Court To Rule On Tsatsu, December 7

By William Yaw Owusu
Saturday, 28 October 2006
THE Fast Track High Court in Accra yesterday adjourned to December 7, judgement in the case of Tsatsu Tsikata, former Chief Executive of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), who is being tried for allegedly causing financial loss to the state.

The court, presided over by Mrs. Justice Henrietta Abban who is Court of Appeal judge was to deliver the judgement yesterday but Professor E.V.O. Dankwa, counsel for Tsatsu, made an application to the effect that his client had an appeal application in the case pending before the Court of Appeal.

Mr. Tsikata has been charged with three counts of causing financial loss of about ¢2.3 billion to the state through a loan he, acting on behalf of the GNPC, guaranteed for Valley Farms Limited, a private cocoa producing company in 1991 and another count of misapplying public funds.

Valley Farms contracted the loan from Caisse Centrale, now Agence Francaise Du Development (AFD) in 1991, but defaulted in payment thus compelling GNPC, which acted as guarantors, to pay the loan in 1996.

Mr. Tsikata has pleaded not guilty to all the charges and is on bail.

When the case was called yesterday Prof. Dankwa told the court that there was an appeal application by his client asking the Court of Appeal to order the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to appear before the Fast Track Court to testify in the case.

He said the ruling was to be given on October 18, but was adjourned indefinitely as a result of an objection he raised in Chambers that the presiding judge, Justice S.Y. Anim, was in the panel of prosecutors that handled the case "Tsatsu Tsikata Versus Attorney-General" on May 28, 2002.

The Court of Appeal then referred the issue to the Chief Justice for the panel to be reconstituted.

"We want this case to be adjourned so that we can await the outcome of our appeal in order to ensure that the principles of fair trial could be seen to have been honoured," Prof. Dankwa said.

The prosecution, when asked by the trial judge as to whether they had any objection to raise, answered: "We leave it to the discresion of the court."

Mrs. Justice Abban thus said: "Since the outcome of the appeal has a bearing on this matter and in order that there should not be any miscarriage of justice, I will adjourn this case."

The case started in October 2002 with Mr. Osafo Sampong, the then Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), as the prosecutor.

In 2002, the Supreme Court ruled that the Fast Track Court trying the case was unconstitutional. This was after Mr. Tsikata had challenged its constitutionality. The decision was however overturned later in a judicial review.

Mr. Joe Ghartey is the third Attorney-General to prosecute this case after Nana Akuffo-Addo, the current Foreign Minister and Mr. J. Ayikoi Otoo. They were all assisted by Mr. Augustines Obuor, an Assistant State Attorney as well as other Chief State Attorneys.

In all, seven witnesses were called by the prosecution while the defence team called one witness in the person of Jean Francoise Arnal, the Country Director of AFD.

There were also two court witnesses from the Merchant Bank.

Professor John Evans, Atta Mills, former Vice President, Professor Kofi Awoonor, a leading member of the National Democratic Congress, Mr. Kojo Tsikata, a former Head of National Security, Peter Nanfuri, a former Inspector General of Police, were among the sympathizers at the court.

Court To Rule On Tsatsu, December 7

By William Yaw Owusu

Saturday, 28 October 2006
THE Fast Track High Court in Accra yesterday adjourned to December 7, judgement in the case of Tsatsu Tsikata, former Chief Executive of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), who is being tried for allegedly causing financial loss to the state.

The court, presided over by Mrs. Justice Henrietta Abban, was to deliver the judgement yesterday but Professor E.V.O. Dankwa, counsel for Tsatsu, made an application to the effect that his client had an appeal application in the case pending before the Court of Appeal.

Mr. Tsikata has been charged with three counts of causing financial loss of about ¢2.3 billion to the state through a loan he, acting on behalf of the GNPC, guaranteed for Valley Farms Limited, a private cocoa producing company in 1991 and another count of misapplying public funds.

Valley Farms contracted the loan from Caisse Centrale, now Agence Francaise Du Development (AFD) in 1991, but defaulted in payment thus compelling GNPC, which acted as guarantors, to pay the loan in 1996.

Mr. Tsikata has pleaded not guilty to all the charges and is on bail.

When the case was called yesterday Prof. Dankwa told the court that there was an appeal application by his client asking the Court of Appeal to order the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to appear before the Fast Track Court to testify in the case.

He said the ruling was to be given on October 18, but was adjourned indefinitely as a result of an objection he raised in Chambers that the presiding judge, Justice S.Y. Anim, was in the panel of prosecutors that handled the case "Tsatsu Tsikata Versus Attorney-General" on May 28, 2002.

The Court of Appeal then referred the issue to the Chief Justice for the panel to be reconstituted.

"We want this case to be adjourned so that we can await the outcome of our appeal in order to ensure that the principles of fair trial could be seen to have been honoured," Prof. Dankwa said.

The prosecution, when asked by the trial judge as to whether they had any objection to raise, answered: "We leave it to the discresion of the court."

Mrs. Justice Abban thus said: "Since the outcome of the appeal has a bearing on this matter and in order that there should not be any miscarriage of justice, I will adjourn this case."

The case started in October 2002 with Mr. Osafo Sampong, the then Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), as the prosecutor.

In 2002, the Supreme Court ruled that the Fast Track Court trying the case was unconstitutional. This was after Mr. Tsikata had challenged its constitutionality. The decision was however overturned later in a judicial review.

Mr. Joe Ghartey is the third Attorney-General to prosecute this case after Nana Akuffo-Addo, the current Foreign Minister and Mr. J. Ayikoi Otoo. They were all assisted by Mr. Augustines Obuor, an Assistant State Attorney as well as other Chief State Attorneys.

In all, seven witnesses were called by the prosecution while the defence team called one witness in the person of Jean Francoise Arnal, the Country Director of AFD.

There were also two court witnesses from the Merchant Bank.

Professor John Evans, Atta Mills, former Vice President, Professor Kofi Awoonor, a leading member of the National Democratic Congress, Mr. Kojo Tsikata, a former Head of National Security, Peter Nanfuri, a former Inspector General of Police, were among the sympathizers at the court.

NAGRAT Contests NLC's Right To Sue

By William Yaw Owusu

Friday, 27 October 2006
THE National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) yesterday told an Accra Fast Track High Court that the National Labour Commission (NLC) has no capacity to file a suit for a court order to compel the association to call off its strike.

"At the time when the Commission came to court to compel NAGRAT to go back to the classroom, it had no cause of action," Mr. Archie Danso Junior, counsel for NAGRAT argued.

He was moving a motion in a suit filed by the NLC, asking the court to compel NAGRAT to call off its strike.

The NLC filed the suit on October 11 seeking, among other things, an order under section 172 of Act 651 of the Labour Act to "compel the leadership in particular, and members of NAGRAT in general, to comply with the Commission’s order to call off the illegal strike."

Mr. Danso told the court that there was no complaint from NAGRAT’s employer, the Ghana Education Service (GES), to warrant the Commission’s suit against the association.

"The suit was filed on October 11, and the Commission received the complaint from the employer on October 16. There will therefore not be any cause of action vested in the NLC to institute this action," Mr. Danso further said.

