William Yaw Owusu
Wednesday November 21, 2007
The case in which four persons have been charged for allegedly stealing fuel coupons belonging to the Ghana Oil Company (Goil) to enrich themselves of about ¢4.5 billion has taken a new twist at the Accra Circuit Court where they are being tried.
When the case was called, the prosecution led by Mrs. Evelyn Keelson, a Principal State Attorney told the court that police investigations revealed that the amount involved had increased to ¢9.1billion and added ‘we are still investigating.’
Under the circumstance, the court presided over by Mrs. Elizabeth Edusei, which had adjourned proceedings yesterday in order to rule on the application for bail did not do but rather asked both defence and the prosecution to come back to the court today for the bail application to be renewed.
But when they appeared before the court the judge declined the grant of bailuntil December 5, to enable the police to continue investigating the matter.
Those remanded in police custody in connection with the missing coupons are Emmanuel Amegashie, a production technician at Camelot Ghana Limited, the company which prints Goil coupons, Lawrence Avorgbedor, former employee of Camelot, Joshua Kwamina Asamoah a taxi driver and Samuel Kofi Addo, an employee of Goil.
A fuel coupon is a ticket or document that can be exchanged for a financial discount on fuel products.
They pleaded not guilty to two counts of conspiracy and stealing on their first appearance on November 8.
The prosecution’s case was that last September, Amegashie entered the hologram vault and was caught by security cameras installed at the place.
Amegashie, the prosecution said, was seen on the camera carrying away a box containing some items from the room.
Officials of the company upon a check later realised that 30,000 leaflets of GH¢20 and GH¢15 denominations of Goil coupons, all valued at ¢4.5 billion, were missing.
The prosecution said Amegashie gave the coupons to Avorgbedor who printed serial numbers on them and handed them over to Asamoah.
The prosecution said Addo, who resigned last month as a pump attendant, was brought into the deal by Avorgbedor to sell the coupons.
On October 30, Addo went on his usual rounds to sell more coupons but was arrested at Dansoman, in Accra.
The prosecution said upon his arrest, Addo led the police to pick up Asamoah who in turn also led the police to arrest Avorgbedor.
Avorgbedor consequently admitted the offence and led the police to pick Amegashie.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
The Areeba case:Court to decide on investcom's action
Areeba which was bought by MTN is telecommunication giant in Ghana
By William Yaw Owusu
Tuesday November 20, 2007
THE Commercial Court in Accra will on December 6, decide whether or not to allow Investcom Consortium to continue an arbitration in London, U.K, in the same case in which Richmond Aggrey, a Ghanaian businessman, has sued the company and is claiming 20 per cent shares in Scancom Limited, operators of Areeba mobile phone service, now MTN.
Investcom Consortium Holdings S.A of Beirut, Lebanon, a defendant, and majority shareholder in Scancom Limited, has commenced arbitration proceedings in London despite decisions by both the trial court and the Court of Appeal that they will not stay proceedings pending the arbitration.
Under the circumstance, Mr. Yonnei Kulendi, counsel for Mr. Aggrey, yesterday moved a motion on notice for interlocutory injunction to restrain Investcom from proceeding with the arbitration.
Besides Investcom, Mr. Aggrey, former Vice Chairman of Scancom, is also suing the telecommunication giant and Grandview Management of Texas, United States, to claim his shares.
The court on July 14, last year, granted Mr. Aggrey an ex-parte application to restrain the defendants from going ahead to conclude a merger with the MTN Company of South Africa.
Mr. Aggrey had argued: that "Continuing and or concluding a merger with and/or acquisition of Investment LLC by MTN without taking into account and/or providing for the plaintiff’s 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 third party."
Following the development, Scancom, on July 24, filed an application to strike out Mr. Aggrey’s action "in part or whole" on the grounds that he failed to adhere to procedure in filing the application.
The trial court on October 20, however, ruled that the processes followed by Mr. Aggrey in instituting the suit were proper and ordered Scancom to file its defence within 14 days.
Consequently, Scancom filed a notice of appeal to challenge the court’s ruling and another motion on notice to stay proceedings pending the appeal but Justice Henry Kwofie, the trial judge, dismissed it on December 8, and awarded ¢10 million cost against Scancom.
Scancom then went to the Court of Appeal to challenge the trial court’s decision which was again dismissed by a three-member panel on March 27, with a five million cedis cost awarded against the appellant.
The plaintiff then filed an application for judgement in default of a defence against Scancom but the second defendant filed an application for extension of time within which to file their defence.
The court on April 17, awarded an eight million cedis cost against Scancom for the delay.
On November 7, the Court of Appeal again dismissed an application by Investcom challenging the trial court's decision not to allow them and the plaintiff to go on arbitration in London and awarded ¢10 million costs against them.
Moving the motion, Mr. Kulendi said, “Investcom is a party to the proceedings before this court. It has entered an appearance and filed a defence but at the same time is earnestly proceeding with the arbitration in London.”
“We want an unambiguous and express order to restrain them since the court has the legal authority to protect the sanctity of the proceedings. We will suffer irreparable damage if the order is not granted.”
“He described Investcom's move as 'unimaginable' harrassment saying ' the effort by Investcom to proceed with the arbitration outside the country when the case is still being determined by a Ghanaian court is to close the plaintiff's right to natural justice.”
Responding, Mr. Felix Ntirakwah, counsel for Investcom, said: “We have not abandoned our right to have the matter determined. We are only exercising our right to arbitration under the shareholders' agreement.”
He said Investcom did not need the “leave” of the court before proceeding to arbitration and that should not be interpreted by the plaintiff to mean a disrespect to the court.
“Plaintiff has taken a different view about the import of arbitration in the shareholders' agreement but it is a serious business and we stand to lose if an order is made against us”.
Mr. Thaddeus Sory, counsel for Grandview, arguing on points of law, opposed his co-defendant's position to go on with the arbitration process saying “it is better if the arbitration proceedings is stopped for this trial to proceed”.
He said a careful study of the shareholders' agreement indicate that the arbitration rights claim by Investcom is not automatic saying 'we should not allow proceedings in the arbitration to overtake the proceedings of this court'.
Indecent dressing in tertiary institutions condemned
By William Yaw Owusu
Tuesday November 20, 2007
INDECENT dressing and high level of indiscipline in tertiary institutions received a flak at this years’ matriculation ceremony of the Methodist University College Ghana (MUCG), held in Accra at the weekend.
Very Reverend Professor Samuel K. Adjepong said “dresses are to be selected primarily for good personal health and decency. Male students should not go barefoot or without shirts.
Shits worn by female students must be long enough o cover their knees. Transparent and tight fitting blouses and sweaters or shirts are not permitted.
When Prof. Adjepong made the statement the students became quiet all of a sudden.
He then remarked “would you not applaud me?”, then the place erupted into rounds of applauds.
In all, 1004 students made up of 517 females and 487 males took the matriculation oath to pursue programmes such as Business Administration, Arts, Social and General Studies.
It was the eight matriculation ceremony since the establishment of MUCG which now has campuses in Tema and Wenchi in the Brong Ahafo Region apart from Accra, with a total student population of 3,227.
Professor Adjepong said “in your academic pursuits, let discipline be your watchword and morality your guiding principle.”
“Be reminded that drunkenness and disorderly behaviour constitute serious breaches of discipline. Smoking is forbidden Possession of and indulgence in hard drugs are prohibited.”
The Principal also touched on promiscuity saying “I advise you to stay clear of pre-marital and extra-marital sex. The HIV/AIDS pandemic is real.”
He said MUCG maintains flexible curricula that provide n integrated knowledge base before specialization in order to ensure an all-round intellectual development of students.
“Our teaching methodologies are so designed as to develop in the students the ability for critical thinking which will help them to find practical solutions to problems in their communities, the nation and the world at large.”
Prof. Adjepong announced that the MUCG has been granted accreditation to run degree and diploma courses in General Agriculture, Horticulture, French as well as Masters in Business Administration.
He also said a one year course in Information Technology will be introduced soon.
Dr. Francis L. Bartels, a retired Educationist and former Ambassador to Germany who was the guest of honour commended the Methodist Church for the important role the church has played in the development of Ghana especially in education.
“Methodist is a great movement. I urge matriculants to take advantage of this university to play a leading role in the development of this country.
Tuesday November 20, 2007
INDECENT dressing and high level of indiscipline in tertiary institutions received a flak at this years’ matriculation ceremony of the Methodist University College Ghana (MUCG), held in Accra at the weekend.
Very Reverend Professor Samuel K. Adjepong said “dresses are to be selected primarily for good personal health and decency. Male students should not go barefoot or without shirts.
Shits worn by female students must be long enough o cover their knees. Transparent and tight fitting blouses and sweaters or shirts are not permitted.
When Prof. Adjepong made the statement the students became quiet all of a sudden.
He then remarked “would you not applaud me?”, then the place erupted into rounds of applauds.
In all, 1004 students made up of 517 females and 487 males took the matriculation oath to pursue programmes such as Business Administration, Arts, Social and General Studies.
It was the eight matriculation ceremony since the establishment of MUCG which now has campuses in Tema and Wenchi in the Brong Ahafo Region apart from Accra, with a total student population of 3,227.
Professor Adjepong said “in your academic pursuits, let discipline be your watchword and morality your guiding principle.”
“Be reminded that drunkenness and disorderly behaviour constitute serious breaches of discipline. Smoking is forbidden Possession of and indulgence in hard drugs are prohibited.”
The Principal also touched on promiscuity saying “I advise you to stay clear of pre-marital and extra-marital sex. The HIV/AIDS pandemic is real.”
He said MUCG maintains flexible curricula that provide n integrated knowledge base before specialization in order to ensure an all-round intellectual development of students.
“Our teaching methodologies are so designed as to develop in the students the ability for critical thinking which will help them to find practical solutions to problems in their communities, the nation and the world at large.”
Prof. Adjepong announced that the MUCG has been granted accreditation to run degree and diploma courses in General Agriculture, Horticulture, French as well as Masters in Business Administration.
He also said a one year course in Information Technology will be introduced soon.
Dr. Francis L. Bartels, a retired Educationist and former Ambassador to Germany who was the guest of honour commended the Methodist Church for the important role the church has played in the development of Ghana especially in education.
“Methodist is a great movement. I urge matriculants to take advantage of this university to play a leading role in the development of this country.
Ministry sets up probe into Bomfobiri sanctuary
Mrs. Esther Obeng Dapaah is Ghana's Minister of Lands Forestry and Mines
By William Yaw Owusu
Tuesday November 20, 2007
THE Ministry of Lands Forestry and Mines on Friday inaugurated a committee to investigate an alleged illegal teak harvesting in Bomfobiri Wildlife Sanctuary near Kumawu in the Ashanti Region.
The five-member committee has six weeks to submit its report to the sector Minister, Mrs Esther Obeng Dapaah.
The committee has been tasked to determine the circumstances under which teak harvesting rights in Bomfobiri Wildlife Sanctuary was awarded also determine the effects of resource extraction in the sanctuary and how this impacted on sustainable forest management and environmental quality.
In addition, committee will find if any harvesting rights have been granted in any protected area ie hill sanctuary, Globally Significant Biodiversity Area (GSBA) or any of the Wildlife Protected Areas (WPA’s) of the Sanctuary.
Inaugurating the committee at a short ceremony in Accra on Friday. Mrs Dapaah said “since news broke out that illegal teak harvesting was taking place in the sanctuary, stakeholders including some land owners have denied any illegality and you as experts will have to investigate to come out with the truth.”
She said after the committee submitted its recommendations, the ministry will take the necessary action to protect the sanctuary from further degradation.
Later in a interview the Minister expressed concern about the rate of degradation of the country’s forest.
“Our entire environment is at risk and we will work hard to protect it,” she added.
Monday, November 19, 2007
AMA Rids City Of Illegal Billboards
Some AMA staff busily bringing down posters at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Accra
By William Yaw Owusu
Monday, 19 November 2007
The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), yesterday commenced the removal of unauthorised billboards and sign posts in the Metropolis.
The exercise which is expected to continue until advertisers follow proper procedures in the erection of billboards, is being supervised by the AMA Technical Committee on Outdoor Advertising.
It started at about 7 a.m. yesterday on the Graphic Road through to the Awudome Cemetery area and ended up at the Dzorwulu Junction on the road to the Tetteh Quarshie Interchange.
They brought down photographs on about 50 billboards, leaving the skeletal metal poles and also removed all private signposts. Ali Baba Abature, Special Assistant to the Metropolitan Chief Executive, who was with the team said, "we will bring down all the affected structures within the week."
He said "beside these structures defacing the beauty of the city, they also obstruct road traffic."
Mr. Abature said most of the advertisers had permits for single billboards but are using them for other structures without coming for permits to cover them.
"This step will improve AMA’s revenue generation as recalcitrant advertisers will now see the need to pay their taxes for development."
Mr. Francis Dadzie, a member of the Advertising Association of Ghana (AAG) and also the AMA Technical Committee on Outdoor Advertising said, "there is a procedure to follow to acquire the right to erect a billboard but most people ignore it and do their own thing."
He explained that an advertiser is expected to pay between ¢52 million and one million annually, depending on the size of billboard.
"As I speak to you, most advertisers are erecting new billboards without paying anything while others have failed to renew old permits."
He said the committee is expected to achieve a ¢10 billion revenue target adding "we already have ¢6 billion and this exercise will help us generate the rest before the year ends."
Mr. Dadzie announced that from 2008, no individual directional signs will be permitted saying "we are going to enforce and insist on group directional signs".
He dispelled rumours that the exercise was being carried out because of the impending African Cup of Nations to be held in January, explaining that "this has been a routine exercise."
We were initially not working due to logistical constraints."
President's Accident: SUSPECT BEFORE COURT
Thomas Kofi Osei, the man who reportedly crashed the Prsident's car with his Benz
By William Yaw Owusu
Saturday, 17 November 2007
A man yesterday appeared at the Motor Court in Accra, charged with four counts of dangerous driving, negligently causing harm, driving under the influence of alcohol and failing to give way to the presidential convoy.
