Story: Rose Hayford Darko & Anasthasia Dzovor, Tema
Shareholders of the Cocoa Processing Company Ltd (CPC) on Wednesday walked out of the 2007 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the company in protest against the dividend per share declared.
That was after a board member, Mr David Coleman, had announced that each share was to attract an amount of 4Gp.
The shareholders claimed that it was unfair for the board to apportion huge emoluments to itself but give shareholders peanuts.
Mr Coleman, who was deputising for the Chairman of the board, Nana Obiri Boahen, who is also a Minister of State, said the company suffered a serious setback in electricity generation in 2007 but performed relatively better than the previous year.
He said the company made a gross profit of GH¢3.6 million, as against GH¢2.9 million in 2005/2006, representing an increase of 24 per cent over the previous year’s performance.
He disclosed that the second phase of expansion work on the rehabilitation of a 35,000-metric tonne capacity factory was progressing and would be completed in July to increase production and capital.
On the walkout, Mr Coleman announced that the amount per share was insignificant because the number of shares had gone up from 861 million to 1.1 billion depreciating the dividend involved.
He appealed to the Ghana Stock Exchange to educate the public on shareholding and its long-term benefits.
Mr Coleman noted that out of ignorance, the shareholders had expected to recoup everything invested in the shares within the shortest possible time.
He was optimistic that with education, they would realise the need to wait for the shares to mature before receiving substantial dividends.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Board, Mr Isaac Osei, announced that for the past 10 years the CPC had ceased to be a subsidiary of COCOBOD.
He commended the management and board of the CPC for working hard to reduce cost through the maintenance of machinery and rehabilitating it for effective operations.
Mr Osei said by 2009 the company would be able to increase profits to be able to satisfy its shareholders and expressed the hope that they could wait for the next five years, within which the dividends would have shot up considerably.
A shareholder, Mrs Amertor Williams, in a contribution on the floor, commended the board for the work done but appealed to it to ensure that shareholders were given a hearing in the declaration of dividends.
She said some of the people had put much of their earnings into the company to help it to grow and, therefore, they had their hopes built on it.
Two board members were re-elected and one appointed to hold various positions on the board.
They were Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, Mr John Amo-Bediako and Mr Oliver Kwabena Ayivi.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Thursday, February 28, 2008
FISHERIES MINISTER TOURS PROCESSING FACTORIES (PAGE 14)
Story: Rose Hayford Darko, Tema
THE Minister of Fisheries, Mrs Gladys Asmah, has paid a day’s working visit to three fish processing companies in the Tema Municipality to ascertain their preparedness to commence the Private Partnership Projects (PPP) initiative for the fish industry.
The companies are the Divine Seafoods Ltd, Tema Fishing Harbour and the Ghana Proteins Products at the Tema Industrial Area.
She also visited the West African Fishery Products at Prampram.
At the Divine Foods Company, the minister was shown round by Ms Phidelia Attitso, Sales and Marketing Executive, who said the company packaged fish fillets for export.
At the Ghana Protein Company, it was gathered that it utilised the remains of fish fillets for fish meal production. The company produces about 300 tons of fish meal daily, which is described to be below capacity.
The Chief Executive Officer of the West African Fishery Products at Prampram, Mr Angel Lopez Soto, said the Spanish company produced filleted frozen fresh tuna and other species, including octopus, to the European Union market, United States and England.
He said the company, which is a free zone registered one, was doing well on the world market and would be able to increase production with additional external support.
Mr Soto said the company currently employed 110 local workers and hoped to expand in terms of machinery and equipment.
After the tour, the minister expressed satisfaction that the project had kicked off.
She explained that the project, which was initiated by the Government of Ghana in partnership with the Netherlands Government, was aimed at boosting the fish industry.
Mrs Asmah said the Netherlands grant, made up of one million euros, was in the form of providing training and equipment to assist capable companies in the industry.