He said there had not been any dispute between NAGRAT and the GES, and added "if there is no dispute between the GES and NAGRAT, the provisions in the Labour Act will not apply. We are not obliged by the Act, to give notice to the Commission of our intention to embark on strike."

Counsel further argued that NAGRAT’s basis for going on strike was to get the GES to comply with the terms set out in a Memorandum of Understanding reached between them, the GES and NAGRAT.

He said as far as NAGRAT was conserned there was no dispute between it and the GES since the Parliamentary Select Committee on Education had once mediated in the issue.

The NLC, he said, should have had a present cause of action before coming to court to seek the compelling order.

Replying, Mr. J. Opoku Agyei, counsel for the NLC said, "The law does not make it a precedent for there to be a complaint before the Commission can take action and sections 138 and 139 of the Labour Act spell out clearly the functions and powers of the plaintiff.

Court Urged To Order NAGRAT Back To Work

By William Yaw Owusu

Thursday, 26 October 2006
THE National Labour Commission (NLC) yesterday told an Accra Fast Track High Court that the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) did not give the Commission the seven-day mandatory notice required by law before embarking on strike.

The NLC has, therefore, asked the court, presided over by Mr. Justice Richard Asamoah, to order NAGRAT to comply with the Chief Labour Officer’s directive asking its members to go back to the classroom to teach while negotiations continued on their demands.

J. Opoku-Agyei, counsel for NLC said this when he moved a motion in a suit that is asking the court to compel NAGRAT to call off its current strike.

NLC filed the suit on October 11, seeking among other things, an order under section 172 of Act 651 of the Labour Act to ‘compel the leadership in particular, and members of NAGRAT in general, to comply with the Commission’s order directing them to call off the illegal strike."

Mr Opoku-Agyei said NAGRAT failed to notify NLC or their employer, Ghana Education Service (GES) of their intention to stop teaching, adding that "they did not follow simple laid-down procedures."

He said "even if the current strike is legal, NAGRAT should have done it for only seven days after which they should have submitted themselves to compulsory arbitration."

He argued that NAGRAT had not taken any steps to challenge the Chief Labour Officers’ order which is asking them to go back to teach even though there was a dispute between them and their employer, (GES).

Rather, counsel said NAGRAT had filed a defence affidavit that appeared to have called for a judicial review.

Mr Opoku-Agyei said NAGRAT had chosen not to respond appropriately to NLC’s affidavit in support which is simply to enforce the Chief Labour Officers’ order to call off the strike.

When asked by the judge what steps NAGRAT should take if it turned out that the Chief Labour Officers’ order was a ‘nullity’, counsel responded "they are entitled to come for a certiorari to quash that order."

Further hearing was adjourned to today for NAGRAT to respond to the NLC’s application.

Court Resumes Hearing Suit Against K'Bu Hospital

William Yaw Owusu

Wednesday, 25 October 2006
AN Accra Fast Track High Court has resumed hearing the case in which a 14-year old boy has sued the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital for negligence.

When the case resumed yesterday, after the two-month legal vacation, there was a series of motions and counter motions between Frank Darko (Plaintiff) and the hospital (defendants).

The suit, filed on behalf of the plaintiff by his mother, Gladys Darko, cites the governing board of the hospital as well as Doctors Kennedy Addo, Korpisah and Agbeko, all of the hospital, for a "wrongful operation" conducted on Frank on September 13, last year.

Master Darko is asking for ¢800 million in damages.

The doctors, according to the suit, operated on the boy’s left knee instead of the right, after he had been diagnosed with a torn patella ligament.

The writ further claimed that the boy’s father suffered a cardiac arrest and died as a result of the doctors negligence.

When Mr. Thomas Hughes, Counsel for Darko took the floor, he again moved "a motion on notice for discovery of documents", an application he had filed on June 28 and which was opposed by defence counsel. This time round it was granted by the court.

With this development, when the case resumes on November 6, the plaintiff will now be able to tender in evidence a list of documents intended for the purpose.

Mr. Emmanuel Ohene, counsel for the defendants, also moved two motions-an amendment to the paragraph 31 of their statement of case, and a motion for discovery of document (physiotherapy treatment) card of the plaintiff issued on November 18 last year, which is the custody of the plaintiff.

The trial judge Mr. Justice E.K. Ayebi granted the hospital application, saying that although counsel did not support the application, with an affidavit, he had used his discretion in granting it.

Religious Grouping To Mediate In Gov't-NAGRAT Impass

By William Yaw Owusu

Tuesday, 24 October 2006
THE Ghana Conference of Religions for Peace (GCRP) is to mediate to resolve the impasse between the government and the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) over salaries and conditions of service.

The GCRP is made up of the Christian Council, the Catholic Conference of Bishops, the Ghana Pentecostal Council and the Council of Muslim Groups. His Eminence Cardinal Peter Appiah Turkson is its chairman.

Maulvi Wahab Adam, Ameer and Missionary-in-charge of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission, Ghana, who announced this in Accra yesterday said the GCRP would be meeting NAGRAT this Thursday to help address its concerns.

He was speaking at this year’s Eid-ul-Fitr celebration of the Ahmadi Muslims at Bustan-e-Ahmad (Garden of Ahmad) of Ashongman.

The Ameer said: "We have made the offer to NAGRAT of mediation and we will appeal to them to accept the mediatory role of the GCRP to help address NAGRAT’s concerns.

"The current industrial action embarked upon by NAGRAT is a source of worry for every one of us. Our children are seriously affected by this action and we have to move to get the problem solved, once and for all," he added.

For the past seven weeks, members of NAGRAT throughout the country have been on strike and this has crippled teaching and learning in the country’s second-cycle institutions.

Maulvi Adam, in his Eid sermon, said Ghanaians should be tolerant of one another’s opinions and beliefs in order to build a peaceful co-existence.

"The essence of Eid is to co-exist and tolerate one another’s views. If we continue to do this we will be building a peaceful and a strong nation."

Methodist Lay Mov't Holds Conference

By William Yaw Owusu

Monday, 23 October 2006
THE Accra Diocesan Lay Movement Council of the Methodist Church at the weekend held its conference at the Mamprobi Nazareth Chapel in Accra.

The event is held annually to deliberate on developments in the church, as well as make resolutions for its future progress.
It was under the theme "witnessing in the power of the Holy Spirit,’ and attended by more than 100 delegates.

In her address, Mrs Araba Ata Sam, Lay Chairperson of the Accra Diocese, reiterated the church’s commitment to embark on developmental projects to complement government efforts.

She said the Accra Diocese would from now on, focus on improving infrastructure at the Accra Wesley Girls Senior Secondary School at Kaneshie, which has been started by the church to promote girl-child education.

"This is a project which is of utmost priority to the church and the Accra Diocese and we will ensure that the needed funds are provided for the up-keep of this school," she said.

Mrs Sam also mentioned the ‘Welfare for the aged" project initiated by the church and called for donations so that the aged could be catered for.

She also said that the Diocese intended to establish a youth employment scheme to empower the youth economically, adding, "we are putting a few things together so that we can have a smooth take-off."

