THE National Insurance Commission (NIC) has taken measures to protect Ghanaians from insurance companies which have high lapse rates in paying the claims of policy holders.
The measures include a re-licensing exercise and the requirement of capital of $1 million before new licences are issued to companies to operate in the country.
The Deputy Commissioner of Insurance, Mrs Nyameke Kyiamah, who announced this in Accra yesterday, said market conduct rules and code of practice were in the process of being developed to guide the insurance industry.
Speaking at the launch of the corporate website of Enterprise Life Assurance Company (ELAC) and the presentation of its 2007 accounts, Mrs Kyiamah said the measures, which were embodied in the Insurance Act 742, required joint insurance companies to split into separate life and non-life companies, with proper corporate governance structures.
She said the life insurance market had seen tremendous growth in the last six years, mainly as a result of improvement in the country’s macroeconomic environment and the emergence of appropriate products on the market.
She observed that the separation of life and non-life businesses was expected to raise the growth rate of the life business to higher levels this year.
She said ,for example, that total life premium income grew from GH¢5.2 million in 2001 to about GH¢67 million in 2007.
Mrs Kyiamah said at that growth rate, the life insurance business would soon become a formidable part of the insurance industry in particular and the economy as a whole.
To that end, she said the NIC had taken steps to protect the interest of policy holders to ensure compliance with international standards and best practices.
The Executive Director of ELAC, Mr C. C. Bruce Jnr, said the total assets of ELAC, which included bank and cash balances, rose from GH¢752,875 in 2006 to GH¢1,187,439 in 2007
He said within the same period shareholders’ fund also witnessed an increase from GH¢3,210 to GH5,233, while policy holders’ fund rose from GH3,951 to GH¢7,958.
He said the company had opened a customer service centre via the Internet to ensure transparency, as well as the prompt payment of claims.
Mr Bruce deplored the ascendancy in the activities of fraudsters who presented fake claims for payments.
He said the management had put in place mechanisms, including the use of Information Technology, to protect the investments of policy holders and shareholders.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Sunday, July 20, 2008
GCPP ASSURES MUSLIMS (PAGE 14)
THE flag bearer of the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP), Mr Dan Lartey, has visited the national Chief Imam, Sheikh Sharubutu, to solicit his blessings as well as the votes of all Muslims in the upcoming general election.
He explained that when given the mandate, his government would give every child, especially those in Muslim communities, access to quality education.
Mr Lartey disclosed that the GCPP would publish its manifesto, which places emphasis on increased agricultural production, by the end of this month, and urged Muslims and all Ghanaians to vote for him for a better Ghana.
He said his government would support farmers with subsidies to enable them to produce for domestic consumption.
He said countries in the West subsidised their farmers, and saw no reason why Ghana could not do same for her farmers.
He said the agricultural policy of the GCCP would attract the youth into agriculture.
He said the youth roaming the streets were not born criminals but it was the economic situation that had turned them into armed robbers.
Mr Lartey said his government would tackle the root cause by creating jobs for the youth to channel their energies into the development of the country.
The flag bearer of the GCPP said the country was enjoying relative peace because of the location of the national capital in Accra.
He explained that if the Ga people were fighting among themselves as it was happening in other parts of the country, Ghana would have lost its claim to being a peaceful country.
He said his government, when given the mandate, would ensure that there was prosperity and development in every part of the country.
The flag bearer of GCPP therefore assured the electorate, especially Muslim voters, that he would ensure the provision of jobs to curb the social canker.
Sheik Osman Nuhu Sharubutu,the National Chief Imam,said as religious leader his doors were opened to all the presidential candidates.
He said he was therefore taking the request of the GCPP flag bearer into his prayers, adding that when his prayers were answered he should use his power to serve the people by working to raise their standard of living.
He explained that when given the mandate, his government would give every child, especially those in Muslim communities, access to quality education.
Mr Lartey disclosed that the GCPP would publish its manifesto, which places emphasis on increased agricultural production, by the end of this month, and urged Muslims and all Ghanaians to vote for him for a better Ghana.
He said his government would support farmers with subsidies to enable them to produce for domestic consumption.
He said countries in the West subsidised their farmers, and saw no reason why Ghana could not do same for her farmers.
He said the agricultural policy of the GCCP would attract the youth into agriculture.
He said the youth roaming the streets were not born criminals but it was the economic situation that had turned them into armed robbers.
Mr Lartey said his government would tackle the root cause by creating jobs for the youth to channel their energies into the development of the country.
The flag bearer of the GCPP said the country was enjoying relative peace because of the location of the national capital in Accra.
He explained that if the Ga people were fighting among themselves as it was happening in other parts of the country, Ghana would have lost its claim to being a peaceful country.
He said his government, when given the mandate, would ensure that there was prosperity and development in every part of the country.
The flag bearer of GCPP therefore assured the electorate, especially Muslim voters, that he would ensure the provision of jobs to curb the social canker.
Sheik Osman Nuhu Sharubutu,the National Chief Imam,said as religious leader his doors were opened to all the presidential candidates.
He said he was therefore taking the request of the GCPP flag bearer into his prayers, adding that when his prayers were answered he should use his power to serve the people by working to raise their standard of living.
PNC TO EXPAND WOMEN & CHILDREN'S MINISTRY (PAGE 14)
THE flag bearer of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Dr Edward Mahama, has assured the Muslim community that when given the mandate to lead the country, he will establish a Ministry for Zongo, Women and Children’s Affairs.
He explained that that would enable his government to mainstream the economic enterprises and activities in the Muslim communities into the national development effort.
He said all past governments had not been able to compensate Muslims for their contribution to national development by bringing development to zongo communities such as Nima, Sukura, Maamobi and Madina.
Dr Mahama said the time had come for governments to pay particular attention to the welfare of Muslim communities and not to marginalise them.
He said Muslims assumed national importance only during election years, to the extent that two major parties in the country had engaged each other in a scuffle at the National Chief Imam’s residence.
He said the PNC leadership, therefore, decided to visit the Chief Imam at the mosque so that the party could receive the blessings of Allah for itself and the nation.
He said since 1996, three presidential candidates had consistently taken part in the elections of the country, with Rawlings and Kufuor being given the mandate to put their manifestos to practice.
Dr Mahama said it had now reached the turn of the PNC and urged Ghanaians to give the opportunity to his party to rule the country to better the lot of every sector of the society.
