Obinim declared wanted

BENJAMIN GLOVER & DELLA RUSSEL OCLOO 

22 AUGUST 2016

http://bit.ly/2fUOmG8

The Tema Regional Police Command has given Bishop Daniel Obinim, the Founder of International God’s Way Church, an ultimatum to report himself at the command by the close of today or face the consequences.

The ultimatum followed the failure by Bishop Obinim to honour an invitation by the police in connection with investigations  into reports that he publicly flogged two young adults of his church for allegedly indulging in fornication.

The alleged fornication is said to have resulted in a pregnancy that was aborted by the young adults.

The flogging is said to have been captured and broadcast on the church's TV channel and later went viral on social media.

Confirming the ultimatum to the Daily Graphic, the Public Relations Officer of the Tema Regional Police Command, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Ms Juliana Obeng, said the bishop's invite was served on one of his junior pastors at the Tema branch of the church last Thursday.

She said although the church leaders assured the police that the bishop would respond to the invite, no word had been heard from either Bishop Obinim or the church leaders since Thursday.

Public condemnation

Following the release of the footage on social media and the subsequent public condemnation, the  Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Nana Oye Lithur, reported Bishop Obinim to the Accra Regional Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVSSU), while another person also lodged a complaint against the bishop at the Tema Regional Police.

A private legal practitioner, Lawyer Francis Xavier Sosu, has also dragged Bishop Obinim to court for flogging the two.

Lawyer Sosu is seeking an order from the Human Rights Division of the Accra High Court that would protect what he described as the fundamental human rights of members of Bishop Obinim’s church.

A video of the incident, which is currently circulating on social media, shows the bishop whipping a young man and a young woman, identified only as Elliasu and Gyesiwaa, respectively, with a belt in front of his congregation in a live television broadcast.

The crime of the two ‘sinners’, according to Bishop Obinim, was that the young man, who is his protégé, had impregnated the  young lady and that they had gone ahead to terminate the pregnancy.

Applause from church members

In what could be described as encouragement to continue with the whipping, some members of the church could be heard in the video shouting: “Beat them!!!’’

Another shocking moment in the video was the reluctance of Bishop Obinim to stop beating the lady in the video, even after the lady had run to his wife, Florence, who was sitting on the dais.

“Florence, get away from her!’’ he shouted, and further directed his assistants to slap the lady if she got closer to them.

In another dramatic twist, the bishop directed his assistants to continue with the beating after he had obviously had his fill of inflicting pain on the two alleged “fornicators”.

As of 2 p.m. yesterday, Sunday, August 21 when the Daily Graphic team was about leaving the Tema branch of the International God’s Way Church, Bishop Obinim was not in the church.  

A member of the church told the Daily Graphic that the founder and leader was officiating at a service at a branch of the church in the Ashanti Region.

Dadome, a community in dire need of potable water

BENJAMIN GLOVER                                                                      

06 MAY 2016

http://bit.ly/2fatQSY

Dadome is a rural community in the Central Tongu District of the Volta Region. The community and its adjourning villages have seen an increase in water-related diseases over the past years, resulting in the death of some residents, majority being children. Some community members fear the situation could escalate as residents continue to fetch and use untreated and unwholesome water which they share with cattle and other animals from contaminated river sources in the area.

The available source of water, a tributary of the Volta River called Aklakpa, has been badly polluted and is known to be the source of many diseases in the village.This has led to the outbreak of waterborne diseases such as schistosomiasis (bilharzia). The water in this river is brownish sludge; literally muddy water, covered by water hyacinths. The other source of water for people in the community is the polluted dam, polluted by the dung of cows because they drink from it as they move through it.

Effect on education

This lack of potable water in the village has impacted negatively on school attendance and performance as pupils have to trek a distance of four kilometres daily to access the main source of water, though polluted. 

“Our pupils are always getting sick when they drink this water. The absence of potable water is really affecting academic work. The pupils usually have to travel four kilometres each morning and evening to fetch water. They thus become tired, making teaching and learning very ineffective,” the Headmaster of Dadome D/A Basic School, Mr Mathew Dabah, said.

