Six people died, three on the spot and three on the way to the Margaret Marquart Catholic Hospital, Kpando, in a fatal accident on the Kpando–Tokor road yesterday.
The 38-seater Mercedes Benz 205 D bus, with registration number AS 94 D, which was involved in the accident, was conveying bags of salt and 19 passengers, mostly traders from Ningo in the Greater Accra Region, to the Tokor Market when it plunged into a valley at about 5.50 a.m.
The dead include the driver of the Benz bus, his mate and four others who are yet to be identified. Their bodies have been deposited at the mortuary of the Margaret Marquart Catholic Hospital.
The remaining 13 passengers, mostly women, are on admission at the same hospital.
They are Sarah Tetteh, 50; Joyce Kwami, 20; Gifty Ntiamoah, 40; Tei Daniel, 26; Kofi Awatey, 37, and Ayiku Tetteh, 36.
The rest are Okutu Boitey, 46; Sarah Adotum, 24; Joyce Tetteh, 46; Amaki Dzagonu, 62; Baby Siaw, 30, and Emmanuel Akwettey, 21.
According to the medical superintendent of the hospital, the victims were all in stable condition.
According to the Kpando District Commander of Police, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Julius Ellis Agbavade, the driver was just about two kilometres away from Tokor when the accident occurred.
He attributed it to tiredness on the part of the driver because he went off the road and drove some 100 metres. It was in an attempt to get back on the road that the vehicle skidded and fell into a deep valley.
The Kpando District Chief Executive, Mr Pius Adanuti, who visited the victims at the hospital, sent his condolences to the bereaved families and wished those in the hospital a speedy recovery.
He reiterated his appeal to the Ghana Highway Authority to rehabilitate the Kpando-Ve Golokuati road which had a lot of potholes on it.
On the Kpando-Tokor road, he wondered when the GHA would heed to his call to put road markings and railings on the meandering road to prevent accidents.
He expressed his gratitude to taxi drivers at Kpando, officers of the Ghana National Fire Service and the police at Kpando for their prompt response to the accident.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Sunday, November 16, 2008
COURT ISSUES BENCH WARRANT FOR ARREST OF BUSINESSWOMAN (PAGE 39)
THE Jasikan Circuit Court in the Volta Region has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of a 23-year old Jasiskan-based business woman, Sylvia Ama Afful, for allegedly defrauding the Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB) of GH¢1,230.
The court has adjourned the case sine die until Sylvia, who has jumped bail, is re-arrested.
Sylvia is believed to be hiding in Accra or Tema.
Presenting the facts of the case before the court presided over by Mr Samuel Kofi Solomon, the prosecutor, Inspector Seth Twum Mensah, said on December 31, 2007, Sylvia, a customer of the Jasikan branch of the GCB, went to the bank to transact business.
He said Sylvia, who had credit balance of GH¢1,247.22 at the bank, requested the staff to transfer the money to Tema for some business transactions.
According to the prosecutor, the bank suffered some power fluctuations so the transfer process was made twice as the first transaction was thought to have been unsuccessful.
Inspector Twum Mensah said when the network was fully restored, the bank detected that the suspect’s account had been credited twice.
According to the prosecutor, the bank quickly notified Sylvia by telephone but she ignored the notification and rather went ahead to withdraw all the money in her account.
Inspector Twum Mensah said Sylvia gave the assurance that she would refund the excess amount to the bank but rather closed the account and stopped going to Jasikan.
The court has adjourned the case sine die until Sylvia, who has jumped bail, is re-arrested.
Sylvia is believed to be hiding in Accra or Tema.
Presenting the facts of the case before the court presided over by Mr Samuel Kofi Solomon, the prosecutor, Inspector Seth Twum Mensah, said on December 31, 2007, Sylvia, a customer of the Jasikan branch of the GCB, went to the bank to transact business.
He said Sylvia, who had credit balance of GH¢1,247.22 at the bank, requested the staff to transfer the money to Tema for some business transactions.
According to the prosecutor, the bank suffered some power fluctuations so the transfer process was made twice as the first transaction was thought to have been unsuccessful.
Inspector Twum Mensah said when the network was fully restored, the bank detected that the suspect’s account had been credited twice.
According to the prosecutor, the bank quickly notified Sylvia by telephone but she ignored the notification and rather went ahead to withdraw all the money in her account.
Inspector Twum Mensah said Sylvia gave the assurance that she would refund the excess amount to the bank but rather closed the account and stopped going to Jasikan.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
HOHOE ELECTION TASK FORCE INAUGURATED (PAGE 16)
THE 11-member Hohoe Municipal Election Task Force Committee has been inaugurated in Hohoe and tasked to ensure smooth and peaceful general election on December 7.
The committees members are drawn from the Police, Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS), Fire Service, Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), Immigration Service and the Electoral Commission (EC).
In his inaugural address, the Sector Commander of CEPS, Mr Fredua Boakye Agyeman, urged all security service personnel who would be deployed on election day to be extra cautious, maintain discipline and be alert at all times. Above all, they need to remain non-partisan before, during and after the elections.