Thomas Kofi Osei, 51, on Wednesday allegedly drove into President J. A. Kufuor’s car, causing it to overturn.
The President escaped unhurt but his driver, Osafo Addo, was rushed to the 37 Military Hospital in Accra and later discharged.
Osei, with a plaster on his left eyebrow, was brought to the court in handcuffs, in the company of Assistant Commissioner of Police in-charge of the Motor Traffic Unit, ACP Daniel Julius Avorga.
He had no legal representation and a police source later told the Times that at the time of his appearance before court, no counsel had come forward to represent him.
There were a number of people at the court premises but they seemed not aware that Osei was to be arraigned before the court yesterday.
Two policemen, one armed with an AK 47, escorted him into the courtroom at 1.52 p.m. Proceedings lasted for about 16 minutes.
When the case was called, Chief Inspector Dora Seiwaa, prosecuting said: "We do not intend to take his plea.
"We want the court to remand him in police custody so that the police can continue with their investigation into the matter."
The court, presided over by Mr. Samuel Diawuo, granted the prosecution’s request and asked the clerk to read the charges to the hearing of Osei.
Presenting the fact of the case, Chief Inspector Seiwaa said that about 11.30 a.m. on November 14, Osei was driving a Mercedes Benz Saloon Car SE500 with registration number GT 2989W in the inner lane along the South Liberation Link from the direction of AFGO, towards the 37 Military Hospital area in Accra.
"On his arrival at the traffic light intersection at Opeibea House, Osei ignored the presidential siren and drove straight into the near (side) of the President’s Mercedes Benz S500 being driven by Mr. Osafo Addo."
She said the President’s convoy was coming from the Tetteh Quarshie Interchange towards the Osu Castle and the President’s car was in the middle lane.
"The impact forced the President’s car to turn round and hit a light pole on the central reservation.
"The President’s car finally fell on the right side and landed on a VW Golf car with registration Number GW 8750X which was in the inner lane from the 37 Military Hospital direction".
The prosecutor said the Golf car was being driven by a pastor, Ken Joe Osei Kuffour.
"All the vehicles were damaged and the drivers sustained injuries and were rushed to the 37 Military Hospital where Mr. Osafo Addo and Pastor Kuffour were treated and discharged.
"The President escaped unhurt," the prosecutor added.
She said investigations revealed later that Osei was driving under the influence of alcohol and when samples of his urine were taken for testing it contained 0.41 per cent of alcohol.
She said the legal limit allowed for driving is 0.08 per cent.
After the prosecution’s case, Mr. Diawuo remanded the accused into police custody, until November 30.
Italy Lobbying For Support Against Death Penalty
By William Yaw Owusu
Saturday, 17 November 2007
THE Italian government is lobbying Ghana to back its campaign for the abolition of the death penalty worldwide.
It, therefore, called on Ghana’s Chief Justice, Georgina Wood on Wednesday to seek the support of the judiciary in that regard.
Italy, in January, embarked on a campaign at the United Nations for a global ban on the death penalty after the execution of former Iraqi President, Saddam Hussein.
Italy joined the United Nations Security Council on January 1, as a non-permanent member for a two-year term and plans to use the period to prepare a set of activities towards making the death penalty illegal.
A declaration to that effect has been signed by 85 countries.
It has already called on the General Assembly of the UN to re-examine a non-binding declaration against the death penalty.
At the meeting, which was also attended by the Judicial Secretary, Regina Apotsi, Ambassador De-Agostini said "I have come here to seek your support and ideas on the death penalty."
He admitted that the issue of the abolition of the death penalty is "quite controversial," but said "we are acting on the basis that the death penalty is not a solution to crime especially murder."
The Ambassador said "at the UN we are asking for a moratorium on the death penalty pending the outcome of the debate."
Ambassador De-Agostini said, "Italy has a deep admiration for Ghana for the appointment of a female Chief Justice and we will work in partnership to ensure progress in the country’s administration of justice."
Responding, Justice Wood said although the death penalty is in the statute books, there has been no implementation since Ghana returned to constitutional rule.
Mrs. Rawlings, Others Move Motion For Stay (Unpublished Article)
Mrs. Rawlings
By William Yaw Owusu
Friday November 16, 2007
Former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, and four others, being tried in connection with the divestiture of the Nsawam Cannery on Thursday moved a motion on notice to stay proceedings in the trial at an Accra Fast Track High Court.
They want another Fast Track High Court to determine a civil suit that they filed against the Divestiture Implementation Committee and the Attorney to be concluded before the current criminal action could go ahead.
The accused persons who filed for a stay of proceedings are Mrs. Rawlings, Hanny Sherry Ayittey, Director of Carridem Development Company Limited (CDCL) and the CDCL itself which is also on trial.
Kwame Peprah, former Finance Minister and chairman of the Divestiture Implementation Committee (DIC), and Emmanuel Amuzu Agbodo, former Executive Secretary of the DIC and Thomas Banson Owusu, former DIC Accountant have not filed for stay of proceedings but are in support of the action by their co-accused.
In the criminal trial the accused persons were originally charged with Georgina Okaitey, a director, George Mould, a director and Larry Adjetey, a director/secretary, all of CDCL but the A-G withdrew the charges against the three under Section 9 of Act 30 of the Criminal Code last year.
Mrs. Rawlings, Ms. Ayittey and CDCL are facing eight counts of conspiracy, causing loss to public property dishonestly, obtaining public property by false pretences, obtaining public property by false statement, conspiracy to alter forged documents and altering forged documents.
Mr. Peprah on the other hand faces three counts of conspiracy to cause a loss to public property, dishonestly causing loss to public property and conspiracy to obtain public property by false pretences.
Mr. Agbodo is charged with 10 counts of conspiracy, stealing, intentionally causing loss to the property of public body, causing loss to a public body, by dishonesty causing loss to public property by dishonesty and conspiracy to obtain public property by false pretences while Mr. Owusu faces six counts of conspiracy, and stealing.
All the accused persons have pleaded not guilty and are on self-cognizance bail.
Moving the motion Mr. Tony Lithur counsel for the applicant said the determination of the appeal will have a bearing on the criminal case.
He said they filed a similar application to have the proceedings stayed but the court then presided over by Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie who is now with the Court of Appeal dismissed it and when they filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal against the ruling, the prosecution quickly went to change the charge sheet and preferred fresh charges against the accused persons hence the need for this fresh motion.
He said in the civil suit where the court is to determine whether or not the Nsawam Cannery was legally and properly acquired by CDCL, the A-G who is a defendant had actively filed a defence and a counter claim to contest the suit.
Mr. Lithur said the A-G in instituting the criminal action “is seeking a collateral advantage in this criminal suit”, adding “the Constitution gives the A-G the power to initiate criminal action but this discretinary powers are being exercised in bad faith”.
He said the constitution gives the court powers to review the A-G’s discretionary powers because the A-G is acting manipulatively and if proceedings were not stayed it will undermine the outcome of the civil trial.
The court presided over by Justice K. Kobena Acquaye then adourned proceedings until December 3, for the prosecution to respond to the application.
The court also granted Ms. Ayittey permission to trvel to seek medical treatment.
Lawyer Testifies In Coke Trial (Unpublished Article)
By William Yaw Owusu
Friday November 16, 2007
A lawyer whose chamber the charter agreement that led to the importation of 77 parcels of cocaine into the country in April 2006, was signed, testified at an Accra Fats Track yesterday.
Mr. Emmanuel Francis Owuoh came to give evidence at the instance of Joseph Kojo Dawson, the owner of the M.V.Benjamin vessel who is being tried for allowing his vessel to be used to cart cocaine.
He is being tried with four others for the importation of the narcotic drug.
Dawson and his accomplices - Isaac Arhin, 40, Phillip Bruce Arhin, 49, a mechanic, Cui Xian Li, 49, a vessel engineer and Luo Yui Xing, 49, both Chinese, who were on board the MV Benjamin vessel that allegedly brought the narcotic drug package, lost their respective applications for submission of ‘no case’ after the close of the prosecution’s case.
The sixth person, Pak Bok Sil, a Korean vessel engineer, who was jointly charged with the five was acquitted and discharged by the court for lack of evidence.
The five men have been charged for the roles they played in the alleged importation of the cocaine to the Tema Port in April last year.
Sheriff, popularly called “Limping Man,” now at large, allegedly chartered the vessel from Dawson at 150,000 dollars under the pretext of towing his distressed vessel from Conakry, Guinea.
Isaac Arhin, Bruce Arhin, Li and Xing have all pleaded not guilty to two counts of engaging in prohibited business as related to narcotic drugs and possessing narcotic drugs unlawfully.
The prosecution called 13 witnesses after which the accused persons filed a submission of no case’ because they believed the prosecution failed to establish a case against them.
Led in evidence by D.K. Ameley, counsel for Dawson, Owuoh told the court that he is the solicitor for Dashment Company Limited, the company where Dawson is the Managing Director and received a monthly stipend of 1million cedis.
He said Dawson came to him in November 2005 to tell him that the vessel which then docked at the Takoradi Port and which is jointly owned by Dashment Company and a Korean fishing company was giving them problems and intended to sell it.
The witness said Dawson came again in January 2006 to say that the Koreans had got a buyer but that buyer wanted to use the vessel to tow his distress vessel at Conakry Guinea and assess the sea-worthiness of M.V Benjamin before it could be bought.
“On February 6, 2006, at 4:30 pm a man who described himself as Sheriff Asem Darke and his lawyer called William Kobb Lumor came to my chamber in the company of Bae, the vessel’s representative from Korea to meet Dawson and his father for the agreement.”
“We were to prepare both charter and sale agreements and when I requested that we should prepare them Sheriff said that had already been done”.
He claimed that when he went through the agreements and realised that there were inconsistencies in them Bae insisted that the agreements should be signed because he was traveling to Korea on that same day and could not wait for new agreements to be prepared.
During cross examination by Mrs. Stella Badu, a Principal State Attorney, Owuoh told the court that Dawson made his father to sign for him when the preamble referred to Dawson and the accused should have signed instead of the father.
He said Dawson had made his father sign the agreements with Sheriff because his father was the person who had signed the hire-purchase agreement.
He said it was Bae who witnessed for Dawson.
He also said Sheriff signed as Evans Charwetey Tsekobi and his lawyer witnessed for him but the prosecution was able to point to him that before the agreement was signed he knew Sheriff was not Tsekobi, to which he replied “when he entered he mentioned his name as Asem Darke”.
The prosecution again put to him that he did not represent Dawson’s interest in the agreement but Owuoh insisted “I did but it was Bae who wanted things to be done quickly because he was traveling to Korea that night”.
“The agreements came in this form and was executed in this form. My influence was not felt because Bae said there was no time to waste”.
The court, presided over by Justice Annin Yeboah of the Court of Appeal, adjourned proceedings until November 21, for Dawson to call another witness.
Friday November 16, 2007
A lawyer whose chamber the charter agreement that led to the importation of 77 parcels of cocaine into the country in April 2006, was signed, testified at an Accra Fats Track yesterday.
Mr. Emmanuel Francis Owuoh came to give evidence at the instance of Joseph Kojo Dawson, the owner of the M.V.Benjamin vessel who is being tried for allowing his vessel to be used to cart cocaine.
He is being tried with four others for the importation of the narcotic drug.
Dawson and his accomplices - Isaac Arhin, 40, Phillip Bruce Arhin, 49, a mechanic, Cui Xian Li, 49, a vessel engineer and Luo Yui Xing, 49, both Chinese, who were on board the MV Benjamin vessel that allegedly brought the narcotic drug package, lost their respective applications for submission of ‘no case’ after the close of the prosecution’s case.
The sixth person, Pak Bok Sil, a Korean vessel engineer, who was jointly charged with the five was acquitted and discharged by the court for lack of evidence.
The five men have been charged for the roles they played in the alleged importation of the cocaine to the Tema Port in April last year.
Sheriff, popularly called “Limping Man,” now at large, allegedly chartered the vessel from Dawson at 150,000 dollars under the pretext of towing his distressed vessel from Conakry, Guinea.
Isaac Arhin, Bruce Arhin, Li and Xing have all pleaded not guilty to two counts of engaging in prohibited business as related to narcotic drugs and possessing narcotic drugs unlawfully.
The prosecution called 13 witnesses after which the accused persons filed a submission of no case’ because they believed the prosecution failed to establish a case against them.
Led in evidence by D.K. Ameley, counsel for Dawson, Owuoh told the court that he is the solicitor for Dashment Company Limited, the company where Dawson is the Managing Director and received a monthly stipend of 1million cedis.
He said Dawson came to him in November 2005 to tell him that the vessel which then docked at the Takoradi Port and which is jointly owned by Dashment Company and a Korean fishing company was giving them problems and intended to sell it.
The witness said Dawson came again in January 2006 to say that the Koreans had got a buyer but that buyer wanted to use the vessel to tow his distress vessel at Conakry Guinea and assess the sea-worthiness of M.V Benjamin before it could be bought.
“On February 6, 2006, at 4:30 pm a man who described himself as Sheriff Asem Darke and his lawyer called William Kobb Lumor came to my chamber in the company of Bae, the vessel’s representative from Korea to meet Dawson and his father for the agreement.”
“We were to prepare both charter and sale agreements and when I requested that we should prepare them Sheriff said that had already been done”.
He claimed that when he went through the agreements and realised that there were inconsistencies in them Bae insisted that the agreements should be signed because he was traveling to Korea on that same day and could not wait for new agreements to be prepared.
During cross examination by Mrs. Stella Badu, a Principal State Attorney, Owuoh told the court that Dawson made his father to sign for him when the preamble referred to Dawson and the accused should have signed instead of the father.
He said Dawson had made his father sign the agreements with Sheriff because his father was the person who had signed the hire-purchase agreement.
