Page 25: April 29, 2008.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE British High Commissioner in Accra, Mr Nicholas Westcott, has urged journalists in the country to sustain the lively nature of the media landscape, saying that lively nature was good for democracy and development.
Mr Westcott was speaking during a courtesy call on the Managing Director of the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL), Mr Ibrahim Awal, in Accra yesterday.
The High Commissioner was accompanied by Ms Rosie Tapper, the Second Secretary, Political, Press and Public Affairs, at the British High Commission.
Mr Westcott said although there had been a decline in readership in most parts of the world, the media in Ghana were still growing and had not experienced much of the decline.
He said the media landscape was very lively in Ghana and that the use of online services and information would enrich the media in Ghana and propel them for the future.
For his part, Mr Awal noted that there had been a phenomenal growth and development of the media in Ghana and recalled that from the mere two newspapers and one television station in the not-too-distant past, the country now had over 36 newspapers, six television stations and more than 100 radio stations.
He said the company was determined to play its part in promoting democracy and development through its publications.
He said the GCGL had also instituted an annual governance dialogue as part of its contribution to sustaining democracy.
Responding to a question on the coverage of elections and political parties, the Editor of the Daily Graphic, Mr Ransford Tetteh, said the Constitution insisted on fair and objective coverage for all political parties.
He said the National Media Commission (NMC) also monitored the work of the state-owned media to insulate them against governmental control.
He said as part of its work, the NMC issued guidelines on the coverage of elections in every election year to ensure that the state-owned media provide fair and objective reportage on the parties.
Mr Tetteh said the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) also collaborated with the Electoral Commission during elections to ensure access to certified results.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Boahen: My Loyalty to NPP not in doubt
Page 16: April 29, 2008.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Minister of State at the Ministry of the Interior, Nana Obiri Boahen, has said that he will make the Sunyani East Constituency the centre of attraction when elected as the parliamentary candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and MP for the area.
He said his commitment, dedication and service to the constituents in particular and the NPP as a whole was not in doubt and, therefore, urged them to elect him as their representative.
In an interview on his decision to contest the seat, Nana Boahen said one could not talk about NPP in the region without mentioning his name, stressing that “I am tried and tested”.
“I have endeared myself to both activists and supporters in the constituency, region and across the country not only in conducting cases on pro-bono basis but in resources as well,” he said.
He said he used his own resources to defend activists and supporters of the party not only in the constituency but also across the region and the country, citing the cases of Mr Nkrabeah Effah-Datteh, Joe Danquah, Prof Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, Nana Amponsah and during the Kume Preko demonstrations.
He said he stepped down on three occasions to enable the current MP for the area, Mr J. H. Mensah, to contest to demonstrate his obedience, humility and respect for the elders of the party.
“My commitment and dedication is unparalleled. I am open-handed, approachable and hard-working,” he said.
Nana Boahen said a vote for him as the NPP candidate meant a win for the party, stressing that “my name is a popular name in the area”.
He said even before he became MP for the area, he was talking with a German company to set up a refuse plant in the constituency to manage waste.
He said an Austrian company was also being courted to buy edible oil from Sunyani to create more employment and income for the people in the area.
Nana Boahen said he stood tall among all the other contestants as he had already had the baptism of politics since 1992 from being a regional youth organiser to the regional chairman.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Minister of State at the Ministry of the Interior, Nana Obiri Boahen, has said that he will make the Sunyani East Constituency the centre of attraction when elected as the parliamentary candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and MP for the area.
He said his commitment, dedication and service to the constituents in particular and the NPP as a whole was not in doubt and, therefore, urged them to elect him as their representative.
In an interview on his decision to contest the seat, Nana Boahen said one could not talk about NPP in the region without mentioning his name, stressing that “I am tried and tested”.
“I have endeared myself to both activists and supporters in the constituency, region and across the country not only in conducting cases on pro-bono basis but in resources as well,” he said.
He said he used his own resources to defend activists and supporters of the party not only in the constituency but also across the region and the country, citing the cases of Mr Nkrabeah Effah-Datteh, Joe Danquah, Prof Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, Nana Amponsah and during the Kume Preko demonstrations.
He said he stepped down on three occasions to enable the current MP for the area, Mr J. H. Mensah, to contest to demonstrate his obedience, humility and respect for the elders of the party.
