The Court of Appeal has begun hearing a case involving a trademark controversy in which Oheneba Kasempa Enterprise has appealed against a ruling of the High Court given in favour of Macbells Company Limited. The Commercial Division of the High Court on October 23, 2013 ordered Oheneba Kasempa Enterprise to pay GH¢30,000 as special damages to Macbells Company Limited for wrongfully accusing and harassing the latter of imitating its ‘abensuo’ alcoholic beverage. The court, presided over by Mrs Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, also awarded Macbells Company general damages of GH¢10,000 and ordered Oheneba Kasempa Enterprise to pay costs of GH¢8,000. Furthermore, the court slapped a perpetual injunction on Oheneba Kasempa Enterprise restraining it from seizing or in any way interfering with Macbells Company’s right to production and sale of ‘Xtra Time Abe Nsuo Ginger Liquor,’ either by itself, assigns or agents and or particularly the police. At the end of the trial, the court held that Oheneba Kasempa Enterprise did not have an exclusive right to the use of the palm tree as a trademark. According to the court, had Oheneba Kasempa Enterprise not taken the strange legal position that it had rights over the depiction of a palm tree on any type of ‘abensuo’ liquor, it would have spared Macbells Company the unnecessary pain and hardship of police arrests, raids and the court action. It said the court necessarily evaluated what Oheneba Kasempa Enterprise should have expected to be the consequences of its acts in accusing Macbells Company as imitating its products when it had not taken steps to identify and establish exactly where the production of the said commodity was coming from. The court said the Supreme Court had made it clear that when a party acted in an unreasonable manner, knowing it would cause costs to another person, then it was appropriate that damages awarded were not token, but reflective of the unwarranted pain caused. “The plaintiff has claimed both special and general damages. I have no doubt at all in my mind that the plaintiff is entitled to damages for the unwarranted harassment that the defendant has put it through,” the court further held. Dissatisfied with the ruling, Oheneba Kasempa Enterprise, represented by Mr Yaw Tenkorang, filed an appeal, praying the higher court to reverse the entire judgement in its favour, including the damages and costs. According to the grounds of the appeal, the judgement was against the weight of evidence on record, while the trial judge misdirected herself that the police who effected the arrest on suspicion of imitation of the appellant’s product failed to produce evidence. In addition, the appellant claims that the trial judge erroneously held that it failed to prove that Macbells Company was secretly imitating its product. It further said the trial judge erroneously held that Macbells Company Limited was entitled to damages and cost for unwarranted harassment by the police at the instance of Oheneba Kasempa Enterprise, pointing out that such damages and costs were punitive, excessive and burdensome and must be set aside.  

  It was all joy and jubilation as the people of Nyafutu, a small fishing and foodstuff-producing community along the shores of the Volta Lake, replaced their lanterns with a solar-powered lighting system. The village, with a population of about 200, lies in the Upper Manya District and can only be reached by a canoe. It had been without electricity ever since the people settled there, nearly 60 years ago. The anticipated short ceremony to hand over the solar lamps to the heterogeneous population, comprising various tribes, nearly turned into a mini-durbar as men, women and children sang and danced to express their joy. The provision of the 40 lamps by the Upper Manya Krobo District Assembly was the first step of the assembly’s initiative to provide the community  a dependable source of energy before they could be connected to the national grid in the near future. Mr Joseph Tetteh Angmor, the District Chief Executive, who handed over the lamps to the people, said the assembly was moved by their plight and had to come out first with a “Macedonian help,” adding that the actual electrification of the village would follow in due course. Other villages which have so far benefitted from the scheme are Subriso, Brukum Kponya, Brukum Tsrebuana and Nyonyem. The project cost GH¢20,000, out of which the central government provided 70 per cent with the assembly providing the remaining 30 per cent.  With regard to the provision of other infrastructure, Mr Angmor outlined a number of projects such as the rehabilitation of a school in the area to make it possible for pupils to attend classes. The Head of the community, Dadematse Agbo Siako, received the items on behalf of the community and thanked the assembly, especially Mr Angmor, for coming to their aid. He gave the assurance that the lamps would be evenly distributed so that no section of the village would be in darkness. “We have been in darkness ever since our forefathers settled here nearly 60 years, and we thank you for bailing us out from darkness, ” Dadematse Siako stated. He appealed to the government to supply them with outboard motors to power canoes for fishing. The Assembly member for the area, Mr George Agbadam, who facilitated the supply of the lamps, advised the people to take good care of the lamps.  

