29 Police Officers Interdicted Since January

Twenty-nine police personnel, including a female were interdicted by the Police Administration within the first eight months of the year for various violations of the rules and regulations of the service. They are reported to have been involved in police enlistment fraud, unlawful possession of narcotics, failing to perform their duties properly, indiscriminate firing of firearms, absence from duty without permission and sexual-related offences. The affected officers were a Chief inspector, Sergeant, two, Corporal, seven, Lance Corporal and nine Constables. The Director-General of the Public Affairs Department of the Ghana Police Service, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) David Nenyi Ampah-Bennin told The Ghanaian Times in Accra yesterday that out of the 29 personnel two were exempted. He said the Police Administration would not condone and connive with any act of lawlessness which did not conform to the ethics of the profession. “the Police Administration would not shield any police officer who indulges in any misconduct,” DCOP Ampah-Bennin warned. DCOP Ampah-Bennin said some of the officers were either jailed or dismissed. He said the police administration as part of efforts to weed out the bad nuts in the service had tasked all district commanders to step up their supervisory roles to ensure that their personnel performed their duties in accordance with the laid down regulations

Source: Ghanaian Times

People Over 65 Should Drink Less Alcohol

The Royal College of Psychiatrists says people over 65 should drink a maximum of only 1.5 units of alcohol a day. That is the equivalent of just over about half a pint of beer or a small glass of wine. The report says older drinkers are less able to process alcohol and the drink might also interact with medication they may be taking for other ailments. It warns current advice - 14 units of alcohol for women and 21 for men each week - is based on work with young adults. A group of experts from the Royal College of Psychiatrists says there is a growing problem with substance abuse among older people, who they describe as society's "invisible addicts". The report says a third those who experience problems with alcohol abuse do so later on in life, often as a result of big changes like retirement, bereavement or feelings of boredom, loneliness and depression. But the extent of the drinking is hidden because unlike younger drinkers, more older people drink in their own homes, the report suggests. The problem is exacerbated by the widespread use - and misuse - of prescribed and over-the-counter medicines among elderly people which can interact badly with alcohol. Compounding the problems are the changes our bodies undergo as we get older which mean we are less able to cope with the effects of alcohol. Drinking guidelines The report is calling for the government to issue separate advice on safe drinking limits for older people, with an upper "safe limit" of 1.5 units of alcohol a day, or 11 units per week. They also want GPs to screen every person over the age of 65 for substance misuse, along with health campaigns around drugs and alcohol specifically targeting older people. Professor Ilana Crome, Professor of Addiction Psychiatry and chair of the group that wrote the report, says it is a hidden problem but one that is growing in scale. "The traditional view is that alcohol misuse is uncommon in older people and that the misuse of drugs is very rare - this is simply not true. "A lack of awareness means that GPs and other healthcare professionals often overlook or discount the signs when someone has a problem. "We hope this report highlights the scale of the problem, and that the multiple medical and social needs of this group of people are not ignored any longer." Coping mechanism GPs are often those who stand the best chance of spotting when someone has a problem. Dr Stefan Janikiewicz is a general practitioner from the Wirral and Cheshire region and was also one of the report's authors. "There is increased pressure to glean information from patients and act on these findings. Smoking and alcohol are still the most common forms of substance misuse that affect all age groups. "Increasingly, GPs are responding to these issues." He warns that GPs have to work with specialist services and other health workers. 'Unbelievable' But there has been an angry reaction from many older people to the suggestion that they should cut down on their drinking. The editor of Saga magazine, Emma Soames, described the recommendations as "unbelievable". "I think people will be infuriated by this. It's described as a public health problem, it's actually a private health matter. "And as people's horizons narrow, as they get older, eating and drinking are one of the few pleasures that remain with them for a very long time. And going to the pub is the last social activity for many, many people." Don Shenker, Chief Executive of Alcohol Concern, said the problems of older drinkers are often ignored. "While younger excessive drinkers often make the headlines, we should remember that older people often turn to alcohol in later life as a coping mechanism and this can remain stubbornly hidden from view. "This report calls for much greater recognition that excessive drinking in older age is both widespread and preventable, particularly if public health professionals are supported and trained to spot the signs and take appropriate action." In a statement Age UK said: "It is very worrying that growing numbers of people in later life are drinking higher levels of alcohol, which is likely to lead to a rise in alcohol-related health problems. "Age UK fully supports moves to encourage GPs to do more to identify people who are drinking too much and the importance of raising awareness among older people about safe drinking levels." A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said action was being taken to tackle problem drinking, such as plans to stop supermarkets selling alcohol at below-cost prices. She added: "However, individuals have responsibilities too and everyone should drink responsibly within the recommended alcohol limits. "All advice is kept under review. We welcome any addition to the evidence base in this area and will consider this report carefully."