“My commitment and dedication is unparalleled. I am open-handed, approachable and hard-working,” he said.
Nana Boahen said a vote for him as the NPP candidate meant a win for the party, stressing that “my name is a popular name in the area”.
He said even before he became MP for the area, he was talking with a German company to set up a refuse plant in the constituency to manage waste.
He said an Austrian company was also being courted to buy edible oil from Sunyani to create more employment and income for the people in the area.
Nana Boahen said he stood tall among all the other contestants as he had already had the baptism of politics since 1992 from being a regional youth organiser to the regional chairman.
Acquire Permits or ... *face the consequences
Front Page: April 29, 2008.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Ministry of the Interior has cautioned foreign nationals working in Ghana without the requisite resident and work permits to take steps to acquire them or face the consequences.
The Minister of State at the Ministry, Nana Obiri Boahen, who gave the warning in an interview at the weekend, said “a lot of them do not have both resident and working permits and yet are working”.
He said the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) would take immediate steps to deal with the problem.
“We want to ensure that the law does not just exist in the statute books. The laws must be operationalised,” he said.
He explained that Ghana was endowed with some of the best laws that were beautifully couched but the issue of implementing them had always been a major problem.
He, however, said the time had come for law enforcement agencies and all organisations responsible for the implementation of any law to live up to their responsibilities.
Nana Boahen reminded foreign nationals that both resident and work permits were subject to renewal but some of them had unfortunately taken the law for granted.
He also urged employers to endeavour to study the Immigration Act (Act 573) and ensure that they abide by the provisions enshrined in the law.
Section 24 of Act 573 states that, “Subject to this Act a person shall not employ any foreign national in Ghana except in accordance with a permit granted by the Immigrant Quota Committee established under Section 25 of this Act.”
Nana Boahen said officials of the GIS had the powers to arrest, detain and search individuals and organisations in situations where they suspected a breach of the immigration laws.
Nana Boahen said it was an offence to put impediments in the way of an officer and, therefore, advised both employers and foreign nationals to take note of that.
He said there was enough evidence for the ministry to believe that there were a lot of foreign nationals working without the requisite permits.
“There are some who would want to hoodwind us into believing they are not working. But they should blame themselves if they are caught,” he warned.
Nana Boahen said any Ghanaian who also engaged foreign nationals that did not have the requisite permits would have himself or herself to blame.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Ministry of the Interior has cautioned foreign nationals working in Ghana without the requisite resident and work permits to take steps to acquire them or face the consequences.
The Minister of State at the Ministry, Nana Obiri Boahen, who gave the warning in an interview at the weekend, said “a lot of them do not have both resident and working permits and yet are working”.
He said the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) would take immediate steps to deal with the problem.
“We want to ensure that the law does not just exist in the statute books. The laws must be operationalised,” he said.
He explained that Ghana was endowed with some of the best laws that were beautifully couched but the issue of implementing them had always been a major problem.
He, however, said the time had come for law enforcement agencies and all organisations responsible for the implementation of any law to live up to their responsibilities.
Nana Boahen reminded foreign nationals that both resident and work permits were subject to renewal but some of them had unfortunately taken the law for granted.
He also urged employers to endeavour to study the Immigration Act (Act 573) and ensure that they abide by the provisions enshrined in the law.
Section 24 of Act 573 states that, “Subject to this Act a person shall not employ any foreign national in Ghana except in accordance with a permit granted by the Immigrant Quota Committee established under Section 25 of this Act.”
Nana Boahen said officials of the GIS had the powers to arrest, detain and search individuals and organisations in situations where they suspected a breach of the immigration laws.
Nana Boahen said it was an offence to put impediments in the way of an officer and, therefore, advised both employers and foreign nationals to take note of that.
He said there was enough evidence for the ministry to believe that there were a lot of foreign nationals working without the requisite permits.
“There are some who would want to hoodwind us into believing they are not working. But they should blame themselves if they are caught,” he warned.
Nana Boahen said any Ghanaian who also engaged foreign nationals that did not have the requisite permits would have himself or herself to blame.
