Page 32: Daily Graphic, December 31, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Paul Tawiah Quaye, has called on personnel of the Ghana Police Service to enter the New Year with a resolution to perform their duties better than they did in 2009.
In a New Year message to the personnel, Mr Quaye urged them to perform their duties diligently without tainting the image of the service through bribery, corruption and other unprofessional behaviour.
He noted that in spite of the achievements of the service, it was still perceived as being the most corrupt in the country.
“Whether that is perceived or real, there is the urgent need to raise our image positively by exhibiting high professional conduct. Lapses that occasioned the performance of our duties at times should become a thing of the past. Allegations of corruption should be disproved in the coming year,” he said.
Mr Quaye noted that the good works of the personnel throughout the country in 2009, especially the fight against armed robbery, had been observed by admirers and critics alike.
He, therefore, urged the personnel to keep up the dedicated services and work harder in the coming year.
“All and sundry should consider themselves the Inspector-General of Police in their little corners where they have been working and work harder to earn a good reputation and redeem the image of the service,” he added.
The IGP said the Police Administration was doing everything possible to solve the accommodation problem confronting the service, saying that the government had approved the budget of the police for the completion of a number of unfinished building projects.
“It is, therefore, my hope that in the very near future the acute accommodation problem confronting the service shall also be a thing of the past,” Mr Quaye added.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
PASSPORTS * Forms for biometric ones ready Jan 25
Front Page: Daily Graphic, December 30, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
NEW forms for the issuance of biometric passports will be available to Ghanaian applicants from January 25, 2010 when the old forms will be withdrawn.
The new arrangement is an update on an earlier report that the process of going biometric would begin in April 2010.
The Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Minister, Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni, told the Daily Graphic that a local printing firm which won the award for the production of the booklets had already produced more than 500,000 copies out of the initially contracted figure of 1.5 million booklets.
He said April 2010 was, indeed, the deadline set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) for all countries to effect the changeover and that the actual issuance of the biometric passports in Ghana would start from February 3, 2010 to enable the country to meet the deadline.
However, citizens in possession of valid old passports can still use them until they expire.
Under the new regime, new passport fees of GH¢50 and GH¢100 would be charged for ordinary and expedited delivery services, respectively.
The minister explained that the GH¢50 and GH¢100 covered the cost of the application forms.
Alhaji Mumuni said applicants would now have to personally submit their application forms at the application centres for their passport photographs to be taken with a high resolution camera, while fingerprints and signatures were also recorded.
“This means that instead of the applicant submitting photographs with a passport application form that is already thumb-printed somewhere, it will now be required that the photograph and the fingerprints of the applicants are taken at the application centres at the time of presenting the application forms. This is also intended to eliminate middlemen,” he said.
According to him, applicants would also send along their birth certificates and other documentation, including the national identification card, to be vetted and scanned into the system.
He said the information would be uploaded to the Central Operations and Production Unit of the Passport Office, where the details and certificates would be verified, during which all details would be vetted against the stop list.
Alhaji Mumuni said the forms would then be passed on to the directors for final vetting and authorisation to issue the passports, stressing that “all the processes, with the exception of the final vetting, printing and issuance, are expected to take place on the same day, thus enhancing service delivery”.
He explained that while the biometric passport contained fingerprints, hand prints, iris scans and is machine readable, the integrated circuit (chip) embedded in the back cover of the e-passport added digital security features, including information on the printed data page which showed the passport was authentic and the information in the chip had not been altered and, therefore, difficult to forge.
He said those features on the e-passport prevented counterfeiting and better linked the passport to its owner.
Alhaji Mumuni said radio, television and other forms of publicity on the biometric passports would begin by January 6, 2010.
Initially, he said, there would be seven application centres in Accra, Tamale, Ho, Sekondi/Takoradi, Kumasi, Sunyani and at the Passport Office.
He, however, explained that until all the equipment was fixed, data captured outside Accra would have to be transported to Accra electronically for the issuance of the passports, which might cause an initial delay.
Alhaji Mumuni said Ghana’s missions in London, Rome, Berlin and Washington had been identified to also issue the biometric passports until a time that the process was extended to more missions.
