourage women to offer themselves up for such appointments when the time comes because they are known to be less corrupt than men and hardworking too when given the opportunity,” Mr Mahama said.
The Vice-President made the disclosure when he addressed a durbar of the chiefs and people of the Ahafo area in the Asutifi District in honour of Alhaji Collins Dauda, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, at Acherensua in the Brong Ahafo Region.
The ceremony, which was in recognition of Alhaji Dauda’s “Selfless and unalloyed commitment to the development of the district over the years,” was also attended by members of the Council of State, ministers of state, district chief executives, the clergy and religious groups, assembly members, supporters and students.
Mr Mahama described as propaganda, assertions by some opposition members that the NDC had failed to honour the promises made during the electioneering for the 2008 general election.
He declared, “Just within five months some people have started the propaganda that the NDC has not been able to fulfil its promises to the people that when voted into power, it will make Ghana a better place to live in. But I can assure you that in four years Ghana will be a better place than we came to meet it”.
“We have assessed the economy to be in a bad shape and we are trying to bring it back on track through pragmatic policies. We are fixing the economy and in four years I can assure you that it will be buoyant and appealing to you to vote us back again,” Mr Mahama assured.
The Vice-President pointed out that in assessing the general economic situation, the government had realised that debts owed contractors total several billions of cedis, while the accumulated Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) and Volta River Authority (VRA) debts are also in trillions of cedis.
He said it was in this connection that the government had decided to reduce its expenditure, including a 30 per cent cut in fuel consumption, which he noted was a source of high government expenditure, in order to increase revenue and reserve to clear those debts.
Again, Mr Mahama indicated that it was to cut down cost drastically that the President is travelling — less, since several travels also amounted to increase in government expenditure.
The Vice-President further intimated that the government was arranging with local banks to refinance TOR while contacts were also being made with international financing institutions to assist the government’s budget.
Mr Mahama noted with satisfaction the falling rate of inflation and the stabilisation of the cedi, saying “We are indeed fixing the economy which has been in a bad state.”
The Vice-President announced a number of projects and programmes for the agricultural sector, including a forest plantation, block farming, agro-processing and accelerated infrastructure development, and explained that all those programmes would be carried out in a non-discriminatory manner.
He pointed out that the previous NDC government had been a development-oriented system and so was the current administration, adding, “We have a track record which we are vigorously going to follow, especially in the interest of the youth”.
Touching on the invitations by officials of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) to operatives of the previous administration, the Vice-President stressed that the government had no ulterior motive to punish any officer but explained that the BNI was doing its legitimate job.
He pointed out that if any officer of the previous administration had not engaged in wrongdoing, there was no cause to be afraid but “If any office holder is found to have misconducted himself, President Mills will not hesitate to swiftly take the necessary action in accordance with the law.”
He gave the assurance that the government would continue to respect human rights and protect and maintain those rights, saying, “We shall not disappoint you as we promised and now that the elections are over let everybody put his or her hands to the wheel and in four years’ time we shall all see a better Ghana, which we promised”.
The Vice-President described Alhaji Dauda as a hardworking, vociferous and eloquent person in Parliament, especially on matters relating to land.
He said it was in that vein that President Mills had no difficulty in appointing him as a minister for that sector, even when there was a parliamentary election dispute pending before the court.
“I have absolutely no doubt that he will live up to expectation but he will need your prayers and support,” he said.
Alhaji Dauda, who is the Member of Parliament for Asutifi South, expressed his heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to the chiefs and people in the Ahafo area for the honour done him and promised to serve his people without any political vindictiveness and acrimony.
“Let us all come together as one people to develop our area now that the political dust has settled. Let us stop the blame game and move ahead as one people with a common destiny,” he advised.
Agyewodin Prof. Adu Gyamfi Ampem, the Paramount Chief of Acherensua Traditional Area, on behalf of the chiefs and people, appealed to the government to establish an agricultural industry to process some of the food crops cultivated in the area.
He explained that agriculture employed about 82 per cent of the labour force, who are engaged in the cultivation of cocoa, plantain, cassava, cocoayam, citrus, pepper and a host of other crops but said market for most of the food crops was non-existent, resulting in gluts and rots, especially during the harvesting period.
Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, drew the attention of Nananom to the 50th anniversary celebration of the creation of the region and urged them to offer suggestions that would contribute towards the effective development of the area.
He noted that by the end of the celebration this year, many investors would have expressed their willingness to open jobs in the region for the youth to be gainfully employed.
He, therefore, gave the assurance that in subsequent official appointments, the government would focus on women to meet the maximum set target of 40 per cent that the NDC promised.