He said the PNC was the only party in the country that understood the needs of the Muslim community and would do its best to address the concerns of Muslims to enable them to contribute more to the development of the country.
The Member of Parliament for Sissala West, Mr Bayinga Haruna, who accompanied the flag bearer, said the PNC had been labelled a northern party to discourage people from joining its fold.
He, therefore, urged people of northern descent resident in different part of the country not to be deterred by their detractors and join the party in their numbers.
He said the PNC would continue the good work of Dr Kwame Nkrumah by making the Zongo communities a priority area by bringing development to those areas through comprehensive housing projects.
The Deputy Chief Imam, Sheik Kamarudeen Abubakar, led the Friday prayer and also held a Koran reading and prayer session for the nation, the PNC and its flag bearer.
Sheik Abubakar prayed for the President of the nation, asking for Allah’s blessings on the country before, during and after the elections.
Other PNC members who accompanied the flag bearer to the Friday prayer at the Abossey Okai Mosque included Messrs Moses Dani Baah, MP for Sissala East, and David Appasera, MP for Bolgatanga.
He explained that that would enable his government to mainstream the economic enterprises and activities in the Muslim communities into the national development effort.
He said all past governments had not been able to compensate Muslims for their contribution to national development by bringing development to zongo communities such as Nima, Sukura, Maamobi and Madina.
Dr Mahama said the time had come for governments to pay particular attention to the welfare of Muslim communities and not to marginalise them.
He said Muslims assumed national importance only during election years, to the extent that two major parties in the country had engaged each other in a scuffle at the National Chief Imam’s residence.
He said the PNC leadership, therefore, decided to visit the Chief Imam at the mosque so that the party could receive the blessings of Allah for itself and the nation.
He said since 1996, three presidential candidates had consistently taken part in the elections of the country, with Rawlings and Kufuor being given the mandate to put their manifestos to practice.
Dr Mahama said it had now reached the turn of the PNC and urged Ghanaians to give the opportunity to his party to rule the country to better the lot of every sector of the society.
He said the PNC was the only party in the country that understood the needs of the Muslim community and would do its best to address the concerns of Muslims to enable them to contribute more to the development of the country.
The Member of Parliament for Sissala West, Mr Bayinga Haruna, who accompanied the flag bearer, said the PNC had been labelled a northern party to discourage people from joining its fold.
He, therefore, urged people of northern descent resident in different part of the country not to be deterred by their detractors and join the party in their numbers.
He said the PNC would continue the good work of Dr Kwame Nkrumah by making the Zongo communities a priority area by bringing development to those areas through comprehensive housing projects.
The Deputy Chief Imam, Sheik Kamarudeen Abubakar, led the Friday prayer and also held a Koran reading and prayer session for the nation, the PNC and its flag bearer.
Sheik Abubakar prayed for the President of the nation, asking for Allah’s blessings on the country before, during and after the elections.
Other PNC members who accompanied the flag bearer to the Friday prayer at the Abossey Okai Mosque included Messrs Moses Dani Baah, MP for Sissala East, and David Appasera, MP for Bolgatanga.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
AFRICAN TECHNOLOGY CONFAB OPENS (PAGE 14)
A Traditional ruler, Nene Drolor Bosso Adamtey, Suapolor of the Shai Traditional Area, has advocated the establishment of a science and technology park in the country to accelerate development.
He explained that the establishment of a first-class science and technology park would enable the country to take advantage of the technology revolution to develop the country into a middle- income country within a short period of time.
Nene Adamtey, who made the call at the opening of a four-day African Technology Conference in Accra yesterday, said Ghana was chosen for the technology conference because the country had the educational and technology infrastructure for business development.
He said the conference would therefore create networking opportunities between corporate technology professionals, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, academicians, students and government policy makers, as well as Africans in the Diaspora.
Nene Adamtey, known in private life as Dr Kingsley Fletcher, an international entrepreneur and Chairman of Life for Africa International, organisers of the conference, said technology had become part of the global world and Ghana in particular and Africa in general could not afford to be left out of its development.
He, therefore, called on Ghanaians and Africans to take part in the enhancement of technology for development.
He said as part of a programme to involve students in the enhancement of technology, 18 brilliant students from Ghana and Nigeria were offered scholarship to participate in the conference and brainstorm with captains in science and technology during the conference.
Nene Adamtey said their participation would help them to take charge of their future and contribute to the development of science and technology on the African continent.
He said there were four key factors that could contribute to a successful world-class technology park, which included an outstanding educational infrastructure.
An Information Communication Technology Specialist of Microsoft for Middle East and Africa, Mr Kelvyn Hicks, said the establishment of technology parks in the Middle East and Botswana in Africa had helped broaden access to education, as well as enabled students to learn with powerful tools.
He explained that the establishment of a first-class science and technology park would enable the country to take advantage of the technology revolution to develop the country into a middle- income country within a short period of time.
Nene Adamtey, who made the call at the opening of a four-day African Technology Conference in Accra yesterday, said Ghana was chosen for the technology conference because the country had the educational and technology infrastructure for business development.
He said the conference would therefore create networking opportunities between corporate technology professionals, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, academicians, students and government policy makers, as well as Africans in the Diaspora.
Nene Adamtey, known in private life as Dr Kingsley Fletcher, an international entrepreneur and Chairman of Life for Africa International, organisers of the conference, said technology had become part of the global world and Ghana in particular and Africa in general could not afford to be left out of its development.
He, therefore, called on Ghanaians and Africans to take part in the enhancement of technology for development.
He said as part of a programme to involve students in the enhancement of technology, 18 brilliant students from Ghana and Nigeria were offered scholarship to participate in the conference and brainstorm with captains in science and technology during the conference.
Nene Adamtey said their participation would help them to take charge of their future and contribute to the development of science and technology on the African continent.
He said there were four key factors that could contribute to a successful world-class technology park, which included an outstanding educational infrastructure.
An Information Communication Technology Specialist of Microsoft for Middle East and Africa, Mr Kelvyn Hicks, said the establishment of technology parks in the Middle East and Botswana in Africa had helped broaden access to education, as well as enabled students to learn with powerful tools.
30 WATERFALLS TO SAVE AKOSOMBO IDENTIFIED (BACK PAGE)
Thirty waterfalls in the country have been identified as having the potential to generate enough hydro-electricity to meet Ghana’s rural needs for electricity.
The waterfalls are also said to have huge eco-tourism potential if connected with tourism infrastructure such as access roads and lodging facilities.
