Three kids linked to alleged child-smuggler
Ghana Airways is
recovering - Minister
The men
were found by U.S. Customs Service agents who were on board the Aeolian Sky as
part of a drug sting that resulted in two arrests.
While
the customs agency found the men some of them hiding above ceiling panels the
investigative work has shifted to the Immigration and Naturalization Service,
which is looking into whether they were part of a human smuggling operation,
Diana Carrig, an assistant U.S. attorney involved in
the case said Monday.
The
men, whose ages range from 15 to 45, were all in good health. All were in the
custody of the INS, said Kevin Bell, a spokesman for the Customs Service. INS
spokesman Kerry Gill would not talk about the case's specifics, including
whether any of the stowaways were in custody. Gill did say that the men were
all interviewed Sunday to determine why they were on the ship.
The
Customs Service had been watching the Danish-owned ship since 17 November when
agents learned that it may have been used to smuggle drugs in addition to its
legitimate cargo of lumber. Authorities had no suspicions that they would find
stowaways, said
The
680-foot (204-meter) ship bearing the flag of
According
to a criminal complaint filed Monday in U.S. District Court in
When he
came out empty-handed, an agent stopped him, patted him down and found two
bricks of heroin weighing a total of just over 1 kilogram. The drug would have
a street value of about $150,000, according to Bill Shralow,
a spokesman for the
According
to the complaint, Ntim, 39, later told investigators
he was going to be paid $2,000 to pick up a package from someone on the ship
and deliver it to a third person. His plan, authorities said, was to deliver
the drugs, then return to the ship with another box for the man on board, James
Samuel Kittoe, a crewman from Ghana.
The box,
containing a deep fryer, was found in Kittoe's cabin.
According to the court filing, Kittoe denied any
involvement in transporting drugs and said he believed the packages he carried
across the
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Three kids linked to alleged child-smuggler
United
State of
"The
environment is injurious to these children because of what has come to light,''
But Antobam left three more children ages 16, 10 and 8 with an
ex-husband who has no legal standing as a parent or guardian, Tomczak said. A judge found they had been neglected and
made them wards of the state Monday, Tomczak said.
The children, who were living in
Source:
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Accra (Greater Accra) 12
February 2003- President John Agyekum Kufuor on Tuesday asked Ghanaians to be
vigilant in their communities and expose armed robbers and miscreants to make
the work of the Police successful.
The President said:
"Somebody always knows the thief or the armed robber and such miscreants
do not deserve to be sheltered by us. "Somebody
somewhere, always has the relevant information the Police require to make the
breakthrough in a criminal investigations."
Addressing thousands of Muslims
at prayers to mark Eid-Ul-Adha at the
Accordingly, every mature
Muslim, on the day of the festival, is required to slaughter a ram, camel or
cow to Allah to signify their complete and unconditional surrender to the will
of Allah.
President Kufuor said the laws
of the country could only function well and be enforceable when society was
prepared to give the needed support and assistance to its enforcers. He said
the equipment and logistics the government was providing for the Police would
not be adequate to fight crime without the co-operation and support of the
citizenry.
"I urge you to help the
police and let us cultivate the culture of seeing the Police as friends of the
community," he said
President Kufuor said "we
could not take the peace we have for granted and must, therefore, work hard
daily to protect it, adding that it was the responsibility of all to ensure
that there was law and order in the country. Vice President Aliu Mahama, Ministers
of State, Parliamentarians and other dignitaries attended the ceremony.
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Addressing Muslims after prayers
at the
He, therefore, urged Ghanaians
to expose such troublemakers to the law enforcement agencies. Vice President
Aliu Mahama, Ministers of State, Parliamentarians, Members of the Diplomatic
Corps, the National Chief Imam and Muslim Leaders attended the ceremony.
The ancient festival of Eid-Ul-Adha signifies total commitment, dedication and
submission to the will of Allah as exhibited by the Prophet Ibrahim when he
willingly obeyed the command of Allah to sacrifice his son, Ismail
to him.