Source: The Finder

Gender Ministry registers elderly onto NHIS

The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, has registered the elderly at Akropong in the Eastern Region numbering 500, onto the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). The registration which was done for free, formed part of effort by the ministry to give the elderly in the country access to free health care. As part of the programme, the Ministry also sensitized the elderly on some of the ailments affecting them, and how they could be prevented Nana Oye Lithur, the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection said the new ministry was introduced to give much focus and attention to issues regarding the elderly. She said government recognized and duly appreciated support the elderly gave to the country during the youthful days, hence the need to create a ministry to cater for their needs. She gave the assurance that the Urban Elderly Card which was recently introduced to give some comfort to the elderly, would be introduced in the area. She said with the new card, holders enjoyed 50 percent discount anytime they boarded public transport, and were also not supposed to join queues any time they visited hospital facilities. She said the ministry was still negotiating with some supermarkets to also reduce the prices of their goods and services anytime the holders of the new Card visited to do shopping. "Our elderly men and women have served this nation well, and government is very committed to put in the necessary measures that will cater for their well being," she said. Nana Oye Lithur announced that government had laid before Parliament a law that would further cater for the health needs of the elderly. She disclosed that the Ministry had also embarked on the registration of prisoners on the National Health Insurance Scheme across the country, adding that all inmates of the Koforidua prisons had been registered, and the next stop was the Nsawam prisons, with the others to follow soon. Mr Nathaniel Otoo, Acting Chief Executive Officer of National Health Insurance Authority, advised all subscribers to report any health facility to the Authority which would demand money for providing health care to them.

Source: GNA

Veterinary Doctor's Attack On Government Unfortunate - Bisiw

Dr Hanna Bisiw, Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, on Thursday described as unfortunate an attack on government by Dr Robert Asare, a veterinary Doctor in the Assin North district, by resorting to the use of social media, specifically, facebook to malign government under the pretext of fighting for vehicles to fight bird flu. Dr Asare was the first person Dr Bisiw asked of immediately she took her seat, before addressing a two-day training workshop for Regional and District Veterinary Officers on pathogenic avian influenza. When the Minister was told that Dr Asare was not present she informed participants that she was going to hold on to what she had to say about him until she had presented her official speech. Dr Bisiw, at the end of her speech said “it is unfortunate to find veterinary doctors on facebook insulting government and the Ministry that government has failed to provide even a bicycle for surveillance of the disease”. She said social media was not the place for people like Dr Asare to propagate their dislike for government, adding, "here is a doctor who heads a district and says that government has misplaced priority and cannot even provide a bicycle." She called on her colleagues to use social media positively. "Public service is a safe haven for some of us if you cannot communicate with your Director don’t communicate on social media," the Minister said, as a response to the remarks by Dr Asare. Dr Bisiw, who is a veterinary doctor by profession, said, they had a profession to be proud of, and should practice it in accordance with the code of ethics. "If you don’t like a government, you have an obligation to respect your profession. She said all attempts to get Dr Asare to stop his behaviour in a reply to his comment on social media failed. Dr Bisiw, however, told participants that government had released the vehicles, motor bicycles and money for surveillance. At the end of the her talk, some participants could be heard supporting what the Minister said, and comments from some participants were, yes, the Minister had actually hit the nail right on the head.

