Fast Track Court is constitutional - Supreme Court
Ghanaians abroad requested to assist in national development
Ghana moves to diversify her mineral base
Asantehene returns after touring the
Netherlands
Electoral Commission urged to postponement
elections in Upper West
Okyenhene ends first part of US trip
Former first Lady to sue Kweku Baako
Forex account of Konadu exposed
How Ghana topped the US Visa Lottery
Boost for mining sector - EU provides 40m Euros in grants
Accra (Greater Accra) 26 June 2002 -The Supreme Court has, by a 6-5 majority decision ruled that the Fast Track Court is constitutional.
It awarded 10million cedis cost against Mr. Tsatsu Tsikata, former Chief Executive of Ghana National Petroleum Corporation who challenged the constitutionality of the Fast Track Court in March this year. Stay on line for GRi’s full report.
GRi../
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Sunyani (Brong Ahafo) 26 June 2002- Chief Superintendent David Asante Apeatu, a ballistic analyst with the Police Civil Investigations Department, on Tuesday told the Wuaku Commission that an AK 47 rifle and ammunition were recovered from the late Ya-Na's Blue Bird Saloon car.
He said the ammunition for 30G 3 rifles and that for 22 AK 47 rifles were found hidden at the front passenger's seat, whilst the AK 47 weapon was discovered in the booth of the car, with registration number NR 1A.
Chief Superintendent Apeatu was testifying before the Wuaku Commission of inquiry into the Yendi conflict in Sunyani as the 39th commission witness. He said the rifle, and ammunition were recovered by W/O II Latcher D Johnson of the Air Force Station in Tamale. The ammunition and rifle, among others, were tendered in evidence by Chief Supt. Apeatu.
Chief Supt. Apeatu said he was part of two delegations that were detailed to Tamale after the crisis. He said the first delegation was a "peace mission" of a government delegation led by Senior Minister, Mr J.H. Mensah, on 29 March 2002.
According to him the second mission, comprised a team of police experts, was detailed on 6 April to collect pieces of evidence about the conflict. He said it was at the Yendi Government Hospital where the police were busily engaged with the identification of dead bodies, after the conflict when the driver of the late Ya-Na brought the vehicle.
Chief Supt Apeatu recounted that the Ya-Na's driver approached the Yendi District Police Commander to be escorted to refuel the car so that he could join a convoy to Tamale for safety. He said clearance was then sought from the General Officer Commanding the Northern Command who ordered that the vehicle should be driven to the policestation for safety.
Chief Supt. Apeatu, however, said the police station was found to be unsuitable, "because the car would be parked in open space", so it was finally driven to the barracks of the military detachment in Yendi, adding that it was at the barracks that the AK 47 rifle and the ammunition were discovered by W/O II Johnson as he conducted a check on it.
Other exhibits tendered by Chief Supt Apeatu included three component parts of an AK 47 rifle, a magazine of mark four rifle, a quantity of plastic wads and detonated cartridges in addition to detonated shot gun cartridges. He said all the exhibits were collected at an armoury at the Gbewaa Palace where many were not used but had detonated due to excessive heat
Chief Supt. Apeatu stated that the three component parts of the AK 47 assault rifle and some of the detonated ammunition were recovered during a mission by the military to rescue last two persons in the Ya-Na's Palace. The exhibits were those that were recovered by the military and the police during and after the crisis, he explained.
Chief Supt. Apeatu said a three assault rifles were also recovered from one Mohammed Abdul Salam, alias 'red', whilst a fleeing warrior from the Ya-Na's palace threw away an AK 47 rifle at the Yendi Police Station. He stated that fragmented bullets collected around the walls of the Gbewaa Palace also indicated that the assailants were also armed with sophisticated assault rifles.
The ballistic expert added that although a cap gun ammunition was collected at the Gbewaa Palace, no cap-gun was found, but three locally-made daggers were recovered and tendered in evidence. During cross examination, he told the commission, "I cannot tell how the AK 47 rifles got to the palace but what I know is that they were recovered by the military during a rescue mission".
Chief Supt. Apeatu added, "both the AK 47 and G3 assault rifles are imported by the government for the security services and since they have serial numbers, their sources can be traced if good records are kept by their users". He said in reply to a question from Mr. Charles Hayibor, leading counsel for the Andani's that cap guns, which are normally used during musketry, and shot guns, are manufactured locally.
The police officer responded to another question from counsel that the armoury of the Ya-Na was also found burnt when the police investigating team visited the burnt Gbewaa Palace and photographs were taken for verification.
Chief Supt. Apeatu said he could not tell whether any attempt was made to apprehend the fleeing warrior from the Ya-Na's palace who threw the AK 47 at the Yendi Police Station, "because I was not at the spot at that time" .He told the commission that the police team also visited the Yendi offices of the Ghana Telecom and the Volta River Authority (VRA) to take statements.
Chief Supt. Apeatu's testimony was interrupted to allow Colonel Jaswant Mante Wadhwani, a pathologist from the 37 Military Hospital, who conducted autopsy on victims of the conflict, including the late Ya-Na, to give evidence, after which he was allowed to continue.
When the commission asked why the investigators dwelt mostly on the Gbewaa palace, witness answered that it was because the Gbewaa palace was their immediate crime scene. He however, added that the investigators went beyond the palace and covered about 100 metre, radius around the palace.
Colonel (Dr) Wadhwani, who appeared as the 40th witness, said on Friday 29 March, he was detailed by his commanding officer to perform an autopsy on dead bodies at the Yendi Government Hospital during the crisis. He said on the day of his arrival a the hospital, he was presented with 29 bodies by the resident medical officer, Dr Bernard Serkyi, after he (pathologist) had been given the coroner's authority to perform the autopsy.
