GRi Press Review 17 – 03 - 2003
Rawlings’ confidant in police grips
3 men wanted over ¢136bn fraud
Moves to retain Gomoa East seat
NRC
revelations to seal NDC doom-Nyaho-Tamakloe
Rawlings Invited By Reconciliation Commission
VALCO to shut
down?
Rawlings’ confidant in police grips
Accra (Greater Accra) - 17 March 2003 - The Criminal
Investigation Department of the Ghana Police Service have arrested a former top
official in the NDC government, Riad Hozaifeh for possessing firearms without
authority and posing as a public official. His arrest has raised lots of
suspicions with people speculating that it is linked to evidence given at a
National Reconciliation Commission hearing.
Last week the Editor-in-Chief of the Crusading Guide, Kweku Baako Jnr told the Commission that Riad filmed some of the tortures that occurred in the PNDC era in the presence of ex-President Rawlings.
But the Ghana Police Service says the arrest of Riad Hozaifeh has nothing to do with the current Reconciliation process. Riad Hozaifeh who possesses both Ghanaian and American passports admitted he was issued with a pistol and an AK 47 assault rifle during the PNDC and NDC era in his capacity as a top government official.
Raid has meanwhile been granted self-recognizance bail
whilst investigations continue. – The Ghanaian Chronicle
3 men wanted over ¢136bn fraud
The three officials are believed to have gone into hiding following the detection of the scandal. They are Ben Komla Hevi, 49, a storekeeper, Osei Opoku-Agyeman, 37, a commercial officer, and George Asante-Osei, 33, a revenue assistant.
A police source confirmed in an interview that the management of GWCL last Friday reported the case to the police and appealed to them to help apprehend the suspects. It said Hevi, who was a storekeeper at the Accra Tema Metropolitan Area (ATMA) of the GWCL, is wanted in connection with his involvement in store deals to the tune of ¢105,476,068.95.
It said Hevi hails from Alavanyo-Dzogbedje, near Kpandu, in
the Volta Region, and is suspected to be hiding either in his home town or in
the
It said further that Opoku-Agyeman, who comes from Akyem
Kukurantumi, in the Eastern Region, is suspected to be hiding either in
It said he hails from Asamang-Ashanti and is believed to be
hiding in
In a related development, the Rapid Response Unit of the CID has also mounted a search for Charles Kwame Akyea of Walkwills Enterprise for attempting to defraud the Ghana Breweries Limited of ¢537,265,000.
The head of the unit, Chief Superintendent K. K. Amoah, said in an interview that Akyea has also gone into hiding following the detection of the deal. He said Akyea had tried to use the weaknesses in the procurement scheme of the GBL to defraud the company of various sums of money.
He said the modus operandi of Akyea was to sell items at inflated prices and manipulate the internal procedures of the GBL to facilitate payment. According to Amoah, Akyea submitted a proposed purchase order for steel pipes which are sold in the open market for ¢48m.
“However, Akyea, in its bid to defraud the company, priced the steel pipes ¢537,265,000 but this was detected and stopped,” Amoah said. Chief Superintendent Amoah said efforts to contact Akyea through his address both home and at the workplace failed. - Graphic
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Moves to retain Gomoa East seat
Gomoa East (Central Region) 17 March 2003 - In what can aptly be described as “Operation Sweep All Bye-Elections”, the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) is poised to add the Gomoa East constituency to the list of its “excellent shows” in bye-elections.
The Gomoa East seat became vacant when the incumbent, Hon. Emmanuel Akyeampong died in a tragic motor accident on the Agona Swedru-Winneba road.
Interestingly, the NPP does not seem to be bogged by the immediate bye-elections at Navrongo Central, although our investigations have shown that it is the immediate obsession of other parties that have declared to contest.
Investigations at Gomoa Ekwamkrom over the weekend where the NPP elected Alex Evans Amoah as its candidate for the Gomoa East bye-elections reveal that the party has drawn up a novelty master plan to take the Gomoa East Constituency by storm.
Amoah polled 41 votes to beat his closest challenger, Richmond Sam Quarm, who had 33 votes. Miss Baaba Otoo came third with 10 votes whiles Isaac K. Ahomah Armah polled 6 votes.
