Story: Samuel Duodu, Nsoatre
THE chiefs and people of Nsoatre, near Sunyani in the Brong-Ahafo Region, embarked on a three-hour massive demonstration at Nsoatre on Thursday to protest against the siting of the capital of the newly-created Sunyani West District at Odomase.
The demonstrators, numbering about 400 and clad in mourning clothes with red bands around their necks and wrists, marched through some of the principal streets of Nsoatre, amid the chanting of war songs.
Policemen were present in their numbers to provide protection.
Some of the placards the demonstrators carried read: “ Nsoatre deserves the capital”, “NPP, let justice prevail”, “President Kufuor, Tie Yen”, “ Do the right thing @50” and “ Adjei Darko, you are arrogant.”
Among the chiefs of the traditional area who took part in the demonstration were Nana Agyeman Donsah, the Akyempimhene, Nana Amankwa Appiah, the Sanahene, Nana Twene Ameyaw, the Akyeamehene, and Nana Baffour Gyamfi Awuah, the Ankobeahene.
The rest were Nana Kofi Yeboah, the Adontenhene, Nana Asi Kwasi II, the Akwamuhene, Nana Kwame Baah, the Nkosoohene, Nana Baffour Agyei Boahen, the Abrafohene, and Nana Kwaku Amponsah, the Twabirifie Panin.
The Sunyani Municipal Police Commander, Superintendent Charles Botwe, told newsmen that 70 policemen and 68 Community Protection Unit (CPU) members were deployed to maintain law and order, with some of them wielding tear gas.
The leaders of the demonstration later sent a delegation to Sunyani to present a resolution on behalf of the chiefs and people of Nsoatre to the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, for onward submission to the President.
The Sunyani West District was among the 32 new districts created last year. The new district, which was carved out of the Sunyani municipality, has Odomase as its capital.
The protesters, who later converged on the forecourt of the Nsoatre Urban Council Office, were addressed by Nana Agyeman Donsah, the Akyempimhene.
According to him, Nsoatre was the biggest town with the highest population among the other towns in the newly-created district and, therefore, deserved to be made the district capital.
He said they were not in litigation with anybody, neither did they have a problem; what they were fighting against was injustice and unfair treatment by the Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment, Mr Adjei-Darko.
Nana Donsah, therefore, made a passionate appeal to President Kufuor to look into the matter and let justice prevail.
A statement signed by Nana Asi Kwasi, the Akwamuhene, and issued to newsmen, said the people were pressing home their demand for Nsoatre to be made the district capital, instead of Odomase.
It stated that in terms of infrastructural development, Nsoatre was better endowed than the other towns in the new district.
The statement cited the community centre, which could be used as temporary offices for the new district, and an urban council office that could serve as offices for the decentralised departments of the assembly.
According to the statement, Nsoatre was the 62nd largest town in Ghana and the 10th in the Brong Ahafo Region, with a total population of 18,931, while the other two big towns in the district, Chiraa and Odomase, had 15,183 and 12,167 people, respectively.
It said the decision to site the district capital at Odomase, instead of Nsoatre, which was announced on October 25, last year, came to the people of Nsoatre as a shock.
The statement described the explanation given by Mr Adjei-Darko to make Odomase the district capital because it was the most centrally located town in the area as untenable.
It asked the sector minister why the national capital was not Kintampo but Accra, even though Kintampo was considered the midpoint of Ghana.
It would be recalled that last week the chiefs and people of Nsoatre boycotted a meeting convened by the Local Government Ministry to discuss the inauguration of the district, which comes off on February 29, this year.
At the meeting, Mr Adjei-Darko expressed regret over the decision of the chiefs and people of Nsoatre not to attend the durbar, which was aimed at assessing the state of preparedness before the inauguration of the new district.
Monday, February 11, 2008
PASS CREDIT UNION BILL INTO LAW — ADU YEABOAH (Page 32)
Story: Samuel Duodu, Techiman
THE Board Chairman of the Ebenezer Co-operative Credit Union Limited at Techiman in the Brong Ahafo Region, Mr Abraham Adu Yeboah, has made an urgent appeal to Parliament to pass the Credit Union Bill (CUB), which is before the house, into law.
According to him, the delay in the passage of the bill had given room to unscrupulous individuals or group of persons to move from one place to another in the name of the Credit Union Association (CUA), collecting people’s money and absconding with or mismanaging them.
