Soldiers ordered me to strip naked
Investigate the case of my brother's murder
Chiefs of Badu want new district capital
New Brong Ahafo Regional Minister takes office
Africa's progress must come from Agriculture
Herbert Mensah testifies in court
Ya-Na Andani's
assailants refused bail
Court upholds Tsikata's motion
Conference on Partnership in Education opens
While Mrs Agnes Sonful, 52 a
teacher at
Ironically, both chairmen of the parties are also from the same Aduana family. Kofi Sekyi, the chairman of NPP, is an elder of the family and an uncle of the two candidates, while the regional Vice Chairman of the NDC, George Dadzie, who is also an executive member of the constituency, is an influential man in the family.
Gerald Danquah was elected unopposed for the NDC, and Mrs. Sonful on the other hand, had to go through primaries with Kwabena Essen, a former NPP Press Secretary, but won over 99 per cent of the total votes cast.
Some elders of the family have, however, called for greater discipline and tolerance on their campaign platforms in order not to create disunity in the family. In the 2002 district assembly elections, two members of the family contested in the same electoral area with the female, Elizabeth Buah, defeating her brother, Adjei Buah. The situation brought about divisions among members, which are yet to be fully resolved.
In an interview with Sekyi, it came to light that the issue is purely political and not a family affair, and that the choice of the two candidates would not affect their campaign strategies. The NPP chairman said that even though the constituency seat has been known to be an NDC stronghold, this time around things would be different. He recalled that in the 1992 general elections, which the other parties boycotted, the NDC won the seat overwhelmingly; but in the 1996 election when the NDC won it again, the difference was about
7,000.
According to the NPP chairman, in the 2000 election the
difference dropped to 1,300 while during the second round of the presidential
election the NPP beat NDC with over 700 votes. “This, coupled with the
development projects being undertaken by the District Assembly and the tarring
of Manso-Asankragwa road, meant there was no way the
NDC could retain the seat,” he said. He praised the former MP, Kofi Asante, for the good work he did as an MP and hoped that
Mrs. Sonful when elected would continue from where
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Soldiers ordered me to strip naked
Madam Efia Samiah said being a treasurer
of the Bakers' Association of Akyim Manso and a baker herself she came to
She
said the soldiers asked her to strip naked because they claimed she was not
pregnant but had wrapped pieces of cloth around her stomach to deceive them.
"The soldiers demanded I stripped naked for them to verify whether I was
really pregnant."
Madam Samiah said she was almost eight months pregnant at the
time of the incident and three weeks after her ordeal she gave birth. Her
husband died three months later due to the shock and trauma he went through
because he had to sell his house to enable him to defray part of the debt owed
the Association due to the seizure of the flour.
She
said her parents had to sell some of their belongings. Her father sold a piece
of land and mortgaged his cocoa farm to obtain a loan to enable him to defray
the rest of the debt. Madam Samiah said the soldiers
also beat up Mr. Charles Obeng, her nephew, who
accompanied her to purchase the goods because they said she was teaching him
how to steal.
She
said that after the ordeal the soldiers ordered her and her nephew to sit in a
four-wheel vehicle they were driving to be taken to the City Council. Madam Samiah said in an attempt to retrieve her handbag, which
contained money, from the truck carrying the flour, one of the soldiers pushed
her down resulting in injury to her hand.
Madam Samiah said they were asked to come off at the Weija Barrier and the soldiers took her goods and money
away. She added that it was a Good Samaritan that gave them money to take
transport back home after going for medical treatment at the
Madam Samiah said her nephew went into hiding for eight years
after the incident because the driver of the truck claimed the soldiers burnt
the truck because they thought it belonged to her and was demanding the cost of
the truck from her.
Madam Samiah said after the incident, she fell sick and could not
continue with her baking. She said that because she became unemployed only two
of her nine children were able to complete their education. She appealed to the
Commission to compensate her to enable her to maintain herself and her
children.
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Investigate the case of my brother's murder
He also
prayed the commission to locate where his brother was buried to enable the
family to give him a befitting burial and perform the necessary funeral rites.
Frempong
Numo who was giving evidence at the NRC said Ocansey Numo was shot at the
residence of Oti Prempeh, former Auditor-General,
where he had gone to seek refuge after escaping from the Bureau of National
Investigations (BNI) where the soldiers were torturing him.
He said
the late Enoch Kom, the lawyer handling the case,
advised the family to accept one million cedis compensation ordered by Dr Obed Asamoah, then Minister of Justice and Attorney
General, to be paid to the three children of deceased in 1995.
