A 29-year-old man who allegedly defrauded more than 30 people of thousands of cedis under the pretext of recruiting them into the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has been arrested. The suspect, Ransford Koranteng, is said to have charged each victim GH¢3,000 which the prospective customs officers were paying in installments. Contract letter Briefing journalists in Accra, the Chief Revenue Officer of the Customs Division, Mr Seidu Iddrisu, said the suspect deceived the victims that he was an agent for the GRA. The suspect, according to the Mr Iddrisu, took the original certificates of some of the victims. The victims were also said to have been sent to a forensic laboratory where their fingerprints were scanned with a view of making the recruitment exercise look credible. Mr Iddrisu said some of the victims received “contract of employment” letters and were asked to wait for their appointment letters which were to be issued by the government. Arrested with support of victims He said the suspect was arrested last Friday after the Intelligence Unit of the GRA lured the suspect with the help of some of the victims whom the suspect had scheduled a meeting with. Mr Iddrisu cautioned the public to be alert in order not to fall victim to such fraudsters and indicated that the Customs Division of the GRA had not mandated any agent to undertake a recruitment exercise on its  behalf. “GRA does not recruit through any agency. When we are recruiting, we do not take any money.” Victims tell their story One of the victims, who gave her name only as Elinam, said she had paid GH¢1,500 as part payment for the GH¢3,000 charge and an additional GH¢100 for the fingerprints exercise. “I realised that he was a fraudster when a friend’s father who works at Customs saw the contract letter and confirmed that it was not coming from the GRA,”  she lamented. Another victim, Jessica Ativui, a senior high school graduate, who related the same experience, said she had paid GH¢1,750 while a third victim had parted with  GH¢700.

The Wassa East District Security Committee (DISEC) last Saturday swooped on illegal gold miners who had returned to the Pra River to continue their illicit gold mining activities. The illegal miners, popularly referred to as “galamseyers”, returned to base after an earlier national security clampdown on them last year. Seven huge floating “galamsey” platforms mounted in the middle and along the banks of the river were destroyed by the DISEC team. The exercise followed a Daily Graphic publication that the activities of the illegal gold miners had resulted in siltation at the intake point of the Daboase Water Treatment Plant. The team extended the exercise to Sekyere Didiso, a cocoa farming community, where the illegal miners had cut down some cocoa trees to indulge in their activities. Shortage of water A visibly shocked Wassa East District Chief Executive, Mr Anthony Emmanuel Aggrey, said residents of the Wassa East, Shama and Sekondi/Takoradi areas were currently facing an acute water shortage as a result of the siltation of the intake point of the treatment plant. He said the intake points at Bosumase, Heiman and Daboase which supplied water for treatment to parts of the Central Region, notably the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo- Abrem District, were all choked. For her part, the Wassa East Co-ordinating Director, Mrs Rachel Fosua  Sarpong, said the exercise, although expensive, had to be sustained to rid the area of illegal gold miners. She stressed the need for collaboration among all the adjoining districts and other stakeholders to preserve the Pra River from further pollution. click to watch video on destruction of galamsey operations on Pra river

Accra, January 27, 2014   -   Prof. Ernest Dumor, father of Komla Dumor, accompanied by family members, on Sunday 26th January 2014 called on the President of the Volta Region House of Chiefs, Togbe Afede XIV to inform him formally about the passing of his son which occurred in London on Saturday 18th January 2014. Receiving Professor Dumor, Togbe Afede XIV described the news as heartbreaking and said that he and the whole of the Volta Region House of Chiefs would stand firmly behind the family in all that the family would be doing in respect of the funeral. Professor Dumor indicated that the family had taken a decision to bring Komla back home to Ghana for his burial. He added that documentation associated with transporting the body back to Ghana was far advanced. The family used the opportunity to once again thank Ghanaians for their support, love and prayers. Prof. Dumor said, “We are mindful of the worldwide legacy that Komla has left behind and thank the Almighty God for the impact of Komla’s life.”Professor Dumor added that he has been particularly struck by how deeply young people have been expressing their sympathies. The family would ensure that in the arrangements for the funeral, the involvement of such young people is not overlooked. The family is undertaking the consultations needed so that the numerous people who feel a deep sense of loss at Komla’s passing are able to participate meaningfully in his final journey.Present at the meeting with the President of the Volta Region House of Chiefs was Togbi Amenya Fiti V, Paramonunt Chief of Aflao.