“I want to encourage women to offer themselves up for such appointments when the time comes because they are known to be less corrupt than men and hardworking too when given the opportunity,” Mr Mahama said.
The Vice-President made the disclosure when he addressed a durbar of the chiefs and people of the Ahafo area in the Asutifi District in honour of Alhaji Collins Dauda, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, at Acherensua in the Brong Ahafo Region.
The ceremony, which was in recognition of Alhaji Dauda’s “Selfless and unalloyed commitment to the development of the district over the years,” was also attended by members of the Council of State, ministers of state, district chief executives, the clergy and religious groups, assembly members, supporters and students.
Mr Mahama described as propaganda, assertions by some opposition members that the NDC had failed to honour the promises made during the electioneering for the 2008 general election.
He declared, “Just within five months some people have started the propaganda that the NDC has not been able to fulfil its promises to the people that when voted into power, it will make Ghana a better place to live in. But I can assure you that in four years Ghana will be a better place than we came to meet it”.
“We have assessed the economy to be in a bad shape and we are trying to bring it back on track through pragmatic policies. We are fixing the economy and in four years I can assure you that it will be buoyant and appealing to you to vote us back again,” Mr Mahama assured.
The Vice-President pointed out that in assessing the general economic situation, the government had realised that debts owed contractors total several billions of cedis, while the accumulated Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) and Volta River Authority (VRA) debts are also in trillions of cedis.
He said it was in this connection that the government had decided to reduce its expenditure, including a 30 per cent cut in fuel consumption, which he noted was a source of high government expenditure, in order to increase revenue and reserve to clear those debts.
Again, Mr Mahama indicated that it was to cut down cost drastically that the President is travelling — less, since several travels also amounted to increase in government expenditure.
The Vice-President further intimated that the government was arranging with local banks to refinance TOR while contacts were also being made with international financing institutions to assist the government’s budget.
Mr Mahama noted with satisfaction the falling rate of inflation and the stabilisation of the cedi, saying “We are indeed fixing the economy which has been in a bad state.”
The Vice-President announced a number of projects and programmes for the agricultural sector, including a forest plantation, block farming, agro-processing and accelerated infrastructure development, and explained that all those programmes would be carried out in a non-discriminatory manner.
He pointed out that the previous NDC government had been a development-oriented system and so was the current administration, adding, “We have a track record which we are vigorously going to follow, especially in the interest of the youth”.
Touching on the invitations by officials of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) to operatives of the previous administration, the Vice-President stressed that the government had no ulterior motive to punish any officer but explained that the BNI was doing its legitimate job.
He pointed out that if any officer of the previous administration had not engaged in wrongdoing, there was no cause to be afraid but “If any office holder is found to have misconducted himself, President Mills will not hesitate to swiftly take the necessary action in accordance with the law.”
He gave the assurance that the government would continue to respect human rights and protect and maintain those rights, saying, “We shall not disappoint you as we promised and now that the elections are over let everybody put his or her hands to the wheel and in four years’ time we shall all see a better Ghana, which we promised”.
The Vice-President described Alhaji Dauda as a hardworking, vociferous and eloquent person in Parliament, especially on matters relating to land.
He said it was in that vein that President Mills had no difficulty in appointing him as a minister for that sector, even when there was a parliamentary election dispute pending before the court.
“I have absolutely no doubt that he will live up to expectation but he will need your prayers and support,” he said.
Alhaji Dauda, who is the Member of Parliament for Asutifi South, expressed his heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to the chiefs and people in the Ahafo area for the honour done him and promised to serve his people without any political vindictiveness and acrimony.
“Let us all come together as one people to develop our area now that the political dust has settled. Let us stop the blame game and move ahead as one people with a common destiny,” he advised.
Agyewodin Prof. Adu Gyamfi Ampem, the Paramount Chief of Acherensua Traditional Area, on behalf of the chiefs and people, appealed to the government to establish an agricultural industry to process some of the food crops cultivated in the area.
He explained that agriculture employed about 82 per cent of the labour force, who are engaged in the cultivation of cocoa, plantain, cassava, cocoayam, citrus, pepper and a host of other crops but said market for most of the food crops was non-existent, resulting in gluts and rots, especially during the harvesting period.
Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, drew the attention of Nananom to the 50th anniversary celebration of the creation of the region and urged them to offer suggestions that would contribute towards the effective development of the area.
He noted that by the end of the celebration this year, many investors would have expressed their willingness to open jobs in the region for the youth to be gainfully employed.
