Justice Amua-Sekyi assures Ghanaians of
impartiality
Girl in Beckley's case in custody of Police
Number of armed robbery decreases nationwide - Police
President Kufuor honoured by Exeter College
Commonwealth Secretary-General to visit Ghana
President Kufuor congratulates Chirac on his re-election
Addae-Mensah, 4 others to be honoured by New York University
Dr Donkor is member of Public Services Commission
Ghana to host 24th Session of World Alliance of Reformed Churches
Self-styled doctor before tribunal
University Student dismissed for rape
Court suspends trial of serial killer
Accra (Greater Accra) 08 May 2002 - Justice K. E. Amua-Sekyi, Chairman of the National Reconciliation Commission on Tuesday gave the assurance that there would be impartiality in handling cases that would be brought before the commission. With the wide experience of members, the commission would be able to ascertain the truth and determine cases objectively, Justice Amua-Sekyi said in an interview on Peace FM on Tuesday in Accra.
In an answer to a question that, "I am not a member of any political party, I have exercised my right to vote and that was between myself and God." He said, adding "If any thing at all people may say that I am a strict person and such critics would prefer those to be swayed."
When asked how he could determine the truth when the commission starts work, Mr. Amua-Sekyi said, "I shall apply the same practice in court and the rest will use their expertise and finally come to a conclusion."
Mr. Amua-Sekyi said there was the need for reconciliation between Ghanaians because there were complaints or grievances from members of the public, adding that though some people would like to forgive those who had offended them on religious grounds, it was time to look at grievances to arrive at conclusions.
When asked whether he entertained any fears working with the commission, the retired judge said, "no fears, it is the will of parliament which matters, it is an act and we would have to help the act."
Mr. Amuah-Sekyi said the Commission would depend on some institutions for the enhancement of its work, including the Police Service the Ministry of Justice and Attorney-General's Department and the media while members of the public would be invited to submit evidence.
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Reconciliation Commission begins sitting on
1 July
Accra (Greater Accra) 08 May 2002 -The nine-member National Reconciliation Commission (NRC), inaugurated by President John Agyekum Kufuor last Monday, would start its sitting on 1 July, possibly at the Old Parliament House in Accra.
Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Attorney General and Minister for Justice who announced this at a press briefing on Tuesday, said the date was chosen because of its symbolic significance as the country's Republic Day.
He referred to the National Reconciliation Act, Act 611, and said Parliament would decide on funds to be allocated to the Commission from the Consolidated Fund for its operations. Other sources of funds for the work of the Commission would be donations and grants.
Nana Akufo-Addo said the Commission, which has a 12-month period to operate from the date of its first sitting, with an extension of six months would be reviewing its areas of operation in June, adding, "this time period should be adhered to and issues tackled with a sense of priority".
He said the process would not be an examination of history but rather focused on the unconstitutional governments with the main objective of forging the unity and reinforcement of Ghanaians. The Attorney-General referred to South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission and said as much as the process would not spare perpetrators of human rights abuses, it would be a confrontation of history to make amends.
He, therefore, called on people who had been offended to be prepared to forgive, saying without such a stance, which aggrieved people adopted in South Africa, the story during the reconciliation process would have been radically different.
On religious representation and the status of the Most Reverend Charles Palmer-Buckle, Catholic Bishop of Koforidua, on the Commission, Nana Akufo-Addo said members were not in any representative capacity. "They are individual people with independent minds in whom Ghanaians had confidence and trust that could do the job, based on the dictates of their conscience without any interference".
On the membership of Lt-General Emmanuel A. Erskine, former Commander of the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL), who was a member of the National Redemption Council (NRC),one of the military regimes, whose human rights record would be examined, Nana-Akufo-Addo said General Erskine's involvement with the regime would not constitute a reason for disqualification, because there was nothing to prevent him from doing his job effectively.
Nana Akuffo-Addo said anyone who had any grievance against Lt-Gen. Erskine as a person, should report to the Commission, and such matters would be investigated to see if they warrant his disqualification.
