Page 14: Daily Graphic, July 16, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Operations Department of the Ghana Police Service has listed all the crime-prone areas within the Greater Accra and Ashanti regions for appropriate strategies to deal with the criminal activities in those areas.
While intensifying its measures to deal with criminal activities in those areas, it has also asked residents, motorists and pedestrians within those areas to be extra vigilant and take personal security measures to augment that of the police.
It has also extended its activities to areas which were not listed as crime prone, as precautionary measures to stem any attempt of criminals to change to those areas.
In the Greater Accra Region, the police listed areas as Adenta Housing Down, Dome Pillar 2, Ashalley Botwe, East Legon, South Odorkor, Dansoman and Nungua-Batsoona as crime-prone areas.
Other areas include Tantra Hills, Lartebiokoshie, Ablekuma-Awoshie, Ritz Madina, Santa Maria, South Ofankor, Spintex Road, Haatso, Adjiringanor, Pokuasi, Awudome Cemetery, Bubiashie cemetery, Dzorwulu, Dome and Nungua.
The rest are Kotobabi, Odorkor, Kwashieman, Kwabenya, Nima Big Gutter, Sowutuom, North Kaneshie, Anyaa, Pig Farm, Obetsebi Lamptey roundabout, Bishop roundabout at Bubiashie and Kaneshie.
In the Ashanti Region, the police named Buorkrom, New Tafo, Ash-Town, Oforikrom, Obuasi, Asokwa, Krofrom, Agona-Asokore, KNUST area, Tafo Nhyiaso, Gyinase, Santasi, Kwamang, Aputagya, Effiduase, Kokorbra and Sepe-Buorkrom.
The rest are Ala Bar area, Race Course area, Ejisu, Essan-Dabiso, Akurem, Adukrom, Okyerekrom, Amakom, Kejetia-Asafo, Bantama, Obuasi-Anyaa, Kokoben, Asokore, Mampong, Kwapanin and Mamponteng.
The Director of Police Public Affairs, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Kwesi Ofori, told the Daily Graphic that people living in those areas must take their personal security and that of their property very seriously.
He said although the police had increased their operations in those areas, it was incumbent on residents to contribute their part.
He said what residents or property owners could do was to reinforce their doors and also provide good lighting systems on their premises.
DSP Ofori said people must also be observant of things and movement of suspicious and even known persons, as well as vehicles and motorcycles.
He said the communities could also start forming neighbourhood watch committees, members of which must be screened by the police to ensure that criminals did not take over the watch committees.
DSP Ofori advised that anytime that they heard of gunshots within their areas, they should immediately call the police hotlines.
He urged parents and residents to take keen interest in persons they found talking to their children as such persons could be soliciting information from them.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
New measures to fight crime
Page 3: Daily Graphic, July 15, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Police Administration has announced new measures to help deal with armed robbery and other criminal activities.
Accordingly, and with immediate effect, all riders of motorbikes and drivers of model of vehicles known to be used for armed robbery will be seriously interrogated if found after 8 p.m.
That follows the realisation that most armed robbers are using motorbikes and some cars to perpetrate crime.
It has also announced a 24-hour patrol system to avoid any gaps in police duties.
Senior officers are now to lead police patrols with immediate effect.
Expatiating on the new measures in an interview yesterday, the Director-General of Police Operations, DCOP John Kudalor, said the questioning and interrogation would, however, not be limited to the known cars used in robberies or criminal activities but other vehicles as well.
He said anyone found on a motorbike after 8 p.m. would be thoroughly interrogated by the police. According to him, it did not matter whether the motorbike was registered or not.
DCOP Kudalor reminded the public that it was unlawful to use an unregistered vehicle after 6 p.m. and gave indication that the police would strictly enforce that law.
With regard to the 24-hour patrol system, he explained that there used to be a lull when patrol teams were taking over from those “falling-out” after performing their duties.
He, however, said with effect from today patrol teams falling out would have to wait till their counterparts took over from them.
DCOP Kudalor said senior police officers from the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police to Superintendent would now lead the various patrol teams, instead of Inspectors and Chief Inspectors.
He said there would also be increased snap checks at various locations and appealed to members of the public to co-operate.
He said the tent cities introduced three weeks ago were to be increased to more vulnerable communities and urged the communities to buy the tent city idea to ensure its success.
An initiative of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Paul Tawiah Quaye, the tent cities are to serve as the first points of call by residents of communities in which they are sited to relay information on suspected criminal activities or suspicious characters within those areas.
Each tent city will be provided with a telephone number to serve the communities and reduce time of response to distress calls.
Already, the tent cities have been mounted at East Legon, the Achimota Golf Club and Dzorwulu, while other areas such as Taifa, Dansoman, Dome Pillar II and Awoshie were being considered, depending on the co-operation of the residents to the citing of the cities there.
Officers on duty at the tent cities will relay any information to the patrol teams within their vicinities.
DCOP Kudalor urged members of the communities in which the tent cities would be located to visit them to interact with the police personnel and share relevant information with them.
He also urged the public to call the Police Operations hotlines 021-773906 and 021-773695 or 191 on Tigo, Vodafone and Kasapa networks.
