GRi Newsreel 31 - 07 -
2003
Ghana to host extra-ordinary ECOWAS Summit
CHRAJ launches 10th anniversary celebration
Singaporean High Commissioner bids farewell to Kufuor
Ho High Court to give ruling in Ho Central NPP case
Agric Ministry to cultivate special grazing land for animals
Minister of Mines warns against environmental degradation
Threats of strike action by doctors uncalled for - Govt
Official
Ban on hunting wild animals begins 1 August
Ethiopian University honors Ghana's K Y Amoako
Traditional Registrars warned against performing lawyers' roles
Six cops freed by High Court
GNA asks CID to investigate source of Ghanaweb story
Finanacial analyst remanded for alleged murder
NUGS threatens strike action
Chief runs for his life as from an angry mob
Court frees Ya Na Andani's alleged killer
Ashanti GJA goes to polls on Friday
Ghana to host extra-ordinary ECOWAS Summit
Accra (Greater Accra) 31 July 2003 - ECOWAS heads of state would hold an extraordinary summit in Accra on Thursday to discuss the growing crisis in Liberia.
A statement issued in Accra on Wednesday by Kwabena Agyepong, Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman, said several heads of state in the sub-region are expected to attend the one-day summit.
The agenda would be the deployment of ECOWAS troops to Liberia and the search
for a comprehensive and lasting settlement of the crisis. The statement said It
said the Summit would begin at 1000 hours.
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CHRAJ launches 10th anniversary celebration
Accra (Greater Accra) 31 July 2003 - Emile Francis Short, Commissioner on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), on Wednesday said corruption was still widespread in Ghana in spite of the seemingly upward movement of the country on the Transparency Corruption Index ladder for the year 2002.
He said in despite the modest achievements recorded by the Commission and the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC), corruption was still one of its daunting challenges.
Commissioner Short made the remark in Accra, at the launching of the tenth anniversary celebrations of CHRAJ in Accra. The weeklong celebrations would begin with a number of activities in Accra, and the regions from 15 September 2003, on the theme "Ten Years of CHRAJ, Achievements, Prospects and Challenges".
He said the constitutional provisions, which gave the Attorney-General the prerogative to prosecute all cases of criminal cases, including corruption constituted another challenge to the Commission. He said the joint holding of the position of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, who is also a member of cabinet, should be separated because it was unrealistic to expect the Attorney-General, who was a member of the Executive, and a member of the ruling party to fearlessly prosecute public officers in the ruling party against whom recommendations had been made by anti-corruption bodies.
Short said the CHRAJ had recommended that it should be empowered, like its Ugandan counterpart, to prosecute persons against whom it had made adverse findings of corruption, or other criminal offence without recourse to the Attorney-General as required by the Constitution and its enabling Act.
The Commissioner however noted the positive developments, including the draft Freedom of Information Bill and the Whistleblower Protection Bill, which he said had the support of government.
He expressed the hope that the draft Procurement Bill, which, Government was promoting would encourage transparency in the award of contracts, adding that the Commission welcomed the establishment of the Office of Accountability.
Mrs Leonora Kyerematen, Co-ordinator of the National Governance Programme, said the non-enforcement of Article 284 of the Constitution, on conflict of interest should be a shared responsibility. She said conflict of interest, self-seeking, rent seeking and abuse of pubic trust were endemic, but the amorphous mandate of CHRAJ seemed to have stymied action.
Mrs Kyerematen said officials had been transferred or allowed to resign. just when the Commission seemed to be closing in on them, adding that recently concluded findings and recommendations on high profile cases could not be enforced because they were stacked in the backlog of the judicial appeal process.
Ms Gloria Akufo, Deputy Attorney General and Minister of Justice, said the Ghana's legal system was wanting in many respects, becoming a disincentive in attracting investment. Ms Akufo reiterated that Government was committed to create a sound legal and judicial environment to consolidate democracy, check internet fraud and boost investor confidence.