Frempong
Numo said Mr Kom indicated
government's acceptance of responsibility for the murder of Ocansey
Numo based upon letters of administration granted to
him. He said though letters from the Attorney General's Department to the
family tried to explain the murder of his brother, they were conflicting
because one claimed he was insane whilst another claimed he was mistakenly
shot.
Narrating
how his brother was murdered, Frempong Numo said at
about 14.30 hours on 6 March 1989, he was resting at home when two men who
claimed they were personnel of the BNI, asked him about the apartment of Ocansey Numo, who, they said, had
been arrested and sent to the Police Headquarters.
He said
his late brother who returned from
He said
together with his senior brother, he went to the Police Headquarters to look
for their brother but the Police said they knew nothing about that arrest and
that their brother had not been brought there.
Frempong
Numo said they followed up to the Cantonment Police
Station where somebody informed them that their brother had been shot and he
had been taken to the
"On
Frempong
Numo said to their surprise, they could not trace the
body of their brother. Following enquiries, they were informed that a team of
policemen under the command of Chief Superintendent C.K. Agbeli
of the Ministries Police Station had come to collect the body.
He said
on 17 March the family was informed by Abankwa of the
BNI that government had ordered the burial of his brother and that the order
had been carried out. Members of the Commission expressed their condolences to
Frempong Numo and assured him that they would
investigate the case and get back to the family. Hearing for this case
continues.
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Chiefs of Badu want new district capital
Sunyani
(Brong Ahafo)
At a
press conference in Sunyani at which Nana Asare Boakye 11, Krontihene, read a
copy of the petition to the government on the issue, the people maintained that
Badu has all the criteria to be made the capital of
the proposed new district.
''We
wish to draw attention that Badu, a major maize
growing community, has a larger population than any other town in the area and
far ahead of all the towns and more specifically Nsawkaw
(the proposed capital of the new district) in the provision of economic, social
and administrative amenities.''
"To
mention a few, Badu has well-established schools,
including a senior secondary/technical school and two preparatory schools, two
banking institutions, electricity, pipe-borne water system, hotel facilities
and a clinic".
The
petition, signed by all the chiefs, youth representatives and some opinion
leaders said: "These existing facilities would be at the disposal and as
utility services to the staff and other personnel of the new District
Assembly".
The
chiefs said Badu traditional rulers, the youth and
opinion leaders were not informed and therefore, were not represented at a
forum in Wenchi last week at which Nsawkaw was chosen
to be the capital of the proposed new district.
They
said it was illogical to choose Nsawkaw as the
capital of the new district because it was at a central position, regardless of
other salient factors. "In our opinion we do not think that the citing of
Nana Asare said Badu, with a
population of 9,600, was more populated than all the other major towns in the
area, including Nsawkaw, which has 4,500 people,
Banda, 5,500 and Seikwa 7,000.
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New Brong Ahafo Regional Minister takes office
Sunyani
(Brong Ahafo) 10 April 2003- Nana Kwadwo Seinti, the
new Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, has called for good working relationship between
the Regional Co-ordinating Council and heads of departments in the Region to
ensure the sustainable development of the region.
''The
level of unity, co-operation, commitment and dedication with which we embrace
and execute our responsibilities will determine our success,'' he said. Nana Seinti was speaking at his maiden meeting with the heads
after he had been introduced by Ernest Akubour Debrah, former Regional Minister who is now in-charge of
Northern Region.
He said
his objective was to build on the gains of his predecessor in pushing the
development of the region forward, but noted that, that would, however, depend
on the effective and efficient operations of the various departments.
Nana Seinti expressed his readiness to practise open-door policy
and called on the heads to approach him as and when necessary with their
initiatives and innovations for the well-being of the people.
Nana Seinti urged the heads not to hesitate to point out his
shortcomings to him, saying: "If I fail all of you fail, but if I succeed
the credit goes to all of you." Debrah expressed
appreciation to the heads for their co-operation that, he said, was the bedrock
of his successful administration.
He
appealed to the heads to accord Nana Seinti even more
support and co-operation. Ignatius Baffour-Awuah,
Sunyani District Chief Executive, said the region could only be developed if
the heads exhibited their commitment and dedication to duty. The two Regional
Ministers later held a similar meeting with religious leaders in Sunyani.
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"Breast
milk satisfies the baby's nutritional needs, create
healthy conditions required and also protects infants against infections such
as diarrhoea, pneumonia, unnecessary illnesses and premature deaths".
In a
speech read on his behalf at a ceremony to formally designate Mamprobi Polyclinic as baby friendly facility, Dr. Afriyie reiterated the need for nursing mothers to continue
the exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a child's life before
given other complimentary feed in the first two years.
