FAKE FILM DIRECTOR JAILED FOR STEALING (MIRROR, DEC 31, 2010, PAGE 21)

From Collins Agyekum-Gyasi, Kumasi.

A KUMASI Circuit Court has convicted a self-styled movie director who craftily managed to deceive a student and succeeded in bolting away with her Laptop and a mobile phone.
James Kelvin Asante, pleaded not guilty to stealing the items valued at GH¢1,520 but was found guilty by the court.
Presenting the facts of the case to the court, presided over by Mr Emmanuel Amo-Yartey, the Police Prosecutor, Chief Inspector Comfort Baffour-Kyei, said Asante, lived in Accra and on September 13, last year, approached a witness in the case, Ms Benelyn Ofei, a student of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), that he needed someone to play an acting role in a film he was working on.
Ms Ofei, who looked at the story with a cold attitude, called in her roommate, the complainant, to meet the convict if she was interested.
The prosecutor said the complainant, after hearing the story from Asante, showed interest to feature in the said film and said that she was ready to play any role.
Asante allegedly told the complainant that one Yvonne Forson had disappointed him (Asante), hence his desire to look for a substitute actress.
The prosecutor said: “ The convict directed her (the complainant) to bring along her laptop and phone so that he could copy the script onto the laptop for her to study it. With regard to the phone, he purported to store his number on it for her to give him a call if she encountered any difficulty.”
On the complainant’s return with the items, Asante allegedly collected them and sent her to meet some film stars at the Unity Hall and sign an entry form. She rushed to the Hall but met none of the alleged film stars.
Ms Baffour-Kyei said the complainant returned to report to Asante but he too had disappeared with her laptop and the Nokia phone.
She said three days later, she saw Asante on the university campus and reported the matter to the KNUST Security personnel who arrested and handed him over to the KNUST police. After investigations, he was charged with the crime.

ANTOA POLICE TO GET PERMANENT STRUCTURES (PAGE 22, DEC 29, 2010)

THE Antoa Traditional Council is constructing permanent structures for the Antoa Police Station in the Ashanti Region at a cost of GH¢150,000.
Police personnel in the town have operated in rented premises since 1961 so the traditional authorities released a 27-acre piece land for the project.
In a speech read on behalf of the Ashanti Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Mr Patrick Timbilla at the sod-cutting ceremony, he urged the people to volunteer information about suspected criminals to the police.
He said that was one sure way of checking crime, stressing that the police were not magicians to get to the bottom of every crime without public support.
Mr Timbillah said policing everywhere depended on information, giving the assurance that police personnel could perform very well upon accurate information given them.
He said it was everybody’s civic duty to inform the police on the activities and movements of criminals within the communities.
Mr Timbillah observed that in recent times, armed robbers had turned their attention on the highways with most of the fugitives and their tricks being imported.
He, therefore, warned the public not to keep more monies at home.
The regional commander expressed the service’s appreciation to the chief of Antoa, Nana Kwame Owusu Agyeman, the queen and elders of the town for their great assistance in helping to create a harmonious society.
He urged the general public and organisations to emulate the leadership examples of the chief and his people to help the police in the execution of their responsibilities.
The Kwabre East District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Adams Iddrissu, enumerated the numerous projects executed by the chief and his elders for the community.
He said the Antoa community had been very popular on the lips of people throughout the country and everything necessary would be done to raise the living standard of the people.
On behalf of the district assembly, the DCE pledged 200 bags of cement towards the project.
The Member of Parliament for the area, Mr Kofi Frimpong gave the assurance that the 14-kilometre road from the town to Kumasi had been awarded on contract for reconstruction.
He pledged to provide all the roofing sheets needed to complete the police station.
Earlier in a welcoming address, Nana Owusu Agyeman said the completion of the station would ensure that most of the social vices such as drug peddling, gambling and truancy among school children in the area would stop.
He made request for the youth of the town to be considered for enlistment into the Ghana Police Service.