According to him, apart from the long distance, the quality of water is not good because the decaying water weeds on the river gives off an offensive odour but they have no option but to drink it.

“When the pupils come to school, they complain of stomach problems with others having blood in their urine,” he said.

Salty borehole water

According to Mr Dabah, though the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, recently helped to sink some boreholes in the community, the water from the boreholes could not be used because of the high salt content.  As a result, the boreholes have been capped.

In response to appeals from the community leaders, International Needs, a Christain, not-for-profit development organisation, funded by its counterpart in the USA, International Needs, USA responded to the needs of the community by installing a GH¢ 10,000 rain water harvesting system and a reservoir that can store 5,000 gallons of water. However, the long spell of the dry season meant they could not rely on the system for now.

Intervention

International Needs, Ghana, under its medical intervention, also provided free medical care to the people of Dadome and other communities, namely Kpogede, Kanuwloe, Fakpoe, Lasivenu and Anawoekope in the North and Central Tongu Districts of the Volta Region.

Thirty-one professionals, including medical doctors, nurses, pharmacists and  paramedics  from the USA, were joined by a team of health personnel from the Adidome Hospital to screen and treat over 3,000 persons while patients requiring further attention were referred to the district hospital.

The Director of Development and Co-ordinator of  Medical Outreach of International Needs, USA, Mrs Terry  Heyward, observed that the lack of clean water in the community was the source of many water-borne diseases in the area.

She said about 70 per cent of the diseases of the people would be prevented if the community was able to access clean water. “Water is life and very essential in the life of an individual,” she said.

Mrs Heyward also said the team had, for the past seven years, worked with its partners in Ghana to provide free medical care and dispense medication to patrons.

Medical support

International Needs, Ghana has since 2003 provided free medical care to over 20,000 people living in rural communities in the Greater Accra and Volta regions.

Its operations began in 1987 and it has so far made major interventions in 21 metropolitan areas, municipalities and districts across five regions of Ghana.

Though the Dadome community expressed appreciation for the medical outreach, their wish was that it would be sustained to address the health needs of the people. But more importantly, as pointed out by Mr Dabah, they are appealing to the government and benevolent organisations to provide them with potable water to stop the community members, especially children, from drinking contaminated water.

Writer's email : benjamin.glover@ graphic.com.gh

Candidates outline vision for Kpone Katamanso

BENJAMIN GLOVER                                                                    

31 OCTOBER 2016

http://bit.ly/2fuicB0

The Kpone-Katamanso District office of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has organised a forum for aspiring Members of Parliament (MPs) of the constituency.

The forum enabled parliamentary candidates to interact with a cross- section of the electorate and make a pledge to ensure that the processes leading to the December 7 general election and after would remain peaceful.

The forum was held on Wednesday at Katamanso where members of the constituency listened to the aspirants who promised to ensure peace before, during and after the polls.

Three of the aspirants, namely Mr Stanley Kwesi  Klemm of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), Mr Solomon Tettey Appiah of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and Ms Pearl Akua Agyemang, an independent candidate, were present.

The incumbent MP, Mr Joseph Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), who is seeking re-election, was absent and was represented by Mr Ibrahim Adams Mumuni who pledged their commitment towards a peaceful election.

In separate interviews after the forum, the parliamentary candidates outlined their plans for the electorate if given the nod.

PPP

Mr Stanley Kwesi Klemm of the PPP, a law student, said his focus would be the vulnerable in  society, especially persons with disability. 

He said his checks in the constituency indicated that persons with disability did not enjoy the needed support and he as MP intended to support them to do something for themselves.

He also promised to introduce strategies that would deal with unemployment in the constituency. 

“When you look at our constituency, there are a lot of things to be done including providing jobs. “As MP and a leader in the constituency, I can lobby to get the needed jobs for the people”.