Dr Mamaa Entsua-Mensah, a Principal Research Scientist of the Water Research Institute, made the declaration at an exhibition and lecture organised by the Water Resources Commission (WRC) in Accra on Tuesday as part of its 10th anniversary.
She described as breathtaking the Tsiridi Waterfall in the Brong Ahafo Region and said it had great potential for rural electrification, as well as eco-tourism.
She said 26 out of the 30 waterfalls had been mapped out for development as tourism destinations while four of them were still in the wild and inaccessible because of the absence of road networks to the sites.
She stressed the need for a review of water resource management in the country on the basis of climate change which already had hit the country.
Dr Entsua-Mensah who spoke on the topic ‘’Options for Effective Utilisation of Water Resources-The Way Forward’’, said the belief that water was infinite was dramatically changing in the face of severe water shortages in the country both for industrial and domestic purposes.
She said Ghana had been experiencing climate change with rainfall gradually reducing over the past 30 years with the country recording one degree centigrade in climate change over the same period.
She said because the demand for water was outstripping the extraction and supply of water, 70,000 hectares of forest in the country was lost annually to deforestation.
She observed that the scheme that compelled timber contractors to plant trees to replace the destroyed ones was not working as there was no mechanism to monitor their land reclamation projects.
Dr Entsua-Mensah said water bodies such as lakes, rivers and lagoons had far-reaching consequences for the climate and environment of a place and ought to be protected.
Nii Boi Ayibotele, a research fellow who delivered a paper on: “Water Resources Management; the Past, the Present and the Future”, commended the WRC for coming out with a code of conduct for water resource sharing with Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, and Mali.
He said the Volta River Basin Board, which comprise Ghana, Burkina Faso and Mali, had helped to minimise conflicts in the management of water resources with Ghana’s neighbours.
He said although Ghana was endowed with water resources if care was not taken, the country could face water crisis by 2015, five years earlier, because of climate change all over the world.
Nii Ayibotele said high flushing water closets that utilised three to five gallons of water at each flushing could be replaced by 1.4 gallon-water closets as a first step towards water conservation in the country.
He said the government could also introduce tax incentives for industries and domestic water conservation schemes such as rain harvesting.
Nii Ayibotele urged the government to assist the WRC to enforce the law that empowered it to provide licence before the damming of rivers in the country for hydro-electric projects.
The waterfalls are also said to have huge eco-tourism potential if connected with tourism infrastructure such as access roads and lodging facilities.
Dr Mamaa Entsua-Mensah, a Principal Research Scientist of the Water Research Institute, made the declaration at an exhibition and lecture organised by the Water Resources Commission (WRC) in Accra on Tuesday as part of its 10th anniversary.
She described as breathtaking the Tsiridi Waterfall in the Brong Ahafo Region and said it had great potential for rural electrification, as well as eco-tourism.
She said 26 out of the 30 waterfalls had been mapped out for development as tourism destinations while four of them were still in the wild and inaccessible because of the absence of road networks to the sites.
She stressed the need for a review of water resource management in the country on the basis of climate change which already had hit the country.
Dr Entsua-Mensah who spoke on the topic ‘’Options for Effective Utilisation of Water Resources-The Way Forward’’, said the belief that water was infinite was dramatically changing in the face of severe water shortages in the country both for industrial and domestic purposes.
She said Ghana had been experiencing climate change with rainfall gradually reducing over the past 30 years with the country recording one degree centigrade in climate change over the same period.
She said because the demand for water was outstripping the extraction and supply of water, 70,000 hectares of forest in the country was lost annually to deforestation.
She observed that the scheme that compelled timber contractors to plant trees to replace the destroyed ones was not working as there was no mechanism to monitor their land reclamation projects.
Dr Entsua-Mensah said water bodies such as lakes, rivers and lagoons had far-reaching consequences for the climate and environment of a place and ought to be protected.
Nii Boi Ayibotele, a research fellow who delivered a paper on: “Water Resources Management; the Past, the Present and the Future”, commended the WRC for coming out with a code of conduct for water resource sharing with Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, and Mali.
He said the Volta River Basin Board, which comprise Ghana, Burkina Faso and Mali, had helped to minimise conflicts in the management of water resources with Ghana’s neighbours.
He said although Ghana was endowed with water resources if care was not taken, the country could face water crisis by 2015, five years earlier, because of climate change all over the world.
Nii Ayibotele said high flushing water closets that utilised three to five gallons of water at each flushing could be replaced by 1.4 gallon-water closets as a first step towards water conservation in the country.
He said the government could also introduce tax incentives for industries and domestic water conservation schemes such as rain harvesting.
Nii Ayibotele urged the government to assist the WRC to enforce the law that empowered it to provide licence before the damming of rivers in the country for hydro-electric projects.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
MUSLIMS, CHRISTIANS COMMENDED FOR PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE (PAGE 33)
THE Greater Accra Regional Minister, Sheikh I. C. Quaye, has lauded the peaceful co-existence between Christians and Muslims in the country.
He said in an era when Christians and Muslims in some countries were tearing each other apart, Ghana had become a model where both Christians and Muslims live side by side without any conflicts.
Sheikh Quaye was addressing chiefs and Imams from all over the country who went to him in Accra to congratulate him on being a recipient of the recent national awards.
He, however, said Christians and Muslims ought to work harder to maintain the existing peace.
The regional minister also called for dialogue between the two faiths to enable them to know the teachings of each religion to bring understanding to bear on their followers.
He said the international community had come to realise that there were conflicts between Muslims and Christians because the two religions had stayed far apart.
He said Christians and Muslims ought to close their ranks and learn from each other to prevent conflicts among them.
Sheikh Quaye said as a human right activist all his life, he had spent decades fighting to uphold the dignity of all persons, irrespective of their political and religious beliefs.
The regional minister said Ghanaians should not take for granted the prevailing peace which had enabled them to attend social functions, watch television and play games without hindrance, since in some countries people could not freely go about their normal activities.
He said it was his activities as a human rights advocate that had won him the respect of Ghanaians across the religious divide, for which reason he could be seriously considered by the flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) when it came to the selection of his running mate for the December presidential elections.
The Director of Alhuda, an Islamic NGO, Sheikh Arimeyaw Jibril Salamddin, who spoke on behalf of the chiefs and Imams, said the regional minister’s qualities, which included accessibility, would help to raise the standard of living of Muslims and non- Muslims alike when he was elevated in the party.