COURT ORDERS AREEBA TO OPEN DEFENCE

By William Yaw Owusu

Saturday October 21,2006
THE Commercial Court in Accra yesterday ruled that the writ of summons and service filed by Richmond Aggrey, a businessman who is claiming 20 per cent shares in Scancom Ghana Limited, operators of Areeba GSM, is proper.

The court has therefore ordered Scancom (Areeba) and two others who have been joined in the suit to file their defence within 14 days for the substantive motion to be moved.

Mr. Aggrey filed the suit against Investment Consortium Holdings S.A. of Beirut, Lebanon, Scancom Ghana Limited and Grandview Management of Texas, United States and got an export order on July 14, to restrain the defendants from going ahead to conclude a merger agreement with MTN Company of South Africa.

The writ claimed that, “Continuing, progressing and/or concluding a merger with and/or acquisition of Investcom LLC by MTN.Company of South Africa without taking into account and or providing for the plaintiffs 20 per cent shares in Scancom Limited will occasion the loss of his shareholding in the company by reason of the accrual of the rights of MTN Group as a third party.”

Following the development, Scancom Limited filed/an application on July 24, to strike out Mr. Aggrey’s action “in part or whole” on the grounds that the plaintiff failed to adhere to procedures in filing the application.

Scancom had argued that Mr. Aggrey did not take leave of service before affecting the process on its co-defendants: Investcom and Grandview who are outside the court’s jurisdiction.

Scancom, represented by Mr. Benson Nutsukpui, said the mandatory requirement of seeking leave of the court to issue a writ outside the jurisdiction, was not met.

The court, in refusing to grant Scancom’s application, said that although failure to apply for leave to issue the writ was “an irregularity”, Order 81 of the High Court Rules could be used to “cure” that irregularity.

Immediately the court gave the ruling, Mr. Yonni Kulendi, Counsel for plaintiff, requested that a cost be awarded against Scancom but the court declined the request.

Mr. Kulundi then said that there were corporate processes that could take place if the court did not restrict plaintiff and defendants to a time frame.

Mr. William Fugah, who represented Investcom Consortium Holdings, appealed that the ex-parte application of the plaintiff should not be extended by the court.

Mr. Nutsukpui then came in to say that the issue was taken care of before the deal itself and it would be cosmetic for them to hold on to a court order that had fully been complied with.

To this, the court explained that the effect of granting the plaintiff’s motion is that nothing should be done until the issue is looked into”.

NAGRAT SUES ATTORNEY-GENERAL

By William Yaw Owusu

Saturday October 21,2006
THE National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) has filed a suit against the government for failing to grant them a collective bargaining certificate to be able to negotiate with their employer – the Ghana Education Service (GES).

In the suit filed against the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, who is the principal legal advisor of the government, NAGRAT wants a declaration that “Sections 83,84 and 94(5) of the Labour Act 2003 (Act 651) are inconsistent and in contravention of Article 21 of the constitution and are to the extent of such inconsistency null and void.”

It also wants the decision of the Chief Labour Officer that NAGRAT and the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) belong to the same class of workers to be a mulled as it contravenes Article 21(i) and (e) of the Constitution.

Another relief being sought by the association is an order that the Chief Labour Office issue a bargaining certificate to it to enable it represent the interest of its members, “in as far as negotiations with its employer is concerned.”

In a 22-paragraph statement of claim, filed on Tuesday, NAGRAT contended that it is a registered trade union which had been issued with a certificate in accordance with the Labour Act 2003 (Act 651).

NAGRAT averred that as a trade union its cardinal objective was to promote and protect the economic and social interests of its members by negotiating or bargaining with their employer, the GES for better conditions of service.

NAGRAT said that its existence is based on the freedom of association as enshrined in the Constitution.

“This freedom has considerably been curtailed by virtue of the provisions of the Labour Act 2003 (Act 651) particularly sections 83 and 84 which state that a trade union shall be registered and be issued with certificate by the Chief Labour Officer,” it added.

The association said it must now possess a collective bargaining certificate to be able to negotiate with its employer by virtue of the aforesaid sections of the Labour Act, 2003, Act 651.

The suit stated that “in accordance with sections 83 and 84 of the Labour Act 2003 (651), it applied for the collective bargaining certificate but was not granted.”

Dissatisfied with this, NAGRAT said it petitioned the chief labour officer who, in a response in a letter dated August 22, 2006 stated that the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) had rather been given the certificate to act on its behalf.

It said when the association sought to know the grounds on which the Chief Labour Officer relied in coming to a decision to grant the bargaining certificate to GNAT, it was informed in writing that it was based on the size of membership of the two unions – NAGRAT and GNAT.

“Plaintiff (NAGRAT) avers that although there is a provision in the Labour Act (Act 651) particularly section 95(4) which stipulated that the labour officer shall, subject to regulations made by the minister, determine which union shall hold a collective bargaining certificate for the class of workers in a situation where there is more than one trade union at the work place, there is no provision in the Labour Act which specifically states a requirement of size and/or number as a condition for the issue of a collective bargaining certificate,” it contended.

NAGRAT further complained that the discretionary power assigned to the chief labour officer to determine who should be given a collective bargaining certificate as per section 99(4) and (5) of the Labour Act 2003 is contrary to the letter and the spirit of the Constitution.

This, it contends emanates from the fact that Article 21(1) (e) of the constitution confers on its members the freedom to form or join trade unions or other association, national and international for the protection of their interests.

It said Article 24(4) of the constitution further makes it clear that restrictions shall not be placed in the exercise of the right conferred by clause 3 of the article except restrictions prescribed by law and reasonably necessary in the interest of national security, public order or for the protection of rights and freedom of others.

By their refusal to grant it the bargaining certificate, the suit said NAGRAT has been rendered impotent and in effective in the protection of the economic and other interests of its members.

The NAGRAT said that section 99(5) of the Labour Act which the chief labour officer relied on to interpret the phrase “that same class of workers at a particular time” to mean teachers generally is not applicable.

“This is because of the independent existence of similar associations of teachers such as the Polytechnic Teachers Association of Ghana (POTAG) and the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG),” it said.

“Plaintiff avers that GNAT and NAGRAT cannot be referred to as belonging to the same class of workers in the light of the above averments,” it added.

MISSING 77 PARCELS OF COCAINE: Another Policeman Arrested

By William Yaw Owusu

Saturday October 21,2006
GENERAL Police Corporal Kennedy Dzakeh, was yesterday arraigned before the Greater Accra Regional Tribunal as the sixth police personnel standing trial for their alleged involvement in the disappearance of 77 parcels of cocaine from the MV Benjamin vessel at the Tema Port.

He was charged with abetment and was remanded in police custody by the court, presided over by Mr Justice Frank Manu, until November 3.

Corporal Dzakeh, who until his arrest, was with the Police Motor Traffic Unit (MTU) in Kumasi, consequently joins Sergeant David Nyarko, Lance Corporal Peter Bundorin, Lance Corporal Dwamena Yabson, Sergeant Isaac Asante and Detective Sergeant Yaw Amoah in the case in which five suspected drug barons are also standing trial at an Accra Circuit Court.