Meanwhile, the police have advised that people who are not in need of police assistance should not call the numbers to afford people in trouble the opportunity to access those numbers.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Police Administration has announced new measures to help deal with armed robbery and other criminal activities.
Accordingly, and with immediate effect, all riders of motorbikes and drivers of model of vehicles known to be used for armed robbery will be seriously interrogated if found after 8 p.m.
That follows the realisation that most armed robbers are using motorbikes and some cars to perpetrate crime.
It has also announced a 24-hour patrol system to avoid any gaps in police duties.
Senior officers are now to lead police patrols with immediate effect.
Expatiating on the new measures in an interview yesterday, the Director-General of Police Operations, DCOP John Kudalor, said the questioning and interrogation would, however, not be limited to the known cars used in robberies or criminal activities but other vehicles as well.
He said anyone found on a motorbike after 8 p.m. would be thoroughly interrogated by the police. According to him, it did not matter whether the motorbike was registered or not.
DCOP Kudalor reminded the public that it was unlawful to use an unregistered vehicle after 6 p.m. and gave indication that the police would strictly enforce that law.
With regard to the 24-hour patrol system, he explained that there used to be a lull when patrol teams were taking over from those “falling-out” after performing their duties.
He, however, said with effect from today patrol teams falling out would have to wait till their counterparts took over from them.
DCOP Kudalor said senior police officers from the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police to Superintendent would now lead the various patrol teams, instead of Inspectors and Chief Inspectors.
He said there would also be increased snap checks at various locations and appealed to members of the public to co-operate.
He said the tent cities introduced three weeks ago were to be increased to more vulnerable communities and urged the communities to buy the tent city idea to ensure its success.
An initiative of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Paul Tawiah Quaye, the tent cities are to serve as the first points of call by residents of communities in which they are sited to relay information on suspected criminal activities or suspicious characters within those areas.
Each tent city will be provided with a telephone number to serve the communities and reduce time of response to distress calls.
Already, the tent cities have been mounted at East Legon, the Achimota Golf Club and Dzorwulu, while other areas such as Taifa, Dansoman, Dome Pillar II and Awoshie were being considered, depending on the co-operation of the residents to the citing of the cities there.
Officers on duty at the tent cities will relay any information to the patrol teams within their vicinities.
DCOP Kudalor urged members of the communities in which the tent cities would be located to visit them to interact with the police personnel and share relevant information with them.
He also urged the public to call the Police Operations hotlines 021-773906 and 021-773695 or 191 on Tigo, Vodafone and Kasapa networks.
Meanwhile, the police have advised that people who are not in need of police assistance should not call the numbers to afford people in trouble the opportunity to access those numbers.
Govt to revamp forensic lab with EU grant
Page 48: D aily Graphic, July 14, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE government has secured a two-million-euro grant from the European Union (EU) for the revamping of the Police Forensic Laboratory.
The collapsed building of the Detective Training School is also to be reconstructed within the next two years to offer training for detectives.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Paul Quaye, who announced this in Accra yesterday, noted that the collapse of the detective training school and the deplorable state of the forensic laboratory had hampered successful investigations.
He was speaking in Accra at the opening of a six-day training course to develop the professional competencies of senior detectives drawn from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) headquarters and the Accra and Tema regions.
Mr Quaye said the detective school played a pivotal role in producing world-class detectives, who served as the bedrock for the successful detection, investigation and prosecution of many high-profile criminal cases in the country.
“The collapse of the school has had significant negative ramifications for crime management in the country, since many detectives working on cases in recent times have not been formally trained,” he said, adding that “that could probably explain the increasing level of cases still under investigations as our crime statistics are low”.
He said the consistent high number of unresolved cases was worrying and pointed out that the success or otherwise of the course would be measured by the number of cases that they were able to resolve afterwards.
On the forensic laboratory, he said apart from its deplorable state, it had been under-utilised and attributed it to the insufficient awareness of detectives of its potency in authenticating disputed exhibits before the law courts.
Mr Quaye reminded the personnel that if they succeeded in preventing all preventable crimes but failed in detecting all detectable crimes then they had failed as the prime internal security agency of the country.
The IGP, therefore, urged the participants to not only stay focussed on the course but familiarise themselves as a brotherhood of crime officers to facilitate information sharing.
The Director-General of the CID, DCOP Frank Adu-Poku, noted that crime detection and investigation was a specialised field requiring constant training of the personnel.
He said to be able to rise up to the challenges of modern crime, security personnel needed to be constantly trained and resourced.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE government has secured a two-million-euro grant from the European Union (EU) for the revamping of the Police Forensic Laboratory.
The collapsed building of the Detective Training School is also to be reconstructed within the next two years to offer training for detectives.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Paul Quaye, who announced this in Accra yesterday, noted that the collapse of the detective training school and the deplorable state of the forensic laboratory had hampered successful investigations.
He was speaking in Accra at the opening of a six-day training course to develop the professional competencies of senior detectives drawn from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) headquarters and the Accra and Tema regions.