She stated that the government was expected to facilitate the operations of the project but had not put in any monies directly.
Mrs Asmah said there were about 10 of such companies which added value to fresh fish for exports in the country and therefore appealed to them to take up the challenge to attract more grants for the government to enter into more export-oriented ventures to benefit the country.
Workers at the companies she visited were mostly women but the equipment base was not adequate. Some of the staff members Daily Graphic spoke to were of the view that conditions at the workplaces needed to be improved.
THE Minister of Fisheries, Mrs Gladys Asmah, has paid a day’s working visit to three fish processing companies in the Tema Municipality to ascertain their preparedness to commence the Private Partnership Projects (PPP) initiative for the fish industry.
The companies are the Divine Seafoods Ltd, Tema Fishing Harbour and the Ghana Proteins Products at the Tema Industrial Area.
She also visited the West African Fishery Products at Prampram.
At the Divine Foods Company, the minister was shown round by Ms Phidelia Attitso, Sales and Marketing Executive, who said the company packaged fish fillets for export.
At the Ghana Protein Company, it was gathered that it utilised the remains of fish fillets for fish meal production. The company produces about 300 tons of fish meal daily, which is described to be below capacity.
The Chief Executive Officer of the West African Fishery Products at Prampram, Mr Angel Lopez Soto, said the Spanish company produced filleted frozen fresh tuna and other species, including octopus, to the European Union market, United States and England.
He said the company, which is a free zone registered one, was doing well on the world market and would be able to increase production with additional external support.
Mr Soto said the company currently employed 110 local workers and hoped to expand in terms of machinery and equipment.
After the tour, the minister expressed satisfaction that the project had kicked off.
She explained that the project, which was initiated by the Government of Ghana in partnership with the Netherlands Government, was aimed at boosting the fish industry.
Mrs Asmah said the Netherlands grant, made up of one million euros, was in the form of providing training and equipment to assist capable companies in the industry.
She stated that the government was expected to facilitate the operations of the project but had not put in any monies directly.
Mrs Asmah said there were about 10 of such companies which added value to fresh fish for exports in the country and therefore appealed to them to take up the challenge to attract more grants for the government to enter into more export-oriented ventures to benefit the country.
Workers at the companies she visited were mostly women but the equipment base was not adequate. Some of the staff members Daily Graphic spoke to were of the view that conditions at the workplaces needed to be improved.
Monday, February 25, 2008
2008 ELECTION NOT WAR, SAYS AKUFO-ADDO (PAGE 14)
Story: Rose Hayford Darko, Tema
THE Presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party,(NPP) Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has appealed to Ghanaians to ensure a peaceful election during the December 2008 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.
He said elections did not mean war and expressed the hope that not a single blood would be shed during and after this year’s elections.
Nana Addo made these assertions when he called on the Chiefs and Elders of the Kpone and Tema Traditional Councils last Friday at separate ceremonies to announce his candidature to them.
He said Ghanaians must acknowledge the contributions of the NPP government to the development of the country.
Nana Addo appealed to the people of Kpone and Tema Traditional areas to make education a priority for the youth of the fishing community who have taken to early parenthood.
He also called on the people to give credence to the Capitation Grant, which is to make education attractive to encourage parents to send their children of school age to school to enable them understand the trend of national issues, which is the yardstick with which to take good decisions.
He said the status of the country had since the year 2000 changed for the better, and promised to continue with the good works.
He also urged them to retain the NPP in power for accelerated development.
Nana Addo, who was accompanied by 10 of the 17 aspirants, noted that Ghana had become a paradise which could be testified by any peace- loving and developmen-oriented Ghanaian.
He, therefore, called on them to join hands with the NPP government and massively vote for the party to continue with the good works it was doing .
Nana was optimistic that based on its good works, ‘the NPP is in the majority and would still be in the majority and would still be in the majority after the elections’.