Source: GNA

How To Manage Jaw Joint Disorder

Management of this condition focuses on • Relief of pain • Restoring normal functional movement of the jaw • The provision of education on posture, pain, oral habits that may influence the jaw joint • Specific exercises for the weak muscles • Specific exercises to maintain stability of the joint • Gentle range of motion exercises for improving movement • Postural retraining to restore balance between the jaw and neck positions Correct your posture The pain you experience in your jaw may also be related to your neck and how you usually hold your head. If you normally have your head forwards throughout the whole day, it can cause an increase in the tension in the muscles of your face and neck and eventually this negatively affects the manner in which the jaw moves and its resting position. When you maintain a good posture your jaw is also placed back into its correct position. You would need to practice this new posture throughout the day, it may feel strange when you begin but eventually the position would feel normal. Whenever you maintain the appropriate posture, the muscles of your neck and face are relaxed, hence decreasing constant tension and pain in those areas. One of the simple exercises that you can perform daily is the head slide exercise. Head slide exercise This encourages the shifting of the bad posture that you’ve adopted over the years to a correct one. This is a stretching exercise that slowly releases the tightness in the jaw muscles which holds the head in the inappropriate forward position. The exercises also enable you to relax your jaw and facial muscles. • Stand against a wall and ensure that the back of both heels touches the wall as well as the back of your head. Gently bring your chin down as if to touch your chest, while maintaining your head against the wall. Hold this position for 20 seconds and return to the original position. You should repeat this at least 20 times each day. You also need to make a conscious effort to maintain this head position during your daily activities- walking, standing, sitting etc. Relaxation Exercises Individuals with jaw pain are required to learn to relax their jaw muscles at all times and desist from clinching their teeth in times of stress because this makes the pain worse. It’s vital to relax the jaw muscles regularly throughout the day by adhering to the following steps. • Gently raise your tongue up to touch the roof of your mouth and maintain hold for about 10 -20 seconds before allowing it to fall down again. Repeat as often as you can tolerate • Open up your jaw slightly without opening your mouth. Keep your upper and lower teeth apart and prevent them from touching. Hold the position for about 10 seconds and allow your upper and lower teeth to touch again. Repeat throughout the day. Strengthening exercises These exercises strengthen the muscles that are responsible for pulling the jaw backwards while restricting the muscles which move the jaw forwards and from side to side. The exercise also relaxes the muscles which closes the mouth. • You may sit, stand or lie down for this exercise. With your mouth closed and you teeth touching, lift your tongue and run the tip of your tongue backwards towards your throat, as far as you can tolerate. You also need to ensure that your tongue maintain the touch on the roof of your mouth. Gently open your mouth to the point where you can tolerate or just as your tongue is unable to touch the roof of your mouth. Hold this position for 5-10 seconds and close your mouth. You need to repeat this exercise at least 10 times each day. Ensure that your jaw does not move from side to side but only downwards. If you feel a slight tension on the back of your neck and beneath your chin, then you are performing the exercise correctly. However, if you hear clicks or any kind of noise during the exercise, then you are performing it incorrectly.

Source: Mohammed Ali (panieros@live.com)

E.P. Church Pledges Support To Son Of Late Samuel Nuamah

The Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana (EPCG) has affirmed its commitment to support the education and care of the son of Samuel Nuamah, the Ghanaian Times reporter who lost his life in a fatal accident involving the Presidential Press Corp on August 20, 2015. The Moderator of the General Assembly of the E.P. Church, the Rt Rev. Dr Seth Agidi, made the declaration when he led a delegation from the church to sympathise with the family and the employer of the late Nuamah in Accra. Nuamah lost his life when members of the Presidential Press Corp were returning from Ho where they had accompanied President Mahama to the E.P. Church’s 7th General Assembly on August 20, 2015. The Rt Rev. Dr Agidi expressed the church’s condolence to the bereaved family, noting that “even though Nuamah suffered a painful death as a young and promising journalist, God knows why it happened in that manner”. Consolation message In a further consolation message, the Rt Rev. Dr Agidi entreated the family not to be superstitious but focus on God in prayer for guidance. Other members of the delegation were the Presbyter Executive of the General Assembly, Mr Jonas Dzodzodzi; the West Volta Presbytery Synod Moderator, the Rev. Dr Emmanuel Amey; the President of the Pastors Association, Rev. Mrs Comfort Afele, and the Public Relations Officer, Presbyter MacDonald Bubuama.