  The Ghana News Agency (GNA) has signed a partnership agreement with the News Agency of Italy, or Agenzia Italia (AGI), for collaboration in a number of areas, including the exchange of news and technical co-operation. The agreement, the first of its kind involving the GNA and a foreign news agency, would enhance the two-way flow of news and information between Ghana and Europe, as well as exchange programmes for the sharing of experiences by journalists from the two news organisations. Speaking during the signing ceremony at the GNA headquarters in Accra, Dr Bernard Otabil, General Manager of the GNA, who initialled for his organisation, described the event as “a turning point in the history of the Agency”. He said in addition to enhancing their credibility, the partnership would also enable both agencies serve the information needs of their people better and promote the cause of development. He thanked the AGI delegation for their expression of confidence in the GNA, and said the agreement would help improve the performance of both the GNA and the AGI. Dr Otabil also commended the Italian Ambassador to Ghana, Ms Laura Carpini, who had played a significant role in making the partnership between the two news agencies possible. On his part, Mr Gianni Di Giovanni, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of AGI said the agreement would allow the two countries to strengthen their relationship, as well as foster cultural co-operation. Mr Di Giovanni said the GNA was established around the same period as the AGI, and that with same reputation, they would be able to positively impact the dissemination of news worldwide. He said the AGI was currently embarking on an international expansion drive, and that the collaboration with GNA and other African news organisations was an important aspect of the initiative. Ms Laura Carpini, Italian Ambassador to Ghana, noted that the agreement between the AGI and GNA would further strengthen the bilateral relations between Ghana and Italy. The ambassador further indicated that the two countries were socially, culturally and economically related and that her mission would be looking forward for new areas of partnership between the people of Ghana and Italy. She congratulated the GNA and the AGI on the agreement reached, saying that it would allow for the free flow of information not just between Ghana and Italy but to other parts of the world as well. Mr Reginald Laryea, Chairman of the GNA Board of Directors, noted that Italy had proved to be one of Ghana’s reliable supporters in many ways. “The signing of this agreement today is a concrete confirmation of that relationship”, he added. Mr Laryea said the exchange of news between the GNA and AGI was a significant move, especially for Ghanaians resident in Italy. Other members of the AGI delegation from Italy were Mr Alessandro Pica, General Manager and Mr Roberto Iadicicco, Editor-in-Chief of the agency.  

  Blue Rose Ltd, an estate company, is to collaborate with the Awutu Prison Camp in the Central Region to offer skills development to inmates at the camp. The collaboration would focus on construction works at the company’s project sites. It would not only support the inmates with skills but also serve as a source of an internally generated fund to support what has been provided by the government for the upkeep of the inmates and the running of the camp. Acquisition of skills Inmates who already have skills in building and carpentry work would join other professionals in the company in their field of specialty, while those without any skills in the construction industry would be engaged in the digging of foundations, carrying of blocks, fetching of water, among others. The Chief Executive Officer of Blue Rose Ltd, Mr Eric Ebo Acquah, announced that when his company presented items worth more than GH¢2,000 to the inmates at the camp. Blue Rose collaboration The collaboration was at the instance of the Officer In Charge (OIC) of the prison, CSP Eric Ainoo-Ansah, who appealed to the company to help the camp generate internal income by engaging some of the inmates to work at its construction sites. The OIC was of the view that aside the income that such a collaboration would bring to the prison, it would also be an avenue to provide skills training for the inmates. He was happy that Blue Rose was one of the loyal companies in the country that had virtually adopted the camp. Mr Acquah said the collaboration would help those without any skills to also acquire some skills so that by the time they were released, they would become useful citizens. “Blue Rose would be excited to be part of the success story of reforming inmates at the camp, leaving the prisons fully equipped with employable skills,” he said. Items donated He explained that the donation, which included bags of rice, biscuits, soft drinks, toiletries, wheel barrows, second-hand clothes and first-aid kits, was part of the company’s social responsibility towards the less privileged in the area the company operated. Receiving the items, the Administrator of the prison, Chief Gabriel Nortey, was grateful to Blue Rose Ltd for always remembering the camp every year.  

The wife of the Vice President, Mrs Matilda Amissah-Arthur, has called on Ghanaians in general and families of lepers in particular to accept and integrate cured lepers into their midst because the disease is curable. She said such integration would complement and add value to work going on at the leprosarium where efforts were being made to cure lepers. Mrs Matilda Amissah Arthur made the call last Sunday at the Weija Leprosarium where she joined the Lepers Aid Committee chaired by Very Rev. Fr Andrew Campbell to mark World Leprosy Day with the inmates. Rev. Fr Andrew Campbell has been championing the cause of lepers in Ghana over the years. The day is observed internationally on the last Sunday of every January to increase public awareness of the disease. Mrs Amissah-Arthur said leprosy was not contagious and that it was curable, hence the need to accept and integrate the treated patients into the society. According to her, society’s continued rejection for the healed lepers had far reaching consequences on what was going on at the leprosarium. She advised families of such people to at least visit the lepers to give them hope.  “Let us end the stigmatisation the lepers go through,” she advised.   She also took the opportunity to interact with some of them, shook hands with them and encouraged them. She presented some bags of rice, plastic buckets, bowls and some amount of money to help one of them who would be undergoing surgery at the Korle Bu hospital soon. For his part, Rev. Fr. Campbell said most people neglected lepers because they saw them as outcasts and urged all to show love and compassion to them since they are human beings and deserved to be treated as such. He bemoaned the stigmatisation and discrimination against cured lepers in Ghana and called on the citizenry to respect the rights of lepers. He urged all corporate bodies to extend their love to the lepers in kind. Rev. Fr Campbell said the Lepers Aid Committee had constructed a multi-skill training centre for the Ho Leprosarium.