Story: Albert K. Salia
NEW forms for the issuance of biometric passports will be available to Ghanaian applicants from January 25, 2010 when the old forms will be withdrawn.
The new arrangement is an update on an earlier report that the process of going biometric would begin in April 2010.
The Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Minister, Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni, told the Daily Graphic that a local printing firm which won the award for the production of the booklets had already produced more than 500,000 copies out of the initially contracted figure of 1.5 million booklets.
He said April 2010 was, indeed, the deadline set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) for all countries to effect the changeover and that the actual issuance of the biometric passports in Ghana would start from February 3, 2010 to enable the country to meet the deadline.
However, citizens in possession of valid old passports can still use them until they expire.
Under the new regime, new passport fees of GH¢50 and GH¢100 would be charged for ordinary and expedited delivery services, respectively.
The minister explained that the GH¢50 and GH¢100 covered the cost of the application forms.
Alhaji Mumuni said applicants would now have to personally submit their application forms at the application centres for their passport photographs to be taken with a high resolution camera, while fingerprints and signatures were also recorded.
“This means that instead of the applicant submitting photographs with a passport application form that is already thumb-printed somewhere, it will now be required that the photograph and the fingerprints of the applicants are taken at the application centres at the time of presenting the application forms. This is also intended to eliminate middlemen,” he said.
According to him, applicants would also send along their birth certificates and other documentation, including the national identification card, to be vetted and scanned into the system.
He said the information would be uploaded to the Central Operations and Production Unit of the Passport Office, where the details and certificates would be verified, during which all details would be vetted against the stop list.
Alhaji Mumuni said the forms would then be passed on to the directors for final vetting and authorisation to issue the passports, stressing that “all the processes, with the exception of the final vetting, printing and issuance, are expected to take place on the same day, thus enhancing service delivery”.
He explained that while the biometric passport contained fingerprints, hand prints, iris scans and is machine readable, the integrated circuit (chip) embedded in the back cover of the e-passport added digital security features, including information on the printed data page which showed the passport was authentic and the information in the chip had not been altered and, therefore, difficult to forge.
He said those features on the e-passport prevented counterfeiting and better linked the passport to its owner.
Alhaji Mumuni said radio, television and other forms of publicity on the biometric passports would begin by January 6, 2010.
Initially, he said, there would be seven application centres in Accra, Tamale, Ho, Sekondi/Takoradi, Kumasi, Sunyani and at the Passport Office.
He, however, explained that until all the equipment was fixed, data captured outside Accra would have to be transported to Accra electronically for the issuance of the passports, which might cause an initial delay.
Alhaji Mumuni said Ghana’s missions in London, Rome, Berlin and Washington had been identified to also issue the biometric passports until a time that the process was extended to more missions.
Calm returns to Agona Swedru
Page 32: Daily Graphic, December 30, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
CALM has returned to Agona Swedru after clashes between some members of the Zongo community and the indigenes on Monday which left two persons dead.
Commercial activities are back to normal as people go about their business and trading activities without let or hindrance.
Four of the 11 people who were injured in the clashes are still on admission and, according to hospital sources, one of them has undergone a successful operation on his genitals.
At the time of filing this report, the Central Regional Minister, Ms Ama Benyiwa-Doe, was in Swedru visiting the injured on admission and interacting with chiefs and opinion leaders of both the indigenes and the Zongo community.
Security personnel detailed to beef up patrols were still on high alert and monitoring the situation.
The Agona Swedru Divisional Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Owusu Donyinah, told the Daily Graphic that the situation had been calm throughout the night.
He said the security personnel were in control of the situation.
He denied some media reports that more persons died in the Monday clashes, insisting that “only two persons have been confirmed dead”.
Two persons were killed in Agona Swedru on Monday following clashes between some members of the Zongo community and the indigenes.
The deceased were identified as Muhammadu Iddrisu, 24, and Kwaku Acheampong, 35.
A third person, Kwame Asiew, was operated upon at the Agona Swedru Hospital after he had allegedly been hit by a stray bullet.