All the accused exce[t Amoah, who is on the run,are in police custody.

Amoah jumped bail after the original prosecutor, Betuiriseeh Cab-Beyou, a Chief State Attorney, allegedly charged the original charges of abatement preferred against the accused to extortion , which warranted them bail.

Dzakeh was alleged to have taken a 15,000 dollar from Asem Darke also known as Sheriff, now at large, who allegedly took possession of the narcotic drugs and allowed him to cart the stuff away.

Presenting the facts, Assistant Superintendent of Police George Abavelim told the court that Dzakeh, who was stationed at the Tema Fishing Harbour Police Station was a friend of Sheriff’s.

The prosecutor said sometime in April 2006, Dzakeh met Sheriff, who was involved in the importation of the 77 parcels of cocaine, at AFKO Fisheries Junction in Tema, took 15,000 dollars from him and allowed him to go with the illicit drug.

The prosecutor said Dzakeh used part of the money to buy an Opel Astra (GTY 7203 X).

NLC / NAGRAT CASE COMMENCES IN COURT

By William Yaw Owusu

Saturday October 21, 2006
A Fast Track High Court yesterday, started hearing the case in which the National Labour Commission (NLC) is asking the court to order members of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) to go back to the classroom to teach.

The NLC filed the suit on October 11 seeking, among other things, an order under section 172 of Act 651 of the Labour Act to "compel the leadership in particular, and members of NAGRAT in general, to comply with the commission's order directing them to call off the illegal strike."

When the case was called, Archie Martin Danso Junior, Counsel for NAGRAT, raised a preliminary objection to certain portions of the motion, saying "the process is incompetent because it did not comply with the rules of the court."

He argued that paragraphs three and six of the NLC's affidavit talked about matters of law which it did not need to focus on, adding "the defects have rendered the whole application in competent."

However, Counsel for NLC J. Opoku Agyei, described NAGRAT's objection as misconceived, adding that NAGRAT had even filed a statement of defence and it was proper to move the application at this stage.

The trial judge, Justice Richard Asamoah dismissed NAGRAT'S preliminary objection, saying "this matter is being fought on affidavit evidence."

He said although affidavits must contain facts "the inclusion of matters of law is not fatal to the proceedings. It is only contaminated issues that can be expunged from an affidavit and not matters of law."

Mr. Danso asked for an adjournment to enable him to confer with NAGRAT on the next line of action and the case was subsequently adjourned to October 25.

In its affidavit the NLC averred that NAGRAT had embarked on a strike action effective September 1 without complying with section 159 and 160 of Act 651, thus rendering the strike illegal.

It claimed that NAGRAT had not indicated that any dispute exists between it and the Ghana Education service which should be referred to the commission for resolution through voluntary arbitration, saying "no notice of intention to resort to strike was served on the commission as mandatorily required by law".

It further said even though the NLC met the leadership of NAGRAT on September 27, and urged them to call off the strike to enable it facilitate negotiations between GES and NAGRAT, they refused to do so.

In its statement of defence, filed on October 19, NAGRAT categorically denied the contention that it embarked on a strike without complying with the law.

It said no dispute exists within the meaning and intention of section 159 of the Labour Act to warrant compliance of the said provisions.

NAGRAT also said no issue of calling off the strike was discussed at the meeting with NLC.

Human Resource Management Practitioners Meet

By William Yaw Owusu

Saturday October 21,2006
This year’s summit to discuss human resource management as the driving force behind the country’s growth and development was held in Accra last Thursday.

The annual event instituted by the Institute of Human Resource Management Practitioners IHRMP Ghana in 2004, to deliberate on issues affecting human resource management and development, was under the theme: “Public Sector Reforms – the Human Resource Dimension.

It was attended by more than 50 human resource managers mostly from the public sector.

Dr. Paapa Kwesi Nduom, Minister of Public Sector Reforms, who was the guest speaker, said there was the need for a confident, purposeful and well-motivated public sector that would propel the country’s economic agenda to ensure growth.

“For the public sector to work effectively, they will need a better leadership that focuses on quality delivery of service” he said.

Dr Nduom stated that the country had faced a crisis of inappropriate and disjointed human response management in the public service over the past 30 years and this has made it difficult for us to have a smooth and experienced public service.

He said to ensure effectiveness and efficiently, the public service should be non-political, impartial and have high level of integrity.

He said over the past years, many development programme were introduced, all of which emphasized human resource development as the engine for growth and development but could not be implemented fully to ensure their success, thereby leaving human resource development in limbo.

“We have allowed by law in Ghana the proliferation of public services separate from the Civil Service without putting into the place a common framework or standard for wage and salary administration, conditions of service and overall human resource management and a common mechanism for ensuring equity across board”, he added.

Dr. Nduom said the ministry could continue to pursue programmes that would help in the success of the poverty reduction strategy and the attainment of the millennium development goals.

Mr. Kwadwo Asare-Bediako, a member of IHRMP, said “we have failed to utilize the vast potential in the country’s human resource for rapid development.

He said businesses all over the world recognized the pivotal role played by human resources, saying that “the level of the country’s future development will depend on how we make use of our human resource”.

GBA Speaks Out On National Issues

By William Yaw Owusu

Friday, 20 October 2006
THE Ghana Bar Association (GBA) says it was not obligatory for the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, to appear before the Justice Georgina Wood committee if he was not invited.

"The Bar wishes to advise the public that there is no legal duty on any person against whom an allegation is made in the course of any investigation, whether by a committee or commission of enquiry, the police or any law enforcement agency, to proceed without any intimation from the investigating body to surrender him or herself for interrogation."

At a press conference in Accra yesterday to inform the public of the Bar’s 19-point resolution adopted at its 2006/2007 annual conference held at Ho, GBA president, Solomon Kwami Tetteh, called on the media to end the debate on the association of the Asantehene with the cocaine saga.
"It is a sensitive matter of public importance that is assuming tribal dimensions", he said. However, he said "the Bar considers as unfortunate the threats to the life and person of four senior journalists for their views on the matter," he said.

Mr. Tetteh said the Bar also considered unfortunate, the threat by some contributors to radio discussions to lynch those journalists if they dared enter Kumasi.

"The Bar wishes to remind those contributors that those journalists were exercising their constitutional right for free speech. Any attempt to impede their entry into Kumasi would constitute an invasion of their constitutional right of free movement," Mr. Tetteh stressed.

He noted that since narcotic drugs trade poses danger to health, security and the image of the country, "government must take steps to resource the security agencies to be able to combat the menace effectively" and advised members and judges to play their respective roles by disposing of narcotic cases with dispatch.

The GBA further advised its members against media trials of their cases and acts of self-advertisement saying it is unethical.

"Such actions tend to give a distorted and prejudiced account of cases to the public. Members are rather encouraged to abide by the time-hallowed practices of prosecuting their client’s cases in the court of law, the proper forum for the adjudication of cases."

Mr. Tetteh said although the Bar accepts the duty to contribute to debates on national issues and help in shaping public opinion, "it must now focus its attention even more on the neglected issue of falling professional standards and the establishment of the association as a professional body."