  Various Christian denominations held watch-night church services to ussher in 2014, during which they prayed for peace, unity and the prosperity of the country. Churches within the Accra Metropolis were filled to capacity as early as 7 p.m. with members trooping in early in order to be assured of their seats. The various churches, especially the charistmatic ones, dubbed their watch-night services with catchy slogans, such as “Crossover”, “Passover”, “Switchover”, “Walkover”, and “Jumpover” in order to attract floating Christians who only attend church service on December 31. At a joint service by the St Thomas More Catholic Church, Achimota, and the St John Fisher Catholic Church, New Achimota, the officiating minister, Rev. Father Blaise Bobi-Attachie, charged Christians to lead the crusade for a change in attitude in the society, reports Ransford Tetteh. He said Ghanaians had described 2013 as a very difficult year and wished the New Year would offer hope for a better future. Preaching to many worshippers at the auditorium of the St John Fisher Catholic Church, Father Bobie-Attachie said unless the people turned over a new leaf, the challenges of nation building would not go away. He charged Christians to lead the way to a life of perfection, good health and prosperity. At the Kaneshie Congregation of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, members of the Armed Forces Central Band ignited the atmosphere with their soothing popular Ghanaian highlife tunes and crowned their performance by playing the Halleluyah Chorus to the admiration of all, reports Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah. Members of the church danced their hearts out after the Second Minister, Reverend Roy Asiamah, announced the entry into the New Year at exactly 12.00 midnight amid the sounding of the last post by the Armed Forced Band. Preaching the sermon earlier on the theme “If God Be for Us, Who will Be Against Us”, Rev Asiamah urged Ghanaians to let the year 2014 be a turning point in their crooked spiritual lives. He asked Ghanaian leaders to entrust their lives and governance into the hands of God since regardless of their expertise, they were not certain about exactly what would happen in 2014. “We should depend on God who knows what is before us. Woe unto us if we place our trust in the hands of human beings”, he stated. Mary Mensah reports from the headquarters of the Royalhouse Chapel International in Accra, that preaching the sermon, the Apostle General of the church, Reverend Sam Korankye Ankrah called on Christians to be steadfast and pray for the country, adding that 2014 was a year of divine advantage and liberation. Rev Korankye Ankrah asked the security agencies to be vigilant and strengthen the country’s borders as some evil doers would try to destabilise the country probably around the month of June using the borders. At the Santa Maria Central branch of the Church of Pentecost, the district pastor, Mr David Addo, in a sermon titled “You would not go empty handed,” that God would provide all their needs, said even though some challenges might have been encountered in 2013, “there will be no sorrow in 2014,” Emelia Ennin Abbey writes. Accra Metro Park The Accra Metropolitan Assembly park, where the Global Revival Ministries held its watch-night service, was filled to capacity, writes Salomey Appiah. The General Overseer of the church, Reverend Dr Robert Ampiah-Kwofi, urged the congregation to ask for grace and peace from God in the New Year for success in their endeavours. Severious Kale-Dery reports that the Parish Priest of the St John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Adentan, Very Rev Fr Anthony Richard Opong, who led the congregation in the intercessory prayers to enter the New Year, declared 2014 as a year of many blessings, “if we believe in the saving powers of God”. Very Rev Fr Opong urged Ghanaians to leave behind them all the challenges they faced last year and to enter the New Year determined to work hard to realise their resolutions. Action Chapel International The General Overseer of Action Chapel International (ACI), Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams, noted with concern that the “God factor” had always not been incorporated into governance and urged Ghanaian leaders to let 2014 serve as a fine opportunity to allow God to “rule in our lives”, reports Sebastian Syme. Preaching the sermon at the church’s Impartation Night on December 31 to usher in the New Year, Archbishop Duncan-Williams said failure to recognise the “God factor” accounted for the bad state of affairs currently confronting most nations of the world. Accra Sports Stadium Charles Benoni Okine reports that  thousands of worshippers from all walks of life welcomed the New Year in style at a mammoth watchnight service at the Accra Sports Stadium. Dubbed the Crossover, the service organised by the International Central Gospel Church, was led by Pastor Mensa Otabil who preached and declared the new year “A year of Order”. Pastor Otabil asked Ghanaians to order their lives and project into the future, using a target of 20 years, adding that “once we order our lives in all we do, irrespective of our age, we shall get there by God’s grace”. Albert Sam reports that the churches in the country were admonished not to limit their teachings and other humanitarian activities to landmark festivities such as  the Yuletide and Easter. The Very Reverend Rosebud M. Adjaottor of the Calvary Methodist Church, Community 5, Tema, who gave the advice, said the preponderance of churches making Easter and Christmas the only periods of Christian activities must give way to a comprehensive all-year-round Christian teachings in the country.  Perez Chapel  Bishop Charles Agyin Asare, the Head Pastor of Perez Chapel International , said 2014 would be a year of empowerment and glory, reports  Daniel Agbenyega. Hundreds of people received their healing at the watchnight service, held on the theme: “The Night of Prophetic Miracles: Signs and Wonders” while others surrendered their lives to Christ as the counsellors of the Church laid hands on them.  At the Qodesh Samuel Doe Ablordeppey reports that the Presiding Bishop of the Lighthouse Chapel International, Bishop Dag Heward-Mills, declared 2014 “A year of prayer” and urged Christians to pray throughout the year. Preaching the sermon at The Qodesh, the international headquarters of the church, he said prayer was important in entrusting one’s destiny, life and solutions into God’s hands because the world was governed by wicked men who made decisions, not necessarily based on merit, but primarily for monetary considerations. Preaching the sermon at the Anointed One Congregation of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana at Sakumono, near Tema, on the theme “Keep on Moving”, the Minister in charge, Rev Emmanuel Adu Tetteh, urged members of the congregation to stay focused, writes Salome Donkor. Basing his text on Exodus 14:15, he recalled the story of the Israelites who panicked when they had to cross the Red Sea to get to the promised land and said with God’s protection and direction, the people of God would always surmount their problems and climb higher on the social ladder.  At the Christ Chapel branch of the Full Gospel Church International (FGCI), Anyaa in Accra, the watchnight service was held on the theme, “Building relationships to impact our world”, writes Edmund Smith-Asante. Members prayed for a fruitful new year and danced their hearts out in praise of God for taking care of them through another year. Basing his sermon on Matthew 6: 14, 15 and Colossians 3:10,  Pastor Dr Fred Arhin said; “Forgiveness is what God expects everyone to exhibit towards one another. Because we are one body we ought to forgive each other when we are wronged.” Independence Square At the Independence Square in Accra, thousands of members of the Christ Embassy gathered to receive the New Year message, reports Charles Andoh. The service was transmitted live on various media platforms to viewers and listeners all over the world from Lagos, Nigeria, where the church is headquartered. When finally the President of the Believers Loveworld Incorporated (also known as Christ Embassy), Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, appeared on the stage at the Loveworld Convocation Arena in Nigeria, the whole congregation rose to their feet and praised God. Basing his message on Isaiah 60:1 and Joshuah 3 1 - 7, Rev. Oyakhilome declared 2014 as a year of greatness for members and the entire Christendom.  