Justice Dixon Kwame Afreh, a retired Supreme Court Judge, said the CHRAJ, a human rights body, an Ombudsman, and also an administrative justice and anti-corruption body, it could do its work better if it was divided into three bodies and adequately resourced.
He noted that it would be unfair and pre-judgemental to conclude that the
newly established Office of Accountability would cover up graft among government
office holders without recourse to the mandate, and also when the office was yet
to start its work.
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Singaporean High Commissioner bids farewell to Kufuor
Accra (Greater Accra) 31 July 2003 - President John Kufuor on Wednesday commended the acumen and wisdom of the leadership in Singapore that transformed the Island that has no natural resources to an advanced nation.
"Singapore has become a very shining example around the globe. (It is) an island that began with no natural resources but within a generation created an industrial platform for both developed and developing countries," the President noted. "Those of us engaged in nation building should take a cue from the acumen and wisdom of the leaders who transformed the country to an advanced socio-economic nation." he said.
President Kufuor said this when the out-going Singaporean High Commissioner to Ghana, Foo Kok Swee, paid a farewell call on him at the Castle, Osu.
Swee, who was based in Nigeria, had served in that capacity since 1990. President Kufuor asked Swee to continue to be an advocate for Ghana and improve on the cordial relations between both countries for their mutual benefit. Swee commended Ghana for the tremendous assistance to Singapore in support of her candidates to international bodies such as the United Nations.
He said the relationship between both countries had improved but was placed
on a higher pedestal after the state visit of President Kufuor to Singapore.
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Ho High Court to give ruling in Ho Central NPP case
Ho (Volta Region) 31 July 2003 - A Ho High Court presided over by Justice Paul Gyeasayor would on Thursday 31 July give its ruling in the leadership tussle between two factions of the Ho Central Constituency branch of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
This followed the inability of Patrick Agbenorwosi, a founding member of the Party in the Region to settle the dispute out of court. Agbenorwosi told the court on Wednesday that the plaintiffs led by Seth Anyadi failed to co-operate with him, hence his inability to settle the matter amicably between the two factions.
Justice Gyaesayor said he would definitely give his ruling on the matter on Thursday "whether rain or shine". He warned the factions to restrain their supporters from any violence saying, " anybody who would fight would be sent to prison when brought before us".
Following an alleged vote of no confidence passed in the old constituency executive led by Vance Seshie Toblu, an election was conducted at a delegates' congress on April 12 under the supervision of the Electoral Commission at which a new nine-member executive led by Anyadi was elected.
The election failed to win the approval of some members of the Regional Executive of the party with the exception of Kwame Atta, then the Regional Secretary, who swore them into office. Subsequently on 31 May another constituency delegates' congress was held under the auspices of the Regional Executive and another nine-member executive led by Torblu was elected.
Following that second election Anyadi's group of executives went to court to
seek a declaration nullifying the position of the Torblu-led Executives. In the
course of the litigation Agbenorwosi applied for an out-of-Court settlement that
was granted on 21 July.
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Agric Ministry to cultivate special grazing land for animals
Bolgatanga (Upper East Region) 31 July 2003 - The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), under its Livestock Development Project (LDP) is to cultivate 3,000 hectares of communal grazing land and grow leguminous plants for animal feed.
Edmund Otupiri, Upper East Regional Director of Agriculture, said this during the launch of the LDP at Bolgatanga on Wednesday.
He said pasture development would be undertaken on all ruminant-breeding stations that would be revived to provide fodder. "Commercial fodder seed producers' associations would be encouraged to sustain the availability of fodder feed'', he said.
Otupiri said $838m had been allocated for the project and it is expected that it would help increase livestock production by 20 per cent. He said the Animal Feed Analysis Laboratory (AFAL) would be rehabilitated and well equipped to check the quality of feed produced on commercial basis before it is sold out.
