GRi Newsreel 05 - 09 -
2003
Tema Fishermen threaten to boycott Farmers' Day
I was victim of coups because of my wealth- Sangari
Nigerian jailed for robbery
South Africa defence delegation to visit Ghana
Police appeal fund yields 11,000 pounds
Bring "Chop Bar" operators to order - officials urged
Foreign NGO donates to hospitals
New strategy to protect wildlife resources - Min
Tema Fishermen threaten to boycott Farmers' Day
Tema (Greater Accra) 5 September 2003 - Members of the National Fisheries Association of Ghana (NAFAG) have threatened to boycott the Farmers' Awards Day celebrations if fishermen were not recognised for their immense contribution to the economy.
They complained that ever since the day was instituted, fishermen and members of the NAFAG have never been considered for awards and that the situation was a disincentive to them.
"We will, therefore, institute our own fishermen's day if fishermen will not be considered in the Farmers' Day celebration", Peter Dadson of the Ocean Fisheries and a member of the NAFAG said during an open forum organised by Association to interact with Edward Martey Akita, Minister of State of Fisheries at Tema.
The Minister was holding his maiden meeting with the members to deliberate on issues impeding the operations of its members. The meeting also discussed the disposing of fish into the sea as a result of bumper catch.
Dadson said the Association might stop contributing to the Agriculture Development Levy (ADL) that is deducted from imported fish, should the government continue to regard it as a governmental levy.
Dadson explained that the Association instituted a levy of ¢10m on 1,000 tonnes of imported fish for the development of the fishing industry, adding that although the levy had not been approved by Parliament, it has been "hijacked" by the government.
The fishermen complained about lack of icing plant to facilitate the storing of fish during the bumper season, as well as what they termed cumbersome bureaucracy in processing documents and the poor management of pre-fix fuel, among other issues.
Robert Kwamina Ocran, Executive Director of Mankoadze Fisheries, appealed to the Minister to organise a three-day seminar for NAFAG members to explain the Fisheries Law 625 and other new directives regarding fish exports as well as issues relating to expatriate fishermen to them.
Akita promised that this time round, the Farmers' Day celebration would take a different turn "because there is a well selected committee" which would select the right people to meet the expectations and aspirations of fishermen.
The Minister said while studying the factors impeding progress of the fishing industry with a view to finding a collaborative solution, he would not countenance the spreading of wrong information.
He urged those who have been telling lies to stop the practice forthwith. Akita said government was losing huge foreign exchange through dubious deals in the fishing industry and asked those flouting the fisheries law 625 with impunity to stop the practice because the law would catch up with them.
He, therefore, entreated all fishing companies to be conversant with the
fisheries law and act accordingly to promote the growth of the sector.
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I was victim of coups because of my wealth- Sangari
Accra (Greater Accra) 5 September 2003 - An industrialist on Thursday told the National Reconciliation Commission (NRC) that he became a victim of military brutalities after the military takeovers of 1979 and 1981 because he was a successful businessman.
In his 70-minute testimony, Mustapha Kobina Sangari, a Lebanese-born Ghanaian said, "success became a hazard" after the military coups. Owner of Kadmus Guest House in Accra, Sangari suspected that his arrest, detention, manhandling, and the loss of his business entities were because Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings, Chairman of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council in 1979, had said that the economic woes of the country emanated from people of "Lebanese and Arab stock".
"I think I was a very rich man in their estimation", he said, adding that he had a farm, a factory and a marketing company, and employed more than 500 people.
Sangari said a number of soldiers surrounded his East Cantonment house the night after June 4 Uprising, held him hostage and fired into his shoulder when he was about to get out of his Mercedes Benz car which they seized. The soldiers also took away hi-fi electronic systems, an elephant tusk and household items.
Sangari said he bled profusely, but could not go to the clinic because a curfew was then in force. A lady friend and one Dr Ababio, a neighbour, gave him first aid. He then took refuge in the Bulgaria Ambassador's Residence.
