Rawlings lauds late Ashiagbor

BENJAMIN GLOVER 

13 JUNE 2017

Former President Rawlings at the burial service of the late Ashiagbor. Seated on his right is Mr Victor Gbeho

Former President Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings has praised a former Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Mr Alex Ashiagbor, for his level of competence in the area of financial management.

The former President who joined hundreds of family, friends and sympathisers to mourn the late governor last Friday and Saturday described Mr Ashiagbor, who died in May, as a wise and smart person.

At the 25th anniversary rally of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) at the Mandela Park, Ashaiman last Saturday, the founder of the NDC recounted how he removed Mr Ashiagbor from his position as Governor of the central bank in 1982 based on counsel from his advisors, only for him to realise years later that he had erred.

He subsequently found an opportunity to publicly apologise to the departed governor, enabling him (Mr Ashiagbor) to bring his experience to bear on the government’s economic management team.

Flt Lt Rawlings said truth and sincerity were key in reconciling with Mr Ashiagbor and he expected stakeholders and party supporters to apply the same criteria as they sought unity for the party.

The former President and his daughter, Amina Agyeman-Rawlings, joined hundreds of family, friends and former colleagues last Friday to mourn the late Mr Ashiagbor at the Lashibi Funeral Home near Tema.

He was also present at the burial service at the E.P. Church, Dzelukofe, Keta last Saturday.

Mr Ashiagbor, who passed on May 19, 2017, was a leading member of the Ashiagbor, Adorkor and Agbotui families, the Governor of the central bank from 1977 to 1982 and held various international and local roles in the financial sector throughout his lifetime.

He served at the Ministry of Finance as a Director of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), a Director at the United Nations Programme of Action for African Economic Recovery and Development and Executive Secretary of the UN Secretary General’s Expert Group on African Commodity Issues.

He subsequently led the World Bank-sponsored Financial Sector Adjustment Programme (FINSAP) in Ghana and later served as a member of the government’s Economic Management Team from 1994 till 2000.

His 40 years as a career professional saw him serve also at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and on several boards, including the Cocoa Marketing Board, Ashanti Goldfields, Ghana Industrial Holding Corporation, Volta River Authority, Ghana National Trading Corporation, Ghana Commercial Bank and the National Investment Bank.

Mr Ashiagbor, who left behind a wife and four adult children, was awarded the Order of the Star of Ghana in 2006.

via: http://www.graphic.com.gh/news/politics/rawlings-lauds-late-ashiagbor.html

Govt’s trade facilitation initiative lauded

BENJAMIN GLOVER 

14 JUNE 2017

The Association of Customs House Agents Ghana (ACHAG) has lauded the government for taking steps towards improving trade facilitation at the country’s ports.

The Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, recently announced that Ghana was going 100 per cent paperless at the ports from September 1, 2017, a move aimed at bringing efficiency to the ports.

Other major policy initiatives targeted at removing key bottlenecks at the ports include the dismantling of  all customs road barriers. Internal custom barriers in the country will also be removed to facilitate the movement of goods.

In an interview with journalists in Tema, the acting President of ACHAG, Mr Yaw Kyei, noted that such an initiative would not only facilitate the movement of goods and people within the sub-region, but would also spur the private sector on to invigorate their businesses.

ACHAG is a federation of freight-forwarding companies who have come together to champion their common interests in the industry.

 “It has become necessary to be at speed with the current ways of doing things globally. Ghana, in the recent bid to be competitive, is aligning itself with modern ways of doing business, especially in the port and maritime industry,” Mr Kyei said.

 He stressed that as an association, they could not be left out of that transformation, adding that members will use their collective knowledge and skills to determine and recommend practical and effective solutions to the many challenges in the customs clearing industry and its resultant impact on the commercial interests of their clients.

 “There must be sanity. There is also the need for highly technical and skilful persons to man such institutions if we need to grow, hence the birth of ACHAG is to bridge the gap between government policies with its technicalities and the practical ways of implementation. This should reflect the global nature of its acceptance,” he mentioned.

Mr Kyei further indicated that ACHAG would offer training and retraining to its members on current and future development, which could have an impact on their businesses and help members acquaint with authorities about their common problems and harness common benefits.