Mr Quaye said the detective school played a pivotal role in producing world-class detectives, who served as the bedrock for the successful detection, investigation and prosecution of many high-profile criminal cases in the country.
“The collapse of the school has had significant negative ramifications for crime management in the country, since many detectives working on cases in recent times have not been formally trained,” he said, adding that “that could probably explain the increasing level of cases still under investigations as our crime statistics are low”.
He said the consistent high number of unresolved cases was worrying and pointed out that the success or otherwise of the course would be measured by the number of cases that they were able to resolve afterwards.
On the forensic laboratory, he said apart from its deplorable state, it had been under-utilised and attributed it to the insufficient awareness of detectives of its potency in authenticating disputed exhibits before the law courts.
Mr Quaye reminded the personnel that if they succeeded in preventing all preventable crimes but failed in detecting all detectable crimes then they had failed as the prime internal security agency of the country.
The IGP, therefore, urged the participants to not only stay focussed on the course but familiarise themselves as a brotherhood of crime officers to facilitate information sharing.
The Director-General of the CID, DCOP Frank Adu-Poku, noted that crime detection and investigation was a specialised field requiring constant training of the personnel.
He said to be able to rise up to the challenges of modern crime, security personnel needed to be constantly trained and resourced.
Monday, July 13, 2009
It's a moving experience
Pages 14/15: Daily Graphic, July 13, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia, Cape Coast.
PRESIDENT Barack Husein Obama has described his tour of the Cape Coast Castle as “a moving experience, a moving moment” and commended those who organised the tour and Ghanaians for preserving that history.
“As painful as it is, I think that it helps to teach all of us that we have to do what we can to fight against the kinds of evils that, sadly, still exist in our world, not just on this continent but in every corner of the globe,” he said.
In a three-minute remark to the press corps at the castle after the tour, President Obama said the castle should be a source of hope as well as repository of painful memories, stressing that, “It reminds us that as bad as history can be, it's always possible to overcome.”
He said the tour was particularly important for his two daughters, Malia and Sasha, who were growing up in such a blessed way, to be reminded that history could take very cruel turns.
The US President was, however, hopeful that one of the things that were imparted to the children during the trip to Ghana, “is their sense of obligation to fight oppression and cruelty wherever it appears, and that any group of people who are degrading another group of people have to be fought against with whatever tools we have available to us.”
He said the extraordinary tour of the castle, was reminiscent of the trip he took to Buchenwald, because it reminded them of the ability of human beings to commit great evil.
“One of the most striking things that I heard was that right above the dungeons in which male captives were kept was a church, and that reminds us that sometimes we can tolerate and stand by great evil even as we think that we're doing good,” he lamented.
Mr Obama said as Americans, and as African Americans, obviously there was a special sense that on one hand, the castle was a place of profound sadness while on the other hand, it was the beginning of journey of experience for most African American .
“And symbolically, to be able to come back with my family, with Michelle and our children, and see the portal through which the Diaspora began, but also to be able to come back here in celebration with the people of Ghana of the extraordinary progress that we've made because of the courage of so many, black and white, to abolish slavery and ultimately win civil rights for all people, I think is a source of hope. It reminds us that as bad as history can be, it's also possible to overcome,” he stated.
Led by Mr Fritz Baffour, Member of Parliament for Ablekuma South, President Obama, his wife Michelle, their daughters and the first lady's mother, Marian Robinson and the godmother of the children, Mama Kay, toured the grounds as a festive crowd of thousands milled outside, pounding drums and dancing in the streets.
People crowded outside the castle to greet Mr Obama, with others climbing onto nearby roofs, vehicle tops and balconies just to catch a glimpse of the US leader.
President Obama also unveiled a plaque to commemorate his visit to the Cape Coast Castle.
Michelle Obama is the great-great granddaughter of African slaves.
Mr Obama smiled and waved at the crowd as he beat protocol arrangement to come outside after the tour, before disappearing with his family and entourage for Accra.
Earlier, the Omanhen of the Oguaa Traditional Area, Osabarima Kwesi Atta had bestowed on the first couple of the USA the titles, Okukurdofo Kofi Obiekwan and Obatan Efua Nyamekye and also offered land to Mr Obama to develop anytime he desired.
The traditional leader also named the street in front of the Castle, Obama Street while the University of Cape Coast honoured the couple with honorary doctorate degrees although they could not be presented with the honours.
Speaking to journalists after President Obama had left, the Central Regional Minister, Ms Ama Benyiwa Doe, described the tour as a boost to the region.
“As a regional minister, I feel a high sense of contentment for the successful hosting of President Obama in Cape Coast. We were given a responsibility and we delivered,” he said.
She said she was particularly happy that God heard the prayers of the people and restrained the rains for period that Mr Obama was in Cape Coast and allowed people to come out in their numbers to watch and celebrate the historic visit.
Ms Benyiwa-Doe was hopeful that the region would benefit greatly from the visit in terms of tourism
She said the people the world over would want to come visit where President Obama visited ,moreso, when the whites thrive on history.
Story: Albert K. Salia, Cape Coast.