He reiterated the Bar’s appeal to the General Legal Council and the Attorney-General to take the necessary steps "to vest in the Bar, the power to discipline lawyers."

He appealed to parliament to pass the Domestic Violence and Right to Information bills into law.

On the 50th anniversary celebrations of the country’s independence, Mr. Tetteh said the Bar holds the view that it should be programmed to provide opportunity for all groups and societies to participate in it to enhance national unity, reconciliation, consensus building and togetherness.

It also noted that the spate of strikes in the country and urged all persons without exception to abide by the labour laws of the country, in particular the negotiation, mediation and arbitration of all industrial disputes.

Saying that the Bar, welcomed the ongoing negotiations for new conditions of service for teachers, he urged the National Association of Graduate Teachers in the spirit of dispute resolution and "in the name of the affected school children, their parents and entire nation to take its place at the ongoing negotiating table and in the mean time resume work".

The GBA president said the Bar had noted the abolition of the Criminal Libel Law had resulted in "unbridled freedom" in the media landscape prompting a section of the public to call for its reinstatement to "correct the misconduct".

"In the view of the GBA, the profession of journalism should be allowed to grow and develop the structures of its regulation. It will be better to create an environment that will encourage a steady, even if gradual, growth of a culture of good and professional journalism than to enforce professional standards by the coercive force of criminal legislation," he said.

$28m BOOKS CONTRACT NULLIFIED

By William Yaw Owusu

Thursday, 19 October 2006
A HIGH Court in Accra has declared null and void, the 28 million dollar contract given by the Education Ministry to MacMillan Education Limited for the supply of school textbooks.

This implies that the ministry will have to restart the procurement process.

The Fast Track High Court in its ruling yesterday on the suit filed in June by the Ghana Book Publishers Association ( GBPA), said that the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports (MOEs) failed to follow laid down procedures in the award of the contract.

The court, presided over by Mr Justice E.K. Ayebi, also ruled that the Public Procurement Board (PPB) erred in law when it granted approval to the MOEs to proceed with a single-sourcing procurement to purchase the supplementary school text books.

The Ghana Book Publishers Association filed the suit against the Ministry, the Procurement Board and the GetFund Board, seeking an injunction to stop them from going ahead to give MacMillan Education, the sole right to supply books to schools throughtout the country because it violated the provision of the Public Procurement Act 2003.

The court awarded ¢5 million cost against each of the three defendants but withdrew it later following a submission by the GBPA explaining that it wanted to waive it due to public interest.

"The manner in which the MOEs went about the single sourcing procurement has not been transparent," the court said.

It noted that the then minister, Yaw Osafo-Maafo, having decided to go for single-sourcing procurement, should have given a public notice to allow public comment on the issue before asking the PPB to approve the procurement in favour of MacMillan.

The court said the Public Procurement Act 663 allows single sourcing procurement but the explanation given by the MOEs fell short of what was needed to effectively apply the process.

The court said the GBPA did not complain of the urgency that the MOEs cited as its reason to single source the textbooks for the 2005/2006 academic year but were only against the abuse of the Procurement Act.

On the PPB, the court said it failed to consider all relevant issues before approving the single-sourcing procurement making the whole process flawed.

"The PPB failed to consider all matters under (the relevant) section . The copyright issue cited to support the approval does not arise in this action," the court pointed out.

It expressed disappointment at the manner in which the GETFund Board conducted itself throughout the trial saying, "it refused to participate in the process since the court declined the application to strike its name from the process even though it was a necessary party."

Counsel for the GBPA, Jacob Acquah Sampson, , said after the ruling that "this should form the first point of reference in future developments."

MORE TO BE PROSECUTED IN EAST LEGON COCAINE CASE

By William Yaw Owusu

Tuesday, 17 October 2006
MORE suspects are to be charged alongside the two Venezuelans standing trial for allegedly importing 588 kilogrammes of cocaine into the country.

A Chief State Attorney, Ms. Gertrude Aikins, prosecuting the case, gave the hint yesterday when the Accra Fast Track High Court resumed sitting after a two-month break.

"Due to recent developments, we have been compelled to ask for an adjournment to enable us to take certain measures," she told the court, presided over by Mr Justice E.K. Ayebi.

"The prosecution intends to change the charge sheet and charge some other people," she added.

Asked by the court why it had taken the prosecution such a long time to effect the changes, in spite of the two months adjournment, Ms. Aikins replied, "These are recent developments."

Mr. Komla Dogbe Senanu, counsel for Halo Cabeza Castillo, one of the Venezuelans, said the defence had no objection, adding that "the prosecution had earlier on explained the circumstances to me."

The case was therefore adjourned to November 2.

Joel Mella, 35, a machine operator, and Castillo, 38, a businessman, have been in custody since November 24, last year, when the police, upon a tip-off, raided their East Legon residence and seized 588 kilogrammes of cocaine.
They were on July 7 arraigned before the Fast Track Court where the judge ordered that they be provided with a Spanish interpreter since they could not speak English.

The accused have pleaded not guilty to three counts of conspiracy, importation of narcotic drugs without lawful authority, and possessing narcotic drugs without lawful authority.

When the case resumed on July 26, the prosecution amended the charge sheet to four counts of conspiracy, importation of narcotic drugs without lawful authority and possessing narcotic drugs without lawful authority all of which they again pleaded not guilty.

With the new developments, when the case resumes on November 2, the prosecution is likely to amend the charge sheet again and prefer charges against other persons.

23 Charged At La Court Over Drug Offences

By William Yaw Owusu

Monday, 16 October 2006
TWENTY-three persons were on Friday arraigned before the La district magistrates’ court in Accra, charged with peddling narcotic drugs.

The accused persons aged between 18 and 66, were arrested in a special operation conducted at Osu to flush criminals out of the area.

Assistant Superintendent of Police, James Annor, who led the operation, told the Times that the suspects were also believed to have been involved in robberies, snatching of mobile phones and hand bags.

He said the operation was carried out around the Osu cemetery, beach and Kinkawe, behind the palace.

ASP Annor said that during the operation quantities of Indian hemp, instruments used to sniff cocaine and three motorbikes were seized from the suspects.

He said: "We are sustaining the operation, especially when it is getting to Christmas and residents should continue to volunteer information to enable the police to arrest criminals in society."

The accused were remanded in police custody until October 26.

Securities Brainstorm On Rising Crime

From William Yaw Owusu, Akosombo

Monday, 16 October 2006
THE Co-ordinator of the National Governance Programme (NGP), Leonora Kyerematen, has said that the public cannot demand a high level of service from the security agencies when they continue to be under resourced.

"It behoves us to adequately resource and democratise our security services, to ensure their ability to effectively carry out their mandates. It is then that we as a nation can say that we have arrived and can then demand accountability of our personnel," she said at Akosombo on Saturday.

Mrs Kyerematen was speaking at a workshop here for the country’s security agencies on how to strategise to ensure public safety.

