GRi Press Review 01 - 09
- 2003
Central Region NPP constituencies back Edumadze
Ghanaians giving up citizenship - Minister alarmed
Prof Atta Mills back home
Prisoner accuses President
Remove trade barriers - Vice Prez appeals to EU
TUC Boss elected President of West Africa Trade Unions
Boakye Djan is no hero - Rawlings
NDC gets the nod for "demo" in Kumasi
Three to die by hanging - Court rules
Anlo youth appeal to IGP for protection
Odoi-Sykes on housing policy
Legon lecturer jailed 14 days
Body of Boakye-Gyan's brother, others to be Exhumed
Central Region NPP constituencies back Edumadze
Cape Coast (Central Region) 1 September 2003 - The 17 Constituencies of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Central Region have reiterated their unalloyed and unflinching commitment to and support for the Regional Minister, Isaac Eduosar Edumadze, due to his exemplary leadership, which has considerably strengthened the structures of the party in the region.
"The greater co-operation and understanding that exists between Edumadze and all the 17 constituencies branches of the party has brought much enthusiasm and dynamism to the front of the party which will culminate in its massive victory at next year's polls," they said.
This was contained in a resolution signed by executives of the branches to reaffirm their commitment to the regional minister, whom they described as the main pillar around which the NPP revolves in the Central Region.
Some of the signatories of the resolution were Ms Abena Otuwah, Agyeman Opoku, for Twifu-Heman-Lower-Denkyira; Mad Amoako Atta, H. Bruce Appiah, Upper Denkyira; Nana Gyamera, Kofi Bonnah, Assin South; Ms Emma Okwan, Assin North; and Francis Asmah, Agyeman Kessie, KEEA.
The rest are Ahunu Agyenkwa, Awutu-Senya; Lawrence Sarbah, Cape Coast; Ms Grace Okoe, Gomoa West; Essel Cobah, D.K. Andorful, Gomoa East; S.K. Erskine, Mfantsiman West; and Taliskis, Agona West.
According to the executives, the leadership style of Edumadze, which his detractors and political opponents detest and vilify, was recognised by them as excellent and invariably in the best and supreme interest of the party to retain political power in the 2004 elections.
"Our regional minister, who is the representative of the President in the region, is a result-oriented personality whose untiring efforts, since his appointment, have led to a remarkable increase in the membership of the party, guaranteeing it a landslide victory at the next general elections," the executives remarked.
They contended that their tacit support for Edumadze also stems from the fact that he is in constant touch with the constituency executives to find out how best the party's growing image among the electorate could be sustained in the foreseeable future.
The executives noted that it would be a travesty of justice if the leadership of the party drew conclusions not based on the observations of the constituency executives who were on the ground but from people who perceived Edumadze as a stumbling block to their personal aspirations and ambitions.
"We would, therefore resist with every considerable force any attempts to remove Edumadze from his position, since the constituency branches cannot tolerate it, especially when, we are actively preparing towards the next general elections," they declared.
The executives said Edumadze deserves tonnes of commendation and support for bringing the "party this far rather than the vilification campaign being waged against him by reactionary elements whose contributions to the party since its formation in 1992 is negligible. - Graphic
Ghanaians giving up citizenship - Minister alarmed
Accra (Greater Accra) 1 September 2003 - Interior Minister, Hackman Owusu-Agyemang has expressed concern about the rate at which Ghanaians resident in Germany are renouncing their citizenship to become Germans. "Just this morning I had to sign 45 certificates for Ghanaians in Germany, who have applied to become German citizens," he told the new German Ambassador to Ghana, Peter Linder.
Owusu-Agyemang said those Ghanaians had to renounce their birthrights because Germany is a country that did not ascribe to the concept of dual citizenship.
Touching on the relationship that had existed between the two countries, the Minister enumerated a number of areas that the Germany government had supported Ghana. "Germany will forever be remembered for its leading crucial role in Ghana's democratic process."
He said apart from financial assistance, the German government offered technical and educational training to officials of political parties during the early stages of the country's democratic process. Owusu-Agyemang noted that not much assistance had come from the German government in the area of security and appealed to the Ambassador for support in that sector.