He stated that the only way that unhealthy development on the micro-credit front could be curbed and the persons involved brought to book was for Parliament to pass the CUB into law to provide effective means of governance in the credit unions’ operations in the country.
Mr Yeboah made the appeal at the inauguration of a GH¢98,600 office complex for the Ebenezer CUA at Techiman. The ceremony coincided with the 12th annual general meeting of the union.
The board chairman stated that the office complex was built through the contributions of union members, who offered 50 per cent of interest on their savings towards the project.
Mr Yeboah announced that the membership of the credit union increased from 1,379 in 2006 to 1,686 in 2007, showing an increase of 25 per cent.
He added that the savings of the union also increased from GH¢390 million to GH¢430 million while loans granted to the members shot up from GH¢253 million to GH¢260 million over the same period.
According to Mr Yeboah, the union’s assets rose from GH¢536 million to GH¢653 million.
He attributed the union’s success to the sound business practices and principles put in place, which had enhanced the mobile banking system, computerisation and accurate record-keeping.
The Regional Co-operative Officer, Mr Jerome Adopley, announced that Techiman had seven vibrant credit unions in the region.
He therefore called on them to form a consortium, pay an agreed percentage of their net surplus or profit into a fund to set up a technological enterprise that would manufacture hoes, garden forks, watering cans, rakes and other farming implements for small-scale farmers.
Mr Adopley said that would enable Techiman to lead the industrial agricultural revolution in the region.
The Regional Minister, Mr Ignatius Baffour Awuah, commended the board, management and staff of the credit union for putting up such a magnificent office complex which no traditional bank could even boast of.
The General Manager of CUA, Mr Emmanuel Oduro Darko, repeated the call on Ghanaians to develop the culture of saving and move away from frivolous spending, adding that the money that people considered to be insignificant could be saved to meet a future need.
Among the dignitaries at the ceremony were Nana Asare Baffour Twum 11, the Adontenhene of Techiman, who chaired the function and Nana Fosu Gyeabour Appenteng, Hansuahene and Bamuhene of the Techiman Traditional Area.
THE Board Chairman of the Ebenezer Co-operative Credit Union Limited at Techiman in the Brong Ahafo Region, Mr Abraham Adu Yeboah, has made an urgent appeal to Parliament to pass the Credit Union Bill (CUB), which is before the house, into law.
According to him, the delay in the passage of the bill had given room to unscrupulous individuals or group of persons to move from one place to another in the name of the Credit Union Association (CUA), collecting people’s money and absconding with or mismanaging them.
He stated that the only way that unhealthy development on the micro-credit front could be curbed and the persons involved brought to book was for Parliament to pass the CUB into law to provide effective means of governance in the credit unions’ operations in the country.
Mr Yeboah made the appeal at the inauguration of a GH¢98,600 office complex for the Ebenezer CUA at Techiman. The ceremony coincided with the 12th annual general meeting of the union.
The board chairman stated that the office complex was built through the contributions of union members, who offered 50 per cent of interest on their savings towards the project.
Mr Yeboah announced that the membership of the credit union increased from 1,379 in 2006 to 1,686 in 2007, showing an increase of 25 per cent.
He added that the savings of the union also increased from GH¢390 million to GH¢430 million while loans granted to the members shot up from GH¢253 million to GH¢260 million over the same period.
According to Mr Yeboah, the union’s assets rose from GH¢536 million to GH¢653 million.
He attributed the union’s success to the sound business practices and principles put in place, which had enhanced the mobile banking system, computerisation and accurate record-keeping.
The Regional Co-operative Officer, Mr Jerome Adopley, announced that Techiman had seven vibrant credit unions in the region.
He therefore called on them to form a consortium, pay an agreed percentage of their net surplus or profit into a fund to set up a technological enterprise that would manufacture hoes, garden forks, watering cans, rakes and other farming implements for small-scale farmers.
Mr Adopley said that would enable Techiman to lead the industrial agricultural revolution in the region.
The Regional Minister, Mr Ignatius Baffour Awuah, commended the board, management and staff of the credit union for putting up such a magnificent office complex which no traditional bank could even boast of.
The General Manager of CUA, Mr Emmanuel Oduro Darko, repeated the call on Ghanaians to develop the culture of saving and move away from frivolous spending, adding that the money that people considered to be insignificant could be saved to meet a future need.