Shareworld to lead Ghanaian delegation to Jerusalem
Page 29: April 28, 2008.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE World Christians Gathering of Indigenous People (WCGIP) has appointed Shareworld Travel and Tours as its official agency to lead Ghanaian delegates to Jerusalem for the 2008 gathering in September 2008.
The WCGIP, which will be the seventh in the series, will take place between September 9 and 18, 2008. The first gathering took place in New Zealand in 1996 with the last event hosted by the Mindanao tribes in the Philippines in 2006.
The Director-General of Shareworld Travel and Tours, Mr Isaac Kuffuor, said he believed that the record his agency had set by always returning with all tourists was a factor in the agency being appointed by the WCGIP.
He said the agency had also successfully organised pilgrims to Israel and the impact of trips could be contributory factors.
He said during the gathering, different tribes across the world would be represented to worship God in their own tradition.
Mr Kuffuor said the participants would also be expected to dress in their traditional attires, sing and drum in their languages.
According to him, there would also be a tour to Bethlehem, Mountain of Temptation, Dead Sea, Wall of Jericho, Sea of Galilee, Golgotha, the Upper Room, Jesus’ tomb, King Solomon’s Temple ad Mt Olives among other interesting sites.
He was grateful to God for the choice of his agency to lead Christians to the world event, saying that Shareworld and two other agencies in South Africa and Rwanda were selected to lead pilgrims to the programme.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE World Christians Gathering of Indigenous People (WCGIP) has appointed Shareworld Travel and Tours as its official agency to lead Ghanaian delegates to Jerusalem for the 2008 gathering in September 2008.
The WCGIP, which will be the seventh in the series, will take place between September 9 and 18, 2008. The first gathering took place in New Zealand in 1996 with the last event hosted by the Mindanao tribes in the Philippines in 2006.
The Director-General of Shareworld Travel and Tours, Mr Isaac Kuffuor, said he believed that the record his agency had set by always returning with all tourists was a factor in the agency being appointed by the WCGIP.
He said the agency had also successfully organised pilgrims to Israel and the impact of trips could be contributory factors.
He said during the gathering, different tribes across the world would be represented to worship God in their own tradition.
Mr Kuffuor said the participants would also be expected to dress in their traditional attires, sing and drum in their languages.
According to him, there would also be a tour to Bethlehem, Mountain of Temptation, Dead Sea, Wall of Jericho, Sea of Galilee, Golgotha, the Upper Room, Jesus’ tomb, King Solomon’s Temple ad Mt Olives among other interesting sites.
He was grateful to God for the choice of his agency to lead Christians to the world event, saying that Shareworld and two other agencies in South Africa and Rwanda were selected to lead pilgrims to the programme.
Police Challenge cocaine report
Front Page: April 28, 2008.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Police Administration has said that the statement by the chairman of the Kojo Armah Committee to the effect that there had been non-coordination in the handling of the Prampram cocaine case was untrue.
It said the statement made by Mr Kojo Armah, the Chairman of the committee that investigated the missing cocaine at the Exhibits Store at the CID Headquarters, was unfounded and in bad taste.
The Director of Police Public Affairs, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Kwesi Ofori, told the Daily Graphic yesterday that the Police Administration had made available to the committee all appropriate documents, including correspondence in the handling of the case.
He said Chief Superintendent Alphonse Adu-Amankwah, then the Head of the erstwhile Organised Crime Unit (OCU), had also not been involved in the arrest and transportation of the exhibits from Prampram to the CID Headquarters.
He said although the Police Administration had not received a copy of the committee’s report, it felt it necessary to set the records straight regarding the preliminary comments Mr Armah made while presenting the report to the Interior Minister, Mr Kwamena Bartels, last Friday.
Showing correspondence, including police wireless messages, to this reporter, DSP Ofori said the 67 parcels of cocaine had been duly received on May 23, 2006 by DSP Patrick Akagbo, in the presence of Mr Adu-Amankwah, Detective Chief Inspectors P. Bediako, E. Y. Asong and B. B. Ananga, and Kenneth Ugah, the suspect in the case.
That, he explained, followed a wireless message signed by DSP Hubert K. Segoe, the former Administrator of the CID Headquarters, to the Tema Regional Police Commander on May 16, 2006 to submit all exhibits and documents to reach the OCU immediately.