LET 2011 BE YEAR OF PROSPERITY...House of Chiefs urges Ghanaians (PAGE 12, DEC 27, 2010)

THE National House of Chiefs has noted that political insults had the tendency to create chaos or anarchy in the country.
While hailing the country’s democratic dispensation, the House described as unfortunate the use of insulting language against political opponents in recent times.
It has, therefore, called on all and sundry to ensure that there is decency in the political environment.
In a New Year message signed by the Registrar of the house, Mr S.R Takyi, on behalf of the Wulugu Naba Pugansoa Naa, Prof. John S. Nabila, the House urged all Ghanaians to unite and pray so that 2011 would usher the country into a period of prosperity.
The House commended all chiefs in the country for their support during 2010 and prayed that the House would continue to receive the necessary support and encouragement to deliver in the coming year.
It commended the government and the nation’s gallant farmers for the successful Farmers’ Day celebration at Somanya in the Eastern Region.
The chiefs also thanked God for the peaceful celebration of the major festivals, such as Good Friday, Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid ul-Adha as well as the peaceful Hajj.
Nananom stated that Christmas was the revelation of God’s love to mankind.
Consequently, they called on Ghanaians to extend love to their neighbours.

AFARI GYAN INTERACTS WITH ORGANISATIONS (NSEMPA, PAGE 10, DEC 20, 2010)

By Collins Agyekum-Gyasi, Kumasi

THE CHAIRMAN of the Electoral Commission, Dr Kwadwo Afari Gyan, has expressed optimism that the December 28, 2010 District Level Elections (DLE) would definitely take place as scheduled.
Interacting with District Officers of the Electoral Commission (EC), National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) as well as the Information Services Department (ISD) in Kumasi on their respective responsibilities to ensure the success of the DLE, Dr Afari, assured them, “we can hold the elections; We can tell the people that we can.”
Speaking on the theme ‘Harnessing The Resources Of EC, NCCE and ISD for improved citizen participation in the 2010 DLE”, he said he had been yearning to see an amendment in the Act 473 District Assembly Act 1994, which restricted platform mounting to introduce candidates as the sole prerogative of the EC.
He commended the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Yileh Chireh, for has efforts towards the amendment.
Dr Afari Gyan explained that Act 801, currently liberalised platform mounting in two major ways; it allows candidates to mount their own platforms, in addition to those mounted by the EC.
It also allows organisations not associated with any political party to support the EC in cash or kind for the purpose of mounting a platform for the common use of candidates.
Currently, LI 1967 has reduced the membership of Unit Committees from 15 to five elected ones.
It also reduces the number of Unit Committees from 15,000 to 6,135 Dr Gyan explained that instead of the 10 previously elected to form a Unit Committee, only five would be elected.
Dr Afari advised the electorates to elect the most suitable, intelligent and serious minded candidates to facilitate development at the grassroots.

EPA HOLDS FORUM FOR 17 COMMUNITIES (NSEMPA, PAGE 10, DEC 20, 2010)