Among the dignitaries at the ceremony were Nana Asare Baffour Twum 11, the Adontenhene of Techiman, who chaired the function and Nana Fosu Gyeabour Appenteng, Hansuahene and Bamuhene of the Techiman Traditional Area.
MEDIA URGED TO RESEARCH INTO CONFLICTS ... PAGE 21
Story: Samuel Duodu, Forikrom
THE Chief of Forikrom, near Techiman in the Brong Ahafo Region, Okogyeman Kese Basahyia II, has appealed to media practitioners in the country to endeavour to uncover sources of conflict and suggest useful ways of dealing with their prevention and solution.
According to him, it behoved the media to research into the causes of conflicts in order to provide reliable early warning signals for timely intervention and minimise the factors contributing to the fuelling conflicts in the country.
"Our writing should help promote conflict awareness and management, highlight the plight of victims and provide reliable and credible data on conflict situations and enlighten society and the government on conflict issues," he stressed.
Nana Basahyia, who is also a journalist and Benkumhene of the Techiman Traditional Area, made the appeal when he was “outdoored” under the stool name Okogyeman Kese Basahyia at Forikrom over the weekend.
The Forikromhene expressed regret that in some circumstances the media in Africa had become tools of conflict, adding, "Some of my colleagues in the media have, in some cases, been fanning conflict anywhere they find themselves."
He, therefore, urged media practitioners not to allow themselves to be used as tools to fan conflicts which retard the smooth development of communities.
Touching on electioneering, Nana Basahyia urged politicians to dwell on issues that would bring about development and lead to improvement in the living standards of Ghanaians.
Nana Basahyia called for co-operation from his people to enable him to reign effectively and pledged that education would be his top priority.
The Omanhene of Techiman Traditional Area, Oseadeeyo Akumfi Ameyaw IV, who performed the outdooring ceremony, urged the people to bury their differences and unite for the speedy development of the town.
Earlier in a welcoming address, Nana Kwaw Adama, the Twafohene of Forikrom, called on the people to rally behind the new chief to ensure the socio-economic development of the town.
Nana Apeteng Fosu Gyeabour, the Hansuahene and Bemuhene of the Techiman Traditional Area, who chaired the function, expressed the hope that citizens of the town would renew their support for the chief and contribute their quota to the development of the area.
Nana Basahyia, known in private life as Mr Osei Bonsu, currently the Printing Manager of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), succeeded the late Nana Kwaku Adjapong, who died at the age of 102. The new chief is married with four children.
THE Chief of Forikrom, near Techiman in the Brong Ahafo Region, Okogyeman Kese Basahyia II, has appealed to media practitioners in the country to endeavour to uncover sources of conflict and suggest useful ways of dealing with their prevention and solution.
According to him, it behoved the media to research into the causes of conflicts in order to provide reliable early warning signals for timely intervention and minimise the factors contributing to the fuelling conflicts in the country.
"Our writing should help promote conflict awareness and management, highlight the plight of victims and provide reliable and credible data on conflict situations and enlighten society and the government on conflict issues," he stressed.
Nana Basahyia, who is also a journalist and Benkumhene of the Techiman Traditional Area, made the appeal when he was “outdoored” under the stool name Okogyeman Kese Basahyia at Forikrom over the weekend.
The Forikromhene expressed regret that in some circumstances the media in Africa had become tools of conflict, adding, "Some of my colleagues in the media have, in some cases, been fanning conflict anywhere they find themselves."
He, therefore, urged media practitioners not to allow themselves to be used as tools to fan conflicts which retard the smooth development of communities.
Touching on electioneering, Nana Basahyia urged politicians to dwell on issues that would bring about development and lead to improvement in the living standards of Ghanaians.
Nana Basahyia called for co-operation from his people to enable him to reign effectively and pledged that education would be his top priority.
The Omanhene of Techiman Traditional Area, Oseadeeyo Akumfi Ameyaw IV, who performed the outdooring ceremony, urged the people to bury their differences and unite for the speedy development of the town.
Earlier in a welcoming address, Nana Kwaw Adama, the Twafohene of Forikrom, called on the people to rally behind the new chief to ensure the socio-economic development of the town.
Nana Apeteng Fosu Gyeabour, the Hansuahene and Bemuhene of the Techiman Traditional Area, who chaired the function, expressed the hope that citizens of the town would renew their support for the chief and contribute their quota to the development of the area.