PRESIDENT Barack Husein Obama has described his tour of the Cape Coast Castle as “a moving experience, a moving moment” and commended those who organised the tour and Ghanaians for preserving that history.
“As painful as it is, I think that it helps to teach all of us that we have to do what we can to fight against the kinds of evils that, sadly, still exist in our world, not just on this continent but in every corner of the globe,” he said.
In a three-minute remark to the press corps at the castle after the tour, President Obama said the castle should be a source of hope as well as repository of painful memories, stressing that, “It reminds us that as bad as history can be, it's always possible to overcome.”
He said the tour was particularly important for his two daughters, Malia and Sasha, who were growing up in such a blessed way, to be reminded that history could take very cruel turns.
The US President was, however, hopeful that one of the things that were imparted to the children during the trip to Ghana, “is their sense of obligation to fight oppression and cruelty wherever it appears, and that any group of people who are degrading another group of people have to be fought against with whatever tools we have available to us.”
He said the extraordinary tour of the castle, was reminiscent of the trip he took to Buchenwald, because it reminded them of the ability of human beings to commit great evil.
“One of the most striking things that I heard was that right above the dungeons in which male captives were kept was a church, and that reminds us that sometimes we can tolerate and stand by great evil even as we think that we're doing good,” he lamented.
Mr Obama said as Americans, and as African Americans, obviously there was a special sense that on one hand, the castle was a place of profound sadness while on the other hand, it was the beginning of journey of experience for most African American .
“And symbolically, to be able to come back with my family, with Michelle and our children, and see the portal through which the Diaspora began, but also to be able to come back here in celebration with the people of Ghana of the extraordinary progress that we've made because of the courage of so many, black and white, to abolish slavery and ultimately win civil rights for all people, I think is a source of hope. It reminds us that as bad as history can be, it's also possible to overcome,” he stated.
Led by Mr Fritz Baffour, Member of Parliament for Ablekuma South, President Obama, his wife Michelle, their daughters and the first lady's mother, Marian Robinson and the godmother of the children, Mama Kay, toured the grounds as a festive crowd of thousands milled outside, pounding drums and dancing in the streets.
People crowded outside the castle to greet Mr Obama, with others climbing onto nearby roofs, vehicle tops and balconies just to catch a glimpse of the US leader.
President Obama also unveiled a plaque to commemorate his visit to the Cape Coast Castle.
Michelle Obama is the great-great granddaughter of African slaves.
Mr Obama smiled and waved at the crowd as he beat protocol arrangement to come outside after the tour, before disappearing with his family and entourage for Accra.
Earlier, the Omanhen of the Oguaa Traditional Area, Osabarima Kwesi Atta had bestowed on the first couple of the USA the titles, Okukurdofo Kofi Obiekwan and Obatan Efua Nyamekye and also offered land to Mr Obama to develop anytime he desired.
The traditional leader also named the street in front of the Castle, Obama Street while the University of Cape Coast honoured the couple with honorary doctorate degrees although they could not be presented with the honours.
Speaking to journalists after President Obama had left, the Central Regional Minister, Ms Ama Benyiwa Doe, described the tour as a boost to the region.
“As a regional minister, I feel a high sense of contentment for the successful hosting of President Obama in Cape Coast. We were given a responsibility and we delivered,” he said.
She said she was particularly happy that God heard the prayers of the people and restrained the rains for period that Mr Obama was in Cape Coast and allowed people to come out in their numbers to watch and celebrate the historic visit.
Ms Benyiwa-Doe was hopeful that the region would benefit greatly from the visit in terms of tourism
She said the people the world over would want to come visit where President Obama visited ,moreso, when the whites thrive on history.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Impersonator arrested for fraud
Page 25: The Mirror, July 11, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Accra Regional Police have arrested a young man who allegedly posed as a nephew of the flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Election 2008, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to defraud a number of persons of more than GH¢50,000.
The suspect, who introduced himself as “Dr” Kelvin Addo-Dankwah, also told his unsuspecting victims that he was a Level 700 student of the University of Ghana Medical School (UGMS).
He, however, told the police after his arrest that he was known as Kelvin Owusu.
The Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP Rose Bio Atinga, told the Daily Graphic that the suspect befriended a lady some time in October last year, during which he claimed he was a final-year student at the UGMS.
She said the elated lady introduced Kelvin to her elder sister with whom she was staying at Anyaa NIC.
She said in the course of their relationship, Kelvin informed his girlfriend about an intended conference Nana Akufo-Addo was holding in London as part of his campaign to win the 2008 December elections.
According to DCOP Atinga, Kelvin asked if any member of the family of his “sweatheart” was interested in participating in the conference so that he or she could be added to the list.
She said based on that, the girlfriend’s sister was asked to pay GH¢3,100 to facilitate the purchase of a ticket and “oil” the palms of the conference organisers.
She said after collecting the money, Kelvin could no longer be traced and all his three cell phones were switched off.
She said the victim, out of desperation, went to the UGMS to look for Kelvin but the authorities could not trace any student by that name.