  The Deputy Transport Minister, Mrs Joyce Bewa-Motgatri says there won't be any increase in fares till the middle of the year following some measures put in place by government. “Whatever rates of increment are introduced today, will be maintained for the next six months. There will be no increasing beyond 10% in the coming weeks,” she stated. According to her, government has put in place structures to ensure that the current adjustments remain until the first half of the year. Two weeks ago, the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) announced a 6% increase in petrol prices whiles gas process went up by 8%. This has led to an increase in fares. In a statement issued by the Ghana Road Transport Operators (GRTO) it said fares for taxis will see an increase from 10 pesewas to 1.40 pesewas, distances which cost 50 pesewas are now 60 pesewas and fares which cost GhC 7 is now GhC 8.40. Transportation in intra-city buses have gone up by 10 pesewas and 50 pesewas as well as long distance intercity fares are also up by 50 and GhC 13.50. Speaking on Accra-based radio station, Joy Fm, Mrs Joyce Bewa-Motgatri explained that due to the 10% cumulative increase in petroleum products by the NPA, and the envisaged increase of 10 % in February, the Ministry of Transport negotiated with transporters over a 20% increase for the next six to eight weeks. “The idea was to get a 70% increment for the time being but we maintain that since the increment in vision was not going to exceed 20% for the next six to eight weeks, what we wanted to do was to agree on ways that will hold for the next 6 months. So through the negotiation we arrived at the 20% which we take into cognisance this present 10% and the one that will be coming up in February,” she said. She assured commuters that the Ministry of Energy and the National Petroleum Authority have assured the Ministry that they will be no increases in the coming weeks.  

The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) has stated that financial constraints are hindering efforts to execute an agriculture census in rural areas. According to the Minister of Agriculture, Mr Clement Kofi Humado, the agricultural census has not been carried out in the past 20 years and it has resulted in a gap in the presentation of agricultural data in the country. Agricultural census The minister was speaking at a meeting on agricultural data and information systems. It was organised by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in Accra. The meeting sought to reflect on the development of agriculture data and information systems in the country. “The situation is affecting presentation of data on growth of agricultural GDP, data for planning agriculture and many others,” Mr Humado added. Gaps To strengthen the agricultural statistics system, he said, the ministry conducted an improved survey known as the Ghana Agricultural Production Survey (GAPS). This was done to provide a more accurate, reliable and timely agricultural production at the district, regional and national levels for decision making. The minister said GAPS provided a detailed coverage of agricultural production activities, including vegetables, tree crops, livestock rearing and many others in 20 districts over two cropping seasons, 2011/2012 and 2012/2013. The 20 districts, included the Amansie West, Sekyere Afram Plains, Dormaa East and the Techiman municipality. He stated further that district information and communication infrastructure in the 20 districts needed to be upgraded to improve data collection and management under GAPS. Commitment MoFA, Mr Humado said, had shown a lot of interest and commitment towards the success of the GAPS. He added that MoFA trained 100 district agricultural statistical officers (DASO) for the GAPS in the 20 districts and the officers were mandated to collect and process data from the field. The Government Statistician, Dr Philomena Nyarko, said comprehensive information on the structure of the agricultural sector could be achieved through an agriculture census. “Data from agriculture census will be a valuable monitoring and planning tool for the government and other development actors,” she said. She said the agricultural census would provide an up-to-date sampling frame and establish solid systems for regular production and dissemination of reliable agricultural statistics.

Rev. Mrs Elizabeth Donkor (in spectacles) in a pose with some widows at the end-of-year party organised by the Osei-Kusi Foundation in Accra. The foundation, which was established in honour of her husband, Rev. Lincoln Donkor, Managing Director of Lizdon Fabrics, feted the widows and their children to make them feel a part of society, to put smiles on their faces and to encourage them to trust in God.  They were given food and drinks and gifts such as pieces of cloth, bathing shampoo, biscuits, toothpaste and inspirational books. The widows, together with Rev. Mrs Donkor, cut a cake to crown the occasion.  The Executive President of the foundation, Mr Kofi Osei-Kusi, said the widows would be feted annually so that they would not feel rejected. He also expressed his gratitude to the African Support Network and Dots Concept for supporting them.