Col. Wadhwani told the commission that 16 out of the 29 dead bodies with name tags on them were initially identified for him to work on them. Following a permission granted by the commission after Mr George Owoo, counsel for commission had asked if he could tell the results of the post-mortem examination, the pathologist recounted the condition of the dead bodies, as he found them at the mortuary and the entire pathological process.
Col. Wadhwani narrated that all the bodies were male adults except a young boy in his late teens. According to the majority of the bodies exhibited were in an advanced stage of decomposition with heavy maggot infestation of the wounds. He explained that because there was no place in the refrigerator for the bodies they had been placed on the bare-floor
According to him the extreme heat condition at that particular time of the year, coupled with the extreme accessibility of flies on the bodies had led to putrefactive changes on them. The maggots were flowing on the floor whilst the stench was very unbearable, he said. Col. Wadhwani told the commission that, the cause of death as he examined the bodies appeared to be variable and attributable to multiple factors.
He cited stabbing as well as incision wounds associated with bleeding as some of the factors. There were both complete and incomplete amputations, including a decapitation of one of the bodies at the base of the neck, he added. The pathologist said whilst a lot of them died out of gun shot wounds, others died through strangulation and burning.
As the pathologist narrated the state of the bodies and the condition at the mortuary, the auditorium became dead silent with grief written on the faces of the audience and the panel.
Col. (Dr) Wadhwani at this point told the commission that he wanted to make a comment on a special body, which re referred to as "the big man".He said that body was in the top-left compartment of the mortuary refrigerator and "somebody whispered to me that it was the body of the Ya-Na".
The pathologist said "it was badly mutilated, showing first and second degree burns and was charred". "Most of the skin on the chest and abdomen were intact, but the remains, showing fractures, indicated the he was traumatised”
Col. Wadhwani told the commission that he began the autopsy on the bodies as late as 9.00 p.m. on 29 March since he wanted a peaceful atmosphere and very little interference, adding that the whole exercise lasted for four hours. He said that though he spent the night in Yendi, " could certainly not sleep due to what I saw during the examination of the dead bodies.
Col. Wadhwani added that on Monday, April 1, Dr.Serkyi informed him that, 28 bodies including three unidentified ones had been buried. He said Dr Serkyi added that some parts of the bodies, including charred limbs and skulls had been collected from the same place where the Ya-Na's body had been retrieved.
In an answer to a question from the commission, the pathologist said the decapitation of the Ya-Na was done before he was allegedly burnt, as the base of his neck was also charred. He said in response to another question that, "the Ya-Na was not shot but the decapitation was done with finesse".
When the commission wanted to know why he said he had difficulty in examining the body of the Ya-Na, the pathologist explained that it was because the late chief's body was incomplete. On whether he had done a complete DNA test on the Ya-Na's body Col. Wadhwani replied that he had no right to go ahead to do the test unless he was authorised to do so. He explained that he would need the blood sample from a maternal sibling of the Ya-Na to achieve 97 per cent certainty. Sitting continues tomorrow.
GRi…/
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Africa Union would present more
responsibilities - Kufuor
Accra (Greater Accra) 26 June 2002- President John Agyekum Kufuor on Tuesday said the envisaged Africa Union would bring to the fore new responsibilities on African leaders.
It would also create much awareness to the world on Africa's role in globalisation, President Kufuor said when he received the credentials of Mr Reda Wakijira Belete, Ethiopian Ambassador to Ghana, at the Castle, Osu.
He pledged to continue to strengthen the cordial relationship between the two countries whose former leaders were founding fathers of the Organisation of the African Unity (OAU).
Mr Belete said Ethiopia derived considerable inspiration and lessons from the tremendous transformation that was taking place in Ghana with the prevailing peace, stability and democratic governance. He said Ghana having been at the forefront of African nations' struggle for freedom, should also play a leading role in the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD).
GRi…/
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Accra (Greater Accra) 26 June 2002- The Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II returned home Tuesday evening after a seven-day reciprocate visit to the Netherlands as part of the celebration marking 300 years of Ghana-Dutch relations. Otumfuo Osei Tutu was met on arrival by Ministers of State, traditional rulers and the Charge de' Affairs of the Dutch Embassy in Accra.
Speaking to Journalists at the Kotoka International Airport on behalf of the Asantehene, Oheneba Agyemang, Atweredo and Hiahene of Kumasi, described the visit as successful and educative. He said the Asantehene met the Queen of the Netherlands as well as government officials and discussed with them how best to strengthen the economic and cultural relations existing between the two countries.
Oheneba Agyeman said Otumfuo Osei Tutu also held discussions with the business community and officials of Phillips Medical System on investment opportunities in the Ghana. The Asantehene, he said briefed the Ghanaian community in the Netherlands on the current socio-economic and political developments in Ghana and urged them to be law abiding.
Otumfuo expressed the hope that the discussions he held with the business community in the Netherlands would yield positive results.
GRi…/
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Accra (Greater Accra) 26 June 2002- Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin, the Okyehene, rounded the first part of his trip to the United States with an appeal to Ghanaians living abroad to assist the government in national development. He reminded them that the country was poor and said, " It is the duty of all to help our communities and the government to succeed."
This is contained in a statement signed by Minister Counsellor-Information of the Ghanaian Embassy in the United States, Mr. Ivor Agyeman-Duah. It said Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin was speaking at a reception interspersed with a cultural display in Washington, organised in his honour by Mr. Alan Kyeremanten, Ghana's ambassador to the United States.