NPP

The NPP candidate, Mr Solomon Tettey Appiah, said his vision was about development and said he would transform what had been done over the years. “Children are failing the BECE examination and nothing has been done. What we need to do is to put in place an after-school session, identify the children who lack certain basic things and through that we will improve whatever they are doing in school,” he said.

He also promised to work with the assembly and other stakeholders to enhance  the infrastructure in the constituency.

Independent

Ms Pearl Akua Agyemang, a teacher, who is contesting as an independent candidate, said  she had developed five thematic areas under which she intended to address the challenges of the area if given the nod.

These include employment for the youth, sanitation (recycling and biogas), education, roads, drainage and health. She stated that she would liaise with the assembly and other stakeholders to improve the lives of the constituents.

She particularly called on the women in the constituency to rally behind her and for the first time elect a woman to represent them in Parliament.

Mr Ibrahim Adams Mumuni, an assembly member who represented Mr Laryea Nii Afotey Agbo, commended the NCCE for organising the programme.  

He entreated other political parties to ensure that peace prevailed before, during and after the election.

He called on the clergy in the constituency to complement the efforts of the parties by educating the electorate about the need to conduct themselves in such a manner that collectively, the election at Kpone Katamanso  would be one of the most peaceful in the country.

Public education

The Kpone-Katamanso District Director of the NCCE, Mr Oliver Agbenyo, said the NCCE is mandated by the 1992 Constitution to educate and encourage Ghanaians to understand and appreciate the dictates document.

He entreated the electorate to “accept whoever wins the election to ensure that peace continues to prevail in the country.”

#GhanaVotes2016

Resist temptation to vote NPP — Ofosu Ampofo

BENJAMIN GLOVER AND DELLA RUSSEL OCLOO        

17 NOVEMBER 2016
http://bit.ly/2fukQXq

The director of Elections of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, has called on Ghanaians to resist the temptation of voting the New Patriotic Party (NPP) into power.

According to him, the NDC stands for development, thus anytime they are in power, the country experiences tremendous growth in development.

Addressing party supporters at Klagon in the Tema West Constituency last Sunday, where the party’s nominee, Mr James Enu, was introduced to supporters, Mr Ampofo enumerated the numerous projects in the area of roads, education, health, water and education that had been spearheaded by the President Mahama-led administration.

The rally which attracted scores of supporters from various parts of the constituency, including Adjei Kojo, Communities 5 and 3, Sakumono, Lashibi and Spintex road areas, also saw the constituency’s 2016 campaign being launched.

He pointed out that not only was the NDC creating opportunities for the youth, but it had created hundreds of jobs that had improved the lives of every individual across the country.

Infrastructure

The NDC, according to the former minister of local government, had made impacts in the housing sector with the building of the Sakumono Estate and the Tema Community 3 SSNIT Flats, while similar projects had been carried out under the Mahama-led administration.

“What have the NPP been able to achieve in the area of housing during the eight-year rule of the defunct Kufuor administration?” Mr Ofosu Ampofo queried.

“The expansion of infrastructure under the present NDC is aimed at creating an enabling environment for accelerated development,” he pointed out.

He suggested that the completion of the 130-bed International Maritime Hospital which was financed by the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) was a clear indication that the government was committed to addressing challenges in the health sector and ensuring universal access to health for all.

Similarly, he said the Tema motorway roundabout expansion project and the Tema Port expansion projects were being carried out to ensure more opportunities were available to all Ghanaians.

“The vote in 2016 is not just about party slogan, but about who can deliver and take Ghana to the promised land; and I am certain John Mahama is that man who can send us to the promised land,” he stressed.

Mr Ofosu-Ampofo, who lost the Tema West seat in 2012 by some 850 votes to the NPP’s Ms Irene Naa Torshie Addo, urged the supporters not to relent on their efforts and ensure the house-to-house and door-to-door campaign being employed by the party yielded the needed results.

NPP

Taking a swipe at the NPP’s Presidential Candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo, Mr Ofosu-Ampofo suggested that he had managed to divide the party, leading to the suspension of various leaders who had been elected by the party supporters.