  Tobinco Pharmaceuticals Limited has appealed to the Minister of Health, Ms Sherry Ayittey, to ensure that its warehouses that were locked up in the heat of their impasse with the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), are opened. According to the Tobinco Pharmaceuticals Limited, such a step by the minister would avert the expiry of duly registered products which have also been locked up. In a press statement dated December 30, 2013, signed by the Managing Director, Mr J. Essuman, and made available to the Daily Graphic, the company stated; “The locking up of our warehouses has affected our business negatively. Currently we have products with valid registration locked up. We appeal to the Minister of Health to ensure the opening of the warehouses to avoid the products running into expiry.” Tobinco also appealed to Ms Ayittey to aid them by ensuring the release of containers of medicines and other medical devices at the port, for which clearance had been denied. He said the affected goods were registered products with valid registration certificates, registered products undergoing renewal of registration, products pending registration and medical devices. Tobinco said its efforts to renew some of its products dated as far back as 2011, and that being conscious of its responsibilities, it had taken steps in the past to register its products with the FDA. While declaring its acceptance of the report released by the Ministry of Health (MoH) on December 23, 2013, Tobinco said it was prepared to comply with  the recommendations and was putting in measures to implement the recommendations. Tobinco also reaffirmed its commitment to getting the impasse between it and the FDA resolved in the shortest possible time. It appealed to all its stakeholders and well-wishers to stay calm since the company had faith in the Minister of Health and the regulatory authority’s ability to settle the matter amicably. Controversy Meanwhile as reported by the Daily Graphic in its December 28, 2013 issue, some aspects of the committee’s report stirred controversy between the Ministry of Health and FDA. While officials of the FDA described some aspects of the report of the committee as untrue, the ministry maintained that the report was a true reflection of the committee’s findings, and that anybody who had misgivings should find out the truth from the ministry, rather than resorting to the media. According to the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the FDA, Mr James Lartey, part of the report which indicated that the FDA’s registration committee had met only once in the last four years was untrue. He said the FDA registration committee met on a regular basis, and for 2013 alone, it had met five times; the last being on December 23, 2013, apart from meeting regularly to evaluate all documents to ensure that the dossiers presented by pharmaceutical companies did not contain forged documents.  

Officials of the Ghana Police Service and the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) have described as alarming and worrying, the number of prank calls they receive on daily basis. According to them, the number of prank calls far exceeded that of credible requests made by callers, adding that this prevented legitimate callers from accessing help. Prank calls, also known as crank calls, are practical telephone jokes made by people with the intention of deceiving the receiver. According to statistics, an estimated 2,340,000 prank calls were made to the Ghana Police Service and the GNFS in 2013. This represents an estimated 5,000 prank calls received daily by the police and an estimated 1,500 received daily by the GNFS. Ghana Police Service In an interview with the Daily Graphic, the officer in charge of signals, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Mrs Agnes Adjoku, said most of the calls were made by children during the day, adding that “sometimes the kids call during school hours and this indiscipline increases day in day out”. Mrs Adjoku said the prank callers mostly used unprintable words when communicating to the police officers in the call control room. “Out of about 100 calls we receive, just one will be legitimate and worth pursuing,” she stated. She noted that in some cases suspected armed robbers called in to make illegitimate claims in order to divert the attention of the police from their intended target areas.   Effects Touching on the effects of prank calls on policing, Mrs Adjoku said apart from preventing legitimate callers from accessing help, they wasted resources such as time and fuel. “We spend a lot of time to assess the propriety and authenticity of claims made by callers as a result of the upsurge in the number of prank calls,” she added. Mrs Adjoku stated that due to privacy concerns raised by the various mobile phone service providers, it was difficult for the police to unravel the actual identities of these callers.  The Fire Service The Deputy Public Relations Officer of the GNFS, Mr Prince Billy Anaglate, also told the Daily Graphic that most of these callers were children, and that “the number increases when these children vacate from their schools.” He said that the GNFS had on some occasions responded to some supposed distress calls and dispatched emergency teams, only to realise that the calls were a hoax. Mr Anaglate said the GNFS had, therefore, started educating schoolchildren on the negative effects of prank calls.  He advocated the enactment of laws that would criminalise the deceit of public officials.