 He emphasised that freight forwarding and other corresponding jobs must be done with skills and interchanging documents, coupled with knowledge in information communications and technology, especially when Ghana is proposed to have a paperless port.

Interdictions

The acting president of ACHAG indicated that with operational areas at the Tema Port, the Kotoka International Airport and Takoradi Port, ACHAG would help work to ensure that clients got value for money while staying within the ethos of the profession.

 On the recent interdiction of some Customs officers, ACHAG urged the government to tread cautiously with the issues at the country’s ports. “We believe officers should not be singled out in the instances and the public should appreciate the sacrifices these officers go through,” he stated.

He said in cases where the officials were found wanting, internal structures should be triggered to deal with such matters.

Mr Kyei further called on politicians to desist from seeking all kinds of favours from officials at the ports, including the auctioning of vehicles and  engagement of party foot soldiers as National Security operatives, since such persons knew next to nothing about port operations, classification, duties, among others.

“As an association, our stand is that the port should be full of professionals, not party foot soldiers. Those foot soldiers or party members who are appointed as National Security agents end up frustrating clients because they lack the requisite knowledge as far as port operations are concerned,” he indicated.

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

via: http://www.graphic.com.gh/business/business-news/govt-s-trade-facilitation-initiative-lauded.html

Rains displace Tema residents : cause destruction to property

BENJAMIN GLOVER 

08 JUNE 2017

Some of the displaced persons after last Tuesday’s rain in Tema

Some communities in Tema and surrounding areas were flooded following last Tuesday’s downpour, which displaced many residents of the affected communities.

The rains, which started in the early hours of the day and went on for a few hours, left many parts of the metropolis flooded.

Among the most affected were communities Two and Five and surrounding areas.

At the BBC neighbourhood in Community Two, the floods swept through a number of homes, causing destruction to personal belongings, including mattresses, furniture, books and electrical appliances.

Choked drains and blocked culverts aggravated the floods.

At Community Five, almost 200 squatters living along the banks of the Sakumono Lagoon were displaced.

Their situation was worsened by the activities of developers who had refilled portions of the Sakumono Lagoon for the construction of homes, churches and other structures.

The lagoon serves as collection point for rainwater to prevent flooding.

Tour

The Metropolitan Chief Executive for Tema, Mr Felix Mensah Nii Annang-La, led a team, including officials of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and the Tema Metropolitan Assembly, to ascertain the extent of flooding in the metropolis.

Mr Annang-La described the situation as “a crisis” and promised to make appropriate recommendations for a proper technical assessment of the situation for redress.

He also vowed to stop encroachment and other illegal developments on the Ramsar site (the Sakumono Lagoon) to avert any further disaster in the metropolis.

Challenges

The Greater Accra Regional Coordinator of NADMO, Mr Archibald Cobbinah, expressed concern over the lack of resources and logistics for the organisation, a situation which he said was affecting effective delivery of services.

“As a region, we don’t even have a single sledge hammer and yet we are managing a whole region of 34 constituencies, 16 districts and so many communities. That is why we are calling on stakeholders to support us, so that we can bite and bite well to ensure that we have a disaster-free society, as stipulated by the President,” he stated.

According to him, the Sakumono Ramsar Site and another one at Glefe, near Dansoman, were under threat from encroachers, adding that NADMO would take proactive steps to protect those two water bodies which served as a reservoir for excess water to prevent flooding.

Sanitation

In a related development, the Tema Traditional Council has tasked Mr Annang-La to take steps to address the sanitation situation in the city to ensure a clean and healthy environment.

The Tema Mantse, Nii Adjei Kraku II, made the call when Mr Annang-La paid a courtesy call on him at his palace last Tuesday.

The MCE formally introduced himself to the Tema Mantse, his elders and the traditional council, following his swearing-in as the political head of the metropolis.

Nii Kraku bemoaned the poor sanitation situation resulting from indiscriminate littering in the port city and tasked the MCE to lead a crusade to end the menace.

For his part, Mr Annang-La expressed his appreciation to the traditional council for the support given him before and after his nomination by the President and his subsequent confirmation by the assembly.

Pledge

He promised to work closely with the traditional authority for the accelerated development of the area.

He said the assembly had already taken steps to ensure that heaps of garbage along the streets in Tema were cleared.