KOTOKO OVERPOWER CHELSEA IN SUNYANI (BACK PAGE)
Rejuvenated Kumasi Asante Kotoko continued to produce their magic in the Glo Premier League after registering a painful 1-0 away win over Bechem Chelsea at their adopted Sunyani Coronation Park yesterday.
Tall and lanky Stephen Manu came from the bench to unleash a powerful left-footer to beat goalkeeper Abukari Iddrisu in the 87th minute following a beautiful Kwabena Yaro back-heel.
Before then Chelsea had dictated the pace of the game, especially in the first half, requiring the rich experience of Coach Herbert Addo to reverse the trend in the second half.
Tall and lanky Stephen Manu came from the bench to unleash a powerful left-footer to beat goalkeeper Abukari Iddrisu in the 87th minute following a beautiful Kwabena Yaro back-heel.
Before then Chelsea had dictated the pace of the game, especially in the first half, requiring the rich experience of Coach Herbert Addo to reverse the trend in the second half.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
CHELSEA BEAT WISE 1-0 (BACK PAGE)
Bechem Chelsea Football Club collected the maximum three points at the expense of visiting Sekondi Eleven Wise when they subdued their opponents 1-0 in their mid week encounter of the Glo Premier League at the Coronation Park in Sunyani yesterday.
Substitute Ernest Adomah snatched the winner in the dying minutes of the game when he tapped the ball into the net after a cross from the right flank hit the cross bar with Wise goalie, Mohammed Alhassan beaten.
The goal came shortly after FIFA Referee, Seidu Bomison from Wa, had red carded Wise substitute, Solomon Opoku, for a dangerous play.
The players of Wise who had judged the goal to be unfair then charged on the referee, but the timely intervention of the Police and coach C.K. Akonnor saved the situation.
Substitute Ernest Adomah snatched the winner in the dying minutes of the game when he tapped the ball into the net after a cross from the right flank hit the cross bar with Wise goalie, Mohammed Alhassan beaten.
The goal came shortly after FIFA Referee, Seidu Bomison from Wa, had red carded Wise substitute, Solomon Opoku, for a dangerous play.
The players of Wise who had judged the goal to be unfair then charged on the referee, but the timely intervention of the Police and coach C.K. Akonnor saved the situation.
Monday, June 15, 2009
REMAN PRISONERS RESORT TO VANDALISM (PAGE 3)
A number of remand prisoners at the Sunyani Central Prison in the Brong Ahafo Region have allegedly resorted to acts of vandalism because of frustration resulting from long delays in the adjudication of their cases in the law courts.
A convict at the prison, Eric Quaye, who painted a sordid picture of the frustrations of the prisoners and conditions of the remand prison to the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, last Thursday, said some of the cases had been pending before the courts for between seven and 12 years.
Quaye told the minister, who was visiting the prison, that without any provocation, some remand prisoners who had been there for those periods allegedly fought other inmates to relieve themselves of their frustration.
He alleged that some dockets on the cases which were in the custody of the police were missing, while some of the police investigators had refused to escort those on remand to the courts.
Currently, there are 839 inmates at the Sunyani Central Prison, out of which 635 are convicts, 176 on remand and 28 facing trial. The number of prisoners in the region, including those at the Duayaw Nkwanta, Kenyasi and Yeji camps, stands at 1,293.
Quaye, who acted as the spokesperson for the inmates, further alleged that even when the police came for prisoners on remand for court, the police returned with the excuse that they did not meet any judges to hear the cases.
He intimated that some of the police investigators were in league with the complainants in some of the cases and alleged that some of those complainants had paid money to the policemen handling the cases for them to delay their early adjudication or discontinue with the investigations.
In one instance, the spokesperson, who was once working with a mining company in the Brong Ahafo Region but has been incarcerated because of financial malfeasance, said a man who had committed a crime with another person had long completed his prison term of 10 years while his accomplice, who is currently suffering from stroke, was on remand.
According to him, remand prisoners were a source of worry to the other inmates, pointing out that “they are difficult to control by the selected leaders of the inmates”.
On other problems in the prison, Quaye indicated that some of the convicts were grappling with communicable diseases such as tuberculosis (TB) but the only available drug administered to them was paracetamol, adding that “para is used to serve all sick prisoners”.
He emphasised that characteristic of all TB patients, those suffering from the disease coughed and spat anywhere but there were no detergents and soap to clean the cells and other areas.
“We use raw water to bath, wash and clean the place,” he said.