The Minister of Justice, said former President Rawlings, whom people had perceived as the prime target of the exercise had indicated that he was prepared to work with the Commission and the opposition parties describing the exercise as necessary.
On the extent and limits of press coverage, especially the electronic media, on the proceedings of the Commission, Nana Akufo-Addo said, these and other issues such as the trauma management of aggrieved persons and security for offenders were being discussed by the Commission within its one month review period. The Commission is under the chairmanship of Mr Justice Kweku Etrew Amua-Sekyi, a retired Supreme Court Judge.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 08 May 2002 - The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Police on Tuesday said the young girl in Dr Ram Beckley case was not missing but with the Police.
The girl was given to a female Senior Police Officer to enable her to overcome her fright and trauma, according to a GNA story. A Senior Police source said; "The police are protecting the victim's rights and health, which is paramount in such cases all over the world, to avert any psychological trauma that may affect her for the rest of her life."
The Source said the girl would be allowed to be interviewed after a clinical psychologist had given the go ahead. However, it noted that there was a chain of inconsistencies in the girl's story. The Prosecutor in the case in which Dr Ram Beckley, a private medical practitioner and an occultist, is charged with assault and kidnapping on Monday told the Adjabeng Community Tribunal that the Police could not trace the class three pupil, whom he allegedly kidnapped.
He said schools were on vacation and they could not find her. The Prosecution could not also tell the tribunal about the whereabouts of the victim's stepfather. Beckley, who has been charged with assaulting and kidnapping a class three pupil, has pleaded not guilty.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 08 May 2002 – The security services said on Tuesday that statistics from the Criminal Investigations Department of the Police revealed that there have been a 71 per cent decrease in armed robbery since the security agencies declared war on the menace two weeks ago.
"In real figures there were 52 cases of armed robbery nationwide from 8 – 12 April while the figure for the period 22 April - 3 May 2002 was 15 indicating a 71 per cent decrease", Dr Kwame Addo-Kufuor, Minister of Defence and Acting Interior Minister, told a press briefing in Accra, to assess the impact of operations to clampdown on armed robbery and to adopt new strategies to restore public confidence.
He said six regions including Tema have recorded no armed robbery since the declaration, while figures for the Greater Accra region, which had earlier recorded 26 dropped to eight.
Ashanti had 19 initially but dropped to six, the Eastern region had five while the remaining regions recorded zero. Dr Addo-Kufuor said there had been a relative decline in other major offences as well, adding: "This figures demonstrate what a determined people can do even in the face of logistical constraints."
He noted that a free democratic society did not mean anarchy, saying, "Government will not shirk its constitutional responsibility of protecting law abiding citizens. We cannot and will not allow criminal elements to hide behind privileges of our open society and our democratic culture to cause mayhem and instability."
Dr Addo-Kufuor, however, noted that actions of the security agencies would be guided by the rule of law to ensure that individual liberties were not trampled upon. The Minister said the success story was the result of co-operation by the public, which had generated a new sense of motivation to the security personnel to meet the call of their profession.
He talked about the government’s determination to equip the service with the required logistics such as vehicles and communication equipment, adding that 360 new vehicles would be procured for the Police before the end of the year while 100 of their breakdown Land Rovers would be repaired during the same period.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 08 May 2002 - The Governing body of Exeter College of Oxford University has bestowed on President J.A. Kufuor an Honorary Fellowship of the College.
A release signed by Mr J.O. Obetsebi-Lamptey, Minister for Information and Presidential Affairs said the message about the honour was sent to the President through Ghana High Commission in London. A letter signed by Madam Marilyn Buttler, President of the college explained that the Honorary Fellowship had been a category reserved for old members who have reached a special eminence.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 08 May 2002 - The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Mr Don McKinnon, is to visit Ghana from 9- 11 May 9. The Secretary-General will hold discussions with President J.A. Kufuor, and members of the government during the visit.
Mr McKinnon will also call on the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II in Kumasi, meet the Speaker of Parliament and leading parliamentarians as well as representatives of civil society and also address students about the Commonwealth at the University of Ghana, Legon.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 08 May 2002 - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Tuesday congratulated to Mr Jacques Chirac on his re-election as President of France. In a congratulatory message from the Foreign Ministry to France and copied to the media, the President said: "Your victory is no doubt a reaffirmation of the confidence the French people have in your leadership".
