Front Page: May 30, 2008.
Story: Albert K. Salia
A FORMER official of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), George Hackman Otoo, has been arrested for allegedly stealing GH¢360,000 belonging to a businessman.
The suspect is also the Executive Consultant of Spotlight Consultancy Limited, a private investigations company and acquaintance of the victim.
The Executive Director of the SFO, Mr Theophilus Cudjoe, confirmed to the Daily Graphic that Otoo was a former employee of that organisation.
The Head of the Commercial Crime Unit of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Superintendent Yaa Tiwah Danso, told the Daily Graphic yesterday that the vigilance of a witness led the police to arrest the suspect.
She said Otoo, who claimed to be a criminologist, led a team of five persons, including a white man and another person in police uniform, in a hired Toyota Landcruiser, with registration number GS 5597 Y, to the office of the victim, Mr Lula Dulani, an Indian, claiming to be from INTERPOL.
She said Otoo waited in the Landcruiser while the purported policeman in uniform and the white man intercepted the money at the doorstep of the victim’s company in Accra and asked that the owner of the money should report at the CID Headquarters for further investigations.
But, since Mr Dulani did not know that Otoo was part of the team that had come for his money, he (Dulani) immediately called Otoo, whom he already knew as a security consultant, to assist in the investigations to retrieve his money.
Supt Danso said checks on the ownership of the vehicle led the police to arrest Otoo, who had gone to hire it from a car rental company in Accra for the operation.
She said although Otoo admitted hiring the vehicle, he alleged that he gave it to a white man, whom he initially identified only as Ralph.
Supt Danso said further investigations by the police revealed that after returning the vehicle to the rental company, Otoo kept on finding out from the company whether there had been any contacts from anybody to find out who had hired it.
According to her, Otoo later sent photocopies of American and British passports to the rental company to use as information on the persons who had hired the vehicle.
Supt Danso said investigations by the police also revealed that three days after stealing the money, there was some money transfers to a joint account Otoo held with another person in Sierra Leone.
She said it was later detected that at the time of the transfer, Otoo had also travelled to Sierra Leone.
Supt Danso said when Otoo was finally arrested, he led the police on a wild goose chase of his white friend.
He has since appeared before court and been remanded in prison custody.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Politics not a fight - Asamoah-Boateng
Front Page: May 30, 2008.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mr Stephen Asamoah-Boateng, has advised the media to help promote politics as a contest of ideas between patriots and not as a fight between enemies.
He said the way to do so is to endeavour to put out the issues for the electorate to debate on them and make informed choices, instead of drifting away from the real issues into unnecessary things that would not help the cause of Ghana.
Mr Asamoah-Boateng who was interacting with some board members and the Managing Director of the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL), Mr Ibrahim Awal, in Accra last Tuesday, described the lead story on the manifestos of the various political parties in the May 27, 2008 edition of the Daily Graphic as an example of the proactive issues which the media could raise to keep the political parties on their toes.
The minister, who briefly joined the Editorial conference of the Daily Graphic where stories for the next day’s publication were selected, expressed happiness at the way people expressed their views and canvassed for stories at the conference.
He said the Daily Graphic had demonstrated the mark of a good newspaper by being fair, firm and balanced and urged the GCGL to maintain its neutrality and fairness, especially in the run-up to Election 2008.
Mr Asamoah-Boateng commended the company for being the best state-owned organisation last year.
He also commended the flagship newspaper of the company, the Daily Graphic, for the accuracy and balance of its reportage.
He said the media must always put Ghana first so that “we can keep the country together, even after the elections, so that we can continue to live in peace and prosperity”.
Mr Asamoah-Boateng urged the company to always endeavour to distinguish between state news from party or political news and give the state news the needed publicity it deserved.
He commended the GCGL for introducing a community newspaper — the Graphic Nsempa — and urged the management to consider introducing others in Ga, Ewe and Hausa or any of the northern languages.
He described the managing director as one of the dynamic chief executives Ghana had ever had.
Mr Asamoah-Boateng described the alleged assault of the Central Regional Editor of the Daily Graphic, Mr Joe Okyere, by a former a Central Regional Minister, Mr Isaac Edumadze, as very unfortunate and urged journalists and politicians to be professional and calm in the run-up to the elections.