Source: Daily Graphic

Let’s Eliminate Child Trafficking In Ghana

Challenging heights, a child rights non-governmental organisation (NGO) that envisions “a world where every child goes to school and lives in a loving and caring family”, has established that child trafficking persists in parts of the country. For this reason, the organisation is committed to working with governmental agencies and other non-governmental organisations, to address the issue. Through research and over 10 years of operations, the organisation has discovered that child trafficking in Ghana is caused by poverty, ignorance, poor parental care and lack of support for children. Furthermore, weak political commitment reflected in inadequate allocation of resources to combat human trafficking and weak enforcement of laws and implementation of national policies and plans, also contribute to the problem. Human Trafficking Act The Human Trafficking Act, 2005 (Act 694) of Ghana, defines human trafficking as “the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring, trading or receipt of persons within and across national borders by the use of threats, force or other forms of coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, the abuse of power or exploitation of vulnerability, or giving or receiving payments and benefits to achieve consent”. Child trafficking, therefore, refers to the recruitment, transport and transfer of any person below the age of 18, with or without their consent for the purpose of exploitation or abuse of position of vulnerability. Exploitation includes but is not limited to forced labour and sexual exploitation. The Act strongly prohibits all forms of human trafficking and makes human trafficking a criminal offence liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term of not less than five years. As a country, we cannot downplay the existence and pernicious impact of child trafficking on our children and the nation’s development. It actually undermines our respect for human rights and human dignity as a country, as well as erodes the nation’s human capital. Population of children The sixth Ghana Living Standard Survey (GLSS 6) estimates that there are over 8.6 million children between the ages of 5-17 in Ghana. Sadly, over 1.8 million (21.8%) of them are engaged in child labour and over 1.2 million (14.2%) are engaged in hazardous child labour. An International Labour Organisation/Government of Ghana study in 2013, estimates that there are 49,000 children working in the fishing industry on the Lake Volta. Out of this number, over 21,000 of them are engaged in hazardous child labour. The Global Slavery Index (GSI) estimates that over 190,000 Ghanaians are living in conditions of “modern slavery.” Strategic approach Given the above national context the NGO has adopted what it describes as a three-tier theory of change to drive individual, societal and systemic level of change. With reference to this framework, the organisation has adopted a four-prong strategy in the context of identifying the root causes of child trafficking in Ghana. These strategies are protection, education, livelihood and advocacy. The child protection strategy entails a preventative tactic of raising awareness of behavioural change and a curative tactic of rescue, rehabilitation, reintegration and monitoring of victims of child trafficking. The education strategy involves providing affordable education for children from deprived families and general educational supports to children. Also, the livelihood strategy focuses on sustainable economic empowerment for deprived families as a way of reducing poverty levels, which has been identified as an underlying factor for child trafficking in Ghana. And finally, the advocacy strategy focuses on influencing national and international policies, laws and programmes that protect children and also push for law enforcement. Programmes Since 2003, the organisation has supported thousands of children and youths in Ghana, and it is estimated that, over 40,000 children and youth have directly benefited from its programmes. The organisation has also rescued over 1,000 trafficked children from forced labour, and also provided not less than $100,000 seed capital to over 560 deprived families to improve their living standards. The NGO has also sensitised or educated an estimated 100,000 children, men and women on child protection and child trafficking in Ghana. Challenging Heights and the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) of the Ghana Police Service on June 5, this year, launched a national Turn Back Human Trafficking campaign, to focus on securing citizen and police vigilance such as systematically screening of vehicles for trafficked persons. Action plans The organisation, has also made significant input into policy development, review and reforms in Ghana. For instance, it has played key roles in developing action plans for the implementation of policies such as National Plan of Action (NPA) to eliminate worst forms of child labour, Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), the post-2015 Development Agenda and the Education Strategic Plan (2010-2020). Challenging Heights envisages a child trafficking-free country, and hereby, calls on the government and related organisations and agencies to eliminate it completely.