DSP Ofori said after receiving the drugs, the CID administration decided to invite officials of the Ghana Standards Board (GSB) to examine the drugs on the sixth floor of the CID Headquarters on July 10, 2006 because the quantity of drugs was huge.
He said the drugs had been re-sealed with GSB seals.
He said after the test, Mr Adu-Amankwah sent a full report on the case to the then Director-General of the CID, Mr David Asante-Apeatu, on July 12, 2006.
Based on that report, the former Deputy Director-General of the CID, Mr Patrick Ampewuah, had written to the management of Scancom Ghana Limited to provide the itemised bills of some cell phone numbers. He also wrote to Ghana Post for the details of the owner of a post box.
DSP Ofori said the former Head of CID Operations, Mr Amadu Salifu, also wrote to the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) for details of the suspect in the case.
He said Interpol Ghana also wrote to the authorities to verify the genuineness of the $10,000 seized at the time of the arrest of the suspects and the drugs.
He said the response from the US authorities indicated that $6,100 of the bills were counterfeit.
DSP Ofori said there was also correspondence from the CID Headquarters, signed by ACP George Appiah, on August 17, 2006 to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) for the details of the owners of two vehicles, with registration numbers GR 1742 X and GR 6845 X.
The Public Affairs Director said the CID administration, on August 21, 2006, again wrote to the Registrar-General’s Department seeking information on the owners of three companies which had come up during the investigations.
“All these correspondence were duly signed on behalf of the former Head of the CID Administration, Mr Asante-Apeatu. In fact, on October 13, 2006, he personally signed a similar letter to the GIS for the details of Joseph Nwabueze,” he added.
DSP Ofori said after receiving the sub-reports from their various units, Mr Adu-Amankwah forwarded a comprehensive report on the case to the Director-General, CID, on May 29, 2007.
He said based on that letter, the Head of the Central Crime Research and Operations Unit, ACP I. J. T. O. Terkpertey, who was Chief Superintendent at the time, forwarded the case docket to the Attorney-General’s Department on June 6, 2007.
According to him, the second in command at the OCU, ASP Hope Nyadi, on June 12, 2007 wrote to the international partners, forwarding the contact numbers of those found to have been involved in the case to be entered in the Narcotics Control database.
“For Mr Armah to say that there had been lack of co-ordination is neither here nor there. From what I have shown you, you can see that all the specialised units were involved,” he added.
DSP Ofori explained that the CID was the technical wing of the Ghana Police Service and that its operations did not fall under the direct control of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP).
He said as was the case with all schedule officers, the CID boss also briefed the IGP on the activities of the CID.
He stated that it was also not the IGP who appointed Mr Adu-Amankwah to head the Drug Law Enforcement Unit (DLEU), which was later re-organised into the OCU.
DSP Ofori said it was the management of the CID, by its internal memo signed by Mr Asante-Apeatu on September 13, 2005, that appointed Mr Adu-Amankwah, a pharmacist, as head of the DLEU, among other changes.
He said the IGP was also not responsible for the appointment of storekeepers of the Exhibit Stores, as all regional, divisional, district and station commanders were responsible for appointing such persons.
He said looking at the correspondence and evidence available, the CID did its best in any scientific investigation that might be required in such a case.
DSP Ofori said the Police Administration would respond appropriately to the committee’s work when it received and studied its report.
The committee submitted its report to Mr Bartels last Friday and recommended the prosecution of DSP Akagbo.
It said although the committee could not pinpoint any single person or group of persons who had substituted the cocaine, DSP Akagbo, who kept the keys to the store, should be held responsible for dereliction of duty.
It also recommended further investigations into the conduct of Chief Supt Adu-Amankwah, the former Head of the erstwhile OCU.
Giving highlights of the committee’s report, Mr Armah had said personality clashes between Chief Supt Adu-Amankwah and Mr Asante-Apeatu, at one level, and between Mr Asante-Apeatu and the IGP at another level, affected the management of the CID headquarters, resulting in non-coordination of issues there.
According to the chairman, that had made Chief Supt Adu-Amankwah do “his own thing” as Head of the OCU.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Police Administration has said that the statement by the chairman of the Kojo Armah Committee to the effect that there had been non-coordination in the handling of the Prampram cocaine case was untrue.