In line with spirit of
sacrifice, adult Muslims are enjoined to kill a ram, camel or cow as their
offering to Allah. Muslims also distribute gifts on the occasion. The
celebration also coincides with the performance of the Hajj, one of the five
pillars of Islam.
President Kufuor told Ghanaians
that the government, which had been transparent and honest about the reasons
for making harsh decisions, would keep faith with them. "Once the nation
gets over the current difficulties, as it will, I am convinced that the economy
will then be freed to flourish," he said.
President Kufuor appealed to
Muslims to be tolerant of other people's beliefs and views as enshrined in the
Constitution and said they should end the erratic doctrinal conflicts that
tarnish the image of their religion as one of peace.
On the significance of Eid-Ul-Adha, President Kufuor said the lessons of
sacrifice; selflessness and sharing should guide the nation to cater for the
weaker and unfortunate in society.
"The pressures of modern
life tend to make many people more and more individualistic," he said.
"It is, therefore, good to have these special occasions to nourish our
family ties and renew friendships.
"The concept of sharing,
which is emphasized by this festival, is an honourable one. Often what is
needed is a 'hand up' to help people to help themselves rather than a
handout."
Sheikh Usman
Sharabutu, National Chief Imam, advised the
worshippers to give up bitterness, hatred and rancour and replace them with
patience, forgives, fortitude and selflessness.
He urged them to mobilise their
material and spiritual resources toward national development, peace and
stability. Alhaji Gado Mohammed, a Muslim leader,
called for peace in all Muslim communities, particularly Dagbon.
He said it was crucial that the
parties involved in the crisis there sacrificed their interests and desires in
the supreme interest of brotherliness and peace.
Alhaji Mohammed asked them to
respect the Akosombo peace agreement and commended
the President for establishing the Reconciliation Commission to bring about
forgiveness and peace. The Chief Imam slaughtered two rams to mark the
festival.
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Sunyani (Brong Ahafo) 12
February 2003- The Electoral Commission (EC) would soon come out with
recommendations as directed by the President for the creation of three
additional districts in the Brong-Ahafo Region, Amadu Sulley,
Regional Director of the Commission said on Monday.
Sulley told Ghana News Agency in
Sunyani that the EC was also in the process of coming out with recommendations
for the elevation of the Sunyani District to a municipal status.
He said this would necessitate
the creation of a new rural district out of Sunyani. A copy of a directive
signed by Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, Minister of Local Government and Rural
Development, indicated that Atebubu District would be
split into two whilst a new district would be carved out of Tano
district.
Sulley said as a result, the
Commission would meet chiefs, district chief executives, opinion leaders and
assembly members to discuss issues relating to the creation of the new
districts explaining that ‘‘the essence of meeting the interested parties in
the process of recommendations is to ensure transparency and openness in the
whole exercise.''
Anthony Oppong,
Sunyani District Electoral Officer, declined to mention the town or area likely
to be made the new rural district out of Sunyani "just to avoid anxiety
and conflict among interested communities".
He said any town that would be
made the new district capital must be accessible to all the towns and villages
that fall under it. Oppong said ''it must also have
the necessary infrastructure that can be used for offices and residential
accommodation for departments and for officials.''
The region has 13 districts
namely Sunyani, Berekum, Dormaa,
Jaman, Wenchi, Techiman, Nkoranza, Kintampo, Atebubu, Sene, Tano, Asutifi and Asunafo.
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Sunyani (Brong Ahafo)
It is a mark of ingratitude and
great disservice for them to leave the nation for abroad in search of 'better'
economic lot after being trained with resources produced by farmers and other
taxpayers, he said.
Dr Ibrahim was speaking at a
press soirée organized by the Regional Health Directorate in Sunyani to enable
the media practitioners to know more about the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and
deepen the existing cordial GHS/Media relations.
The Regional Director appealed
to health workers to remain in the country to work in repayment of investment
spent on them "since the Government's effort to ensure the holistic
development of the country requires the contributions of all professionals and
every Ghanaian".