Story: Albert K. Salia
CALM has returned to Agona Swedru after clashes between some members of the Zongo community and the indigenes on Monday which left two persons dead.
Commercial activities are back to normal as people go about their business and trading activities without let or hindrance.
Four of the 11 people who were injured in the clashes are still on admission and, according to hospital sources, one of them has undergone a successful operation on his genitals.
At the time of filing this report, the Central Regional Minister, Ms Ama Benyiwa-Doe, was in Swedru visiting the injured on admission and interacting with chiefs and opinion leaders of both the indigenes and the Zongo community.
Security personnel detailed to beef up patrols were still on high alert and monitoring the situation.
The Agona Swedru Divisional Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Owusu Donyinah, told the Daily Graphic that the situation had been calm throughout the night.
He said the security personnel were in control of the situation.
He denied some media reports that more persons died in the Monday clashes, insisting that “only two persons have been confirmed dead”.
Two persons were killed in Agona Swedru on Monday following clashes between some members of the Zongo community and the indigenes.
The deceased were identified as Muhammadu Iddrisu, 24, and Kwaku Acheampong, 35.
A third person, Kwame Asiew, was operated upon at the Agona Swedru Hospital after he had allegedly been hit by a stray bullet.
2 Die in violence * In Agona Swedru
Front Page: Daily Graphic, December 29, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
TWO persons were killed at Agona Swedru yesterday following clashes between some members of the Zongo community and the indigenes.
The deceased have been identified as Muhammadu Iddrisu, 24, and Kwaku Acheampong, 35.
A third person, Kwame Asiew, was operated upon at the Agona Swedru Hospital after he had allegedly been hit by a stray bullet.
Eleven other people sustained various degrees of injury in the clashes.
Personnel drawn from the Ghana Police Service and the Ghana Armed Forces are currently patrolling the town to avert further clashes.
The Agona Swedru Divisional Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Owusu Donyina, told the Daily Graphic that early in the morning, Iddrisu allegedly attacked a drinking spot, known as ‘Crockers’, destroying property and threatening to kill anyone who dared get closer to him.
He said patrons of the drinking spot abandoned their drinking and entertainment and ran for their lives.
According to him, Iddrisu allegedly left the spot, and while he was on his way to a second drinking spot wielding a machete, some youth in the area attacked and lynched him.
Chief Supt Donyina said it was being alleged that Iddrisu was a mental patient, although the police could not verify that.
He said after burying Iddrisu in line with Muslim tradition, some members of the Zongo community decided to attack some of the indigenes in retaliation for the death of Iddrisu.
He said it was in the heat of the counter-attack that Acheampong was killed, while the others sustained various degrees of injury.
Chief Supt Donyina said the police immediately called for reinforcement from Cape Coast and Accra, with personnel from the Panthers Unit, the Armoured Squadron Unit and the 64 Infantry Battalion responding to bring the situation under control.
He said the security personnel were still monitoring the situation and indicated that a curfew might be imposed if any more threats were identified before the close of day.
Story: Albert K. Salia
TWO persons were killed at Agona Swedru yesterday following clashes between some members of the Zongo community and the indigenes.
The deceased have been identified as Muhammadu Iddrisu, 24, and Kwaku Acheampong, 35.
A third person, Kwame Asiew, was operated upon at the Agona Swedru Hospital after he had allegedly been hit by a stray bullet.
Eleven other people sustained various degrees of injury in the clashes.
Personnel drawn from the Ghana Police Service and the Ghana Armed Forces are currently patrolling the town to avert further clashes.
The Agona Swedru Divisional Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Owusu Donyina, told the Daily Graphic that early in the morning, Iddrisu allegedly attacked a drinking spot, known as ‘Crockers’, destroying property and threatening to kill anyone who dared get closer to him.
He said patrons of the drinking spot abandoned their drinking and entertainment and ran for their lives.
According to him, Iddrisu allegedly left the spot, and while he was on his way to a second drinking spot wielding a machete, some youth in the area attacked and lynched him.
Chief Supt Donyina said it was being alleged that Iddrisu was a mental patient, although the police could not verify that.