It said the statement made by Mr Kojo Armah, the Chairman of the committee that investigated the missing cocaine at the Exhibits Store at the CID Headquarters, was unfounded and in bad taste.
The Director of Police Public Affairs, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Kwesi Ofori, told the Daily Graphic yesterday that the Police Administration had made available to the committee all appropriate documents, including correspondence in the handling of the case.
He said Chief Superintendent Alphonse Adu-Amankwah, then the Head of the erstwhile Organised Crime Unit (OCU), had also not been involved in the arrest and transportation of the exhibits from Prampram to the CID Headquarters.
He said although the Police Administration had not received a copy of the committee’s report, it felt it necessary to set the records straight regarding the preliminary comments Mr Armah made while presenting the report to the Interior Minister, Mr Kwamena Bartels, last Friday.
Showing correspondence, including police wireless messages, to this reporter, DSP Ofori said the 67 parcels of cocaine had been duly received on May 23, 2006 by DSP Patrick Akagbo, in the presence of Mr Adu-Amankwah, Detective Chief Inspectors P. Bediako, E. Y. Asong and B. B. Ananga, and Kenneth Ugah, the suspect in the case.
That, he explained, followed a wireless message signed by DSP Hubert K. Segoe, the former Administrator of the CID Headquarters, to the Tema Regional Police Commander on May 16, 2006 to submit all exhibits and documents to reach the OCU immediately.
DSP Ofori said after receiving the drugs, the CID administration decided to invite officials of the Ghana Standards Board (GSB) to examine the drugs on the sixth floor of the CID Headquarters on July 10, 2006 because the quantity of drugs was huge.
He said the drugs had been re-sealed with GSB seals.
He said after the test, Mr Adu-Amankwah sent a full report on the case to the then Director-General of the CID, Mr David Asante-Apeatu, on July 12, 2006.
Based on that report, the former Deputy Director-General of the CID, Mr Patrick Ampewuah, had written to the management of Scancom Ghana Limited to provide the itemised bills of some cell phone numbers. He also wrote to Ghana Post for the details of the owner of a post box.
DSP Ofori said the former Head of CID Operations, Mr Amadu Salifu, also wrote to the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) for details of the suspect in the case.
He said Interpol Ghana also wrote to the authorities to verify the genuineness of the $10,000 seized at the time of the arrest of the suspects and the drugs.
He said the response from the US authorities indicated that $6,100 of the bills were counterfeit.
DSP Ofori said there was also correspondence from the CID Headquarters, signed by ACP George Appiah, on August 17, 2006 to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) for the details of the owners of two vehicles, with registration numbers GR 1742 X and GR 6845 X.
The Public Affairs Director said the CID administration, on August 21, 2006, again wrote to the Registrar-General’s Department seeking information on the owners of three companies which had come up during the investigations.
“All these correspondence were duly signed on behalf of the former Head of the CID Administration, Mr Asante-Apeatu. In fact, on October 13, 2006, he personally signed a similar letter to the GIS for the details of Joseph Nwabueze,” he added.
DSP Ofori said after receiving the sub-reports from their various units, Mr Adu-Amankwah forwarded a comprehensive report on the case to the Director-General, CID, on May 29, 2007.
He said based on that letter, the Head of the Central Crime Research and Operations Unit, ACP I. J. T. O. Terkpertey, who was Chief Superintendent at the time, forwarded the case docket to the Attorney-General’s Department on June 6, 2007.
According to him, the second in command at the OCU, ASP Hope Nyadi, on June 12, 2007 wrote to the international partners, forwarding the contact numbers of those found to have been involved in the case to be entered in the Narcotics Control database.
“For Mr Armah to say that there had been lack of co-ordination is neither here nor there. From what I have shown you, you can see that all the specialised units were involved,” he added.
DSP Ofori explained that the CID was the technical wing of the Ghana Police Service and that its operations did not fall under the direct control of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP).
He said as was the case with all schedule officers, the CID boss also briefed the IGP on the activities of the CID.
He stated that it was also not the IGP who appointed Mr Adu-Amankwah to head the Drug Law Enforcement Unit (DLEU), which was later re-organised into the OCU.