If all categories of
professionals decide to leave the country for greener pastures abroad, who will
remain here to work? he asked. Dr. Ibrahim said since
health personnel contributed to improvement in health services, there was the
need for the GHS to seek for the co-operation and collaboration of other
professionals.
The Regional Health Directorate
felt the need to cement the existing linkage between the GHS and the Press to
enhance the new corporate image of the Service, he stressed. Dr Ibrahim said
though the GHS was launched recently, it is determined to deliver the goods
notwithstanding inadequate personnel and logistics.
He mentioned some of the methods
and strategies that GHS had adopted in building its corporate image, stressing
that the service would ensure sustainability in performance and achievement
whilst maintaining standards.
The Regional Director added that
the doors of the Service were opened and urged Media Practitioners to
contribute and criticize where necessary for the achievement of the GHS
objectives.
He indicated that the Service
was determined to provide satisfactory services to its numerous customers,
saying the situation called for a renewed commitment by its personnel to bring
about drastic reduction in maternal and child mortality rate.
Dr Ibrahim said the high
maternal and child mortality rate was "unacceptable" and challenged
both the Media and GHS personnel to complement each other's effort to reduce
the rate.
Charles Koomson,
Regional Manager of Ghana News Agency and also Regional Vice-Chairman of Ghana
Journalists Association (GJA) noted efforts by the GHS to strengthen its
relationship with the press to reduce health problems.
He cited that the HIV/AIDS
pandemic, which could infect any one at any time either consciously or
unconsciously adding that it is an area that needed the fullest support of the
media to erode the stigmatization and discrimination society attached to people
living with HIV/AIDS.
Koomson, therefore, appealed to the
Press to collaborate with the GHS to educate people to avoid acts and practices
that would lead them to contract the pandemic to curb its further spread.
As media practitioners, we owe
it a duty to the nation and the people to effectively play our role to promote
compassion for those already infected, the regional GJA vice-chairman added.
William Saawil Sopiimeh
Regional Health Educator explained the new corporate image and the functions of
the GHS to the Media Practitioners.
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Wa (Upper West)
He said the time has come for us
to reflect soberly and change our attitudes in the interest of the nation.
Mogtari was addressing a
cross-section of the Muslim community at the fore court of the Regional
Co-ordinating Council after observing the Eid-Ul-Adha
prayers at their respective prayer grounds at Wa.
Discipline among other virtues
he said, are vital ingredients for the vibrant development for a prosperous,
peaceful and happy nation we all cherish. Mogtari said that incidents of
indiscipline runs through all sectors of our communities, in workplaces, market
centres, and our family levels and even in our
churches and mosques.
He, therefore, called on
Ghanaian Muslims to be guided by the lessons of Eid-Ul-Adha,
which include obedience, sacrifice, discipline and patience. The Regional
Minister explained to the people the rationale behind the recent increases in
the prices of petroleum products.
He also made a comparison of
cost of petroleum products between
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Gomoa Ankamu
(Central Region)
Sheikh Kassim
lamented that divisions within Islam had impeded its growth and cautioned that
unless they come together the religion would not progress no matter the
beautiful mosques put up in the communities.
He was addressing members after
leading them in an open-air workshop at Kasmia
Islamic School Park at Gomoa Ankamu
in the Central Region to mark Eid-Ul-Adha. Sheikh Kassim admonished Muslims to let the tenets of the festival
Eid-Ul-Adha guide them to offer voluntary services to
their communities.
He expressed concern about
indiscipline in the society and urged the members to support the Vice President
Aliu Mahama's campaign against indiscipline, which he
described as a national canker.
The Imam advised members to send
their children especially the girl-child, which hitherto had be regarded as
only good for the kitchen to school. Prayers were said for President John
Agyekum Kufuor his government and the nation.
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"I wish to set the facts
and records straight. I refute the allegation that I am part of a car stealing
syndicate. Neither am I in league with any such syndicate," he said.
This was contained in a
statement issued in
Rev. Bempah
stated that it was true that the Police recently seized two vehicles belonging
to him- A Jaguar saloon car and a Mercedes Benz M-Class jeep- on suspicion that
they were stolen.