He announced that by the end of the year the Ghana Police Service would have its security strength increased from 16,000 to 20,000.
The Ambassador expressed satisfaction about the contributions of Ghanaians in Germany, saying: "Ghanaians in Germany are contributing tremendously to the German society and their role is greatly respected."
He said the German government recognized the role that Ghana and President John Kufuor, Chairman of ECOWAS, were playing in ensuring and maintaining peace and security in the West Africa Sub-Region and pledged his country's commitment to the affairs of ECOWAS. - Joy FM
Accra (Greater Accra) 1 September 2003 - The Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Professor John Atta Mills, has returned to Ghana after a two week visit to the United Kingdom-Ireland and North America branches of the party.
During the visit, Prof. Mills met with key political and business figures and interacted with the Ghanaian community in the two nations. This was contained in a release signed by the Deputy General Secretary of the NDC, Baba Jamal, in Accra at the weekend.
According to the release, Prof Mills cut short his visit in order to join the 2 September 2003 NDC demonstration in Kumasi. It said the demonstration, dubbed "Kafo Didi," is being organised by the Ashanti Regional branch of the NDC to highlight the worsening economic hardships and its concomitant effect on the broad masses of the people.
The release said the demonstration would also mark the start of a nation-wide protest against plans by the Kufuor administration to increase the VAT rate from 12.5 per cent to 15 per cent, which would impose an additional tax burden on the people.
It said the former President and Founder of the NDC, Flt Lt (Rtd) Jerry John Rawlings, is also expected back in Accra from Europe at the weekend to join the National Chairman of the party, Dr Obed Yao Asamoah, to participate in the demonstration.
The release said a special team from the national headquarters, made up of key organisers of the 6 May 2003 "March for Survival" in Accra, had already arrived in Kumasi to assist in the preparations. - Graphic
Accra (Greater Accra) 1 September 2003 - One of the beneficiaries of the President's recent amnesty granted amnesty to over 2000 prisoners on this year's Republic Day on 1 July, has blamed the President of depriving him of his prison life. "I felt so angry and sad that the President included me on the list of the prisoners who were to gain their prison", said the prisoner, Yaw Sando, also known as Ginger.
He made this remark at an Accra Circuit Court. Yaw was in court for stealing a car belonging to Sadiya Mohammed, wife of Mohammed Gargo, the Italy based Ghanaian international footballer.
He was arrested on Wednesday, 13 August, on the Spintex road, barely 44 days after being granted amnesty. The court has therefore sentenced him to seven years imprisonment and told him to go where he belongs.
Immediately, he descended from the dock, Yaw Santo said "in prison we are free, no one pays electricity nor water bills. No landlord also bothers you with rent and at least we enjoy free meals without giving chop money as everything is free". "Life outside prison is very hard with no job to do even after one is released from prison", Sando added.
The court had been told that Sando and his colleague, known only as Adjogoli followed Sadiya Mohammed who was driving on the Accra-Tema motorway on that fateful day. The car developed a mechanical fault at about 10 am, so she parked off the road and hired another car back to Accra to pick a mechanic to repair it.
However, on her arrival an hour later, the car was nowhere to be found. She lodged a complaint with the Police Panthers Unit, who mounted a search for it. At about 2 pm the same day, the Police spotted Sando and Adjogoli driving the car on the Spintex road. They chased them until Sando stopped the car. He attempted to escape but was arrested. Adjogoli however managed to escape. - Spectator
Remove trade barriers - Vice Prez appeals to EU
Accra (Greater Accra) 1 September 2003 - The Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, has called on the European Union (EU), to remove trade barriers and other restrictions, which hinder the economic development of Ghana and Africa as a whole.
Speaking at a meeting with the German Ambassador to Ghana, Peter Linder, at the Castle the Vice-President urged Germany to use its influence in the European Union to evolve policies and measures that would benefit Ghana and other developing nations.
The Vice-President also met the Korean Ambassador to Ghana, Lee Sung-Pal, and two delegations led by Bob Kilger, Deputy Speaker of the Canadian House of Commons and Rev Benjamin Boni, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Cote d'Ivoire.
The meetings discussed bilateral trade, democracy, peace, and strengthening of parliament, among other things. The Vice-President urged the German Ambassador to join hands with the government to bring investors to Ghana.