    Christians in all the regions of the country welcomed the new year with watch night services. Joyous worshippers thronged churches, sang praises, danced and prayed to God for taking them through the just-ended year. With prayers and shouts of joy they welcomed the new year just at the stroke of midnight, embracing one another and shaking hands to wish each other God's blessings, protection and prosperity in the new year. At some of the churches, the church bells tolled at the stroke of midnight. Koforidua From Koforidua in the Eastern Region, A. Kofoya-Tetteh reports that at the Apostles’ Continuation Church International at Adweso, a Koforidua suburb, the senior clergyman in charge of the congregation, Rev Peter Asante, noted that so many things went wrong the previous year and that Ghanaians should examine their lifestyles  and change for the better this year. The Eastern Regional Superintendent of the Assemblies of God Church, Rev Ofori Amankwa, who also led his congregation into the new year, entreated Ghanaians to examine what they did during the year, with the view of correcting the wrongs in the coming year. Bad traits such as fraud (especially at workplaces), killings, armed robbery, undermining and drunkenness should be  things of the past, he said. Rev Amankwa said it was the responsibility of everyone, including government officials, to put in their maximum and support the government to fulfil its ‘Better Ghana Agenda.’ “I, therefore, fully support the call by former President J. J. Rawlings for non-performing ministers of state to be replaced, otherwise the country will slacken in development and the people will continue to live in poverty,” Rev Ofori Amankwa intoned. Cape Coast Shirley Asiedu-Addo reports from Cape Coast that the Bishop of the Lighthouse Chapel International in charge of the Central Region, Bishop Jake Godwyll, advised Christians to stop paying prophets to pray for them. He said it was time Christians learnt to pray for their needs,  adding that the life of a Christian who did not pray was left to chance. He noted that prayer was an expression of one’s personal faith in God and an indication that one had a personal relationship with God, which is the basis of everyone's Christian faith. From Enyan Denkyira, Kweku Gyasi Essel reports that the pastor in charge of the Berean Assemblies of God Church, Reverend Tony Takyi Elegba, preached on the theme: “ What God Wants His People To Do.” Basing his sermon on John 17:20-24, he said God always spoke to his people and that in spite of whatever God would say, He expected his people to do three important things. He said God wanted His people to be one “because one connotes unity.” He also wants them to be perfect in unity and to draw closer to Him.” Rev. Elegba explained that “it is when we draw closer to God that we hear from Him and apply His word to whatever we do, including our efforts at  improving ourselves and at developing our country.” Kumasi Christians in Kumasi welcomed the New Year with various activities, including crusades,  and  watch nights reports  Felix A. Baidoo from Kumasi. Most of the messages centred on hope for a better nation in 2014, and Christians were urged to look up to God for solutions to the nation’s problems. At the Kumasi Jubilee Park, the Head Pastor of the Family Chapel International Church, Rev. Dr Victor Osei, challenged the government to come clean on the various corruption cases in the country. He explained that there was the need for people to be sanctioned or reprimanded for wrongdoings to serve as a deterrent to others. Rev. Dr Osei urged Christians to involve themselves in politics to help bring some form of sanity and honesty into the country’s political circles. The First Elder of the Amakom Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Seth Osei-Afriyie, attributed the economic challenges that confronted the nation to the global trend and said what the country needed was to put in place the right measures to mitigate the situation to save the nation from the economic doldrums. “All should adopt the policy of ‘Ghana First’ in all endeavours, to put the love for the nation and its development on a very high pedestal.” Joseph Kyei-Boateng also reports from Kumasi that ironically, the messages of hope and prayers of prosperity did not prevent some church members from becoming victims of  robbery attacks. At Old Tafo, 26-year-old Felicity Annor had her two mobiles phones, her purse containing GH¢300.00 and identity cards snatched by robbers at knife-point while returning from church at dawn. The three young men who attacked her also inflicted knife wounds on her wrist and shoulders,  which made her bleed profusely. She was, however, treated and discharged at the Tafo Government Hospital. Also at Moshie Zongo, Dichemso, Abrepo Junction, Krofuom, Sofoline and Anloga Junction, a number of church members who were returning from church at dawn were said to have been subjected to severe beatings and threatened on knife-point to surrender their personal belongings. Ho From Ho, Tim Dzamboe reports that churches visited were the Evangelical Presbyterian Church at Ho-Kpodzi and SSNIT Flats, Catholic Church at Ho-Bankoe, Victory Bible Church International at the Rural Training Centre (RTC) and the Winners Chapel. The officiating ministers called for a renewal among all citizens in order to chart a new course for a prosperous life in the New Year. In a message delivered at the E.P Church at Ho-Kpodzi, the Deputy Volta Regional Minister, Mr Francis Ganyaglo, called on Ghanaians to persevere in the face of adversity to enable them to  endure in the course of nation building. Tamale Tamale in the Tamale Metropolis, the Kings Christian Ministry held an open-air watch night service at the Jubilee Park, where its General Overseer, Bishop Dr Albert Luguterah, entreated residents of the metropolis to use the occasion to thank God for both the successes and failures of the year 2013, Vincent Amenuveve reports. "As children of God, you have to know that challenges are bound to occur and it behoves  you to pray unceasingly for God to speak to your life,"  Dr  Luguterah stressed. The general overseer mentioned in particular the need for the youth to remember their God so that their future   would be bright. Sunyani Samuel Duodu reports from Sunyani on a sermon  at the ICGC Salem Temple,  where pastor Abinadab Effah-Asiedu, the head Pastor,  urged political, religious and all other leaders  in the country to put things in order to ensure the orderly development and prosperity of the nation in 2014. He noted that “God is a God of orderliness” and, therefore, Ghanaians, and for that matter Christians, must eschew the haphazard way of doing things and apply the spirit of orderliness to all their endeavours.    

  Scores of inhabitants at Ekorvikope on the Dwarfs Island in the Afram Plains have been rendered homeless following a bushfire that razed five houses in the village. About GH¢80 cash being savings (susu) of farmers in the surrounding villages, 56 bags of pepper, 70 bags of rice, 54 bags of groundnuts and four packets of iron sheet were said to have been destroyed by the fire. Other items destroyed were five Yamaha outboard motors, eight bicycles, two television sets and fishing nets. Almost one month after the incident occurred on December 1, 2013, help is yet to reach the victims. The Assembly Member for the Edavokope Electoral Area on  Dwarfs Island, Mr Raymond Amelewu, told the Daily Graphic at Ekorvikope that the incident occurred while the inhabitants had gone to church. He said he had reported it to the Afram Plains North District Assembly and the National Disaster Management Organisation office in the district but there had not been any response yet. Mr Amelewu said at the moment, many of the victims were compelled to sleep in one room, while others had sent their children to stay with relatives elsewhere. He appealed for clothes, bicycles, fishing nets, roofing sheets and building materials for the affected persons to help them rebuild their lives. Writer’s Email: [email protected]  

Ghanaian preacher of the gospel, Prophet Frank Dwomoh Sarpong of the Restoration Chapel International is praying God's intervention to restore the world to glory and peace. He is also praying that God will intervene to prevent the numerous calamities that have devastated many nations and claimed many lives.Prophet Frank Dwomoh Sarpong was interacting with his congregation at the end of a 21-day fasting and prayers session in the Capitol Heights vicinity of Maryland, USA, and assured his listeners that "The hour of increase has come.”"It is very sad to hear and read about the unfortunate incidents that befall one another and it saddens my heart. But the Bible says that we must give the Lord thanks in all things and it is my most fervent prayer to the Most High God to deliver us from all evil," Prophet Sarpong noted.He admonished the congregation to be God fearing, remain honest and let the word of God be their guiding principle, prophesying that those who had issues such as lost jobs, challenges in marriage, and sicknesses were on their way to living free of them, saying the yoke that weighed them down had been broken. Quoting from Isaiah 10:27, Prophet Dwomoh said God’s promise to heal His own is an unshakable assurance, stressing, “And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.”The church, located at 9111 Hampton Overlook, Capitol Heights, sees a regularly filled auditorium where God manifests his mystery in many wondrous signs, healing the sick and setting the captive free. Visit our photo galleries to view more photos.