According to our roving reporter, the all time master plan of a campaign will be unveiled next week at Gomoa Potsin, which incidentally is the home town of the party’s candidate.
Our reporter who covered the NPP congress under cover, bumped into series of discussions involving some key elements of the party who promised delegates that the party would rehabilitate and tar three major roads, before the April 8th bye-elections.
These are the Gomoa Awomerew through to Gomoa Potsin and Gomoa Afransi to Ankamu junction roads. The third, the Winneba Junction-Agona Swedru road, runs through a cluster of Gomoa villages, which include, Nyarkoadze, Osamkrom, Abaasa, Abonyi, Mangoase, Asebu, Jukwa, Brofoyedru and Gomoa Ekwamkrom, all in the Gomoa East Constituency.
The latter choice, sources at the Ekwamkrom congress said was informed by the “fact that Hon. Akyeampong died on that road. It will be done in memory of the late MP”. Furthermore, thanks to the bye-elections, almost all villages with no electricity in the constituency are likely to be connected to the national grid before the April 8th election. The first village to benefit from the special electricity exercise, sources in the party say, is Gomoa Lome.
Our Reporter, Kobina Annobil, found out that Gomoa Lome was refused electricity by the past government, because indigenes from the village were perceived as sympathizers of the then opposition NPP. Interestingly, Kobina Annobil found out on his rounds at Gomoa Lome and its surrounding areas that all other seven villages that surround Gomoa Lome have electricity.
The NPP also intends to send telephone facilities to Gomoa East before the bye-elections. Information reaching this paper from other reliable sources speaks of a bicycle invasion at the Gomoa East constituency to facilitate easy movement of party officials and agents who have been charged to conduct a house-to-house campaign.
Other stakeholders and opinion leaders from the area are
likely to enjoy from the bicycle booty. Yet beneath the apparent over
exploitation of its incumbency, as we found out, is the untiring and
satisfactory performance of the late Emmanuel Akyeampong, which may goad the
NPP on to victory. The late Akyeampong, our investigations reveal was a darling
of almost all the villages that constitute the Gomoa East Constituency. He
attends almost every gathering and meets every week with Chiefs on how to
develop the
The late MP is on record to have bought 100 bags of cement to construct electricity poles for villages that do not have electricity. We learnt from our rounds in about seven villages that the late MP used part of the allotted Assembly Common Fund to seek the welfare of his constituents, especially those who cannot provide for their wards in schools. At Gomoa Manso, our man Annobil, found out that all classrooms were furnished with enough furniture, sometimes even in excess, whiles other pupils have also been provided with school uniforms. - Independent
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Tema (Greater Accra)
He is said to have kicked Michael Nyaaba in the abdomen and the head, rendering him unconscious while he bled profusely. Sethi has since been released on bail pending further investigations.
According to a source close to the Tema police, on 13
February, this year, Nyaaba was brought to the station, bleeding profusely from
his nose and the leg. It said a medical form was issued to those who brought
him to enable them to take him to the
When the Graphic got to Nyaaba, he corroborated the police
story and narrated how the incident happened. He said he had earlier on
He said on that day, Sethi gave him ¢6,000 as a transport fare to meet a customer off the Spintex Road but Nyaaba told him that due to his injuries he could not walk and pleaded that one of the company’s cars should take him there.
Nyaaba said Sethi got angry, slapped and kicked him. He said in his critical condition, he reported the matter to the managing director’s son, Anthony Sethi, who was then acting. He said Sethi got infuriated and further assaulted him for reporting the matter to the managing director.
When the managing director’s son, Anthony Sethi, was contacted, he said the matter was before the police so he would not comment on it. Meanwhile, Nyaaba said he has been dismissed from the company by his employers for reporting the matter to the police. – Graphic
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
The bodies, which were laid in state at the Madina No 1 School Park, attracted thousands of mourners from all walks of life, including government officials, political party leaders, members of Parliament, heads of religious organisations and a section of the general public.