He noted that Ghanaians everywhere shared in the glory of the positive gain, but negative results impugned on their integrity, adding that only the indigenous people could assist in achieving national objectives.
The statement indicated that Osagyefo Ofori Panin urged Ghanaians living aboard to adopt brilliant but needy (Ghanaian) children and to educate them. He said: " It is only when we do this and support the government that we could hope for a brighter future for the country."
Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin, who also held business and trade discussions in the United State, cited that though Brazil was a developing country, it had over 90 percent of children of school going age in school and said Ghana could do the same.
The statement said Nana Akomea, Deputy Minister of Tourism, stated that the Ghana government would continue to initiate measures to control inflation and to ensure economic development.
Nana Akufo-Addo, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Dr Jones Ofori Atta, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Volta River Authority, Ken Ofori
Atta of Databank, Fred Asante, a Member of Parliament and some chiefs accompanied the Okyehene on his trip. Management of the Black Entertainment Television of the United States invited Osagyefuo Ofori Panin.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 26 June 2002 - Seekers International, an association of former military, police and intelligence officers on Tuesday protested against the use of monies from peace keeping duties in the Gulfstream deal.
In a statement in Accra signed by Group Captain (RTD) T. T. Kutin, spokesman of the association, members demanded an explanation from former President J.J
Rawlings and Mr. Kwame Peprah, his Finance Minister over the deal.
It asked the former President and his finance minister to answer why their government used the UNFIL foreign account of soldiers and policemen as collateral for the deal and also explain the terms of the five-year lease of a 25-year old jet at a cost of 23 million dollars when the market price was indeed seven million dollars.
Among other things, the statement asked if Mr. Kwame Peprah was the front man for Gallen International, and if so, whether his conduct was not a clear example of a conflict of interest. The statement said, "we demand immediate answers to the above questions as we decide on the next course of action on the matter.
GRi…/
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Accra (Greater Accra) 26 June 2002-The government is encouraging the exploration and exploitation of industrial minerals, including dimension stones to avert problems associated with the over-reliance on gold, Vice President Aliu Mahama said on Tuesday.
Inaugurating the Association of African Dimension Stone Producers (AFRISTONE) in Accra, Vice President Mahama said the dependency on gold as the major foreign exchange earner had affected the economy negatively in the past few years because of the fluctuations in the market price of the commodity.
He said it had, therefore, become expedient for Ghana and other African countries that were endowed with abundant industrial minerals to promote these for the benefit of local industries, their economies and to create jobs.
"Rocks that can be quarried as dimension stones cover about one-sixth of the land surface of Ghana," he said. However, he added, "only one of the more than 80 medium to large scale quarries in the country cut and polish dimension stones for industrial purposes."
Dimension stone is one that can be cut, dressed and polished into uniformly shaped pieces. They can be used in the housing and road construction sectors as building or decorative materials. Vice President Mahama said the government was reviewing the Minerals and Mining Laws of 1986 to provide incentives to investors, who would locate in remote areas to exploit industrial resources.
The government, he said, had finalised a protocol agreement with the European Union for the provision of 40 million Euros as grant to start a SYSMIN Project for mining sector institutions.
Vice President Mahama commended Afristone, whose members are from various African countries, for their commitment to work together, saying their concerted effort would create a larger market, which was crucial for the growth of their businesses. He said such private partnership initiatives were in line with the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), which aimed to reduce poverty through the private sector.
Mr Kwadwo Adjei-Darko, Minister of Mines, said preliminary reports on a study carried out to assess the potential of dimension stones indicated the abundance of granite, sandstone, gravels and others. He said other industrial minerals included limestone, kaolin and silica, which he said were being promoted with well-packaged information on their location, properties and uses.
"For instance kaolin was found to be suitable for use as an import substitute in the paint, plastics, pharmaceuticals, rubber and paper industries," the Minister said. Mrs Joyce Wereko-Brobby, Chief Executive of the Chamber of Mines, urged members of Afristone to be guided by international best practices in their exploitation of the minerals for the benefit of the communities in which they operated, the environment and future generations.
She outlined a number of projects being promoted by the Chamber to encourage environmentally friendly and sustainable mining practices, including the Alternative Mining Projects that ensured that citizens of mining communities had other jobs during exploration and thereafter.
Mr Fazie Baksmaty, Interim President of Afristone, underscored the importance of dimension stone, saying they could substitute the use of cement in pavements, walkways and speed rumps.
He said stones had proved their durability in the construction of Jericho, the Great Walls of China and the Egyptian Pyramids, adding that he was happy that their marginalisation with the advent of plastics and other materials had been short-lived. Afristone, Mr Baksmaty said, would, therefore, promote the use of stones in Africa as part of the economic integration process.
At present, he said, 70 per cent of the exports of stones from Africa was from South Africa with a total annual value of 300 million dollars. He said the resources were abundant and varied in many African countries and these must be exploited for the benefit of all. About 50 delegates of Afristone from Ghana, Sudan, South Africa, Nigeria, Lesotho, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Ethiopia and other countries are attending the meeting.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 26 June 2002 – The Accra Mail reports that at press time, reports were pointing at a possible shake-up at the Auditor General's Department where the oath of secrecy seems to have gone to the dogs after "the release" of an interim report on government's accounts to the Minority Leader Alban Bagbin before it was presented to Parliament.
A source at the Auditor General's Department told the newspaper that the release breached not only the oath of secrecy, but also has serious implications on national security.