The government needs to commit more funds to the fight against cyber crime in Ghana, the Vice-Chancellor of the Valley View University (VVU), Professor Daniel Bour, has said. According to him, the fight against cyber  crime is becoming increasingly sophisticated, hence the need for more technologically sophisticated measures to counter the criminals. He emphasised that the exploitation of modern technology by criminals who engaged in practices such as hacking, cracking and the popular 419 was gaining ground and posing a serious threat to society. Prof. Bour was speaking at the opening of a month-long information technology and communications (ICT) training programme for 30 policemen and women in Accra yesterday. The training programme is being facilitated by the VVU, with sponsorship from the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC). The police  To effectively take on their task of  maintaining law and order, the police, Prof. Bour said, must keep pace with advanced techniques and mechanisms of detecting crime and fraud. That, he stressed, called for in-depth knowledge and extensive use of cyber forensics which required huge financial resources. “We hope the government will provide an adequate budget to provide the required logistics to enable the police to effectively and efficiently combat cyber crime,” he said. Sakawa The Inspector General of Police, Mr Mohammed A. Alhassan, in a keynote address, stated that cyber crime, popularly called ‘Sakawa’ in Ghana, had led to the loss of financial resources of many individuals and organisations, even though “most of such cases are usually unreported”. Internet connectivity, he said, had made it easier for criminals to act beyond national boundaries, saying “this requires a multi-stakeholder effort, including the government, the private sector, religious bodies and civil and social organisations”. The Director-General of Research and ICT of the Ghana Police Service, Commissioner of Police David Asante-Apeatu, said the participants, who were drawn from the various departments of the service across the country, would be trained in Microsoft Office Specialisation, Linus Administration, Networking and Ethical hacking. writer’s email address:[email protected] 

The Sacristy of the first Roman Catholic Cathedral in the country, the Saint Francis de Sales Cathedral in Cape Coast, has been razed by fire. The fire, which started in the sacristy around 9.30 p.m., destroyed historical materials, vessels, vestments and important documents. A sacristy is a room in a church where vestments, sacred vessels and items are kept. The church, which was established in 1926, was the first Catholic cathedral to be established in Ghana. Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) officials said the cause of the fire was yet to be established. It took firemen about 40 minutes to bring the fire under control. According to the Assistant Administrator of the cathedral, Rev Fr Vincent Kwesi Asare Bediako, he heard a strange noise in the building and rushed to the scene, only to see that smoke and fire had engulfed the sacristy. He was of the view that the fire could have been sparked by incense that had not been snuffed out properly or an electrical problem. He said he had tried to put out the fire with a fire extinguisher and when that failed the GNFS had to be called in. “The sacristy has totally been damaged. Everything in it is gone,” Rev Fr Bediako said. As at the time the Daily Graphic got to the scene, personnel of the GNFS were making efforts to bring the fire under control. Some policemen were also around to ensure that thieves did not take advantage of the situation to make away with valuables from the cathedral.

Prof. Ernest Dumor, the father of Komla Dumor, accompanied by family members, last Sunday called on the President of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs, Togbe Afede XIV, to inform him formally about his son’s demise which occurred in London last Saturday, January 18, 2014. Receiving Professor Dumor, Togbe Afede described the news as heartbreaking and said that he and the whole of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs would stand firmly behind the family in all that would do with respect to the funeral.  He indicated that the family had taken a decision to bring Komla home for his burial.  He added that the documentation associated with transporting the body to Ghana was far advanced.  The family used the opportunity to once again thank Ghanaians for their support, love and prayers.   “We are mindful of the worldwide legacy that Komla has left behind and thank the Almighty God for the impact of Komla’s life,” Prof. Dumor said. He added that he had been particularly struck by how deeply young people had been expressing their sympathies.  “The family would ensure that in the arrangements for the funeral, the involvement of such young people is not overlooked. The family is undertaking the consultations needed so that the numerous people who feel a deep sense of loss at Komla’s passing are able to participate meaningfully in his final journey,” Prof. Dumor hinted. Present at the meeting was Togbi Amenya Fiti V, the Paramonunt Chief of Aflao.