"We in Ghana rejoice in the opportunity provided by your renewed mandate to further deepen the bonds of friendship and co-operation between our two countries both at the bilateral and multilateral levels", the statement said.
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Addae-Mensah, 4 others to be honoured by
New York University
Accra (Greater Accra) 08 May 2002 - The New York University (NYU) is to confer honorary doctorate degree on five distinguished personalities including Professor Ivan Addae-Mensah, Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana (UG), Legon.
The rest are Professor Joseph B. Keller, Emeritus Professor of Mathematics and Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Mr Raymond W. Kelly, Police Commissioner of New York City Police Department, Mr. Harold Prince, a Director and Producer and Miss Christiane Amanpour, the world famous CNN war correspondent.
A statement issued in Accra on Tuesday and signed by Mr P.B. Yarquah, Senior Assistant Registrar of the University relations, UG said the ceremony would take place at New York's Washington Square on 16 May.
It said a letter to Professor Addae-Mensah, quoted the President of NYU as saying, "As president of the New York University, it is my honour and privilege on behalf of the Board of Trustees to invite you to receive the honorary Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters to be offered by the University".
"We would value the opportunity to recognise your spectacular leadership of the University among a long list of distinguished personalities, an institution with which NYU has strong ties. We wish to salute our association with your great enterprise as a member of the league of world Universities, to recognise your outstanding achievement in the fields of Chemistry, and indeed, to honour your contribution to world health", the statement said.
The statement said Mr. Kofi Annan, UN Secretary General, Oyeeman Wereko Ampem, Chancellor of the UG and Mr Allan Kyeremateng, Ghana's Ambassador to the US, have been invited to attend the ceremony. It said Professor Addae-Mensah had in the past received several honours and awards.
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Tema (Greater Accra) 08 May 2002 - A Community Tribunal at Tema on Tuesday remanded 11 people, including a woman for allegedly vandalising the palace of the Tema Chief, destroying property and declaring him destooled last Saturday.
The accused persons, whose plea was not taken, have been charged with causing damage to property and breaching peace are all residents of Tema Manhean. They are Nii Adjetey Obedeka, a fisherman, Gilbert Mantey, a driver, Milla Borquaye alias Nii Nungua, also a driver and Moses Ago Armah, a labourer.
The others are Mustapha Adjetey, a security guard, Anartey Abbey, a farmer, Armah Ashitey, an apprentice mason, Mensah Annan, a cook, Festus Adjei Kraku, a driver, Tetteh Anum, a cobbler and Naa Adjetey Kraku, a trader. The suspects are to reappear on 14 May.
Chief Inspector Margaret Nunoo told the tribunal chaired by Nana Agyeman Badu that there was a conflict between the chief fetish priest popularly called Angbamfoatse and the chief, Nii Adjei Kraku II during the celebration of the Kpledzo festival.
Some eminent persons were asked to settle the conflict on 4 May, but Nii Adjei Kraku was not present, as he had travelled to Accra. Inspector Nunoo said last Saturday, Nii Obedeka mobilised about 60 people, including the 11 accused persons, who wielded cutlasses, knives and sticks, and forcibly entered the chief's palace at about 2pm.
They destroyed the windows and doors at the palace, the notice board, statute of a lion as well as furniture and a linguist mace, all valued at 32.1 million cedis. Nunoo said the accused persons with white calico bands on their heads, smeared their bodies with powder and took to the streets, singing war songs indicating that Nii Adjei Kraku had been destooled.
The prosecution said at about 2:30 p.m. the policemen were deployed to the palace and accused persons were arrested, adding that the case is still under investigations.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 08 May 2002 - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Tuesday, asked members of the Public Services Commission (PSC) to ensure that public servants performed creditably.
The humility; commitment; loyalty and diligence expected of the public servants should always be at the back of their minds, President Kufuor said when he swore in Dr Thomas Alex Donkor, a Human Resource Development Consultant, as a member of the five-member Commission at the Castle, Osu.