“We have set a timeline of three weeks to rid the metropolis of filth and we will go about it constituency by constituency, so that we clear all this filth in the metropolis. If we do not check sanitation and there is a cholera outbreak, we all stand the risk of falling ill,” he said.

Present at the meeting were some prominent citizens of Tema, including the Board Chairman of the Tema Development Corporation (TDC), Mr Emmanuel O. Adjetey; a former Director-General of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), Mr Seth Agoe Adjetey; a former Member of Parliament (MP) for Tema East, Mr Samuel Evans Ashong Narh, among others.

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

via: http://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/rains-displace-tema-residents-cause-destruction-to-property.html

Rawlings stresses genuine unity in NDC

BENJAMIN GLOVER 

12 JUNE 2017

Former President Rawlings delivering his remarks at the anniversary celebration

Former President Jerry John Rawlings has stated that unity in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) can only work if there is a commitment to truthfulness, integrity and sincerity.

“I am beginning to hear about unity, unity, unity. It’s a beautiful sound and I like it very much, but unity comes at a price. It’s not asking for money.

It’s only asking for truthfulness, it’s only asking for integrity, sincerity. How many times have we not gone through this stage? Smiling and shaking hands, but stabbing in the back? I say if we are serious, if we are genuine, if we are sincere, that unity can work,” the former President told a teeming crowd at a rally organised by the NDC to mark its 25th anniversary at Ashaiman on Saturday.

The theme for the year-long celebration is "mirroring the past into the future."

In attendance were former President Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings, former Vice-President,  Paa Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur; the National Chairman of the party, Mr Kofi Portuphy; the General Secretary, Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia; the Minority Leader,  Mr Haruna Iddrisu, and other national executive members of the NDC.

Also present were a former National Chairman, Dr Kwabena Adjei, former appointees of the party, former and current Members of Parliament (MPs) as well as former metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives (MMDCEs).

Unity under threat

The former President, who was welcomed to the podium with a happy birthday song in recognition of his 70th birthday (which falls later this month), told the audience that the ball was in their court to prevent the process of unity from being hijacked.

“I don’t think you people (supporters) know how strong you are. I know how strong we are and I did nothing to undermine it. I served for 10 years, went to election twice and served another eight years. I know our political strength and did nothing to and never wanted to undermine it in any way. If I had done so, the 10 years of the revolution would have been the end. Whatever happened? How did we squander it this way?” he asked.

Inconsistency

Former President Rawlings said the NDC appeared unable to hold on to its consistency despite its potential to win every election.

He was critical of how the political strength of the party had been undermined and wondered how that potency had been squandered.

“Power corrupts us too quickly, too easily. We need to re-examine ourselves. We need some serious education. The younger generation knows very little about who we are and where we are coming from. If we do not appreciate accountability, how can we correct the mistakes we made?” the NDC founder questioned.

That, he said, was necessary instead of a “monkey dey work, baboon dey chop” approach.

Mahama

Former President John Dramani Mahama urged members of the NDC to refrain from talks as to who leads the party in the 2020 general election.

He stated that instead of expending  efforts on who would lead the party into the next elections, members of the party must join in the reorganisation efforts from the branch to national levels in order to rebuild the party and make it strong.

"If we join forces and reorganise the party well, the person to lead the party will emerge naturally. I am confident that the NDC has what it takes to recapture power if we reorganise well. This is not the time to talk about who leads the party in Election 2020. As the leader who took the party to the last election, I have accepted the blame for our defeat. This is the time to rebuild our party and all must avoid the blame game," he said.

Reorganising the party

Former President Mahama urged party members not to feel downhearted about the party's defeat, stressing that this is the time for all to join in the reorganisation efforts to build the party.

"We did all we could but God did not give us victory. As I said earlier, we lost due to incumbency disadvantage and I urge all to avoid the blame game," he stated.

While acknowledging that six months was not enough to assess the performance of the new administration, former President Mahama said the initial signs emerging from the current New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration did not bode well for the nation.

He cautioned the NPP government against political vigilantism and what he described as wanton dismissal of persons perceived to be NDC sympathisers from the public and civil service.

"It is a bad precedence for our governance system because potentially every four years, government can change and it doesn't mean we need to sack everyone," he added.

He acknowledged the role of Former President Rawlings and other founder members of the NDC for their tireless efforts.

