By Edmund Mingle
Tuesday, 08 April 2008
THE Accra-Nsawam train shuttle of the Ghana Railways Company derailed yesterday morning at Amanfrom, near Pokuase.
A number of people were injured; seven of them seriously were rushed to hospital. Their names are not immediately available.
The train, which was carrying passengers from Accra and Achimota to Nsawam, derailed as it attempted to make a stop at Amanfrom at about 11a.m. on a hill in a swampy farming area not far from the Ofankor bridge on the Accra-Nsawam road.
Eyewitnesses said passengers in two of the coaches which were badly damaged were heard shouting for help as the coaches fell off the rails.
Yaw Gyimah, a poultry farmer near the spot of the accident, told the Times that he saw some passengers jumping off as pandemonium broke out in the coaches amidst fears that the coaches could fall down the hill.
When the Times arrived at the scene in the afternoon, two of the nine coaches were dangling off the rails.
Bloodstains were also seen on the coaches and the tracks
The cause of the derailment was not immediately known, but some technical men at the scene who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they suspected both brake failure and faulty tracks.
It is the second time in about three months that a derailment has occurred on the line.
The first one occurred in February near the Achimota train station while the train was transporting commuters from Nsawam to Accra in the morning.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Monday, April 7, 2008
Ga Mantse's case resumes
By Edmund Mingle
April 7, 08
The Panel of the Greater Accra House of Chiefs which is determining suits challenging the installation of Dr Jo Blankson, resumed its sitting here on Friday, with arguments on a motion seeking an interlocutory injunction to restraining Dr Blankson from holding himself out as Ga Mantse.
The motion for interlocutory injunction which was filed in October last year by Nii Yaya Arday, head of Abola Piam We, one of the four ruling houses in Ga Mashie, is also seeking the Ga Traditional Council to be restrained from allowing Dr Blankson to act as Ga Mantse until the final determination of the case.
Bright Akwetey, Counsel for the Petitioner, arguing for the motion said Dr Blankson's continuous acting as Ga Mantse was detrimental to the outcome of the case.
He said because the substantive suit is challenging the very basis for his kingship, it was important that he was restrained.
"Whether he has been installed or not, it is important that no one holds himself out as Ga Mantse until the final determination of the case," he said. He said Dr Blankson's installation was improper because it was not the turn of Teiko Tsuru We where he hails from, to provide a candidate for the stool, but that it was the turn of Abola Piam We.
In addition, he said, the Ga State Dzaase, which is constituted by heads of the four ruling houses mandated to install a Ga Mantse did not play any role in his installation. Instead, the Nai Wolumo, Nuumo Tettey, the Ga chief priest, Nii Tetteh Ashong, head of the Teiko Tsuru We and others performed the installation.
"We are saying these people do not constitute the Ga State Dzaase," he said. He said Ahola Piam has waited for 100 years for its turn to ascend to the stool saying they have the right to the stool and that granting the motion would not be out of place.
The substantive suit which was filed in April, last year, is challenging the nomination, election and installation of Dr Blankson as King Tackie Tawiah III, saying his installation was contrary to approved Ga custom, and should therefore be declared null and void.
Responding, Willie Amarfio, Counsel for the Ga Mantse, described both the motion and the suit as "frivolous and vexatious."
He said the petitioner lacks capacity, and therefore, challenged his position as the head of Abola Piam. He said the petitioner waited for too long to file the suit, saying it was filed in March 2007, almost a year after the Respondent's installation on June 11, 2006.
"So much water has passed under the bridge," he said, and wondered where the petitioner was when the installation process was going on. He said Abola Piam We was not one of the ruling houses, saying the ruling houses were only three, namely, Teiko Tsuru We, Amugi We and Tackie Commey We.
He maintained that Dr Blankson was properly installed and that the application should be rejected. In a second case, Nii Owula Kpakpa Brofonyo, the Ga State Akwashong Mantse (chief warrior), who is also challenging the installation of Dr Blankson, counsel for the Plaintiff, Adu Gyamfi Boadu, amended the suit.