Source: Daily Graphic

Farmer Jailed For Incest

For his inability to control his lust and doing an abominable act, the Odumase Krobo Circuit Court, presided over by Mr Frank Gbeddy, has sentenced a 34-year-old farmer to 60 months imprisonment for incest. Yaw Akoto, who had carnal knowledge of her 12-year-old biological daughter, would serve the term in hard labour. Detective Chief Inspector Stella Dzikunu told the court that the complainant is the mother of the victim, while Akoto, a farmer, resided at Labolabo a village near Asikuma Junction in the Asuogyaman District. The victim is a school girl staying with the grandmother. The prosecution said in November 2014, Akoto went for the child from the grandmother. According to D/C Inspector Dzikunu, somewhere last month, the convict came back from town one day and told the daughter he was informed that she had been playing truant and as part of the punishment for that offence, he inserted powdered pepper into the vagina of his daughter. D/C Inspector Dzikunu said the following evening, Akoto, who always slept between the victim and her stepmother, inserted his finger into his daughter’s vagina while they were sleeping. According to the prosecution, Akoto did that to his daughter on several occasions and later had sexual intercourse with her on two different occasions. She said Akoto strongly warned his daughter to keep what was going on to herself and never mention it to her stepmother or any other person, else he would beat her up mercilessly. The prosecutor said on August 7, 2015, the victim’s mother returned from Dzemeni and the victim complained to the mother that she was suffering from ‘white’. With the help of the Labolabo Development Centre, she was sent to the Peki Government Hospital where the victim revealed her ordeal to the medical doctor. The doctor, after examining the victim, advised the mother to report the incident to the police. The police issued a medical form and accompanied them to the hospital for examination and treatment. Akoto was later arrested and he admitted the offence in his caution statement.

Source: Daily Graphic

Ghanaian Auditions For Porn Actors On Social Media (Read)

A snapshot audition announcement intercepted by source reveals a young Ghanaian who is seriously calling on young girls to audition to become porn stars. Though the identity of the young man is unknown, the name Kwaku Frimpong is visible in the snapshot. In the advertisement, the promoter promises it hopefuls of a free travelling document processing. “Nobody in Ghana have the authority to shoot a pornography movie in our movie industry. The laws in Ghana do not allow the shooting of pornography so the board itself does not classify or review pornography in our scheme of things” member of the Cinematograph Exhibition Board of Control, Mr. Ken Addy, told the media last year. He continued, “It is even against the law to expose yourself indecently and pornography falls under that category. So if people are caught shooting pornography in Ghana, we will surely take them to court and the court will deal with them drastically. “It comes with a heavy fine, an imprisonment or both in some circumstances.” He however clarified that, “there is a difference between an adult movie and pornography so we should check that always.” He further explained that the public order act itself frowns upon pornography and does not allow it in this country so people should desist from it for their own good.” Ending, he noted, “It is a criminal thing to even sell pornography movies in Ghana. Anybody with information on such activities should contact us for prosecution and on this” Source is still following up on this story to get more updates as well as an authoritative opinion on this subject for publication.