NDC’s contribution

The Minority Leader in Parliament, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, said in its 25 years of existence, the NDC had had the opportunity to govern for 16 years during which it left a proud legacy of improving the lot of Ghanaians, deepening decentralisation and unparalleled infrastructure development more than any other political party.

He urged the party faithful to rally behind the 106 NDC party MPs in their resolve to live up to the task of keeping the NPP administration accountable and make Parliament strong.

Mr Iddrisu reiterated the need for NDC supporters to put the 2016 electoral defeat behind them and focus on the future and agenda to recapture political power in 2020.

Writer's email. Benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh

via: http://www.graphic.com.gh/news/politics/rawlings-stresses-genuine-unity-in-ndc.html

Kingdom Books warehouses gutted by fire

BENJAMIN GLOVER 

05 JUNE 2017

Firemen dousing the fire with water

Four warehouses belonging to Kingdom Books and Stationery Limited at Prampram in the Greater Accra Region were destroyed by fire.

The fire, which was said to have begun at about 6 a.m.Sunday, destroyed items including office furniture and stationery said to run into several millions of cedis.

A security guard at the facility who spoke to the Daily Graphic said the fire started at about 6 a.m., attributing the cause to an electrical problem.

The guard, Winfred Lartey, said initial distress calls to the Ghana National Fire Service were unsuccessful so a colleague of his had to rush to the offices of the GNFS to alert the office about the incident.

Response

Briefing journalists on the incident, the Director of Operations of the GNFS, Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Mr Julius Kuunuor, said the initial response to the fire was from the Prampram Fire Station, who arrived on the scene at about 6:33 am. He said the team, however, had to call for reinforcement considering the high intensity of the fire.

He said in all, eight fire engines, including a Turn Table ladder, were deployed to the scene to help fight the inferno.

Mr Kuunuor said further that there was also support from the Tema Oil Refinery Fire Brigade as well as five water tanker operators who assisted with water to fight the flame. 

Hydrants

He said although there was a fire hydrant at the warehouse, the pressure from its pump was not strong enough to contribute effectively in fighting the fire. He expressed satisfaction that their effort was able to contain the fire in the end.

The disaster brought the Deputy Minister of the Interior, Mr Henry Quartey, to the scene.

The minister and the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Ningo-Prampram, Mr Jonathan Doku, and staff of NADMO at the scene, commended the GNFS for effectively containing the fire.

Mr Quartey expressed sympathy with management of Kingdom Books, and gave an assurance that a thorough investigation would be conducted to unravel circumstances leading to the fire outbreak.

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

via: http://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/kingdom-books-warehouses-gutted-by-fire.html

Police Constable gunned down at Michel Camp

BENJAMIN GLOVER 

14 JUNE 2017

Constable Micheal Kporyi 

A policeman, Constable Michael Kporyi, has been gunned down by unknown assailants on the Tema-Akosombo highway.

Constable Kporyi, who was with the Tema Regional Rapid Deployment Force, was on a motorbike patrol duty when he was attacked by the assailants, who were said to be also riding a motorbike.

The constable was shot dead about 9:30 p.m. last Monday.

Briefing journalists in Tema yesterday, the Public Relations Officer of the Tema Regional Police Command, Assistant Superintendant of Police (ASP) Mr Joseph Benefo Darkwah, said about 9:30 p.m. last Monday, police had information that two armed men using a motorbike had shot a policeman around a filling station near the UBA Bank on the Tema-Akosombo highway.

He said when the police got to the scene, they found the body of the policeman lying in a pool of blood in a nearby bush along the road.

Eyewitness account

Mr Darkwah, quoting an eyewitness, said the two armed assailants overtook the policeman on his motorbike, after which the pillion rider suddenly opened fire on the policeman. 

He said the constable fell off his motorbike into a gutter along the road, while the assailants sped off.

He said an inspection on the body of the deceased showed multiple gunshot wounds on his chest and face, adding that the police also retrieved the deceased policeman’s AK 47 rifle, one pepper spray, a pair of handcuffs and a torch from the scene.

Mr Darkwah said the police had launched investigations into the incident and appealed to members of the public to offer information that could lead to the arrest of the perpetrators of the act.