The workshop with the theme, "Public safety – role of the security agencies," was organized for about 50 participants by the Ministry of the Interior and sponsored by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAF), a German political foundation promoting good governance across the globe.

The participants were drawn from the Police, Military, National Disaster Management Organisation, Customs, Excise and Preventive Services, Immigration Service, Prisons Service, the Bureau of National Investigation and the National Commission for Small Arms.

She said the security services over the years had faced challenges such as inadequate office and residential accommodation, staff logistics, obsolete tools and equipment, institutional weakness and poor human resource capacity but the public had sometimes failed to appreciate the conditions under which they worked.

Mrs Kyerematen said continued political will, backed by adequate budgetary allocation, comprehensive institutional reforms and effective inter-agency co-ordination, among other would help re-position the security agencies to be more effective.

Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, Deputy Minister of the Interior, conceded that crimes such as robbery, car snatching, rape, fraud, and manslaughter were at an unacceptably high level. Other such as traffic offences, fires, disasters, proliferation of small arms, human and drug trafficking, smuggling and currency counterfeiting were also serious issues that the security agencies were grappling with.

Mr Agyeman-Manu said the government was committed to adopting the right and appropriate strategies to ensure that public safety remained a priority.

For his part, Benjamin Kumbuor, a Member of Parliament and chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Defence, acknowledged that security agencies were under-resourced and gave the assurance that "we are making efforts to get more resources from the budget for them."

He called for a holistic national security sector policy to make the public to appreciate the need for the security agencies to get enough budgetary allocation.

Isaac Owusu Mensah, Programme Officer of the KAF, said the security sector was a key pillar in the promotion and development of good governance and sustainable democracy and they needed to be given utmost attention to be able to deliver.

Hawkers Market Given New Name

By William Yaw Owusu

Saturday, 14 October 2006
"PEDESTRIAN Shopping Mall," is the name to be given to the new hawkers market being constructed at the Kwame Nkrumah Cir-cle by the government for people who sell along the streets of Accra.

Stanley Nii Adjiri-Blankson, Mayor of Accra, who announced this in Accra on Thursday, said that name was adopted because the tag ‘Hawkers’ Market’ sounds negative.

He was addressing a delegation from the Bayelsa and Kano States of Nigeria which is in the country on a four-day international exchange programme.

During their stay, the 12-member delegation from the Bayelsa State Labour Council of Trade Union Congress and Kano State House Committee on Labour and Productivity will, among other things, study the Accra Metropolitan Assembly’s approach to dealing with sanitation and the problem of street hawking in Accra.

Nii Adjiri-Blankson said the market will be ready by the end of the month after which, "street hawking will not be entertained in this city any longer.

"If a trader does not get space to work in the new mall, there are 26 or more markets within the metropolis where that person can trade. It will be an offence to sell along the streets with effect from November."

The Mayor said the new market will boost the AMA’s effort at solving the sanitation problems in the country, since the hawkers activities will be centralized and controlled.

"On the streets where the hawkers operate, they throw litter about, putting a lot of pressure on our overstretched staff to keep the metropolis clean. In this new market, we can control and regulate their activities."

Mr Blankson said the new market had been designed to contain a police and fire station a health centre, a warehouse and a kindergarten to ensure that traders operate in comfort.

"We will provide every trader with an identity card so that we can identify those who will enter the place to indulge in criminal activities."

Habib Hassan, chairman, Labour and Productivity at the House of Assembly in Kano State, who led the delegation, said hawking had been a major problem for the state adding "we will go back and sell this idea to our law makers and implementers."

Mr Chris Egai, secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress at the Bayelsa State Council praised Nigeria and Ghana governments for promoting the regional integration.

PROSECUTOR ORDERED TO GO ON LEAVE

By William Yaw Owusu

Thursday, 12 October 2006
Betuiriseeh Cab-Beyuo, the Chief State Attorney, who without consulting his superiors, changed the initial charges preferred against five policemen linked to the MV Benjamin missing cocaine case, has been ordered to proceed on leave.

"We have asked Mr. Cab-Beyuo to proceed on leave so that we can investigate the circumstances leading to his action in the trial of the case," Mr. Joe Ghartey, the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, told the Times on telephone yesterday in Accra.

He said it was an error of judgement on the part of Mr. Cab-Beyuo since only the Attorney-General, under Article 88 of the Constitution, has the power to change, substitute or prefer charges against accused persons.

Cab-Beyuo, according to the Attorney-General, erred by not consulting his immediate superior or the AG before changing the charges.

Mr. Ghartey said that for the policemen to have escorted somebody believed to have offloaded the missing 77 parcels of cocaine, smacked of aiding and abetting.

The five policemen, Detective Sergeant Samuel Amoah, General Sergeant Daniel Nyarko, Detective Lance Corporal Dwamena Yabson, General Sergeant Issa Asante and General Lance Corporal Peter Bondorin, all of the Tema Regional Police Command, were arraigned before an Accra circuit court for their involvement in the disappearance of the parcels of cocaine from the MV Benjamin, at the Tema port.

Of the five, Amoah, Nyarko and Yabson appeared in court on September 12 while Asante and Bondorin were brought on September 18 before the two cases were merged.

However, on their next appearance on September 25, the prosecutor, Mr. Cab-Beyuo, had withdrawn the charge and substituted it with an amended charge of extortion.

With that development, the suspects, who were then on remand, were granted ¢300 million bail with one surety each.

The Attorney-General, who was unhappy with the prosecutor’s action, countermanded Cab-Beyuo’s action on September 27, and ordered the re-arrest of the suspects.

However, before the police could effect the AG’s order, one of the suspects, Amoah, had absconded.

They are now facing new charges of conspiracy, importation of narcotic drugs without licence, abetment, possession of narcotic drugs without lawful authority and doing prohibited business related to narcotic drugs.

Cab-Beyuo was subsequently replaced by Ms Gertrude Aikins, also a Chief State Attorney, and a bench warrant was issued for the arrest of Detective Sergeant Samuel Amoah, believed to have escaped to Togo.

The new charges also cover Asem Darkey, popularly known as Sheriff, who was alleged to have carted the 77 parcels of cocaine away.

He is on the run and the police have offered a reward of ¢50 million for any information leading to his arrest.

Have - Domefe Honours ICU Boss

By William Yaw Owusu, Have

Wednesday, 11 October 2006
THE chiefs and people of Have-Domefe, in the Volta Region, at the weekend organized a durbar to honour Mr. Napoleon Kpoh, General Secretary of the Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (ICU), for his contribution towards the development of the area.

Mr. Kpoh who is a native of the town, was presented with the "Odumankuma Clan" award, an honour reserved for distinguished citizens of the town.

Mr. Kpoh in the past few months has won two awards — the West African Nobles’ Forum Award 2006 and the Cambridge International College’s highest award of AMBA.

In his address, Torgbe Krakani Apawu XI, chief of Have-Domefe, praised Mr. Kpoh for lifting high the name of Have-Domefe, describing him as a selfless individual.

He advised parents not to undermine the education of their children since it is the surest way to success and future development.

He commended the people for their self-help approach to development which has enabled the town to embark upon a number of project including a water-closet public toilet at the cost of ¢500 million.