The deceased were John K. Ababio, Cathechist/Presbyter; Evans Dogbe Gala, Fredoline K. Agbeme and Grace Afua Kpodo, all Presbyters; Emmanuel Tsey Adika, Mrs Joyce Adzoa Wuaku-Ahiable, Ms Joyce Mawuena Simpi and Ms Bernice Akosua Boachie, all choristers.
A combined team of the police/ military had a hectic time controlling the milling crowd who were eager to catch a glimpse of their loved ones and relatives for the last time.
On three separate occasions, the process of filing past the deceased was brought to an abrupt end and the coffins covered because the mourners could not wait to have their turns and not even the pleas of the Moderator of the E. P. Church Ghana, Rt Rev Dr L.K. Buama could save the situation.
Finally, with the help of the military/police team, the members of the church had to put the coffins in the eight white hearses and head for the cemetery.
In a sermon, the Moderator of the E. P. Church Ghana, Rt Rev Dr L.K. Buama, said that the painful and sudden death of the members should spur other members of the church on to hold fast to their faith in the Lord and spread the gospel to save more souls.
“In the final analysis, God is always right in everything he does and owes no one any explanation; neither can he be taken to any law court”.
He announced that the church has established a disaster fund to cater for the dependants of the dead and urge members of the church, philanthropic and corporate organisations and other public spirited individuals to contribute to it.
Bishop Francis Lodonu, Catholic Bishop of Ho, said the tragic death of members of the church is a semblance of the painful death of Christ on the cross so that mankind will be saved from his sins.
He advised that the unprecedented and catastrophic death should spur on the two breakaway factions of the church to come together as one body in Christ.
The head of the government delegation, Ms Elizabeth Ohene, Minister of State in the Office of the President, expressed President Kufuor's condolences to the church and the bereaved families, adding that “this is a great loss not to the church alone but to the entire nation. The government made a donation, the amount of which was not disclosed to the crowd.
The Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Prof J. E. A. Mills, expressed the deepest condolences and sympathy of the party to the bereaved families. He said that as Christians, they must always be ready for such uncertainties of life, adding that “those waiting for the bridegroom should fill their light with oil, for no one knows when she will come.”
He donated ¢ 5m towards the
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
NRC
revelations to seal NDC doom-Nyaho-Tamakloe
Accra
(Greater Accra) 17 March 2003 – The New Patriotic Party’s firebrand politician,
Dr Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe said on Wednesday, last week 17 March, that the fate of
the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has not only been paralysed but has been
sealed by the horrifying revelations that are emanating from the National
Reconciliation Commission (NRC).
He said the
track record of the NPP, that is winning all by-elections in the country, has
sent cold shivers done the spine of the NDC to the extent that its slogan “Ehe
edzor bordoor” has given the NPP the impetus to win the two up-coming
by-elections and the 2004 general elections.
Reacting to
allegations that his party is bent on vote-buying and bribery, Dr
Nyaho-Tamakloe told “Chronicle” in an interview that it was unfortunate for a
pot to call a kettle black, describing the NDC as “Ehe edzor bordoor agbene”
meaning the NDC is now soft as ever before, so the NPP is riding over them.
According
to Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe, the recent delegates’ congress held by the NDC at the
University of Ghana, Legon, at which Dr Obed Assamoah, Dr Kwesi Botchwey and
his cohorts were thrashed, underscored the fact that there was no way that the
NDC could come to power in this country.
Dr
Nyaho-Tamakloe, who is cock-sure of triumphing in the remaining two
by-elections said, “The NDC is not a political party. The NDC is just like any
military government that is legalized into a political party, and they went to
have recognition of that group,” contending that history has shown that all
military regimes which have been transformed into parties have never been
successful in a democratic dispensation.
He added
that a military government that has been transformed into a political party
does not understand that rule of democratic principles. Unfolding his anchor of
confidence of winning, Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe had this to say: “We are really
working on the ground with our people working well to ensure that we retain the
seats.
We take the
by-elections very seriously, we never for once or a minute, rest on our oars,
or be complacent because to us a party, by-elections are nothing than mid term
examinations during which you test your strength and your policies and if the
policies of the ruling party are unacceptable to the electorate, it is quite
clear that you would definitely lose the election. In other words, if the
policies of the opposing parties are not convincing, there is no way that they
can win an election, let alone by-election,” he said.