"The
Baby Friendly Initiative Policy was adopted by the Ministry of Health in 1993,
to encourage and help women to breastfeed their babies properly. He noted that
breastfeeding has been identified as an important sub- component of the
reproductive health programme to improve the health of mothers and children.
Dr. Afriyie underscored the importance of vigorously pursuing
other child survival activities such as rehydration,
immunization, and family planning. Madam Stella Nyinah,
UNICEF's Maternal Health Programme Officer reminded health workers on the
importance of convincing mothers to attend Post Natal Clinics. Dr. Elizabeth Kumahor, of the Ablekuma Health Service Directorate said
the hospital would not relent in its effort to educate the public, especially
mothers on the importance of breastfeeding.
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He said
agriculture was the backbone of most African countries, accounting for about 60
per cent of the total labour force, 20 per cent of total merchandise exports
and 17 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
"These
figures illustrate the importance and over reliance of our economies on Agriculture",
the Vice President said in a speech read for him by Professor Kassim Kasanga, Minister of
Environment and Science at a two-day workshop in Accra.
The
workshop on NEPAD and agricultural development in
Vice
President Mahama expressed regret that though the majority of the population in
Africa was engaged in agriculture, latest statistics for 1997-1999 showed that
about 200 million people (28 per cent) of Africa's population were chronically
hungry compared to 173 million in 1990 - 1992.
He said
as at 2001, about 28 million people in
He
said, as a result of the rise in the number of hungry people, there had been a progressive
growth in food imports in the last years of the 20th century, with
"
"We
must, therefore, explore cost effective opportunities for agricultural
intensification and pursue them earnestly". He said the government
inspired by President Kufuor's vision of the country
becoming a leading agro-industrial country by the year 2010, had identified
modernisation of agriculture with rural development focus as one of the key
areas for investment.
"Our
intentions for the development of the agricultural sector are elaborate in the
Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy, the Food and Agricultural Sector Development
Policy (FASDEP) and Objective 2010".
He,
therefore, entreated the participants to come up with practical and forthright
actions that were needed in key areas in the agricultural sector to generate
the desired economic growth.
Major
Courage Quashiga (Rtd),
Minister of Food and Agriculture in an address read for him by Dr Matthew Antwi, Deputy Minister of Science and Environment,
expressed regret about Africa's poor agricultural performance.
He said
the little produced was left to rot because of the lack of facilities to add
value to them. He stressed the need to add value to produce, store and release
them into the market during the lean season and also consider opening up the
agricultural producing areas so that farmers would get value for their labour.
He said
the government was working to achieve food security for the country and had
developed the Food and Agriculture Sector Development Programme (FASDEP)
document to modernise the Sector.
He
explained that the document would emphasis the optimum and sustainable
utilisation of resources and commercialistion of the
agriculture sector with market-oriented growth in mind, among other things.
He said
in order to realise the policy framework of FASDEP; the Ministry had prepared a
three-year rolling strategic plan, which embraced all four pillars of the NEPAD
Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme.
He
mentioned some key objectives to be pursued under the plan as the expansion of
irrigation infrastructure; improvement of soil fertility and plant nutrition;
exploitation of the use of underground water through sinking of boreholes and
tube well; production and facilitation of farmers' access to improved planting
materials and the improvement of research governance and management in
financial accountability.
The FAO
Country Representative, Anatolio Ndong
Mba said the World Food Programme, which accounted
for two-fifths of international food aid had so far spent 12.5 billion dollars
of its total investment in
Mba
said for FAO, until the incidence of hunger was brought down and the import
bill reduced by raising output of agricultural products that the region could
produce with competitive advantage, it would be difficult to achieve the high
rates of economic growth to which NEPAD aspired.
He said
agricultural-led development in
"Thus
investment towards reducing hunger is a moral imperative and FAO is committed
to this viewpoint". He expressed the hope that the workshop would come out
with important proposals and project investment ideas, which when implemented,
would enable
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Herbert Mensah testifies in court
Accra
(Greater Accra) 10 April 2003- Herbert Amponsah
Mensah, former chairman of the Asante Kotoko Football
Club, on Wednesday told an Accra High Court that there was tension between
supporters of his club and Accra Hearts of Oak before the Stadium Disaster
because supporters were not happy with the result.
Led in
evidence by Anthony Gyambiby, Principal State
Attorney, he told the court, trying six senior police officers for the
disaster, which claimed 127 lives, that after the match, he accompanied his
team to the dressing room. Hearts of Oak won the match 2-1.