Quaye said because there were limited toilet facilities for the inmates, some of them soiled themselves while they were in the queue waiting for their turn, while others fought to secure their positions in the queue.
One startling revelation he made was that there were minors staying and mingling with the hardened criminals, pointing out that human rights activists did not visit the prison to know the plight of the minors and fight for them.
The Brong Ahafo Regional Commander of the Ghana Prison Service, Mr Jacob Agambire, who conducted the regional minister round the premises, corroborated the story told by the spokesperson and said his outfit was using the available resources to manage the prison.
According to him, on three occasions he had rejected some minors who had been sent in by the police by citing the Children’s Act but later he had to be made to appear before the court, where he was cautioned to desist from interference or face sanctions.
Mr Agambire called for the replacement of the Prison Service Decree of 1972 with an Act of Parliament to reflect the constitutional dispensation of the country.
According to him, the prison yard was originally designed to accommodate a maximum of 400 inmates and, therefore, urged the government to address the situation as a matter of urgency.
He suggested that the courts should down suspended and community sentences, and impose fines, as was practised in other jurisdictions, saying that “in Ghana the only way to punish criminals is to imprison them, which is not the best”.
Meanwhile, the Brong Ahafo Regional Office of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has presented 10 packets of roofing sheets, 40 student mattresses and 40 mini bags of rice to the prison authorities to help solve some of their problems.
A convict at the prison, Eric Quaye, who painted a sordid picture of the frustrations of the prisoners and conditions of the remand prison to the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, last Thursday, said some of the cases had been pending before the courts for between seven and 12 years.
Quaye told the minister, who was visiting the prison, that without any provocation, some remand prisoners who had been there for those periods allegedly fought other inmates to relieve themselves of their frustration.
He alleged that some dockets on the cases which were in the custody of the police were missing, while some of the police investigators had refused to escort those on remand to the courts.
Currently, there are 839 inmates at the Sunyani Central Prison, out of which 635 are convicts, 176 on remand and 28 facing trial. The number of prisoners in the region, including those at the Duayaw Nkwanta, Kenyasi and Yeji camps, stands at 1,293.
Quaye, who acted as the spokesperson for the inmates, further alleged that even when the police came for prisoners on remand for court, the police returned with the excuse that they did not meet any judges to hear the cases.
He intimated that some of the police investigators were in league with the complainants in some of the cases and alleged that some of those complainants had paid money to the policemen handling the cases for them to delay their early adjudication or discontinue with the investigations.
In one instance, the spokesperson, who was once working with a mining company in the Brong Ahafo Region but has been incarcerated because of financial malfeasance, said a man who had committed a crime with another person had long completed his prison term of 10 years while his accomplice, who is currently suffering from stroke, was on remand.
According to him, remand prisoners were a source of worry to the other inmates, pointing out that “they are difficult to control by the selected leaders of the inmates”.
On other problems in the prison, Quaye indicated that some of the convicts were grappling with communicable diseases such as tuberculosis (TB) but the only available drug administered to them was paracetamol, adding that “para is used to serve all sick prisoners”.
He emphasised that characteristic of all TB patients, those suffering from the disease coughed and spat anywhere but there were no detergents and soap to clean the cells and other areas.
“We use raw water to bath, wash and clean the place,” he said.
Quaye said because there were limited toilet facilities for the inmates, some of them soiled themselves while they were in the queue waiting for their turn, while others fought to secure their positions in the queue.
One startling revelation he made was that there were minors staying and mingling with the hardened criminals, pointing out that human rights activists did not visit the prison to know the plight of the minors and fight for them.
The Brong Ahafo Regional Commander of the Ghana Prison Service, Mr Jacob Agambire, who conducted the regional minister round the premises, corroborated the story told by the spokesperson and said his outfit was using the available resources to manage the prison.
According to him, on three occasions he had rejected some minors who had been sent in by the police by citing the Children’s Act but later he had to be made to appear before the court, where he was cautioned to desist from interference or face sanctions.
Mr Agambire called for the replacement of the Prison Service Decree of 1972 with an Act of Parliament to reflect the constitutional dispensation of the country.
According to him, the prison yard was originally designed to accommodate a maximum of 400 inmates and, therefore, urged the government to address the situation as a matter of urgency.
He suggested that the courts should down suspended and community sentences, and impose fines, as was practised in other jurisdictions, saying that “in Ghana the only way to punish criminals is to imprison them, which is not the best”.
Meanwhile, the Brong Ahafo Regional Office of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has presented 10 packets of roofing sheets, 40 student mattresses and 40 mini bags of rice to the prison authorities to help solve some of their problems.
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