He explained that the ability to cope with different situations differed from person to person, hence the need for all to be guided by the mood of the other person before acting or reacting to certain issues.
Touching on the achievements of the Kufuor administration, Mr Asamoah-Boateng said the Danquah-Busia tradition was not known for propaganda work, hence its silence on most of the achievements.
“We believe in action and the dictum that action speaks louder than words,” he said.
He said the media landscape was very buoyant and that the government appreciated the role it was playing.
He said the media’s ability to cope with and withstand pressure from political parties was good for the country, noting,
however, that a few often went to the extreme but said that could be due to over excitement.
He urged journalists to sharpen their pens for the good of Ghanaians and help preserve the state during the elections.
He urged media practitioners to put the performance of the parties and their agenda forward for Ghanaians to decide.
He said in doing so, the media must also assess the personalities involved, their capacities to manage issues and pressure, as well as their understanding of world issues.
The Board Chairman of the company, Osahene Kwasi Offei Agyeman IV, said he was happy that the government had not put any pressure on the company to tilt publications in its favour.
He assured the minister that the company, through its newspapers, would continue to work for and promote peace in the country.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mr Stephen Asamoah-Boateng, has advised the media to help promote politics as a contest of ideas between patriots and not as a fight between enemies.
He said the way to do so is to endeavour to put out the issues for the electorate to debate on them and make informed choices, instead of drifting away from the real issues into unnecessary things that would not help the cause of Ghana.
Mr Asamoah-Boateng who was interacting with some board members and the Managing Director of the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL), Mr Ibrahim Awal, in Accra last Tuesday, described the lead story on the manifestos of the various political parties in the May 27, 2008 edition of the Daily Graphic as an example of the proactive issues which the media could raise to keep the political parties on their toes.
The minister, who briefly joined the Editorial conference of the Daily Graphic where stories for the next day’s publication were selected, expressed happiness at the way people expressed their views and canvassed for stories at the conference.
He said the Daily Graphic had demonstrated the mark of a good newspaper by being fair, firm and balanced and urged the GCGL to maintain its neutrality and fairness, especially in the run-up to Election 2008.
Mr Asamoah-Boateng commended the company for being the best state-owned organisation last year.
He also commended the flagship newspaper of the company, the Daily Graphic, for the accuracy and balance of its reportage.
He said the media must always put Ghana first so that “we can keep the country together, even after the elections, so that we can continue to live in peace and prosperity”.
Mr Asamoah-Boateng urged the company to always endeavour to distinguish between state news from party or political news and give the state news the needed publicity it deserved.
He commended the GCGL for introducing a community newspaper — the Graphic Nsempa — and urged the management to consider introducing others in Ga, Ewe and Hausa or any of the northern languages.
He described the managing director as one of the dynamic chief executives Ghana had ever had.
Mr Asamoah-Boateng described the alleged assault of the Central Regional Editor of the Daily Graphic, Mr Joe Okyere, by a former a Central Regional Minister, Mr Isaac Edumadze, as very unfortunate and urged journalists and politicians to be professional and calm in the run-up to the elections.
He explained that the ability to cope with different situations differed from person to person, hence the need for all to be guided by the mood of the other person before acting or reacting to certain issues.
Touching on the achievements of the Kufuor administration, Mr Asamoah-Boateng said the Danquah-Busia tradition was not known for propaganda work, hence its silence on most of the achievements.
“We believe in action and the dictum that action speaks louder than words,” he said.
He said the media landscape was very buoyant and that the government appreciated the role it was playing.
He said the media’s ability to cope with and withstand pressure from political parties was good for the country, noting,
however, that a few often went to the extreme but said that could be due to over excitement.
He urged journalists to sharpen their pens for the good of Ghanaians and help preserve the state during the elections.
He urged media practitioners to put the performance of the parties and their agenda forward for Ghanaians to decide.
He said in doing so, the media must also assess the personalities involved, their capacities to manage issues and pressure, as well as their understanding of world issues.
The Board Chairman of the company, Osahene Kwasi Offei Agyeman IV, said he was happy that the government had not put any pressure on the company to tilt publications in its favour.
He assured the minister that the company, through its newspapers, would continue to work for and promote peace in the country.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Warrant issued for arrest of businessman
Page 31: May 28, 2008.