He said that on the advice of
his lawyers, Bram-Larbi, Beecham and Mr Francis Abaidoo, he decided not to take any action till the Police
completed its investigations into the case and to "clear my good
name".
Rev Bempah
said it was unfortunate that there had been "selected leaks" to some
radio stations and newspapers imputing that he had been engaged in a criminal
act and that he bought the said vehicles from a car stealing syndicate.
He said he bought the Jaguar
saloon car from an
"All documents pertaining
to both cars, the time it was brought into the country, the original owner
before I bought it are with the Police and it is unfortunate that my hard won
reputation is being damaged in this way", he said.
"As a man of God, I will be
the last person to do such a thing. I have co-operated fully with the police in
their investigations into the purchase of the two vehicles." The Rev.
called on his church members, sympathisers and Christians to be steadfast
because the allegations were false.
"At the appropriate time,
the truth will come out and I will be vindicated", he added.
Last January, some radio
stations and newspapers reported that the police had arrested Bempah for owning two cars, which were reportedly stolen
from
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Accra (Greater Accra) 12
February 2003- Maulvi Wahab
Adam, Ameer (Head) and Missionary in-charge of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission, Ghana, on Tuesday said it is
inconceivable that any nation would progress without the sacrifice of its
citizens.
"The literal meaning of the
"unique sacrifice" by the Prophet Ibrahim was that there was the need
for sacrifice in the success of any beneficent endeavour including nation
building," he said.
Speaking at Eid-Ul-Adzha
celebration held at the Ahmadiyya Muslim Conference
Centre at Ashongman in Accra Maulvi
Adam quoted chapter 37 of the Holy Koran verses 100 to 112, and explained that
the sacrifice of Ibrahim as well as the co-operation of his son and wife which
signified their zeal to obey the Lord, was a great example to all and sundry,
adding that God certainly rewarded those who sacrificed for righteousness sake.
Maulvi Adam said by bringing together
people of diverse backgrounds, Eid-Ul-Adzha called
for unity, which could only be achieved through love, understanding and
compromise. "This in itself demands a lot of sacrifice,” he said.
He urged Muslims and Ghanaians
in general to resolve for national progress in unity and peace, adding, that
was the surest path to peace and progress for the nation.
Muslims celebrate the Eid-Ul-Adzha sacrifice festival all over the world to
commemorate the unique sacrifice by the Prophet Ibrahim and his spouse, Hazrat Hajrah of their son Hazrat Ismail. It also marks the
end of spiritual devotions associated with the Hajj or pilgrimage to
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Accra (Greater Accra) 12
February 2003- Doctors at the Police Hospital on Tuesday said the hospital
would not be in a position to cope with the influx of patients from the
Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital following the strike action embarked upon by junior
doctors at the teaching hospital.
Dr Kudjoe
Benyah, Senior Medical Officer at the Police
Hospital, told the GNA that their workload was unbearable and they were having
serious limitations, including understaffing, limited drugs supply and bed
capacity.
The strike action by their
colleagues would, therefore, put a strain on them. Junior doctors at the
Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital on Monday withdrew their services due to the delay
in the negotiations for better conditions of service.
Dr Benyah
said with the introduction of the Patient's Charter it would be wrong to admit
patients that would end up sleeping on the bare floor.
He said the hospital started
experiencing an influx of patients on Tuesday morning following the strike
action.
Meanwhile, some frustrated and
unhappy doctors at the
According to them, about 10
doctors at the
When the GNA was conducted
around some of the wards, it saw that in one ward there were both female and
male patients. Outside that ward, an elderly man was lying on a bench.
Some emergency gadgets were not
in good condition and most of the wards were untidy with bad odour. The doctors
attributed this to insufficient wards and the huge number of patients at the
hospital.
The doctors said their
complaints had not resulted in any action and the situation, coupled with the
deplorable state of affairs at the hospital, was making their working life
unbearable.
They said their salary and
Additional Duty Hours Allowance were lower than those of their counterparts in
Korle-Bu and those working for the Ministry of Health.