By Collins Agyekum-Gyasi, Konongo

THE Ashanti office of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has organised a day’s public forum for the regulators of all the 17 communities that would be affected by the mining activities of the Owere Mines Limited (OML) at the Jubilee Park at Konongo Odumasi in the Asante Akyem North District of Ashanti.
The forum was to come out with an official communiqué issued by the custodians of the land on the impact and benefits from the project.
Chiefs, elders and representatives of the communities attended it. Also present were representatives from the Minerals Commission, Mines Department, Ministry of Science and Technology, Lands and Forestry and Water Resources Commission.
Mr Osei Bonsu, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), urged the chiefs in the operational area to come together and prepare a communiqué, which could be beneficial to their communities rather than each community coming out with its own proposal.
He said since their grandfathers could not protect the minerals but gave them out to the ‘white men’, now all the fertile lands, cocoa, timber and others were not yeilding therequired income while the whites had preserved theirs in large quantities for posterity.
Mr Osei Bonsu advised them to remember what mining operations had bequeathed on some of the communities since the last 100 years and compare their findings before coming out with a concrete decision.
“You must think of the community and the people and not your individual welfare. Think of what lies ahead and what the future holds or looks like. Think of what the children in the next 100 years will live on before you come to a conclusion; or they will blame you,” he cautioned, stressing that they should think through these before coming out with a decision.
The MCE said companies, in the past, had failed to deliver on their promises and warned the management of OML to adhere strictly to its corporate norms and practices within its time frame in the municipality.
Mr Roger Bannister, Project Manager, speaking on the OML’s policy towards the protection of the environment, said the company was in the process of acquiring an environmental permit from the EPA. however, the project would be a typical open pit mine, using conventional equipment and mining with local mining contractors in the country. He promised that the company would strictly conform to recommended practices.
The first phase, according to Mr Bannister, a.k.a Asante Agyeman, involves excavating and treatment of old Konongo tailings, cutting back on some existing mined-out pits to reach ‘deeper for the ore material’, stressed it would mostly be centered around already disturbed or mined areas with little or no additional areas.
“ We will use recommended practice by stripping off top soil, stockpiling and appropriately labelling them prior to excavation, while processing would involve crushing, grinding and the use of Carbon In Leach (CIL), treatment method in the first two to three years.
“Monitoring bores will be installed at specific points to monitor quality and possible impact on underground water, while trench for the pipeline from plant to Tailing Storage Facility (TSF) will be lined with HDPE (tarpaulin) liner to contain leakage and protect underground water.” he stated.
Mr Ransford Sekyi, the Regional EPA Officer and chairman for the occasion, said the concession would cover about 126 kilometres, while work would commence on about 200hectres of Greenfield, which would include 80 kilometres of the old sites at Odumasi and Obenimase.
He said work would start with three old pits and appealed to the communities not to encroach upon the land because they want compensation.
The Owere Mines Limited is a Ghanaian-Australian owned company, which was incorporated by African Gold in joint ventureship with Talos Ghana Limited. The OML has been engaged in exploration and care maintenance and an initial mine study phase was completed in May, this year.

ANGLOGOLD MD COMMENDS MINE UNION (NSEMPA, PAGE 10, DEC 20, 2010)

By Collins Agyekum-Gyasi, Obuasi

THE Managing Director of Anglo Gold Ashanti (Obuasi Mine), Mr Kwesi Enyan, has commended the Obuasi branch of the Ghana Mine Workers Union (GMWU) for its immense support in the operations of the company.
He said the union, as one of the company’s social partners has generally supported the management of the mine through both difficult and happy times.
Mr Enyan gave the commendation at the official sod-cutting ceremony to mark the start of a two-phase construction of a basic school complex at Anyinam, a suburb of Obuasi.
The school, estimated to cost GH¢960.000 will have two-storey blocks, a pre-school block, primary and junior high school (JHS) classrooms to accommodate 40 pupils each for a start, while an administration, an ICT centre and a library block would take off in the next phase.
Mr Enyan entreated the union executives to continue partnering management in their quest to turn the fortunes of the mine around especially in the areas of safety efficiency improvement as well as checking stealing of company property including high-grade ore and concentrates at plant sites.
He said the single most important part of mining was not the ore but the safety of miners.
Mr Prince William Ankrah, General Secretary (GMWU), commended the Obuasi branch for placing high premium on human capital investment and offering quality basic education to their wards and children.
Mr John Kobina Ackon, Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Obuasi, praised the cordial relationship between the management, union and workers and said the initiative of the union would influence of the schoolchildren to fight against diseases and reduce increasing congestion in the existing schools.
Mr Johnny Owusu-Boadi, the Municipal Director of Education, commended teachers and students for their hard work, before this year’s BECE results in which the school came first nationwide and hoped they would keep up their performance in the succeeding years.

RATIFY ILO CONVENTION 176 (NSEMPA, PAGE 10, DEC 20, 2010)