The Regional Commander said Kelvin called some time this year on a different number and introduced himself as Ransford, claiming that Kelvin had given him the number to call to allay their fears about the aborted trip.
DCOP Atinga said the victim recognised the voice as that of Kelvin but he denied it and later cut the call.
According to her, the victim later received another call from someone in Sunyani claiming that he too had been defrauded by Kelvin.
She said the caller indicated that he got the lady’s number from Kelvin’s SIM card when they searched his house at Sunyani and that they had seen some communication pertaining to a similar transaction that led to the caller losing more than GH¢8,000.
DCOP Atinga said the caller then informed the lady that the suspect was alleged to be staying at Awoshie Mangoase and requested that she should contact the police in Accra to arrest Kelvin.
She said the lady then lodged a complaint with the police, who, together with the lady, went to Awoshie to arrest Kelvin.
She said soon after the arrest of Kelvin two other complainants reported that they had been defrauded of £1,000 and $1,200.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Accra Regional Police have arrested a young man who allegedly posed as a nephew of the flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Election 2008, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to defraud a number of persons of more than GH¢50,000.
The suspect, who introduced himself as “Dr” Kelvin Addo-Dankwah, also told his unsuspecting victims that he was a Level 700 student of the University of Ghana Medical School (UGMS).
He, however, told the police after his arrest that he was known as Kelvin Owusu.
The Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP Rose Bio Atinga, told the Daily Graphic that the suspect befriended a lady some time in October last year, during which he claimed he was a final-year student at the UGMS.
She said the elated lady introduced Kelvin to her elder sister with whom she was staying at Anyaa NIC.
She said in the course of their relationship, Kelvin informed his girlfriend about an intended conference Nana Akufo-Addo was holding in London as part of his campaign to win the 2008 December elections.
According to DCOP Atinga, Kelvin asked if any member of the family of his “sweatheart” was interested in participating in the conference so that he or she could be added to the list.
She said based on that, the girlfriend’s sister was asked to pay GH¢3,100 to facilitate the purchase of a ticket and “oil” the palms of the conference organisers.
She said after collecting the money, Kelvin could no longer be traced and all his three cell phones were switched off.
She said the victim, out of desperation, went to the UGMS to look for Kelvin but the authorities could not trace any student by that name.
The Regional Commander said Kelvin called some time this year on a different number and introduced himself as Ransford, claiming that Kelvin had given him the number to call to allay their fears about the aborted trip.
DCOP Atinga said the victim recognised the voice as that of Kelvin but he denied it and later cut the call.
According to her, the victim later received another call from someone in Sunyani claiming that he too had been defrauded by Kelvin.
She said the caller indicated that he got the lady’s number from Kelvin’s SIM card when they searched his house at Sunyani and that they had seen some communication pertaining to a similar transaction that led to the caller losing more than GH¢8,000.
DCOP Atinga said the caller then informed the lady that the suspect was alleged to be staying at Awoshie Mangoase and requested that she should contact the police in Accra to arrest Kelvin.
She said the lady then lodged a complaint with the police, who, together with the lady, went to Awoshie to arrest Kelvin.
She said soon after the arrest of Kelvin two other complainants reported that they had been defrauded of £1,000 and $1,200.
Friday, July 10, 2009
It's historic
Page 40: Daily Graphic, July 9, 2009.
Compiled By: Albert K. Salia
POLITICAL relations between Ghana and the United States of America (USA) has been quite friendly since independence except on a few occasions where the relations were strained. However, in the last two decades, the relations have been excellent which have resulted in the visit of two sitting US Presidents, President Bill Clinton in 1998 and President George Bush in 2008.
President Barack Obama’s July 10-11, visit to Ghana has been hailed in many circles with Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Johnnie Carson describing it as a “historic occasion” .
The visit is ostensibly to recognise the progress Ghana has made — particularly in the area of democratisation — which serves as an example to the rest of Africa.
Ghana is a country that has achieved a great deal and is setting up a path of progress both on the economic and the political side which Carson said President Obama’s visit was in part to acknowledge Ghana’s success and progress.
In a June 17 interview with America.gov, Carson commended Ghana for holding “a very successful presidential and parliamentary election in December 2008 and January of this year, which resulted in President John Atta Mills coming to power.
Carson said the change in power was the fifth successful democratic transition of power since the end of military rule in Ghana in 1992, but, more importantly, for all of Africa, it served as an example of the power of democracy.
Carson said: “Ghana was also the first state in sub-Saharan Africa to gain its independence and … today is one of the most vibrant economic and politically important countries in West Africa. Ghana has been a strong contributor to regional stability to African peacekeeping missions in West Africa as well as around the world, and it shortly will become a major producer of petroleum”.
Carson said that “in recognition of Ghana’s success, both in the management of its democracy in country and the management of its economy, it has been recipient of one of the largest Millennium Challenge Account grants given by the United States — an amount in excess of $500 million, which will help to serve as a further catalyst to the development of one of Africa’s most important countries.”
The President and Mrs Obama look forward to strengthening the U.S. relationship with one of her most trusted partners in sub-Saharan Africa, and to highlighting the critical role that sound governance and civil society play in promoting lasting development.