He said after burying Iddrisu in line with Muslim tradition, some members of the Zongo community decided to attack some of the indigenes in retaliation for the death of Iddrisu.
He said it was in the heat of the counter-attack that Acheampong was killed, while the others sustained various degrees of injury.
Chief Supt Donyina said the police immediately called for reinforcement from Cape Coast and Accra, with personnel from the Panthers Unit, the Armoured Squadron Unit and the 64 Infantry Battalion responding to bring the situation under control.
He said the security personnel were still monitoring the situation and indicated that a curfew might be imposed if any more threats were identified before the close of day.
WE'LL ACT DECISIVELY *On report of Ghana@50 Commission, Prez assures
Front Page: Daily Graphic, December 24, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
President J.E.A. Mills yesterday received the report of the Presidential Commission that inquired into the activities of the Ghana@50 Secretariat with a declaration to act on the recommendations of the commission without fear or favour.
He dismissed people’s impression that the commission’s work was a witch-hunt or harassment and promised to look at the report and take the needed action.
President Mills expressed his appreciation to members of the commission for doing an excellent job in a fair and impartial manner.
The President set up the three-member commission to look into the activities of Ghana’s Golden Jubilee anniversary celebrations. The commission took submissions from 238 witnesses, who were directly or indirectly involved in the 50th independence anniversary celebration.
Mr Justice Isaac Duose chaired the commission with Mr Osei Tutu Prempeh, a former Auditor-General, and Mrs Marietta Brew Appiah-Opong, a legal practitioner, as members.
The commission commenced its public hearings at the Conference Room of the Old Parliament House building in Accra on Thursday, July 23 after its inauguration by Vice-President John Dramani Mahama on June 17, 2009.
Later in an interview with newsmen, Mr Justice Duose said it was possible that some people could be prosecuted, but was quick to add that any prosecution was the preserve of the President.
He noted that the solution to dealing with such problems in the future was by addressing the weaknesses in the governance system and not prosecution.
He said there were more lessons to be learnt from what happened and it should also serve as a reminder to those currently in authority that they would also be called upon to give account of their stewardship at the end of their tenure of office.
Mr Justice Duose said people should not be afraid to account for their stewardship unless they had done something wrong.
He said the commission was of the view that national events should reflect national character and not be limited to a party in government.
Mr Justice Duose said the commission was also of the view that appointments to positions should reflect the qualifications, training and skills of the appointee so that appointees would be able to deliver.
He said it was obvious during the public hearings that some persons put in certain positions did not have the requisite qualifications and training and cited some District Chief Executives as exposing their ignorance during the commission’s public hearings.
He also cited an instance where a cleaner was also made a cashier in a district assembly.
On the various golden jubilee projects, especially the jubilee toilets, Mr Justice Duose said there was nothing wrong as they were very necessary.
He said the process of implementation was the major problem as some persons were not qualified to undertake those projects.
As to whether the commission held further hearings after the public hearings, Mr Justice Duose said there were no secret hearings or investigations.
The terms of reference of the commission were to inquire into and report on allegations of improper use of public and other funds; inquire into the use by the secretariat of any property, movable and immovable; inquire into any other matter which appeared to the commission to be incidental to or reasonably related to the Ghana@50 celebrations and to make recommendations in respect of the findings of fact by the commission.
The commission, in the course of the public hearings, took submissions and petitions from the district assemblies, regional co-ordinating councils, private entities, service providers, technocrats, construction firms, consultants, the Ghana@50 Secretariat and the Office of the Chief of Staff.
Story: Albert K. Salia
President J.E.A. Mills yesterday received the report of the Presidential Commission that inquired into the activities of the Ghana@50 Secretariat with a declaration to act on the recommendations of the commission without fear or favour.
He dismissed people’s impression that the commission’s work was a witch-hunt or harassment and promised to look at the report and take the needed action.
President Mills expressed his appreciation to members of the commission for doing an excellent job in a fair and impartial manner.
The President set up the three-member commission to look into the activities of Ghana’s Golden Jubilee anniversary celebrations. The commission took submissions from 238 witnesses, who were directly or indirectly involved in the 50th independence anniversary celebration.