He said it was Bae who witnessed for Dawson.
He also said Sheriff signed as Evans Charwetey Tsekobi and his lawyer witnessed for him but the prosecution was able to point to him that before the agreement was signed he knew Sheriff was not Tsekobi, to which he replied “when he entered he mentioned his name as Asem Darke”.
The prosecution again put to him that he did not represent Dawson’s interest in the agreement but Owuoh insisted “I did but it was Bae who wanted things to be done quickly because he was traveling to Korea that night”.
“The agreements came in this form and was executed in this form. My influence was not felt because Bae said there was no time to waste”.
The court, presided over by Justice Annin Yeboah of the Court of Appeal, adjourned proceedings until November 21, for Dawson to call another witness.
Yabson Ordered To File Defence (Unpublished Article)
By William Yaw Owusu
Friday November 16, 2007
An Accra Fast Track High Court yesterday could not fix a date for judgement in the case of three policemen standing trial for their involvement in the missing 76 kilogrammes of cocaine because one of the policemen had not file his address.
On October 16,the court presided over by Justice Annin Yeboah of the Court of Appeal had ordered both the defence and the prosecution to file their addresses by November 14, before judgement date could be fixed but when trial resumed on Thursday, Lance Corporal Dwamena Yabson, one of the accused had not file any address before the court.
However, Sergeant David Nyarko and Lance Corporal Peter Bundorin who are charged together with Yabson had filed their addresses through their counsel, Musah Ahmed.
The judge then asked Yabson to inform his counsel to file the address before the court resumes sitting on November22.
The prosecution has already indicated to the court that they would prefer an oral submission before the court.
The three policemen have been charged in connection with the missing cocaine brought into the country on April 25, last year, by the vessel M.V. Benjamin.
They were alleged to have collected an undisclosed amount in US dollars from Sheriff Asem Darke popularly called Limping Man who is wanted by the police for the importation of 77 parcels of the cocaine, 76 of which were offloaded at the Kpone beach near Tema.
The prosecution led evidence to show that the policemen saw Sheriff at the Kpone beach offloading the cocaine but left him and his accomplices to go.
A fourth policeman, Detective Sergeant Samuel Yaw Amoah, who allegedly played a leading role in the case, escaped soon after he was granted bail by an Accra Circuit court in September, last year.
The accused, all of whom are with the Tema Regional Police Command, have pleaded not guilty to two counts of engaging in a prohibited business related to narcotic drugs and corruption by a public officer.
They are currently in police custody.
Friday November 16, 2007
An Accra Fast Track High Court yesterday could not fix a date for judgement in the case of three policemen standing trial for their involvement in the missing 76 kilogrammes of cocaine because one of the policemen had not file his address.
On October 16,the court presided over by Justice Annin Yeboah of the Court of Appeal had ordered both the defence and the prosecution to file their addresses by November 14, before judgement date could be fixed but when trial resumed on Thursday, Lance Corporal Dwamena Yabson, one of the accused had not file any address before the court.
However, Sergeant David Nyarko and Lance Corporal Peter Bundorin who are charged together with Yabson had filed their addresses through their counsel, Musah Ahmed.
The judge then asked Yabson to inform his counsel to file the address before the court resumes sitting on November22.
The prosecution has already indicated to the court that they would prefer an oral submission before the court.
The three policemen have been charged in connection with the missing cocaine brought into the country on April 25, last year, by the vessel M.V. Benjamin.
They were alleged to have collected an undisclosed amount in US dollars from Sheriff Asem Darke popularly called Limping Man who is wanted by the police for the importation of 77 parcels of the cocaine, 76 of which were offloaded at the Kpone beach near Tema.
The prosecution led evidence to show that the policemen saw Sheriff at the Kpone beach offloading the cocaine but left him and his accomplices to go.
A fourth policeman, Detective Sergeant Samuel Yaw Amoah, who allegedly played a leading role in the case, escaped soon after he was granted bail by an Accra Circuit court in September, last year.
The accused, all of whom are with the Tema Regional Police Command, have pleaded not guilty to two counts of engaging in a prohibited business related to narcotic drugs and corruption by a public officer.
They are currently in police custody.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
The East Legobn Cocaine Case: VENEZUELANS JAILED 70 YEARS
Mella and Castillo going to court to hear their sentence
By William Yaw Owusu
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
The two Venezuelans arrested in connection with the siezure of 588.88 kilogrammes of cocaine in a house at East Legon, Accra in November 2005, have been jailed 25 years and 20 years respectively by an Accra Fast Track High Court.
They are Joel Mella, a machine operator who received 25 years and Halo Cabezza Castillo, 38, businessman who had 20 years. They are to serve in hard labour.
Another Venezuelan, David Duarte Vasquez, now at large who is the brain behind the importation of the narcotic substance was also sentenced to 25 years in absentia by the court.
It was Vasquez’s Ghanaian girlfriend, Grace Asibere Asibi, who informed the police about the narcotics business of the Venezuelans, leading to their arrests.
The court, presided over by Justice E.K. Ayebi found them guilty on three counts of conspiracy and importation of narcotic substance without a license from the Ministry of Health.
Mella alone faced an additional charge of possessing narcotic drugs without lawful authority.
The court whose verdict took more than an hour yesterday, ordered the two be deported back to Venezuela after serving their various sentences and added that their sentences should take effect from November 24, the date of their arrests.
It further ordered the destruction of a vacuum machine used to compress the cocaine into compact pieces, a chemical called ammonia, gloves, cargo stickers, exercise books used to record sales of the cocaine which were all retrieved by the police at the East Legon residence and also confiscated the two mobile phones found on them.
Justice Ayebi in his judgement held that the prosecution was able to establish beyond reasonable doubt a case against the Venezuelans.
“Defence counsel had all the time submitted that the prosecution resorted to circumstantial evidence in the trial but I must point out that it is not unusual to resort to circumstantial evidence in order to prove a case against accused persons”.
The court said the defence put up by the accused contradicted the earlier statements they gave to the police and their conducts during investigations showed that they were at all material times trying to thwart the efforts of the police.
On the charge of conspiracy, Justice Ayebi said “the parties do not necessarily have to know each other before committing a crime. All that is needed is for them to agree with common purpose to commit the crime. In this regard the prosecution is not bound to prove that they acted in a common purpose or objective”.
He said the prosecution was able t establish that the cocaine which the Ghana Standards Board analysed to be of high purity level was imported by the three, contrary to the defence counsel position that it had been imported by Vasquez and Asibi.
“The coca plant is not grown in Ghana or produced in the country and the person found with it must be able to explain how he got them”.
The court further held that the prosecution was able to prove that it was Vasquez who used his company called Compimchex Ghana Limited to front the cocaine business and was the same person who had brought Mella and Castillo to Ghana to add value to the cocaine.
The court said Vasquez was jailed in absentia because a Circuit Court had already issue an arrest warrant and the order published in the media.
He said Mella’s claim that he was a first time visitor in the country could not be correct because the prosecution was able to prove that he visited Ghana several times from 2004 and had all the time put up with Vasquez.
“Mella was not a guest in the house where the cocaine was siezed and his statement to the police contradicted his claim that he live in a hotel”.
He said his denial that he did not know Vasquez could not be true because he took a photograph with him together with Asibi’s brother.
The court also said Castillo’s claim that he was a tourist and lived in Achimota was never the truth adding “he has no place of abode other than the East Legon residence”.
The judge said they acted together because the police found on his mobile phone the same number that Mella had on his phone and that number belonged to Vasquez.
The judge before the sentencing expressed concern about the high incidence of narcotic drug trafficking which he described as tarnishing the image of the country saying “I am going to pass a deterrent sentence”.
The prosecution invited nine witnesses to testify during the trial while the defence did not call any.
The facts of the case are that, on November 24, 2005, police detectives led by Superintendent Edward Tabiri, acting on a tip-off, went to house number 348 at Mempeasem, East Legon, Accra, and found Mella there.
He was arrested and he led the team to the upper floor of the house where a thorough search revealed. three bottles of ammonized substance which is used to turn cocaine into crack, a vacuum machine used to compress cocaine into compact pieces, 13 gloves, white polythene wrappers and KLM Cargo stickers..
Other items found were brown cellotape, a testing bottle believed to be for testing cocaine, exercise books showing records of sales, and cell phones showing contact numbers of business partners.
When the officers peeped through the key hole of the room opposite that of Mella’s, they saw boxes packed there and therefore requested for the keys but he refused to release it. When the search team forced the door open, a number of compressed and wrapped items in 12 boxes were found which the Ghana Standards Board tested and analysed to be cocaine.
The prosecution said Mella claimed the cocaine belonged to one Shamo or Bude, but investigators later concluded it was Vasquez.
The prosecutor told the court that in another room some of the drugs were found mixed with water and Mella even advised the police to "separate it from the rest of the 588 kilogrammes as the whole thing could get destroyed".
In the course of the search, Castillo came to the house and was also arrested. When his phone was seized, the police found the same number belonging to Vasquez on that phone.
Vasquez and a Dutchman, Vicente Cross, had set up a company called Compimchex Limited and each owned 40 per cent of the shares, with the remaining 20 per cent belonging to Grace Asibere Asibi, the Ghanaian girlfriend of Vasquez.
The prosecution further said the company was set up to do import and export business with Vasquez as the Managing Director, but "this business was used as a front for the narcotics trade."
The prosecutor said Vasquez failed to secure entry visas for Mella and Castillo in August last year, but managed to bring Mella in to the country in September 9, the same year.
They spoke through a Spanish interpreter throughout the trial which commenced in January 2006
Investigator fails to attend coke trial
By William Yaw Owusu
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
A Fast Track High Court in Accra was on Monday compelled to adjourn a case in which a policeman and a civilian are standing trial for allegedly dealing in cocaine because the investigator in the case failed to appear before it to give evidence.
The investigator, Chief Inspector Addai, could not come to court because he is reportedly attending a cadet officers’ course.
The case involves Lance Corporal Ekow Russell, one of nine policemen interdicted in April, last year, for dealing in cocaine, and a civilian Maxwell Antwi, whom the police say Russell had supplied the narcotic drugs.
When the case was called, Mrs. Evelyn Keelson, a Principal State Attorney prosecuting, told the court presided over by Justice S.Y. Anim of the Court of Appeal, that the investigator was aware of the date but did not know the reasons for his failure to appear before the court.
“Mr. Addai was in the courtroom last week when the court took the date. I wrote to notify him about the date and personally called him this morning but he did not respond or return the call.”
Based on this, Captain Nkrabea Effah-Darteh (rtd), counsel for the accused, asked the court to exercise its discretion to grant bail to the accused persons because the prosecution was not ready to proceed with the trial.
He said although the offence under which the two had been charged did not warrant the grant of bail, “the prosecution is not zealous to go ahead with the case.”
But in a quick response, Mrs. Keelson rejected counsel’s submission saying, ‘When the case started, we took about four adjournments to enable the accused to secure the services of counsel because we wanted to ensure that justice is done.”
She said it was not true that the prosecution had delayed the trial adding, “They were arrested in April and by July full trial had commenced. It is rather counsel who should be blamed because he always comes to court late.”
The court then adjourned proceedings until November 14, and asked the prosecution to take steps to get the investigator to testify.
Russell is facing three counts of possession of narcotic drugs without lawful authority, supplying narcotic drugs without lawful authority, and dealing in prohibited business relating to narcotic drugs. Antwi is charged with one count of possession of narcotic drugs without lawful authority.
On November 2, the court dismissed an application for discontinuation of the case against Russell. His counsel, Captain Effah-Darteh (retired), had submitted that he had been processed before the Police Service Enquiry at the same time that the trial was proceeding.
The facts of the case are that on March 27, Antwi was arrested by the police with a whitish powdered substance which was later tested and found to be cocaine.
During interrogation, he alleged that it was part of 900 grammes of cocaine given to him by Russell to sell and claimed that he had already sold some quantities and given the proceeds to Russell.
The prosecution said investigations revealed that on January 16, Russell, together with a team of policemen and accompanied by some Nigerian informants, arrested Sebastian Uba, also a Nigerian, with eight slabs of cocaine.
Russell, according to the prosecution, asked his colleagues to position themselves outside Uba's house while he entered with the informants.
"While his colleagues sent the suspect to the police station, Russell and the informants drove in one car towards Achimota with the cocaine and when they got to a point, Russell shared the drugs among the informants."
Russell allegedly gave five slabs of the cocaine to the informants, brought one to the office as exhibit and kept two, thus creating the impression that he had seized only one slab from Uba.
The prosecution further told the court that Uba escaped from police custody on January 31, when Russell was instructed to take him from the La District Police Station to the Regional C.I.D. for investigations.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
A Fast Track High Court in Accra was on Monday compelled to adjourn a case in which a policeman and a civilian are standing trial for allegedly dealing in cocaine because the investigator in the case failed to appear before it to give evidence.
The investigator, Chief Inspector Addai, could not come to court because he is reportedly attending a cadet officers’ course.
The case involves Lance Corporal Ekow Russell, one of nine policemen interdicted in April, last year, for dealing in cocaine, and a civilian Maxwell Antwi, whom the police say Russell had supplied the narcotic drugs.
When the case was called, Mrs. Evelyn Keelson, a Principal State Attorney prosecuting, told the court presided over by Justice S.Y. Anim of the Court of Appeal, that the investigator was aware of the date but did not know the reasons for his failure to appear before the court.
“Mr. Addai was in the courtroom last week when the court took the date. I wrote to notify him about the date and personally called him this morning but he did not respond or return the call.”
Based on this, Captain Nkrabea Effah-Darteh (rtd), counsel for the accused, asked the court to exercise its discretion to grant bail to the accused persons because the prosecution was not ready to proceed with the trial.
He said although the offence under which the two had been charged did not warrant the grant of bail, “the prosecution is not zealous to go ahead with the case.”