Nana Basahyia, known in private life as Mr Osei Bonsu, currently the Printing Manager of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), succeeded the late Nana Kwaku Adjapong, who died at the age of 102. The new chief is married with four children.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
NSOATRE CHIEFS, PEOPLE BOYCOTT MEETING (Page 28)
Story: Samuel Duodu, Odumase
The chiefs and people of Nsoatre, one of the major towns in the newly created Sunyani West District of the Brong-Ahafo Region, on Wednesday boycotted a meeting convened by the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment (MLGDE) to discuss the planned inauguration of the district on February, 29, this year.
When the roll was called at the meeting held at the Odumase Presbyterian Church, no chief, opinion leader, assembly member or citizen of Nsoatre was present.
The meeting was attended by the sector minister, Mr Kwadwo Adjei-Darko, and the chiefs, opinion leaders and assembly members of the other towns and villages in the district.
When the Daily Graphic contacted the Nsoatre Traditional Council, a source close to the council acknowledged the receipt of the letter inviting the council to the meeting, but claimed that they decided to stay away because they did not want to have anything to do with the newly created district that had Odumase as the capital.
An official of the Sunyani Municipal Assembly has also confirmed that he wrote the invitation letter on behalf of the municipal chief executive.
The decision by the chiefs and people of Nsoatre not to attend the meeting, according to the source, also stemmed from an earlier press conference held by the traditional council to protest against the siting of the district capital at Odumase, during which they vowed they would not be part of the new district.
All the six assembly members from Nsoatre, who were also not present at the meeting, have also decided not to attend any meeting of the Sunyani West District Assembly when it kicks off.
The Daily Graphic gathered that the traditional council had planned a demonstration to register their disapproval of the naming of Odumase as the district capital.
Mr Adjei-Darko, who addressed the meeting, however expressed regret over the decision of the chiefs and people of Nsoatre not to attend the durbar, which, he said, was to assess the state of preparedness before the inauguration of the district.
He stated that the creation of the district was not a means of usurping the powers of traditional councils and, therefore, urged traditional rulers not to see it as a way of taking away their powers.
Mr Adjei-Darko, who is also the Member of Parliament for Sunyani West, added that the decision by the government to create the district was to ensure accelerated development in every part of the country.
He explained that the siting of the capital for the newly created district could go to only one out of the towns that comprised the district and, therefore, the others that did not get the capital must not see it as offence.
Mr Adjei-Darko announced that the government had decided to finance one special project that would be selected in each of the 32 newly created districts, while the ministry had also decided to support each of the districts with ¢1.5 billion.
He urged the people in the newly created districts to pay their levies and assist in the successful kick-off of the assemblies.
The MCE for Sunyani, Mr Kwame Twumasi-Awuah, urged the chiefs and people in the Sunyani West District to bury their differences and unite for the rapid socio-economic development of the new district.
The Sunyani West District, which has Odumase as its capital, was created out of the Sunyani Municipality.
The chiefs and people of Nsoatre, one of the major towns in the newly created Sunyani West District of the Brong-Ahafo Region, on Wednesday boycotted a meeting convened by the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment (MLGDE) to discuss the planned inauguration of the district on February, 29, this year.
When the roll was called at the meeting held at the Odumase Presbyterian Church, no chief, opinion leader, assembly member or citizen of Nsoatre was present.
The meeting was attended by the sector minister, Mr Kwadwo Adjei-Darko, and the chiefs, opinion leaders and assembly members of the other towns and villages in the district.
When the Daily Graphic contacted the Nsoatre Traditional Council, a source close to the council acknowledged the receipt of the letter inviting the council to the meeting, but claimed that they decided to stay away because they did not want to have anything to do with the newly created district that had Odumase as the capital.
An official of the Sunyani Municipal Assembly has also confirmed that he wrote the invitation letter on behalf of the municipal chief executive.
The decision by the chiefs and people of Nsoatre not to attend the meeting, according to the source, also stemmed from an earlier press conference held by the traditional council to protest against the siting of the district capital at Odumase, during which they vowed they would not be part of the new district.
All the six assembly members from Nsoatre, who were also not present at the meeting, have also decided not to attend any meeting of the Sunyani West District Assembly when it kicks off.
The Daily Graphic gathered that the traditional council had planned a demonstration to register their disapproval of the naming of Odumase as the district capital.