He asked that election and nomination of the Ga Mantse should be declared void, because evidence on the record at the hearing so far indicated that the election, nomination and installation did not follow Ga custom.
The suit originally asked for the installation to be declared null and void. Hearing was adjourned to April 25.
April 7, 08
The Panel of the Greater Accra House of Chiefs which is determining suits challenging the installation of Dr Jo Blankson, resumed its sitting here on Friday, with arguments on a motion seeking an interlocutory injunction to restraining Dr Blankson from holding himself out as Ga Mantse.
The motion for interlocutory injunction which was filed in October last year by Nii Yaya Arday, head of Abola Piam We, one of the four ruling houses in Ga Mashie, is also seeking the Ga Traditional Council to be restrained from allowing Dr Blankson to act as Ga Mantse until the final determination of the case.
Bright Akwetey, Counsel for the Petitioner, arguing for the motion said Dr Blankson's continuous acting as Ga Mantse was detrimental to the outcome of the case.
He said because the substantive suit is challenging the very basis for his kingship, it was important that he was restrained.
"Whether he has been installed or not, it is important that no one holds himself out as Ga Mantse until the final determination of the case," he said. He said Dr Blankson's installation was improper because it was not the turn of Teiko Tsuru We where he hails from, to provide a candidate for the stool, but that it was the turn of Abola Piam We.
In addition, he said, the Ga State Dzaase, which is constituted by heads of the four ruling houses mandated to install a Ga Mantse did not play any role in his installation. Instead, the Nai Wolumo, Nuumo Tettey, the Ga chief priest, Nii Tetteh Ashong, head of the Teiko Tsuru We and others performed the installation.
"We are saying these people do not constitute the Ga State Dzaase," he said. He said Ahola Piam has waited for 100 years for its turn to ascend to the stool saying they have the right to the stool and that granting the motion would not be out of place.
The substantive suit which was filed in April, last year, is challenging the nomination, election and installation of Dr Blankson as King Tackie Tawiah III, saying his installation was contrary to approved Ga custom, and should therefore be declared null and void.
Responding, Willie Amarfio, Counsel for the Ga Mantse, described both the motion and the suit as "frivolous and vexatious."
He said the petitioner lacks capacity, and therefore, challenged his position as the head of Abola Piam. He said the petitioner waited for too long to file the suit, saying it was filed in March 2007, almost a year after the Respondent's installation on June 11, 2006.
"So much water has passed under the bridge," he said, and wondered where the petitioner was when the installation process was going on. He said Abola Piam We was not one of the ruling houses, saying the ruling houses were only three, namely, Teiko Tsuru We, Amugi We and Tackie Commey We.
He maintained that Dr Blankson was properly installed and that the application should be rejected. In a second case, Nii Owula Kpakpa Brofonyo, the Ga State Akwashong Mantse (chief warrior), who is also challenging the installation of Dr Blankson, counsel for the Plaintiff, Adu Gyamfi Boadu, amended the suit.
He asked that election and nomination of the Ga Mantse should be declared void, because evidence on the record at the hearing so far indicated that the election, nomination and installation did not follow Ga custom.
The suit originally asked for the installation to be declared null and void. Hearing was adjourned to April 25.
Refugees Demo Posed Threat To Nation - Bartels
By Edmund Mingle
Wednesday, 02 April 2008
THE seemingly innocuous demonstrations by Liberian women and children at the Buduburam Refugee settlement last month were part of "a wider plot" by some persons to cause mayhem and threaten the peace of the country, Interior Minister, Kwamena Bartels said yesterday.
Although he did not give details of the plot, Mr Bartels said the "government is aware of the presence of a number of ex-combatants at the settlement and will not sit down unconcerned for our national security to be jeopardized."
He was speaking at the Meet-the-Press series at the Ministry of Information yesterday on the situation at the settlement following resistance by some of the refugees to repatriation
Mr Bartels recalled that following intelligence reports, the government on March 22, directed the security agencies to arrest a number of "ringleaders" of the demonstration and some people at the settlement whose activities posed a threat to national security.