By Collins Agyekum-Gyasi, Obuasi

THE Ghana mine workers union (GMWU) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has urged the government to ratify the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 176 on safety in the mines, which was adopted on June 22, 1995, at the 82nd Session of the ILO General Conference at Geneva.
Brother Prince William Ankrah, General Secretary of GMWU, regretted that since 1995 when the convention was adopted no government in the country had ratified it, even though it is central to eusuring decent work in an industry, which had occupational safety and health hazards as its main challenges.
Bro. Ankrah was flanked by Bro. John Kwadwo Brempong, National Chairman, and some executive members from both the national and Obuasi branches of the GMWU.
“Convention 176 provides the necessary basis for a sustainable the mining industry that ensures that its workers return from their workplaces safe and healthy and that companies can attract and retain workers.” he emphasised.
He observed that the convention defined mining to cover surface or underground sites where exploration for minerals that involve the mechanical disturbance of the ground, extraction of minerals, preparation, including crushing, grinding, concentration or washing of the extracted material and all machinery, equipment, appliances, plant, buildings and civil engineering structures were used in conjunction with these activities.
Bro. Ankrah said existing mining regulations were biased against miners except Convention 176 that seeks to protect the health, safety and welfare of the miners.
Mining, he observed, has resuscitated the country’s economy and, therefore, it was time for the establishment of effective procedures to ensure the implementation of the rights of workers and their representatives to be consulted on matters and to participate in measures relating to safety and health at the workplaces, among other things, adding that serious mining nations had long adopted the convention.
The convention, in part, mandates the employer to assess all risks and deal with them in the following order of priority: eliminate risk, control the risk at source, minimise the risk by means that include the design of safe work systems and insofar as the risk remains. The employer also has to provide for the use of personal, protective equipment, having regard to what is reasonable, practical and feasible to good practice and the exercise of due diligence.
He said workers, under the convention, had the right to report accidents, dangerous occurrences and hazards to the employer and to competent authority, and request and obtain attention where there was cause for concern on safety and health grounds.
In like manner, the workers have the duty of complying with prescribed safety and health measures, taking reasonable care for their own safety and health and that of other persons who may be affected by their acts or omissions at work.
Concluding, Bro Ankrah said “a member that has ratified the convention may denounce it after the expiration of 10 years from the date on which the convention came into force by an act communicated to the Director-General of the International Labour Office for registration.”

COURT JAILS MAN FOR UNLAWFUL ENTRY, STEALING (PAGE 3, NSEMPA, DEC 20, 2010)

ACollins Agyekum-Gyasi, Kumasi

A Kumasi Circuit Court sentenced an Anwomaso-based fitter, Atta Bobbie, to a 24-month jail term when he appeared before the court presided by Justice Emmanuel Amo-Yartey on charges of unlawful entry and stealing GH¢ 900.00 at Anwomaso, a suburb of Kumasi.
Briefing the court on the case, Chief Inspector Rejoice Sumatu said the accused lived in the same town with a nephew to the complainant, who is a driver.
On November 27, this year the complainant was in the house of a friend, one Mr Darko when Atta paid them a visit. Whilst there, he told his friend that he had left an amount of GH¢900.00 in his room and so Darko should lock the doors when he was ready to leave. This instruction was head by the accused person.
Chief Inspector Sumatu stated that a few minutes after Darko left, Bobbie said goodbye and sneaked out to his uncle’s residence from where he scaled the wall into the yard.
“The accused checked out the yard of the house, found a ladder which helped him climb to the ceiling and finally entered the room where the money was kept. He then pocketed it and left the town,” the prosecutor stated.
The prosecutor said the complainant returned to the house a day after only to realise that the money was not there and immediately confronted his friend, Darko, but he denied any knowledge of the missing money.
From his friend’s house, the complainant suspected it could be his nephew who had stolen the money so he lodged a complaint with the police at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
On December 4, 2010, the complainant rushed to the police and said he had had information that Bobbie was at a funeral at Onwe-Ejisu and with their assistance, the latter was arrested.
In his cautioned statement, he denied committing the offence but later changed his mind and admitted the offence. The money has since been refunded to the complainant.

I USE PISTOL FOR MY BUSINESS (NSEMPA, PAGE 3, DEC 20, 2010)