But in a quick response, Mrs. Keelson rejected counsel’s submission saying, ‘When the case started, we took about four adjournments to enable the accused to secure the services of counsel because we wanted to ensure that justice is done.”
She said it was not true that the prosecution had delayed the trial adding, “They were arrested in April and by July full trial had commenced. It is rather counsel who should be blamed because he always comes to court late.”
The court then adjourned proceedings until November 14, and asked the prosecution to take steps to get the investigator to testify.
Russell is facing three counts of possession of narcotic drugs without lawful authority, supplying narcotic drugs without lawful authority, and dealing in prohibited business relating to narcotic drugs. Antwi is charged with one count of possession of narcotic drugs without lawful authority.
On November 2, the court dismissed an application for discontinuation of the case against Russell. His counsel, Captain Effah-Darteh (retired), had submitted that he had been processed before the Police Service Enquiry at the same time that the trial was proceeding.
The facts of the case are that on March 27, Antwi was arrested by the police with a whitish powdered substance which was later tested and found to be cocaine.
During interrogation, he alleged that it was part of 900 grammes of cocaine given to him by Russell to sell and claimed that he had already sold some quantities and given the proceeds to Russell.
The prosecution said investigations revealed that on January 16, Russell, together with a team of policemen and accompanied by some Nigerian informants, arrested Sebastian Uba, also a Nigerian, with eight slabs of cocaine.
Russell, according to the prosecution, asked his colleagues to position themselves outside Uba's house while he entered with the informants.
"While his colleagues sent the suspect to the police station, Russell and the informants drove in one car towards Achimota with the cocaine and when they got to a point, Russell shared the drugs among the informants."
Russell allegedly gave five slabs of the cocaine to the informants, brought one to the office as exhibit and kept two, thus creating the impression that he had seized only one slab from Uba.
The prosecution further told the court that Uba escaped from police custody on January 31, when Russell was instructed to take him from the La District Police Station to the Regional C.I.D. for investigations.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
D'Elephant Inaugurated At Abossey Okai
By William Yaw Owusu
Monday, 12 November 2007
The Abossey Okai New Patriotic Party (NPP) supporters union known as ‘D’Elephant’ was officially inaugurated in Accra at the weekend.
The union which was formed in March this year, with only 16 people now has a membership of about 200.
The objective of the union is to help disseminate the ruling party’s policies to the people especially those at the grassroots and also get more sympathisers for the NPP.
Prior to the inauguration, members of the union went on a float through some principal streets of the Ablekumah Central Constituency before converging at the Abossey Okai Methodist Church, the venue for the inauguration.
Addressing them, Victor Okulley Nortey, Member for Parliament for the Ablekuma Central constituency, where the union is located said the NPP government has brought tremendous improvement in the provision of infrastructure especially in road construction.
He said “the government has been able to stabilise the economy and we are on the right track to achieve economic prosperity”.
Turning to his constituency, the MP said “we are steadily developing this area and I commend my constituents for the collaboration so far”.
He said the construction of drains lying between Mataheko and Russia, which stretches to the Odaw drains, are expected to commence in December while major roads in Abossey Okai will receive a facelift.
He said activities of the party’s numerous presidential aspirants are rejuvenating the party at the grassroots.
Mr. Okulley Nortey urged party members to close their ranks and forge ahead in unity to ensure that NPP retains power in 2008.
Monday, 12 November 2007
The Abossey Okai New Patriotic Party (NPP) supporters union known as ‘D’Elephant’ was officially inaugurated in Accra at the weekend.
The union which was formed in March this year, with only 16 people now has a membership of about 200.
The objective of the union is to help disseminate the ruling party’s policies to the people especially those at the grassroots and also get more sympathisers for the NPP.
Prior to the inauguration, members of the union went on a float through some principal streets of the Ablekumah Central Constituency before converging at the Abossey Okai Methodist Church, the venue for the inauguration.
Addressing them, Victor Okulley Nortey, Member for Parliament for the Ablekuma Central constituency, where the union is located said the NPP government has brought tremendous improvement in the provision of infrastructure especially in road construction.
He said “the government has been able to stabilise the economy and we are on the right track to achieve economic prosperity”.
Turning to his constituency, the MP said “we are steadily developing this area and I commend my constituents for the collaboration so far”.
He said the construction of drains lying between Mataheko and Russia, which stretches to the Odaw drains, are expected to commence in December while major roads in Abossey Okai will receive a facelift.
He said activities of the party’s numerous presidential aspirants are rejuvenating the party at the grassroots.
Mr. Okulley Nortey urged party members to close their ranks and forge ahead in unity to ensure that NPP retains power in 2008.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Fire At Makola
William Yaw Owusu
Saturday November 9, 2007
Barely 48 hours after fire devastated a warehouse at the Kasoa market, in the Central Region, a similar tragedy has hit the Makola Annex Two Market, popularly called “T.S. Market” in Accra.
The T.S. (Tema Station) market is located just behind the Intercity Transport Terminate at Tudu and adjacent to the Public Works Department (PWD) yard.
The fire which reportedly started in the early hours of yesterday was so devastating that almost all the traders who thronged the scene broke down in uncontrollable tears.
Coincidentally, fire broke out at the same area exactly four years ago. It happened when Christmas was six weeks away as has happened in this case.
The cause of the fire was not immediately known but many people at the scene speculated that it was a deliberate act by unknown persons especially because it is getting to Christmas and traders had stocked their shops with goods for the season.
The fire spread to about 300 metres square of land area destroying property worth millions of cedis.
When the Times visited the scene at about 7.00 a.m. officers of the Ghana National Fire Service were busily putting out pockets of fire in the market but the whole area had been gutted.
The police had it tough controlling the crowd who wanted to enter the market. Some with the intention to steal and others to salvage whatever was left of their goods.
Speaking to the Times, Michael Gabianu, Metro Fire Officer said, “we got the message about the outbreak at 02:09 hours and we rushed to the scene within two minutes because our Makola station is nearby”.
He said the fire reportedly started around 1.00 am and raged from the southern end of the market to the northern end which shares a boundary with the Intercity bus terminal.
Mr. Gabianu said that when they got to the entrance of the market, the gate had been locked and the security men were absent.
“It took us about 30 minutes to break into the market by which time the fire had reached the northern section of the market.
“It raged like bush fire making control very difficult. It was very tough for us.” he said.
He said lack of access to the market and the wind direction aided the fire to spread quickly.
Mr. Gabianu asked the city authorities to ensure that hydrants are positioned in the market and to use fire resistant materials to reconstruct the structures.
The Assistant Divisional Officer of GNFS, Stephen Pobee, who supervised operations at the scene said the fire was so intense that they had to call to action all fire tenders in the Greater Accra Region.
Water tankers from the Ghana Immigration Service and the Prisons Service were also brought in to assist.
He said one officer from the Trade Fair Station, Godfried Ofori was injured in the course of operations and had to receive treatment at Korle-Bu Hospital.
Kwame Agyemang, Chairman of the markets trader’s association said about 1,500 shops were destroyed.
He said after the first outbreak in 2003, a task force was engaged to monitor security at the market and he was surprised to be informed that when the fire fighters arrived the main gate was locked and no security men were at post”.
“We have continuously monitored and sanctioned people who use naked fire and this has come as a surprise to us.”
Mr. Agyemang said most of the traders have insured their businesses and urged them to remain calm.
“I will entreat members to have patience as we consult the city authorities on the way forward for the market.”
In a telephone interview, Ali Baba Abature, Special Assistant to the Accra Metropolitan Chief Executive, said “we are going to rebuild the market as quickly as possible for the traders to earn their livelihood.”
He said some of the traders flout the assembly’s bye-laws that forbid them from keeping inflammable materials and cooking in the market which could be the possible cause of the fire outbreak.
He appealed to the affected traders to remain calm and cooperate with the assembly to find solution to the problem.
Saturday November 9, 2007
Barely 48 hours after fire devastated a warehouse at the Kasoa market, in the Central Region, a similar tragedy has hit the Makola Annex Two Market, popularly called “T.S. Market” in Accra.
The T.S. (Tema Station) market is located just behind the Intercity Transport Terminate at Tudu and adjacent to the Public Works Department (PWD) yard.
The fire which reportedly started in the early hours of yesterday was so devastating that almost all the traders who thronged the scene broke down in uncontrollable tears.
Coincidentally, fire broke out at the same area exactly four years ago. It happened when Christmas was six weeks away as has happened in this case.
The cause of the fire was not immediately known but many people at the scene speculated that it was a deliberate act by unknown persons especially because it is getting to Christmas and traders had stocked their shops with goods for the season.
The fire spread to about 300 metres square of land area destroying property worth millions of cedis.
When the Times visited the scene at about 7.00 a.m. officers of the Ghana National Fire Service were busily putting out pockets of fire in the market but the whole area had been gutted.
The police had it tough controlling the crowd who wanted to enter the market. Some with the intention to steal and others to salvage whatever was left of their goods.
Speaking to the Times, Michael Gabianu, Metro Fire Officer said, “we got the message about the outbreak at 02:09 hours and we rushed to the scene within two minutes because our Makola station is nearby”.
He said the fire reportedly started around 1.00 am and raged from the southern end of the market to the northern end which shares a boundary with the Intercity bus terminal.
Mr. Gabianu said that when they got to the entrance of the market, the gate had been locked and the security men were absent.
“It took us about 30 minutes to break into the market by which time the fire had reached the northern section of the market.
“It raged like bush fire making control very difficult. It was very tough for us.” he said.
He said lack of access to the market and the wind direction aided the fire to spread quickly.
Mr. Gabianu asked the city authorities to ensure that hydrants are positioned in the market and to use fire resistant materials to reconstruct the structures.
The Assistant Divisional Officer of GNFS, Stephen Pobee, who supervised operations at the scene said the fire was so intense that they had to call to action all fire tenders in the Greater Accra Region.
Water tankers from the Ghana Immigration Service and the Prisons Service were also brought in to assist.
He said one officer from the Trade Fair Station, Godfried Ofori was injured in the course of operations and had to receive treatment at Korle-Bu Hospital.
Kwame Agyemang, Chairman of the markets trader’s association said about 1,500 shops were destroyed.
He said after the first outbreak in 2003, a task force was engaged to monitor security at the market and he was surprised to be informed that when the fire fighters arrived the main gate was locked and no security men were at post”.
“We have continuously monitored and sanctioned people who use naked fire and this has come as a surprise to us.”
Mr. Agyemang said most of the traders have insured their businesses and urged them to remain calm.
“I will entreat members to have patience as we consult the city authorities on the way forward for the market.”
In a telephone interview, Ali Baba Abature, Special Assistant to the Accra Metropolitan Chief Executive, said “we are going to rebuild the market as quickly as possible for the traders to earn their livelihood.”
He said some of the traders flout the assembly’s bye-laws that forbid them from keeping inflammable materials and cooking in the market which could be the possible cause of the fire outbreak.
He appealed to the affected traders to remain calm and cooperate with the assembly to find solution to the problem.
Four held for stealing 4billion fuel coupons
William Yaw Owusu
Saturday November 9, 2007
A circuit Court in Accra yesterday remanded into police custody, four people who allegedly stole fuel coupons belonging to the Ghana Oil Company (Goil) to enrich themselves of about ¢4.5 billion.
A fuel coupon is a ticket or document that can be exchanged for a financial discount on fuel products.
They are Emmanuel Amegashie, a production technician at Camelot Ghana Limited, the company which prints Goil coupons, Lawrence-Avorgbedor, former employee of Camelot, Joshua Kwamina Asamoah a taxi driver and Samuel Kofi Addo, an employee of Goil.
They pleaded not guilty to two counts of conspiracy to steal and stealing and were remanded by the court presided over by Mrs. Elizabeth Edusei, until November 20.
Mrs. Evelyn Keelson, a Principal State Attorney told the court that the police needed time to do thorough investigation and the judge granted them their request but asked them to act expeditiously.
The prosecution’s case was that last September, Amegashie entered the hologram vault and was caught by security cameras installed at the place.
Amegashie, the prosecution said, was seen on the camera carrying away a box containing some items from the room.
Officials of the company upon a check later realised that 30,000 leaflets of GH¢20 and GH¢15 denominations of Goil coupons, all valued at ¢4.5 billion, were missing.
The prosecution said Amegashie gave the coupons to Avorgbedor who printed serial numbers on them and handed them over to Asamoah.
The prosecution said Addo, who resigned last month as a pump attendant, was brought into the deal by Avorgbedor to sell the coupons.
On October 30, Addo went on his usual rounds to sell more coupons but was arrested at Dansoman, in Accra.
The prosecution said upon his arrest, Addo led the police to pick up Asamoah who in turn also led the police to arrest Avogbedor.
Avogbedor consequently admitted the offence and led the police to pick Amegashie.
Saturday November 9, 2007
A circuit Court in Accra yesterday remanded into police custody, four people who allegedly stole fuel coupons belonging to the Ghana Oil Company (Goil) to enrich themselves of about ¢4.5 billion.
A fuel coupon is a ticket or document that can be exchanged for a financial discount on fuel products.
They are Emmanuel Amegashie, a production technician at Camelot Ghana Limited, the company which prints Goil coupons, Lawrence-Avorgbedor, former employee of Camelot, Joshua Kwamina Asamoah a taxi driver and Samuel Kofi Addo, an employee of Goil.
They pleaded not guilty to two counts of conspiracy to steal and stealing and were remanded by the court presided over by Mrs. Elizabeth Edusei, until November 20.
Mrs. Evelyn Keelson, a Principal State Attorney told the court that the police needed time to do thorough investigation and the judge granted them their request but asked them to act expeditiously.
The prosecution’s case was that last September, Amegashie entered the hologram vault and was caught by security cameras installed at the place.
Amegashie, the prosecution said, was seen on the camera carrying away a box containing some items from the room.
Officials of the company upon a check later realised that 30,000 leaflets of GH¢20 and GH¢15 denominations of Goil coupons, all valued at ¢4.5 billion, were missing.