The operation by the security agencies, he said, resulted in the arrest of 107 Liberians out of whom 77 were released after screening. Sixteen of the remaining 30 arrested were repatriated on account of their involvement in activities leading to insecurity at the settlement, twelve have been granted bail and are under investigations while two others are being held for undisclosed immigration offences.
He said that those arrested were found inciting the refugees against the authority of the state, which led to the break-down of law and order at the settlement, with the potential of a spill-over to neighbouring towns.
Apart from other actions that caused insecurity and amounted to the disregard for the rule of law, Mr Bartels said, the demonstrators prevented the distribution of daily food rations to the vulnerable, caused the closure of schools and drove out the leadership of the Welfare Council from the settlement for not supporting their cause.
In addition, some of them caused public nuisance by resorting to stripping themselves on the main road in front of the settlement.
"Ghana, as an independent sovereign country, has the right to protect herself from subversive elements and would take any action to protect the peace in the country without apology to anyone," he said.
Mr Bartels said the leaders of the demonstration succeeded in creating an anarchic state at the Buduburam settlement, and the government had to intervene to protect law abiding refugees, adding that it was to maintain sanity at the settlement that the government, on March 17, relocated 663 of them to the Youth Leadership Training Centre at Kordiabe, which is now designated a refugee settlement.
However, all the children, the sick, pregnant, lactating mothers and the elderly were returned to Buduburam "on humanitarian grounds" to rejoin their families.
Mr Bartels described the demonstration by the protesting refugees as illegal because police permission was not sought.
Wednesday, 02 April 2008
THE seemingly innocuous demonstrations by Liberian women and children at the Buduburam Refugee settlement last month were part of "a wider plot" by some persons to cause mayhem and threaten the peace of the country, Interior Minister, Kwamena Bartels said yesterday.
Although he did not give details of the plot, Mr Bartels said the "government is aware of the presence of a number of ex-combatants at the settlement and will not sit down unconcerned for our national security to be jeopardized."
He was speaking at the Meet-the-Press series at the Ministry of Information yesterday on the situation at the settlement following resistance by some of the refugees to repatriation
Mr Bartels recalled that following intelligence reports, the government on March 22, directed the security agencies to arrest a number of "ringleaders" of the demonstration and some people at the settlement whose activities posed a threat to national security.
The operation by the security agencies, he said, resulted in the arrest of 107 Liberians out of whom 77 were released after screening. Sixteen of the remaining 30 arrested were repatriated on account of their involvement in activities leading to insecurity at the settlement, twelve have been granted bail and are under investigations while two others are being held for undisclosed immigration offences.
He said that those arrested were found inciting the refugees against the authority of the state, which led to the break-down of law and order at the settlement, with the potential of a spill-over to neighbouring towns.
Apart from other actions that caused insecurity and amounted to the disregard for the rule of law, Mr Bartels said, the demonstrators prevented the distribution of daily food rations to the vulnerable, caused the closure of schools and drove out the leadership of the Welfare Council from the settlement for not supporting their cause.
In addition, some of them caused public nuisance by resorting to stripping themselves on the main road in front of the settlement.
"Ghana, as an independent sovereign country, has the right to protect herself from subversive elements and would take any action to protect the peace in the country without apology to anyone," he said.
Mr Bartels said the leaders of the demonstration succeeded in creating an anarchic state at the Buduburam settlement, and the government had to intervene to protect law abiding refugees, adding that it was to maintain sanity at the settlement that the government, on March 17, relocated 663 of them to the Youth Leadership Training Centre at Kordiabe, which is now designated a refugee settlement.
However, all the children, the sick, pregnant, lactating mothers and the elderly were returned to Buduburam "on humanitarian grounds" to rejoin their families.
Mr Bartels described the demonstration by the protesting refugees as illegal because police permission was not sought.
'Give NMC More Powers'
By Edmund Mingle, Atimpoku
Tuesday, 01 April 2008
THE leadership of the media and political parties in the country have jointly called for more powers for the National Media Commission (NMC) to enable it to effectively regulate the media landscape.