He suggested that a scheme be worked out between the German Embassy and the Ministry of Private Sector Development to attract businesses and investments for the benefit of the two countries.
The ambassador, on his part, announced that negotiations on double taxation between Ghana and Germany had been concluded to enhance business and investment. He said Germany had decided to increase its support for developing countries by seven per cent.
At the turn of the South Korean Ambassador, the Vice-President commended the Korean Government for financing the Buipe-Bolgatanga petroleum pipeline project. The Canadian Deputy Speaker, who was accompanied to the Castle by parliamentarians, were on a three-nation tour and participated in a two-day seminar on the theme, "Parliamentary Democracy: The Canadian Experience," with their Ghanaian counterparts.
Vice-President Mahama expressed the hope that their long-standing experience would help to improve Ghana's Parliamentary culture, which was being nurtured. He hailed Canada's interest in Africa, especially Ghana, saying it had made significant contributions to the water and energy sectors to improve the quality of life of Ghanaians.
Kilger said even though the two countries had different democratic institutions, the values and principles were the same. The Speaker of Parliament, Peter Ala Adjetey, said the two parliaments had had cordial relationships over the last two years.
The nine-member delegation, which had already been to Nigeria, would leave for Sierra Leone today. The Ivorian Methodist delegation thanked President John Kufuor and Ghanaians for the crucial role they played in the resolution of the crisis in Cote d'Ivoire. Rev Dr Samuel Asante-Antwi, Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Conference, Ghana, accompanied them.
The Vice-President stressed the need for the state and the church to work together to ensure peace and socio-economic development. He said though peace was a prerequisite for progress, it was often taken for granted until violent conflicts erupted. The Vice-President condemned religious violence, saying it was worthless as all religions professed to serve God and preached peace. - Graphic
TUC Boss elected President of West Africa Trade Unions
Bamako (Mali) 1 September 2003 - The Secretary-General of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Kwasi Adu- Amankwah has been elected as the President of the Organization of Trade Unions of West Africa (OTUWA). A statement issued by the Public Affairs Department of the TUC said Adu-Amankwah was elected at the OTUWA General Council meeting held in Bamako, Mali.
Other members elected were Mrs Rabiatu Serah Diallo of Guinea (Vice-president), Desejado Lima Da Losta of Guinea-Bissau (Second Vice-president) and Fakoroban Toure of Cote d'Ivoire (Secretary-General).
The rest are Lamine Fall of Senegal (Assistant Secretary-General in charge of International Relations), Seydou Diara of Mali (Assistant Secretary-General in charge of Economic Affairs and Finance) and Owei Lakemfa of Nigeria (Assistant Secretary General in charge of Education, Training, Press and Documentation).
The statement said the newly elected members replace the provisional executive committee of the organization. It said the General Council of OTUWA retained the secretariat of the organization in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire. - Joy FM
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Boakye Djan is no hero - Rawlings
Accra (Greater Accra) 1 September 2003 - Ex-President Jerry John Rawlings has finally spoken. He says Major (rtd) Boakye Djan is not a hero of 4 June but rather a coward who proved to be dummy by running into hiding at his wife's residence at Achimota School when the guns began smoking on that fateful day.
"Look, the man is useless, I created him and gave him political life by naming him into the Council. He is simply a coward. He is claiming to be a hero now because his name was the first I mentioned in the radio announcement. On that day, everything was hot, I was only mentioning the names of people I knew and because he was a friend his name readily came to mind. I had to call the names of all the soldiers both senior and junior. I remember as I was mentioning the names, somebody was also writing more on a piece of paper," he said.
Rawlings, who was speaking in an interview with The Chronicle in Accra, said but for the cowardice and procrastination of the likes of Boakye Djan, the rage and anger of the soldiers would not have reached such heights and cost the lives of "so many of our generals. Had we moved in 77 or even 78 as urged by some of us the explosion would have been much better managed."
"Boakye was wasting time and he lost all his friends as a result of his cowardice. The first time we wanted to move he said 'No! No! No! you should wait.' The second time he said we should allow him to move from the Directorate of Public Relations (DPR) to the Military Intelligence (MI).