Story: Albert K. Salia
AN ACCRA Circuit Court has issued a warrant for the arrest of the managing director of Kae-Mebre Company, Justice Kwasi Larbie.
He is alleged to have defrauded a businessman of GH¢157,806 on the pretext of supplying him with road construction equipment.
The Public Affairs Officer of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, Inspector J. B. Darkwah, told the Daily Graphic that Larbie introduced himself as an agent of Taisei Corporation of Japan, the company that constructed the Mallam-Cape Coast road.
He said Larbie said Taisei had asked him to sell off some of the equipment used in the construction work.
Inspector Darkwah said the suspect took his victim to Mankessim, where the items were kept for disposal.
He said the victim became convinced on seeing the items and expressed interest in some of them.
He said Larbie, however, informed his victim that under the sales terms, the buyer was to pay the full cost of the equipment chosen before it was handed over to him or her.
Inspector Darkwah said based on that, the victim paid GH¢157,806 to Larbie for the equipment to be supplied.
He said months after payments were made Larbie failed to supply the equipment.
He said out of frustration, the victim contacted Taisei Corporation for the equipment to be supplied.
Inspector Darkwah said Taisei Corporation indicated that the company had already supplied to Larbie the equipment he had paid for.
He said the victim was also informed that the equipment list he provided to Taisei Corporation was not what Larbie had paid for.
He said since then efforts to contact Larbie, who is dark in complexion and has a tribal mark on his right chin, had proved futile.
Inspector Darkwah appealed to any member of the public who knew the whereabouts of Larbie to contact the CID headquarters or call 0207888922; 0244202288 or 020-8163938.
Story: Albert K. Salia
AN ACCRA Circuit Court has issued a warrant for the arrest of the managing director of Kae-Mebre Company, Justice Kwasi Larbie.
He is alleged to have defrauded a businessman of GH¢157,806 on the pretext of supplying him with road construction equipment.
The Public Affairs Officer of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, Inspector J. B. Darkwah, told the Daily Graphic that Larbie introduced himself as an agent of Taisei Corporation of Japan, the company that constructed the Mallam-Cape Coast road.
He said Larbie said Taisei had asked him to sell off some of the equipment used in the construction work.
Inspector Darkwah said the suspect took his victim to Mankessim, where the items were kept for disposal.
He said the victim became convinced on seeing the items and expressed interest in some of them.
He said Larbie, however, informed his victim that under the sales terms, the buyer was to pay the full cost of the equipment chosen before it was handed over to him or her.
Inspector Darkwah said based on that, the victim paid GH¢157,806 to Larbie for the equipment to be supplied.
He said months after payments were made Larbie failed to supply the equipment.
He said out of frustration, the victim contacted Taisei Corporation for the equipment to be supplied.
Inspector Darkwah said Taisei Corporation indicated that the company had already supplied to Larbie the equipment he had paid for.
He said the victim was also informed that the equipment list he provided to Taisei Corporation was not what Larbie had paid for.
He said since then efforts to contact Larbie, who is dark in complexion and has a tribal mark on his right chin, had proved futile.
Inspector Darkwah appealed to any member of the public who knew the whereabouts of Larbie to contact the CID headquarters or call 0207888922; 0244202288 or 020-8163938.
Call for Parliamentary probe of Police Service
Page 3: May 28, 2008.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) has called for a parliamentary inquiry into the operations of the Ghana Police Service.
It said the Parliamentary Committee on Defence and the Interior should take the lead and investigate the Police Service thoroughly to establish the level of corruption, indiscipline and other vices associated with the police and recommend ways to reform the institution.
It said the inquiry should be along the lines of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Judiciary that investigated the level of corruption in the Judicial Service which had resulted in some of the reforms currently underway in the service.
Reacting to the three-member committee set up by the President to review the Kojo Armah Committee Report, the Africa Regional Co-ordinator of the CHRI, Nana Oye Lithur, told the Daily Graphic that it was puzzling for the President to set up such a committee when the government had not officially reacted to the report itself since it was submitted on April 25, 2008.
She wondered why the President had set up a second committee to review the work of the Kojo Armah Committee when the government had not officially responded to the report.