Sheikh Salamddin, therefore, urged all Muslims in the country to rally behind the regional minister to ensure that he attained the second highest position in the country as the vice to Nana Akufo-Addo,
He said in an era when Christians and Muslims in some countries were tearing each other apart, Ghana had become a model where both Christians and Muslims live side by side without any conflicts.
Sheikh Quaye was addressing chiefs and Imams from all over the country who went to him in Accra to congratulate him on being a recipient of the recent national awards.
He, however, said Christians and Muslims ought to work harder to maintain the existing peace.
The regional minister also called for dialogue between the two faiths to enable them to know the teachings of each religion to bring understanding to bear on their followers.
He said the international community had come to realise that there were conflicts between Muslims and Christians because the two religions had stayed far apart.
He said Christians and Muslims ought to close their ranks and learn from each other to prevent conflicts among them.
Sheikh Quaye said as a human right activist all his life, he had spent decades fighting to uphold the dignity of all persons, irrespective of their political and religious beliefs.
The regional minister said Ghanaians should not take for granted the prevailing peace which had enabled them to attend social functions, watch television and play games without hindrance, since in some countries people could not freely go about their normal activities.
He said it was his activities as a human rights advocate that had won him the respect of Ghanaians across the religious divide, for which reason he could be seriously considered by the flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) when it came to the selection of his running mate for the December presidential elections.
The Director of Alhuda, an Islamic NGO, Sheikh Arimeyaw Jibril Salamddin, who spoke on behalf of the chiefs and Imams, said the regional minister’s qualities, which included accessibility, would help to raise the standard of living of Muslims and non- Muslims alike when he was elevated in the party.
Sheikh Salamddin, therefore, urged all Muslims in the country to rally behind the regional minister to ensure that he attained the second highest position in the country as the vice to Nana Akufo-Addo,
Monday, July 14, 2008
LOBBYISTS JUGGLE FOR VEEP SLOT AT NPP RALLY (SPREAD)
The rally by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) at Kasoa yesterday at which the party's flag bearer and parliamentary aspirants were officially introduced to the massive crowd also turned out to be a platform for running mate lobbyists intent on catching the right attention.
As early as 8.00 a.m., bus-loads of NPP supporters carrying placards and posters of the various running mate aspirants were seen heading towards the old market square at Kasoa, where the rally was held.
Most of the buses were decorated with pictures of the flag bearer of the party, alongside the various aspiring running mates, while some of the supporters held placards and touted the virtues of one aspirant or another.
The aspiring running mates whose posters and placards made the rounds at the rally grounds included Alhaji Nurudeen Jawula, Hajia Alima Mahama, Alhaji Abubakar Saddique Boniface and Sheikh I.C. Quaye.
While the foot soldiers of the running mate aspirants busily canvassed for their preferred candidates, the aspirants themselves were seen granting interviews to the media and explaining why they were more than qualified to partner Nana Akufo-Addo.
One common thing that ran through the messages of the aspirants was that they were the most capable to support their flag bearer, as they had demonstrated their commitment and rendered dedicated service to the party over the years.
Some of them also mounted the stage to address the crowd before the arrival of the convoy that brought President Kufuor and Nana Akufo-Addo to the rally grounds.
Hajia Mahama said the massive crowd at the rally was an indication that the people still had trust and confidence in the NPP as a political organisation that could continue the good work of President Kufuor.
She expressed the hope that the large crowd at the rally would be translated into votes to retain the NPP in government.
Alhaji Boniface said this year was for the NPP, saying that "whether the opposition parties like it or not, Ghanaians will vote for the NPP to move the country forward".
Sheikh Quaye, for his part, said the party was in the best position to deal with the socio-economic and political challenges confronting the country.
The rally, which was attended by all the 17 people who contested the NPP flagbearership race and elders of the party, saw each of them pledging their support to the flag bearer.
Mr Osafo-Maafo said the National Democratic Congress (NDC) destroyed the economy before handing over and that it was not fit to rule the country again.
He said it was as a result of the mismanagement of the economy that the country adopted the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative and that a vote for the NDC would mean sending the country back to HIPC.
Mr Felix Owusu-Adjapong said Ghana's oil discovery could fetch the country between 500,000 and one million barrels a day when its production reached full capacity.
Others who spoke at the rally included Mr Alan Kyerematen, Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, Mr Dan Botwe, Professor Mike Oquaye and Kwabena Agyapong.
The rest were Nana Ohene Ntow, John Boadu, Nana Ato Arthur, Mrs Gladys Asmah and Mr Ambrose Dery.
As early as 8.00 a.m., bus-loads of NPP supporters carrying placards and posters of the various running mate aspirants were seen heading towards the old market square at Kasoa, where the rally was held.
Most of the buses were decorated with pictures of the flag bearer of the party, alongside the various aspiring running mates, while some of the supporters held placards and touted the virtues of one aspirant or another.
The aspiring running mates whose posters and placards made the rounds at the rally grounds included Alhaji Nurudeen Jawula, Hajia Alima Mahama, Alhaji Abubakar Saddique Boniface and Sheikh I.C. Quaye.
While the foot soldiers of the running mate aspirants busily canvassed for their preferred candidates, the aspirants themselves were seen granting interviews to the media and explaining why they were more than qualified to partner Nana Akufo-Addo.
One common thing that ran through the messages of the aspirants was that they were the most capable to support their flag bearer, as they had demonstrated their commitment and rendered dedicated service to the party over the years.
Some of them also mounted the stage to address the crowd before the arrival of the convoy that brought President Kufuor and Nana Akufo-Addo to the rally grounds.
Hajia Mahama said the massive crowd at the rally was an indication that the people still had trust and confidence in the NPP as a political organisation that could continue the good work of President Kufuor.
She expressed the hope that the large crowd at the rally would be translated into votes to retain the NPP in government.
Alhaji Boniface said this year was for the NPP, saying that "whether the opposition parties like it or not, Ghanaians will vote for the NPP to move the country forward".
Sheikh Quaye, for his part, said the party was in the best position to deal with the socio-economic and political challenges confronting the country.
The rally, which was attended by all the 17 people who contested the NPP flagbearership race and elders of the party, saw each of them pledging their support to the flag bearer.
Mr Osafo-Maafo said the National Democratic Congress (NDC) destroyed the economy before handing over and that it was not fit to rule the country again.
He said it was as a result of the mismanagement of the economy that the country adopted the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative and that a vote for the NDC would mean sending the country back to HIPC.