  Ghana is on the right track towards improving conditions in its prisons, Amnesty International Ghana has observed. It said since 2011, the government had consistently worked towards addressing the living conditions of prisoners in the country. “This is commendable even though there is still a lot to be done,” the Director of Amnesty International Ghana, Mr Lawrence K. Amesu, said in an interview with the Daily Graphic. He said, for instance, that the Ankaful prison had been completed and some prisoners had been transferred from the Nsawam Medium Security Prison to that place, thereby decongesting the Maximum Security Prison. Mr Amesu commended the decision by the government to increase the daily feeding fee of prison inmates from GHc0.60 to GHc1.80 per inmate, saying that needed to be commended though still inadequate, considering the cost of living in the country presently. “Also, the President, on July 1, 2013, as part of the country’s Republic Day celebration, granted amnesty to 670 prisoners, and for us, this demonstrated the President’s willingness to address concerns in our prisons,” he said. He was particularly happy that Ghana had opened its doors to the UN Rapporteur General to visit prisons in the country and the government’s readiness to address the recommendations that followed the visit. “We think the government should be commended, in the first place for allowing the Rapporteur General to come here to visit our prisons and secondly for agreeing to look into the recommendations coming out from the visit,” he said. Alternative Dispute Resolution  Touching on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), Mr Amesu said it was the main answer to the overcrowding in the country’s prisons. He said Ghanaians should not always rush to the law court, contending that some cases  could be addressed through the ADR instead of the law court, which did not promote reconciliation. Mr Amesu said, currently, there were a number of people on remand, awaiting trial, some of whom had been in such a situation for over six years and pointed out that the situationincreased up the number of inmates.  Some of the cases, he said ,could have been easily resolved through the ADR. Justice For All programme The Justice For All programme is an initiative under which the justices visit prisons to examine cases of remanded prisoners during which some of them are discharged to go home. Mr Amesu was of the view that the situation in the prisons demanded that the Justice for All Programme should be encouraged and intensified to cover all prisons in the country. He was not happy that such a laudable programme was concentrated only in the cities and said he was looking forward to seeing it expanded to all parts of the country. Death penalty On the Death sentence, Mr Amesu said Amnesty International Ghana had been campaigning to get it expunged. He said it was commendable that for over 20 years now, nobody had been executed in Ghana, but the mere fact that it was still in the statute books of the country remained a concern. Mr Amesu recalled that the removal of the death penalty from the statutes was part of the recommendations of the Constitutional Review Committee, and was hopeful that with the steps being taken, including the setting up of the implementation committee, it would be eventually expunged. Writer’s email: [email protected]  

  Demand for electricity in Ghana increased to an all-time high of 12.38 per cent in 2013,  growing from the 2012 peak of 1,728.9 Megawatts (MW) to 1,942.9MW at the close of last year. Over the last four years, however, the average year–to-year growth in demand for electricity has been 9.67 per cent,  the Chief Executive of the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo), Mr William Amuna, said in an interview.  The peak demand for 2011 was 1,664.3MW, a 10.52 percentage growth over the 2010 demand of 1,505.9MW. The acute shortfall in generation in 2012, as a result of the rapture of the West African Gas Pipeline, resulted in a demand growth of 3.88 per cent.  He said the construction of new substations and the upgrade of existing substations in the last four years had resulted in a 55 per cent increase in transformer capacity from 2200 MVA to 3400 MVA, and the addition of over 200km of 330kV high voltage transmission lines.  These investments in the transmission network have relieved the system of its bottlenecks and ensured quality supply to consumers. Growing demand Mr Amuna said demand was growing and current projections indicated that the country’s requirements for electricity would hit 2,764.2MW in 2015. “This increasing demand for electricity is being matched with new generation supported by the government through the Ministry of Energy, the Volta River Authority and some Independent Power Producers (IPPs),” he added. He said GRIDCo had held several discussions with new power producers with the view to putting in new substations and additional transmission lines to transport power, adding that preparatory works were already on-going The GRIDco chief executive said to help evacuate power from emerging generation plants, the GRIDCo Substation in Aboadze would be expanded and a new 330kV double circuit transmission line would be constructed from the substation to Kumasi through Prestea. This transmission line will continue as a single circuit line to Bolgatanga through Kintampo and Tamale. New 330kV substations will also be built in Kumasi, Kintampo, Tamale and Bolgatanga. Mr Amuna assured the nation that GRIDCo was working hard to develop a robust and resilient transmission system that would continue to transport quality electrical power to customers in 2014 and beyond.  

  A Ghanaian teenage mother living in London ended 2013 on a very tragic note when she died in a fireball after running from her home in flames last Sunday. Rachel Osei, 18, was heard screaming in agony before collapsing on the pavement where she died from terrible burns. Police believe Miss Osei, who was studying to be a Physical Education (PE) teacher at Queen Mary's University, may have caught fire inside her house. Three members of the public tried to extinguish the flames, but they were unable to save her. Neighbours Neighbours said Miss Osei’s four-year-old-son, Kai, was staying with relatives at the time of the tragedy. The tragedy took place outside Miss Osei’s semi-detached home in New Malden, South-West London. She was living in a property owned by the Wandle Housing Association, which often houses single mothers. Neighbours described how they heard the noise of ‘terrible screaming’ shortly after 1 a.m. on Sunday. Miss Osei was found with severe burns close to a level crossing at the junction of West Barnes Lane and Burlington Road Firemen, paramedics and police raced to the scene but she was pronounced dead at 1.45a.m. Investigators are treating her death as ‘unexplained’, but it is understood their main line of inquiry is that her injuries may have been self-inflicted. Her heartbroken father Jonathan Osei, 48, said he could not understand what had happened. “Rachel was at university training to be a sports teacher,” he said. She wanted to do well and provide for her son. When I heard about the fire, I tried to call her on her mobile phone but there was no answer. “I loved Rachel. She was a lovely, lovely daughter. I named her after my mother. I had four children but now I have only three.” The teenager's mother was said to be too upset to talk about the horrific incident. Tributes Two bouquets of flowers had been left outside her semi-detached home which had been cordonned off by police following the tragedy. Hannah Sirott and Rhianna Price, who left the flowers said: “We had the pleasure of studying music with Rachel for four years. She enjoyed music and rapping. She was a good person and she is definitely going to be missed by a lot of people.” Queen Mary's University, where the young mother was training to be a PE teacher, has also paid tribute to her. Credit: Mail Online  