After a few days he went to London where he underwent surgery for the injury. He returned to Ghana after four months.
Sangari said the soldiers were in his house again on January 26, 1982. After searching his house they took him to his office at Labone, a supermarket at Osu and another business place at Agbogbloshie in Accra and took away his money.
He said he was later taken to East Cantonment and after picking his lady friend both of them were taken to Burma Camp at about 12 mid-night.
At Burma Camp, he said, a man, whom he thought was Kwamena Ahwoi, a Minister in the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC), sat behind a desk and counted the money the soldiers brought. Sangari said Riyadh Hozaifeh, whom he had known since 1973, stood by while the man counted the money. He said he received five slaps according to the rhythmic sounds Hozaifeh made with a pen he was holding.
A soldier also gave his lady friend shocks, and inserted a walkie-talkie into her throat, demanding to know why she was wearing a pair of trousers.
Sangari said the man he thought was Ahwoi did not finish counting the money before mentioning 138,000 as the total amount. He was taken away and detained without any charge for three months in the Recce Guardroom.
He said after his release, he was asked to report to the then National Investigations Committee (NIC), every two weeks. However, his encounters with the NIC lasted only two minutes each time and NIC officials then told him "bye-bye".
His Ghanaian passport, which was seized, was only returned to him in 1995. Sangari said he was also able to get back his Mercedes Benz car, but his hi-fi items, money and personal effects have still not been returned to him.
On his current relationship with Hozaifeh, Sangari said he does not have any problem with him. He said he never saw him again until 1995 when he (Hozaifeh) walked into his house, shook hands with him. During cross-examination, Commissioner Professor Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu, said Hozaifeh has replied to the petition of Sangari.
She said Hozaifeh said he recalled meeting him, but was shocked at allegations against him. Besides, he said, they were good friends. Sangari replied that he did not state in his petition that they were enemies. He added that it was a lie that Hozaifeh said he only helped the soldiers to count some money and never saw the soldiers beating him.
According to Sanagari an unpleasant encounter he said he had with Hozaifeh might be a result of being rude to him in 1981. He said Hozaifeh came to his shop and demanded a bag of rice, a bag of sugar and a carton of milk for the Head of State.
Sangari said he was rude to Hozaifeh when he told him the items were meant for Flt. Lt. Rawlings, and added that even if he would give anything, it would not be more than five kilos each of rice and sugar.
Sangari said David Walenkaki, a senior police officer by then, led a group of about one dozen policemen to arrest him in the night of 20 September 1983 and detained at the Legon Police Station without any charge for 45 days.
He said he dismissed five workers for indiscipline and rudeness, but the Workers Defence Committee (WDC) at his factory made a number of allegations about him to Ato Austin, then Secretary for Labour. He said the Tehoda Committee set up to look into the allegations recommended that he should not be allowed to work in Ghana.
He said he is saddled with debts by his former workers' suits. Sangari said
apart from the emotional disturbances, his family went without food for days.
The Commissioners expressed their sympathy to Sangari. Commissioner Uborr Dalafu
Labal II told Sangari: "I believe the God who built you up will raise you
up."
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Accra (Greater Accra) 5 September 2003 - A 22-year old Nigerian, who was among a gang of armed robbers that held four watchmen hostage and robbed a construction firm of wood processing machines, spare parts and ¢2.5m at Dodowa three years ago, was on Thursday sentenced to 25 years' imprisonment with hard labour by a High Court in Accra.
Michael Obi Abuchi, the Nigerian, pleaded not guilty but six members of the jury that tried him found him guilty on the charges of conspiracy and robbery.
A member of the jury dissented. Abuchi's sentence would take retrospective
effect from 11 July 2000 when he was arrested. He has 30 days to appeal.