A joint communiqué issued here on Sunday by representatives of the two groups, said: "The NMC should be empowered to seek an order of the High Court when its recommendations and rulings in dispute settlement are disobeyed".
The communiqué was issued at the end of a two-day workshop for senior media personnel and political party leaders to find ways of improving the relationship between the media and politicians to ensure a peaceful political atmosphere, especially towards the December elections.
Given the importance of the 2008 elections in the consolidation of the country’s democracy, the communiqué also urged the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) and the NMC to update their guidelines for election coverage this year.
The workshop had the theme, "Democracy and the media: media-political parties relationship in an election year". Mrs Oboshie Sai-Cofie, Minister of Information and National Orientation, gave the keynote address.
The absence of powers for the NMC to compel offending media to retract stories and apologise after arbitration, the workshop agreed, was undermining the authority of the commission since some offending media houses have disobeyed its rulings.
Strengthening the NMC to improve its checks on offending media practice would be enough to promote and maintain ethical standards without the need to introduce new laws to control the media which would amount to a violation of press freedom, it was agreed.The communiqué stressed the need for a review of the NMC Act to modify its operations to enable it to better play its role in promoting the freedom and independence of the media as defined under Article 162 of the constitution.
"In particular, the NMC must be moved away from group and lobby-based interest representation to one of principled representation," it said.
The communiqué also demanded fairness, objectivity and the avoidance of sensationalism on the part of the media in their reportage. It also asked politicians to be civil and avoid provocative statements in their campaign messages throu-gh the media to the public.
It observed that since the media, the fourth estate of the realm, does not enjoy the kind of immunities available to the first three, the executive, legislature and judiciary, what is required is a regulation in which media practitioners themselves would play a leading role to enable them to ensure that professional and ethical principles are maintained.
It urged media houses to incorporate the GJA code of ethics into the employment contracts of their journalism staff so that it could be enforced at the organisational level.
"Also, there is the need now for a broadcasting act to provide the requisite framework to regulate public, private, community and educational broadcasting," it said.
The communiqué noted that with the continued maturation of Ghana’s democracy, one of the roles of the media was to continue to work to lessen political polarisation and tension in the society, more so, in an election year when there is the temptation on the part of both the media and the political class to resort to rumour mongering, exaggerated claims, provocative utterances and character assassination.
"Fairness, accuracy and balance are the minimum demands to be made of journalists in an election year, whilst at the same time ensuring that basic professional standards are respected," it said.
For instance, it said, practical and sustained efforts must be made by the media to get all sides of a story before publishing it to ensure truth and objectivity in reportage
Media houses must develop in-house accountability mechanisms including the establishment of in-house complaint settlement systems to provide a platform for aggrieved people to make their concerns known.
It also expressed concern about the negative uses of the Internet.
"Any framework for media accountability must take into account the phenomenon of the internet bloggers who are largely anonymous and, nevertheless, play the same journalistic role of informing, educating and entertaining the public."
The communiqué noted that whilst political parties and their representatives should be more open to and accommodating of the media in this election year, it is also important for the media to seek information and clarification of issues from appropriate and authorised sources within the political parties
"The media and political parties should build and maintain mutual trust and confidence in each other to ensure good governance and true democracy," it said.
Topics discussed at the workshop include, "Providing a media of ethics with teeth: The Role of the NMC and GJA", "Addressing the issue of polarisation, lack of objectivity and biased coverage in reporting events", "The media as watchdog of Ghana’s growing democracy: Making the media accountable," and "Media-political parties’ relationship in an election year".
Those who signed the communiqué included Dr. Kwabena Adjei, National Chairman, National Democratic Congress; Ladi Nylander, National Chairman, Convention People’s Party; Dr. Kobina Arthur Kennedy, Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party Presidential Campaign and Haruna Sumani, Policy Analyst for the People’s National Convention.
Others were Affail Monney, Vice President of GJA; Nii Laryea Sowah, Executive Secretary, PRINPAG; Ms. Ajoa Yeboah-Afari, Editor of Ghanaian Times; Christian Agubretu, News Editor of the Ghana News Agency and Mrs Jean Mensa, Administrator of the IEA.