“To the commanders who would be in charge of the various districts: We expect you to lead by example. You must ensure that all your men are well briefed on their duties, and do not hesitate to contact your superiors when confronted with any problem”, he cautioned.
Mr Agyeman urged the security service to display a high sense of fairness in order to uphold the confidence reposed in them by the public.
“I look forward to maximum co-operation from members of the security service and a cordial relationship with the general public. This is the only country we have, and we must work diligently to protect it”, he advised.
The committees members are drawn from the Police, Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS), Fire Service, Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), Immigration Service and the Electoral Commission (EC).
In his inaugural address, the Sector Commander of CEPS, Mr Fredua Boakye Agyeman, urged all security service personnel who would be deployed on election day to be extra cautious, maintain discipline and be alert at all times. Above all, they need to remain non-partisan before, during and after the elections.
“To the commanders who would be in charge of the various districts: We expect you to lead by example. You must ensure that all your men are well briefed on their duties, and do not hesitate to contact your superiors when confronted with any problem”, he cautioned.
Mr Agyeman urged the security service to display a high sense of fairness in order to uphold the confidence reposed in them by the public.
“I look forward to maximum co-operation from members of the security service and a cordial relationship with the general public. This is the only country we have, and we must work diligently to protect it”, he advised.
COCOBOD VOWS TO ELIMINATE CHILD LABOUR (BACK PAGE)
GHANA COCOBOD says it is determined to eliminate the worst forms of child labour in the cocoa sector throughout the country.
Addressing a farmers rally at Likpe Bala in the Hohoe Municipality last Tuesday, a Senior Research Officer of COCOBOD, Mr Paul Ntim, said in that effort, COCOBOD was collaborating with International Cocoa Initiatives (ICI) to build the capacity of some media personnel and COCOBOD field staff to deal with issues of child labour.
He announced that over 300 field staff and Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs) have so far been trained in that regard.
He added that cocobod had also started a rigorous radio educational programme on child labour with 13 selected FM stations to create awareness and sensitise communities to ensuring that children were not exploited and abused in the production of cocoa.
Examples of cases of child labour, he cited, included taking children under 18 years out of school to work on cocoa farms, and heaping heavy loads on the heads of the children.
He said with such initiatives, COCOBOD had seen effective results, especially through the use of the local languages on the 13 selected radio stations.
This, he said, was part of the national programme for the elimination of worst forms of child labour by 2011, adding that the programme was crucial to the development and growth of the country.
On the quality of cocoa, he urged farmers to ferment their cocoa for six days, dry them well so that the standard set by Ghana on the world market would be sustained.
Addressing a farmers rally at Likpe Bala in the Hohoe Municipality last Tuesday, a Senior Research Officer of COCOBOD, Mr Paul Ntim, said in that effort, COCOBOD was collaborating with International Cocoa Initiatives (ICI) to build the capacity of some media personnel and COCOBOD field staff to deal with issues of child labour.
He announced that over 300 field staff and Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs) have so far been trained in that regard.
He added that cocobod had also started a rigorous radio educational programme on child labour with 13 selected FM stations to create awareness and sensitise communities to ensuring that children were not exploited and abused in the production of cocoa.
Examples of cases of child labour, he cited, included taking children under 18 years out of school to work on cocoa farms, and heaping heavy loads on the heads of the children.
He said with such initiatives, COCOBOD had seen effective results, especially through the use of the local languages on the 13 selected radio stations.
This, he said, was part of the national programme for the elimination of worst forms of child labour by 2011, adding that the programme was crucial to the development and growth of the country.
On the quality of cocoa, he urged farmers to ferment their cocoa for six days, dry them well so that the standard set by Ghana on the world market would be sustained.
BARCLAYS BANK FETES PUPILS (PAGE 22)
THE Hohoe branch of Barclays Bank, Ghana has feted 400 pupils selected from three junior high schools (JHS) as part of its “Make a Difference Day Celebration” held at Hohoe.
The beneficiary schools were the Evangelical Presbyterian, Experimental and New Town Municipal Assembly JHS.
As part of the celebration, Barclays Bank officials taught the students lessons in Mathematics, English and Science after which each of them took home exercise books and pens.
In addition, a counselling exercise was held for them on several issues, including respect for their parents and teachers, drug abuse and the need to learn hard in school.
Food and drinks were served to the participants.
The Co-ordinator for the programme, Mr Sterlington Horsoo of the Hohoe branch of Barclays Bank, said such programmes were organised annually to enable the staff to reach out to the people in the community as part of its social responsibility.
He said last year, the bank held the programme at the Volta School for the Deaf at Hohoe.
In a chat, the Headmaster of E.P. JHS, Mr Sylva-Eric Woname, said they were very excited about the programme since it would motivate the students to aim high.
The beneficiary schools were the Evangelical Presbyterian, Experimental and New Town Municipal Assembly JHS.
As part of the celebration, Barclays Bank officials taught the students lessons in Mathematics, English and Science after which each of them took home exercise books and pens.