"When he got there he said we should wait for him to move into a unit so that he can have combat troops so he again applied to move from MI to 5BN and still he could not do anything," he said. The ex-President continued that, "Here I am, Boakye Djan is at 5BN. He said we should wait when he is on duty at Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC). There we waited again, days, weeks no action. So I asked that we should move; then he said he didn't have ammunition. He wanted everything to wait for him."
Rawlings, however, said that they all tolerated Bokaye Djan's procrastinations for a while because they knew that he was an intelligent soldier who could mobilize the soldiers for the action but because of his chronic cowardice he lost most of his friends, leaving me as his only sympathetic friend.
KONADU'S CONFIRMATION
The former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, who appeared visibly shocked by some of the public pronouncements of Major Boakye Djan, said on the evening of the coup, she was at her mother's house when a military vehicle pulled up.
"Larry Lee, Richard Fodjuor, Bannerman and, possibly, Opoku Lartey came out and asked me if I knew the house of Boakye Djan's wife because they were looking for him and they understand he was at his wife's house. I was a bit scared but Larry assured me that it wasn't anything serious"- Konadu.
"I went with them to Achimota School, where I knew Opeibea (Boakye Djan's wife) was living. They showed us the house and when Larry asked whether Boakye Djan was there, somebody said he was not there. Larry started shouting, you coward, come out, we know you are here, come out. There we heard a female voice inside saying, he is coming, he is dressing, Larry said, we have finished the fight, and come out too you are still hiding here"- Konadu.
The ex-first lady said at that juncture she drove off in her mum's car and left them there. According to Rawlings, the hero claims of Boakye Djan are absolutely hollow because the event of 4 June was brought about by hundreds of heroes all over the armed forces and that no single person could have brought it about.
"I played my part and so did hundreds of others, including officers and other ranks, even though the officers were the most threatened and that was why most of them escaped, notably Boakye Djan who, early that morning, sneaked through the bushes behind Burma Camp and went to Achimota School where he cowardly hid throughout the action.
"Though I respect heroic deeds, heroic claims are not my cup of tea," Rawlings said. Rawlings noted that while Boakye Djan's cowardice was at its peak, the anger of the other ranks had also reached its zenith, adding that the command chain within the Armed Forces had broken down so much that there was a time when the other ranks were in charge of the country for two weeks.
He said when he could not wait any more he began scouting for people, adding that it was there that he spotted one Mensah Poku at the Mortar Unit.
The ex-President added that even senior officers in the Armed Forces knew that a coup could take place anytime. "I told them that they should just leave the keys of the Armory at a place where I could find them. I said this openly but nothing happened." He said there were so many occasions that "we assembled for action but for one reason or the other somebody never showed up."
"Ask Boakye Djan, he can't tell you anything he did. He ran away through the bush. He knows he is going to be exposed so he says his chief operative of the 4 June was Lt. Agyeman Bio. He uses Bio's name because he is dead," Rawlings said.
According to the ex-President, Lt. Bio died on 4 June and "he was shouting let's save Rawlings! Let's save Rawlings! He committed suicide long before the operation started." The ex-President charged that if Major Boakye Djan is the hero of 4 June, as he is trumpeting, why was he not the chairman.
BOAKYE DJAN WALKS AWAY
Speaking to The Chronicle in his hotel room at Labone last Thursday, Major (rtd) Boakye Djan declined to discuss the specific issues raised by the ex-president, insisting that he was not prepared to answer such questions but wanted to tell his side of the story.
The Chronicle reminded him that he was being offered the best professional opportunity to respond to the specific issues raised by the ex-president. He got up from his seat at a point in the interview and said, "Listen, I don't want to talk to you again, I say I want to tell my side of the story, I don't want to talk to you."
When he finally settled down to resume the interview, he told The Chronicle that he was the one who made Rawlings the chairman of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council. "I put his name on the board at the Air Force station as the chairman," he said.
On the role he played on 4 June, Boakye Djan said that June 4 was planned in four phases and that he was involved in all the stages. "Phase one was the preparatory stage, phase two was the firefight phase. Phase three was the administration phase and phase four was the handing over and post-handing over phase"
"So what role did you play in all the phases?" The Chronicle asked. "I was involved throughout the stages. It depends on the phase you are concerned with," he answered.