But it is important to note that the relations between Ghana-United States have generally been friendly since Ghana's independence, except for a period of strained relations during the later years of the Nkrumah regime. Ghana was the first country which had United States Peace Corps volunteers sent to in 1961.
Ghana and the United States are signatories to twenty agreements and treaties covering such matters as agricultural commodities, aviation, defense, economic and technical cooperation, education, extradition, postal matters, telecommunications, and treaty obligations. The refusal of the United States to join the International Cocoa Agreement, given Ghana's heavy dependence on cocoa exports to earn hard currency, is the most serious bilateral issue between the two countries.
Relations between the United States and Ghana were particularly rocky in the early 1980s, apparently because of Ghana's relations with Libya. The PNDC government restored diplomatic relations with Libya shortly after coming to power. Libya came to the aid of Ghana soon afterward by providing a much-needed economic assistance. Libya also has extensive financial holdings in Ghana. Rawlings has supported Libya's position that two Libyans accused of bombing a Pan American Airlines flight over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988 should be tried in a neutral country rather than in Britain or the United States.
Relations between the United States and Ghana were further strained by a series of diplomatic incidents in the mid-1980s. In July 1985, a distant relative of Rawlings, Michael Soussoudis, was arrested in the United States and charged with espionage. Despite Soussoudis's conviction, he was exchanged the following December for several known United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) agents in Accra, but not before diplomats had been expelled in both Accra and Washington. In March 1986, a Panamanian-registered ship carrying arms and a number of mercenaries and United States veterans of the Vietnam War was seized off the coast of Brazil. The PNDC charged that the arms and soldiers were destined for Ghana and that they had been financed by a Ghanaian dissident with links to the CIA. During their trial, several crew members admitted that the charges were substantially true. Although they were convicted and imprisoned, three subsequently escaped with what the PNDC alleged was with CIA assistance.
In spite of these incidents, relations between the United States and Ghana improved markedly in
the late 1980s. Former United States president Jimmy Carter visited Ghana in 1986 and again in 1988 and was warmly received by the PNDC. Carter’s Global 2000 agricultural program, which is quite popular with Ghanaian farmers, is helping promote good relations with the United States. In 1989 the United States forgave US$114 million of Ghana's foreign debt, part of a larger debt relief effort by Western nations.
The United States has strongly favoured Ghana's economic and political reform policies, and since the birth of the Fourth Republic and Ghana's return to constitutional rule, has offered assistance to help Ghana institutionalise and consolidate its steps toward democratic governance. In the 1994 financial year, United States development aid totaled about $38 million; in addition, the United States supplied more than $16 million in food aid.
Thousands of Ghanaians have been educated in the United States. Close relations are maintained between educational and scientific institutions, and cultural links, particularly between Ghanaians and African-Americans, are strong.
Through the U.S. International Visitor Programme, Ghanaian parliamentarians and other government officials have become acquainted with U.S. congressional and state legislative practices and have participated in programmes designed to address other issues of interest.
The U.S. and Ghanaian militaries have cooperated in numerous joint training exercises, culminating in Ghanaian participation in the African Crisis Response Initiative, an international activity in which the U.S. facilitates the development of an interoperable peacekeeping capacity among African nations. U.S.-Ghanaian military cooperation continues under the new African Contingency Operations Training and Assistance programme; Ghana’s military was one of the first militaries to receive ACOTA training in early 2003. In addition, there is an active bilateral International Military Education and Training programme. Additionally, Ghana is the site of a U.S.-European Command-funded Exercise Reception Facility that was established to facilitate troop deployments for exercises or crisis response within the region. The facility is a direct result of Ghana's partnership with the United States on a Fuel Hub Initiative. Ghana is one of few African nations selected for the State Partnership Programme, which will promote greater economic ties with U.S. institutions, including the National Guard.
The United States is among Ghana's principal trading partners. The Office of the President of Ghana worked closely with the U.S. Embassy in Accra to establish an American Chamber of Commerce to continue to develop closer economic ties in the private sector. Major U.S. companies operating in the country include Newmont, ADM, Kosmos Energy, Anadarko, DHL, FedEx, UPS, KPMG, ACS, CMS Energy, Coca Cola, S.C. Johnson, Ralston Purina, Star-Kist, A.H. Robins, Sterling, Pfizer, IBM, 3M, Motorola, Stewart & Stevenson, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, and National Cash Register (NCR).
The discovery of major oil reserves in deep water in the Gulf of Guinea has led numerous American petroleum exploration firms to enter the Ghanaian market, and many other firms involved in oil and gas auxiliary services express an interest in starting operations in the country. Mining companies and agri-businesses from the U.S. increased their investments in Ghana recently. Political stability, overall sound economic management, a low crime rate, competitive wages, and an educated, English-speaking workforce have increased Ghana's potential to serve as a West African hub for American businesses.