The workshop was organised by the Institute of Economic Affairs under its Ghana Political Parties Programme aimed at promoting and sustaining multi-party democracy and good governance in the country with funding from the Netherlands Institute of Multi-Party Democracy.
Tuesday, 01 April 2008
THE leadership of the media and political parties in the country have jointly called for more powers for the National Media Commission (NMC) to enable it to effectively regulate the media landscape.
A joint communiqué issued here on Sunday by representatives of the two groups, said: "The NMC should be empowered to seek an order of the High Court when its recommendations and rulings in dispute settlement are disobeyed".
The communiqué was issued at the end of a two-day workshop for senior media personnel and political party leaders to find ways of improving the relationship between the media and politicians to ensure a peaceful political atmosphere, especially towards the December elections.
Given the importance of the 2008 elections in the consolidation of the country’s democracy, the communiqué also urged the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) and the NMC to update their guidelines for election coverage this year.
The workshop had the theme, "Democracy and the media: media-political parties relationship in an election year". Mrs Oboshie Sai-Cofie, Minister of Information and National Orientation, gave the keynote address.
The absence of powers for the NMC to compel offending media to retract stories and apologise after arbitration, the workshop agreed, was undermining the authority of the commission since some offending media houses have disobeyed its rulings.
Strengthening the NMC to improve its checks on offending media practice would be enough to promote and maintain ethical standards without the need to introduce new laws to control the media which would amount to a violation of press freedom, it was agreed.The communiqué stressed the need for a review of the NMC Act to modify its operations to enable it to better play its role in promoting the freedom and independence of the media as defined under Article 162 of the constitution.
"In particular, the NMC must be moved away from group and lobby-based interest representation to one of principled representation," it said.
The communiqué also demanded fairness, objectivity and the avoidance of sensationalism on the part of the media in their reportage. It also asked politicians to be civil and avoid provocative statements in their campaign messages throu-gh the media to the public.
It observed that since the media, the fourth estate of the realm, does not enjoy the kind of immunities available to the first three, the executive, legislature and judiciary, what is required is a regulation in which media practitioners themselves would play a leading role to enable them to ensure that professional and ethical principles are maintained.
It urged media houses to incorporate the GJA code of ethics into the employment contracts of their journalism staff so that it could be enforced at the organisational level.
"Also, there is the need now for a broadcasting act to provide the requisite framework to regulate public, private, community and educational broadcasting," it said.
The communiqué noted that with the continued maturation of Ghana’s democracy, one of the roles of the media was to continue to work to lessen political polarisation and tension in the society, more so, in an election year when there is the temptation on the part of both the media and the political class to resort to rumour mongering, exaggerated claims, provocative utterances and character assassination.
"Fairness, accuracy and balance are the minimum demands to be made of journalists in an election year, whilst at the same time ensuring that basic professional standards are respected," it said.
For instance, it said, practical and sustained efforts must be made by the media to get all sides of a story before publishing it to ensure truth and objectivity in reportage
Media houses must develop in-house accountability mechanisms including the establishment of in-house complaint settlement systems to provide a platform for aggrieved people to make their concerns known.
It also expressed concern about the negative uses of the Internet.
"Any framework for media accountability must take into account the phenomenon of the internet bloggers who are largely anonymous and, nevertheless, play the same journalistic role of informing, educating and entertaining the public."
The communiqué noted that whilst political parties and their representatives should be more open to and accommodating of the media in this election year, it is also important for the media to seek information and clarification of issues from appropriate and authorised sources within the political parties
"The media and political parties should build and maintain mutual trust and confidence in each other to ensure good governance and true democracy," it said.
Topics discussed at the workshop include, "Providing a media of ethics with teeth: The Role of the NMC and GJA", "Addressing the issue of polarisation, lack of objectivity and biased coverage in reporting events", "The media as watchdog of Ghana’s growing democracy: Making the media accountable," and "Media-political parties’ relationship in an election year".