“How can we entrust the leadership of the country to the hands of one who could not handle his own party?” he queried.

“We are putting two gentlemen before you, Nana Akufo-Addo and John Mahama. Which of them, when in power, can guarantee you peace?” Mr Ofosu-Ampofo asked amid loud cheers from the teeming supporters.

#GhanaVotes2016 

Kunbuor consoles family of navy despatch rider

Benjamin Glover

20 January 2016

 http://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/kunbuor-consoles-family-of-navy-despatch-rider.html

The Minister of Defence, Dr Benjamin Bewa-Nyog Kunbuor, yesterday visited the family of a navy dispatch rider who died after crushing into his fellow army dispatch rider at Burma Camp last Friday, to console them.
The rider, Petty Officer II Simon Akumpele, 37, died after a head-on collision with another army dispatch rider, while both of them were manoeuvring and exhibiting their riding skills along the ceremonial streets at Burma Camp during a pull-out parade for the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, Vice Admiral Mathew Quashie.
The Defence Minister was accompanied by his deputy, Mr Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Nii Laryea Agbo, and the Chief of the Naval Staff of the Ghana Navy, Rear Admiral Peter Kofi Faidoo.

Donation
The Defence Minister presented an undisclosed amount of money, two bags of rice, two gallons of cooking oil and two crates of soft drinks to the bereaved family to support the funeral.
Mr Agbo, who is also the Member of Parliament for Kpone-Katamanso, donated GH¢1,000, and one bag of rice to support the funeral.
In a brief remark, Dr Kunbuor said the ministry thought it wise to visit the bereaved family to commiserate with them.
He described the incident as unfortunate and assured the family that the ministry and the Military High Command shared in their loss and pain.
“These things happen occasionally, but it is my prayer that the good Lord protect his soul and keep the family,” he said.
Mr Agbo, for his part, appealed to the bereaved family to remain calm and pledged to support them.
Burial arrangements
The Spokesperson for the bereaved family, Petty Officer Medad Abubakar, expressed appreciation to the Defence Minister and the entourage for the visit and donations. He said the family was still in the planning process and would soon inform the military high command of the funeral and burial arrangements when a date was fixed.
The deceased left behind a wife and two male children, aged nine and six respectively.
The widow, Cynthia, who is pregnant, was very distraught and could not hold back her tears.

Writer’s email: benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh

 

Inculcate spirit of obedience in students - Most Rev. Palmer Buckle ( http://www.graphic.com.gh/news/education/inculcate-spirit-of-obedience-in-students-most-rev-palmer-buckle.html)

The Our Lady of Mercy (OLAM) Senior High School (SHS) in Tema has celebrated its 15th anniversary with a call on parents and teachers to help inculcate the spirit of obedience in students, to enable them to develop the virtue of self-discipline and self-control.

The Metropolitan Catholic Archbishop of Accra, the Most Rev. Charles Gabriel Palmer Buckle, who was the guest speaker at the ceremony, admonished parents, guardians and teachers to let their lives serve as examples of obedience and self-discipline in all spheres of life, be it at home, at work or in society, whether others are looking on or not.
The anniversary, which also marked the school's 5th speech and prize-giving day, was observed on the theme, "Quality education, the role of the church and the government.”

Quality education

Most Rev. Palmer Buckle highlighted what he termed were five very essential and indispensable ingredients necessary for quality education. He said  for any person to be well and properly educated, that person should have been formed in such a way that he or she was an obedient person, wise, healthy, God-fearing and imbued with love for his or her fellow human beings.
Dwelling on the Bible passage in Luke 2:51-52, Most Rev Palmer Buckle said apart from obedience, quality education required that both parents and teachers had to see to it that their children and wards were well fed with nutritious food before sending them to school, and also ensure that the pupils and students had something good to eat during schooltime.