DSP Ofori said it was the management of the CID, by its internal memo signed by Mr Asante-Apeatu on September 13, 2005, that appointed Mr Adu-Amankwah, a pharmacist, as head of the DLEU, among other changes.
He said the IGP was also not responsible for the appointment of storekeepers of the Exhibit Stores, as all regional, divisional, district and station commanders were responsible for appointing such persons.
He said looking at the correspondence and evidence available, the CID did its best in any scientific investigation that might be required in such a case.
DSP Ofori said the Police Administration would respond appropriately to the committee’s work when it received and studied its report.
The committee submitted its report to Mr Bartels last Friday and recommended the prosecution of DSP Akagbo.
It said although the committee could not pinpoint any single person or group of persons who had substituted the cocaine, DSP Akagbo, who kept the keys to the store, should be held responsible for dereliction of duty.
It also recommended further investigations into the conduct of Chief Supt Adu-Amankwah, the former Head of the erstwhile OCU.
Giving highlights of the committee’s report, Mr Armah had said personality clashes between Chief Supt Adu-Amankwah and Mr Asante-Apeatu, at one level, and between Mr Asante-Apeatu and the IGP at another level, affected the management of the CID headquarters, resulting in non-coordination of issues there.
According to the chairman, that had made Chief Supt Adu-Amankwah do “his own thing” as Head of the OCU.
Monday, April 28, 2008
"War" on Security firms* for illegal operations, poor salaries, wages
Front Page: April 28, 2008.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Ministry of the Interior has given a two-week ultimatum to all private security organisations to regularise their operations or face prosecution.
It said while some of them had failed to renew their licences, others had no licences to operate.
The Minister of State at the ministry, Nana Obiri Boahen, told the Daily Graphic that the ministry had decided to clamp down on security organisations that refused to operate within the confines of the law.
Apart from not renewing their licences annually, he said, some of them had also defaulted in their Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Value Added Tax (VAT) and National Health Insurance Levy (NHIL) obligations to the state.
He, therefore, urged them to regularise their operations or face sanctions.
Nana Boahen conceded that the ministry had not been hard on the organisations, as a result of which some of them had taken issues for granted.
He said the ministry had, therefore, decided to put the searchlight on them to bring sanity into their operations.
He appealed to user organisations of the security organisations to seek clearance from the ministry before engaging their services.
Outlining the procedure for the acquisition of licences, Nana Boahen said after a company had submitted completed application forms, the Minister of the Interior directed the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) to vet it and its directors.
He said if a positive report was received from the BNI, the minister sent the report to the National Security Secretariat for comments, after which he sent a memo to the Chief Director of the Ministry of the Interior authorising the granting of the licence, which he said was renewable annually.
Nana Boahen said although the security organisations contributed to protecting lives and property, it was against the law for them to operate without licences or with expired ones.
On the low remuneration paid to the security guards by their employers, he said there was little the ministry could do, since it was a management and staff problem.
He said if the staff were dissatisfied with their service conditions, they could take the matter to the National Labour Commission or the appropriate place for redress.
The clamp down of private security organisations comes in the wake of poor remuneration and working conditions of security guards.
A number of the security guards from various organisations in Accra who spoke to the Graphic , complained about poor conditions and salaries, lack of facilities and motivation from their management.
They are paid between GH¢50 and GH¢130 per month depending on the organisation one worked with and the number of years spent.
They claimed that their poor working conditions and salaries did not only impact on their service delivery but also their emotions .
While conceeding to the low salaries, the President of the Association of Private Security Organisations of Ghana (APSOG), Nana Edu Agyeman IV, explained that the salaries paid were based on the amount their clients paid them and other factors.
But the General Secretary of the Union of Private Security Employees of Ghana (UPSEG), Nana Kofi Adu II, said the only way out was the unionisation of the employees.
Sadly, he said, apart from some of the organisations working against the unionisation of their staff, some of the guards themselves were also not interested in getting unionised.
That, he said, had also contributed to the deplorable conditions of the security guards worked in and their poor salaries.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Ministry of the Interior has given a two-week ultimatum to all private security organisations to regularise their operations or face prosecution.
It said while some of them had failed to renew their licences, others had no licences to operate.
The Minister of State at the ministry, Nana Obiri Boahen, told the Daily Graphic that the ministry had decided to clamp down on security organisations that refused to operate within the confines of the law.