President John Dramani Mahama has assured the family of the late Komla Afeke Dumor that the government will participate fully in the funeral of the iconic broadcaster. He said the demise of the 41-year-old BBC presenter was not a loss to the family alone but to Ghana, Africa and the world. Consequently, he said, the government would work with the family to give the late Dumor a befitting funeral. The President gave the assurance when a delegation of the bereaved family, led by the Paramount Chief of the Aflao Traditional Area, Togbe Amenya Fiti V, formally informed him of Dumor’s death at the Flagstaff House in Accra yesterday. Mr Mahama,  said it was painful that a star of Africa cast in the mould of Komla should lose his life in such an unexpected and terrible manner. Komla the iconic broadcaster "He had become an icon in broadcasting and his knowledge about Ghana and Africa was phenomenal. It is extremely sad that his life has been cut short at just age 41,"  the President said. Recalling the day Dumor informed him that the BBC had employed him, President Mahama said, "I knew from that day that Africa was getting a gem in the field of journalism." He disclosed that when he was returning from his recent trip abroad, he took time to pass through London to console Dumor's wife, The family, he noted, was a  young one and indicated that his heart went out to them in such a difficult period. Togbe Fiti Briefing the President on preparations being made toward the funeral, Togbe Fiti said no date had been set for the return of Dumor’s remains to Ghana. The date for the funeral was also yet to be fixed, he said, and assured the President that the family would keep him informed when preparations were complete. Togbe Fiti said Dumor's death was a huge blow to the Aflao Traditional Area where the deceased had been installed the Youth Commander, a traditional position that carried so much weight. Ambassador Gbeho  An uncle of the deceased, Ambassador Victor Gbeho, stated that the family was consoled by the "strong heart" of the deceased's father, Professor Ernest Dumor,  who, in these trying moments, had shown resilience. He commended the President for the show of support to the family. Other members of the delegation were Dumor's sister, Mrs Mawuena Trebah; Prof Dumor and some chiefs from the Aflao Traditional Area.

There were unusually long queues of vehicles at most fuel stations in Accra yesterday as the metropolis was hit by  petrol shortage. On a day transportation fares had gone up by 20 per cent, diesel vehicle owners were the lucky ones to have fuel at almost all fuel stations in the national capital. At the Accra Sports Stadium Shell filling station, impatient drivers, eager to get their share of the now scarce commodity, were in a long winding queue that stretched as far as the Freedom Monument, near the Independence Square. “I used the little fuel I had in my car to drive from Teshie to this place. I have been looking for fuel since morning,” a not-too-excited Mr John Aidoo told the Daily Graphic. The Supervisor of the station, Mr Desmond Darko, said it had earlier reserved some of its stock for its customers but had to give in as more and more people drove there to queue for fuel. “We placed the order, but the supply is not coming in. We place orders for fuel every three days but there has been no response yet. We don’t know what is going on,” he added. At the Adabraka Total filling station, near the Roxy Cinema, only diesel was available.  The situation was similar at the Total Station, near the Trust Towers. An attendant, Mr Davis Sarpong, said there was diesel but that for three days premium petrol had not been available. He said there was no sign fuel was coming soon, as the orders placed by the station were yet to receive positive responses.   At the Total station at Osu, near the Ebenezer Presby Church Hall, the Engen and Champion stations on the Kojo Thompson Road, the attendants virtually sat idle, occasionally telling customers that there was no petrol. A frustrated trotro driver, Daniel Odoom, wondered why there was no fuel, especially on a day fares had been increased. NPA speaks In an interview with the Daily Graphic, the Head of Communications at the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Mr Steve Larbi, attributed the crisis to pressure on the supply chain. According to him, there were more than 30 million litres of fuel in the system, with more being discharged. “There are only a few petrol tankers supplying the whole country and so after supplying in Accra, they have to move to the regions and then return,” he explained. The Chief Executive of the Association of Oil Marketing Companies (AOMC), Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Duah, confirmed the fuel shortage and blamed it on the delay by vessels to timeously deliver the product, reports Sebastian Syme. He explained to the Daily Graphic in an interview yesterday that whenever the vessels delayed in coming, fuel shortage arose. He added that what could also be responsible for the problem was that the bulk distribution companies (BDCs) failed to deliver the product on time. At a meeting with oil marketing companies (OMCs) yesterday, the NPA assured stakeholders that the issue would be resolved in the shortest possible time. Business Plan Mr Agyeman-Duah indicated that what the country needed was a business continuity plan (BCP) which the private sector would be encouraged to champion. He expressed the resolve of industry players to push for that plan which, when implemented, would help bring to an end the occasional shortage of fuel in the country. Fuel consumption Ghana currently consumes 42 million litres of diesel and 32 million litres of petrol a week. Chase Petroleum The Chief Executive Officer of Chase Petroleum, Mr Daniel Amoah, in a separate interview, however, painted a positive picture, saying his station had enough fuel and expressed surprise at the news of the shortage. He added that he had not heard of the shortage, since, for him, business was going on at his outfit. In a related development, commercial drivers yesterday increased transport fares by 20 per cent, following increases in the prices of petroleum products. However, they asked the government to give them concessions on fuel price increases, reports Caroline Boateng. They said fuel constituted a major component of transport operation and, therefore, any increase in the price of the product could have negative effects on their business. They added that although they were private business people, increases in vehicle income tax, driver and vehicle licensing fees, taxes by the various assemblies, as well as fuel price increases, were constraining their businesses.