He said
it was in the dressing room that a prison officer informed him that there was
confusion between supporters of the two clubs. According to him, when he came
out from the dressing room he saw fans at the Ade
Coker stand jumping towards a narrow entrance.
Mensah
said he also saw smoke in the air while some of the fans were screaming and
running for their lives. He said since the entrance was very narrow, most of
the fans were choked at the entrance, which was smeared with blood.
The former
chairman said he took another entrance to the back of the narrow gate and
rescued more than 20 fans. He could not immediately say if they were dead.
Witness said he telephoned General Joshua Hamidu, Adviser on National Security,
and reported the matter to him.
According
to him, Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, the then Minister for Information and
Presidential Affairs, arrived with ambulances. He told the court that he would
not be in a position to identify any of the six officers on trial in court.
The
officers on trial are John Asare Naami,
Faakyi Kumi, Frank Awuah, Francis Aryee, Benjamin B.
Bakomora, all Assistant Superintendents of Police and
Chief Superintendent of Police, Koranteng Mintah.
They
have pleaded not guilty to 127 counts of manslaughter and are on 20 million
cedis bail each with two sureties. During cross-examination by Yonni Kulendi, counsel for first
accused, witness said it was difficult for him to say what really triggered the
firing of the tear gas.
Witness
agreed with counsel that most of the lights at the stadium had then been put
off. Earlier, Jonathan Truly Hemeng, a Metro TV
cameraman, tendered a video tape in evidence but Kulendi
objected to it saying, "I cannot see anything on it."
Counsel
prayed the court to show the tape to enable defence and the court to establish
its authenticity. The court, presided over by Justice Yaw Appau
upheld the motion and fixed Thursday for screening of the tape.
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Ya-Na Andani's assailants
refused bail
Yidana
Sugri and Iddrisu Gyanfo, both farmers, pleaded not guilty. The court refused
them bail, saying tension at Dagbon was still high and that in view of the
curfew being observed in the area, it would be in the interest of the accused persons
to still be in custody.
The
court gave the assurance that the trial would go on smoothly, to facilitate the
dispensation of justice. "In this way, the accused would not suffer undue
delay." The court presided over by Justice Yaw Appau,
empanelled a seven-member jury to commence the trial.
Appau,
however, advised the jury not to be bothered with whatever discussions hat
might go in the media and outside the court, but endeavour to pay attention to
matters arising out of the court.
He
said, "you should be bound by the evidence that
would be led in court to make an informed judgement in the matter".
Prosecuting, Anthony Gyambiby, Principal State
Attorney, said prior to the celebration of the Bugum
festival, "a Muslim fire festival," the security situation
deteriorated at Yendi.
As a
result, he said, the Regional Security Council on the orders of the National
Security Council imposed a dusk to down curfew on the people and the
celebration of the Bugum festival was banned.
The
Prosecution said on
The
Prosecution said Ziblim reported that the Abudu's had attacked him and destroyed his bicycle. The
matter was reported to the Ya Na, who asked that a
complaint should be made to the Police.
Later,
gunshots were heard in the vicinity of the
Gyambiby stated further that the shooting became intensified, during which the
Some of
the youth, who were with the Ya-Na, however, escaped
and hid themselves behind the palace to observe the
events. The Prosecution said while there, they saw the dead body of the Ya-Na being dragged to a spot about 50 metres from the
Palace.
The
Prosecution said the youth saw Sugri carrying around
his neck, the severed arm of the Ya-Na bearing a
wristwatch and dancing to drumming. Sugri dared any Andani, who was brave to go forward to collect it. All
along, he was heard by some of the youth saying: "I have conquered the Ya-Na."
The
Prosecution said portion of the facts revealed that Gyanfo
was also seen carrying the severed head of Ya-Na
stuck on a spear and presenting it to Ex- Zalankolana
Mba Dugu, of the Abudu gate in the presence of other people.
He said
in reaction to the disturbances in Yendi, which led
to the death of Ya-Na and 30 others, the President,
in April last year, set up a Commission of inquiry to investigate the matter.
Nana Obiri Boahene, a Suyani-based legal practitioner, who represented the
accused, said "we are all worried about the incident, but care must be
taken in order not to implicate innocent persons." He said the
Prosecution's case was based on conjecture and speculations and, therefore,
told the court that there was no iota of truth in the facts.
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Court upholds Tsikata's motion
Accra
(Greater Accra) 10 April 2003- A Fast Track Court in Accra on Wednesday granted
a motion for a stay of proceedings tabled by counsel for Tsatsu
Tsikata, a former Chief Executive of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation
(GNPC), charged with willfully causing financial loss
of 2.3 billion cedis to the State.