Sentencing him, the Court presided over by Justice G.A. Aryeetey stated the
accused must be given a longer sentences to enable the public to go about its
duties peacefully.
The Judge declared: "A child who does not allow the parents to sleep in the night, will also not sleep." Earlier, Abuchi told the court that the charges preferred against him were all hearsays but asked that his wife and son were considered.
"I did not rob any company and I am pleading with the court to deal with me leniently." The Judge said the Prosecution after calling four witnesses had been able to prove that two or more persons committed that act, adding that they took properties belonging to Kasap Construction Company after ransacking their offices.
He said the Prosecution had proved the robbery charge adding that empty shell of cartridges, clothes used in tying up the four watchmen and empty schnapps bottle were found on the premises. The Judge said evidences had also been led on the assertion that Abuchi, who was not in mask, was on the premises of the company with other masked armed men and they drunk and tied up the four watchmen.
Witnesses, who testified in the case, were able to identify him as one of the armed men that invaded the company, as Abuchi was not in mask. The court noted that Abuchi's statement were full of contradictions. He had stated in his caution statement to the Police that he was blind at the time the crime was committed but later regained his sight. "He could not lead evidence to establish that he was blind."
The court was of the view that Abuchi lied to the Police when he told them that he was lodging at the Sea View Hotel in Accra but investigation, however, revealed that he had never lodged there. The Judge noted that although Abuchi, who had earlier told the court that he bought those goods from Nigeria, had no receipts and waybill covering them.
"Abuchi said his passport and his waybills were seized by the Police," the Court noted. The Judge said the goods were found on him and this linked him to the robbery adding all the empty cartons of the goods were with the company. Evidence before the court was that on 11 July 2000 at about 0130 hours armed men numbering about 10 invaded the premises of Kasap Construction Company at Dodowa, tied up four watchmen who were on duty and subsequently locked them up in a storeroom.
Prosecution said the men broke into the premises and took away three wood processing machines; spare parts one Laptop computer, a fax machine and ¢2.5m. They carried the items away in the company's truck. The Prosecutor said the head of the security on his early morning rounds rescued the watchmen and reported the matter to the Police.
The Prosecution said Abuchi and two other persons were arrested when they
offered some of the stolen spare parts for sale in Accra.
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South Africa defence delegation to visit Ghana
Accra (Greater Accra) 5 September 2003 - The South African Minister of Defence, Mosiua Gerard Patrick Lakota, arrives in Accra on Thursday at the head of an eight-member delegation for a three-day official visit during which he would pay a courtesy call on President John Kufuor.
Lakota would be a special guest at a graduation parade at the Ghana Military Academy and Training School at Teshie on Friday.
He is expected to call on the President of the Ga Traditional Council and
travel to Kumasi to meet the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
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Police appeal fund yields 11,000 pounds
Accra (Greater Accra) 5 September 2003 - The appeal fund set up in March this year by the Ghana High Commission, London, to raise funds to procure basic tools for the Ghana Police has so far bagged 11,295.86 pounds, a statement from the High Commission in London said on Thursday.
Dubbed "Five Pounds No Balance" the fund realised 5,200 at a special "Picnic in the Garden" extravaganza held during the Bank Holiday weekend at the High Commission in London.
The eight-hour musical and cultural extravaganza was patronised by representatives of Ghanaian community associations, identifiable groups, members of Nananom associations of the UK and friends of Ghana.
Speaking at the event Isaac Osei, Ghana's High Commissioner to the UK,
thanked Ghanaians, who had so far made generous contributions to the Fund. He
urged the "Five Pounds No Balance" Appeal Fund Committee, made up of
representatives of identifiable Ghanaian community associations, to intensify
its efforts to raise more fund by the end of November.
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Bring "Chop Bar" operators to order - officials urged
Accra (Greater Accra) 5 September 2003 - The Concerned Citizen Association of Ghana (CCAG), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) on Thursday called on the Tourist Board, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and the District Assemblies in the Greater-Accra Region to join efforts to curb the unhygienic practices of food vendors.