The retired major said that he got involved in the preparatory stage soon after he joined the Armed Forces on October 31, 1970.
He continued: "Even though it was a civilian administration, what I heard and saw within Military circles was that our constitutional stability could not be taken for granted, even as a cadet. So immediately I passed out a few friends and I got together and discussed about the need to set up a conscious group within the Army to educate the soldiers about the need to sustain democracy in the country"
For this reason, Boakye Djan said he led his group to establish the Free Africa Movement within the Armed Forces, which he said operated underground because they could not go political in the Army.
When he was asked about the members of this group, he said he could not tell The Chronicle the names of the members because some are still serving officers in the Ghana Armed Forces, while others have passed away. The only member whose name he mentioned was one Lt. Bannerman of the Air Force.
He said his underground movement used the teaching of current affairs to organize and recruit officers because at that time they needed to pass their current affairs exams before they could be promoted and he was in charge of the teaching of current affairs.
Major Boakye Djan said the Free Africa Movement continued with its underground work until the 1972 coup, a situation that he said confirmed their fears that the country's democracy was at risk.
"What even disturbed us most was when people like Col. Tachie-Menson used to throw their weight around that it would take them at least 20 years in government. That was very scary because they would have ended their rule in 1992," he said.
Boakye Djan said the Free Africa Movement then began to shape their policies and responses to stop the Acheampong government from staying in power until 1992.
"So we (members of the group) came out with a cut-off point that if by 1984 they were still in power we would remove them because that would have been the rank where most of us would have been Lieutenant Colonels and Colonels and be in the position to move troops," he said.
Boakye Djan said it was in that preparatory move that May 15 came and Rawlings, who was also espousing a similar policy as the Free Africa Movement, was picked and tried.
"So when it became clear that he was going to be executed, we took a position that the senior officers had no moral or legal basis to try him because they themselves were walking illegalities, because they had overthrown a constitutionally elected government."
Boakye Djan said they overthrew the Akuffo regime because they wanted to hold the officers who overthrew the Busia government accountable for committing high treason.
The retired officer added that it was because Rawlings was espousing the same ideas that the Free Africa Movement had that they fought for his release, which also led to the 4 June uprising.
Boakye Djan said Rawlings is no longer his friend and that whether Bio committed suicide or not, is for the ex-President to prove because what he was told was that Bio died during the fighting.
He concluded that there were three reasons for the 4 June uprising - to remove the Akuffo regime from power, reconstruct the criminal justice system and handover to a civilian administration. "This is exactly what we did," he added. - Chronicle
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NDC gets the nod for "demo" in Kumasi
Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 1 September 2003 - The National Democratic Congress (NDC) now has the nod to embark on the much-awaited "march for survival" in Kumasi tomorrow.
Official party contacts in Kumasi said the Inspector General of Police (IGP) gave the green light at a meeting with party executives in Accra, described as "very cordial." The organizers have given the assurance that they will ensure its peaceful conduct.
The Chronicle source said the party had to go beyond the regional directorate of the Police Service to make sure that after complying with the Public Order Act by giving the required notice the police did not give any more excuses after the march had suffered two postponements previously.
Dubbed "Okafo Didi," tomorrow's march is supposed to be the mother of all demonstrations by the NDC to protest against "harsh economic policies" by the NPP government.
The nine-hour (from 7 am to 4 pm) demonstration which begins from the Post Office Square in Kumasi through the Prempeh Street, Fuller Road, A-Life Traffic Light, Asafo market roundabout and the Roman Hill to the Zongo police station ends with a rally at the Jackson's park.
The Chronicle has also gathered that the demonstration would be led by former President, J.J. Rawlings (founder and father of the party), Prof. John Evans Atta Mills (flagbearer), Dr. Obed Yao Asamoah (national chairman of NDC), Dr. Josiah Aryeh (general secretary), Doe Adjaho (minority chief whip) Samuel Ofosu Ampofo (national organizer). Others to be in the frontline will be all ranking members of parliament, including Moses Asaga and former DCE's, Ministers and MP's.