He reiterated the call on every eligible voter to have his name written for future elections when the voter’s register was opened on May 17. Nana Addo noted that it was the only way they could exercise their civic rights.
He said no Ghanaian must be denied his constitutional right to register to become a voter, the only means through which every citizen could have the tool to decide on who to rule the nation for good governance and development.
At Kpone, the spokesman for the Traditional Council ,Mr Nathaniel Nortek commended the NPP for showing maturity, especially during the election for a flag bearer.
He said the campaign which they had started must be based on very important issues which would benefit Ghanaians and not on lies and insults.
Mr Nortek said negative campaigns potrayed the deficiencies of the parties involved.
He, therefore, appealed to the parties to send convincing messages to make people vote for their parties .
The Paramount Chief of the Kpone Traditional Council, Nii Tetteh Otu, who is also the President of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs, presided over the meeting. The Tema Mantse, Nii Adjei Crake, welcomed the flag bearer to his traditional area and gave the assurance that they had instituted an educational fund to encourage the youth to pursue their education.
He said every Ghanaian was watching the activities of the political parties to enable them make informed decisions during the elections.
Nii Crake was optimistic that with peace and unity, Ghana could become one of the most enviable nations.
He wished the NPP luck in its endeavours and hoped it would deliver on its promise to become the toast of the people.
Nana Addo and his entourage later took turns to address a rally at the Manhean Market and to introduce himself and all the former aspirants to the people.
The Member of Parliament for the Tema East, Mr Ishmael Ashietey ,who did the introduction, appealed to the people to vote massively for the NPP for a brighter future. Mr Dan Botwe a former NPP presidential aspirant, said the campaign was about to take off and assured the people of a vigorous and intensified campaign based on the good works of the NPP.
He said the NPP, if given the mandate, would once again continue to work hard to transform Ghana.
Mr Botwe, therefore, called on the Ghanaian citizenry to see NPP as a working partner, which was ready to deliver, and advised them to vote for the party, come December 2008.
THE Presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party,(NPP) Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has appealed to Ghanaians to ensure a peaceful election during the December 2008 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.
He said elections did not mean war and expressed the hope that not a single blood would be shed during and after this year’s elections.
Nana Addo made these assertions when he called on the Chiefs and Elders of the Kpone and Tema Traditional Councils last Friday at separate ceremonies to announce his candidature to them.
He said Ghanaians must acknowledge the contributions of the NPP government to the development of the country.
Nana Addo appealed to the people of Kpone and Tema Traditional areas to make education a priority for the youth of the fishing community who have taken to early parenthood.
He also called on the people to give credence to the Capitation Grant, which is to make education attractive to encourage parents to send their children of school age to school to enable them understand the trend of national issues, which is the yardstick with which to take good decisions.
He said the status of the country had since the year 2000 changed for the better, and promised to continue with the good works.
He also urged them to retain the NPP in power for accelerated development.
Nana Addo, who was accompanied by 10 of the 17 aspirants, noted that Ghana had become a paradise which could be testified by any peace- loving and developmen-oriented Ghanaian.
He, therefore, called on them to join hands with the NPP government and massively vote for the party to continue with the good works it was doing .
Nana was optimistic that based on its good works, ‘the NPP is in the majority and would still be in the majority and would still be in the majority after the elections’.
He reiterated the call on every eligible voter to have his name written for future elections when the voter’s register was opened on May 17. Nana Addo noted that it was the only way they could exercise their civic rights.
He said no Ghanaian must be denied his constitutional right to register to become a voter, the only means through which every citizen could have the tool to decide on who to rule the nation for good governance and development.
At Kpone, the spokesman for the Traditional Council ,Mr Nathaniel Nortek commended the NPP for showing maturity, especially during the election for a flag bearer.
He said the campaign which they had started must be based on very important issues which would benefit Ghanaians and not on lies and insults.
Mr Nortek said negative campaigns potrayed the deficiencies of the parties involved.