The Bolga Naba, Martin Abilba III, said the major set back of the project in
the three northern regions would be bushfires and called on chiefs and people to
stop bush burning.
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Minister of Mines warns against environmental degradation
Accra (Greater Accra) 31 July 2003 - Mrs. Cecilia Bannerman, Minister of Mines on Wednesday advised miners to follow the rules and regulations binding the mining activities in the country and desist from degrading the environment.
She said the illegal miners, especially were creating numerous environmental problems for the country, adding that their refusal to abide by these laid down rules would force government to enact legislations that would not be pleasant for them.
Mrs Bannerman, who paid her maiden visit to the Precious Minerals Marketing Company (PMMC) to familiarize herself with its operations, said the dealers and miners had the duty to educate the illegal miners on the dangerous effects of their activities.
She said most of the dealers in diamond and gold bought their products from the illegal miners, adding, "we cannot afford to destroy our land in the name of mining."
Mrs. Bannerman said the time had come to educate the miners to be properly registered since mining was getting a bad name in the country.
The Mines Minister, her Deputy, Dr. Abdel Majeed Haroun and the Chief Director were showed the various departments of the company by the Managing Director Peter Boachie. Mrs. Bannerman said government appreciated that people must be gainfully employed but in the case where they destroyed the environment to gain their daily bread was not in the country's interest.
At the gold storage department of the PMMC the Minister expressed concern about the thousands of Ghanaians in "galamsey" work that mainly use cyanide and mercury in their activities, adding that it was a dangerous practice. Later at a meeting with the staff, the Minister said the ministry was looking forward to establishing a diamond cutting industry in the country that would help raise the production level of the PMMC.
Mrs. Bannerman noted that the production level of the PMMC was still low adding that in addition to the production of raw materials, there must be a service industry to help raise the value of the minerals. She encouraged the workers to be enthusiastic about their work, adding "there is a lot of room for improvement hence the need for you to be creative."
The Minister said PMMC was the showpiece of the country and the workers must live up to that standard. Dr. Haroun, Deputy Minister said for the industry to be sustained, there was the need for a new responsibility that would give a human face to the process of mining, adding that it would take a lot of awareness creation, monitoring and supervision to make an impact and called on all to get involved.
Kiston Kissi a miner and Member of Parliament for Akwatia noted that the Ghana Consolidated Diamond Company (GCD) that started mining about 70 years ago have failed to reclaim the land as was mandated.
He said, apart from the miners, the GCD had a role to play to rectify the
environmental degradation facing the country currently adding that it must live
up to expectation.
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Threats of strike action by doctors uncalled for - Govt Official
Accra (Greater Accra) 31 July 2003 - Kofi Amponsah Bediako, a Deputy Government Spokesperson, on Wednesday described the recent threats of strike actions by health professional for better conditions of service as uncalled for and that it retarded government's efforts in striving to improve the economy.
He said; "government acknowledges that health workers deserve more but the economy as at now cannot immediately provide all their needs, even though, certain actions have been taken to improve their condition in some areas".
Amponsah Bediako, who is also the Acting public Relations Officer for the Health Ministry, was speaking to the Ghana News Agency in Accra. He said the government recently distributed 63 vehicles to health professionals in the deprived areas and a $5m vehicles revolving fund had also been set up to purchase 300 more vehicles for them before the end of the year.
These were indication that "government is well committed to improving the current conditions of health workers", he said. He noted that government was negotiating for another $10m loan from Home Finance Company to provide houses for health professionals, adding, "the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) is very much aware of these negotiations and I'm very much surprised that GMA is sounding as if nothing had happened".
Amponsah Bediako urged health professionals to be tolerant in their demand for better conditions of service and to help to speed up the negotiations for the benefit of all.
The GMA last week gave government up to 31 October 2003 as the deadline for the completion of negotiations on the poor remuneration and conditions of service of health professional in the country. The Association at their extraordinary general meeting held at Sunyani to discuss the slow pace of the negotiations with government on the conditions of service for doctors and health professionals said government had shown little commitment, remained evasive and continued to pay lip-service to the negotiations.