  The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has rewarded its staff who distinguished themselves last year, as part of activities to climax the commemoration of the 10th anniversary celebrations of the introduction of the National Health Insurance Scheme in the country. The ceremony, which was also used to thank God for bringing the NHIS thus, is expected to serve as the begining of an annual tradition of giving thanks to God. Award winners  Among staff of the authority who were rewarded were the Deputy Chief Executive in charge of operations, Mr Nathaniel Otoo; Director of Claims, Dr Lydia Baba Dsane–Selby; Director of Management Information Systems, Mr Edward Perregrino Nelson, and Director of Internal Audit, Dr Gustav Nii Lante Cruickshank. Other deputy directors, including Mr Thomas Adoboe, Mr Rudolf Zimmerman, Ms Vivian Addo-Cobbiah, Mr Stephen Bewong,  Dr Francis Kofi Asenso-Boadi, Mr Nicholas Afram Osei, Mr Raphael Segkpeb and Mr Washington Komla Darke, were also recognised for their hard work. The rest were Mr Harold Kalevor and Mr Joseph Akuerteh Tettey, Scheme Managers; Ms Cynthia Bentum of the Internal Audit Directorate and Mr John Nketia of the Transport and Logistics Unit. Chief Executive  The Chief Executive, Mr Sylvester Mensah, stated that 2013 had been a very rewarding year for the NHIA, considering the number of awards it received. He said the past 10 years could be counted as the nurturing years and the NHIA had learnt lessons. He added that “a lot more would be demanded of the institution in the coming years.”  2014, he said, would, therefore, see an aggressive roll out of policies such as capitation, instant identity card issuance based on biometric registration and an increase in active membership, among others, and a review of the policy of exemption of SSNIT contributors from paying premium. He also added that there would be a review of the current medium-term strategic plan which would end in 2014 and that a new one for 2015 to 2018 would be developed as a new medium-term strategic plan for the authority and the scheme. Starting from 2015, Mr Mensah said there would be focus on patient safety to achieve a satisfactory level of quality care for NHIS subscribers. Responsibility  In a welcome address, the Deputy Chief Executive in charge of operations, Mr Nathaniel Otoo, stated that “the NHIS has been entrusted with the weighty responsibility of assuring financial access to healthcare for all residents in Ghana, and no matter what happens, we should not lose sight of the call to duty.” In fulfillment of its corporate social responsibility, the money collected during the offertory at the service would be donated to the Village of Hope Orphanage at Gomoa Fete in the Central Region.   

  Mining activities at Sheini in the eastern corridor of the Northern Region are depriving inhabitants of the area of their traditional sources of livelihood. In addition, the only source of drinking water for the people, River Oti, has also been polluted with chemicals, making it difficult for the people to have access to safe drinking water. That was disclosed in a press briefing in Tamale by Mr Francis Npong, the National Coordinator of Media Advocates for Sustainable Environment (MASE), a network of environmental reporters in the Northern Region, who are monitoring mining activities  in the area. He said two joint venture companies were given exploration license by the Minerals Commission to test the mine and vast deposit of iron ore in the area which was discovered in the 1960s and was found to be the richest iron ore deposit in Africa. He said “since the miners entered the area, hunting, which was a source of livelihood for the people, had been affected. As a result of the daily noise produced by the miners, most of  the animals such as  antelopes, grasscutters, monkeys and wild birds have all vanished from the area and the population of wild bees that produced honey has also reduced, thereby affecting honey harvesting drastically.”  According to him, “hundreds of domestic animals belonging to community members living along the route of the mines have been knocked down and killed by the moving vehicles of the miners, with no compensation paid to the owners.”  Mr Npong added that investigations conducted by the network revealed that the only stream serving as the source of drinking water for the communities had been contaminated with mining chemicals.  “The miners disregard safety measures and wash mining chemicals into the stream, but  due to the lack of alternative water sources, the communities are forced to continue to drink from the polluted stream,” he lamented. He stated further that the mining activities in the area had also led to the destruction of economic trees such as teak, shea and dawadawa, as well as food crops. He, therefore, called on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to immediately conduct an environmental impact assessment at Sheini and take actions to ameliorate the plight of the people in the area. He equally called on the Minerals Commission to  publish information about  the Sheini iron ore deal for accountability purposes, as the processes leading to the award of the licence to Cardero Canada and Emmaland Resources, the mining companies operating in the area,  have been shrouded in secrecy.    

  The Agbogbomefia of Ho Asogli, Togbe Afede XIV, has advised children to be conscious of their potential as future leaders, experts and technocrats and to lead good lives in order not to change the course of achieving their objectives. He urged them to eschew laziness and to devote their time and energy to serious studies to achieve their aims. Togbe Afede was addressing the ninth annual Christmas party for 500 children drawn from the Asogli Traditional Area at his residence in Ho last Sunday. The children were drawn from Ahoe, Hliha, Bankoe, Heve, Dome, Takla, Kpenoe and Akoefe. He assured them that the financial needs of brilliant and eligible pupils and students would be met because of the Asogli Education Fund, which had so far accrued GH¢300,000. The Agbogbomefia, however, warned that those with deviant behaviours might not benefit from the fund, and stressed that they should always comport themselves and not go wayward as they grew up. The Divisional Chief of Ho-Hliha, Togbe Kwasi Afele, said the party was an innovation and a privilege to the children of the current generation because hitherto, such functions did not exist. He said it was a great opportunity for them to be exposed to the chieftaincy institution and also to learn more about it. the Paramount Chief of the Kpenoe Traditional Area, Togbe Kotoku XI, said the Agbogbomefia, as the overlord, was a father to all children and had thus opened up to them to enable them to make their contributions towards further development of the Asogli State. The children entertained the gathering with renditions of beautiful gospel music and some poetry and they were presented with torchlights, biscuits, soft drinks and food.  