VIA: http://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/cop-killed-by-unknown-assailants.html

Michel camp cop killer gunned down by police

BENJAMIN XORNAM GLOVER 

14 JUNE 2017

The leader of an alleged notorious robbery gang, Alhassan Adams, alia Dogo America, said to have shot and killed Constable Michael Kporyi attached to the Rapid Deployment Force (RDF) Unit of the Tema Regional Police Command, on Monday night has been killed by the police at Ashaiman.

Adams, 33, was killed after he allegedly attempted to engage the police in another exchange of fire when the police stormed his hideout on Tuesday night.

His body has been deposited at the Police Hospital while four of his accomplices have been arrested to assist the police with investigations.

Items retrieved from his hide out by the police included one AK47 rifle, two SMG rifles, a dagger, a machete, a pair of pliers, two screw drivers, and 12 rounds of live ammunitions.

Items retrieved from his hide out by the police included one AK47 rifle, two SMG rifles, a dagger, a machete, a pair of pliers, two screw drivers, and 12 rounds of live ammunitions.

Addressing journalist in Tema, the Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police, (DCOP), Mr George Tuffour said following the death of Constable Kporyi, the police had intelligence that some armed members of Adams’ gang had gathered at Aviation Number 7, Washington in Ashaiman.

Mr Tuffour said a team of police officers from the Tema Regional Police Command were dispatched to the place but on sighting the police, two of the gang members fled on a motorbike but were pursued by the police into a building which turned out to be the hide out of the deceased.

Mr Tuffour , who was flanked by the Director General in charge of Police Operations, COP Christian Tetteh Yohonu and DCOP Bright Oduro, Director General Criminal Investigative Department said when the police went into the building, they saw one AK47 rifle and one SMG rifle on the varandah of the house as though they were being serviced prior to the arrival of the police.

He said the two persons who were arrested upon interrogation mentioned the deceased as the one who was servicing the weapons but entered the room upon seeing the policemen.

“Immediately the police entered one of the rooms, Dogo America suddenly dropped from his ceiling armed with an SMG rifle fully loaded and ready to shoot. Police promptly fired at him. He was rushed to the police hospital where he was pronounced dead.” Mr Tuffour said.

The Tema Regional Police Commander recalled previous criminal cases involving the deceased including robbery, possession of firearms, attempted murder, causing harm and use of offensive weapons, which he said were all investigated at the CID Headquarters and put before the courts.

“The deceased had been granted bail in all cases but had jumped bail for which reason he was already on police wanted list,” Mr Tuffour said.

Mr Tuffour said preliminary investigations revealed that the deceased commanded at least 60 usually armed and trigger happy land guards, processed a stockpile of arms and ammunitions, some of which had earlier been retrieved and at the CID Headquarters.

He said on July 30, 2015, two AK47 rifles and ammunitions concealed in a sack were retrieved by the police from one of the deceased hideouts at Doryumu adding that the case is currently pending before a court in Accra.

Again in November 2016, eight weapons were retrieved from the deceased at his block factory at Gbestile adding that on Thursday June 8, 2017, a member of the deceased gang also engaged the police in a shootout at Community 9, which also resulted in the death of the gang member.

The Tema Regional Police Commander assured residents in Tema Metropolis and its surrounding towns communities of adequate security and added that strategies have been outlined to pursue the other members of the gang. He appealed to the public to offer any information could lead to their arrest at the nearest police stations or via telephone numbers; 18555, 191, 0303202936, 0303202937 or via the police social media handles on Facebook and twitter @GhPoliceService.

Mr Bright Oduro, Director General Criminal Investigative Department assured the public that the police will not relent in its efforts to nib in the bud the activities of criminals in the country.

”I don’t believe that generally there is insecurity in the country. As we are all witnesses, we have patrols all over the place and their presence alone is enough to deter crime, however in the discharge of our duties we come face to face with certain hazards. The bad ones are there who may want to takeout the police officer on duty. It happens elsewhere and the fact that one or two policemen have perished on duty does not lead to the conclusion that there is general insecurity in the country”

The Director General in charge of Police Operations, Mr Christian Tetteh Yohonu the police is adequately resourced as far as its operational gear is concerned to fight criminal activities in the country and allayed the fears of the public that the personnel; do not have bulletproof vests for operations.

via : http://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/michel-camp-cop-killer-gunned-down-by-police.html