He, therefore, appealed to the parties to send convincing messages to make people vote for their parties .
The Paramount Chief of the Kpone Traditional Council, Nii Tetteh Otu, who is also the President of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs, presided over the meeting. The Tema Mantse, Nii Adjei Crake, welcomed the flag bearer to his traditional area and gave the assurance that they had instituted an educational fund to encourage the youth to pursue their education.
He said every Ghanaian was watching the activities of the political parties to enable them make informed decisions during the elections.
Nii Crake was optimistic that with peace and unity, Ghana could become one of the most enviable nations.
He wished the NPP luck in its endeavours and hoped it would deliver on its promise to become the toast of the people.
Nana Addo and his entourage later took turns to address a rally at the Manhean Market and to introduce himself and all the former aspirants to the people.
The Member of Parliament for the Tema East, Mr Ishmael Ashietey ,who did the introduction, appealed to the people to vote massively for the NPP for a brighter future. Mr Dan Botwe a former NPP presidential aspirant, said the campaign was about to take off and assured the people of a vigorous and intensified campaign based on the good works of the NPP.
He said the NPP, if given the mandate, would once again continue to work hard to transform Ghana.
Mr Botwe, therefore, called on the Ghanaian citizenry to see NPP as a working partner, which was ready to deliver, and advised them to vote for the party, come December 2008.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
TEMA GENERAL HOSPITAL MORTUARY CLOSED DOWN (Back Page)
Story: Rose Hayford Darko, Tema
The Tema General Hospital Mortuary has been closed down after being declared unsuitable to receive and preserve bodies.
This followed the detection of structural defects in the buildings and the breakdown of some of its freezing compartments.
As a result, the hospital, which is the only public facility serving the eastern part of the Greater Accra Region, has called on owners of bodies already in the morgue to remove them to other hospitals.
At the time of the closure, 127 bodies were still at the morgue.
The Tema General Hospital was built as a one-block health facility in 1962 to take care of workers who were then involved in the construction of the Tema Harbour, but it has been renovated over the years to become a first-class hospital.
It has been a busy hospital because of its strategic position serving the major roads leading to Aflao and Akosombo though certain areas lack the expected growth. Almost all victims of accidents on these routes are conveyed to this hospital for attention and the dead put in the morgue.
Some people have called for a modern mortuary with modern facilities because the present one does not befit the status of the hospital and the metropolis. The hospital also has a big plot which could be used for a new project but which is overgrown with bushes.
The present building housing the mortuary has been described as too small and its location which is overseeing the labour ward could not be described as the best because of the psychological effects it could have on women in labour.
When the Daily Graphic visited the hospital, people were seen collecting their bodies to either bury or to relocate them.
When the Medical Director of the hospital, Dr (Mrs) Charity Sarpong, was contacted, she confirmed that the mortuary was closed on February 11, 2008, but denied that it was in a bad state.
She said “every facility will have to undergo renovation and servicing and, therefore, the decision to have the mortuary closed down was not anything new”.
Dr (Mrs) Sarpong disclosed that the hospital had arranged with the La Hospital to receive bodies from the Tema Hospital for preservation.
She said the renovation works would contain some variances as compared to the old one, stating that the hospital could not afford a new mortuary as people were agitating for. Dr (Mrs) Sarpong noted that the work would be funded from an internally generated fund and, therefore, was not adequate to put up a new mortuary.
Dr (Mrs) Sarpong, however, could not give any time frame within which all the bodies in the morgue should be removed to enable the hospital to start the renovation works.
She said the hospital would want to give families enough time to collect the bodies of their dead relatives and would not put pressure on any family.
The Tema General Hospital Mortuary has been closed down after being declared unsuitable to receive and preserve bodies.
This followed the detection of structural defects in the buildings and the breakdown of some of its freezing compartments.