Mr Adjei-Darko, who addressed the meeting, however expressed regret over the decision of the chiefs and people of Nsoatre not to attend the durbar, which, he said, was to assess the state of preparedness before the inauguration of the district.
He stated that the creation of the district was not a means of usurping the powers of traditional councils and, therefore, urged traditional rulers not to see it as a way of taking away their powers.
Mr Adjei-Darko, who is also the Member of Parliament for Sunyani West, added that the decision by the government to create the district was to ensure accelerated development in every part of the country.
He explained that the siting of the capital for the newly created district could go to only one out of the towns that comprised the district and, therefore, the others that did not get the capital must not see it as offence.
Mr Adjei-Darko announced that the government had decided to finance one special project that would be selected in each of the 32 newly created districts, while the ministry had also decided to support each of the districts with ¢1.5 billion.
He urged the people in the newly created districts to pay their levies and assist in the successful kick-off of the assemblies.
The MCE for Sunyani, Mr Kwame Twumasi-Awuah, urged the chiefs and people in the Sunyani West District to bury their differences and unite for the rapid socio-economic development of the new district.
The Sunyani West District, which has Odumase as its capital, was created out of the Sunyani Municipality.
ESTABLISH SHELTERS FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS (Page 17)
Story: Samuel Duodu, Sunyani
The Brong-Ahafo Regional Director of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Mrs Mercy Larbi, has called for the establishment of shelters for victims of domestic violence in all the 10 regional capitals, at least.
She said the construction of the centres, as stated in the Domestic Violence Act 2007 (Act 732), had become crucial if the Act was to be implemented to the letter and help curb gender-based violence, particularly against women and children in the country.
The Domestic Violence Act states that when the life of the victim is at risk or threatened, a shelter must be provided for the victim to protect them and enable them to live away from the perpetrator until the final determination of the case.
Mrs Larbi made the call when she presented a paper on “ The Law and its implementation” at a day’s seminar organised in Sunyani by the Brong-Ahafo Regional Directorate of the Department of Women under the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs. She said currently there was no such centre for victims in the region.
The seminar had the theme “Demanding Implementation, Challenging Obstacle, End Violence Against Women.”
The seminar aimed at sensitising participants to the law and its implementation and was attended by members of the various women’s groups and associations in the Sunyani Municipality.
Mrs Larbi stressed that until some of the provisions in the Domestic Violence Act such as shelters and funds to cater for victims of domestic violence were established, the implementation of the law would be difficult.
Buttressing her point, she cited a case in which the woman who was the victim had been threatened by the husband not to step in the house, since she had taken him (the husband) to court and that if she did, he would kill her.
Mrs Larbi said in that instance she did not know where to send the victim to pass the night, because she was not from the region and had no relatives around.
She said the law was there to protect the vulnerable, including men who had been abused by women, and urged all to support its implementation, adding that under the Domestic Violence Act, informants were to be protected by the police and so people must gather the courage to report cases of abuse which occurred around them.
The Regional Director of the Department of Women, Madam Victoria Owusu-Kyeremaa, said violence did not only affect women but men as well, adding that in most cases, the victims were the vulnerable in the society, especially women, children and the aged.
She observed that many violations against women were not recognised as human rights violations and that even nations regarded these as customs, traditions and acceptable cultural practices which had to be respected in spite of international and national provisions which guaranteed the human rights of all.
“Violence is anti-developmental. It has the tendency to cripple the victims, make them totally unproductive and incapable of giving their best. It also has the tendency to drive victims insane and perpetually ill or incapacitated. These ultimately become a drain on state resources and also affect the individual’s physical and emotional development and consequently, the development of the entire nation”, Madam Owusu-Kyeremaa said with regret.
The regional director said it was the expectation of all that the government would expedite action to ensure the full implementation of every aspect of the law and address all emerging challenges.
Nana Abraham Kwadwo Kwakye, the Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, for his part, said the implementation of the law was not the sole responsibility of government but a collective one.
He, therefore, called on all stakeholders to get on board to ensure that every aspect of the law was implemented.
The Brong-Ahafo Regional Director of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Mrs Mercy Larbi, has called for the establishment of shelters for victims of domestic violence in all the 10 regional capitals, at least.
She said the construction of the centres, as stated in the Domestic Violence Act 2007 (Act 732), had become crucial if the Act was to be implemented to the letter and help curb gender-based violence, particularly against women and children in the country.