A woman who could not stand the pain of losing her husband to another woman has been arrested for allegedly setting her husband, his new found lover and their daughter ablaze, leading to their death. Peter Amos Asobayire, 35; his wife, Felicity Asobayire, 25, and their two-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Sarah Asobayire, were burnt beyond recognition. The suspect, Efua Badu, 33, popularly known as Saman Kwenim, allegedly set fire to a can of kerosene and threw it through the window of the uncompleted abode of the family at Dome CFC at about 2 a.m. Monday. Two other occupants of the building, Tanko Asobayire, 28, and Michael Amanguri, 25, however, escaped unhurt as they were said to be sleeping in another room in the building. Background Badu, a chop bar operator, was said to have been married to Asobayire for seven years, during which period they had two children, a six-year-old boy and a two- year-old girl. Asobayire is alleged to have recently informed the suspect that he was no longer interested in their marriage. Briefing The Accra Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Mr Christian Tetteh Yohuno, told newsmen in Accra yesterday that Asobayire allegedly sacked Badu from their abode and brought in his new wife, Felicity. He said the suspect became offended on hearing that her husband had brought in a new woman. According to the police commander, the suspect claimed she decided to burn down everything in the house to teach the man a lesson. The suspect, he said, also claimed that she set a can of kerosene ablaze and threw it into the room, thinking that there was no one in the room. Mr Yohuno said the suspect claimed she took to her heels on hearing of screams from the room. Investigations According to Mr Yohuno, preliminary investigations by personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) led the police to arrest the suspect after it had emerged that someone might have set the family ablaze. There were fresh burnt marks on her hand and cheeks when she was arrested, but the commander indicated that the suspect earlier denied the charge, but after thorough interrogation she allegedly confessed to committing the crime. Fire scene When the Daily Graphic visited the scene around 2 p.m. yesterday, residents of the area had gathered around the entrance of the house discussing the issue.  Fire destroys building and property It was observed that property running into thousands of cedis had been destroyed by the fire, while some materials believed to be the body parts of the victims were seen. According to an eyewitness who pleaded anonymity, the fire began at approximately 2 a.m. Monday. Click to view more photos of the incident  

  Slums within the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) are to see an upgrade by the end of the year, the Mayor of Accra, Mr Alfred Oko Vanderpuije has said. According to him, there are ongoing discussions between the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and the Ministry of Works and Housing to ensure a total upgrading of communities in the capital. Speaking on Citi FM, Mr Vanderpuije noted that areas such as Nima, Momobi, Kotobabi and Sodom and Gomorrah are part of the Assembly’s agenda for an upgrade. On the issue of Sodom and Gomorrah, he said progress had been made to bring sanity to the area, noting that, it would  be unlawful to “go in and bulldoze my way through Sodom and Gomorrah.” He added that following meetings with the Chiefs of Adjei Kotoku, plans have been made to move the commercial activities at Sodom and Gomorrah to Adjei Kotoku by the end of February. Dredging of Korle Lagoon Mr Vanderpuije said dredging of the Korle Lagoon have been hindered by the activities of residents along the lagoon, coupled with delays from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning. That notwithstanding, he said the residents had agreed to move 100 meters away from the lagoon. He noted that the Assembly was yet to conclude on what to do to with residents of Sodom and Gomorrah. “Discussions are on-going as to what to do with residents at Sodom and Gomorah. It is a decision that is not left to AMA alone because there are financial implications involved. There is an ongoing discussion between AMA and Ministry of Works and Housing to lead them to a permanent position,” he said. Meanwhile, Mr Vanderpuije hinted that dredging of the Korle Lagoon will resume in February.  