Mr Felix Owusu-Adjapong said Ghana's oil discovery could fetch the country between 500,000 and one million barrels a day when its production reached full capacity.
Others who spoke at the rally included Mr Alan Kyerematen, Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, Mr Dan Botwe, Professor Mike Oquaye and Kwabena Agyapong.
The rest were Nana Ohene Ntow, John Boadu, Nana Ato Arthur, Mrs Gladys Asmah and Mr Ambrose Dery.
Friday, July 11, 2008
BOARD CLAMPS DOWN ON UNREGISTERED APHRODISIACS (PAGE 27)
THE Food and Drugs Board (FBD) has mounted a post-market surveillance to clamp down on unregistered aphrodisiacs that have flooded the markets.
The exercise has become urgent because of the public health implications of their use for a lot of Ghanaians, especially the youth, who look for drugs that would render them sexually extra-active.
The post-market surveillance would involve swoops by the police and FDB to confiscate the unregistered products, which are on display on the open market.
These aphrodisiacs have glamorous nude pictures of young women and men displaying their genital organs.
According to the FDB, these unregistered products found their way onto the market through unapproved routes while sometimes they were concealed in trucks that plied the approved routes.
Mr Peter Kwasi Agyeman-Dua, head of Drugs Inspectorate of FDB, said these unregistered products claimed to contain Viagra, but on their subjection to tests it was found out that they contained dangerous chemicals.
He said as a result people who took some of these fake aphrodisiacs complained of unusual palpitation of the heart while others had diarrhoea for days.
He said some had even collapsed while having sexual intercourse after taking these drugs through self medication.
Mr Agyeman-Dua said the FDB had also started a process to prosecute chemical shop owners and traders who dealt in those drugs to deter others from engaging in the illegal business.
He said apart from prosecuting offenders, the Board had mounted a campaign to raise public awareness of the dangers associated with the drugs with the aim of curtailing the demand side of the chain.
Mr Agyeman-Dua said drugs for erectal dysfunction had been registered with the Board and these were from well known multinational pharmaceutical companies.
He said so far about 55 Western medicines and herbal mix used to correct rectal dysfunction had been registered with the Board.
Mr Agyeman-Dua said these drugs could only be dispensed after consultations with a qualified doctor and not through self-medication.
Mr Felix Yellu, the outgoing Government Pharmacist, said aphrodisiacs had untoward side effects, some of which could be life threatening.
He said most of them had substances that stimulated the heart, which leads to high blood pressure.
The exercise has become urgent because of the public health implications of their use for a lot of Ghanaians, especially the youth, who look for drugs that would render them sexually extra-active.
The post-market surveillance would involve swoops by the police and FDB to confiscate the unregistered products, which are on display on the open market.
These aphrodisiacs have glamorous nude pictures of young women and men displaying their genital organs.
According to the FDB, these unregistered products found their way onto the market through unapproved routes while sometimes they were concealed in trucks that plied the approved routes.
Mr Peter Kwasi Agyeman-Dua, head of Drugs Inspectorate of FDB, said these unregistered products claimed to contain Viagra, but on their subjection to tests it was found out that they contained dangerous chemicals.
He said as a result people who took some of these fake aphrodisiacs complained of unusual palpitation of the heart while others had diarrhoea for days.
He said some had even collapsed while having sexual intercourse after taking these drugs through self medication.
Mr Agyeman-Dua said the FDB had also started a process to prosecute chemical shop owners and traders who dealt in those drugs to deter others from engaging in the illegal business.
He said apart from prosecuting offenders, the Board had mounted a campaign to raise public awareness of the dangers associated with the drugs with the aim of curtailing the demand side of the chain.
Mr Agyeman-Dua said drugs for erectal dysfunction had been registered with the Board and these were from well known multinational pharmaceutical companies.
He said so far about 55 Western medicines and herbal mix used to correct rectal dysfunction had been registered with the Board.
Mr Agyeman-Dua said these drugs could only be dispensed after consultations with a qualified doctor and not through self-medication.
Mr Felix Yellu, the outgoing Government Pharmacist, said aphrodisiacs had untoward side effects, some of which could be life threatening.
He said most of them had substances that stimulated the heart, which leads to high blood pressure.
MINISTRY REVIEWS ANTI-MALARIAL DRUG POLICY (BACK PAGE)
The Ministry of Health (MoH) has reviewed the first line anti-malarial drug policy to offer alternative anti-malarial drugs to patients apart from artesunate amodiaquine.
The review, which is to be launched by the Minister of Health soon, followed a huge public outcry against artesunate amodiaquine which had untoward side effects on some patients.
Mr Felix Yellu, outgoing Government Pharmacist of the Ministry of Health, who disclosed this in an interview with the Daily Graphic, said the ministry had come to the realisation that artesunate amodiaquine, even though a potent drug for malarial cure, was not good for every patient and had decided to include other malarial drugs as alternatives to amodiaquine.
He said the Ghana Health Service had completed all preparations to bring the drugs to the public domain immediately the minister launched them this year.
Mr Yellu said the review also took into consideration the shortage of artesunate amodiaquine for infants because in the first list, doctors had to rely on breaking the full artesunate into two before administering them in halves to infants.
He said in the review, these bottlenecks had been removed and the dosage for infants well taken care of to ensure that reactions associated with the drugs were minimised to the barest minimum.
He said every medicine had side effects because most of the drugs had acidic base and urged Ghanaians to avoid self medication when not feeling well.
He said the review had taken into consideration the fact that some people tolerated some drugs which could be unbearable for another group of patients.
He said in undertaking the review, the ministry was mindful of the cost of malarial drugs on the market and did not include those that were beyond the purchasing power of a majority of Ghanaians.
The review, which is to be launched by the Minister of Health soon, followed a huge public outcry against artesunate amodiaquine which had untoward side effects on some patients.
Mr Felix Yellu, outgoing Government Pharmacist of the Ministry of Health, who disclosed this in an interview with the Daily Graphic, said the ministry had come to the realisation that artesunate amodiaquine, even though a potent drug for malarial cure, was not good for every patient and had decided to include other malarial drugs as alternatives to amodiaquine.
He said the Ghana Health Service had completed all preparations to bring the drugs to the public domain immediately the minister launched them this year.
Mr Yellu said the review also took into consideration the shortage of artesunate amodiaquine for infants because in the first list, doctors had to rely on breaking the full artesunate into two before administering them in halves to infants.