The Auditor General is therefore ordering an investigation into how come the Minority Leader colluded with civil servants to abuse the oath of secrecy.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 26 June 2002- Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene returns home this evening after a royal visit to the Netherlands. Otumfuo Osei Tutu paid a weeklong official visit to the Netherlands at the invitation of Queen Beatrix and the government of the Netherlands. He used the occasion to highlight the major challenges facing 'our people at home" and canvassed support for education and the health sectors.
Otumfuo held a meeting at the Dutch Foreign Affairs Ministry and addressed a roundtable conference hosted by the Ministry on the theme: 'Development Opportunities in Ghana'.
He was the keynote speaker at a Business Forum hosted by the Netherlands-Africa Business Council. Her Majesty, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, received the Asantehene in audience at the Palace Huis Ten Bosch. The Ghanaian community in the Netherlands held a durbar in his honour at the Amstel Hall in Amsterdam.
GRi…/
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Electoral Commission urged to postponement
elections in Upper West
Wa (Upper West) 26 June 2002- Mr Ben Banye, Upper West Region Director of National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE), has called on the Electoral Commission (EC) to postpone the forthcoming district level elections in the region.
He said studies have indicated that most of the electoral areas were without candidates and enough education had also not gone down to the people. Mr Banye, who was speaking in an interview with the GNA at Wa, attributed the apathy of the people towards the exercise to lack of education.
He said out of the 620 units committees in the region, nobody had filed nomination in 112 of them thereby denying those areas the grassroots structures. Mr Banye said although NCCE since the beginning of the year had not received any logistic support from the government the Commission was doing its best to educate the people to live up to their responsibilities.
Mr Banye said all NCCE vehicles had broken down and called on the government to support the Commission to enable it to step up its education programmes.
GRi…/
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Washington (USA) – 26 June 2002 - The Okyenhene Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin rounded the first part of his United States trip in Washington, DC. with an appeal to Ghanaians living outside the country to remember that Ghana is a poor country and that "it is a duty for all to help our communities and the Government to succeed".
While Ghanaians everywhere will share in the glory of positive gain, the Okyenhene also reminded them that negative results impugn on their integrity and that 'it is only Ghanaians who can help Ghana to achieve its goals.'
Osagyefuo Amoatin said this at a reception and cultural display in his honor by Ghana's Ambassador to the United States His Excellency Alan Kyerematen at the Chancery of the Embassy of Ghana in Washington DC on Monday.
The Osagyefuo's speech, heavy with memories of historical antecedents of people who sacrificed their comfort and youth so that a large community would prosper, impressed on the gathering to adopt brilliant children who could not go to school because of poverty. "It is only when we do that and support the Government that we could talk of a hopeful future", he said.
He cited Brazil also a developing country where over 90 percent of school going children are in school and said Ghana could do the same. The Deputy Minister of Tourism Nana Akomea assured the gathering that the Government would deliver. The Government, he explained, might never-thought of the enormity of the problems on assumption of office but has within the first 18 months been able to reduce inflation from over 50 percent to less then 20 percent and said in confidence that like the stability of the currency the rate of inflation would come down further.
The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Nana Akuffo Addo, the Chairman of the Volta River Authority Dr. Jones Ofori Atta, Ken Ofori Atta of Databank, Fred Asante a Member of the Council of State and some chiefs accompanied the Osagyefuo who was invited to the United States by the management of the Black Entertainment Television
The Okyenhene has so far attended a congressional pre-awards
reception, visited the Smithsonian Institute and met with leaders of health and
environmental institutions including the Conservation International, USAID and
Katie Frohardt, Programm Technical Director of African Wildlife Foundation as
well as held business and trade discussions in what is deemed an exploration
visit since his assumption as Okyenehene three years ago. - Ivor
Agyeman-Duah, Minister Counselor-Information, Ghana Embassy in US
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Former first Lady to sue Kweku Baako
Accra (Greater
Accra) 26 June 2002 - The Rawlings family has described as fabrication, reports
that the former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings has a foreign account
at a Swiss Bank. The Crusading Guide newspaper reported in Tuesday’s edition
that it has discovered a foreign Swiss Bank (GEONET & CIE) in the name of
Nana Konadu Agyeman. The report quoted a source as saying that the account is a
multi-million dollar facility.
It
also said the account has been in existence since the 1980’s and has a current
balance of over $632,400.
The
former First Lady, unhappy about the continuing reports about the Rawlings’
family has decided to take legal action against the publisher and editor of the
Crusading Guide newspaper. Special Assistant to the Rawlings’, Victor Smith
told JOY FM that the legal action would be immediate. “I can tell you that it
is a complete fabrication and part of the evil crusade by Kweku Baako to
tarnish the image of Jerry Rawlings and his family. The position here is that
we are taking legal action immediately. Lawyers have been asked to come in for
a discussion and to take immediate action against the Crusading on this and
other publications,” he added.
But
Mr Kweku Baako told JOYFM that he still stands by his story and is ready to
appear in court. He recounted other publications on the Rawlings’ which they
denied but later admitted that it was the truth. “When the paper exposed the
expensive car gift given to Mr Rawlings by Ghanaian Business Tycoon, Eddie
Annan of MASAI fame, they denied the story. But when the Crusading Guide
subsequently gave a documentary proof of the transfer of the car to the
ownership of Mr Rawlings, both Mr Smith and Mr Eddie Annan came back to peddle
a “cock and bull” story of the car having been a gift to Mrs. Rawlings who in
turn gave it to her husband on his 50th birthday anniversary,” Mr Baako stated.
– JoyOnline
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Forex account of Konadu exposed
Accra (Greater Accra) 26 June 2002 - Gradually but surely,
the painstaking protracted investigations by the Crusading Guide into the
properties and accounts (both home and abroad) of “the Rawlingses” and their
P(NDC) associates are paying off with interesting results. Crusading Guide’s
Swiss roving scouts have stumbled upon a foreign account in the name of Ghana’s
former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings in the Swiss capital of Geneva.