Commendation

The Metropolitan Chief Executive of Tema, Mr Isaac Ashai Odamtten, said OLAM SHS had become a household name within the 15 years of its existence because of its achievements in academics and in other extracurricular activities in the metropolis.
He said the school's contribution to education in Tema in particular and Ghana as a whole was very much appreciated, and commended the Catholic Church, the founder members, teachers and administrators, the Board and the PTA for laying a solid foundation for the school.

History of OLAM SHS

The Headmaster of the school, Mr Clemence Yao Baba, said the OLAM Catholic Church in Tema Community One established the school, with the late Reverend Father Francis Beemsterboer and the late Aloysius Hoguth as founders.
 Founded as a Catholic private school in 1999 with 15 students and 11 teachers the school, which was  absorbbed into the public system in 2001, now has a student population of over a 1,000 and a teaching staff of 52 and 20 non-teaching staff.
He said as a result of prudent measures put in place, the school scored 100 per cent as all 437 students who sat for the West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination performed brilliantly.
Writer’s email: Benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh

Fiat Tipo set to make its debut in Ghana ( http://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/fiat-tipo-set-to-make-its-debut-in-ghana.html )

Tanink Ghana Limited, a member of the Tanink Group and exclusive franchisee of Italian-American luxury and utility cars in Ghana, is set to introduce into the Ghanaian market a new rival to the Ford Focus and Vauxhall Astra by the end of September this year.

Called the Tipo, the name was last used in the mid ’90s on another mid-sized hatchback. The Tipo is set to carve out a niche among rivals.
I was part of selected journalists from Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region invited to test the new FIAT Tipo and from the over one hour, thirty minutes long test drive around the streets of Turin, the Tipo proved very comfortable.
The first striking feature of the car is its stylish design. Designed in Italy by Centro Stile Fiat and jointly developed with Tofaş Research and Development, the Fiat Tipo engaged a team of over 2,000 people for nearly three years.
Reliable, fuel-efficient engines
According to the markets, customers can choose two petrol engines (1.4 Fire 95 HP and 1.6 E.torQ 110 HP) or one of Multijet II turbo diesels (1.3 95 HP). All engines are combined with front-wheel drive and five or six-speed manual gearboxes, except for the 1.6 E.torQ which is coupled to a six-speed automatic transmission, for smooth and comfortable driving in all situations.
Bold exterior
From the side, a distinctive line joins the front headlights to the rear light clusters, while the glazing conveys a dynamic effect which adds to the idea of roominess and provides large doors for easy access for driver and passengers. Aerodynamic which adds a sporty touch to the car stretches from the pillars to the roof, while the muscular wheel arches provide a feeling of strength and solidity.
The rear end is complemented by an integrated spoiler wrapped around the box which ensures good aerodynamics and a robust, protective bumper with thin, elegant integrated reflectors.
Similarly, the lower part of Fiat Tipo expresses the best in terms of wheel coverage and side profile in plan. The side mirrors are specifically designed to obtain ultimate performance in terms of acoustics and aerodynamic efficiency.
Ergonomic, functional and quiet interiors
The interiors were designed starting from real customer needs and enhancing functional elements with a sophisticated touch of style.
Examples are the crescent dashboard, which is the distinctive element of the car. It encompasses the central area and splits the dashboard volumes into two half-shells (one of which is more textured and tactile, while the other is more functional and technical) to make the whole visually lighter and to accent the roominess of the passenger compartment at the same time.
Roominess and load capacity
The Fiat Tipo has a large, bright passenger compartment which is extraordinarily livable and affords superior comfort in terms of ergonomics and room to the driver and passengers.
The Operations & Logistics Manager of Tanink Ghana, Mr Fred Nyame, said the Fiat Tipo would satisfy the unique needs of its Ghanaian clients who desired quality. “Fiat believes in quality and we want our clients to get value for money hence the introduction of this range of products in the Ghanaian Market.”
The Chief Executive of Tanink Ghana, Mr Roger Klogo, said the Tipo would offer a real value for money car with lots of practicalities and features. “Tipo is a beautiful car as far as I am concerned; we now have a car to fight the C–Segment which is largely dominated by Toyota Corolla in this country.”