U.S. development assistance to Ghana in fiscal year 2007 was implemented by USAID, the African Development Foundation, Millennium Challenge Corporation, and others. U.S. development assistance to Ghana in fiscal year 2007 totaled more than $55.1 million, with programmes in small farmer competitiveness, health, including HIV/AIDS and maternal child health, education, and democracy/governance. Ghana was the first country in the world to accept Peace Corps volunteers, and the programme remains one of the largest. Currently, there are more than 150 volunteers in Ghana. Almost half are in the education sector and the others in agro-forestry, small business development, health education, water sanitation, and youth development. Ghana's $547 million compact with the Millennium Challenge Corporation is the most recent achievement in the U.S.-Ghanaian development partnership.
Compiled By: Albert K. Salia
POLITICAL relations between Ghana and the United States of America (USA) has been quite friendly since independence except on a few occasions where the relations were strained. However, in the last two decades, the relations have been excellent which have resulted in the visit of two sitting US Presidents, President Bill Clinton in 1998 and President George Bush in 2008.
President Barack Obama’s July 10-11, visit to Ghana has been hailed in many circles with Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Johnnie Carson describing it as a “historic occasion” .
The visit is ostensibly to recognise the progress Ghana has made — particularly in the area of democratisation — which serves as an example to the rest of Africa.
Ghana is a country that has achieved a great deal and is setting up a path of progress both on the economic and the political side which Carson said President Obama’s visit was in part to acknowledge Ghana’s success and progress.
In a June 17 interview with America.gov, Carson commended Ghana for holding “a very successful presidential and parliamentary election in December 2008 and January of this year, which resulted in President John Atta Mills coming to power.
Carson said the change in power was the fifth successful democratic transition of power since the end of military rule in Ghana in 1992, but, more importantly, for all of Africa, it served as an example of the power of democracy.
Carson said: “Ghana was also the first state in sub-Saharan Africa to gain its independence and … today is one of the most vibrant economic and politically important countries in West Africa. Ghana has been a strong contributor to regional stability to African peacekeeping missions in West Africa as well as around the world, and it shortly will become a major producer of petroleum”.
Carson said that “in recognition of Ghana’s success, both in the management of its democracy in country and the management of its economy, it has been recipient of one of the largest Millennium Challenge Account grants given by the United States — an amount in excess of $500 million, which will help to serve as a further catalyst to the development of one of Africa’s most important countries.”
The President and Mrs Obama look forward to strengthening the U.S. relationship with one of her most trusted partners in sub-Saharan Africa, and to highlighting the critical role that sound governance and civil society play in promoting lasting development.
But it is important to note that the relations between Ghana-United States have generally been friendly since Ghana's independence, except for a period of strained relations during the later years of the Nkrumah regime. Ghana was the first country which had United States Peace Corps volunteers sent to in 1961.
Ghana and the United States are signatories to twenty agreements and treaties covering such matters as agricultural commodities, aviation, defense, economic and technical cooperation, education, extradition, postal matters, telecommunications, and treaty obligations. The refusal of the United States to join the International Cocoa Agreement, given Ghana's heavy dependence on cocoa exports to earn hard currency, is the most serious bilateral issue between the two countries.
Relations between the United States and Ghana were particularly rocky in the early 1980s, apparently because of Ghana's relations with Libya. The PNDC government restored diplomatic relations with Libya shortly after coming to power. Libya came to the aid of Ghana soon afterward by providing a much-needed economic assistance. Libya also has extensive financial holdings in Ghana. Rawlings has supported Libya's position that two Libyans accused of bombing a Pan American Airlines flight over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988 should be tried in a neutral country rather than in Britain or the United States.
Relations between the United States and Ghana were further strained by a series of diplomatic incidents in the mid-1980s. In July 1985, a distant relative of Rawlings, Michael Soussoudis, was arrested in the United States and charged with espionage. Despite Soussoudis's conviction, he was exchanged the following December for several known United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) agents in Accra, but not before diplomats had been expelled in both Accra and Washington. In March 1986, a Panamanian-registered ship carrying arms and a number of mercenaries and United States veterans of the Vietnam War was seized off the coast of Brazil. The PNDC charged that the arms and soldiers were destined for Ghana and that they had been financed by a Ghanaian dissident with links to the CIA. During their trial, several crew members admitted that the charges were substantially true. Although they were convicted and imprisoned, three subsequently escaped with what the PNDC alleged was with CIA assistance.
In spite of these incidents, relations between the United States and Ghana improved markedly in
the late 1980s. Former United States president Jimmy Carter visited Ghana in 1986 and again in 1988 and was warmly received by the PNDC. Carter’s Global 2000 agricultural program, which is quite popular with Ghanaian farmers, is helping promote good relations with the United States. In 1989 the United States forgave US$114 million of Ghana's foreign debt, part of a larger debt relief effort by Western nations.
The United States has strongly favoured Ghana's economic and political reform policies, and since the birth of the Fourth Republic and Ghana's return to constitutional rule, has offered assistance to help Ghana institutionalise and consolidate its steps toward democratic governance. In the 1994 financial year, United States development aid totaled about $38 million; in addition, the United States supplied more than $16 million in food aid.
Thousands of Ghanaians have been educated in the United States. Close relations are maintained between educational and scientific institutions, and cultural links, particularly between Ghanaians and African-Americans, are strong.