Apart from not renewing their licences annually, he said, some of them had also defaulted in their Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Value Added Tax (VAT) and National Health Insurance Levy (NHIL) obligations to the state.
He, therefore, urged them to regularise their operations or face sanctions.
Nana Boahen conceded that the ministry had not been hard on the organisations, as a result of which some of them had taken issues for granted.
He said the ministry had, therefore, decided to put the searchlight on them to bring sanity into their operations.
He appealed to user organisations of the security organisations to seek clearance from the ministry before engaging their services.
Outlining the procedure for the acquisition of licences, Nana Boahen said after a company had submitted completed application forms, the Minister of the Interior directed the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) to vet it and its directors.
He said if a positive report was received from the BNI, the minister sent the report to the National Security Secretariat for comments, after which he sent a memo to the Chief Director of the Ministry of the Interior authorising the granting of the licence, which he said was renewable annually.
Nana Boahen said although the security organisations contributed to protecting lives and property, it was against the law for them to operate without licences or with expired ones.
On the low remuneration paid to the security guards by their employers, he said there was little the ministry could do, since it was a management and staff problem.
He said if the staff were dissatisfied with their service conditions, they could take the matter to the National Labour Commission or the appropriate place for redress.
The clamp down of private security organisations comes in the wake of poor remuneration and working conditions of security guards.
A number of the security guards from various organisations in Accra who spoke to the Graphic , complained about poor conditions and salaries, lack of facilities and motivation from their management.
They are paid between GH¢50 and GH¢130 per month depending on the organisation one worked with and the number of years spent.
They claimed that their poor working conditions and salaries did not only impact on their service delivery but also their emotions .
While conceeding to the low salaries, the President of the Association of Private Security Organisations of Ghana (APSOG), Nana Edu Agyeman IV, explained that the salaries paid were based on the amount their clients paid them and other factors.
But the General Secretary of the Union of Private Security Employees of Ghana (UPSEG), Nana Kofi Adu II, said the only way out was the unionisation of the employees.
Sadly, he said, apart from some of the organisations working against the unionisation of their staff, some of the guards themselves were also not interested in getting unionised.
That, he said, had also contributed to the deplorable conditions of the security guards worked in and their poor salaries.
Prosecute DSP Akagbo*Investigate conduct of Chief Supt. Adu-Amankwah
Front Page: April 26, 2008.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Kojo Armah Committee set up to investigate the missing cocaine at the Exhibits Store at the CID Headquarters has recommended the prosecution of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Patrick Akagbo.
It said although the committee could not pinpoint any single person or group of persons who had substituted the cocaine, DSP Akagbo, who kept the keys to the store, should be held responsible for dereliction of duty.
It also recommended further investigations into the conduct of Chief Superintendent Alphonse Adu-Amankwah, the former Head of the erstwhile Organised Crime Unit, in his administration of the unit, especially with the arrest, transportation and handling of the exhibits which were intercepted at Prampram in the Greater Accra Region.
Giving highlights of the committee’s report yesterday during its presentation to the Interior Minister, Mr Kwamena Bartels, the Chairman, Mr Kojo Armah, said the committee also recommended the re-organisation of the CID Headquarters, especially its records management.
He said the committee took both oral and written evidence from 43 people, including the Inspector-General of Police, Mr P. K. Acheampong; the former Director-General of the CID, Mr David Asante-Apeatu; his successor, Mr Frank Adu-Poku, Chief Supt Adu-Amankwah, DSP Akagbo and five civilians.
He said the committee established that there were personality clashes between Chief Supt Adu-Amankwah and DCOP Asante-Apeatu, at one level, and between DCOP Asante-Apeatu and the IGP at another level.
He said those clashes affected the management of the CID Headquarters, resulting in non-coordination of issues there.
According to the chairman, that made Chief Supt Adu-Amankwah do “his own thing” as Head of the Organised Crime Unit.
Mr Armah said the committee traced the source of the conflicts to the handling of the East Legon cocaine case in 2005, adding that it resulted in the keys to the Exhibits Store being given to DSP Akagbo, who had nothing to do with Organised Crime.
He said the committee detected that the doors to the store had neither been forced open nor had there been a break in.