Mr Justice Isaac Duose chaired the commission with Mr Osei Tutu Prempeh, a former Auditor-General, and Mrs Marietta Brew Appiah-Opong, a legal practitioner, as members.
The commission commenced its public hearings at the Conference Room of the Old Parliament House building in Accra on Thursday, July 23 after its inauguration by Vice-President John Dramani Mahama on June 17, 2009.
Later in an interview with newsmen, Mr Justice Duose said it was possible that some people could be prosecuted, but was quick to add that any prosecution was the preserve of the President.
He noted that the solution to dealing with such problems in the future was by addressing the weaknesses in the governance system and not prosecution.
He said there were more lessons to be learnt from what happened and it should also serve as a reminder to those currently in authority that they would also be called upon to give account of their stewardship at the end of their tenure of office.
Mr Justice Duose said people should not be afraid to account for their stewardship unless they had done something wrong.
He said the commission was of the view that national events should reflect national character and not be limited to a party in government.
Mr Justice Duose said the commission was also of the view that appointments to positions should reflect the qualifications, training and skills of the appointee so that appointees would be able to deliver.
He said it was obvious during the public hearings that some persons put in certain positions did not have the requisite qualifications and training and cited some District Chief Executives as exposing their ignorance during the commission’s public hearings.
He also cited an instance where a cleaner was also made a cashier in a district assembly.
On the various golden jubilee projects, especially the jubilee toilets, Mr Justice Duose said there was nothing wrong as they were very necessary.
He said the process of implementation was the major problem as some persons were not qualified to undertake those projects.
As to whether the commission held further hearings after the public hearings, Mr Justice Duose said there were no secret hearings or investigations.
The terms of reference of the commission were to inquire into and report on allegations of improper use of public and other funds; inquire into the use by the secretariat of any property, movable and immovable; inquire into any other matter which appeared to the commission to be incidental to or reasonably related to the Ghana@50 celebrations and to make recommendations in respect of the findings of fact by the commission.
The commission, in the course of the public hearings, took submissions and petitions from the district assemblies, regional co-ordinating councils, private entities, service providers, technocrats, construction firms, consultants, the Ghana@50 Secretariat and the Office of the Chief of Staff.
Police evict squatters at barracks
Page 3: Daily Graphic, December 23, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Accra South District Police yesterday embarked on an exercise to rid its barracks of squatters, following a directive by the Inspector-General of Police for the eviction of all unauthorised persons from police barracks.
Although majority of the squatters managed to escape before the exercise got to them, 14 of them were arrested and thrown out of their makeshift abodes.
Those arrested are also to be prosecuted for unlawful entry and illegal habitation of police barracks.
The Accra South District Police Commander, Superintendent Aboagye Sarpong, who led the exercise about am, said more than 100 people were illegally living at the police barracks in Accra Central alone.
He explained that most of the squatters might have had a hint of the exercise after the Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP Rose Bio Atinga, and other senior officers toured the barracks last Monday.
He, however, said the exercise would be sustained to get rid of all the squatters.
Supt Sarpong said the squatters were using facilities such as bath houses, toilets and pipe stands with the police personnel and their families.
He said it was common to find some of the squatters challenging the legal occupants of the barracks over the usage of the facilities.
“Sometimes the squatters engage our wives and children in fights over who has the right to use the bath houses or toilets,” he lamented.
Supt. Sarpong said the police would extend the exercise to cover motorists who parked their vehicles on the compounds of the barracks and police stations to go and trade in the various markets and shops.
According to him, some of them often entered the barracks to park as if they were visiting people there or had something to do at the police station, creating more congestion at the barracks and the police stations.
He said such persons only returned after 5 p.m. to drive their vehicles away.
The IGP, Mr Paul Tawiah Quaye, last week called for the immediate eviction of unauthorised persons from the various police barracks across the country.
He said the situation where personnel had vacated their barracks and their accommodation sublet to their relatives, while some personnel slept on verandas and in the open, would no longer be tolerated.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Accra South District Police yesterday embarked on an exercise to rid its barracks of squatters, following a directive by the Inspector-General of Police for the eviction of all unauthorised persons from police barracks.