The prosecution said Amegashie gave the coupons to Avorgbedor who printed serial numbers on them and handed them over to Asamoah.
The prosecution said Addo, who resigned last month as a pump attendant, was brought into the deal by Avorgbedor to sell the coupons.
On October 30, Addo went on his usual rounds to sell more coupons but was arrested at Dansoman, in Accra.
The prosecution said upon his arrest, Addo led the police to pick up Asamoah who in turn also led the police to arrest Avogbedor.
Avogbedor consequently admitted the offence and led the police to pick Amegashie.
Briton stands trial in defilement case
William Yaw Owusu
Saturday November 9, 2007
An Accra Circuit Court yesterday decided to hear in camera, the evidence of the three-year old girl who was indecently assaulted by a 57-year-old Briton at North Legon, Accra, on October 13.
This followed a request by the prosecutor, Ms Barbara Sackey, that the court should sit in camera to protect the victim due to her age.
The court, presided over by Mrs Georgina Mensah-Datsa however decided that evidence from other prosecution witnesses will be taken in open court.
Mr Ellis Owusu Fordjuor, counsel for the accused, Thomas Alan Tichler, had opposed the in-camera sitting.
He said “it is the practice that the case of a minor should not be heard in an open court but for other potential witnesses I do not see any justification for the request”.
He said the case has received “a bad prejudicial publicity and we would like proceedings to be heard in open court for us to prove our innocence”.
After ruling on the matter, the court relocated to the judge’s chamber.
Tichler, a consultant, was said to have inserted his fingers into the girl’s private parts, causing her to bleed profusely.
He has pleaded not guilty to causing unlawful harm and indecent assault. He is in police custody.
The case for the prosecution is that on October 13, the accused visited the girl’s father at North Legon, Accra and the father left the girl and her siblings in the care of Tichler in order to run some errands.
Tichler allegedly engaged the girl and her two siblings in the sitting room and later the girl alone and committed the act.
The girls’ mother arrived from town afterwards and Tichler followed her to the kitchen to request for water to wash his hands.
Later, the girl went to her mother and requested to urinate and while helping her, the mother noticed blood strains in the girl’s under pants.
When questioned, the girl told her mother about what Tichler had done.
Tichler was later arrested by the police and the girl was taken to hospital, treated and discharged.
Saturday November 9, 2007
An Accra Circuit Court yesterday decided to hear in camera, the evidence of the three-year old girl who was indecently assaulted by a 57-year-old Briton at North Legon, Accra, on October 13.
This followed a request by the prosecutor, Ms Barbara Sackey, that the court should sit in camera to protect the victim due to her age.
The court, presided over by Mrs Georgina Mensah-Datsa however decided that evidence from other prosecution witnesses will be taken in open court.
Mr Ellis Owusu Fordjuor, counsel for the accused, Thomas Alan Tichler, had opposed the in-camera sitting.
He said “it is the practice that the case of a minor should not be heard in an open court but for other potential witnesses I do not see any justification for the request”.
He said the case has received “a bad prejudicial publicity and we would like proceedings to be heard in open court for us to prove our innocence”.
After ruling on the matter, the court relocated to the judge’s chamber.
Tichler, a consultant, was said to have inserted his fingers into the girl’s private parts, causing her to bleed profusely.
He has pleaded not guilty to causing unlawful harm and indecent assault. He is in police custody.
The case for the prosecution is that on October 13, the accused visited the girl’s father at North Legon, Accra and the father left the girl and her siblings in the care of Tichler in order to run some errands.
Tichler allegedly engaged the girl and her two siblings in the sitting room and later the girl alone and committed the act.
The girls’ mother arrived from town afterwards and Tichler followed her to the kitchen to request for water to wash his hands.
Later, the girl went to her mother and requested to urinate and while helping her, the mother noticed blood strains in the girl’s under pants.
When questioned, the girl told her mother about what Tichler had done.
Tichler was later arrested by the police and the girl was taken to hospital, treated and discharged.
Friday, November 09, 2007
Wereko Brobby's Suit Against VRA, November 26
Dr. Charles Wereko-Brobby ia a former VRA Boss and Current CEO Ghana @50 Secretariat
By William Yaw Owusu
Friday, 09 November 2007
AN Accra Fast Track High Court yesterday adjourned to November 26, the case in which Dr. Charles Wereko-Brobby, former Chief Executive, Volta River Authority (VRA), is demanding payment of ¢2.2 billion, being his entitlements from the Authority where he was once the Chief Executive.
The court, presided over by Justice Kobena K. Acquaye, however, awarded ¢1 million cost against Dr Brobby for failing to appear before the court.
His counsel, Mr Akoto Ampaw, was also not in court.
When the case was called Mr Francis Kwame Yeboah, counsel for the VRA, said: "this suit has been pending for a long time and it appears the plaintiff is not interested in the matter."
"We also have a counter-claim and in the circumstances we are praying the court to strike out the plaintiff’s case and award us our counter claims," he added.
The court did not grant the counsel’s request but instead asked the VRA to take steps to serve Dr Wereko-Brobby with hearing notice for him to appear before the court.
Apart from the ¢2.2 billion being sought for, Dr Wereko-Brobby is asking for interest on the amount from April 2004, and also order the VRA to transfer to him the ownership of a Volvo saloon car, GW 2505 T, which was officially assigned to him when he was appointed Chief Executive of the Authority.
In his statement of claim, Dr Wereko-Brobby said he got separated from the VRA on September 17, 2003, but it took the Authority a considerable time amid demands from him before they eventually wrote to him on April, 2004 to formerly notify him of his entitlements.
He said in that letter, a cash equivalent of 43 days earned leave up to the time of his resignation, totalling ¢61 million, six months salary in the sum of ¢187 million, gratuity of five years salary of ¢1.8 billion, the cedi equivalent of fuel allocation from March 31, 2004, and transfer of ownership of the saloon car which is in his possession were discussed.
The VRA, he further argued, in their letter of April 1, 2004, agreed to pay 70 per cent of the entitlements by mid April, 2004 and the rest when he vacated its premises on or before the end of May, the same year.
He contended that because the Authority could not pay the entitlements as agreed on he could also not vacate the premises on the agreed date.
Dr Wereko-Brobby also argued that the delay in the payment persisted into 2005, when he decided to vacate the premises but the Authority had not honoured its obligation and unless compelled by the court, it will not pay him his entitlements.
In their counter claim, the VRA want the court to order Dr Brobby to return the furniture he removed from his official residence.
They also want the court to order the former Chief Executive to return the saloon car that he took away because they claimed he was not entitled to it.
Swedes Pledge Funds For Educ, Health In Ghana
By William Yaw Owusu
Friday, 09 November 2007
ABOUT 28,000 sponsors in Sweden have signed up to raise 590,000 dollars to promote education and health of children in Ghana.
This follows a concert organised two years ago by PLAN Ghana/Sweden, an international child-centered development organisation, to raise funds from Sweden to support child-development programmes in Ghana.
The objective of the five-hour concert, transmitted live via satellite to Sweden from Awutu Odumase, a village near Bawjiase in the Central Region, was to get more sponsors from Sweden to support activities of PLAN Ghana.
A delegation of sponsors from Sweden led by Ms Asa Malmqvist of PLAN Sweden, is currently in the country to assess the level of child development activities of PLAN Ghana and to explore other ways to offer more support.
Currently, PLAN Ghana operates in the Eastern, Central, Greater Accra and Upper West Region where they support deprived communities to have schools, healthcare, food, security and other livelihood activities.
When the delegation visited Bawjiase, the Programme Area Manager, Mr Joseph C. Assan, said PLAN Ghana since 2006 has built accommodation for teachers, provided pre-schools and primary schools, sanitation facilities and also supported rights of the child activities for all communities where they operate.
“We have assisted 67 communities in our area and have sponsored 6,700 children to basic schools”.
Mr Assan told the group that PLAN Ghana’s initiatives had led to an enhanced community mobilisation and was speeding up development.
“It has been PLAN International goal to get children to have access to quality education and health and also to create the enabling environment for children’s development”.
He said the main challenge PLAN Ghana faced was the priorities of communities, adding that “the use of community managed approach makes each community to manage its project at their own pace”.
Mr Daniel Kwaku Arhin, the Awutu-Efutu-Senya District Director of Education, described PLAN Ghana as “active partners” in the country’s development.
He said “they have enhanced the educational infrastructure base of the district and they are helping to make the new educational reform a reality.
Later in an interview, Ms Malmqvist, expressed satisfaction at the pace of child development in the country by PLAN Ghana.
She however urged PLAN Ghana to focus more attention on the northern part of the country and said their visit showed that they need more support.
Thursday, November 08, 2007
Accused admitted giving cocaine for sale...Witness
By William Yaw Owusu
Thursday November 8, 2007
A Police Officer yesterday told an Accra Fast Track High Court that Lance Corporal Ekow Russel, one of the nine policemen interdicted in April, last year, for dealing in cocaine admitted that he gave cocaine to a civilian to sell for him.
Chief Inspector Michael Addai said when the civilian, Maxwell Antwi, was brought for interrogation he mentioned Russel as his source of supply and when Russel was questioned, he admitted the offence but pleaded for leniency.
Chief Inspector Addai was testifying in the case in which Russell is being tried with Antwi, a car dealer, who the prosecution believes was supplied with the narcotic drugs by the policeman.
Russell is facing three counts of possession of narcotic drugs without lawful authority, supplying narcotic drugs without lawful authority, and dealing in prohibited business relating to narcotic drugs Antwi is charged with one count of possession of narcotic drugs without lawful authority.
Last Friday, the court presided over by Justice S.Y. Anim of the Court of Appeal, dismissed an application for discontinuation of the case against Russell. His counsel, Captain Nkrabea Effah-Darteh (retired), had submitted that had been processed before the Police Service Enquiry at the same time that the trial was proceeding.
Led in evidence by Mrs. Evelyn Keelson, a Principal State, Chief Inspector Addai told the court yesterday that Antwi mentioned Russel's name on March 27, and gave the mobile phone number, witness said he called Russel, who came the following day for interrogation.
“It was the first time I was seeing Russel and during interrogation, he confided in me that he was the one who had given the cocaine to Antwi to sell for him. Antwi was present and the were looking at each other”, he said.
Witness told the court that he took statements from the two accused persons in the presence of an independent witness Samuel Sarku, an electrician from La, Accra.
When the prosecution sought to tender Antwi's statements, Musah Ahmed, his counsel, objected, saying “he gave the statement based on the assurance by the police that he was going to be released on bail”.
He said that when the statement was taken, Antwi was not given the opportunity to seek the advice of counsel and cited the Illiterates Protection Act as not being followed by the police saying “My client was dribbled by the police and we are calling for an enquiry into this".
Left with no option, the court immediately ordered a mini-trial to unravel the truth.
During the mini-trial, Sarku who is the independent witness, told the court that Antwi had freely given his statement without any harassment on March 27.
“Antwi spoke freely in the Twi language and was recorded in English by Inspector Addai and after everything, the statement was read and explained to the two of us by the police officer after which we both signed,” he said.
Sarku further told the court that on April 12, Chief Inspector Addai invited him again to witness the process for him which he did, adding “we went through the same process as in the first one”.
During crossexamination, Sarku admitted that the statement was read over to him and Antwi in English, not in Twi.
The court is expected to decide on November 12, whether or not Antwi's statements are admissible.
The facts of the case are that on March 27, Antwi was arrested by the police with a whitish powdered substance which was later tested and found to be cocaine.
During interrogation, he alleged that it was part of 900 grammes of cocaine given to him by Russell to sell and claimed that he had already sold some quantities and given the proceeds to the policeman.
The prosecution said investigations revealed that on January 16, Russell, together with a team of policemen and accompanied by some Nigerian informants, arrested Sebastian Uba, also a Nigerian, with eight slabs of cocaine.
Russell, according to the prosecution, asked his colleagues to position themselves outside Uba's house while he entered with the informants.
"While his colleagues sent the suspect to the police station, Russell and the informants drove in one car towards Achimota with the cocaine and when they got to a point, Russell distributed the drugs among the informants."
Russell allegedly gave five slabs of the cocaine to the informants, brought one to the office and kept two, thus creating the impression that he had seized only one slab from Uba.
The prosecution further told the court that Uba escaped from police custody on January 31, when Russell was instructed to take him from the La District Police Station to the Regional C.I.D. for investigations.
Thursday November 8, 2007
A Police Officer yesterday told an Accra Fast Track High Court that Lance Corporal Ekow Russel, one of the nine policemen interdicted in April, last year, for dealing in cocaine admitted that he gave cocaine to a civilian to sell for him.
Chief Inspector Michael Addai said when the civilian, Maxwell Antwi, was brought for interrogation he mentioned Russel as his source of supply and when Russel was questioned, he admitted the offence but pleaded for leniency.
Chief Inspector Addai was testifying in the case in which Russell is being tried with Antwi, a car dealer, who the prosecution believes was supplied with the narcotic drugs by the policeman.
Russell is facing three counts of possession of narcotic drugs without lawful authority, supplying narcotic drugs without lawful authority, and dealing in prohibited business relating to narcotic drugs Antwi is charged with one count of possession of narcotic drugs without lawful authority.
Last Friday, the court presided over by Justice S.Y. Anim of the Court of Appeal, dismissed an application for discontinuation of the case against Russell. His counsel, Captain Nkrabea Effah-Darteh (retired), had submitted that had been processed before the Police Service Enquiry at the same time that the trial was proceeding.
Led in evidence by Mrs. Evelyn Keelson, a Principal State, Chief Inspector Addai told the court yesterday that Antwi mentioned Russel's name on March 27, and gave the mobile phone number, witness said he called Russel, who came the following day for interrogation.
“It was the first time I was seeing Russel and during interrogation, he confided in me that he was the one who had given the cocaine to Antwi to sell for him. Antwi was present and the were looking at each other”, he said.