The account, which our unofficial sources at the Bank called GONET & CIE
described as a “Multi-million dollar facility,” is in the name of Nana Konadu
Agyeman (Date of Birth, November 17, 1948).
GONET
& CIE, Private Bankers is located at 6 Boulevard du Theatre, CH 1121,
Geneva, Switzerland. The Account number is 904242 and is described as an
Investment account. Nana Konadu Agyeman is officially listed as the beneficiary
and signatory. An unofficial scrutiny of the account, courtesy our unofficial
sources at the Bank showed that the current balance is US $632,400! Our sources
indicated that the account is a very active one and money, big money flows in
and out.
“Millions
of dollars have passed through this account over the years. We are endeavouring
to get you all the details of the inflows and outflows over the years. Just be
patient and you will get the full details”, quipped our sources who specialize
in tracking fishy investment accounts and other savings and assets belonging to
African politicians and public servants across the globe.
Indications
show that the Account Number 904242 has been in existence since the 1980’s when
Nana Konadu’s husband ex-Flt Lt Rawlings was Ghana’s undisputed Military Head
of State and many Ghanaian businessmen, public servants and detained
politicians were dragged before the Citizens Vetting Committee (CVC) and the
National Investigations Committee (NIC) to declare their assets and show how
they acquired them as well as face alleged tax evasion charges, all in the name
of probity, accountability, integrity and transparency. - Crusading Guide
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How Ghana topped the US Visa Lottery
Accra
(Greater Accra) – 26 June 2002 - Approximately 87,000 persons have been
notified that they may apply for an immigrant visa under a special law that
makes permanent resident visas available annually to persons from countries
with low rates of immigration to the United States.
The law
makes 50,000 permanent resident visas available each year, but it is likely that
not all of the first 50,000 people whose names were selected will obtain visas.
Thus, a larger number of people are invited to apply so that all available
DV-2003 visas will be issued.
People may
apply for the next visa lottery between noon on 7th October 2002,
and noon on 6th November 2002. Additional instructions will be
issued within a few weeks.
A
statistical breakdown of the numbers gives 38,885 to Africa, with Ghana topping
with 6,333 winners.
|
|
Country |
Winners |
|
1 |
Ghana |
6,333 |
|
2 |
Nigeria |
5,689 |
|
3 |
Ethiopia |
5,562 |
|
4 |
Kenya |
3,194 |
|
5 |
Sierra Leone |
3,096 |
|
6 |
Morocco |
3,083 |
|
7 |
Togo |
1,994 |
|
8 |
Egypt |
1,551 |
|
9 |
Sudan |
1,297 |
|
10 |
Liberia |
1,067 |
|
11 |
Algeria |
834 |
|
12 |
Somalia |
748 |
|
13 |
Cameroon |
675 |
|
14 |
Democratic Rep. Of The Congo |
619 |
|
15 |
South Africa |
617 |
|
16 |
Tanzania |
349 |
|
17 |
Cote D'ivoire |
298 |
|
18 |
Eritrea |
252 |
|
19 |
Senegal |
199 |
|
20 |
Uganda |
195 |
|
21 |
Guinea |
157 |
|
22 |
Benin |
134 |
|
23 |
Zimbabwe |
133 |
|
24 |
Tunisia |
114 |
|
25 |
Zambia |
109 |
|
26 |
Libya |
61 |
|
27 |
Mali |
46 |
|
28 |
Chad |
45 |
|
29 |
Congo |
41 |
|
30 |
Niger |
34 |
|
31 |
The Gambia |
32 |
|
32 |
Malawi |
31 |
|
33 |
Burkina Faso |
28 |
|
34 |
Angola |
26 |
|
35 |
Madagascar |
25 |
|
36 |
Mauritius |
25 |
|
37 |
Djibouti |
24 |
|
38 |
Rwanda |
21 |
|
39 |
Burundi |
21 |
|
40 |
Gabon |
20 |
|
41 |
Mauritania |
14 |
|
42 |
Central African Republic |
8 |
|
43 |
Equatorial Guinea |
8 |
|
44 |
Namibia |
6 |
|
45 |
Swaziland |
5 |
|
46 |
Mozambique |
5 |
|
47 |
Botswana |
4 |
|
48 |
Lesotho |
2 |
|
49 |
Comoros |
2 |
|
50 |
Guinea Bissau |
1 |
|
51 |
Cape Verde |
1 |
|
52 |
Sao Tome And Principe |
0 |
|
53 |
Seychelles |
0 |
|
|
|
38,835 |
GRi…/
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Sunyani (Brong Ahafo) 26 June Chief Superintendent David Asante-Apeatu, a ballistic analyst with the Police Criminal Investigations Department, yesterday told the Wuaku Commission that an AK 47 rifle and ammunition were recovered from the late Ya-Na's Blue Bird saloon car.
He said the ammunition for 30 G 3 rifles and that for 22 AK 47 rifles were found hidden at the front passenger's seat, whilst the AK 47 weapon was discovered in the boot of the car, with registration number NR 1A.
Chief Superintendent Asante-Apeatu was testifying before the Wuaku Commission of inquiry into the Yendi conflict in Sunyani as the 39th witness. He said the rifle and ammunition were recovered by W/O II Latcher D. Johnson of the Air Force Station in Tamale.