  The Chiefs and elders of the Asere Divisional Council in Accra have launched an initiative to reconcile the people in the area. Under the initiative, two committees will be set up. One of the committees will review the constitution of Asere in line with modern governance practices while the other will review all pending suits at the law courts with the view to achieving amicable settlements. Speaking at the launch of the initiative, an Elder and Councillor of the Asere Stool, Mr Amarkai Amarteifio, indicated that the move was to bring the people, chiefs and elders of the council together for future development and unity.  

In an unprecedented move to enhance peace in the Dagbon Traditional Area, the two protagonists in the Dagbon chieftaincy divide, the Abudus and the Andanis, have decided to celebrate the annual Damba Festival together as a family. This followed a meeting attended by representatives of the two gates and the Northern Regional Security Council (REGSEC) in Tamale on Monday, on the need to foster peace and unity in the region. A communique issued at the end of the meeting said members of the Abudu Family had agreed to join their brethren, the Andanis, to celebrate the time-tested festival at the Gbewaa Palace at Yendi, the seat of the Dagbon Kinship. The processes for the celebration of the Damba Festival in 2014 are scheduled to begin in January, 2014. The annual event, which is a blend of Islamic and tradition, is celebrated by majority of the Muslim-dominated communities in the north, including Dagombas, Nanumbas, Gonjas and Mamprusis. Ready to celebrate together The festival also marks the birth and subsequent naming of Prophet Muhammed (S.A.W), the Founder of Islam. It is also used to offer sacrifices to show appreciation to Allah and also chart a new course for the year. According to the Northern Regional Minister and Chairman of the REGSEC, Mr Bede Ziedeng, there were various exchanges from all sides on the customs and traditions that are observed during  the celebration of the Damba Festival at the meeting. “It also took cognisance of the indication of the Bolin-Lana Muhammadu Abdulai, in his letter dated December 26 this year, to the committee, indicating his willingness to lead his followers to celebrate the festival at the Gbewaa Palace, provided adequate security arrangements were put in place to ensure peace in the area,” he stated. The chairman further acknowledged that “the meeting further took note of the goodwill of the Kampakuya Naa Abdulai Andani who had invited all and sundry to celebrate the festival with him.” Mr Ziedeng gave the assurance that the necessary security arrangements would be made to ensure that, “all interested persons and groups celebrate the festival peacefully at the festival ground.” He, however, cautioned that all rehearsals leading to the celebration of the festival should take place only at the traditionally designated palaces in Dagbon. “No rehearsal taking place anywhere should have the intention of being climaxed at those places except the Gbewaa Palace,” the minister further admonished. The Dagbon chieftaincy dispute involving the Abudus and Andanis began in 2002 resulting in the death of Ya Na Yakubu Andani II, the Overlord of Dagbon  Traditional Area and about 40 others.

  An unidentified man, believed to be mentally deranged, last Monday went on the rampage at Badu in the Tain Districtin the Brong Ahafo Region and hacked  the station officer at the local police station to death. The deceased, Inspector Awusi Yakubu, 59, was said to have been slashed several times on the forehead and the back with the assailant’s machete. Sensing danger, a police constable who had been ordered by the deceased to go in for a rifle shot and killed the assailant. The bodies of Inspector Yakubu and the assailant have been deposited at the Wenchi Methodist Hospital mortuary while investigations into the incident continue. The Wenchi Divisional Police Crime Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Mr Vincent Adotey, who briefed the Daily Graphic, said the assailant went to the police station at about 7.15 p.m. holding a machete and two long metal hooks used for cooking pots, panting and shouting that some people at Susuapa, a village near Badu wanted to kill him. He said the man met Inspector Yakubu and one constable at the station and they tried to calm him down, but that proved futile and sensing danger, the officer ordered the constable to go for the rifle. Mr Adotey said while Inspector Yakubu was entering the charge office, the assailant attacked him and slashed his forehead and back with the machete.  Inspector Yakubu, who was bleeding, fell down and sensing danger, the constable shot at the assailant, killing him instantly. Inspector Yakubu was, however, pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital.  

  Children at the refugee camp at Fetentaa in the Berekum Municipality of the Brong Ahafo Region have been entertained at a christmas party thrown by the Sunyani Diocese of the Catholic Church. The annual Christmas party is to enable the less privileged children, numbering about 400, to feel at home during the Yuletide. The  Fetentaa Refugee Camp is the home of about 1,800 Ivorian refugees who fled their country to Ghana as a result of a violent conflict that erupted in Cote d'Iviore following an electoral dispute in 2011. The children were presented with packs of rice, sweets and assorted drinks at the party which was held at the camp on Friday, December 27, 2013, which was preceded by the celebration of Holy Eucharist. In a sermon, the Catholic Bishop of Sunyani, the Most Reverend Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, urged the children not to be discouraged, as Jesus Christ, whose birth the world was celebrating, became a refugee in Egypt when King Herod sought to kill Him.  He urged parents of the children at the camp to encourage their children to be in school at the camp. Most Rev. Gyamfi commended the refugees for comporting themselves making the camp more than a settlement and thanked the government, United Nations High Commission for Refugees ( UNHCR), chiefs and elders of Fetentaa for making the camp a comfortable place for the refugees. The Health Co-ordinator for the refugee camp, Rev. Sister Judith Magbity, said the National Catholic Secretariat ( NCS) was involved in providing primary health care and HIV/AIDS services, nutrition, distribution of food and non-food items, water and sanitation at the camp. She said the school feeding programme, supported by Most Rev. Gyamfi had improved the health status and also served as a source of motivation for all children at the camp to get enrolled in school. That, she said, had also led to zero infant mortality rate and a decrease in morbidity rate among children under five.  Rev. Sis. Magbity disclosed that there was a comprehensive reproductive health system that had been put in place at the camp which covered the health needs of all the children and their parents.  She added that there were 45 deliveries at the camp during the year, while another 35 pregnant women were being catered for. The Camp Manager, Mr Felix Osei Aseidu, thanked the bishop for the gesture and for making time to celebrate the Christmas with the children at the camp. The St Jansdal Hospital in the Netherlands also presented some medical equipment and consumables to the clinic being run by the National Catholic Secretariat at the camp.  