The Association also said until government addressed the issue of poor remuneration and conditions of service, the National Health Insurance Scheme could not work effectively. The doctors noted that the issue of poor remuneration and conditions of service, which were the major factors causing the high brain drain of health professionals from the country had not received adequate attention from government.
The doctors observed that the retention of health professional was paramount
to solving Ghana's health care delivery crisis and that the mere presence of
vehicles, new facilities and more equipment in themselves without staff would
not yield any positive results.
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Ban on hunting wild animals begins 1 August
Accra (Greater Accra) 31 July 2003 - The Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission has announced that hunting of wild animals is forbidden between 1 August and 1 December under the wildlife conservation regulations L.I 685 of 1960.
It said in a statement that the period, which is referred to as the "Close Season," is to offer respite for wild animals such as duikers, royal antelopes, and bush pigs that supply the bulk of bush meat.
The hunting of grass cutter however, is exempted. The season is considered to be the time that the animals' breed especially as the rains had encouraged the growth of fresh vegetation with abundant food supply. The statement said non-observance of the close season undermined the sustainability and eventual existence of wild animal populations thereby depriving Ghanaians of valuable source of development.
"The Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission does not ascribe to total ban on bush meat. "We believe that if the principle of close season is understood and observed in the same way that no one kills a pregnant goat/sheep/cow or brooding hen but waits for the mother to wean off the young, there would be continues supply of bush meat," it said.
The statement said this would ensured that many people in bush meat trade such as hunters, traders and those in the culinary service earned a living at all times and thereby reduce poverty.
It called on the police to arrest and prosecute offenders. The grass cutter,
it said, has been exempted because thorough study had revealed that including it
in the close season would result in excessive population with possible negative
impact on agricultural production.
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Ethiopian University honors Ghana's K Y Amoako
Accra (Greater Accra) 31 July 2003 - K.Y Amoako, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) has been awarded an honorary degree by the Addis Ababa University (AAU).
The Ethiopian Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi, bestowed the degree upon Amoako and five other distinguished Africans for their exceptional contribution to the Pan-African ideas of liberation, democracy and development.
A statement issued form the Ethiopian Embassy in Ghana on Tuesday said the award took place on Saturday along with the annual graduation ceremony of the AAU in which 4,070 students graduated.
Salim Ahmed Salim, the last Secretary General of the OAU, Ambassador Mohamed Shanoun, former OAU Secretary General and now Special Adviser to the Secretary General of the UN and Wole Soyinka, Nigerian playwright and Nobel Prize Laureate were among the recipients.
The others were Mohammed Hussein Al-Amoudi, Ethiopian-born Saudi businessman
and philanthropist and Kifle Wodajo, Interim Secretary General of the OAU,
1963-1966 and Director of East African Peace Centre.
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Traditional Registrars warned against performing lawyers' roles
Koforidua (Eastern Region) 31 July 2003 - The Deputy Registrar of the National House of Chiefs, David Sorgbodjor, on Tuesday warned registrars of traditional councils not to perform functions reserved for lawyers on behalf of litigants in chieftaincy disputes.
He also asked them to ensure that only chiefs duly registered by the National House of Chiefs belonged to the judicial committees of the traditional councils.
Sogbodjor was addressing Registrars and supporting staff of Traditional Councils in the Eastern Region at Koforidua at a three-day training workshop organised by the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs.
Speaking on the judicial functions of Registrars, he asked them to avoid the tendency to exploit the ignorance of litigants or to show any favouritism towards any party in a dispute before the councils.
The Acting Registrar of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs, Akwasi Asare Ankomah, cautioned the Registrars against allowing themselves to be manipulated by individual members but rather implement only collective decisions of the councils.
He asked them to exercise due diligence and abide by the financial regulations to meet official deadlines, adding that they would be monitored and those who performed well would be presented with annual awards.