The ammunition and rifle, among others, were tendered in evidence by the witness. Chief Supt. Asante-Apeatu said he was part of two delegations that were detailed to Tamale after the crisis. He said the first delegation was a "peace mission" of a government delegation led by Senior Minister, Mr J.H. Mensah, on March 29, 2002.
Chief Supt. Asante-Apeatu said the second mission, comprising a team of police experts, was detailed on April 6, to collect pieces of evidence about the conflict. He said it was at the Yendi Government Hospital where the police were busily engaged on the identification of dead bodies, after the conflict, when the driver of the late Ya-Na brought the vehicle.
Chief Supt Asante-Apeatu recounted that the Ya-Na's driver approached the Yendi District Police Commander to be escorted to refuel the car so that he could join a convoy to Tamale for safety. He said clearance was then sought from the General Officer Commanding the Northern Command who ordered that the vehicle should be driven to the police station for safety.
Chief Supt Asante-Apeatu, however, said the police station was found to be unsuitable, "because the car would be parked in open space", so it was finally driven to the barracks of the military detachment in Yendi. He added that it was at the barracks that the AK 47 rifle and the ammunition were discovered by W/O II Johnson as he conducted a check on the car, he added.
Other exhibits tendered by Chief Supt Asante-Apeatu included three component parts of an AK 47 rifle, a magazine of a mark 4 rifle, a quantity of plastic wads and detonated cartridges including shot-gun cartridges. He said all the exhibits were collected at an armoury at the Gbewaa Palace where many were not used but had detonated due to excessive heat.
Chief Supt Asante-Apeatu stated that the three component parts of the AK 47 assault rifle and some of the detonated ammunition were recovered during a mission by the military to rescue the last two persons in the Ya-Na's Palace.
The exhibits were those that were recovered by the military and the police during and after the crisis, he explained. Chief Supt Asante-Apeatu said three assault rifles were also recovered from one Mohammed Abdul Salam, alias 'red', whilst a fleeing warrior from the Ya-Na's palace threw away an AK 47 rifle at the Yendi Police Station.
He stated that fragmented bullets collected around the walls of the Gbewaa Palace also indicated that the assailants were armed with sophisticated assault rifles. The ballistic expert added that although a cap-gun ammunition was collected at the Gbewaa Palace, no cap-gun was found, but three locally-made daggers were recovered and tendered in evidence. During cross-examination, he told the commission, "I cannot tell how the AK 47 rifles got to the palace but what I know is that they were recovered by the military during a rescue mission".
Chief Supt Asante-Apeatu added that, "both the AK 47 and G3 assault rifles are imported by the government for the security services and since they have serial numbers, their sources can be traced if good records are kept by their users". He said in reply to a question from Mr Charles Hayibor, leading counsel for the Andanis that cap-guns which are normally used during musketry, and shot guns, are manufactured locally.
The police officer responded to another question from counsel that the armoury of the Ya-Na was also found burnt when the police investigating team visited the burnt Gbewaa Palace and photographs were taken for verification.
Chief Supt Asante-Apeatu said he could not tell whether any attempt was made to apprehend the fleeing warrior from the Ya-Na's palace who threw the AK 47 away at the Yendi Police Station, "because I was not at the spot at that time".
He told the commission that the police team also visited the Yendi offices of the Ghana Telecom and the Volta River Authority (VRA) to take statements. Chief Supt. Asante-Apeatu's testimony was interrupted to allow Colonel Jaswant Mante Wadhwani, a pathologist from the 37 Military Hospital, who conducted autopsy on victims of the conflict, including the late Ya-Na, to give evidence, after which he was allowed to continue.
When the commission asked why the investigators dwelt mostly on the Gbewaa palace, witness answered that it was because the Gbewaa palace was their immediate crime scene. He, however, added that the investigators went beyond the palace and covered about 100 metre radius around the palace
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Accra (Greater Accra) 26 June 2002 – An Accra Regional Tribunal yesterday granted Sri Ram Yogi Beckley, a medical practitioner and occultist, bail in the sum of ¢5 million with a surety. Beckley is, however, to appear before the Adjabeng Community Tribunal on July 8, where he will be formally charged with assault and kidnapping.
This followed submissions by a Chief State Attorney, Mr Eric F. A. Agbolosu, that the state "does not oppose the granting of bail to the applicant," who had been in custody since he was arrested last April 13, for a complaint of kidnapping.
Mr Agbolosu told the tribunal, chaired by Mr Justice K. Adu-Gyamfi, that the police had finished with their investigations and that the offences for which Dr Beckley is to be charged are those of misdemeanour and second degree felony under the Criminal Code.
He explained that bail can be granted to suspects under these offences unless they will be inclined to interfere with investigations, jump bail or continue to commit the same offence. He said the evidence available from the investigations indicate that Dr Beckley is not inclined to do any of those.
Consequently, Mr Agbolosu withdrew an earlier motion filed in opposition to the granting of bail to Beckley and told the tribunal to decide whether to grant him bail or not. Counsel for Beckley, Mr Akwasi Bosompem, said his case had been made easier by the withdrawal of the motion and, therefore, urged the tribunal to grant his client bail.
In granting the bail, Mr Justice Adu-Gyamfi advised the accused person to endeavour to appear before the lower court anytime he is requested to do so. The Adjabeng Community Tribunal will begin hearing the case of assault and kidnapping against Beckley on July 8, this year.
On April 15, this year, Beckley, was arraigned before the tribunal for allegedly assaulting and kidnapping a class three pupil. He has pleaded not guilty. Mr Bosompem, the defence counsel, on June 3, pleaded with the tribunal, chaired by Mrs Elizabeth Ankomah, to grant his client bail.