In addition, a counselling exercise was held for them on several issues, including respect for their parents and teachers, drug abuse and the need to learn hard in school.
Food and drinks were served to the participants.
The Co-ordinator for the programme, Mr Sterlington Horsoo of the Hohoe branch of Barclays Bank, said such programmes were organised annually to enable the staff to reach out to the people in the community as part of its social responsibility.
He said last year, the bank held the programme at the Volta School for the Deaf at Hohoe.
In a chat, the Headmaster of E.P. JHS, Mr Sylva-Eric Woname, said they were very excited about the programme since it would motivate the students to aim high.
Monday, November 3, 2008
FARMERS GET MOSQUITO NETS (BACK PAGE)
THE Produce Buying Company (PBC) has distributed 5,121 mosquito nets to farmers in various cocoa-growing centres in the Volta Region at a ceremony at Bodada in the Jasikan District.
Mr Prosper Segbla, Volta Regional Manager of the PBC, who made the presentation, said the government was doing its best to boost cocoa production to enable the country to hit the one million tonne target in the next two years.
He said due to smuggling activities, only 1,000 tonnes of cocoa beans were bought in the region in spite of the good harvest brought about by the mass spraying exercise and provision of other inputs aimed at boosting production.
This was out of the 700,000 tonnes recorded nationwide last year.
He lamented that due to smuggling in the region, incentives due to farmers were denied them, adding that last year for instance, the region had only six Ghana Cocoa Board scholarship awards as compared to Sankore, a cocoa-growing community in the Brong Ahafo, which had 300.
On boreholes, he said the region had only five, adding that the government was prepared to respond to the needs of the people if they identified themselves with it.
Mr Segbla also announced that funds had been released for the payment of bonus this year aimed at improving cocoa production in the country.
Mr Prosper Segbla, Volta Regional Manager of the PBC, who made the presentation, said the government was doing its best to boost cocoa production to enable the country to hit the one million tonne target in the next two years.
He said due to smuggling activities, only 1,000 tonnes of cocoa beans were bought in the region in spite of the good harvest brought about by the mass spraying exercise and provision of other inputs aimed at boosting production.
This was out of the 700,000 tonnes recorded nationwide last year.
He lamented that due to smuggling in the region, incentives due to farmers were denied them, adding that last year for instance, the region had only six Ghana Cocoa Board scholarship awards as compared to Sankore, a cocoa-growing community in the Brong Ahafo, which had 300.
On boreholes, he said the region had only five, adding that the government was prepared to respond to the needs of the people if they identified themselves with it.
Mr Segbla also announced that funds had been released for the payment of bonus this year aimed at improving cocoa production in the country.
Friday, October 31, 2008
NGO OFFERS FREE EYE-SCREENING AT PEKI AVETILE (PAGE 39)
THE Volta Chapter of “Unite for Sight”, a US-based non-governmental organisation (NGO), has organised a two-day eye screening exercise dubbed: “Catch Gbi za with Eye Screening” at Peki Avetile, in the South Dayi District of the Volta Region.
The ceremony formed part of this year’s annual Gbi Dukorza festival celebration.
A total of 484 patients were screened, and those found to have cataract and pterygium were referred to the Crystal Eye Clinic at Adenta in Accra, where they were operated upon free of charge by the leader of the team, Dr James Clark.
The Volta Regional Co-ordinator of the NGO, Rev. Benjamin Bankas, told the Daily Graphic that the medical team spent about two weeks at Jasikan and Peki in the Volta Region on a similar exercise.
He said at Peki, the team found out that 45 per cent of the people screened had cataract, while the percentage of those with refractive errors was 40, with reading difficulty cases making up the remaining 15 per cent.
According to Mr Bankas, Glaucoma was detected as the major problem in the northern sector of the Jasikan District, forming about 60 per cent of all cases screened, whilst cataract came second with 35 per cent with refractive error cases being five per cent.
Rev. Bankas appealed for assistance from well-to-do individuals and benevolent organisations to enable the NGO to reach out to the hinterlands, where its services were needed most.
The ceremony formed part of this year’s annual Gbi Dukorza festival celebration.
A total of 484 patients were screened, and those found to have cataract and pterygium were referred to the Crystal Eye Clinic at Adenta in Accra, where they were operated upon free of charge by the leader of the team, Dr James Clark.
The Volta Regional Co-ordinator of the NGO, Rev. Benjamin Bankas, told the Daily Graphic that the medical team spent about two weeks at Jasikan and Peki in the Volta Region on a similar exercise.
He said at Peki, the team found out that 45 per cent of the people screened had cataract, while the percentage of those with refractive errors was 40, with reading difficulty cases making up the remaining 15 per cent.
According to Mr Bankas, Glaucoma was detected as the major problem in the northern sector of the Jasikan District, forming about 60 per cent of all cases screened, whilst cataract came second with 35 per cent with refractive error cases being five per cent.
Rev. Bankas appealed for assistance from well-to-do individuals and benevolent organisations to enable the NGO to reach out to the hinterlands, where its services were needed most.
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