He said in the review, these bottlenecks had been removed and the dosage for infants well taken care of to ensure that reactions associated with the drugs were minimised to the barest minimum.
He said every medicine had side effects because most of the drugs had acidic base and urged Ghanaians to avoid self medication when not feeling well.
He said the review had taken into consideration the fact that some people tolerated some drugs which could be unbearable for another group of patients.
He said in undertaking the review, the ministry was mindful of the cost of malarial drugs on the market and did not include those that were beyond the purchasing power of a majority of Ghanaians.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
DOMESTIC TOURISM ON THE INCREASE (MIRROR, PAGE 39)
From Abdul Aziz, Ada Foah
THE Ministry of Tourism and Diasporan Relations has realised its highest ever revenue of GH¢783,241, from domestic tourism last year.
This amount was paid by 417,558 Ghanaians who travelled within Ghana as tourists.
Mr Martin Mireku, Executive Director of the Ghana Tourist Board, announced this at the 8th Southern Zone Tourism Awards at Ada over the weekend.
He explained that out of the total amount generated from domestic tourism nationwide, the four regions which represented the Southern Zone alone contributed GH¢649,164, which was over 60 per cent.
He said the Southern zone comprising Greater Accra, Central, Volta and Western regions were visited by a total of 356,883 dometic tourists in 2007.
Mr Mireku said this clearly showed the contributions of the southern or coastal zone to the development of internal tourism in the country.
He said a visit to any major attraction site, especially at weekends, revealed that increasingly, Ghanaians were beginning to appreciate and engage in domestic tourism activities.
The Executive Director said apart from the economic benefits, domestic tourism also facilitated national cohesion and the apprerciation of the beauty of the country.
He further said, it also helped to distribute national wealth, as well as curbed rural/urban migration.
He, therefore, urged practitioners such as hotels, car rental companies and traditional catering establishments to devise startegies and programmes that would respond to the demands of domestic tourists.
Three categories of awards in the areas of accomodation, culinary services and travel and tours were instituted. Fiesta Royale Hotel, Accra Chances Hotel, Ho and Axim Beach Hotel, took the awards for three-star hotel of the year, two-star hotel of the yearand one-star hotel of the year respectively.
Deo Art Gallery at Cape Coast Castle won the travel agency of the year, Journey Max Executive Travel and Tours, Accra was adjudged tour operator of the year .
The Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, Accra was adjudged the best visitors attraction of the year.
Ms Comfort Opoku-Ware, acting Greater Accra Regional Manager of the Ghana Tourist Board in a welcoming address observed that the awards played an impotant role in the development and promotion of both domestic and international tourism in the country.
SSNIT to issue bills to indebted employers
The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), would from the end of July this year, issue out bills, under its new Employer Member Account Reconciliation (EMAR) system, to prompt indebted employers to pay the pension scheme contributions of their employees.
Under the EMAR system, the grand summary of total employer indebtedness based on inspections, up-to-date and last known contribution reports received from employers would be calculated and a monthly bill issued to prevent mounting of debts.
This was announced by Mr Allandu Azu, Tema Harbour Branch Manager of SSNIT at an employers’ seminar at Tema to educate employers contributing towards the scheme with its six branches in the region on their roles under the new system.
Mr Azu explained that the EMAR system seeks to address the limitations of the indebtedness schedule, which is the list of indebted employers compiled through the reconciliation of contributions and payment information in the SSNIT database with employer records.
He said the system is that of an in-house application, developed by the SSNIT Information Technology Department, which would estimate the total employer indebtedness at the end of every month whether inspections have been conducted or not.
The system uses data from contribution reports and payments made by employers to estimate their indebtedness as well as updating arrears of individual indebted employers.
Mr Azu warned that employers who fail to pay their debts or negotiate with SSNIT to settle their arrears by instalments, three months after the issuance of the bill, would be prosecuted.
Women in corporate, political terrain meet
By Rhodaline N.O. Abenser.
THE Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Miss Joyce Aryee, is scheduled to meet with women on the corporate and political terrain in Ghana to discuss topics that border on various aspects of empowerment.
The discussions will be at a special breakfast and strategic leadership programme organised by the Accra-based African Management & Productivity Institute (AMPRO).
Miss Aryee would address the participants on issues that affect work ethics, empowerment, promotion and talent of women who either hope to attain leadership positions or are already playing leadership roles in their social and corporate environments.
The meetings are scheduled to take place from July 22 to July 25 at the AMPRO Bussiness School, Community 18, off Spintex Road.
Participants will be taken through a gruelling 12 hours of comprehensive lectures, case studies, faculty mentoring, motivational video presentations and peer mentoring.
HFC Bank sensitises customers on the use of e-Zwich
Mr Bekoe Palmer-Buckle, Head of Marketing and Direct Sales of Home Finance Company (HFC) Bank has said that the growth in electronic payments systems such as the e-Zwich has significant economic benefits for the entire country.
Mr Palmer-Buckle said this during a sensitisation forum organised by the HFC Bank for its customers on the use and benefits of the e-Zwich card in Tamale on Thursday.
He said the electronic payments system were much more cost-effective on a large scale than cash payments.
"For instance, the total cost of a cash based payment system has been estimated to be between five per cent and seven per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP)." he said.
Mr Palmer-Buckle said the system had numerous benefits for countries that use it, saying that, "the electronic systems can decrease the un-banked population considerably if deployed through salary card schemes".
He said in addition, there are greater retail deposits and the increased velocity of money generated by the electronic payment system contributes to improved financial intermediation, which stimulates economic growth.
Mr Palmer Buckle said the HFC Bank has already “gone live” on the e-Zwich platform with smart cards issued to customers, while point of sale (POS) devices are being installed at vantage points all over the country.
He said the use of the card would take away the risk of loosing cash through negligence, robbery, and fraud and would also empower its users with greater financial independence for transactions and other settlements.
He noted that the operation of the card would serve as a platform for the deployment of other electronic payments and settlements aimed at transforming the economy from a cash-based payment system to an electronic payments system.
Mr Palmer-Buckle urged customers and non-customers of the Bank to get fully involved in the use of the "new and innovative system".
GNA
THE Ministry of Tourism and Diasporan Relations has realised its highest ever revenue of GH¢783,241, from domestic tourism last year.
This amount was paid by 417,558 Ghanaians who travelled within Ghana as tourists.
Mr Martin Mireku, Executive Director of the Ghana Tourist Board, announced this at the 8th Southern Zone Tourism Awards at Ada over the weekend.