On financial constraints facing the councils, he asked them to assist in raising revenue through their own sources instead of depending solely on grants from the District Assemblies and the central government.
Ankomah urged them to submit appropriate information on chiefs to the Registrar of the National House of Chiefs on time and guide the councils to comply strictly with provisions of the Chieftaincy Act. He appealed to the authorities to improve the working conditions of the staff and help them to procure the relevant enactments for the councils to enable them to keep abreast with the times.
The Eastern Regional Accountant of the Regional House of Chiefs, Dominic
Fofie, stressed on the need for the Registrars to abide by the financial
regulations and deadlines in the preparation of their annual estimates to avoid
sanctions. According to him, the region had not received its quarterly grants
for allowances for chiefs so far this year.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 31 July 2003 - An Accra High Court on Wednesday acquitted and discharged all the six Police Officers standing trial on 127 counts of manslaughter for their complicity in the 9 May Accra Sports Stadium disaster after a seven-member jury returned a verdict of not guilty.
The officers are John Asare Naami, Edward Faakyi Kumi, Francis Ayittey Aryee, Frank Awu, Benjamin B. Bakomora, all Assistant Superintendents of Police and Chief Superintendent of Police Koranteng Mintah.
The Defence Counsel in their submission of no case prayed the court presided over by Justice Yaw Appau to acquit and discharge the officers as the Prosecution had failed to prove its case. The court in its ruling on the submissions of no case, stated that the Prosecution could not prove the acts of the Officers as those who caused harm, kill or maim the 127 fans at the Stadium on 9 May.
The Court also held that the Prosecution had failed to prove the essential ingredients of the manslaughter charge levelled against the Officers.
The ingredients of the charge were: that there were deaths; that the deaths were caused by harm; that the harm caused was unlawful; that the Officers caused the death of the 127 fans and that the harm amounted to reckless disregard towards human lives.
It maintained that the Prosecution had proved that there were deaths but could not prove that the fans died as a result of harm caused by the Officers. Justice Appau was of the view that the Officers did not cause the deaths of the 127 fans as the Pathologists had attributed the cause of deaths to traumatic asphyxia and not through inhaling of tear gas.
This, it said occurred as a result of inadequate air for the fans to breath and stated that the Officers should not be blamed for that. Justice Appau, however, attributed the cause of deaths to the failure of the Stadium Officials to open the gates, coupled with the light going off and the narrowness of the stairway where most of the fans forced their way through.
He mentioned that the fact that the Prosecution failed to prosecute the junior officers, who fired the tear gas, meant that the use of the tear gas was lawful. The Judge noted that the Officers were duty bound and were acting lawfully by dispersing the rampaging fans that were destroying public property.
"The Police in preventing crime ought to apply maximum force and as such did not have in mind what was happening at the gates." Quoting law authorities to support his claims, the Judge stated that the Police were duty bound to protect property and maintain law and order adding that the Police could not have looked on helplessly for the rampaging crowd destroy public property.
The Court noted that there were some discrepancies in the evidences of the Prosecution Witnesses saying some were based on falsehood. Citing an example to support the falsehood on the part of a Prosecution Witnesses, the Judge mentioned a TV Cameraman, who said he saw and captured the six Officers, who had raised their hands but said he did not hear anything.
The Court said when the videotape was watched in the Court none of the accused persons was captured. Also the Investigator in the case told the Court that he did not conduct any investigations into the matter as he was only asked by his authorities to caution and charge the Officers.
"The Investigator only relied on the Commission report and such did not
conduct further investigations into the matter," the Judge said.
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GNA asks CID to investigate source of Ghanaweb story
Accra (Greater Accra) 31 July 2003 - The Ghana News Agency (GNA) has asked the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service to investigate how Ghanaweb came to post a story on their web site, which claimed that the plot to kill the Ya-Na was planned at the Office of the Ex-Minister for The Interior and credited it to the Agency.