Dr Donkor swore the official oath and oath of secrecy, to replace the late Fiifi Hesse, a member who died last year. President Kufuor asked Dr Donkor to put at the disposal of the Commission his rich management and administrative experience accumulated over the years to perform efficiently and effectively.
Dr Donkor, 61, former Manager of Human Resources and Public Affairs, Nestle (Ghana) Limited, said he was aware of the expectations of the Commission and would work diligently to achieve that objective. He said the Commission had a sensitive role to play through transparency, impartiality, devotion and humility in their deliberations to move the government machinery forward. Other members of the Commission are, Mr E.A. Sai, Chairman, Dr Francis Agble, Mrs Emily Harlley and Mrs Jemima Quaye.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 08 May 2002 - Ghana is to host the 24th Session of the General Council meeting of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) from 30 July to 13 August 2004. Ghana is the second African country to host the meeting held every eight years after Kenya, which hosted it in 1970.
The Reverend Dr Setri Anyomi, General Secretary of WARC, told President John Agyekum Kufuor when he led a nine-member delegation from the Christian Council of Ghana to pay a courtesy call on him at the Castle, Osu on Tuesday.
The WARC formed in 1875, with its headquarters in Geneva, is a Christian organisation with membership of over 75 million Christians made up of Presbyterian, Reformed, Congregational and United Churches in over 100 countries around the world.
Rev. Anyomi, who is a Ghanaian, thanked God for the many initiatives and leadership qualities he had bestowed on Ghanaians to excel into high positions in their various careers. President Kufuor said government had accepted the honour for Ghana to host the meeting, adding "let us pray that 2004 comes and find us all in good health with government's participation to a victorious year".
He advised Rev. Anyomi to work hard in his position " to let your counterparts know that you are a worthy son of Ghana". Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Minister of Information and Presidential Affairs, said it was encouraging to see another Ghanaian rising to such a high position.
He said the youth needed to see such leaders as role models to instil self-discipline among them and aspire to such high levels. Mr Obestebi-Lamptey appealed to the Churches to assist government in the educational reforms to fill the gap in educational institutions and instil discipline in schools to produce good future leaders.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 08 May 2002 - Mr. Ishmael Ashitey, Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) in-charge of Fisheries, on Tuesday said his ministry had noted with dissatisfaction the illegal operation of trawlers in the In-shore Exclusive Zone (area shallower than 30 meters in depth) of the sea.
Such activities caused social and economic conflicts between industrial and in-shore vessel operators and other fishermen, Mr. Ashitey, told a National Workshop on Marine Fisheries Management Development Plan in Accra.
He said although PNDC Law 256 of 1991 was promulgated to address such problems within the Fisheries sector, the law had some limitations with regard to proactive fisheries management. It was therefore welcome news that the Fisheries Management Plan had been instituted as the new policy to manage fisheries in the country, he said.
The workshop was the third in a series of workshops planned to sensitise the public on the policy guidelines emanating from the Marine Fisheries Management Plan, drawn under the Fisheries Sub-Sector Capacity Building Project and supported with external assistance from the World Bank.
The fisheries law was reviewed because Ghana ratified the United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which required Ghana to ensure the conservation and sustainable exploitation of the fisheries resources within the Economic Exclusive Zone (200 nautical miles of the sea from the shore).
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Cape Coast (Central Region) 08 May 2002 - A 51-year old man who allegedly posed as a gynaecologist and dispensed restricted drugs to a woman and later raped her, was on Tuesday arraigned at a Circuit Tribunal at Cape Coast.
Samuel Akuffo-Addo, alias 'Dr Akuffo-Addo', who pleaded not guilty to practising medicine without authority and dispensing restricted drugs, was remanded until next Tuesday. The plea of the suspect was not taken because the tribunal had no jurisdiction to try rape cases and therefore, asked the prosecution to refer the charge to the Attorney-General's office for advice.