By Collins Agyekum Gyasi, Kumasi

A KUMASI Circuit Court presided over by Mr Emmanuel Amo-Yartey has sentenced a 19-year-old man to two-and-half years in prison with hard labour for illegal possession of firearms.
Akwasi Bentum, who completed junior high school (JHS) at Esereso, near Kumasi, four years ago, pleaded guilty with the explanation, that he used the locally manufactured pistol for his “business”.
Presenting the facts to the crowded court, Chief Inspector Nana C. K. Fosu, said on October 14, this year, an Oforikrom-based community protection assistant and
neighbourhood watchdog committee members, assisted the Oforikrom police to arrest the convict who had taken undue advantage of the darkness to snatch bags and mobile phones from people along the Aboabo stream at Anloga Junction.
Early on, Nana Fosu told the court that the police had received distressed calls that some young men had been attacking people with locally manufactured pistols and when they succeeded in robbing their victims they often dived into the stream and swam away with their booty.
He said armed with the information, the police and other public organisations kept surveillance and detailed men on foot patrols around the area. The police had further advised the general public to inform the security agencies any time they suspected someone with questionable character loitering in their area.
Chief Inspector Fosu said it was during one of such operations that Bentum and one other person at large were confronted. While his accomplice managed to escape, the convict unsuccessfully struggled to free himself but he was overpowered and arrested.
An on-the-spot search on Bentum yielded a locally manufactured pistol and a live cartridge loaded in the chamber of the pistol.
In his cautioned statement, the convict claimed ownership of the pistol and said he had been using it for his business.
Pressed for further explanation, he said he used it to scare forest guards on inspection in the bush. “I fire the gun to warn them (illegal chainsaw operators) to be wary of the approach of guards and take cover.”
When he was asked if he had a license, Bentum replied that his license was with his master.

I USE PISTOL FOR MY BUSINESS (NSEMPA, PAGE 3, DEC 20, 2010)

By Collins Agyekum Gyasi, Kumasi

A KUMASI Circuit Court presided over by Mr Emmanuel Amo-Yartey has sentenced a 19-year-old man to two-and-half years in prison with hard labour for illegal possession of firearms.
Akwasi Bentum, who completed junior high school (JHS) at Esereso, near Kumasi, four years ago, pleaded guilty with the explanation, that he used the locally manufactured pistol for his “business”.
Presenting the facts to the crowded court, Chief Inspector Nana C. K. Fosu, said on October 14, this year, an Oforikrom-based community protection assistant and
neighbourhood watchdog committee members, assisted the Oforikrom police to arrest the convict who had taken undue advantage of the darkness to snatch bags and mobile phones from people along the Aboabo stream at Anloga Junction.
Early on, Nana Fosu told the court that the police had received distressed calls that some young men had been attacking people with locally manufactured pistols and when they succeeded in robbing their victims they often dived into the stream and swam away with their booty.
He said armed with the information, the police and other public organisations kept surveillance and detailed men on foot patrols around the area. The police had further advised the general public to inform the security agencies any time they suspected someone with questionable character loitering in their area.
Chief Inspector Fosu said it was during one of such operations that Bentum and one other person at large were confronted. While his accomplice managed to escape, the convict unsuccessfully struggled to free himself but he was overpowered and arrested.
An on-the-spot search on Bentum yielded a locally manufactured pistol and a live cartridge loaded in the chamber of the pistol.
In his cautioned statement, the convict claimed ownership of the pistol and said he had been using it for his business.
Pressed for further explanation, he said he used it to scare forest guards on inspection in the bush. “I fire the gun to warn them (illegal chainsaw operators) to be wary of the approach of guards and take cover.”
When he was asked if he had a license, Bentum replied that his license was with his master.

USE ONLY LABELLED AGRO CHEMICALS (NSEMPA, PAGE 3, DEC 13, 2010)

By Collins Agyekum-Gyasi, Jacobu

An agro chemical dealer, Mr Bernard Kwasi Dwemoh, has warned farmers to refrain from using unlabelled food storage chemicals.
He pointed out that chemicals, which were not labelled did not provide the needed information on its chemical components, how it should be used, and side effects, among others.
Mr Dwemoh, who operates Betonies Agro Chemicals, gave the advice during the 26th National Farmers’ Day celebration at Jacobu in the Amansie Central District of Ashanti Region.
He took advantage of the farmers’ day to interact with farmers who visited his stand and advised them on how to store their products to maximise income generation.
Expressing concern about the unlabelled chemicals in the market, he said it undermined the storage of products and therefore, urged farmers to buy only labelled products.
He said many insecticides had similar concentrations and scent, making it difficult for farmers to differentiate one from the other without looking at the labels.
Mr Dwemoh explained that buying quality products would enable them store their products for a longer period and advised them to appreciate the side effects of chemicals, to enable them select the right products for their operations.
He noted that it was equally important for them to refrain from picking carcases from the bush, explaining that eating such carcases could pose serious health problems for them.