Source: ghbase.com

World Bank Broke …Pleads With Africa To Help Raise Funds

The World Bank (WB) Vice-President for Development Finance [Joachim] Von Amsberg has asked for the support of members of the African Caucus to raise funds to replenish the International Development Association (IDA). In order to finance development in an intelligent fashion, the WB needs to mobilise some US$135 thousand million in Official Development Assistance (ODA). This amount will attract and leverage new public and private investments. “We have a large portfolio, a series of projects in preparation that will drive private investment. These are projects for which there is great demand and we are seeking to mobilise possible resources. There is the Ebola problem, floods in Malawi and the earthquake in Nepal as well, which is why the response budget for three years was already exhausted in the first year,” explained the World Bank VP in his presentation on the topic “Funding Options for ODA.” The record ODA replenishment of US$52.1 thousand million aims to maximize impact on development by leveraging public and private resources, in addition to knowledge, with solid results and efficiency at a low cost. The demand for regional projects in Africa remains large, and most resources are committed to regional infrastructure projects.”The strong replenishment of ODA and financial innovations are crucial to fulfilling the agenda for transformation in Africa,” he concluded. The current Chairman of the African Group of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors affiliated with the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank is the Angolan Minister of Finance; its first Vice-Chair is the Minister of Finance of Benin and the second Vice-Chair is the Minister of Finance of Benin (sic). The position of the organisation’s Secretary is held by the Egyptian Minister of Finance.

Source: APO/The Chronicle

Service Personnel Begin New Sanitation Module

Two thousand National Service persons have been assigned to metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies across the country in a newly introduced Urban Sanitation Module. Under the module, the service persons will visit households in the country to collate data on sanitation services delivery. The module is a joint collaboration among the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD), the National Waste Bin Distribution Programme (NaWaBin), Melchia Investments Ghana Limited (MIGL) and the National Service Scheme (NSS). Launching the module in Accra Thursday, the Executive Director of the NSS, Dr Michael Kpessa-Whyte, said the decision of the National Service Secretariat to join the sanitation module was informed by a number of factors, including President John Mahama’s announcement last year of the distribution of free waste bins to all households by the MLGRD and other partners. He also mentioned the National Sanitation Day and the outbreak of cholera which culminated in the massive clearing of waste that has been championed by the president and his vice as other motivating factors for the sanitation module. “As an institution that essentially deploys young people coming out of our tertiary institutions, we thought that if the leaders of this country themselves are setting such wonderful examples, it is important that we take proactive steps to prevent the situation that sent them out from occurring,” he added. Significance of module The Chairman of the Board of Directors of MIGL, Capt. F.B Amoh-Twum (retd), said the company offered to collaborate with the NSS on the module because it believed that introducing improved logistics into the waste management sector with IT solutions support would significantly help to deal with the challenges identified. It would also “reduce the persistent littering of our environment, reduce the creation of refuse heaps by the roadside and prevent the perennial flooding that results from garbage choking our drains during rainfall, and reduce the breeding of houseflies,” he stated. In a statement delivered on his behalf, the President of the Environmental Service Providers Association (ESPA), Mr Joseph Siaw Agyepong, said: “We at ESPA are very excited about this new innovation which will go a long way to address some of our challenges which include inadequate client data, poor revenue collection, poor route planning, inefficient logistics deployment and revenue leakages.” The Chief Executive of the La Nkwantanang-Madina Municipal Assembly, Mr Franklin Anku, indicated that the module would also capture information on structures and household composition, as well as Global Positioning System (GPS) locations of all structures, to enable effective planning in all sectors of the economy.