Mr Armah, therefore, said there was little possibility of someone entering the Exhibits Store through the back window, hence the decision to hold DSP Akagbo liable.
According to him, three civilians — Isaac Tenkorang, Osman Anani and Nana Dokua — had led the committee into believing that DSP Akagbo had actually taken the cocaine and given it to Mr Kwame Frempong to sell but added that Tenkorang later confessed to the committee that they had actually conspired to implicate DSP Akagbo and Mr Frempong.
He explained that based on that, the committee had no option but release Mr Frempong.
He said record keeping at the CID Headquarters was very poor, as the officers did not keep details of all visitors and other details.
Mr Armah commended all the personalities and institutions that assisted the committee in its work, especially the IGP, the Bureau of National Investigations and the Narcotics Control Board.
Mr Bartels, for his part, expressed the government’s gratitude to members of the committee for accepting the responsibility.
He said the report would be forwarded to the Attorney-General’s Department for advice, after which the government would issue a statement on it.
He pledged that all those who had been recommended for prosecution would be dealt with.
Mr Bartels, who was flanked by the Minister of State at the ministry, Nana Obiri Boahen, said the government would use the report to streamline the weaknesses in the housing and custody of exhibits in future.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Kojo Armah Committee set up to investigate the missing cocaine at the Exhibits Store at the CID Headquarters has recommended the prosecution of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Patrick Akagbo.
It said although the committee could not pinpoint any single person or group of persons who had substituted the cocaine, DSP Akagbo, who kept the keys to the store, should be held responsible for dereliction of duty.
It also recommended further investigations into the conduct of Chief Superintendent Alphonse Adu-Amankwah, the former Head of the erstwhile Organised Crime Unit, in his administration of the unit, especially with the arrest, transportation and handling of the exhibits which were intercepted at Prampram in the Greater Accra Region.
Giving highlights of the committee’s report yesterday during its presentation to the Interior Minister, Mr Kwamena Bartels, the Chairman, Mr Kojo Armah, said the committee also recommended the re-organisation of the CID Headquarters, especially its records management.
He said the committee took both oral and written evidence from 43 people, including the Inspector-General of Police, Mr P. K. Acheampong; the former Director-General of the CID, Mr David Asante-Apeatu; his successor, Mr Frank Adu-Poku, Chief Supt Adu-Amankwah, DSP Akagbo and five civilians.
He said the committee established that there were personality clashes between Chief Supt Adu-Amankwah and DCOP Asante-Apeatu, at one level, and between DCOP Asante-Apeatu and the IGP at another level.
He said those clashes affected the management of the CID Headquarters, resulting in non-coordination of issues there.
According to the chairman, that made Chief Supt Adu-Amankwah do “his own thing” as Head of the Organised Crime Unit.
Mr Armah said the committee traced the source of the conflicts to the handling of the East Legon cocaine case in 2005, adding that it resulted in the keys to the Exhibits Store being given to DSP Akagbo, who had nothing to do with Organised Crime.
He said the committee detected that the doors to the store had neither been forced open nor had there been a break in.
Mr Armah, therefore, said there was little possibility of someone entering the Exhibits Store through the back window, hence the decision to hold DSP Akagbo liable.
According to him, three civilians — Isaac Tenkorang, Osman Anani and Nana Dokua — had led the committee into believing that DSP Akagbo had actually taken the cocaine and given it to Mr Kwame Frempong to sell but added that Tenkorang later confessed to the committee that they had actually conspired to implicate DSP Akagbo and Mr Frempong.
He explained that based on that, the committee had no option but release Mr Frempong.
He said record keeping at the CID Headquarters was very poor, as the officers did not keep details of all visitors and other details.
Mr Armah commended all the personalities and institutions that assisted the committee in its work, especially the IGP, the Bureau of National Investigations and the Narcotics Control Board.
Mr Bartels, for his part, expressed the government’s gratitude to members of the committee for accepting the responsibility.
He said the report would be forwarded to the Attorney-General’s Department for advice, after which the government would issue a statement on it.
He pledged that all those who had been recommended for prosecution would be dealt with.
Mr Bartels, who was flanked by the Minister of State at the ministry, Nana Obiri Boahen, said the government would use the report to streamline the weaknesses in the housing and custody of exhibits in future.
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