Former Minister of Finance, Dr. Kwesi Botchwey, who failed in his bid to lead the party in the 2004 elections has reportedly arrived in the country over the weekend to participate in what the NDC describes as "the special event" in Kumasi.
The march, The Chronicle also gathered, would be under the command of the MP for Wenchi West, Johnson Asiedu-Nketiah (alias General Mosquito) with Mrs. Ama Benyiwa Doe as the second in command.
The NDC contact confided in The Chronicle that some NPP followers have lent their support, having realized the harsh policies of the government. But for fear of reprisal, other top NPP supporters would have joined the march to identify with the NDC, the Chronicle was told.
Explaining the basis and justification of the demonstration, the regional secretary of the party, Sly Akakpovie, pointed to 100% cumulative increases in tariffs, hikes in petroleum products, which he said had affected production and cost of goods and services and additional taxes against increased salaries.
He also mentioned the National Health Insurance scheme (NHIS), which, he claimed, was mooted by the NDC for adoption by the NPP. According to him the NHIS is good except that the method of implementation is questionable.
He said although it is good for government to finance healthcare delivery, funding must not be done to overtax the people or discriminate against anybody. "Overall benefits should be fairly and equally shared among Ghanaians," he said.
The party scribe said the NPP government must be told in plain words that it had woefully failed Ghanaians by not fulfilling its electoral promises on the wings of which they gained power.
"We expect the NPP to deliver on their election promises and not engage in self glorification," he said, adding "we want action, so if you promise, you deliver."
Akakpovie said the much touted Zero Tolerance for Corruption is a sham because corruption is still high on the scale and that the government has not made any effort to tackle it.
He called on Ghanaians to be vigilant and demand probity and accountability from the NPP government saying after 46 years of independence "we must go beyond trial and error type of governance."
Akakpovie appealed to all sympathizers and followers of the NDC to comport themselves during the demonstration to make it peaceful. - Chronicle
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Three to die by hanging - Court rules
Elmina (Cape Coast) Three persons involved in the Elmina murder case, were last Friday, sentenced to death by hanging by an Accra high court.
The sentence was handed down after a-seven-member jury returned a unanimous verdict of guilty against the accused persons, Ebenezer Mark Owusu, 25, John Kwesi Williams, 68, and Alex Kobina Akomsi, 60, a businessman.
The deceased, Ewura Esi Segbefia, died as a result of excessive harm caused to her following a fractured right lower jaw and the removal of her genital organ leading to extreme loss of blood among other injuries in her residence in Ntranoa, near Elmina in the Central Region, three years ago.
Giving a sum-up of evidence adduced in court, the trial judge, Justice G.A. Aryittey noted that the prosecution had been able to adduce clear and abundant evidence against Owusu, 1st accused and Williams, 2nd accused, a step-father of the former, following further confession statements made on the crime they committed.
According to the court, the 3rd accused, Akomsi, who lives in Abidjan and Elmina and a friend to the 2nd accused person, had not made any confession statement and, for that matter, it was incumbent on the prosecution to establish his guilt through an independent investigation.
The court found statements made by 1st accused as contradictory and for which the court could not rely on.
Evidence before the court indicated that 1st accused, who was a house boy to the deceased, made a statement to the police to the effect that the deceased was killed by her business partners and later on admitted committing the offence but retracted the confession statement made.
The court further noted that the 3rd accused had denied all the offence indicating that he was no where near the scene of the incident on the day in question.
Akomsi told the court that he was with his wife throughout the day in question, which was corroborated in evidence by his wife. However, 1st and 2nd accused persons incriminated the 3rd accused in evidence, saying that the later aided in killing the deceased.
The court noted that the investigators depended on the statements made by the 1st and 2nd accused against the 3rd accused, which cannot be accepted as independent investigation to warrant his conviction.
Prosecution indicated that on 18 January 2000, Williams and Akomsi visited the deceased and on the fourth day, all the three accused persons met and plotted a plan to kill Ewura Esi.
Prosecution further told the court that in the evening of 25 January 2000, Akomsi picked up Williams in his car and drove to the residence of the deceased at Ntranoa, where Owusu opened the gate.
Owusu later on took a club and in the company of the other two accomplices entered the bedroom of the deceased and hit her head several times, while Williams held her tightly by the neck until she became unconscious.