A statement signed by the President of the CCAG, Joseph Yaw Aidoo said it was important that those, who prepare and sell food to the public, especially chop bar operators, be examined and be issued with health certificates before they are allowed to operate.
The unhygienic practices of chop bar and drinking bar operators and the fact that some of the chop bars were operating close to public toilets and refuse dumps should be enough to attract the attention of the authorities.
The statement said the issue of ensuring good sanitation at chop bars and drinking bars should not be negotiable and as such the Tourist Board, AMA and allied agencies should act immediately as the majority of ordinary workers patronised these places due to low income.
The Association called on the Tourist Board to apply the same zeal and
commitment that it used to inject sanity into the operation of big hotels to
regulate chop and drinking bars.
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Foreign NGO donates to hospitals
Senya Bereku (Central Region) 5 September 2003 - A Ghanaian non-governmental organization (NGO) in the United States, has presented medical equipment worth $104,000 to seven institutions in the Awutu Senya District and Zabzugu in the Northern Region.
The beneficiary institutions are Winneba Secondary School, Winneba Government Hospital, Winneba Government Hospital, Winneba Central Prison, Otoo and Klimovic Memorial Hospital also in Winneba, Senya Bereku Winneba Hospital and Zabzugu Government Hospital.
The items included drugs, syringes, dressing materials; thermometers and crutches, which were presented by Dr Samuel Q.E. Ghartey, President of the NGO.
Last year the organization donated medical equipment valued at about $170,000 to the Winneba Government Hospital. Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Dr Ghartey stressed the need for Ghanaians to learn to render sacrificial service to supplement government efforts of making life a little bearable for the people
Cap Steve Kwamena Armah (RTD), District Chief Executive for
Awutu-Effutu-Senya, and Kwasi Esseku, the Presiding Member of the district
assembly, expressed their appreciation to the NGO for its concern for Ghanaians
and advised the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the items.
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New strategy to protect wildlife resources - Min
Amokwaw (Western Region) 5 September 2003 - Prof Dominic Fobih, Minister of Lands and Forestry (MLF), on Wednesday said the use of threats and sophisticated weapons by the Ghana Wildlife Division (GWD) to scare people from utilizing wildlife resources in protected areas have failed to yield results.
Instead, the strategy has rather created hostility between the division and the communities living near the protected areas, he said this at the launching of the Amokwaw Community Resource Management Area (CREMA) at Amokwaw near Ankasa in the Jomoro District in the Western Region.
Under CREMA, communities living along the Ankasa Forest Reserve will be given the authority to control and access the resources on their land and ensure that it is not destroyed.
Prof Fobih said the 1994 Forest and Wildlife Policy, advocated the participation of local people in the management of natural resources as the most viable and sustainable method of checking the decline of forest resources in line with the International Conservation Organisations.
CREMA, he said, will also offer opportunities for farmers to integrate land use, reduce poverty and create wealth while ensuring environmental quality.
He however, cautioned the Amokwaw community that the GWD and the MLF would withdraw the management authority from the CREMA Executive Committee (CEC) if it fails to manage the natural resources in accordance with the rules.
He said alternative livelihood projects would be established for communities taking part in the CREMA project. Prof Fobih appealed to conservation organisations and development partners to assist the Amokwaw CREMA to make it a model for other communities to emulate.
Madam Sophia Horner-Sam, Deputy Western Regional Minister said though various environmental policies on forest conservation existed, forest reserves continue to be degraded. Madam Horner-Sam expressed regret that the destruction of forests has led to the extinction of many important animal species and called for measures to address the problem.
Awulae Annor Adjaye II, Omanhene of Western Nzema spoke against the granting
of permits to mining companies to operate in forest reserves. This, he said,
would deprive many communities of their livelihoods, destroy animal species, and
further degrade the environment.
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