Dr. W. V. Kosi Agbodza, Country Representative of Cambridge International College, the institution which conferred the AMBA award on Mr. Kpoh, described him as "a fighter, pioneer and an achiever who brings positive ideas to organizations that he associated himself with".

Mr. Solomon Kotei, Deputy General Secretary of ICU, in a solidarity message said "Mr. Kpoh’s creativity, innovation and hardwork have shaped trade unionism in Ghana and Africa".

Mr. Kpoh in his acceptance speech dedicated the award to the youth and said it was time to nurture, encourage and support the youth for future development.

"I want the youth to take their work seriously and do whatever they are assigned to do with commitment and devotion", he said.

He charged the youth to see obstacles in their life as "a motivating instrument for the achievement of excellence in one’s chosen field."

Tagor, Others' Case To Be Rescheduled

By William Yaw Owusu

Tuesday, 10 October 2006
A large crowd that thronged the 28th February Road courts popularly called Cocoa Affairs, to witness the trial of four alleged cocaine barons yesterday went home disappointed.

Unknown to the crowd and apparently the legal teams, the trial judge had begun his annual leave hence the case could not be heard.

Kwabena Amaning also called Tagor, Alhaji Issah Abass, Kwabena Acheampong and Victor Kisseh, popularly called Yaw Bilah, the suspects, are standing trial for their alleged involvement in the disappearance of 77 parcels of cocaine from the MV Benjamin vessel at the Tema Port.

They are facing provisional charges of conspiracy, engaging in prohibited business related to narcotic drugs and establishing and promoting a narcotic drugs related enterprise.

Around 10.20 am, Ms Gretrude Aikins, Chief State Attorney, together with the investigator and some of the lawyers entered the courtroom to agree on the next adjourned date.

She later told the media that they had agreed to return to the court on October 23.

Last week, the court discharged Kwadwo Ababio, who was being tried together with the four, following the prosecution’s submission that it was no longer interested in prosecuting him.

Tagor, Abass, Acheampong and Ababio (now discharged), were arrested on August 2, after testifying before the Justice Georgina Wood Committee while Yaw Billah was picked up later.

The provisional facts as presented by Deputy Superintendent of Police (ASP) Abichab Boye, when the trial commenced are that sometime in November, last year, the police had tip-off about the arrival of a vessel, MV Benjamin, at the Tema Port with 78 parcels of cocaine. However, when the police raided the vessel, only one parcel was found.

Police investigations later revealed that the other 77 parcels were removed from the vessel before the raid and that the accused persons were suspected to have had knowledge about the missing cocaine parcels.

William Yaw Owusu (Owner of this blog)

The owner of this blog goes through the newspaper he writes for(Ghanaian Times) in the newsroom in Accra Ghana.

Ex-Miss Ghana Tops Law Course

By William Yaw Owusu

Saturday, 07 October 2006
A total of 127 new lawyers were called to the bar at a ceremony at the Ghana Law School in Accra yesterday.

Their call was at the end of four years of intensive legal education.

Each graduand received a certificate, while special awards were given to students who excelled in various subjects, with Ms. Dzidzo Abra Amoa, Miss Ghana 1988, collecting 10 in all.

The Chief Justice, Mr. George Kingsley Acquah, in a keynote address, reiterated the need for the new lawyers to help preserve the sanctity of the legal profession which he described as noble.

"The legal profession has always been a noble one and it is up to members to maintain a very high standard of integrity and nobility in society."

He said the country’s constitutional government was on course hence it was the civic duty of lawyers "to help everybody to appreciate the need to sustain this democratic culture."

The Chief Justice said that in this day and age, it was not permissible for any member of the legal profession to claim ignorance of some well-known international instruments such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights.

"The human rights provisions in our constitution must be at your fingertips. You must keep these instruments in view, work for their attainment and strive to defend them," he said.

"Do not view your responsibilities as beginning and ending with serving your clients, and in this way looking at law as a set of mechanical rules to be manipulated solely for the interest of your clients. You must look at the wider interest of the society," he advised.

Lawyers’ knowledge, expertise and services, "are badly needed at this critical time of our community and national development," Chief Justice Acquah said, adding "the need for legal services will continue to grow in all sectors of the economy."

He reminded the lawyers that the legal aid programme as highlighted by the constitution could only succeed if they (lawyers) participated actively in it, saying, "the challenge is for you to strive to live up to this expectation so as to endear yourself to your community."

Cocoa Affairs Court To Be Replaced

By William Yaw Owusu

Friday, 06 October 2006
THE 28th February Road Courts, in Accra popularly called "Cocoa Affairs", will be replaced with a modern court complex.

The project which is expected to commence next year and completed in two years will have a 34-room complex to house the high, circuit, a few magistrates and other specialized courts.

Chief Justice George Kingsley Acquah, announced this in Accra yesterday at the 27th annual general meeting of the Association of Magistrates and Judges of Ghana (AMJG).

He said the government had given the Judicial Service approval to tender for bids, adding, "we are almost completing.

He said in addition to the 34 court rooms, the new complex will house other offices, a conference room, a banking hall and rest-rooms for lawyers, adding that all the courts will be fully automated".

Mr Justice Acquah said an additional eight-room court complex could be built for the Commercial Court which would handle investment and commercial fraud cases as well as land disputes.

He also said work on the Judicial Training Institute with 120 room hostel facility, will also be completed in 2008, while the administration block for the service, situated behind the Supreme Court building will be completed by December.

The block upon completion will have 43 chambers for both the Supreme and Appeal Courts, offices for the Chief Justice and the General Legal Council and a library.

Mr. Justice Acquah said the administrative set up of the service had been amended and had appointed a registrar general in place of an administrative Secretary to keep the "day-to-day administration of the service in all regions".

Mr. Justice Yaw Apau, out-going president of AMJG, asked judges and magistrates to be guided by ethics of the profession to help uplift the image of the profession.

At the end of the programme, some retired judges as well as those who distinguished themselves during the 2005/2006 legal year were honoured by the AMJG.

Kwadwo Ababio Freed

By William Yaw Owusu
Tuesday, 03 October 2006
Kwadwo Ababio, one of the five people charged in connection with the disappearance of the 77 parcels of cocaine from the MV Benjamin vessel at the Tema Port, had been discharged by an Accra circuit court.

He was discharged yesterday following a submission by the prosecution that the state was no longer interested in prosecuting him.

Ms Getrude Aikins, Chief State Attorney told the court, "We want to withdraw the case against the accused person. We have already entered a nolle prosequi."

Ababio, who had been on remand since August 2, was not in court, but was represented by his counsel Agyei Mensah.

With this development, only Kwabena Amaning, popularly called Tagor, Issah Abass, Kwabena Acheampong and Vickor Kisseh, also known as Yaw Billah will be in the dock when the case resumes on October 9.

Ababio, together with the other four, faced provisional charges of conspiracy, engaging in prohibited business related to narcotic drugs, establishing and promoting enterprise relating to narcotic drugs.