He explained that out of the total amount generated from domestic tourism nationwide, the four regions which represented the Southern Zone alone contributed GH¢649,164, which was over 60 per cent.
He said the Southern zone comprising Greater Accra, Central, Volta and Western regions were visited by a total of 356,883 dometic tourists in 2007.
Mr Mireku said this clearly showed the contributions of the southern or coastal zone to the development of internal tourism in the country.
He said a visit to any major attraction site, especially at weekends, revealed that increasingly, Ghanaians were beginning to appreciate and engage in domestic tourism activities.
The Executive Director said apart from the economic benefits, domestic tourism also facilitated national cohesion and the apprerciation of the beauty of the country.
He further said, it also helped to distribute national wealth, as well as curbed rural/urban migration.
He, therefore, urged practitioners such as hotels, car rental companies and traditional catering establishments to devise startegies and programmes that would respond to the demands of domestic tourists.
Three categories of awards in the areas of accomodation, culinary services and travel and tours were instituted. Fiesta Royale Hotel, Accra Chances Hotel, Ho and Axim Beach Hotel, took the awards for three-star hotel of the year, two-star hotel of the yearand one-star hotel of the year respectively.
Deo Art Gallery at Cape Coast Castle won the travel agency of the year, Journey Max Executive Travel and Tours, Accra was adjudged tour operator of the year .
The Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, Accra was adjudged the best visitors attraction of the year.
Ms Comfort Opoku-Ware, acting Greater Accra Regional Manager of the Ghana Tourist Board in a welcoming address observed that the awards played an impotant role in the development and promotion of both domestic and international tourism in the country.
SSNIT to issue bills to indebted employers
The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), would from the end of July this year, issue out bills, under its new Employer Member Account Reconciliation (EMAR) system, to prompt indebted employers to pay the pension scheme contributions of their employees.
Under the EMAR system, the grand summary of total employer indebtedness based on inspections, up-to-date and last known contribution reports received from employers would be calculated and a monthly bill issued to prevent mounting of debts.
This was announced by Mr Allandu Azu, Tema Harbour Branch Manager of SSNIT at an employers’ seminar at Tema to educate employers contributing towards the scheme with its six branches in the region on their roles under the new system.
Mr Azu explained that the EMAR system seeks to address the limitations of the indebtedness schedule, which is the list of indebted employers compiled through the reconciliation of contributions and payment information in the SSNIT database with employer records.
He said the system is that of an in-house application, developed by the SSNIT Information Technology Department, which would estimate the total employer indebtedness at the end of every month whether inspections have been conducted or not.
The system uses data from contribution reports and payments made by employers to estimate their indebtedness as well as updating arrears of individual indebted employers.
Mr Azu warned that employers who fail to pay their debts or negotiate with SSNIT to settle their arrears by instalments, three months after the issuance of the bill, would be prosecuted.
Women in corporate, political terrain meet
By Rhodaline N.O. Abenser.
THE Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Miss Joyce Aryee, is scheduled to meet with women on the corporate and political terrain in Ghana to discuss topics that border on various aspects of empowerment.
The discussions will be at a special breakfast and strategic leadership programme organised by the Accra-based African Management & Productivity Institute (AMPRO).
Miss Aryee would address the participants on issues that affect work ethics, empowerment, promotion and talent of women who either hope to attain leadership positions or are already playing leadership roles in their social and corporate environments.
The meetings are scheduled to take place from July 22 to July 25 at the AMPRO Bussiness School, Community 18, off Spintex Road.
Participants will be taken through a gruelling 12 hours of comprehensive lectures, case studies, faculty mentoring, motivational video presentations and peer mentoring.
HFC Bank sensitises customers on the use of e-Zwich
Mr Bekoe Palmer-Buckle, Head of Marketing and Direct Sales of Home Finance Company (HFC) Bank has said that the growth in electronic payments systems such as the e-Zwich has significant economic benefits for the entire country.
Mr Palmer-Buckle said this during a sensitisation forum organised by the HFC Bank for its customers on the use and benefits of the e-Zwich card in Tamale on Thursday.
He said the electronic payments system were much more cost-effective on a large scale than cash payments.
"For instance, the total cost of a cash based payment system has been estimated to be between five per cent and seven per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP)." he said.
Mr Palmer-Buckle said the system had numerous benefits for countries that use it, saying that, "the electronic systems can decrease the un-banked population considerably if deployed through salary card schemes".
He said in addition, there are greater retail deposits and the increased velocity of money generated by the electronic payment system contributes to improved financial intermediation, which stimulates economic growth.
Mr Palmer Buckle said the HFC Bank has already “gone live” on the e-Zwich platform with smart cards issued to customers, while point of sale (POS) devices are being installed at vantage points all over the country.
He said the use of the card would take away the risk of loosing cash through negligence, robbery, and fraud and would also empower its users with greater financial independence for transactions and other settlements.
He noted that the operation of the card would serve as a platform for the deployment of other electronic payments and settlements aimed at transforming the economy from a cash-based payment system to an electronic payments system.
Mr Palmer-Buckle urged customers and non-customers of the Bank to get fully involved in the use of the "new and innovative system".
GNA
EXTEND CROSS-BORDER DISEASE CONTROL TO ECOWAS (BACK PAGE)
The Director of Research and Information Management Systems of the West African Health Organisation (WAHO), Dr Kambou Stanislas, has appealed to the international donor community to extend the cross-border parasitic diseases control programme to cover all Ecowas states.
Presently the programme which covers nine countries out of the 15 Ecowas states has made the complete eradication of guinea worm, bilhazia and other parasitic diseases impossible.
Dr Stanislas made the appeal at a high-level ministerial meeting on parasite control in West Africa, which opened in Accra on Thursday.
He said the expansion of the project to cover the whole sub-region would assist a great deal to combat diseases such as malaria, bilhazia, HIV/AIDS, as well as the six childhood killer diseases.
He commended the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) initiative to establish the West African Centre for International Parasite Control (WACIPAC) as a regional centre to support parasite control activities in West Africa.
The Director said the West African Health Organisation under Ecowas, through operational research, had come to realise that some diseases such as bilhazia and guinea worm could easily be transferred from one country to another through travelling and trading in border towns.
He, therefore, called for a concerted approach in the sub-region to tackle the constraints posed by cross-border activities and the spread of some diseases in the sub-region.