  The Gender and Children’s Page today recalls some significant stories related to the welfare of women and children, that were featured in the Daily Graphic last year. The First lady, Mrs Lordina Mahama, addressed the Spouses Programme of the Elysee Summit for Peace in Africa, in Paris, and called on governments, the United Nations, the Africa Union and other international organisations, to ensure that perpetrators of sexual violence against women in conflict situations were punished.  She said there must be institutions and structures to hold individuals and organisations accountable for their actions and impose punishments, provide adequate and timely remedies for victims  and survivors. Addressing the summit, which was chaired by the First Lady of France, Ms Valerie Trierweiller, Mrs Mahama noted that if perpetrators were not punished, crime would flourish, women’s right would continue to be violated and past crimes would persist.  Young Urban Women A project dubbed: “Young Urban Women (YUW),” which is expected to improve the lives of  2,000 young women  within  one and  half years, was launched jointly by the Ark Foundation and ActionAid Ghana in Kpobiman in the Ga West District, Accra, to support deprived women living in poverty in the urban areas. Kpobiman in the Ga West District was chosen because of its high rate of population in the Greater Accra Region. The targeted groups for the project include school dropouts, young brides, members of girls’ clubs, young female parliamentarians, schoolchildren and others. The project was first introduced in the Northern Region  and will soon be extended to other regions. From November 25 to December 10, the global community marked 16 days of activism against gender violence. The event is an international campaign, originating from the first Women's Global Leadership Institute sponsored by the Centre for Women's Global Leadership in 1991.  Ending on Human Rights Day, the campaign hopes to raise awareness of gender-based violence as a human rights issue at the local, national, regional and international levels. Last year’s theme was,  “Let’s challenge militarism and end violence against women.” Affirmative Action Bill The Institute of Economic affairs (IEA-Ghana), in a bid to ensure that Ghana takes a bold step towards attaining gender parity and equality, initiated a project to address the under-representation of women in the political decision-making process. The project — Integrated Support Programme for the Inclusive Reform and Democratic Dialogue (INSPIRED) — is in collaboration with the EU-funded European Partnerships for Democracy (PD) and it is envisaged that through this process, the basis for broad-based concensus will be created to enhance the sustainability of cooperative initiatives in a given policy area. As part of the INSPIRED project, the IEA established a Working Group composed of a broad range of stakeholders with an interest in the issue of under-representation of women in political decision-making. The Working Group has worked to propose key recommendations for consideration by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection as input into the Affirmative Action Bill currently being drafted by the ministry. The Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Nana Oye Lithur, addressed a national stakeholders’ workshop on fighting under-representation of women in political decision-making in Ghana, organised by the IEA in Accra in September. She said the government had accepted the Constitutional Review commission’s recommendations for a constitutional amendment for Parliament to enact, within 12 months of the coming into force of the amendment of the 1992 Constitution, an Affirmative Action Act that guaranteed 30 per cent representation of women in all public institutions and offices as far as possible and also accepted that the recommended Affirmative Action Act should deal with all types of discrimination against vulnerable groups and minorities. Child survival A new report released on September 13, dubbed,  “Committing to Child Survival: A Promise Renewed Progress Report 2013”, indicated that “despite rapid progress in reducing child deaths since 1990, the world is failing to renew the promise for the most vulnerable citizens” – its children. In July, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection  waded into arguments by some people who were calling on the government to increase the age for which a person may legally enter into marriage, from the present 18 years to 23 years. A statement  issued on behalf of the ministry by Matilda Tettey of the Communications and Media Unit indicated that 23 years might  not be desirable because it could not guarantee that at that age, a person would be fully prepared for marriage as argued.  Women Deliver conference The largest global conference on maternal health, dubbed, ‘Women Deliver,’ which brings together advocates from around the world to call for action to improve the health and well-being of girls and women, was held in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, in June. The conference, the third to be held, attracted over 3,000 participants from 150 countries, comprising experts, ministers of state and advocates, including some First Ladies. It was organised by Women Deliver, a global advocacy organisation which works globally to generate political commitment and resource investments to reduce maternal mortality and achieve universal access to reproductive health.  On the occasion of the 2013 Mother’s Day, which fell on May 12, the Gender and Children’s Page spoke  to  a number of widows at Mallam, Accra, to share their stories of the hardships they go through to provide for the needs of their families. Their contention was that once a mother is dead, there is no hope because of the fear of loss of care, love and affection, but when a father is lost, there is hope that a mother would be there to cater for the children left behind. Maternal Health Channel In February,  the government launched: The Maternal Health Channel  TV series aimed at complementing a concerted national effort to inform, educate and stimulate interest in maternal health issues. The programme is also to help to find urgent solutions to the tragedy of death and disabilities of pregnant women. The TV series is aired on Ghana Television and TV3 Network on Thursdays and Fridays, respectively. President Mahama, whose speech was ready on his behalf by Ms Hannah Tetteh,  the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, commended the Kingdom of the Netherlands and other partners such as UNICEF, UNFPA, Ghana Coalition of NGOs on Maternal Health, Creative Storm and Ghana Health Service for sponsoring the TV series. He stressed the need to ensure the safety of all pregnant women to avoid their needless deaths in an effort to bring new lives to the world. The  ‘Mama Ye’  Ghana Campaign, initiated by Evidence for Action (E4A), a multi-year programme which aims to improve maternal and new-born survival across five sub-Saharan African countries, namely Ethiopia, Tanzania, Sierra Leone,  Malawi and Ghana, was also launched in February. Funded by the United Kingdom (UK) Department for International Development,  ‘MamaYe’  focuses on using a strategic combination of evidence, advocacy and accountability to save lives. National Gender Policy In January,  the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, formerly Ministry of  Women and Children’s Affairs held a day’s regional validation workshop on the draft National Gender Policy (NGP) to fine-tune it to meet current needs of the society. The workshop, held in Tamale, was sponsored by the United Nations Population Fund, World Food Programme and UN Women, and brought together civil society organisations and representatives from various ministries, departments and agencies in the region. The draft policy has been developed from inputs collated from five regions including Northern, Ashanti and Greater Accra Regions with the aim to stem out gender-based marginalisation and discrimination perpetrated mostly against women in the society.