He reminded the tribunal that his client had been in custody for more than a month while the prosecution had been giving different reasons just to keep him in custody. Counsel contended that under the Criminal Code, the charges levelled against his client were not mandatory for which bail must be refused.
But the tribunal on June 10, rejected counsel's application and ruled that because of the complexity of the case and the unusual nature of the exhibits, a month will not be enough to complete investigations.
Mrs Ankomah said forwarding of documents and dockets to the Attorney-General's office for advice will take more than a month. She said the tribunal appreciated defence counsel's concern about his client's fundamental human rights and pointed out that protecting the fundamental human rights of the accused included ensuring his security.
The facts as presented by the prosecution are that on April 12, Beckley, who was driving along the Gbawe-Mallam Road in Accra, saw a young girl selling vegetables. The accused was said to have lured the girl to join him in his car to his house, under the pretext of buying some of the vegetables.
In Beckley's house, he allegedly tied the girl to a tree overnight without water and food until her stepfather was informed. Beckley was arrested on Saturday, April 13 after police received a complaint from the parent that her daughter had been abducted by the accused on the evening of April 12.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 26 June 2002 - The Energy Minister, Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah, has said the government will not allow partisan politics to destroy the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), which is a strategic national asset. "We'll pursue policies which will serve the best interest of Ghanaians and not parochial ones," he emphasised.
Mr Kan-Dapaah said this when he inaugurated the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of TOR in Accra yesterday. The committee, which is chaired by Mr John Kofi Richardson, an industrialist, will, among other things, assist the government to look for a suitable candidate to take the position of the managing director of the refinery.
Mr Kan-Dapaah said it will be most unproductive and ill-advised to allow partisan politics and, even worse, tribalism to dictate policy decisions on such a vital institution. The Energy Minister said the products that flow out of the refinery are basic to the quality of life of the people, thus its continued survival and profitability should be the concern of all.
"The refinery provides good employment to a large number of our people in the refinery itself and at the petrol stations; not to talk of the tanker drivers and mates", the minister added. He emphasised that given its importance, the government can ill afford not to keep an eagle's eye on the operations of the refinery, adding that "in so doing, the government cannot be motivated by anything less than what is in the best interest of the nation".
Mr Kan-Dapaah, therefore, described the speculations that followed the announcement of the changes in management of the refinery as most unfortunate. He reiterated that the changes were absolutely necessary to allow for efficient operations at the refinery.
On the recent impasse between management and workers of TOR, Mr Kan-Dapaah said calm has been restored between the two parties. He explained that following consultations, the original proposal that the union and the Senior Staff Association of TOR be represented on the IMC, has been abrogated.
Mr Kan-Dapaah said the union and senior staff association are to be allowed to play their traditional roles outside the formal management structure. He expressed appreciation to the various stakeholders who assisted the government to forestall what he described as an unnecessary but costly confrontation.
Throwing more light on the duties of the IMC, Mr Kan-Dapaah said it will manage the refinery until a substantive managing director is appointed. He expressed the hope that with the integrity, maturity and expertise of the members of the IMC, all other matters will be handled to ensure the smooth operation of TOR.
A representative of the TOR union, Mr Maxwell A. Anane said the union is satisfied with the manner in which the impasse has been handled and that it is solidly behind management in its efforts to revitalise the company. Mr Richardson pledged to use his expertise in management to ensure the effective operation of TOR.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 26 June 2002 - The European Union (EU) has provided 40 million Euros in grants to help revamp the country's mining sector. The Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, who disclosed this in Accra yesterday, called on all mining concerns to adhere strictly to environmental regulations in the conduct of their operations.
Speaking at the launching of the Association of African Dimension Stone Producers (AFRISTONE) in Accra, the Vice-President observed that the mining sector has come under heavy pressure as a result of its negative impact on the environment and advised the operators to engage in sustainable mining projects to raise the standard of living of the people.
AFRISTONE seeks to bring together producers of refined stones with the view to developing the market for their products and also serve as a pressure group and lobbyists. He said the government and the EU are finalising a protocol agreement for the start of a major EU presence in the mining sector of the economy this year.
He said the Minerals and Mining Law of 1986, the major legislation governing mining, is being reviewed to provide appropriate incentives to encourage investors who may want to locate in the remote parts of the country to exploit the abundant industrial resources.
Besides, he pointed out, the government is pursuing a policy to diversify the mineral base of the economy, adding that "we are encouraging the exploration and exploitation of industrial minerals, of which dimension stones constitute a major component".
Alhaji Mahama noted that Ghana is endowed with abundant industrial resources and revealed that rocks that could be quarried as dimension stones cover about one sixth of the land surface of the country.
He said more than 80 medium to large scale quarries are currently operating in the Ghana by nationals and foreigners, only one factory is engaged in the cutting and polishing dimension stones for local industry and for export.
He reiterated that the government's policy of making the private sector buoyant is not a rhetoric. The Minister of Mines, Mr Kwadwo Adjei-Darko, said studies have shown that there are potentials for the development of industrial minerals in the country and mentioned kaolin, limestone, silica sand and granites as some of the industrial minerals in the country.
He described the formation of the association as a right step for African countries to move away from a dependence on unprocessed primary commodities. The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana National Chamber of Mines, Mrs Joyce Wereko-Brobby, who chaired the function said mining companies in the country have begun initiatives to make their activities more transparent and to promote alternative livelihood projects for local communities to ensure that such communities continue to be self-supporting during and after mining operations. She said the Chamber is working with environmental and other regulatory agencies, communities and labour to ensure that mining activities in the country are carried out in the most environmentally sustainable manner.