She, therefore, called on the legislature to set up an independent parliamentary inquiry into the cocaine saga.
She said the action of the President showed that the Executive had failed the populace and that since the legislature had oversight responsibility of the Executive, it had to step in to investigate the extent of involvement of the security agencies in the narcotics business, since it had dire implications for the country’s democracy.
Nana Lithur said the problem went beyond the missing cocaine at the CID Headquarters, since the complicity of security personnel in the illicit drug business could be more than what had been exposed.
She said the parliamentary inquiry should involve consultations with all stakeholders, such as traditional authorities, individuals and organisations that used policemen to serve their personal interest at one point or another.
She said the use of vigilante groups and land guards and the incidence of instant justice were indications that Ghanaians had lost faith in the Police Service.
Nana Lithur said one of the reasons for the mess in the Police Service was that the police had failed to be accountable to themselves and the law.
She said there was the need for an anti-corruption strategy in the police, saying that the impunity of police corruption was too much.
Nana Lithur said the measures adopted so far in dealing with the problem of police corruption were not effective, saying, “Merely dismissing a cop for corrupt practices is not enough. If it were, there would have been a reduction in those practices. But they are increasing. Corruption in the Police Service is becoming worse,” she said.
She said there should be an independent standing commission vested with the power to investigate complaints against police professional misconduct.
Nana Lithur said the Criminal Investigations Department should be able to come up with a paper indicating the level of police corruption, the types and how they were being dealt with.
“Police reforms are the way out. We need a complete overhaul of the Ghana Police Service. We need to take a second look at the entire structure of the service,” she said.
She said the restructuring should consider the training, salaries, accommodation and logistical needs of the police, as well as review the process of appointing and dismissing the Inspector-General of Police, saying that “there should be security of tenure for the IGP”.
She said there should also be a relationship between the various metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies and the police.
Nana Lithur said the state was not providing enough resources for the police and that the situation needed to change so that “the police can evolve with the times”.
She said there were problems with police ethics and enforcement of laws but unfortunately one did not see the police dealing or adopting a policy to address those recurring problems.
The President set up a three-member committee at the weekend to review the report that the Kojo Armah Committee that investigated the missing cocaine at the Exhibits Room of the CID Headquarters came up with.
The committee, which is chaired by Mr Kwesi Zwennes, is also expected to review the reaction of the Internal Committee established by the Ghana Police Service and such other related matters the committee may find relevant and necessary.
The committee is expected to complete its work and submit its report to the President within two weeks.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) has called for a parliamentary inquiry into the operations of the Ghana Police Service.
It said the Parliamentary Committee on Defence and the Interior should take the lead and investigate the Police Service thoroughly to establish the level of corruption, indiscipline and other vices associated with the police and recommend ways to reform the institution.
It said the inquiry should be along the lines of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Judiciary that investigated the level of corruption in the Judicial Service which had resulted in some of the reforms currently underway in the service.
Reacting to the three-member committee set up by the President to review the Kojo Armah Committee Report, the Africa Regional Co-ordinator of the CHRI, Nana Oye Lithur, told the Daily Graphic that it was puzzling for the President to set up such a committee when the government had not officially reacted to the report itself since it was submitted on April 25, 2008.
She wondered why the President had set up a second committee to review the work of the Kojo Armah Committee when the government had not officially responded to the report.
She, therefore, called on the legislature to set up an independent parliamentary inquiry into the cocaine saga.
She said the action of the President showed that the Executive had failed the populace and that since the legislature had oversight responsibility of the Executive, it had to step in to investigate the extent of involvement of the security agencies in the narcotics business, since it had dire implications for the country’s democracy.
Nana Lithur said the problem went beyond the missing cocaine at the CID Headquarters, since the complicity of security personnel in the illicit drug business could be more than what had been exposed.
She said the parliamentary inquiry should involve consultations with all stakeholders, such as traditional authorities, individuals and organisations that used policemen to serve their personal interest at one point or another.
She said the use of vigilante groups and land guards and the incidence of instant justice were indications that Ghanaians had lost faith in the Police Service.
Nana Lithur said one of the reasons for the mess in the Police Service was that the police had failed to be accountable to themselves and the law.
She said there was the need for an anti-corruption strategy in the police, saying that the impunity of police corruption was too much.