As a result, the hospital, which is the only public facility serving the eastern part of the Greater Accra Region, has called on owners of bodies already in the morgue to remove them to other hospitals.
At the time of the closure, 127 bodies were still at the morgue.
The Tema General Hospital was built as a one-block health facility in 1962 to take care of workers who were then involved in the construction of the Tema Harbour, but it has been renovated over the years to become a first-class hospital.
It has been a busy hospital because of its strategic position serving the major roads leading to Aflao and Akosombo though certain areas lack the expected growth. Almost all victims of accidents on these routes are conveyed to this hospital for attention and the dead put in the morgue.
Some people have called for a modern mortuary with modern facilities because the present one does not befit the status of the hospital and the metropolis. The hospital also has a big plot which could be used for a new project but which is overgrown with bushes.
The present building housing the mortuary has been described as too small and its location which is overseeing the labour ward could not be described as the best because of the psychological effects it could have on women in labour.
When the Daily Graphic visited the hospital, people were seen collecting their bodies to either bury or to relocate them.
When the Medical Director of the hospital, Dr (Mrs) Charity Sarpong, was contacted, she confirmed that the mortuary was closed on February 11, 2008, but denied that it was in a bad state.
She said “every facility will have to undergo renovation and servicing and, therefore, the decision to have the mortuary closed down was not anything new”.
Dr (Mrs) Sarpong disclosed that the hospital had arranged with the La Hospital to receive bodies from the Tema Hospital for preservation.
She said the renovation works would contain some variances as compared to the old one, stating that the hospital could not afford a new mortuary as people were agitating for. Dr (Mrs) Sarpong noted that the work would be funded from an internally generated fund and, therefore, was not adequate to put up a new mortuary.
Dr (Mrs) Sarpong, however, could not give any time frame within which all the bodies in the morgue should be removed to enable the hospital to start the renovation works.
She said the hospital would want to give families enough time to collect the bodies of their dead relatives and would not put pressure on any family.
Friday, February 22, 2008
TEMA DVLA TO GET NEW OFFICES (PAGE 30)
Story: Rose Hayford Darko, Tema
A government-funded project has taken off in Tema to expand the facilities of the Regional Licensing Office of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority to enable it to cope with the increasing number of applicants and increase the revenue base of the authority.
The Tema DVLA has for about 30 years operated in cubicles and temporary sheds, leading to loss in revenue and also created fertile grounds for unauthorised people to operate in their name.
The authority had no sign board directing people to its location, though it is situated in the busy industrial area, away from the road.
The cost of the project was not disclosed but work was in progress when the Daily Graphic visited the premises of the DVLA.
It was observed that a razor wire had been used to demarcate the various sections to prevent the interference of goro boys(intermediaries), who managed to find their way into the sections anyway.
The only corridor dividing the small cubicles serving as offices could not contain the queues of the applicants who had gone there to register their vehicles or to acquire licences.
When the Regional Licensing Officer, Mr Vincent W.Y. Appiah, was contacted, he disclosed that the situation would soon be solved because the project under construction was to make room for offices and to accommodate applicants as well.
Mr Appiah said it would also have facilities needed to provide convenient services for both the staff and the applicants.
He said on completion of the project, the revenue accruing to the Tema office would go up by a wide margin because many more applicants would be attracted to process their documents there.
With regard to the change of licences for computerised ones, Mr Appiah said it was very smooth, explaining that the authority had not encountered any difficulties.
He, however, said that priority was given to those whose licences had expired.
The site foreman of the project said the construction company had been given six months to complete the work.
He said work on the one-storey block was about 40 per cent completed and expressed the hope that it would be handed over before July 2008.
Some applicants the Daily Graphic spoke with complained about the time wasted on the premises and lack of direction to the offices.
This, they said, had created room for goro boys to operate.
A government-funded project has taken off in Tema to expand the facilities of the Regional Licensing Office of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority to enable it to cope with the increasing number of applicants and increase the revenue base of the authority.