Recounting
some other by-elections, Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe said the seat of Bimbilla, Kumawu
and recently Wulensi seats have been won by the NPP. He called on electorate to
vote for the right candidate on the basis of issue, but not on material gifts.
He said material gifts in the history of every political party to influence the
electorate, indicate that it can never be sustained in the future.
According
to him, he find it amazing that Ghanaians have acknowledged the NPP party as a
better alternative to the NDC and other satellite political parties. “The
people in this country are not fools; particularly the rural folks for someone
to think they can easily be bought with few schnapps and thousands of cedis
which has been the phenomenon of the NDC to influence electorate”, he said.
He said he
at a point in time encouraged the electorate to collect the drinks and use it
to pour libation for the defeat of the NDC. Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe rubbished the
allegations of exploitation of incumbency perpetrated by the NPP, saying it was
rather unfortunate for the pot to call the kettle black. – The Ghanaian
Chronicle
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Rawlings Invited By Reconciliation Commission
Accra
(Greater Accra) 17 March 2003 - The National Reconciliation Commission has
invited immediate past President, Jerry John Rawlings to respond to allegations
that he supervised extra judicial killing of his AFRC colleague, Cpl Sarkodee
Addo and the torture of another person, Ofosu Tata at the Castle, Osu.
He has been
requested by the NRC to also respond by a letter to a petition by former Air
Force Officer, Squadron Leader Tagoe, who has alleged that Rawlings wanted to
have him killed.
Two letters
to the former President on these issues were dispatched to his office from the
old Parliament House head office of the NRC last week Tuesday 11 March and
Friday, 14 March, respectively.
Source say
while the first letter to the former President had to do with Tagoe’s
allegations against Rawlings in his formal petition, which is yet to be heard
by the NRC, the second letter was the result of allegations by the
Editor-in-Chief of the Crusading Guide, Kweku Baako Jnr during his appearance
at the NRC sitting last Tuesday.
The second
letter indicated the intent of the NRC to recall Baako for questioning at the
discretion of the former President, adding it was proof that he might have to
appear in person at the ongoing NRC.
But Victor
Smith, Special Aide to the former President who confirmed on Saturday that
Rawlings had received both letters, rejected the notion that any of the
invitations required the formal presence of the Founder of the main opposition
NDC before the NRC.
He said in
Squadron Leader Tagoe’s case, they have asked him to respond to allegations
that he was after his blood. ''But how can Rawlings be after his blood when he
himself admits that he was a mentor to Rawlings in the Air Force,'' Smith asked
rhetorically.
He said
though the second letter was an invitation based on Baako’s ''hearsay''
allegations against Rawlings, it was not an invitation to appear before the
commission but one that required him to respond to the charges by Kweku Baako.
Smith said
they had given the letters to their lawyers to respond but expressed misgivings
over the invitation of the former President based on hearsay evidence. ''Does
it mean that if tomorrow I go before the commission and mention somebody’s name
and accuse the person without proving evidence of the things I said, he’ll be
invited? Don’t they investigate allegations?'' Smith queried. - Concord
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Tema
(Greater Region) 17 March 2003 - Volta Aluminium Company (VALCO), the nation’s
premier aluminium smelter is said to be bracing itself for an imminent shut
down as a result of its failure to secure cheap and reliable supply of
electricity to operate. The shutdown may occur in April but what is not known is
whether it will be permanent.
Already,
management is seriously executing strategic plans aimed at shutting down the
plant without creating tension among the stakeholders in its operations.
Some
officials have down played VALCO’s row with government over power tariff and
linked the shutdown to the level of water in the Akosombo hydro-electric dam,
which is said to be a record low of below 240ft in two decades.
The dam is
reportedly losing substantial amount of water weekly and it is presumed that
its level will drop to below 200ft in the next six weeks before the rains
start.
Currently,
VALCO is operating only a single potline, which according to the company, does
not make economic sense. The paper says a regulated scheme to completely lay
off all staff except a handful of administrative staff has begun in earnest.
Records
indicate that with only one potline to operate, more than 80% of its workforce
at the operations unit has been sacked while 30% of its management and
administrative units are being kept. - Business and Financial Times
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com