PROF BUOR SUPPORTS EDUCATION (JUNIOR GRAPHIC, DEC 1, 2010, PAGE 3)

Pupils, parents and the people of Atwima Manhyia in the Atwima Nwabiagya District of the Ashanti Region have marked the third anniversary of an awards scheme instituted by the Vice Chancellor of the Valley View University, Professor Daniel Buor, for the local Methodist School.
The scheme which was instituted by Prof. Buor in 2007 is aimed at rewarding hardworking pupils and teachers of the school.
The Headmistress of the school, Ms Agnes Asantewaa, in an address said the introduction of the scheme had helped improve the academic work of the pupils considerably.
She said the school placed first in a reading competition conducted by the Atwima Nwabiagya District Directorate of the Methodist Education Unit for Upper Primary pupils in the circuit.
Furthermore, Ms Asantewaa said the school was adjudged third in the district and attributed the achievement to the introduction of the award scheme.
She expressed delight at the positive trend and recalled that; “formerly, absenteeism among teachers and pupils, which was rife is now a thing of the past.”
Ms Asantewaa said admissions had increased considerably but had unfortunately led to overcrowding. She, therefore, called on the community, the directorate and the assembly to help provide classroom facilities to ease the congestion.
The Atwima Nwabiagya District Director of the Methodist Education Unit, Mr Cosmos Yawo Dzansi advised parents who did not show interest in their children’s education to come on board so that the dreams of their benefactor, who is also a past student of the school would be realised.
Prof. Buor commended the teachers and parents for appreciating his efforts and pleaded with members of the community to create an education fund, to award scholarships to hard working students.
He promised to finance the fencing of the school to ward off passers-by who distracted the attention of the pupils during lessons.
Four teachers, were rewarded for their dedication to work, while six pupils also received awards in various disciplines.
Nicholas Boakye and Francisca Achiaa were awarded prizes for their excellent academic performance, while Isaac Paddy and Florence Adu were adjudged the best behaved pupils. Isaac Yeboah and Rakiatu Abdulai won awards for their brilliance in sports.

CHIEFTAINCY INSTITUTION IS RELEVANT TO GHANA'S DEVT (PAGE 43, NOV 29, 2010)

THE Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms Hannah Tetteh, has stated that the chieftaincy institution is relevant in the socio-economic development of the country today as it was in the past.
Speaking at a grand durbar to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the enstoolment of the Tepahene, Nana Adusei Atwenewa Ampem at Tepa in the Ashanti Region, Ms Tetteh said the benefits inherent in the institution outweighed the drawbacks.
She said ”Today, it looks as if there is a latent competition among chiefs of what they can do to improve the lot of their people.”
The durbar was marked with rich culture. In attendance were a large number of chiefs, former President John Agyekum Kufuor and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential candidate for the 2012 general elections, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
The theme for the celebration was: “10 years of quality leadership; promoting the welfare of the people.”
Ms Tetteh stated that chiefs were at the forefront in the struggle for independence and had preserved the people’s cultural identity of which the nation was proud.
She said the institution had undergone silent reforms as governance had become more demanding.
The minister said since the Constitution recognised chieftaincy as sacred and the role it could play in advancing socio-economic development, chiefs nonetheless were recognised as key partners and agents of development in the country.
“They have assisted the government in the provision of social amenities such as hospitals, schools, police barracks, potable water, environmental sanitation, among others.” she said.
Ms Tetteh advised chiefs not only to be rulers over their subjects, but they must also be honest, forward-looking, inspiring, and intelligent citizens, and above all should be pillars around who their people could be mobilised for the development of the country.
She commended Nana Ampem, the traditional council and the people of Tepa for the peace in the area and urged them to keep it up.
The minister described the Omanhene for demonstrating great leadership skills and assured him of the government’s support.
Nana Ampem in a brief speech, said the praises showered on him were as a result of the support he enjoyed from his people.
A book on the Omanhene’s 10 years reign was launched, the proceeds of which would be used for the development of the local nurses’ training school.