Witness told the court that he took statements from the two accused persons in the presence of an independent witness Samuel Sarku, an electrician from La, Accra.
When the prosecution sought to tender Antwi's statements, Musah Ahmed, his counsel, objected, saying “he gave the statement based on the assurance by the police that he was going to be released on bail”.
He said that when the statement was taken, Antwi was not given the opportunity to seek the advice of counsel and cited the Illiterates Protection Act as not being followed by the police saying “My client was dribbled by the police and we are calling for an enquiry into this".
Left with no option, the court immediately ordered a mini-trial to unravel the truth.
During the mini-trial, Sarku who is the independent witness, told the court that Antwi had freely given his statement without any harassment on March 27.
“Antwi spoke freely in the Twi language and was recorded in English by Inspector Addai and after everything, the statement was read and explained to the two of us by the police officer after which we both signed,” he said.
Sarku further told the court that on April 12, Chief Inspector Addai invited him again to witness the process for him which he did, adding “we went through the same process as in the first one”.
During crossexamination, Sarku admitted that the statement was read over to him and Antwi in English, not in Twi.
The court is expected to decide on November 12, whether or not Antwi's statements are admissible.
The facts of the case are that on March 27, Antwi was arrested by the police with a whitish powdered substance which was later tested and found to be cocaine.
During interrogation, he alleged that it was part of 900 grammes of cocaine given to him by Russell to sell and claimed that he had already sold some quantities and given the proceeds to the policeman.
The prosecution said investigations revealed that on January 16, Russell, together with a team of policemen and accompanied by some Nigerian informants, arrested Sebastian Uba, also a Nigerian, with eight slabs of cocaine.
Russell, according to the prosecution, asked his colleagues to position themselves outside Uba's house while he entered with the informants.
"While his colleagues sent the suspect to the police station, Russell and the informants drove in one car towards Achimota with the cocaine and when they got to a point, Russell distributed the drugs among the informants."
Russell allegedly gave five slabs of the cocaine to the informants, brought one to the office and kept two, thus creating the impression that he had seized only one slab from Uba.
The prosecution further told the court that Uba escaped from police custody on January 31, when Russell was instructed to take him from the La District Police Station to the Regional C.I.D. for investigations.
I didn't know vessel was to cart coke....Owner (Unpublished Article)
By William Yaw Owusu
Thursday November 8, 2007
Joseph Kojo Dawson, owner of M.V. Benjamin, the vessel that was used to import 77 parcels of cocaine into the country has denied that he knew the vessel was sailing to cart cocaine from the high seas.
He also refuted claims by the prosecution that Sheriff Asem Darke, now at large, who chartered the vessel had promised to pay the hiring fee after the cocaine had been sold.
Dawson, charged with using his property for narcotic offences, was answering questions under cross-examination by the prosecution, led by Principal State Attorney Stella Badu, at an Accra Fast Track High Court yesterday.
He is charged with four others over the importation of the narcotic drug.
Dawson and the others - Isaac Arhin, 40, Phillip Bruce Arhin, 49, a mechanic, Cui Xian Li, 49, a vessel engineer and Luo Yui Xing, 49, both Chinese - were on board the MV Benjamin vessel that brought the narcotic drug package.
The sixth accused person, Pak Bok Sil, a Korean vessel engineer, who was jointly charged with them, was acquitted and discharged by the court for lack of evidence.
The five men have been charged for their alleged roles in the importation of the cocaine to the Tema Port in April last year.
Sheriff, popularly called “Limping Man,” allegedly chartered the vessel from Dawson at 150,000 dollars.
Isaac Arhin, Phillip Arhin, Cui and Luo have all pleaded not guilty to two counts of engaging in prohibited business as related to narcotic drugs and possessing narcotic drugs unlawfully.
The prosecution called 13 witnesses after which the accused persons filed a submission of ‘no case’ because they believed the prosecution had failed to establish a case against them, but their application was rejected by the court.
Dawson told the court that they signed the charter agreement for Sheriff to use the vessel to tow his distressed vessel in Conakry Guinea'. “I was not even aware when the vessel sailed from the Takoradi Port on March 9, 2006”, he said.
He said it was his company, Dashment Limited, which acted as agents of the vessel and claimed that the company ceased to be agents when Sheriff chartered the vessel on February 6, 2006 contrary to the prosecution’s assertion that the vessel's agents never changed when Sheriff took over.
Dawson said that under the agreement, the vessel was to be rehabilitated by Sheriff before it sailed but Dashment Company was responsible for the payment of expenses incurred by the M.V. Benjamin whilst at the Port. “I was expecting Sheriff to inform me that he was sailing the vessel but he did not”, he said
The prosecution then showed the accused a photograph of Sheriff whom he admitted he knew. He however told the court that he did not know Killer, a Korean suspected to have also played a role in the importation of the narcotic substance.
He said that he made his father sign the charter agreement with Sheriff because his father was the person who had signed the hire-purchase agreement, even though he had described his father as “just an adviser” of the company in his earlier submission.
When the prosecution submitted that the name that Sheriff used in the agreement was Evans Charwetey Tsekobi and not Asem Darke, Dawson replied: “Sheriff and Bae came to us with the agreement and it was signed.”
Thursday November 8, 2007
Joseph Kojo Dawson, owner of M.V. Benjamin, the vessel that was used to import 77 parcels of cocaine into the country has denied that he knew the vessel was sailing to cart cocaine from the high seas.
He also refuted claims by the prosecution that Sheriff Asem Darke, now at large, who chartered the vessel had promised to pay the hiring fee after the cocaine had been sold.
Dawson, charged with using his property for narcotic offences, was answering questions under cross-examination by the prosecution, led by Principal State Attorney Stella Badu, at an Accra Fast Track High Court yesterday.
He is charged with four others over the importation of the narcotic drug.
Dawson and the others - Isaac Arhin, 40, Phillip Bruce Arhin, 49, a mechanic, Cui Xian Li, 49, a vessel engineer and Luo Yui Xing, 49, both Chinese - were on board the MV Benjamin vessel that brought the narcotic drug package.
The sixth accused person, Pak Bok Sil, a Korean vessel engineer, who was jointly charged with them, was acquitted and discharged by the court for lack of evidence.
The five men have been charged for their alleged roles in the importation of the cocaine to the Tema Port in April last year.
Sheriff, popularly called “Limping Man,” allegedly chartered the vessel from Dawson at 150,000 dollars.
Isaac Arhin, Phillip Arhin, Cui and Luo have all pleaded not guilty to two counts of engaging in prohibited business as related to narcotic drugs and possessing narcotic drugs unlawfully.
The prosecution called 13 witnesses after which the accused persons filed a submission of ‘no case’ because they believed the prosecution had failed to establish a case against them, but their application was rejected by the court.
Dawson told the court that they signed the charter agreement for Sheriff to use the vessel to tow his distressed vessel in Conakry Guinea'. “I was not even aware when the vessel sailed from the Takoradi Port on March 9, 2006”, he said.
He said it was his company, Dashment Limited, which acted as agents of the vessel and claimed that the company ceased to be agents when Sheriff chartered the vessel on February 6, 2006 contrary to the prosecution’s assertion that the vessel's agents never changed when Sheriff took over.
Dawson said that under the agreement, the vessel was to be rehabilitated by Sheriff before it sailed but Dashment Company was responsible for the payment of expenses incurred by the M.V. Benjamin whilst at the Port. “I was expecting Sheriff to inform me that he was sailing the vessel but he did not”, he said
The prosecution then showed the accused a photograph of Sheriff whom he admitted he knew. He however told the court that he did not know Killer, a Korean suspected to have also played a role in the importation of the narcotic substance.
He said that he made his father sign the charter agreement with Sheriff because his father was the person who had signed the hire-purchase agreement, even though he had described his father as “just an adviser” of the company in his earlier submission.
When the prosecution submitted that the name that Sheriff used in the agreement was Evans Charwetey Tsekobi and not Asem Darke, Dawson replied: “Sheriff and Bae came to us with the agreement and it was signed.”
Monday, November 05, 2007
3 People Remanded For Alleged Murder
By William Yaw Owusu
Monday, 05 November 2007
THREE people were last Friday remanded into prison custody by the Osu Magistrate’s Court in Accra for allegedly killing an ex-police officer.
The three who claimed to have powers to double money, together with a deceased herbalist, beheaded Emmanuel Appiah Kubi and dumped his body in the Volta Lake at Old Marine, near Akosombo on March 14.
The accused, Ebenezer Tei, also known as Rastaman, fetish priest; Felix Okpanye, farmer and Torgbui Atsu Havor, herbalists, are to appear again in court on November 20.
The other accomplice, Famous Yevugah, a herbalist drowned in the process of dumping Kubi’s body into the lake.
Presenting the facts, Inspector Alex Afetsi told the court that last March, the accused persons took ¢40 million from Kubi under the pretext of doubling it for him.
When the date Kubi was to get the doubled money elapsed, he continuously pressed to them for his money. Because they could not refund the money the accused persons hatched a plan to kill him.
So on March 14, they lured Kubi to the banks of the lake at Old Marine having convince him he was going to speak to a sea goddess, “Maame Water” who they claimed was to double the money for him.
They then asked him to recite some incantations. As he was racing the words Yevugah attacked him and cut off his head with a cutlass and Kubi died instantly.
They then put the headless body in a canoe and ferried to the middle of the lake to be dumped into the river. But in the process, the canoe capsized.
Yevugah, who could not swim, drowned but Tei and Okpanye managed to swim to safety. Thereafter, they took Kubi’s head to Havor at Adjena Donor, also near Akosombo.
Havor, the prosecution said, directed Tei and Okpanye to bury Kubi’s head behind his house after which the three went to Akosombo Police Station to lodge complaint that Yevugah was missing.
After that Tei fled to Burkina Faso.
The police during their investigations and in search for Yevugah found traces of blood along the banks of the lake and arrested Okpanye and Havor.
The police sought the services of divers from the Volta River Authority retrieved two bodies, one of them headless from the river.
Okpanye admitted the offence and said he did it with Yevugah and Tei. He also mention Havor as an accomplish and Tei admitted the offence after their arrest by the police.
Monday, 05 November 2007
THREE people were last Friday remanded into prison custody by the Osu Magistrate’s Court in Accra for allegedly killing an ex-police officer.
The three who claimed to have powers to double money, together with a deceased herbalist, beheaded Emmanuel Appiah Kubi and dumped his body in the Volta Lake at Old Marine, near Akosombo on March 14.
The accused, Ebenezer Tei, also known as Rastaman, fetish priest; Felix Okpanye, farmer and Torgbui Atsu Havor, herbalists, are to appear again in court on November 20.
The other accomplice, Famous Yevugah, a herbalist drowned in the process of dumping Kubi’s body into the lake.
Presenting the facts, Inspector Alex Afetsi told the court that last March, the accused persons took ¢40 million from Kubi under the pretext of doubling it for him.
When the date Kubi was to get the doubled money elapsed, he continuously pressed to them for his money. Because they could not refund the money the accused persons hatched a plan to kill him.
So on March 14, they lured Kubi to the banks of the lake at Old Marine having convince him he was going to speak to a sea goddess, “Maame Water” who they claimed was to double the money for him.
They then asked him to recite some incantations. As he was racing the words Yevugah attacked him and cut off his head with a cutlass and Kubi died instantly.
They then put the headless body in a canoe and ferried to the middle of the lake to be dumped into the river. But in the process, the canoe capsized.
Yevugah, who could not swim, drowned but Tei and Okpanye managed to swim to safety. Thereafter, they took Kubi’s head to Havor at Adjena Donor, also near Akosombo.
Havor, the prosecution said, directed Tei and Okpanye to bury Kubi’s head behind his house after which the three went to Akosombo Police Station to lodge complaint that Yevugah was missing.
After that Tei fled to Burkina Faso.
The police during their investigations and in search for Yevugah found traces of blood along the banks of the lake and arrested Okpanye and Havor.
The police sought the services of divers from the Volta River Authority retrieved two bodies, one of them headless from the river.
Okpanye admitted the offence and said he did it with Yevugah and Tei. He also mention Havor as an accomplish and Tei admitted the offence after their arrest by the police.
Court dismisses application to discontinue cocaine case
By William Yaw Owusu
Monday November 5, 2007
An Accra Fast Track High Court on Friday dismissed an application for discontinuation of a case against Lance Corporal Ekow Russell one of the nine policemen interdicted by the Police Administration in April for allegedly dealing in cocaine.
The application had been filed by his counsel Captain Nkrabea Effah-Darteh (Retired) on the grounds that Russell had been processed before the Police Service Enquiry at a time when the trial was proceeding , describing the move as unconstitutional.
It was at a time when the prosecution led by Mrs. Evelyn Keelson, a Principal State Attorney was about to call the fourth prosecution witness.
Captain Effah-Darteh argued that Section 91 of the Criminal Procedure Code and Article 19(7) did not allow an accused person to be tried twice and urged the court to either discontinue the trial or order the Police Service to drop the Service Enquiry against Russell.
Ms Keelson objected to counsel’s submission saying the accused person is facing a criminal charge and what the Police Service sought to do did not mean Russell was being tried twice.
Dismissing the application, Justice S.Y. Anim of the Court of Appeal who is the trial judge said Russell could not tell the court the specific offence he was facing at the Police Service Enquiry.
The court said the enquiry was being done by an administrative body but what that body will come out with will not have an effect on the trial
Russell is being tried with Maxwell Antwi, a car dealer, who the prosecution believes was supplied with the narcotic drugs by the policeman.
Russell is facing three counts of possession of narcotic drugs without lawful authority, supplying narcotic drugs without lawful authority and dealing in prohibited business relating to narcotic drugs while Antwi is charged with one count of possession of narcotic drugs without lawful authority.
Russell and seven other policemen together with Antwi appeared before an Accra Circuit Court in May and were remanded into police custody.
They include George Akoi, Isaac Annang, Dominic Amedzah and Anthony Agyei, all Lance Corporals.