In a letter to the Director of CID, GNA said its attention had been drawn to the story which was posted at the Ghanaweb website on Monday although it never filed such a story.
"The Ghana News Agency wishes to state with all emphasis that this despicable story did not emanate from us," the letter signed by Mawusi Afele, Acting Supervising Chief Editor, said. "It bore no features of our style, format, language, professionalism and checks and balances. The Ghana News Agency would be grateful if the CID would investigate this serious criminal act."
The GNA said if Ghanaweb had been careful, it should have known that the story could not have emanated from the Agency because it bore no transmission number; no item number; no slug; no dateline and did not come from our network.
According to an E-mail sent by Ghanaweb to GNA the item got into their system
from owuo_mposuro@yahoo.co.uk.
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Finanacial analyst remanded for alleged murder
Accra (Greater Accra) 31 July 2003 - A Magistrate court in Accra on Monday remanded a private financial analyst in prison custody for alleged murder. The magistrate, Mrs. Ivy Heward Mills remanded Samuel Duodu to reappear 11 August 2003.
Assistant Superintendent of Police, Osei Kwadjo of the Madina Police District said Duodu killed his co-tenant Kofi Afari with a gun at their residence in the Ampomah Village on the Dodowa Road.
According to ASP Kwadjo, Duodu said he travelled to Kumasi and returned on Saturday 26 July. At about 0200 hours on Sunday morning, he heard footsteps around his house and therefore, suspected that they were those of armed robbers.
Duodu therefore, fired a warning shot through his window and he went back to
sleep. When day broke, however, he noticed that he had shot his own storekeeper
who went to town and was returning home.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 31 July 2003 - The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) on Wednesday threatened to go on nation-wide strike if government still maintains the 50 percent increase in fees charged in tertiary institutions by August 18.
NUGS noted that with the recent 100 percent increase in fuel price, 300 per cent hike in electricity and water and other domestic user bills, parents could not shoulder a 50 percent escalation in school fees.
Edward Omane Boamah, President of NUGS told a press conference in Accra that education was a right and therefore any attempt to shift the full cost on students meant depriving the less privileged in the society.
He said better grades are being sacrificed for money since an avenue had been created to admit foreign and Ghanaians, who could pay ¢20mn into the tertiary institutions to the disadvantage of individuals with good grades but are financially handicapped.
Boamah therefore, called on the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to oppose steps to increase fees of workers studying at the External Degree Centre, Legon, to ¢8m per year, commencing this year.
NUGS also alleged that out of the 477,000 students enrolled at the Central University College in 1998, only 281 graduated, while 196 abandoned the course because they could not afford the fees.
The Union accused government of breaching Section 4 (2) of the GETFund Act
581 of Parliament, by owing the Fund of ¢411.6bn. This, the Union asked the
government to pay. NUGS also expressed dissatisfaction at the speed at which
government was working on the National Health Insurance Scheme and disregarding
bills on traditional medicine that had vested extra powers in the health
insurance council.
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Chief runs for his life as from an angry mob
Nyinahin (Ashanti Region) 31 July 2003 - Nana Oti Obuadua, the Akwamuhene of Nyinahin in the Atwima District, was last Saturday saved by the Nyinahin police from an angry mob who wanted to attack him with sticks, cudgels and stones.
The police had a hectic time trying to prevent the mob from entering the charge office where the chief had taken shelter and policemen had to fire tear gas to disperse them.
When calm was restored, the police managed to whisk him to Adiembra where he boarded a vehicle to Kumasi. Briefing the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Nyinahin on the incident, Police Inspector G.K. Letsah said at about 11 am on Saturday, an angry mob, all from Nyinahin armed with offensive weapons, chased the Akwamuhene from his house from where they followed him to the police station.
He said at the police station, the attackers tried to force their way into
the charge office but they were prevented from doing so. The action of the mob
is linked to a protracted chieftaincy dispute at Nyinahin, some elders in the
town said.