Nana Lithur said the measures adopted so far in dealing with the problem of police corruption were not effective, saying, “Merely dismissing a cop for corrupt practices is not enough. If it were, there would have been a reduction in those practices. But they are increasing. Corruption in the Police Service is becoming worse,” she said.
She said there should be an independent standing commission vested with the power to investigate complaints against police professional misconduct.
Nana Lithur said the Criminal Investigations Department should be able to come up with a paper indicating the level of police corruption, the types and how they were being dealt with.
“Police reforms are the way out. We need a complete overhaul of the Ghana Police Service. We need to take a second look at the entire structure of the service,” she said.
She said the restructuring should consider the training, salaries, accommodation and logistical needs of the police, as well as review the process of appointing and dismissing the Inspector-General of Police, saying that “there should be security of tenure for the IGP”.
She said there should also be a relationship between the various metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies and the police.
Nana Lithur said the state was not providing enough resources for the police and that the situation needed to change so that “the police can evolve with the times”.
She said there were problems with police ethics and enforcement of laws but unfortunately one did not see the police dealing or adopting a policy to address those recurring problems.
The President set up a three-member committee at the weekend to review the report that the Kojo Armah Committee that investigated the missing cocaine at the Exhibits Room of the CID Headquarters came up with.
The committee, which is chaired by Mr Kwesi Zwennes, is also expected to review the reaction of the Internal Committee established by the Ghana Police Service and such other related matters the committee may find relevant and necessary.
The committee is expected to complete its work and submit its report to the President within two weeks.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Adopt comprehensive migration policies *African countries urged
Page 31: May 27, 2008.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Director of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), Ms Elizabeth Adjei, has called on African governments to adopt comprehensive migration policies that will address the challenges facing migrants and citizens of receiving states.
She said such a policy should include legislation and programmes to educate not only the citizenry of receiving states but also the migrants.
Such a framework, she said, must address potential sources of migratory flows, structural causes of migration, absorption capacity of states, as well as integration issues in receiving states.
“Migration has become part of globalisation and populations need to understand the impact, complexities of the phenomenon, issues that are involved in integration and how to deal with them,” she said
Speaking to the Daily Graphic following the xenophobic violence and anti-migrant sentiments in South Africa, Ms Adjei explained that migration was a growing global phenomenon, particularly in Africa, which could only be managed if proper policies were in place.
She said migration was linked to escape from poverty, and seeking opportunities and security for families, which no state could stop.
“Many people move to improve their livelihood options, seek opportunities and to escape poverty. Other reasons for movement of people include forcible displacement or coercion as a result of wars, violent conflicts and human rights abuses and discrimination,” she explained.
She said attacks on innocent migrants would not stop the phenomenon and should, therefore, be condemned.
“For most people in Africa, migration has become a necessity for security, education, employment and an avenue to realise their aspirations,” she said.
She said most of the migrants were young unemployed people from relatively poor countries moving for relatively better prospects and perceived prosperity for themselves and their families.
“They are often accused of stealing jobs and competing with indigenes for other resources and public goods. But this is often a reflection of frustration and resentment with their own governments, which are taken out on migrants, seen as easy targets,” she said.
She said migrants had a right to go from place to place to seek better conditions of life and also had the right to be protected by receiving governments.
Ms Adjei said governments had the right to control the level of migration through policies and legislation in a measured way, but the absence of such a regulatory framework would make citizens think they had a responsibility to curb what they consider as a threat to their security or economic well-being.
“While there has been greater integration of the global markets for goods and services, for which the international community has devised rules and regulations for flows across borders, there has not been the development of concomitant rules and regulations to effectively and efficiently facilitate the flow of humans within the global market framework,” she said.
As a result, she said, there had emerged a phenomenon of irregular migration where migrants were exposed to serious abuses and exploitation including human smuggling and trafficking and other trans-national crimes that threaten the security of sovereign states.
“In the name of preserving the security of the state, the detention of illegal migrants without due process is on the rise globally. The imposition of more stringent visa requirements for certain groups have been rampant and contributed to a climate of intolerance,” she added.
Ms Adjei said every country should have a migration legislation in place and also ensure the enforcement of its laws so that those who breach the laws would be dealt with while vulnerable migrants were protected.