The rest are Constable Collins Ohemeng, Inspector Oppong Kyei and Sergeant Francis Arthur all of the Accra regional Police Command.
The police at the time also pursued Detective Inspector Justice Nana Oppong who was alleged to be involved in the case but later abandon the move and Mr. Oppong himself has since testified as a prosecution witness in the case.
They were discharged by the court on June 21 following a ‘nolle prosqui’ (unwilling to pursue) application filed by the Attorney-General’s (AG) department.
But they were immediately re-arrested on the orders of the AG.
Currently it is only Russell who is being tried.
The fact of the case are that on March 27, Antwi was arrested by the police with a whitish powdered substance which was later tested and found to be cocaine.
During interrogation, he alleged that was part of the 900 grammes of cocaine given to him by Russell to sell for the policeman and claimed he had already sold some quantities and given the proceeds to Russell.
Russell, when picked, allegedly confirmed that he had given the cocaine to Antwi to sell for him after he seized the narcotic drugs from some Nigerian drug dealers.
Prosecution said investigations revealed that on January 16, Russell together with a team of policemen and accompanied by some Nigerian informants arrested Sebastian Uba, also a Nigerian with eight slabs of cocaine.
Russell, according to the prosecution, asked his colleagues to position themselves outside Uba's house while the accused entered with the informants.
"While his colleagues sent the suspect to the police station, Russell and the informants drove in one car towards Achimota with the cocaine and when they got to a point Russell distributed the drugs among the informants."
Russell allegedly gave give slabs of the cocaine to the informants, brought one to the office and kept two thus creating the impression that he had seized only one slab from Uba.
The prosecution further told the court that Uba escaped from police custody on January 31, when Russell was instructed to bring the fugitive to the Regional C.I.D. office for investigations from the La District Police Station.
Monday November 5, 2007
An Accra Fast Track High Court on Friday dismissed an application for discontinuation of a case against Lance Corporal Ekow Russell one of the nine policemen interdicted by the Police Administration in April for allegedly dealing in cocaine.
The application had been filed by his counsel Captain Nkrabea Effah-Darteh (Retired) on the grounds that Russell had been processed before the Police Service Enquiry at a time when the trial was proceeding , describing the move as unconstitutional.
It was at a time when the prosecution led by Mrs. Evelyn Keelson, a Principal State Attorney was about to call the fourth prosecution witness.
Captain Effah-Darteh argued that Section 91 of the Criminal Procedure Code and Article 19(7) did not allow an accused person to be tried twice and urged the court to either discontinue the trial or order the Police Service to drop the Service Enquiry against Russell.
Ms Keelson objected to counsel’s submission saying the accused person is facing a criminal charge and what the Police Service sought to do did not mean Russell was being tried twice.
Dismissing the application, Justice S.Y. Anim of the Court of Appeal who is the trial judge said Russell could not tell the court the specific offence he was facing at the Police Service Enquiry.
The court said the enquiry was being done by an administrative body but what that body will come out with will not have an effect on the trial
Russell is being tried with Maxwell Antwi, a car dealer, who the prosecution believes was supplied with the narcotic drugs by the policeman.
Russell is facing three counts of possession of narcotic drugs without lawful authority, supplying narcotic drugs without lawful authority and dealing in prohibited business relating to narcotic drugs while Antwi is charged with one count of possession of narcotic drugs without lawful authority.
Russell and seven other policemen together with Antwi appeared before an Accra Circuit Court in May and were remanded into police custody.
They include George Akoi, Isaac Annang, Dominic Amedzah and Anthony Agyei, all Lance Corporals.
The rest are Constable Collins Ohemeng, Inspector Oppong Kyei and Sergeant Francis Arthur all of the Accra regional Police Command.
The police at the time also pursued Detective Inspector Justice Nana Oppong who was alleged to be involved in the case but later abandon the move and Mr. Oppong himself has since testified as a prosecution witness in the case.
They were discharged by the court on June 21 following a ‘nolle prosqui’ (unwilling to pursue) application filed by the Attorney-General’s (AG) department.
But they were immediately re-arrested on the orders of the AG.
Currently it is only Russell who is being tried.
The fact of the case are that on March 27, Antwi was arrested by the police with a whitish powdered substance which was later tested and found to be cocaine.
During interrogation, he alleged that was part of the 900 grammes of cocaine given to him by Russell to sell for the policeman and claimed he had already sold some quantities and given the proceeds to Russell.
Russell, when picked, allegedly confirmed that he had given the cocaine to Antwi to sell for him after he seized the narcotic drugs from some Nigerian drug dealers.
Prosecution said investigations revealed that on January 16, Russell together with a team of policemen and accompanied by some Nigerian informants arrested Sebastian Uba, also a Nigerian with eight slabs of cocaine.
Russell, according to the prosecution, asked his colleagues to position themselves outside Uba's house while the accused entered with the informants.
"While his colleagues sent the suspect to the police station, Russell and the informants drove in one car towards Achimota with the cocaine and when they got to a point Russell distributed the drugs among the informants."
Russell allegedly gave give slabs of the cocaine to the informants, brought one to the office and kept two thus creating the impression that he had seized only one slab from Uba.
The prosecution further told the court that Uba escaped from police custody on January 31, when Russell was instructed to bring the fugitive to the Regional C.I.D. office for investigations from the La District Police Station.
Sunday, November 04, 2007
COURT STOPS INSTALLATION... But Was It Too Late?
By William Yaw Owusu
Saturday, 03 November 2007
AN Accra Fast Track High Court yesterday restrained kingmakers of the Anlo Traditional Council from going ahead with the planned installation of an Awoamefia for Anlo, in the Volta Region, although an unconfirmed report said the installation had already taken place.
The court said: "It is hereby ordered that the kingmakers, the Anlo Traditional Council and any other persons or institutions involved in the preparation and installation of the Awoamefia of Anlo be and hereby restrained forthwith from holding any event to install the person named Francis Nyonyo Agboada, also known as Regent Torgbui Sri III, as the Awoamefia scheduled for Saturday, November 3, 2007."
The court was presided over by Justice Samuel Marful-Sau of the Court of Appeal.
The court said that due to the urgency and volatility of the situation, "the service of this order be effected by substitution through the electronic and print media".
The ex-parte application was filed by the Inspector General of Police Mr Patrick Kwarteng Acheampong who was represented in court by Justin Pwavra, Deputy Superintendent of Police of the Legal Directorate of the Police Service, while the motion was moved by the Attorney-General, Mr. Joe Ghartey and supported by Ms Getrude Aikins, acting Director of Public Prosecutions.
Moving the order for interim injunction, Mr. Ghartey told the court that they were invoking the court’s powers through Section 1 of the Public Order Act 1994 (Act 491) because the planned ceremony was creating uneasy tension in the area.
He said although the organisers of the planned installation were armed with permit, violence broke out resulting in the deaths of six people including a police constable.
"Unfolding events show that violence is occurring. Tension is still very high and it is clear that there will be more confusion and bloodshed unless they are restrained from going ahead with the installation ceremony."
The Attorney-General further told the court that since yesterday the IGP has withdrawn the permission granted the organisers but they insisted on going ahead with the ceremony.
"Information gathered is that the rituals for the installation is ongoing and it will be too late if the court waited for 48 hours for its order to take effect.
"Because of the volatile nature of the situation the parties cannot be served immediately or directly so we are praying the court to issue an order for substituted service".
The court ruled that the injunction order stay until further notice.
However, speaking to the Times, Napoleon Agboada, spokesperson for the kingmakers, said the court injunction was of no effect, because Mr. Nyonyo Agboada had already been installed as Awoamefia.
"We now have a new Awoamefia so the injunction has no effect."
In a telephone interview, Mr. Agboada said the final installation rites were performed yesterday morning.
He, however, added that due to the volatile situation in the area, the Hogbetsotso festival which should have been held today has been postponed.
Mr. Agoada said the coronation of the Awoamefia will be held in March next year.
Saturday, 03 November 2007
AN Accra Fast Track High Court yesterday restrained kingmakers of the Anlo Traditional Council from going ahead with the planned installation of an Awoamefia for Anlo, in the Volta Region, although an unconfirmed report said the installation had already taken place.
The court said: "It is hereby ordered that the kingmakers, the Anlo Traditional Council and any other persons or institutions involved in the preparation and installation of the Awoamefia of Anlo be and hereby restrained forthwith from holding any event to install the person named Francis Nyonyo Agboada, also known as Regent Torgbui Sri III, as the Awoamefia scheduled for Saturday, November 3, 2007."
The court was presided over by Justice Samuel Marful-Sau of the Court of Appeal.
The court said that due to the urgency and volatility of the situation, "the service of this order be effected by substitution through the electronic and print media".
The ex-parte application was filed by the Inspector General of Police Mr Patrick Kwarteng Acheampong who was represented in court by Justin Pwavra, Deputy Superintendent of Police of the Legal Directorate of the Police Service, while the motion was moved by the Attorney-General, Mr. Joe Ghartey and supported by Ms Getrude Aikins, acting Director of Public Prosecutions.
Moving the order for interim injunction, Mr. Ghartey told the court that they were invoking the court’s powers through Section 1 of the Public Order Act 1994 (Act 491) because the planned ceremony was creating uneasy tension in the area.
He said although the organisers of the planned installation were armed with permit, violence broke out resulting in the deaths of six people including a police constable.
"Unfolding events show that violence is occurring. Tension is still very high and it is clear that there will be more confusion and bloodshed unless they are restrained from going ahead with the installation ceremony."
The Attorney-General further told the court that since yesterday the IGP has withdrawn the permission granted the organisers but they insisted on going ahead with the ceremony.
"Information gathered is that the rituals for the installation is ongoing and it will be too late if the court waited for 48 hours for its order to take effect.
"Because of the volatile nature of the situation the parties cannot be served immediately or directly so we are praying the court to issue an order for substituted service".
The court ruled that the injunction order stay until further notice.
However, speaking to the Times, Napoleon Agboada, spokesperson for the kingmakers, said the court injunction was of no effect, because Mr. Nyonyo Agboada had already been installed as Awoamefia.
"We now have a new Awoamefia so the injunction has no effect."
In a telephone interview, Mr. Agboada said the final installation rites were performed yesterday morning.
He, however, added that due to the volatile situation in the area, the Hogbetsotso festival which should have been held today has been postponed.
Mr. Agoada said the coronation of the Awoamefia will be held in March next year.
Friday, November 02, 2007
Abodakpi loses appeal for bail again
Abodakpi being escorted to prison by a policeman
By William Yaw Owusu
Friday Novermber 2, 2007
The Court of Appeal yesterday unanimously dismissed an application for bail pending appeal by Daniel Kwasi Abodakpi, the convicted Member of Parliament for Keta.
Abodakpi was jailed 10 years on February 5, by an Accra Fast Track High Court presided over by Justice Stephen Twerefuor Farkye, for causing financial loss to the state.
He was said to have illegally authorised the payment of 400,000 dollars to Dr. Frederick Owusu Boadu, a Ghanaian consultant in Texas, United States, from the TIP fund.
The eight-million dollar TIP fund was set up by the NDC administration to promote the non-traditional export sector.
Abodakpi was originally charged together with Victor Selormey, former Deputy Finance Minister, who died in the course of the trial.
Abodakpi, 57, filed an application for bail pending appeal at the trial court but it was dismissed by Justice Farkye.
He then filed a fresh application for bail at the court of appeal which was moved on October 11 by his counsel, Tony Lithur, before Justices B.T. Aryeetey, Samuel Marful-Sau and Mariama Owusu.
Mr. Lithur had argued, among other things, that the trial judge, in convicting his client, gave no consideration to his defence.
He said failure to give due consideration to the defence of Abodakpi represented “a clear error on the face of the record which makes the judgement barred in law.”
Opposing the bail application, Mrs. Getrude Aikins, acting Director of Public Prosecution, said, the order holding Abodakpi is valid and could only be set aside by a higher court of competent jurisdiction.
She said Abodakpi’s argument that the judgment was wrong could only be corrected by the appellate courts. “Unless it can be demonstrated that the judgement is indefensible, the court cannot grant bail to the applicant,” she said.
Justice Aryeetey, presiding, was the first on the panel to read his ruling, followed by Justice Marful-Sau. Justice Owusu did not read her ruling, but seconded the rulings of her colleagues.
Justice Aryeetey in dismissing Abodakpi's application, said the convicted MP did not show any special circumstance or give unusual reasons in the application to warrant the grant of bail pending appeal which he described as a discretion of the court.
“Since the main focus of the application is the failure of the trial judge to give consideration to the defence put up by the applicant at the trial, it will be appropriate for us to look at the whole appeal and decide on it,” he said.
He said further that there is no indication of the record of proceedings not being ready as alleged by the applicant.
Justice Marful-Sau said he refused the application for bail because although counsel had said the conviction was wrong and the appeal was likely to succeed, he could not attach those documents in the process for bail.
“Contract for consultancy services by Dr. Owusu-Boadu and the issue of the 400,000 dollars being frozen in the bank formed the basis of the appeal, but counsel did not exhibit any of these for the court to know that on the surface, the accused is entitled to bail, pending appeal,” he said.
Missing Cocaine Case: Sheriff used Brother's name in agreement
By William Yaw Owusu
Friday November 2, 2007
An Accra High Court yesterday heard how Sheriff Asem Darke, declared wanted by the police, used his brother's name in the charter agreement that brought 77 parcels of cocaine into the country last year.
The court, presided over by Justice Annin Yeboah of the Court of Appeal, also heard how Joseph Kojo Dawson, owner of the chartered MV Benjamin vessel, made his father to sign for him.
The court heard the revelations yesterday when Dawson, charged with using his property for narcotic offences, was cross-examined by the prosecution, led by Mrs. Stella Badu, a Principal State Attorney.
He is being charged with four others for the importation of the narcotic drug.