The Domestic Violence Act states that when the life of the victim is at risk or threatened, a shelter must be provided for the victim to protect them and enable them to live away from the perpetrator until the final determination of the case.
Mrs Larbi made the call when she presented a paper on “ The Law and its implementation” at a day’s seminar organised in Sunyani by the Brong-Ahafo Regional Directorate of the Department of Women under the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs. She said currently there was no such centre for victims in the region.
The seminar had the theme “Demanding Implementation, Challenging Obstacle, End Violence Against Women.”
The seminar aimed at sensitising participants to the law and its implementation and was attended by members of the various women’s groups and associations in the Sunyani Municipality.
Mrs Larbi stressed that until some of the provisions in the Domestic Violence Act such as shelters and funds to cater for victims of domestic violence were established, the implementation of the law would be difficult.
Buttressing her point, she cited a case in which the woman who was the victim had been threatened by the husband not to step in the house, since she had taken him (the husband) to court and that if she did, he would kill her.
Mrs Larbi said in that instance she did not know where to send the victim to pass the night, because she was not from the region and had no relatives around.
She said the law was there to protect the vulnerable, including men who had been abused by women, and urged all to support its implementation, adding that under the Domestic Violence Act, informants were to be protected by the police and so people must gather the courage to report cases of abuse which occurred around them.
The Regional Director of the Department of Women, Madam Victoria Owusu-Kyeremaa, said violence did not only affect women but men as well, adding that in most cases, the victims were the vulnerable in the society, especially women, children and the aged.
She observed that many violations against women were not recognised as human rights violations and that even nations regarded these as customs, traditions and acceptable cultural practices which had to be respected in spite of international and national provisions which guaranteed the human rights of all.
“Violence is anti-developmental. It has the tendency to cripple the victims, make them totally unproductive and incapable of giving their best. It also has the tendency to drive victims insane and perpetually ill or incapacitated. These ultimately become a drain on state resources and also affect the individual’s physical and emotional development and consequently, the development of the entire nation”, Madam Owusu-Kyeremaa said with regret.
The regional director said it was the expectation of all that the government would expedite action to ensure the full implementation of every aspect of the law and address all emerging challenges.
Nana Abraham Kwadwo Kwakye, the Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, for his part, said the implementation of the law was not the sole responsibility of government but a collective one.
He, therefore, called on all stakeholders to get on board to ensure that every aspect of the law was implemented.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
SOLDIERS ASSAULT TEACHER? (Page 3)
Story: Samuel Duodu, Sunyani
A 30-YEAR-OLD teacher at Ahyiayem in the Nkoranza District of the Brong Ahafo Region, who was allegedly assaulted by a group of soldiers from the Third Battalion of Infantry (3BN) of Sunyani, has appealed to the Military High Command and the Commanding Officer (CO) of the battalion to bring the soldiers involved to book.
The teacher, Raphael Torkonoo, who was allegedly beaten by the soldiers until he became unconscious, and was later abandoned near a cashew plantation, made the appeal when he called at the Daily Graphic office in Sunyani to narrate his ordeal at the hands of the soldiers, whom he claimed were led by one Warrant Officer.
Torkonoo, who had stitches on a part of his mouth and scars all over his body, could not speak, but his sister, Mercy Ampoma, who accompanied him to the office, narrated the incident on his behalf.
According to her, the brother was at a clinic when he decided to go to town to buy food.
She said when Raphael got to town, he saw the soldiers on board a pickup and they asked him to join them to go and put off bush fires.
She said her brother told the soldiers that he could not join them, because he was sick and that he had come to the clinic for a medical attention, but decided to come to town to buy food.
She said this did not go down well with the soldiers and one of them, therefore, got down from the vehicle and hit him with a machete, which he took from a parked bicycle, but her brother asked the soldier what his crime was.
Mercy stated that the soldiers who were still not satisfied with the response from her brother attempted to force him to get on board the pickup, but he still refused, and when he was moving from the scene, the soldiers fired two warning shots that made him stop.
She said when Torkonoo stopped, the soldiers pounced on him and subjected him to a severe beating and bundled him into the back of the pickup. They tied him with a rope, but Raphael managed to untie the rope and jumped out from the vehicle to run away, but he was caught again by the soldiers, who brutally assaulted him with the butts of the guns and bundled him into the passenger’s seat and drove off to an unknown destination.