Through the U.S. International Visitor Programme, Ghanaian parliamentarians and other government officials have become acquainted with U.S. congressional and state legislative practices and have participated in programmes designed to address other issues of interest.
The U.S. and Ghanaian militaries have cooperated in numerous joint training exercises, culminating in Ghanaian participation in the African Crisis Response Initiative, an international activity in which the U.S. facilitates the development of an interoperable peacekeeping capacity among African nations. U.S.-Ghanaian military cooperation continues under the new African Contingency Operations Training and Assistance programme; Ghana’s military was one of the first militaries to receive ACOTA training in early 2003. In addition, there is an active bilateral International Military Education and Training programme. Additionally, Ghana is the site of a U.S.-European Command-funded Exercise Reception Facility that was established to facilitate troop deployments for exercises or crisis response within the region. The facility is a direct result of Ghana's partnership with the United States on a Fuel Hub Initiative. Ghana is one of few African nations selected for the State Partnership Programme, which will promote greater economic ties with U.S. institutions, including the National Guard.
The United States is among Ghana's principal trading partners. The Office of the President of Ghana worked closely with the U.S. Embassy in Accra to establish an American Chamber of Commerce to continue to develop closer economic ties in the private sector. Major U.S. companies operating in the country include Newmont, ADM, Kosmos Energy, Anadarko, DHL, FedEx, UPS, KPMG, ACS, CMS Energy, Coca Cola, S.C. Johnson, Ralston Purina, Star-Kist, A.H. Robins, Sterling, Pfizer, IBM, 3M, Motorola, Stewart & Stevenson, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, and National Cash Register (NCR).
The discovery of major oil reserves in deep water in the Gulf of Guinea has led numerous American petroleum exploration firms to enter the Ghanaian market, and many other firms involved in oil and gas auxiliary services express an interest in starting operations in the country. Mining companies and agri-businesses from the U.S. increased their investments in Ghana recently. Political stability, overall sound economic management, a low crime rate, competitive wages, and an educated, English-speaking workforce have increased Ghana's potential to serve as a West African hub for American businesses.
U.S. development assistance to Ghana in fiscal year 2007 was implemented by USAID, the African Development Foundation, Millennium Challenge Corporation, and others. U.S. development assistance to Ghana in fiscal year 2007 totaled more than $55.1 million, with programmes in small farmer competitiveness, health, including HIV/AIDS and maternal child health, education, and democracy/governance. Ghana was the first country in the world to accept Peace Corps volunteers, and the programme remains one of the largest. Currently, there are more than 150 volunteers in Ghana. Almost half are in the education sector and the others in agro-forestry, small business development, health education, water sanitation, and youth development. Ghana's $547 million compact with the Millennium Challenge Corporation is the most recent achievement in the U.S.-Ghanaian development partnership.
Police foil takeover of Kasapa company * 19 persons arrested
Page 3: Daily Graphic, July 8, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
NINETEEN persons were yesterday arrested, when their attempt to take over the head office of Kasapa Company was foiled by the timely response of the police.
The suspects were said to have entered the premises of the company and engaged in a scuffle with security officials of the company.
One Mr Kofi Kludjeson, a director of the company, who was alleged to have asked those arrested to take over the place, was later invited by the police and charged for abetment.
Some of the workers were alleged to have sustained injury during the confusion with the machete and club-wielding young men.
At the time of filing this report, the Accra Regional Police Command were taking the statements of the suspects including Mr Kludjeson.
Mr Kludjeson, however, told the police that there was no assault and that those persons being described as thugs were new security personnel he had asked to take over from personnel of InterCom Security on the premises of the company.
The Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP Rose Bio Atinga, told newsmen that the police received a call at about 7 a.m. yesterday that some armed thugs had invaded the premises of Kasapa and assaulting workers on the compound.
She said the information also indicated that the attackers claimed that they had been asked to take over the company.
She said a police detachment sent to the scene resulted in the arrest of the 19 persons.
Investigations are continuing into the case.
Story: Albert K. Salia
NINETEEN persons were yesterday arrested, when their attempt to take over the head office of Kasapa Company was foiled by the timely response of the police.
The suspects were said to have entered the premises of the company and engaged in a scuffle with security officials of the company.
One Mr Kofi Kludjeson, a director of the company, who was alleged to have asked those arrested to take over the place, was later invited by the police and charged for abetment.
Some of the workers were alleged to have sustained injury during the confusion with the machete and club-wielding young men.
At the time of filing this report, the Accra Regional Police Command were taking the statements of the suspects including Mr Kludjeson.
Mr Kludjeson, however, told the police that there was no assault and that those persons being described as thugs were new security personnel he had asked to take over from personnel of InterCom Security on the premises of the company.
The Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP Rose Bio Atinga, told newsmen that the police received a call at about 7 a.m. yesterday that some armed thugs had invaded the premises of Kasapa and assaulting workers on the compound.
She said the information also indicated that the attackers claimed that they had been asked to take over the company.
She said a police detachment sent to the scene resulted in the arrest of the 19 persons.
Investigations are continuing into the case.
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