Those who signed the communiqué included Dr. Kwabena Adjei, National Chairman, National Democratic Congress; Ladi Nylander, National Chairman, Convention People’s Party; Dr. Kobina Arthur Kennedy, Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party Presidential Campaign and Haruna Sumani, Policy Analyst for the People’s National Convention.
Others were Affail Monney, Vice President of GJA; Nii Laryea Sowah, Executive Secretary, PRINPAG; Ms. Ajoa Yeboah-Afari, Editor of Ghanaian Times; Christian Agubretu, News Editor of the Ghana News Agency and Mrs Jean Mensa, Administrator of the IEA.
The workshop was organised by the Institute of Economic Affairs under its Ghana Political Parties Programme aimed at promoting and sustaining multi-party democracy and good governance in the country with funding from the Netherlands Institute of Multi-Party Democracy.
Regulate Private Security Operations
By Edmund Mingle
Saturday, 05 April 2008
There are currently more than 350 private security firms across the country, but only 40 are members of the Association of Private Security Organisations of Ghana (APSOG).
"All manner of people, including foreigners are setting up private security firms but it should not be so," Nana Edu Agyeman, chairman of the association, said during an interaction with journalists in Accra on Thursday, as part of the asso-ciation’s 10th anniversary celebrations.
Describing the upsurge in private security firms as a threat to the country, he pointed out that security was critical to the country and, therefore, there should be strict regulation of the industry which is booming.
Among other things, he suggested that the background of owners of such firms should be scrutinised before they are granted licences to ensure that they do not have any ulterior motives.
He also called for a review of the Legislative Instrument governing the industry to prevent foreigners from operating security firms in the country. He added that owners of such firms must belong to one association for easy monitoring and control.
"The LI which was passed in 1970 is outmoded and must be reviewed," he said.
Nana Agyeman said although the Constitution guarantees freedom of association, APSOG believes that security is a critical issue which should be controlled.
Asked what could be the reason some security firms do not want to join the association, he said the strict regulations requiring all members to abide by standards in the charging of fees and the welfare of their personnel, could be a factor.
He called for more collaboration between the association and state security agencies to enhance harmony in the country, adding that APSOG was ready to cooperate in areas including the December elections.
The association’s month-long tenth anniversary celebration has the theme: "Safe and sound security."
Kwadwo Aboagye-Akyea, Chairman of the anniversary planning committee, explained that the celebration was being used to educate the public on the need to appreciate security, as well as to promote the contribution of private security to national development.
Saturday, 05 April 2008
There are currently more than 350 private security firms across the country, but only 40 are members of the Association of Private Security Organisations of Ghana (APSOG).
"All manner of people, including foreigners are setting up private security firms but it should not be so," Nana Edu Agyeman, chairman of the association, said during an interaction with journalists in Accra on Thursday, as part of the asso-ciation’s 10th anniversary celebrations.
Describing the upsurge in private security firms as a threat to the country, he pointed out that security was critical to the country and, therefore, there should be strict regulation of the industry which is booming.
Among other things, he suggested that the background of owners of such firms should be scrutinised before they are granted licences to ensure that they do not have any ulterior motives.
He also called for a review of the Legislative Instrument governing the industry to prevent foreigners from operating security firms in the country. He added that owners of such firms must belong to one association for easy monitoring and control.
"The LI which was passed in 1970 is outmoded and must be reviewed," he said.
Nana Agyeman said although the Constitution guarantees freedom of association, APSOG believes that security is a critical issue which should be controlled.
Asked what could be the reason some security firms do not want to join the association, he said the strict regulations requiring all members to abide by standards in the charging of fees and the welfare of their personnel, could be a factor.
He called for more collaboration between the association and state security agencies to enhance harmony in the country, adding that APSOG was ready to cooperate in areas including the December elections.
The association’s month-long tenth anniversary celebration has the theme: "Safe and sound security."
Kwadwo Aboagye-Akyea, Chairman of the anniversary planning committee, explained that the celebration was being used to educate the public on the need to appreciate security, as well as to promote the contribution of private security to national development.
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