Mr Kunihiro Yamauchi, resident representative of JICA, said parasitic diseases such as malaria and schistosomiasis (bilhazia) were among the most serious health hazards of people living in the tropics, with over 500 million people suffering each year from the two diseases.
He further said that another 3.5 million people were estimated to be infected with soil transmitted intestinal parasites such as round and hook worms.
He said the huge burden parasitic diseases bring to bear on the socio-economic development and health of people in developing countries moved the Japanese Government to propose to the Birmingham G-8 summit in 1998 for an international co-operation to control parasitic diseases at the global level.
He said the Japanese Government, through JICA, had established three centres for international parasite control, with the centre in charge of West Africa based at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) of the University of Ghana, Legon.
He, therefore, urged the participants to use their rich experiences to strategise to sustain the school-based approach when JICA finally handed over the project to member countries at the end of 2008.
Mr Yamauchi said JICA was optimistic that attitudinal change among schoolchildren could drastically help to reduce parasitic diseases in the sub-region.
Presently the programme which covers nine countries out of the 15 Ecowas states has made the complete eradication of guinea worm, bilhazia and other parasitic diseases impossible.
Dr Stanislas made the appeal at a high-level ministerial meeting on parasite control in West Africa, which opened in Accra on Thursday.
He said the expansion of the project to cover the whole sub-region would assist a great deal to combat diseases such as malaria, bilhazia, HIV/AIDS, as well as the six childhood killer diseases.
He commended the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) initiative to establish the West African Centre for International Parasite Control (WACIPAC) as a regional centre to support parasite control activities in West Africa.
The Director said the West African Health Organisation under Ecowas, through operational research, had come to realise that some diseases such as bilhazia and guinea worm could easily be transferred from one country to another through travelling and trading in border towns.
He, therefore, called for a concerted approach in the sub-region to tackle the constraints posed by cross-border activities and the spread of some diseases in the sub-region.
Mr Kunihiro Yamauchi, resident representative of JICA, said parasitic diseases such as malaria and schistosomiasis (bilhazia) were among the most serious health hazards of people living in the tropics, with over 500 million people suffering each year from the two diseases.
He further said that another 3.5 million people were estimated to be infected with soil transmitted intestinal parasites such as round and hook worms.
He said the huge burden parasitic diseases bring to bear on the socio-economic development and health of people in developing countries moved the Japanese Government to propose to the Birmingham G-8 summit in 1998 for an international co-operation to control parasitic diseases at the global level.
He said the Japanese Government, through JICA, had established three centres for international parasite control, with the centre in charge of West Africa based at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) of the University of Ghana, Legon.
He, therefore, urged the participants to use their rich experiences to strategise to sustain the school-based approach when JICA finally handed over the project to member countries at the end of 2008.
Mr Yamauchi said JICA was optimistic that attitudinal change among schoolchildren could drastically help to reduce parasitic diseases in the sub-region.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
THREE MEN WITH FAKE CURRENCY ARRESTED (BACK PAGE)
Three young men who went on a shopping spree with a bundle of fake GH¢20 notes have been arrested at Big Ada in the Dangbe West District.
They are Kwasi Adzeisi, 19, a factory hand, Etsey Domi, 20, an apprentice motor mechanic and a 26-year-old drinking bar attendant, Cudjoe Amekudze.
They were said to have begun the shopping spree at Sogakope in the Volta Region, where they succeeded in buying large quantities of goods, including tooth pastes, fluorescent tubes and other electrical appliances, from unsuspecting traders.
The three have been put before the Big Ada District Magistrate’s Court presided over by Judge Daniel Dorkpoh.
Prosecuting, Police Inspector S. K. Offeh told the court that on June 24, 2008,the police had a tip-off that Cudjoe who was wanted by the Sogakope Police in the Volta Region for allegedly using fake currencies to shop for small items so that he could have genuine currency from shopkeepers, had arrived at Big Ada.
He said when the police went to Ada to investigate, hawkers and some shopkeepers had already fallen victim to the nefarious activities of the criminals.
He said when they were arrested and searched a quantity of fake banknotes in the denominations of GH¢50, GH¢20 and GH¢1 were found on them.
According to the first and second accused persons, Kwesi Adzeisi and Etsey Domi, it was the third accused person, Amekudze, who contracted their services to help in the distribution of the fake currencies in exchange of genuine ones on the pretext of shopping for goods.
The prosecution appealed to the court to remand the three in police custody to enable the police to conduct investigations into the matter.
The presiding magistrate, therefore, remanded the three accused, whose pleas were not taken, for one week in police custody for the police to continue with their investigations.
The three were expected to re-appear before the court on July 8, 2008.
But before the day’s court proceedings could come to a close, a police jeep from Sogakope had arrived to convey the third accused to Sogakope, where he was wanted by the police for a similar offence.
They are Kwasi Adzeisi, 19, a factory hand, Etsey Domi, 20, an apprentice motor mechanic and a 26-year-old drinking bar attendant, Cudjoe Amekudze.
They were said to have begun the shopping spree at Sogakope in the Volta Region, where they succeeded in buying large quantities of goods, including tooth pastes, fluorescent tubes and other electrical appliances, from unsuspecting traders.
The three have been put before the Big Ada District Magistrate’s Court presided over by Judge Daniel Dorkpoh.
Prosecuting, Police Inspector S. K. Offeh told the court that on June 24, 2008,the police had a tip-off that Cudjoe who was wanted by the Sogakope Police in the Volta Region for allegedly using fake currencies to shop for small items so that he could have genuine currency from shopkeepers, had arrived at Big Ada.
He said when the police went to Ada to investigate, hawkers and some shopkeepers had already fallen victim to the nefarious activities of the criminals.
He said when they were arrested and searched a quantity of fake banknotes in the denominations of GH¢50, GH¢20 and GH¢1 were found on them.
According to the first and second accused persons, Kwesi Adzeisi and Etsey Domi, it was the third accused person, Amekudze, who contracted their services to help in the distribution of the fake currencies in exchange of genuine ones on the pretext of shopping for goods.
The prosecution appealed to the court to remand the three in police custody to enable the police to conduct investigations into the matter.
The presiding magistrate, therefore, remanded the three accused, whose pleas were not taken, for one week in police custody for the police to continue with their investigations.
The three were expected to re-appear before the court on July 8, 2008.
But before the day’s court proceedings could come to a close, a police jeep from Sogakope had arrived to convey the third accused to Sogakope, where he was wanted by the police for a similar offence.
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