Dawson and his accomplices - Isaac Arhin, 40, Phillip Bruce Arhin, 49, a mechanic, Cui Xian Li, 49, a vessel engineer and Luo Yui Xing, 49, both Chinese, who were on board the MV Benjamin vessel that allegedly brought the narcotic drug package, lost their respective applications for submission of ‘no case’ after the close of the prosecution’s case.
The sixth accused person, Pak Bok Sil, a Korean vessel engineer, who was jointly charged with the five was acquitted and discharged by the court for lack of evidence.
The five men have been charged for the roles they played in the alleged importation of the cocaine to the Tema Port in April last year.
Sheriff, popularly called “Limping Man,” now at large, allegedly chartered the vessel from Dawson at 150,000 dollars under the pretext of towing his distressed vessel from Conakry, Guinea.
Isaac Arhin, Bruce Arhin, Li and Xing have all pleaded not guilty to two counts of engaging in prohibited business as related to narcotic drugs and possessing narcotic drugs unlawfully.
The prosecution called 13 witnesses after which the accused persons filed a submission of no case’ because they believed the prosecution failed to establish a case against them.
Dawson told the court that Dashment Company Limited of which he is the Managing Director jointly owned MV Benjamin with a Korean called Jil Bae of Dugon Fisheries in Korea.
He said Bae had in 2000 given the vessel to him on a hire purchase agreement at a cost of 600,000 dollars but he paid only 100,000 dollars before the vessel was arrested in April 27, 2006.
He said he made his father sign the charter agreement with Sheriff because his father was the person who had signed the hire-purchase agreement even though he had described his father as 'just an advisor' of the company in his earlier submission.
“Under the charter agreement, I should have signed but my father did because he was the person who signed the hire-purchase agreement,” he said.
Asked why Bae who he claimed prepared the agreement did not sign it, Dawson said the vessel was registered in Ghana and Dashment Company was supposed to sign it.
When the prosecution submitted that the name that Sheriff used in the agreement was Evans Charwetey Tsekobi and not Asem Darke, Dawson replied: “Sheriff and Bae came to us with the agreement and it was signed.”
Charwetey himself has since appeared before the court as a prosecution witness to say that he did not know anything about the agreement and did not also know about Atico Fisheries, the company used by Sheriff to sign the agreement.
Dawson further told the court that apart from the charter agreement, there was another agreement that permitted Sheriff to buy the vessel oughtright saying 'in the two agreements, Sheriff was to pay the money directly to Bae'.
He claimed that the first time he met Sheriff who introduced himself as Asem Darke was on February 6, 2006, when they met to sign the agreement which was witnessed by lawyers for the two parties but the prosecution says Sheriff had posed as Charwetey in the agreement and Dawson could not challenge the fugitive.
He said the vessel could tow a distressed vessel but Sheriff was the first person to have come to them for that purpose.
Dawson claimed that Bae visited Ghana every two years but was in the country in June and November 2005 and in January 2006. He further claimed that he did not know who prepared the two agreements even though he was the Managing Director of the vessel's company.
The prosecution said in the agreement Sheriff was expected to pay 150,000 dollars to the vessel's owners before January 31, 2006, but as at February 6, when the agreement was being effected, it had not been done, a position which Dawson admitted but claimed “Bae was in charge at that time.”
He claimed that he did not know if Sheriff had seen the vessel before the agreement but told the court that after February 6, 2006, the responsibility of the vessel had been given to Sheriff under the agreement.
When the prosecution suggested to him that his role in the agreement indicated that he was not interested in the vessel, Dawson said, “I have interest in the vessel but I do not know who is in charge of the repair of the vessel.”
The prosecution again suggested to him that the agreement did not allow Sheriff to repair the vessel. Dawson insisted that the fugitive was responsible for everything including repairs.
He said he went to Takoradi to see to the company's other vessel that had brought fish and saw Isaac Arhin whom he asked to inform him if Sheriff attempted to sail the vessel.
Friday November 2, 2007
An Accra High Court yesterday heard how Sheriff Asem Darke, declared wanted by the police, used his brother's name in the charter agreement that brought 77 parcels of cocaine into the country last year.
The court, presided over by Justice Annin Yeboah of the Court of Appeal, also heard how Joseph Kojo Dawson, owner of the chartered MV Benjamin vessel, made his father to sign for him.
The court heard the revelations yesterday when Dawson, charged with using his property for narcotic offences, was cross-examined by the prosecution, led by Mrs. Stella Badu, a Principal State Attorney.
He is being charged with four others for the importation of the narcotic drug.
Dawson and his accomplices - Isaac Arhin, 40, Phillip Bruce Arhin, 49, a mechanic, Cui Xian Li, 49, a vessel engineer and Luo Yui Xing, 49, both Chinese, who were on board the MV Benjamin vessel that allegedly brought the narcotic drug package, lost their respective applications for submission of ‘no case’ after the close of the prosecution’s case.
The sixth accused person, Pak Bok Sil, a Korean vessel engineer, who was jointly charged with the five was acquitted and discharged by the court for lack of evidence.
The five men have been charged for the roles they played in the alleged importation of the cocaine to the Tema Port in April last year.
Sheriff, popularly called “Limping Man,” now at large, allegedly chartered the vessel from Dawson at 150,000 dollars under the pretext of towing his distressed vessel from Conakry, Guinea.
Isaac Arhin, Bruce Arhin, Li and Xing have all pleaded not guilty to two counts of engaging in prohibited business as related to narcotic drugs and possessing narcotic drugs unlawfully.
The prosecution called 13 witnesses after which the accused persons filed a submission of no case’ because they believed the prosecution failed to establish a case against them.
Dawson told the court that Dashment Company Limited of which he is the Managing Director jointly owned MV Benjamin with a Korean called Jil Bae of Dugon Fisheries in Korea.
He said Bae had in 2000 given the vessel to him on a hire purchase agreement at a cost of 600,000 dollars but he paid only 100,000 dollars before the vessel was arrested in April 27, 2006.
He said he made his father sign the charter agreement with Sheriff because his father was the person who had signed the hire-purchase agreement even though he had described his father as 'just an advisor' of the company in his earlier submission.
“Under the charter agreement, I should have signed but my father did because he was the person who signed the hire-purchase agreement,” he said.
Asked why Bae who he claimed prepared the agreement did not sign it, Dawson said the vessel was registered in Ghana and Dashment Company was supposed to sign it.
When the prosecution submitted that the name that Sheriff used in the agreement was Evans Charwetey Tsekobi and not Asem Darke, Dawson replied: “Sheriff and Bae came to us with the agreement and it was signed.”
Charwetey himself has since appeared before the court as a prosecution witness to say that he did not know anything about the agreement and did not also know about Atico Fisheries, the company used by Sheriff to sign the agreement.
Dawson further told the court that apart from the charter agreement, there was another agreement that permitted Sheriff to buy the vessel oughtright saying 'in the two agreements, Sheriff was to pay the money directly to Bae'.
He claimed that the first time he met Sheriff who introduced himself as Asem Darke was on February 6, 2006, when they met to sign the agreement which was witnessed by lawyers for the two parties but the prosecution says Sheriff had posed as Charwetey in the agreement and Dawson could not challenge the fugitive.
He said the vessel could tow a distressed vessel but Sheriff was the first person to have come to them for that purpose.
Dawson claimed that Bae visited Ghana every two years but was in the country in June and November 2005 and in January 2006. He further claimed that he did not know who prepared the two agreements even though he was the Managing Director of the vessel's company.
The prosecution said in the agreement Sheriff was expected to pay 150,000 dollars to the vessel's owners before January 31, 2006, but as at February 6, when the agreement was being effected, it had not been done, a position which Dawson admitted but claimed “Bae was in charge at that time.”
He claimed that he did not know if Sheriff had seen the vessel before the agreement but told the court that after February 6, 2006, the responsibility of the vessel had been given to Sheriff under the agreement.
When the prosecution suggested to him that his role in the agreement indicated that he was not interested in the vessel, Dawson said, “I have interest in the vessel but I do not know who is in charge of the repair of the vessel.”
The prosecution again suggested to him that the agreement did not allow Sheriff to repair the vessel. Dawson insisted that the fugitive was responsible for everything including repairs.
He said he went to Takoradi to see to the company's other vessel that had brought fish and saw Isaac Arhin whom he asked to inform him if Sheriff attempted to sail the vessel.
Thursday, November 01, 2007
How To Avoid Losing Our Mother Tongue
By William Yaw Owusu
Thursday, 01 November 2007
DR Felix Konotey-Ahulu, the renowned Ghanaian medical scientist, has added to his laurels research in another area, this time not in medicine but into the components of the Krobo/Dangme Ga language.
He has for long been working in the field of medicine, notably his research into sickle cell, but his discovery of a "Unique Feature of Tonal Linguistics, The Mid Pitch Arrest Phenomenon in Krobo/Dangme — Ga Mother Tongue of South East Ghana", is an eye opener.
Dr Konotey-Ahulu made his discovery public at a Ghana at 50 Lecture organised by the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS) at the British Council Hall in Accra on Tuesday.
He said the only way to preserve the country’s rich cultural heritage is for adults to teach the youth how to read and write the local languages.
"Let us not forget to read and write our mother tongue. I am not happy about how the mother tongue has been poorly used."
Touching on "How to avoid losing our mother tongue", Dr Konotey-Ahulu said "for instance I have observed the word ‘Akan’ to be used indiscriminately to stand for ‘Twi’ or even ‘Fante’ yet I, a non-Akan, am quite capable of discerning differences (acoustically) between the different types of Akan.
"Nobody is to blame for the choice of one language to represent that of a whole group of similar languages when it comes, for instance, to translating the Bible from Hebrew, Greek, Latin, or English. While logistics dictate the use of a representative language for literature translation, this can lead to the loss of written mother tongue, a situation I consider very serious."
He said, "as a Ghanaian, my own unique definition of a tonal language is one whose vowel can impart at least six different meanings to a consonant.
"Our parents were excellent in reading our language fluently, It is a pity that the young are not able to do so".
He lauded the early missionaries who translated the various languages suing "they did not know much about our languages in those days but were able to do the translation fantastically."
The fact that Ghanaians of an older generation read fluently in their own language the Bible and words of hymns reflect the magnificent work the translators have done, he said and asked:
"But why do we, the later generations find it increasingly difficult to read material translated into our mother tongues?"
Dr Konotey-Ahulu said the Krobo-Dangme-Ga people have extraordinary mid-pitch which is not common in the various languages worldwide.
Commenting on recent development’s in medicine and science, Dr Konotey-Ahulu condemned Professor James Watson, a DNA Pioneer and Nobel Prize Winner who recently commented that "Africans are less intelligent than Westerners."
He said, "there are Africans who have shot to the top. They competed and beat these Westerners whom Prof. Watson claims are more intelligent."
He said "it is not a question of retarded development but a case of accelerated degeneration. If Prof. Watson looks carefully, he can find great people like him who are African"
Nene Sackite II, Konor of Manya Krobo, who was guest of honour, said "Dr Konotey-Ahulu has done us proud by stepping out of science and medicine to analyse the components of the Krobo Language."
He honoured Dr Konotey-Ahulu with the title "The Eye of Krobo: and urged him to continue his good works.
Dr Letitia Obeng, President of GAAS, who chaired the lecture said, it is not too late for parents to start speaking their mother tongue with their children.
No Prosecutor At Mrs Rawlings' Trial
Mrs Rawlings responding to cheers from party supprters
By William Yaw Owusu
Thursday, 01 November 2007
The case of former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, and four others, being tried in connection with the divestiture of the Nsawam Cannery could not be heard yesterday because there were no prosecutors present.
The state prosecutors from the Attorney-General’s Department were not in the court at the time the case was called.
Bram Larbi, a defence counsel, asked the court to strike out the case at the next adjourned date should the prosecution fail to turn up a second time.
But Justice Kobena K. Acquaye, who has taken over the trial from Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie of the Court of Appeal, said he will rather fix a new date for hearing and asked the defence counsel to take steps to inform the prosecution about the new date. He adjourned the case to November 15.
The new judge expressed his displeasure about the way sympathisers of the accused persons thronged the court premises to disturb proceedings of the court and asked defence counsel to advise them to desist from their act.
All the accused persons, including Kwame Peprah, former Finance Minister and chairman of the Divestiture Implementation Committee (DIC), and Emmanuel Amuzu Agbodo, former Executive Secretary of the DIC, Thomas Banson Owusu, former DIC Accountant, Hanny Sherry Ayittey, Director of Carridem Development Company Limited were in court (CDCL). The CDCL itself is also on trial.
Later, after the departure of the accused persons, Ms. Gertrude Aikins, acting Director of Public Prosecutions, arrived in court.
She said she was aware of the date of the case but was unaware about the time. She also said she did not know about the change of judge.
Sources at the court said the accused persons had filed a motion for stay of execution pending the determination of a civil appeal involving the CDCL and AG’s Department.
They said the determination of the appeal will have a bearing on the criminal case.
The accused persons were originally charged with Georgina Okaitey, a director, George Mould, a director and Larry Adjetey, a director/secretary, all of CDCL but the A-G withdrew the charges against the three under Section 9 of Act 30 of the Criminal Code last year.
Mrs. Rawlings, Ms. Ayittey and CDCL are facing eight counts of conspiracy, causing loss to public property dishonestly, obtaining public property by false pretences, obtaining public property by false statement, conspiracy to alter forged documents and altering forged documents.
Mr. Peprah on the other hand faces three counts of conspiracy to cause a loss to public property, dishonestly causing loss to public property and conspiracy to obtain public property by false pretences.
Mr. Agbodo is charged with 10 counts of conspiracy, stealing, intentionally causing loss to the property of public body, causing loss to a public body, by dishonesty causing loss to public property by dishonesty and conspiracy to obtain public property by false pretences while Mr. Owusu faces six counts of conspiracy, and stealing.
All the accused persons have pleaded not guilty and are on self-cognisance bail
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