The Tema DVLA has for about 30 years operated in cubicles and temporary sheds, leading to loss in revenue and also created fertile grounds for unauthorised people to operate in their name.
The authority had no sign board directing people to its location, though it is situated in the busy industrial area, away from the road.
The cost of the project was not disclosed but work was in progress when the Daily Graphic visited the premises of the DVLA.
It was observed that a razor wire had been used to demarcate the various sections to prevent the interference of goro boys(intermediaries), who managed to find their way into the sections anyway.
The only corridor dividing the small cubicles serving as offices could not contain the queues of the applicants who had gone there to register their vehicles or to acquire licences.
When the Regional Licensing Officer, Mr Vincent W.Y. Appiah, was contacted, he disclosed that the situation would soon be solved because the project under construction was to make room for offices and to accommodate applicants as well.
Mr Appiah said it would also have facilities needed to provide convenient services for both the staff and the applicants.
He said on completion of the project, the revenue accruing to the Tema office would go up by a wide margin because many more applicants would be attracted to process their documents there.
With regard to the change of licences for computerised ones, Mr Appiah said it was very smooth, explaining that the authority had not encountered any difficulties.
He, however, said that priority was given to those whose licences had expired.
The site foreman of the project said the construction company had been given six months to complete the work.
He said work on the one-storey block was about 40 per cent completed and expressed the hope that it would be handed over before July 2008.
Some applicants the Daily Graphic spoke with complained about the time wasted on the premises and lack of direction to the offices.
This, they said, had created room for goro boys to operate.
SQUATTERS INVADE SCHOOL LANDS (PAGE 11)
Story: Rose Hayford Darko, Tema
Squatters and vendors have invaded portions of land belonging to some first and second cycle schools in the Tema Municipality.
These illegal occupants have erected wooden structures for business and residential purposes, and in addition, they engage in all sorts of activities which promote prostitution and drug-related vices and create a serious mess on these compounds, thereby seriously hampering academic work.
Some of the squatters have threatened to resist any attempt by the school authorities to eject them .
A survey conducted by the Daily Graphic revealed that the squatters were also using the facilities and utilities of the schools.
At the No 2 Junior High School at Tema Community 8, a structure serving as a drinking bar has been mounted on the compound just alongside the main school building.
It has a registration No TMA C/ 204, which is a clear manifestation that it had been officially registered by the Tema Municipal Assembly to operate as a drinking bar.
A source at the school said the owner had defied all attempts by the school authorities to eject him from the premises of the school, ignoring the fact that some of the students could be tempted to sneak into the bar without being noticed by the teachers.
The source also mentioned the activities of a metal workshop which creates a lot of noise during school hours.
Workers of the metal workshop had on the compound a structure which they use as a residential facility and also a place where they kept their belongings.
The source said they had also ignored all appeals to them to quit the compound to make learning peaceful for the students.
The source said the school compound was used by the squatters after close of school, posing a threat to school property, including books and important documents.
The Tema Redemption Valley Basic School, near the Tema cemetery, have some structures being used by charismatic churches springing up there and if this is not checked, the activities of these churches would become a nuisance to the teachers and children.
At the Ashaiman Senior High Day School, the headmaster, Mr Emmanuel Ofoe Fiemawhle, led the Daily Graphic team to look at a line of rooms being occupied by nine households, who share the school compound with the students and teachers.
The unfortunate aspect is that even though the school is fenced, the squatters still hang around the premises, while lessons go on, which greatly affects teaching and learning.
Mr Fiemawhle said the occupants of the structures used the school’s main gate and tapped electricity and water from the school’s supplies, thus making the school’s meters to read far in excess of what the school actually used.
He said the squatters included some females who indulged in activities which brought all manner of men to the compound even at odd times and with cars zooming in and out.