Mrs
Justice Henrietta Abban, an Appeal Court Judge
sitting as a High Court Judge, said "pending the interlocutory appeal
which was filed on 28 March this year by counsel, Professor E.V.O. Dankwa, the application for a stay of proceedings is
granted".
She
said: "It is granted till the determination of the appeal pending before
the Court of Appeal." Mrs Justice Abban, therefore,
adjourned proceedings to Wednesday, 30 April. Tsikata filed the appeal
challenging the
He is
seeking a relief from the Court of Appeal to quash that decision and order and
uphold his submission of "no case." On 28 March the FTC presided over
by Mrs Justice Abban overruled the submission of
"no case" by the appellant and asked him to open his defence.
Arguing
the motion for stay of proceedings at the FTC on Wednesday, Prof. Dankwa drew the attention of the court to portions of the
supporting affidavit, saying important matters had been raised in it.
Counsel
argued that it was proper if proceedings could be stayed awaiting the
The
Prosecution team did not oppose the motion. The team comprises Ms Gloria Akuffo, Deputy Attorney - General and Minister of Justice;
Osafo Sampong, Director of Public Prosecution and Augustines rpt Augustines
Obuor, Assistant State Attorney.
Tsikata,
who is also charged with another count of intentionally misapplying public
property, contrary to Section 1(2) of the Public Property Protection Decree
1977 (SMCD140), has denied the charges. The court has admitted him to a 700
million-cedi self-recognisance bail.
When
the case was called for hearing on Wednesday, counsel for Tsikata told the
court that he had filed a motion for stay of proceedings. He said this was
because the pending appeal at the Court of Appeal could have an impact on the
case.
Counsel
asked that his client should be discharged, because he had not committed any
offence. He said he was being tried for acts, which did not constitute an
offence at the time that they were done.
Prof. Dankwa said the appellant was of the view that the trial
Judge erred in law by overruling the submission of the "no case"
without providing reasons. He said the trial Judge erred in disregarding
pertinent legal and constitutional issues raised before her and coming to her
conclusion without a judicial consideration of those issues.
Furthermore,
he said, the Judge erred in disregarding both binding and persuasive precedents
on the responsibility of the Judge upon submission of "no case." He
said the Judge erred in respect of the first three counts in not realising that
on the evidence adduced by the Prosecution, the payment alleged to have been
authorised and caused to be made by appellant were not made on his authority or
instruction.
"The
trial Judge erred in failing to appreciate the jurisdiction of the High Court
to enforce the fundamental human rights and freedom guaranteed by Article
140(2) of the 1992 Constitution."
Prof. Dankwa argued that the Judge erred by failing to take due
account of the High Court's decision on the same facts as cited to her in the
submission of "no case" in which Tsikata won.
In
respect of the fourth count, the Judge erred in failing to realise that there
was no evidence from the Prosecution Witness about a payment alleged in the
particulars of offence to have taken place in March 1991. He said the Judge in
calling on him to enter a defence erred because it was clear from the evidence
the Prosecution adduced that none of the ingredients of the alleged offences
had been established.
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Conference on Partnership in Education opens
This,
he said, could be achieved through their contributions to the preparation of
national education strategic plan and assist to develop institutional
competence and capacity as well as advocate for the provision of quality
education by the government.
Okyne
was speaking at the opening of a two-day conference on partnership in education
organised by IEES for a cross section of the civil society, stakeholders,
religious leaders, traditional leaders and opinion leaders in Accra.
The
conference on the theme: "Building Effective Partnerships For Quality Education" was to sensitise the
participants on pertinent issues affecting the educational system and to design
appropriate mechanisms to participate in the implementation, and monitoring of
government policies in the sector.
Okyne
said there was a global crisis in education because more than 113 million
children had no access to primary education while 880 million adults were
illiterate and gender discrimination continued to permeate the education
systems.
"The
quality of learning and the acquisition of human values and skills fall far
below the aspirations and needs of individuals and societies. Youth and adults
are denied access to the skills and knowledge necessary for gainful employment
and full participation in economic activities," he said.
Okyne
mentioned lack of strong inter and intra partnerships collaboration among other
stakeholders and the government; inadequate infrastructure and low community
involvement in education and school management as major factors militating against
improved access and equity of education.
He,
therefore, urged the participants to come out with strategic policies that
would help the government to solve the problems. Ms Augustina
King, Educational Consultant, said since independence several attempts were
made to reform the education system but to no avail and stressed the need for a
permanent development of strategies to promote effective partnership in the
country's education system.
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