Akomsi then took a pair of scissors and a knife, which he had on him and removed the deceased's genital organ. Furthermore, prosecution said Owusu then took two unserviceable television sets of the deceased and placed them in a V.W Beetle car and drove away.
The following day, Owusu made a report to the police that some business partners of the deceased attempted to kill him but he managed to escape from the house and therefore wanted the police to assist.
Owusu was later arrested and he confessed to committing the crime, together with the two other accomplices. Williams also confessed to committing the crime when arrested, but Akomsi denied his involvement.
Meanwhile, after the verdict was pronounced on the accused, Owusu and Williams said they had nothing to say but Akomsi indicated that, the allegation levelled against him is false and he will appeal against it. - Chronicle
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Anlo youth appeal to IGP for protection
Ho (Volta Region) 1 September 2003 - The leadership of the Anlo youth has appealed to the Inspector General of Police, Nana Owusu Nsiah, to order an investigation into the circumstances under which Alex Atiasa, son of a retired police officer Patrick Agboba, arrived in Anloga on 21 August, and fired volleys of ammunition into the air to intimidate the townsfolk, who were opposing the illegal outdooring of one Agboba, his father.
The youth leaders said the activities of Alex Atiasa include the violent assault on a member of the Royal Adzovia Clan that is opposed to Agboba's bid to occupy the exalted Awoamezi.
According to the youth leaders, plans are far advanced to stage a peaceful street protest to register their disapproval of Agboba as the heir to the throne and have vowed to resist any attempt to impose him on them.
"We know that Agboba has the support of certain prominent politicians from the area who are encouraging him to force his way onto the throne," Paul Kunkpe, a youth leader, explained.
Chronicle undercover agents who spent the weekend in the ancient town can confirm that the youth of the town are gearing up to hold peaceful street demonstrations to register their protest against the move by certain politicians, who hail from the area but are not kingmakers, to impose the retired police officer on the people.
According to the youth of the town, the modalities by which these prominent politicians are forcibly trying to install the retired police officer will only bring violence and further polarize the people and serve as a further point of disunity and ultimately impede the progress of the area.
A cross section of the youth leaders spoken to say the haughty attitude of his sons and their constant intimidation of residents of the town are not the attributes of princes and will therefore resist every attempt to impose him on the state.
Meanwhile a high level meeting was held last weekend to resolve the lingering chieftaincy dispute. Sources at the meeting told this reporter that the meeting was held in an atmosphere devoid of the fear and tension that has been engendered in the Anlo State, following media reports that a new Awoamefia had been installed.
According to our source, many prominent Anlo citizens who attended the meeting expressed their utmost unhappiness with the faction that put out the story about the installation of an Awoamefia.
To consolidate the prevailing peace and bring a speedy end to the crisis, a nine member committee, comprising representatives of the three gates, certain chiefs and other prominent citizens of the area had been set up to hold further consultations. - Chronicle
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Toronto (Canada) 1 September 2003 - Ghana's High Commissioner to Canada, Samuel Odoi-Sykes, has identified corruption, mismanagement and fraud as factors, which have continued to sabotage government's effort to provide affordable housing for all Ghanaians.
"Programmes have been drawn up and strategies made to house Ghanaians. However, factors like corruption, mismanagement and fraud have combined to sabotage many genuine efforts," Odoi-Sykes said.
He said houses, which were built by State Housing Corporation went to the wrong people and thus affordable houses, which were built for ordinary Ghanaians, became unaffordable.
Odoi-Sykes was speaking recently at the opening of a housing road show (exhibition) organized by the Ghana Real Estate Developers Association (GREDA) in the Canadian commercial capital, Toronto, according to a GREDA release issued in Accra on Friday.
He further stated that the perennial problem of acute housing in Ghana still persists, adding that housing Ghanaians has been a problem to successive governments since independence. "The problem," he said, "lies with money."
His Excellency told both Ghanaians and locals who attended the function that the present housing shortage in Ghana is estimated to be between 300,000 and 350,000 units.