Tagor, Abass, Acheampong and Ababio were arrested on August 2, soon after testifying before the Justice Georgina Wood Committee which was investigating the missing cocaine. Yaw Billah was arrested later.

They made their first appearance at the circuit court on August 4, and had since been refused bail on five occasions.

At their first appearance the prosecution told the court that sometime in November last year, the police had information about the arrival of a vessel at the Tema Port with 78 parcels of cocaine.

However, when the police searched the vessel only one parcel was found.

Police investigations later revealed that the other 77 parcels were removed from the vessel before the police undertook the search.

The prosecution on September indicated its intention to move the case at the Fast Track High Court and added that they were waiting for the Justice Georgina Wood Committee report to review the whole matter in respect of the charges preferred against the accused persons.

Pentecost University Holds 3rd Matriculation

By William Yaw Owusu

Tuesday, 03 October 2006
THE Pentecost University College in Accra held its third matriculation at the weekend.

It was under the theme: "Empowering students to serve their generation and posterity in excellence." A total of 503 students made up of 351 males and 152 females, took the matriculation oath.

The university, which started in 2003 with 130 students, now has a student population of 864 and three faculties in Business Administration, Information Technology and Theology and Mission.

Besides training students for dissemination of knowledge for an excellent human resource base, the PUC is also committed to ensuring the highest level of integrity and ethical standards towards total transfor-mation of society.

Professor Kwame Ampofo Twumasi, a deputy Minister of Education, Science and Sports who deputized for the Minister, Papa Owusu Ankomah, as the guest of honour, said the new education reform with the objective of reaching a 100 per cent completion rate for female and male student at the basic level by 2015 and also increase enrolment in science based courses to humanities in the ratio of 60:40, will be implemented next year.

"The new reforms is in tandem with the country’s Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy II (GPRS) which seeks to emphasise growth and wealth creation as a means of reducing poverty," he said.

To meet the constitutional obligation of ensuring universal compulsory and free basic education, Prof. Twumasi said the ¢129.4 billion provided for the 2005/2006 academic year capitation grant, had been increased to ¢160 billion for 2006/2007.

He said an estimated 17,612 teachers will be needed to ensure the smooth take off of the new reforms adding, "the teachers will adequately be motivated to ensure that the objectives of the reforms are realised."

Prof. Twumasi said government was fashioning out a more comprehensive and acceptable review of salaries ands conditions of service for teachers and appealed to a section of them (teachers) currently on industrial action to return to the classrooms whilst government speeds up the process of improving their conditions of service.

He commended private stakeholders, especially the missions for complementing government’s effort to provide tertiary education.

The Rev. Dr Opoku Onyinah, Rector of the PUC, declared the institution’s support for the Methodist Church’s decision to ban the wearing of miniskirts and urged students to ensure maximum and meaningful use of time in campus life.

3 In Court Over Site Plans

By William Y. Owusu

Monday, 02 October 2006
Three persons believed to be members of a fake site plan producing a syndicate were last Friday arraigned before a circuit court in Accra.

Emmanuel Gbedemah and Malik Mensah, both draughtsmen, and James Duvor Yao, a trader, allegedly prepared about 35 site plans for developers and forged the Accra Regional Surveyor’s signature on them.

They were charged with 41 counts of conspiracy, forgery of official document, forgery of stamps, altering forged documents and possessing forged documents.

They pleaded not guilty to the charges and were each granted ¢300 million with one surety until October 27.

Chief Inspector Mary Agbozo, presenting the facts for the prosecution told the court that sometime in February, Gbedemah prepared a site plan of a plot of land at Pokuase for a developer who took it to the Regional Survey Department for verification.

"Upon examination, the regional surveyor detected that the signature representing him had been forged."

Gbedemah was subsequently lured to the Regional Surveyor’s office where he was arrested by the police and an instant search on him led to the discovery of two other forged site plans bearing the names of Michael Komla Agbonu and Nicholas Nyabah Okai.

"A further search at his Pokuase residence revealed 32 additional site plans all forged bearing various names."

Gbedemah, the prosecutor said, mentioned Mensah as the person who gave him the site plans to send for endorsement.

By William Yaw Owusu

Saturday, 30 September 2006
THE Chief Justice, Mr G. K. Acquah, on Thursday on behalf of the Judicial Service signed the book of condolence for Mr Justice D. F. Annan at the Ga Mantse’s Palace in Accra.

He was accompanied by almost all the Superior Court judges in Accra, the Judicial Secretary, Mrs. Regina Apotsi, as well as some senior officers of the Service.

The judges and officials also took turns to sign the book in memory of the late Justice Annan.

Paying tribute to the departed son of Ghana, the Chief Justice described him as "one of the greatest judges that Ghana ever produced.

"When he was even at the Circuit Court, his judgements were being recorded in the Ghana Law Report. This shows the quality of work that he did in the administration of justice."

Mr Justice Acquah said "Justice Annan spent his youthful years with us and when he retired, he continued to give us advice from behind the scene."

He said the late Justice Annan conducted himself with distinction adding that "his death is a loss not only to the Judicial Service but also the entire nation.

He promised that the judiciary will send a ‘powerful’ delegation to the funeral which commences on October 5 through to October 7.

They later presented drinks and an unspecified amount to the bereaved family.

COCOBOD Builds Major Warehouse At Tema Harbour

By William Yaw Owusu

Saturday, 30 September 2006
THE Ghana Cocoa Board has built a 50,000 capacity warehouse to store cocoa beans at the Tema Port for export.

The Takoradi port is to benefit from a similar facility next year, Chief Executive of the Board, Isaac Osei, announced in Accra on Wednesday.

The move, he said, is to help ease congestion at the two harbours and also to help maintain the quality of beans to be exported.

Mr Osei was briefing the media on the activities planned for this year’s COPAL Cocoa Day celebration slated for Sunyani on October 1.

The day was instituted by the cocoa Producers Alliance (COPAL) who produce 76 per cent of the world’s cocoa to promote the local processing and consumption of cocoa.

COPAL has since 2004 set aside October 1 as ‘Cocoa Day’ and the National Committee on the Promotion of Cocoa Consumption (NCPCC) selected Sunyani as the venue for this year’s event.

Mr Osei said cocoa production in the country has increased significantly in the past five years and "we are working hard to ensure that this achievement is maintained."

He said Ghana produced 705, 000 tonnes of cocoa which is the second highest in the history of the country, last year adding that, "we are targetting close to 730,000 tonnes next year."

Mr Osei said Ghana’s cocoa enjoys a very high premium on the world market due to its quality adding, "we have reached the new production plateau and whatever we do now has an effect on the world market."

He said the 810 million dollar trade facility agreement signed in Paris between the Cocoa Board and foreign partners will inject the needed capital into the cocoa industry saying "we will now have sufficient money to ensure that no local farmer goes unpaid."

He said the board currently has in stock 14,000 bales capable of purchasing more than 300,000 tonnes. He said the price for a bag of cocoa was 20 per cent higher than what pertains in the Ivory Coast, thereby discouraging smuggling.

Among activities lined up for the celebration are a health walk through the principals streets of Sunyani, cocoa fair and exhibition and honouring farmers for their contributions.