“A deliberate and comprehensive policy framework and management are required to leverage migration as a vehicle to secure national interests,” said.
She said it was important that countries and their populations were sensitised to the migration cycle to enable them to appreciate the motivation for migration.
She admitted that the presence of migrants could cause tensions, especially in countries with high unemployment rates.
Besides, she said, some migrants could undermine a country’s culture, security, human rights, cohesion and other development issues of receiving countries.
Ms Adjei said it was for such reason that some countries insist that migrants to their countries must learn the language and culture before moving in.
She said the bad management of migration could lead to conflicts and disintegration of states.
She said the rights of migrants did not also cease just because they were migrants.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Director of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), Ms Elizabeth Adjei, has called on African governments to adopt comprehensive migration policies that will address the challenges facing migrants and citizens of receiving states.
She said such a policy should include legislation and programmes to educate not only the citizenry of receiving states but also the migrants.
Such a framework, she said, must address potential sources of migratory flows, structural causes of migration, absorption capacity of states, as well as integration issues in receiving states.
“Migration has become part of globalisation and populations need to understand the impact, complexities of the phenomenon, issues that are involved in integration and how to deal with them,” she said
Speaking to the Daily Graphic following the xenophobic violence and anti-migrant sentiments in South Africa, Ms Adjei explained that migration was a growing global phenomenon, particularly in Africa, which could only be managed if proper policies were in place.
She said migration was linked to escape from poverty, and seeking opportunities and security for families, which no state could stop.
“Many people move to improve their livelihood options, seek opportunities and to escape poverty. Other reasons for movement of people include forcible displacement or coercion as a result of wars, violent conflicts and human rights abuses and discrimination,” she explained.
She said attacks on innocent migrants would not stop the phenomenon and should, therefore, be condemned.
“For most people in Africa, migration has become a necessity for security, education, employment and an avenue to realise their aspirations,” she said.
She said most of the migrants were young unemployed people from relatively poor countries moving for relatively better prospects and perceived prosperity for themselves and their families.
“They are often accused of stealing jobs and competing with indigenes for other resources and public goods. But this is often a reflection of frustration and resentment with their own governments, which are taken out on migrants, seen as easy targets,” she said.
She said migrants had a right to go from place to place to seek better conditions of life and also had the right to be protected by receiving governments.
Ms Adjei said governments had the right to control the level of migration through policies and legislation in a measured way, but the absence of such a regulatory framework would make citizens think they had a responsibility to curb what they consider as a threat to their security or economic well-being.
“While there has been greater integration of the global markets for goods and services, for which the international community has devised rules and regulations for flows across borders, there has not been the development of concomitant rules and regulations to effectively and efficiently facilitate the flow of humans within the global market framework,” she said.
As a result, she said, there had emerged a phenomenon of irregular migration where migrants were exposed to serious abuses and exploitation including human smuggling and trafficking and other trans-national crimes that threaten the security of sovereign states.
“In the name of preserving the security of the state, the detention of illegal migrants without due process is on the rise globally. The imposition of more stringent visa requirements for certain groups have been rampant and contributed to a climate of intolerance,” she added.
Ms Adjei said every country should have a migration legislation in place and also ensure the enforcement of its laws so that those who breach the laws would be dealt with while vulnerable migrants were protected.
“A deliberate and comprehensive policy framework and management are required to leverage migration as a vehicle to secure national interests,” said.
She said it was important that countries and their populations were sensitised to the migration cycle to enable them to appreciate the motivation for migration.
She admitted that the presence of migrants could cause tensions, especially in countries with high unemployment rates.
Besides, she said, some migrants could undermine a country’s culture, security, human rights, cohesion and other development issues of receiving countries.
Ms Adjei said it was for such reason that some countries insist that migrants to their countries must learn the language and culture before moving in.
She said the bad management of migration could lead to conflicts and disintegration of states.
She said the rights of migrants did not also cease just because they were migrants.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Prisoners' right to vote is constitutional
Page 55: May 26, 2008.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) has called on the Electoral Commission (EC) to take immediate steps to liaise with the Ghana Prisons Service to facilitate voting by prisoners in the general election.
It said the EC must liaise with the prisons authorities to find out what was needed in terms of logistics and personnel to establish voting centres in the country’s prisons.