Mr Fiemawhle said the squatters threatened the security personnel at the gate when they refused to open the gate for them at late hours, making the situation very serious.
He said some of the squatters scaled the walls when they found the gate locked and therefore appealed to the Ghana Education Service to take the issue up for solution.
The only deaf school in the Greater Accra Region, the State School for the Deaf, at Adjei - Kojo, was also found to be in a dilemma because there was stiff competition from the land owners, who have started selling off portions to other people.
A senior tutor at the school, Mr Justice Akpor, said the situation had retarded the progress of the school because some projects initiated by some NGOs to benefit the students were demolished by the intruders.
Mr Akpor said the school authorities rather were reported to the police and picked up for questioning but were released when the police realised that they had not committed any crime.
He lamented that they were picked up for protecting state property and appealed to the government to set up a machinery to ensure that property belonging to the state was protected by the state.
Some residents blamed the planning authorities for registering businesses without ensuring where they were located.
Meanwhile, the schools have called on the Ghana Education Service (GES) to come to their aid to ensure effective teaching and learning.
Squatters and vendors have invaded portions of land belonging to some first and second cycle schools in the Tema Municipality.
These illegal occupants have erected wooden structures for business and residential purposes, and in addition, they engage in all sorts of activities which promote prostitution and drug-related vices and create a serious mess on these compounds, thereby seriously hampering academic work.
Some of the squatters have threatened to resist any attempt by the school authorities to eject them .
A survey conducted by the Daily Graphic revealed that the squatters were also using the facilities and utilities of the schools.
At the No 2 Junior High School at Tema Community 8, a structure serving as a drinking bar has been mounted on the compound just alongside the main school building.
It has a registration No TMA C/ 204, which is a clear manifestation that it had been officially registered by the Tema Municipal Assembly to operate as a drinking bar.
A source at the school said the owner had defied all attempts by the school authorities to eject him from the premises of the school, ignoring the fact that some of the students could be tempted to sneak into the bar without being noticed by the teachers.
The source also mentioned the activities of a metal workshop which creates a lot of noise during school hours.
Workers of the metal workshop had on the compound a structure which they use as a residential facility and also a place where they kept their belongings.
The source said they had also ignored all appeals to them to quit the compound to make learning peaceful for the students.
The source said the school compound was used by the squatters after close of school, posing a threat to school property, including books and important documents.
The Tema Redemption Valley Basic School, near the Tema cemetery, have some structures being used by charismatic churches springing up there and if this is not checked, the activities of these churches would become a nuisance to the teachers and children.
At the Ashaiman Senior High Day School, the headmaster, Mr Emmanuel Ofoe Fiemawhle, led the Daily Graphic team to look at a line of rooms being occupied by nine households, who share the school compound with the students and teachers.
The unfortunate aspect is that even though the school is fenced, the squatters still hang around the premises, while lessons go on, which greatly affects teaching and learning.
Mr Fiemawhle said the occupants of the structures used the school’s main gate and tapped electricity and water from the school’s supplies, thus making the school’s meters to read far in excess of what the school actually used.
He said the squatters included some females who indulged in activities which brought all manner of men to the compound even at odd times and with cars zooming in and out.
Mr Fiemawhle said the squatters threatened the security personnel at the gate when they refused to open the gate for them at late hours, making the situation very serious.
He said some of the squatters scaled the walls when they found the gate locked and therefore appealed to the Ghana Education Service to take the issue up for solution.
The only deaf school in the Greater Accra Region, the State School for the Deaf, at Adjei - Kojo, was also found to be in a dilemma because there was stiff competition from the land owners, who have started selling off portions to other people.
A senior tutor at the school, Mr Justice Akpor, said the situation had retarded the progress of the school because some projects initiated by some NGOs to benefit the students were demolished by the intruders.
Mr Akpor said the school authorities rather were reported to the police and picked up for questioning but were released when the police realised that they had not committed any crime.