Mercy added that on their way, they met another group of soldiers who joined in and subjected her brother to another round of severe beating till they saw that he was unconscious and abandoned him in cashew plantation.
She said someone who chanced on the unconscious Raphael picked him up and sent him to the St Theresa’s Catholic Hospital in Nkoranza where he was revived and treated.
She said they reported the case to the Nkoranza police, but as of the time of filing the story, no arrest had been made and the police said they were still investigating.
When the Daily Graphic contacted the 3BN headquarters in Sunyani, Major K.D. Hagan, acting Commander, confirmed the incident, but said the command had sent some officers to Nkoranza to conduct a thorough investigation into the issue in order to ascertain the truth or otherwise of the matter, adding that the military had rules of engagement and, therefore, the command would not shield any person or a group of persons who would violate them.
Meanwhile, the District Chief Executive (DCE) of Nkoranza, Kwabena Appiah Awuah, has denied Mr Torkonoo’s story.
He explained that the complainant was obstructing the soldiers who were deployed in the district to help curb bush fires which had been occurring in the district, especially during the harmattan season.
He said the soldiers arrested him and were conveying him to the police at Nkoranza when he jumped out of the moving vehicle, thus sustaining the multiple injuries.
According to the DCE, the soldiers got him back on the vehicle and drove him to the St Theresa Catholic Hospital at Nkoranza where he was treated.
Mr Appiah Awuah said the case had been handed over to the Nkoranza police for further investigations.
A 30-YEAR-OLD teacher at Ahyiayem in the Nkoranza District of the Brong Ahafo Region, who was allegedly assaulted by a group of soldiers from the Third Battalion of Infantry (3BN) of Sunyani, has appealed to the Military High Command and the Commanding Officer (CO) of the battalion to bring the soldiers involved to book.
The teacher, Raphael Torkonoo, who was allegedly beaten by the soldiers until he became unconscious, and was later abandoned near a cashew plantation, made the appeal when he called at the Daily Graphic office in Sunyani to narrate his ordeal at the hands of the soldiers, whom he claimed were led by one Warrant Officer.
Torkonoo, who had stitches on a part of his mouth and scars all over his body, could not speak, but his sister, Mercy Ampoma, who accompanied him to the office, narrated the incident on his behalf.
According to her, the brother was at a clinic when he decided to go to town to buy food.
She said when Raphael got to town, he saw the soldiers on board a pickup and they asked him to join them to go and put off bush fires.
She said her brother told the soldiers that he could not join them, because he was sick and that he had come to the clinic for a medical attention, but decided to come to town to buy food.
She said this did not go down well with the soldiers and one of them, therefore, got down from the vehicle and hit him with a machete, which he took from a parked bicycle, but her brother asked the soldier what his crime was.
Mercy stated that the soldiers who were still not satisfied with the response from her brother attempted to force him to get on board the pickup, but he still refused, and when he was moving from the scene, the soldiers fired two warning shots that made him stop.
She said when Torkonoo stopped, the soldiers pounced on him and subjected him to a severe beating and bundled him into the back of the pickup. They tied him with a rope, but Raphael managed to untie the rope and jumped out from the vehicle to run away, but he was caught again by the soldiers, who brutally assaulted him with the butts of the guns and bundled him into the passenger’s seat and drove off to an unknown destination.
Mercy added that on their way, they met another group of soldiers who joined in and subjected her brother to another round of severe beating till they saw that he was unconscious and abandoned him in cashew plantation.
She said someone who chanced on the unconscious Raphael picked him up and sent him to the St Theresa’s Catholic Hospital in Nkoranza where he was revived and treated.
She said they reported the case to the Nkoranza police, but as of the time of filing the story, no arrest had been made and the police said they were still investigating.
When the Daily Graphic contacted the 3BN headquarters in Sunyani, Major K.D. Hagan, acting Commander, confirmed the incident, but said the command had sent some officers to Nkoranza to conduct a thorough investigation into the issue in order to ascertain the truth or otherwise of the matter, adding that the military had rules of engagement and, therefore, the command would not shield any person or a group of persons who would violate them.
Meanwhile, the District Chief Executive (DCE) of Nkoranza, Kwabena Appiah Awuah, has denied Mr Torkonoo’s story.