Although majority of the squatters managed to escape before the exercise got to them, 14 of them were arrested and thrown out of their makeshift abodes.
Those arrested are also to be prosecuted for unlawful entry and illegal habitation of police barracks.
The Accra South District Police Commander, Superintendent Aboagye Sarpong, who led the exercise about am, said more than 100 people were illegally living at the police barracks in Accra Central alone.
He explained that most of the squatters might have had a hint of the exercise after the Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP Rose Bio Atinga, and other senior officers toured the barracks last Monday.
He, however, said the exercise would be sustained to get rid of all the squatters.
Supt Sarpong said the squatters were using facilities such as bath houses, toilets and pipe stands with the police personnel and their families.
He said it was common to find some of the squatters challenging the legal occupants of the barracks over the usage of the facilities.
“Sometimes the squatters engage our wives and children in fights over who has the right to use the bath houses or toilets,” he lamented.
Supt. Sarpong said the police would extend the exercise to cover motorists who parked their vehicles on the compounds of the barracks and police stations to go and trade in the various markets and shops.
According to him, some of them often entered the barracks to park as if they were visiting people there or had something to do at the police station, creating more congestion at the barracks and the police stations.
He said such persons only returned after 5 p.m. to drive their vehicles away.
The IGP, Mr Paul Tawiah Quaye, last week called for the immediate eviction of unauthorised persons from the various police barracks across the country.
He said the situation where personnel had vacated their barracks and their accommodation sublet to their relatives, while some personnel slept on verandas and in the open, would no longer be tolerated.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Chemicals found at Kinapharma not cocaine
Front Page: Daily Graphic, December 12, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
TestS conducted by the Ghana Standards Board (GSB) on the chemicals picked up from Kinapharma Pharmaceutical Company Limited proved negative for cocaine.
The tests were, however, positive for chlordiazepoxide, which is not classified as a narcotic drug under PNDCL 236, 1990.
The test results, signed by Mr K. Acheampong, the Director of the Testing Division of the GSB, were submitted to the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service on Friday night.
According to the Public Affairs Officer of the CID, Chief Inspector J.B. Dankwa, the three officials would, therefore, be released on bail.
It would be recalled that the police last Thursday picked up three top officials of Kinapharma for allegedly possessing substances prohibited under Ghana’s Narcotic Control Law.
The three were the Managing Director, Mr Kofi Nsiah Poku, the Deputy Managing Director, Mrs Nsiah Poku, and the General Manager, Mr Eshun Fameyeh.
They were picked up after a combined team from the CID Headquarters and the Narcotics Control Board identified the substances in a warehouse at the company.
According to sources at the CID Headquarters, a field test on some of the substances tested partially positive for cocaine.
The company, however, insisted that the substances in the parcels were precursors and not cocaine.
Story: Albert K. Salia
TestS conducted by the Ghana Standards Board (GSB) on the chemicals picked up from Kinapharma Pharmaceutical Company Limited proved negative for cocaine.
The tests were, however, positive for chlordiazepoxide, which is not classified as a narcotic drug under PNDCL 236, 1990.
The test results, signed by Mr K. Acheampong, the Director of the Testing Division of the GSB, were submitted to the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service on Friday night.
According to the Public Affairs Officer of the CID, Chief Inspector J.B. Dankwa, the three officials would, therefore, be released on bail.
It would be recalled that the police last Thursday picked up three top officials of Kinapharma for allegedly possessing substances prohibited under Ghana’s Narcotic Control Law.
The three were the Managing Director, Mr Kofi Nsiah Poku, the Deputy Managing Director, Mrs Nsiah Poku, and the General Manager, Mr Eshun Fameyeh.
They were picked up after a combined team from the CID Headquarters and the Narcotics Control Board identified the substances in a warehouse at the company.
According to sources at the CID Headquarters, a field test on some of the substances tested partially positive for cocaine.
The company, however, insisted that the substances in the parcels were precursors and not cocaine.
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