He lamented that they were picked up for protecting state property and appealed to the government to set up a machinery to ensure that property belonging to the state was protected by the state.
Some residents blamed the planning authorities for registering businesses without ensuring where they were located.
Meanwhile, the schools have called on the Ghana Education Service (GES) to come to their aid to ensure effective teaching and learning.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
MP SAVES THIEF FROM BEING LYNCHED (Page 29)
Story: Rose Hayford Darko
& Anasthasia Dzovor, Ashaiman
The Member of Parliament for Kpone-Katamanso, Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo, saved 19-year-old Ahmed Manga from being lynched by a mob at Kubekro near Ashaiman when he attempted to escape in a taxi with seven sheep he and some accomplices had stolen from some individual farms at Apollonia. Nii Afotey Agbo, with the help of some residents of the area, handed Manga over to the police at Ashaiman.
Manga’s accomplices, however, managed to escape but the driver of the taxi used for the operation was apprehended.
The Ashaiman Police Commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police Frank Awu, told the press that the taxi driver, Ernest Asare, 32, was on Wednesday January 23, 2008 returning from Katamanso at about 4.30 a.m. when Ahmed and another person stopped him and requested for his assistance to convey the sheep to Ashaiman. The driver consented and charged them GH¢15 for the service.
According to the Ashaiman District Commander, when the driver drove off some people who saw the thieves join the taxi stopped the vehicle at Kubekro but the driver failed to stop.
This infuriated the people who had then increased in their number. They chased and attacked the taxi and its passengers.
Word about the theft quickly went round the villages in the vicinity and the Member of Parliament, who was at Katamanso, rushed to the scene and rescued the suspects but Managa’s accomplices absconded.
He said Manga was on the police list of wanted criminals and could not be said to be a novice in robbing people.
Many people trooped to the police station and pointed at Manga as someone who had robbed them before.
Police investigations continue into his past and present robbery activities.
Later in an interview, a resident of the area, Mr Adjei Evans, said the people were livestock farmers and the theft of the animals was on the ascendancy. This led to the formation of a watchdog committee to provide security for the people, their animals and other property.
He said members of the watchdog committee spotted the suspects during their rounds.
& Anasthasia Dzovor, Ashaiman
The Member of Parliament for Kpone-Katamanso, Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo, saved 19-year-old Ahmed Manga from being lynched by a mob at Kubekro near Ashaiman when he attempted to escape in a taxi with seven sheep he and some accomplices had stolen from some individual farms at Apollonia. Nii Afotey Agbo, with the help of some residents of the area, handed Manga over to the police at Ashaiman.
Manga’s accomplices, however, managed to escape but the driver of the taxi used for the operation was apprehended.
The Ashaiman Police Commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police Frank Awu, told the press that the taxi driver, Ernest Asare, 32, was on Wednesday January 23, 2008 returning from Katamanso at about 4.30 a.m. when Ahmed and another person stopped him and requested for his assistance to convey the sheep to Ashaiman. The driver consented and charged them GH¢15 for the service.
According to the Ashaiman District Commander, when the driver drove off some people who saw the thieves join the taxi stopped the vehicle at Kubekro but the driver failed to stop.
This infuriated the people who had then increased in their number. They chased and attacked the taxi and its passengers.
Word about the theft quickly went round the villages in the vicinity and the Member of Parliament, who was at Katamanso, rushed to the scene and rescued the suspects but Managa’s accomplices absconded.
He said Manga was on the police list of wanted criminals and could not be said to be a novice in robbing people.
Many people trooped to the police station and pointed at Manga as someone who had robbed them before.
Police investigations continue into his past and present robbery activities.
Later in an interview, a resident of the area, Mr Adjei Evans, said the people were livestock farmers and the theft of the animals was on the ascendancy. This led to the formation of a watchdog committee to provide security for the people, their animals and other property.
He said members of the watchdog committee spotted the suspects during their rounds.
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