He explained that the complainant was obstructing the soldiers who were deployed in the district to help curb bush fires which had been occurring in the district, especially during the harmattan season.
He said the soldiers arrested him and were conveying him to the police at Nkoranza when he jumped out of the moving vehicle, thus sustaining the multiple injuries.
According to the DCE, the soldiers got him back on the vehicle and drove him to the St Theresa Catholic Hospital at Nkoranza where he was treated.
Mr Appiah Awuah said the case had been handed over to the Nkoranza police for further investigations.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
CALL ON CEPS OFFICERS TO BE VIGILANT ... (Page 30)
Story: Samuel Duodu, Sunyani
THE acting Brong Ahafo Regional Sector Commander of the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS), Mr Alorchie Apetor, has urged personnel of the service to be vigilant and professional in the conduct of their duties at the various frontiers and checkpoints, since soccer fans from the sub-region will pass through the region to Kumasi and Tamale, which are host cities for the Ghana 2008 tournament.
He noted that CEPS officials stationed at the various entry points of the country were the first ports of call, as well as 'ambassadors' to all visitors, and, therefore, they must be professional in the discharge of their duties to leave a lasting impression on the minds of visitors, since their inaction or actions would damage the reputation of the country.
Mr Apetor, who is a Chief Collector, made the call at the regional sector command end-of-year dinner and awards night held in Sunyani over the weekend.
He stated that although Brong Ahafo was not playing host to Ghana 2008, there was the likelihood of football fans passing through the region to Kumasi and Tamale and, therefore, there was the need for CEPS officials to be professional in the conduct of their duties.
The acting sector commander disclosed that the command exceeded its revenue target when it collected GH¢2,696,232.37, as against the GH¢2,360,00 set for last year, representing an increase of 14.29 per cent.
He stated that it was the first time in two years that the Sunyani collection point had exceeded its targeted for the year, in spite of the political crisis in Cote d’Ivoire.
Mr Ignatius Baffour Awuah, the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, also congratulated officials of the Sunyani collection point on exceeding the target for last year and urged them not to rest on their laurels.
He noted that despite the hard conditions under which CEPS officials stationed at the frontier stations in the region worked, they still found time to assist the communities where the border posts were located by helping the people to repair their access roads.
Nana Bosoma Asor Nkrawire II, the Omanhene of the Sunyani Traditional Area, who chaired the function, was full of praise for the officials of the command and urged them to map out more effective strategies to enable them to exceed the target set for this year.
Some officials of the command were rewarded for their hard work and dedication to duty.
THE acting Brong Ahafo Regional Sector Commander of the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS), Mr Alorchie Apetor, has urged personnel of the service to be vigilant and professional in the conduct of their duties at the various frontiers and checkpoints, since soccer fans from the sub-region will pass through the region to Kumasi and Tamale, which are host cities for the Ghana 2008 tournament.
He noted that CEPS officials stationed at the various entry points of the country were the first ports of call, as well as 'ambassadors' to all visitors, and, therefore, they must be professional in the discharge of their duties to leave a lasting impression on the minds of visitors, since their inaction or actions would damage the reputation of the country.
Mr Apetor, who is a Chief Collector, made the call at the regional sector command end-of-year dinner and awards night held in Sunyani over the weekend.
He stated that although Brong Ahafo was not playing host to Ghana 2008, there was the likelihood of football fans passing through the region to Kumasi and Tamale and, therefore, there was the need for CEPS officials to be professional in the conduct of their duties.
The acting sector commander disclosed that the command exceeded its revenue target when it collected GH¢2,696,232.37, as against the GH¢2,360,00 set for last year, representing an increase of 14.29 per cent.
He stated that it was the first time in two years that the Sunyani collection point had exceeded its targeted for the year, in spite of the political crisis in Cote d’Ivoire.
Mr Ignatius Baffour Awuah, the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, also congratulated officials of the Sunyani collection point on exceeding the target for last year and urged them not to rest on their laurels.
He noted that despite the hard conditions under which CEPS officials stationed at the frontier stations in the region worked, they still found time to assist the communities where the border posts were located by helping the people to repair their access roads.
Nana Bosoma Asor Nkrawire II, the Omanhene of the Sunyani Traditional Area, who chaired the function, was full of praise for the officials of the command and urged them to map out more effective strategies to enable them to exceed the target set for this year.
Some officials of the command were rewarded for their hard work and dedication to duty.
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