The Africa Co-ordinator of CHRI, Nana Oye Lithur, told the Daily Graphic that the right of prisoners to vote was not in doubt, as it was guaranteed by the Constitution, saying that what Ghanaians and the EC should focus on was how to ensure that prisoners exercised that right.
Article 42 of the Constitution provides that “every citizen of Ghana of 18 years of age or above and of sound mind has the right to vote and is entitled to be registered as a voter for the purposes of public elections and referenda”.
The Constitution, by this provision and several others, does not limit the right to vote to only people outside the prisons. However, prisoners in Ghana have never exercised this right.
Extending the constitutional right to vote to citizens who have fallen foul of the law has recently become an issue of debate.
Nana Lithur said the security concerns raised by the EC were without basis because “I have seen doctors and other professionals attending to prisoners in prison without any problem”.
She said if the EC was unwilling to organise voting in the prisons, “we may have to go court to seek an interpretation of the law”.
Nana Lithur said the EC should draw up a comprehensive plan to bring the idea of prisoners voting in Ghana to fruition.
“If the EC takes these steps, then it will demonstrate its commitment to ensure that Ghanaians who are entitled and eligible to vote exercise their franchise,” she said.
She said prisoners voting in Ghana would not be a new phenomenon, since prisoners voted in South Africa.
“We, as Ghanaians, must help develop the human rights culture in respect of people’s civil and political rights. These rights are clearly spelt out in the Constitution and we only need to operationalise them,” she said.
Nana Lithur said it would be a progressive step to facilitate the process for prisoners to vote in elections in the country, adding that doing so would not affect the EC’s budget in terms of cost and security.
The Minister of State at the Ministry of the Interior, Nana Obiri Boahen, had, on May 13, 2008, indicated that there was no law in the country that barred prisoners from voting.
“Even if there were any such law, that would be against the fundamental rights of people,” he added.
He was of the view that the EC had not taken up the responsibility to ensure the enjoyment of that right by prisoners by putting in place the right administrative systems and measures.
The Chairman of the EC, Dr Afari-Gyan, said although it was not the commission’s intention to disenfranchise anyone, it did not, by convention, set up polling stations in certain places like the prisons.
His main concerns were the safety of the staff of the EC and clarity on the legal provisions for prisoners to vote.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) has called on the Electoral Commission (EC) to take immediate steps to liaise with the Ghana Prisons Service to facilitate voting by prisoners in the general election.
It said the EC must liaise with the prisons authorities to find out what was needed in terms of logistics and personnel to establish voting centres in the country’s prisons.
The Africa Co-ordinator of CHRI, Nana Oye Lithur, told the Daily Graphic that the right of prisoners to vote was not in doubt, as it was guaranteed by the Constitution, saying that what Ghanaians and the EC should focus on was how to ensure that prisoners exercised that right.
Article 42 of the Constitution provides that “every citizen of Ghana of 18 years of age or above and of sound mind has the right to vote and is entitled to be registered as a voter for the purposes of public elections and referenda”.
The Constitution, by this provision and several others, does not limit the right to vote to only people outside the prisons. However, prisoners in Ghana have never exercised this right.
Extending the constitutional right to vote to citizens who have fallen foul of the law has recently become an issue of debate.
Nana Lithur said the security concerns raised by the EC were without basis because “I have seen doctors and other professionals attending to prisoners in prison without any problem”.
She said if the EC was unwilling to organise voting in the prisons, “we may have to go court to seek an interpretation of the law”.
Nana Lithur said the EC should draw up a comprehensive plan to bring the idea of prisoners voting in Ghana to fruition.
“If the EC takes these steps, then it will demonstrate its commitment to ensure that Ghanaians who are entitled and eligible to vote exercise their franchise,” she said.
She said prisoners voting in Ghana would not be a new phenomenon, since prisoners voted in South Africa.
“We, as Ghanaians, must help develop the human rights culture in respect of people’s civil and political rights. These rights are clearly spelt out in the Constitution and we only need to operationalise them,” she said.
Nana Lithur said it would be a progressive step to facilitate the process for prisoners to vote in elections in the country, adding that doing so would not affect the EC’s budget in terms of cost and security.