Prosecuting, Chief Inspector Hope Asazoo told the court that the woman, a trader who lives in Accra was introduced to Akuffo-Addo as gynecologist who could help her become pregnant, in February this year.
The woman, he said, begun taking treatment from Akuffo-Addo at Ankamu, near Apam junction in the Central Region. On 27 April 2002 when the victim reported for treatment, she became unconscious after the suspect injected her and also inserted a drug into her genital organ.
When she became conscious she realised that the 'doctor' was sexually abusing her and she went and informed her husband and later reported the incident to the Women And Juvenile Unit (WAJU) of the Police in Accra.
Chief Insp. Azasoo said the case was transferred to the WAJU in Cape Coast and the 'doctor' was arrested on Monday, 6 May and during a search on his premises, some hypodermic syringes and drugs were found. The drugs were sent to the forensic laboratory for examination.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 08 May 2002 - The University of Ghana on Tuesday announced the summarily dismissal of Mr Faith Mensah Tekpor for raping a female student. A release in Accra signed by the Senior Assistant Registrar of the University Relations Office said on 15 November 2001, Mr Tekpor, a level 400 student of Akuafo Hall tricked and lured a level 300 female student, who is married, to room E31 in Akuafo Hall and succeeded in raping her after subjecting her to severe physical pressure.
Mr Tekpor was said to have confessed to the crime in the presence of some members of his family and authorities of the University. The female student, according to the school authorities, is now living under severe trauma and stress.
The statement said investigations by the authorities concluded: "Mr Tekpor is an unreliable, dangerous and elusive character and indeed a fraudster whose entire conduct is unbecoming of a university student."
It said the summary dismissal of Mr Tekpor was without prejudice to whatever legal action that might be instituted against him as a result of the incident. Mr Tekpor was required to hand over any property of the University in his custody, including his student ID card and vacate the University premises within 12 hours upon receipt of his dismissal letter.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 08 May 2002 - An Accra High Court, presided over by Mrs Justice Agnes Dordzie on Tuesday suspended the trial of Charles Quansah, a self-confessed serial killer. The suspension came as a result of what the court describes as " unfair media interference in the matter."
The court said it might only continue with the trial if the National Media Commission and the Minister of Information and Presidential Affairs intervened in the matter. It said the public, through phone in programmes had launched attacks on defence counsel and had already taken sides in the trial of the accused person since the case was brought before it.
This, it said would jeopardise the trial of the case and mar the due process of law. It said as much as the courts were established to punish the perpetrators of crimes, it behoved on the public to stay away from commenting on the matters pending before courts.
Mrs Dordzie cited the "Dispatch", an Accra weekly newspaper, which had been publishing articles about a matter pending before her. Mr Anthony Gyambiby, Principal State Attorney, also expressed concern about the activities of the media and prayed the court to warn the media to desist from commenting on matters pending in courts.
Mr Joseph O. Amui, defence counsel, who made his first appearance in court, expressed his appreciation to the court for the action it had taken. Mr Amui was, however, disgusted at copies of the calendar with photographs of his client and that of Dr Ram Beckley, a medical practitioner and an occultist currently being sold on the market.
The court demanded that a copy of the calendar should be made available to it and consequently adjourned to 21 May. Quansah is alleged to have confessed to the killing of eight women in Accra and Kumasi. On 15 March, an Accra Community Tribunal committed Quansah to the High Court to stand trial on the alleged murder of one Akua Serwa, a 24 year-old hairdresser in Kumasi.
The Prosecution said the accused befriended Serwah in 1996, while in Kumasi, where he allegedly strangled her after a drinking spree at a drinking bar, near the Kumasi Sports Stadium. A Police statement issued on 15 May, last year, alleged that Quansah killed women at Kumasi and Dansoman, Matehako and Adenta all in Accra. The statement said Quansah, who hailed from Komenda in the Central Region, allegedly killed the women by strangulation.
He was arrested at his Adenta residence in February last year following intensified investigations into the serial murders including the setting up of a special team made up of experts in crime scene management and interrogation. The Police said Quansah had served jail terms at the James Fort and Nsawam Medium Security Prisons for rape.
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