Meanwhile, a visit by the GNA to
the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital to assess the impact of the strike action saw
most nurses working alongside senior doctors.
Most of the doctors did not want
to talk but directed the GNA to the administration. One doctor at the
Department of Child Health, however, said: "Work is not at the normal
level."
Madam Theresa T. Komieter, Principal Nursing Officer, Nursing
Administration, who was the only person available at the Administration Block,
confirmed that work was going on as all nurses were at post. She said the
impact of the strike action would be felt on Wednesday when more patients turned
up after the holiday.
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Consequently, he said the
Airline would be supported to run without foreign intervention for sometime
before a decision is taken as to its future management.
Dr. Anane said this at a press
briefing in
"I am informed that the
Airline which was losing one million
Ghana Airways debt profile at
July 2002 stood at US$167 million and with the latest development; the debt
profile now stands at US$ 147.
The Minister also said Ghana
Airways' DC10 Aircraft, which had been grounded for more than 15 months because
of the Airline's inability to meet her part of contractual obligations has now
been ferried to the
"In light of the recent
stabilisation of the company, the board has advised that the Airline should be
re-positioned before further consideration for possible venture ships."
Dr Anane further said currently,
a number of operational measures including the leasing of efficient aircraft to
augment the existing fleet are being adopted.
Dr. Anane also announced the
abrogation of a memorandum of understanding signed between Nationwide Airlines
and the Ministry of Roads and Transport. This he said stems from the fact that
Nationwide Airlines which were entering into a joint ventureship
with the national airline did not fulfill its
obligations under the memorandum of understanding.
Recounting the events leading to
the choice of Nationwide Airlines Dr. Anane said the government took a number
of steps to restructure the Airline and bring back sanity into its operations.
The Aviation branch of Price WaterHouse Coopers was commissioned to carry out a
diagnostic study and forensic audit.
"The report recommended
three options to salvage the airline consisting of Total Liquidation, Turn
Around and Joint Ventureship," he said.
While the first two options
would have obligated government to pay off the existing debt, the second option
would in addition require re-capitalising the carrier.
"These options would have
been too much for the government considering other competing priorities,"
Dr, Anane said, adding that the joint ventureship was
selected to ensure the injection of private capital, management as well as
operational efficiency.
Nationwide Airlines were to
provide all the seed capital that may be required for a joint ventureship, prepare a business plan at their own cost,
assist government to put in place a debt restructuring agreement, make
available to the joint venture experienced managerial and technical services as
well as provide such aircraft and other equipment as required to operate the
agreed air service schedule as may be detailed in the business plan.
He said government has decided
to withdraw from any relationship with Nationwide Airlines because the business
plan presented and scrutinised by the board of Ghana Airways did not meet the
requirements.
Ghana Airways has come under
media spotlight in recent times for mismanagement, inefficiency and plans by
government to privatize the national carrier.
Source: Public Agenda
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Accra (Greater Accra) 12
February 2003- Colonel Robert Sackey, Deputy Force
Commander of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS),
Peacekeeping Force in Cote d'Ivoire (ECOFORCE) on Monday urged the Ghanaian
contingent to be good ambassadors of Ghana, stressing, "with your
professional knowledge and long experience in peacekeeping you will
succeed."
Col. Sackey, said this at the
Yamoussoukro airport in
He said the major problem left
to be tackled was how to get the countries of contributing troops to ECOFORCE
to sign a memorandum of understanding and the end user certificates for the
realise of communication equipment and logistics support for the entire force.
A statement issued by the Ghana
Armed Force Public Relations Directorate in
The statement said earlier, in a
pre-departure address, Brigadier George Aryiku,
General Officer Commanding the Northern Command, urged the troops to lay a
solid foundation for subsequent battalions to build on.
Brig. Ayiku
also urged the soldiers to be neutral in their operational activities in the
mission area and to discharge their duties within the framework of the ECOFORCE
mandate.
The support team was part of the
Company (Ghanacoy 1) to ECOFORCE. An advance party of ten all ranks left
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