According to him, what is required to keep this situation from worsening is for government to be able to produce 130,000 housing units every year. But he recounted that the collective efforts of all the building companies currently going on in the country can produce only 25,000 housing units each year, thus the situation could not be better, he added.
The High Commissioner, however, praised GREDA for its honest effort and hard work and encouraged all Ghanaians in the diaspora to do business with GREDA members in their efforts to acquire decent homes back in Ghana.
The president of GREDA, Hon. D.B.K. Adu, said the real estate developers were in Toronto to support the decisions of Ghanaians living in Canada to make investments back in Ghana.
He noted that while the major developers were in Toronto, they would pursue vigorous avenues for joint venture relationships as well as new and appropriate building technologies and building materials and finances.
In an opening remark, Emmanuel Antwi of Positive Options Canada (the local organizers) recounted the problems many Ghanaians living abroad encountered in their efforts to acquire their own houses in Ghana. During the two-day exhibition, which was organized for the Ghanaian community, the developers showcased a wide variety of housing delivery schemes currently available in Ghana. - Chronicle
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Accra (Greater Accra) 1 September 2003 - A lecturer at the University of Ghana, Benjamin Safo Kantanka Wiredu, has been convicted to 14 days imprisonment by an Accra high court, for disobeying the orders of a circuit court, which gave a decision on a divorce writ filed by him. In addition, Wiredu is to pay a fine of ¢10m and in default, serve another two weeks imprisonment.
The court, presided over by Justice G.A. Aryittey, further indicated that after serving the sentence, Wiredu should comply with the orders of the circuit court or face the axe of the law again.
The sentence was handed down last Friday, when a contempt of court charge was brought against the lecturer, nearly two years after the circuit court order was issued in September 2001.
Wiredu, however, showed no remorse in his affidavit for not complying with the court orders. According to the court, his behaviour puts the justice system into disrepute. Before sentence was passed on the lecturer, he began showing signs of remorse. "My Lord, I did not know that things would turn out this way, I am sorry," Wiredu told the court.
Wiredu, who lives on a salary of ¢1.5million a month, was directed by an Accra circuit court about one and a half years ago to pay ¢400,000 as maintenance fee, provide accommodation, bedding and furniture for his baby, then one and half years old and his estranged wife.
Wiredu was to return the baby in his custody to the mother since it is not in accordance with the law. However, the lecturer refused to comply with the orders. He was then cited for contempt of court.
The court indicated that the salary of ¢1.5million is no excuse for non-payment of maintenance fees to be paid, when Wiredu noted in his affidavit that his salary is not enough to satisfy the circuit court orders. - Chronicle
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Body of Boakye-Gyan's brother, others to be Exhumed
Accra (Greater Accra) 1 September 2003 - The bodies of eight persons who were killed during the PNDC regime are to be exhumed on 11 September at the Mile 11 Public Cemetery, off the Accra-Winneba road, for re-burial. The National Reconciliation Commission is scheduled to carry out the exhumation of the bodies for onward transfer to their families for decent burials.
The bodies are those of Kyeremeh Djan, Godwin Mawuli Kofi Dra-Goka, Yaw Brefo Berko, Samuel Boamah Panyin, Samuel Charles Aforo, Richard Charles Koomson and those of those of two unknown persons.
According to the Independent, its sources as saying that the National Reconciliation Commission (NRC) has dispatched letters to the affected families under the signature of Dr Kenneth A. Attafuah, Executive Secretary of the NRC.
The NRC has asked the authorized representatives of the deceased to report at the Pathology Department of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital on the morning of the exhumation. The paper's investigations also revealed that as of 17 April 2003, the NRC had obtained on application, an order from the District Court, Osu-Accra for the exhumation of the bodies.
The order which was granted by the District Court provides that the exhumation should be undertaken in the presence of a representative from the Ministry of Interior under the authority of the Minister, the Police Regional Commander or his duly authorized officer, a registered medical officer, an official from the Environmental Agency and a representative each from the deceased's family.
Christian Goka, elder brother of Mawuli Goka and Mrs Evelyn Owusu, sister of Boakye Djan both made a strong case for the exhumation of the bodies of their family members when they appeared before the commission.
The arrest, torture and execution of the said persons have become the sources of several commentaries by sections of Ghanaian society. - Independent
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