The Minister of State at the Ministry of the Interior, Nana Obiri Boahen, had, on May 13, 2008, indicated that there was no law in the country that barred prisoners from voting.
“Even if there were any such law, that would be against the fundamental rights of people,” he added.
He was of the view that the EC had not taken up the responsibility to ensure the enjoyment of that right by prisoners by putting in place the right administrative systems and measures.
The Chairman of the EC, Dr Afari-Gyan, said although it was not the commission’s intention to disenfranchise anyone, it did not, by convention, set up polling stations in certain places like the prisons.
His main concerns were the safety of the staff of the EC and clarity on the legal provisions for prisoners to vote.
IGP charges security agencies to be alert against money launderers
Page 53: May 26, 2008.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Patrick K. Acheampong, has called on the security agencies to be on the alert against the abuse of the investment climate in the country by money launderers.
He said some investors, particularly those in the banking sector, could take advantage of the investment opportunities for money-laundering activities.
Mr Acheampong said the country had to guard against another PYRAM experience and also safeguard the financial system.
He was speaking at the closing ceremony of a one-week workshop on anti-money laundering and corruption for selected personnel of the Ghana Police Service, the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) and the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) in Accra on Friday.
The workshop was sponsored by the French government as part of its support programme for the Ghana Police Service.
Mr Acheampong said although the establishment of many banks in the country was good, it was important that the security agencies should be on the alert to ensure that the banks complied with the Bank of Ghana’s regulations and other laws to make sure that they did not exploit the system for any illegal businesses.
“We must assist the Bank of Ghana to ensure that the banking sector does not become a conduit for money laundering,” he stated.
He said money laundering could be used to disintegrate any financial system in the world, particularly in developing countries that were trying to woo investors.
In addition, he said, money laundering had linkages with almost all major crimes such as narcotics, terrorism and weapons trafficking.
Mr Acheampong also advised the personnel not to take cases in isolation but endeavour to look beyond the initial complaints.
He said the introduction of French judicial, investigative and interrogation systems to the personnel was good because Ghana was surrounded by Francophone countries and also help in their collaboration with their counterparts from those countries.
A resource person at the workshop, Superintendent Jean-Marie Fiaschi, observed that corruption and money laundering were international problems which could destroy the development of any country.
He said money laundering had also destroyed the foundations of many democratic states and weakened the morals of the citizenry.
He said that had brought about a united global fight against money laundering, hence the need for laws and the legal framework to be in tandem with international standards to enhance effective collaboration.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Patrick K. Acheampong, has called on the security agencies to be on the alert against the abuse of the investment climate in the country by money launderers.
He said some investors, particularly those in the banking sector, could take advantage of the investment opportunities for money-laundering activities.
Mr Acheampong said the country had to guard against another PYRAM experience and also safeguard the financial system.
He was speaking at the closing ceremony of a one-week workshop on anti-money laundering and corruption for selected personnel of the Ghana Police Service, the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) and the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) in Accra on Friday.
The workshop was sponsored by the French government as part of its support programme for the Ghana Police Service.
Mr Acheampong said although the establishment of many banks in the country was good, it was important that the security agencies should be on the alert to ensure that the banks complied with the Bank of Ghana’s regulations and other laws to make sure that they did not exploit the system for any illegal businesses.
“We must assist the Bank of Ghana to ensure that the banking sector does not become a conduit for money laundering,” he stated.
He said money laundering could be used to disintegrate any financial system in the world, particularly in developing countries that were trying to woo investors.
In addition, he said, money laundering had linkages with almost all major crimes such as narcotics, terrorism and weapons trafficking.
Mr Acheampong also advised the personnel not to take cases in isolation but endeavour to look beyond the initial complaints.
He said the introduction of French judicial, investigative and interrogation systems to the personnel was good because Ghana was surrounded by Francophone countries and also help in their collaboration with their counterparts from those countries.
A resource person at the workshop, Superintendent Jean-Marie Fiaschi, observed that corruption and money laundering were international problems which could destroy the development of any country.
He said money laundering had also destroyed the foundations of many democratic states and weakened the morals of the citizenry.
He said that had brought about a united global fight against money laundering, hence the need for laws and the legal framework to be in tandem with international standards to enhance effective collaboration.
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