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a permit for the construction and operation of a fuel station near the Family Health Hospital at Teshie in spite of objections by the management of the health facility and the  Ghana Health Service (GHS) for health reasons. The AI Energy Group, a licensed oil marketing company with a Logistics and Support Service Subsidiary rendering services to clients across the country, had discussed their intention to establish a bank, restaurant and fuel service station near the Family Health Hospital at Teshie and requested for the health facility’s consent. The management of the health facility replied that although the project would add to the economic benefits of the people of the community, it had serious concerns in relation to the fuel service station the AI Group wanted to provide to the health facility. It noted that living near a fuel station could be a health hazard; not only to patients and staff of the hospital but also to the in-vitro fertilisation (test tube babies), and urged the group to reconsider its decision.  The management of the health facility also notified the Ministry of Health about the intention of the management of the AI Group to site a fuel service station near the facility, and requested the ministry to also provide the  AI Group and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reasons why it was not advisable to site the fuel station near a health facility.   The EPA had earlier requested the medical director of the Family Health Hospital Limited to provide an Environmental Impact Assessment for siting a filling station near a hospital facility in Teshie, a suburb of Accra. The request was necessitated by a petition from the management of the hospital  against  the siting of the fuel station near the health facility.  Patrons of the health facility (with a 24-bed in-patient ward, consulting rooms for outpatients, theatre for surgical operations, laboratories, among others) risked contracting severe acute and chronic respiratory distress syndrome, increase in the incidence of cancers, fire hazards among other threats. The decision to issue the permit, the EPA explained, was due to the failure of the management of the health facility  to outline their environmental concerns as was agreed upon at a meeting on the proposed construction and operation of the fuel station. Health risk An Environment Impact Assessment of a proposed fuel service station at Teshie signed by Dr Gloria Quansah Asare, Acting Director General, Ghana Health Service, cited by the Daily Graphic, warned against the siting of the fuel station  near the hospital, citing health risks. According to the report, “evidence from the literature regarding risks from exposure to such a facility points to an increased risk of Leukaemia (blood cancer), Hodgkin’s lymphoma, fetal malformations and premature births.” The report urged “all stakeholders to work in tandem to limit the environmental and other exposures that constitute risk factors to their occurrence, as articulated in the Libreville Declaration 2008 which our two sectors have adopted with the formation of the Health and Environmental Strategic Alliance (HESA) in 2012.” The report said the health sector was seeking broader partnership with the private sector in meeting the health needs of Ghanaians. It said as the main health facility located between La and Tema General Hospitals, the Family Health Hospital, which provided a wide range of services, was making an immense contribution by complementing the government’s efforts at serving the  needs of a large proportion of persons living on the eastern side of Accra. Accusations But a letter signed on behalf of the Executive Director of the EPA by Mr Ebenezer Appah-Sarpong, a director, accused the hospital authorities of not responding to the issues raised in an earlier correspondence which required the hospital to outline its environmental concerns which should have reached the agency within one week from the receipt of that letter. In a different letter jointly signed by Mr Ben Koney, Project Coordinator, and Ms Abigail A. Harlley, Chief Executive Officer of the AI Energy Group Limited, owners of the Filling station, they said: “AI Energy Group is a duly licensed Oil Marketing Company with a Logistics and Support Service Subsidiary rendering services to clients across the entire country. According to the letter, “the said parcel of land is not within the perimeter of your land hoping that “our existence would not prove any discomfort to your operations whatsoever.

  A 32-year-old woman  and her father have been charged with bigamy by the police after she successfully got married to two different men legally in Ghana. According to a report by The Finder newspaper Patience Belinda Gyamfi (the woman at the centre of investigations) got married to Maximus Anumah, a member of staff at the 37 Military Hospital in 2012 and to Audrey Atikpo in January 2013 while she was still married to the former. The newspaper reported that Belinda’s marriage to Maximus was held at a church in Labadi and registered at the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) while and the second marriage was registered in Somanya in the Eastern Region. The report indicated that in mid-January 2013, Belinda, who had not been blessed with a fruit of the womb from her marriage with Anumah sought permission from her husband to go to Edumfa Prayer Camp in the Central Region for fasting and prayers to seek divine intervention so they could have children, to which her husband granted the request. It said unknown to Mr Anumah, Belinda, her father and some family members had arranged a secret wedding with another man, Audrey Atikpo, who came down from the United States of America (USA). How they met is yet to be established. The report said, according to the second marriage certificate, Belinda got married to Atikpo on January 31, 2013 and registered the marriage at the Somanya Magistrate Court. Atikpo then rented an apartment at East Legon where he stayed with Belinda for some days and went back to the US to process the necessary documents for Belinda to join him there. According to The Finder report, when Atikpo left, Belinda packed back to her first husband’s house at Labadi in mid-February 2013. It said, upon her return, Belinda always found faults with anything that Anumah did, resulting in frequent misunderstandings. Some months later, Belinda's father brought drinks and GH¢300 to Anumah saying his daughter wanted divorce, but Anumah rejected the items, the report said. Being suspicious of his wife’s calls from a gentleman and a woman from the US, Anumah enquired about the calls and Belinda told him that the man (Belinda's second husband Atikpo) was her cousin and the woman (Belinda's mother in-law in US) her aunty. Not satisfied with the answers, Anumah started searching for his own clues and it was in the course of the search, Anumah found a piece of paper in their room bearing the name and address of Atikpo, The Finder reported. According to the newspaper, Anumah logged on to Facebook, searched for Audrey Atikpo and sent him a friendship request. Upon accepting the request, and seeing Anumah and Belinda's wedding photos in Anumah’s Facebook photos, Atikpo confronted Anumah and the two men both claimed to be the rightful husband of Belinda, The Finder said. According to The Finder, Atikpo called Belinda from the US and confronted her on the matter and the following day, Belinda packed all her belongings from Anumah's house and went back to the house Atikpo rented for her at East Legon. Feeling fooled and cheated by Belinda, Anumah reported the case to the police, who are currently investigating the matter.  