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Court frees Ya Na Andani's alleged killer
Accra (Greater Accra) 31 July 2003 - Yidana Sugri, the alleged assassin of Ya-Na Yakubu Andani II, Paramount Chief of Dagbon Traditional Area, on Wednesday walked out of an Accra High Court a freeman into shouts of "Allah is Great! Allah is Great!"
There was jubilation soon after the Judge pronounced Sugri, who was charged with conspiracy and the murder of the Ya-Na, acquitted and discharged.
Some of his relations, who had converged at the Court, clapped, shouted and attempted to embrace him but Prison Officers prevented them and whisked him into the court cells to complete the necessary documentation.
The Court presided over by Justice Yaw Appau had at an earlier sitting acquitted and discharged Iddrisu Gyanfo, who was in the dock with Sugri, after the Prosecution had told the Court that it could not establish his guilt.
At Wednesday's sitting, the court noted that the Prosecution had not been able to prove a case against Yidana, as the evidence adduced by it were discredited and was full of suspicion.
The Court held that the Prosecution had not been able to prove the charge of conspiracy levelled against the accused person. It explained that in charging Sugri with conspiracy, he should have had accomplices, who were known, but the Prosecution could not name any.
"One person cannot be charged with conspiracy," the Judge said. The Court noted that throughout the hearing, none of the Prosecution Witnesses said he or she saw Sugri killing the Ya-Na. "If none of the Prosecution Witnesses saw Sugri killing the Ya-Na, then what is the basis for charging him?" The Judge asked.
"So far the Prosecution has been able to prove three ingredients of murder but the law says that if the Prosecution is not able to prove all the ingredients the Jury should return a verdict of not guilty." The Prosecution was to establish five ingredients: That somebody was murdered; that Sugri killed the Ya-Na; that Ya-Na died of the harm; that the harm was unlawful and that the harm was caused by Sugri.
The Court noted that the Prosecution had been able to prove that Ya-Na was
dead but could not prove that Yidana killed him. "If the Investigator, who
conducted the investigations do not know who killed the Ya-Na, why charge Sugri?"
The Court asked.
Earlier, the Investigator had told the Court that all the Prosecution Witnesses were given to him by Lawyer Ibrahim Mahama, and the Judge said, "all these puts doubt in the mind of the Court.
"No evidence was led to prove that Sugri, whom most of the Witnesses claimed they saw dancing with the hand of the Ya-Na saw him with any dangerous weapon." Citing the evidence of the Pathologists, the Court said he could not tell the cause of Ya-Na's death.
The Court noted that the Prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence instead of definitive ones to compel irresistible conclusions. The Court wondered how all the Prosecution Witnesses said that they only saw the accused dancing with the hand of Ya-Na but could not identify anybody.
It further stated that throughout the trial Sugri had denied hanging the arm
of the Ya-Na on his neck, adding that there was no direct evidence linking Sugri.
The Judge said the Prosecution had told the Court that Sugri was holding the
severed hand of the Ya-Na and that it was taken to the Bolin Lana but the
Pathologist had stated that the whole body was burnt. "At what point was
the hand presented to the Bolin Lana and at what time was the body burnt?"
the Judge asked.
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Ashanti GJA goes to polls on Friday
Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 31 July 2003 - The Ashanti Regional branch of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) will go to the polls on Friday 1 August to elect its regional executive.
The election was postponed last week Thursday, July 24, due to unforeseen circumstances. Two members, Samuel Enin, News and Current Affairs Editor of ASH FM, the current vice-chairman and Thomas Nsowah Adjei of Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), the present secretary, will vie for the chairmanship position.
Joe Lartey, Ashanti Regional Editor of the Statesman, is the sole candidate for the post of secretary and Nana Yaw Osei of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), is also the only candidate for the post of vice-chairman.
Only fully paid up members are eligible to vote.
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