The Executive Secretary of ECOWAS, Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas, in a speech read on his behalf, said the association's objectives and activities of exploring the potentials of dimension stones in Africa is in line with the integration and harmonisation of African economies. He said the diversification of the minerals industry would reduce the dependence on gold, diamond, silver and manganese.
Mr Fazie Baksmaty, Interim President of AFRISTONE and Managing Director, Granite and Marble, Ghana, said Africa offers vast reserve of natural stones and South Africa, Zambia, Ethiopia and other African countries export about $300 million of dimension stones yearly.
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¢1.4bn Project for six communities
Accra (Greater Accra) 26 June 2002 - A NUMBER of projects made up of classroom blocks, teachers bungalows, markets, roads and places of convenience totalling ¢1.4 billion have been commissioned in six communities in the West Akim District of the Eastern Region.
Commissioning the projects, the West Akyem District Chief Executive, Sheik Umar Amoah, said the provision of the projects is to help raise the living standard of rural dwellers as promised by the government and debunked claims that it is the previous government which has made it possible for the execution of the projects.
He said the European Union is also assisting to construct a school at Sukron Canaan, while the Obra Foundation has also made available funds for the construction of a six-unit classroom block at Oden.
Sheik Umar said since the assembly is not so much endowed with funds for its numerous projects, it is looking forward for assistance from other organisations to expedite work on the projects, to sustain the socio-economic transformation of the district and appealed to the people to honour their tax obligations to make money available for the development of the area.
On the upsurge of armed robbery in the area, he said the people must be vigilant and be prepared to report any suspicious character to the police-military detachment in the area. The DCE who also spoke on the dangers of HIV/AIDS, the impending district assembly and the unit committee elections, called on the people to plant trees to serve as windbreaks.
The Member of Parliament (MP) of the area, Mr Samuel Sallas-Mensah said it is gratifying to note that the present government has not abandoned projects initiated by the previous government as it used to be, adding that Ghana's democracy has come of age. He, therefore, called for unity for the development of the area and the country in general.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 26 June 2002 - The Managing Director of SAG, a subsidiary mining company of Ashanti Goldfields Company (AGC) Limited in Guinea, Mr Daniel Owiredu, has been appointed the new Managing Director of AGC's Obuasi Mine. He takes over from Mr Alan Dods, a South African national who has ended his four-year duty tour at the Obuasi mine.
A statement issued by the Ashanti Goldfields Company Limited in Accra yesterday said by his appointment, Mr Owiredu becomes the second Ghanaian to assume the position since its establishment 105 years ago after Mr Sam Jonah, the current Chief Executive and Group Managing Director of Ashanti.
A product of Adisadel College and a graduate of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, Mr Owiredu, who is a mechanical engineer by profession, enrolled with Ashanti as an Assistant Engineer after his national service in 1984.
The new Managing Director, who also holds an MBA from the University of Strathclyde's Business School, Scotland, UK, later rose to the top position as Chief Engineer Underground a little over a decade after working in various capacities in engineering, projects, winders, planned maintenance and training departments for almost 17 years.
As a member of the team that planned and implemented the Ashanti Mine Expansion Project (AMEP), a project which transformed the company into a multinational one, he was subsequently appointed manager for the company's Bibiani Gold Project in 1996.
Experts in the mining industry view the appointment of Mr Owiredu as refreshing, given the significant successes he has chalked up during his tenure in Guinea. They are of the view that he will bring the immense experience he has acquired over the years to bear on the Obuasi mine.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 26 June 2002 - The Bank of Ghana (BOG) has urged rural banks to strive to meet the BOG's policy of raising their mininum capital level to ¢100m. The level, according to the BOG could be raised through the use of shareholders net funds or by selling more shares to shareholders.
Mr Joseph Boye Clottey, Head, Banking Supervision in an interview said rural and community banks have to have a sufficient capital base to take on more risks as a result of the current macro-economic condition of the country.
Mr Clottey, speaking at the 17th Annual General Meeting of the Dangme Rural Bank at Prampram over the weekend, said as at the end of March, this year, 82 out of the 115 rural banks had still not met the minimum level requirement of ¢100 million for rural banks and ¢500 million for community banks.
He said government will, however, continue to encourage the establishment of more rural banks in the country to ensure that banking services are brought to the doorsteps of rural dwellers.
He said in line with this, a number of applications have been received by the BOG for consideration and said the division is in the process of sorting out the applications to ensure that those granted the licence meet the standard required. He, therefore, urged existing rural banks to strive to meet the ¢100 million capital level in their accounts.
He explained that the current macro-economic environment in the country needs sufficient capital to enable rural banks to assume more risk. Mr Clottey appealed to the rural banks to endeavour to hold their annual general meetings annually adding that it will help identify some of their lapses and make them live up to expectation.
He said even though some banks have failed to meet the required standard levels, they are not going to be scrapped. He said last year the Bank of Ghana made some policy changes in respect of capital requirements of banks to check the trend of licensing weak ones.
He said if banks are not well checked, they will eventually become distressed and bring about crises in the banking sector, to the detriment of depositors, shareholders and the economy in general. He explained that it is on this basis that the bank reviewed upwards the minimum paid-up capital to ¢500 million for new rural banks while existing ones are expected to raise their capital level to at least ¢100 million.
Mr Clottey said the BOG also wants the rural banks to operate properly and profitably. On the issue of hiring the services of dismissed bank staff, he said this has contributed to the poor performance of rural/community banks and, therefore, urged them to engage seasoned people on board of directors and management staff capable of living up to the task of the business of banking.
He further explained that most dismissed bank staff might have engaged in fraudulent acts leading to their dismissal, hence the tendency for them to continue with these on their new job.
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