  Three suspects and their three accomplices have been arrested in connection with armed robberies at the Koforidua Medical Village where many health officials of the Eastern Regional Hospital live. The suspects are also alleged to be responsible for most of the armed robberies in other parts of the New Juaben municipality.  They are Samuel Akwetey, alias Kwame Agbeko, 35, said to be the ring leader; Godwin Ametoyo, 38, and Isaac Agomor, 22. Their accomplices are Gideon Boateng, 28, said to be the carrier of the stolen goods, Charles Awuku, 47, and Mohamadu Zebu, 32, who allegedly receive the booty. Another member of the gang whose name has been given as Harrison is currently on the run. Items retrieved Items retrieved from them include one plasma television set, a laptop and a foreign made pistol, all of which, according to the police, were stolen from the Medical Village. A number of house-breaking implements and knives were also found on the gang. The arrest of the gang, according to DCOP Akuriba Yaagy, the Eastern Regional Police Commander, was a significant breakthrough by the police in the fight against crime. Media briefing At a press briefing at his office last Friday, DCOP Yaagy said, “We have made a significant breakthrough by arresting Akwetey, who has been on the police wanted list for some time now.” Giving details of the arrests, he said a ‘Good Samaritan’  who spotted Akwetey in the Koforidua business area last Thursday raised an alarm. The ‘Good Samaritan’ single-handedly struggled to get hold of Akwetey, he said, while a taxi driver joined him to overpower the suspected robber. According to the Eastern Regional Police Commander, after Akwetey had been handed over to the police, he mentioned the names of his accomplices, leading to their arrest at different locations. He indicated that the police were on the trail of Harrison and that investigations were being conducted into the case, after which the suspects would be put before court. Background      From September 2012 to November 2013, the Medical Village recorded a number of armed robbery attacks, during which some of the doctors werebeaten and their belongings stolen. That forced many of the doctors at the Eastern Regional Hospital who resided at the Medical Village to decide not to attend to emergency night calls to duty due to the persistent attacks by robbers.    

  Residents of Adjei Kojo whose structures were demolished last week are to benefit from relief items presented to the Tema Development Corporation (TDC) by the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO). Initial assessment by NADMO indicates that more than 800 people from 167 households, mostly women, children and the aged, were displaced after a team of military and police personnel had demolished houses on lands acquired by the TDC for the expansion of Tema. The National Coordinator of NADMO, Mr Kofi Portuphy, handed over the items, made up of 10 tents (each with the capacity to shelter between 10 and 18 people), 300 mats, 400 blankets, 1,000 plastic bowls, three bales of used clothing, mosquito nets and packets of mosquito coil, to the Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mr  Isaac Ashai Odamtten, for distribution to the affected persons. Mr Odamtten expressed appreciation to NADMO for the swift response which, he said, would help ameliorate the pain and anguish of the displace persons. He admitted that there had been some lapses in the work of some of the members of the task force and pledged to convene a meeting with all stakeholders, including the TDC, to streamline and promote the development of the metropolis. Present were the Tema Coordinator of NADMO, Hajia Zeinab Abdulai, and a former Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Samuel Ofosu- Ampofo, who was the NDC's parliamentary candidate for the affected area in the 2012 general election. Presenting the items, Mr Portuphy explained that the donation was just the initial consignment mobilised in the heat of the moment and indicated that as and when resources became available, more items would be given to the displaced persons, some of whom had been compelled to sleep in the open. Lack of consultation He bemoaned the manner in which the exercise had been carried out, stressing that although the TDC might have the right to carry out such an exercise, NADMO should have been consulted to handle the plight of the internally displaced persons well. Mr  Portuphy said while the legalities must be pursued, there was also the need for the application of a human face to the exercise, adding that the TDC could not be absolved of complicity in the sale of lands to individuals in the affected area. He said there was evidence that occupants of the land had paid various sums of money to the TDC and Tema Metropolitan Assembly and wondered what might have prevented the TDC from dialoguing with the occupants and the allodial owners of the land in order to resolve the problem amicably. Mr Ofosu-Ampofo also expressed discontent at  the lack of consultation among the TDC, the TMA and agencies such as NADMO when the TDC decided to carry out the demolition exercise. Writer's email: benjamin.glover@ graphic.com.gh