Source: Daily Graphic

3 SHS Students Nabbed

Three senior high students are in the custody of the Kaneshie District Police for allegedly stabbing a trader to death. The suspects are Duke Ashie, 17, a form two student of Kinbu Senior High School; Prince Larbi, 17, form two student of Nsaba Senior High School in the Central Region and Emmanuel Hanson, also a form two student of Aggrey Memorial Senior High School. The deceased has been identified as Thomas Owusu Kodua, a 27-year-old mobile phone seller at the Kaneshie market. An eyewitness account indicated that the students stabbed the deceased as a result of a scuffle on September 2, 2015 at about 3:30 pm. Emmanuel Hanson was said to have bought an ATC mobile telephone from one of the retailers at the Kaneshie Market at a cost of GH¢70 three months ago, but returned it that same day because he realised it was faulty. The phone dealer, who is yet to be identified, collected the mobile phone from Hanson for repairs and asked him to return the following day for it. Since that day the phone dealer had allegedly been playing hide-and-seek with Hanson until last Wednesday when he (Hanson) spotted him at Kaneshie and demanded for his money. Other mobile phone sellers, including Thomas Owusu Kodua, purportedly assisted their friend to beat Hanson mercilessly. Hanson reportedly left the scene but later returned with the two others, who were reportedly armed, to seek revenge. When they arrived, the man who sold the mobile phone to Hanson had left the scene, leaving the others and Kodua. The three allegedly attacked him and stabbed him with a knife in the right arm and the head. Thomas Kodua, who was then bleeding profusely, was rushed to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital for treatment, but he died while on admission. A report was later lodged at the Kaneshie police station for investigation. Chief Superintendent Flence Adika, Kaneshie District Police Commander, who confirmed the story, said the three were arrested yesterday from their various hideouts in Accra. He corroborated the eyewitness account of the incident. Hanson, he said, was arrested at the scene after the fight but Ashie and Larbi were later nabbed at Kasoa and Pokuase yesterday. They have provisionally been charged for murder by the police and will be sent to court soon.

Source: Daily Guide

Farm Cocoa Instead Of Wee’

The youth in Ghana who have taken up the business of cultivating Indian hemp have been advised to direct their energies towards the cultivation of cocoa instead. According to Chief Superintendent Martin Ayih, the Adentan Divisional Commander, those engaged in wee farming are not only operating in aberrance with the laws of the land but also doing a great disservice to themselves and their children. According to him, wherever wee grows well, cocoa also flourishes; and with cocoa having a guaranteed price on both the local and international market, he could not fathom why the youth have resorted to the commercial cultivation of the psychoactive plant. “Cocoa has a guaranteed price, you don’t need to go and negotiate with anybody to get it sold”, he reiterated. Again, a cocoa farm can be left behind as an inheritance but a ‘wee’ cannot be inherited by children and relatives of the farmers, the Police Commander maintained. “Cocoa farmers are the nations pride and so anybody who has a cocoa farm has the wealth of the nation, and so you can pass on your cocoa farm to your children when you die but no one inherits a weed farm”, he emphasized. Chief Superintendent Martin Ayih, made these observations to Weekend Finder after his outfit intercepted six sacks and 109 slabs of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp last Wednesday. The large volume of ‘wee’ was on board a Hyundai mini bus with registration number GT 4680-14. Briefing the press on how the police were able to intercept the consignment , Chief Superintendent Martin Ayih, the Adentan Divisional Commander stated that based upon police intelligence his men were able to arrest the said bus at Adentan –Dodowa junction on August 29 at about 4: 30 pm. According to him, when the men tried stopping the bus, the driver pretended to slow down but sped away on reaching the spot where he was supposed to stop. Suspecting foul play the men pursued the bus but after a hot chase the two occupants of the bus abandoned the vehicle and fled. A search conducted by the Police revealed the contents mentioned above. The police also found a drivers license bearing the name Ofori Kwame. The police have assured that processes are underway to smoke out the two occupants of the vehicle who are still on the run. C/Supt Ayih seized the opportunity to advise the public to venture into the plantation of cocoa rather than ‘wee’. “A plantation of cocoa can be inherited but ‘wee’ cannot,” he said.

Source: The Finder

Beware Of Alcohol – Kwame Dzokoto

The name Seth Kwame Dzokoto is synonymous with advertisement of food and alcoholic beverages. Many might even perceive him a glutton and a possible lover of wine but as it is said appearance can be deceptive. Popularly known for his ‘Edziban’ show on TV3 and his cutting edge advertisement on alcoholic beverages, Kwame shares a different view on who should consume alcoholic beverages and how they are introduced to the general public. Kwame Dzokoto holds a strong view that the youth who have ambitions to positively develop themselves and contribute meaningfully to the development of the country must refrain from taking alcohol. “I believe it is important for the youth to stay away from alcohol. They must realise that everything that they do in life have consequences which can affect their future therefore the need to stay away from alcohol and other things that could put their future in jeopardy.” Alcohol Advertisement In an exclusive interview with Weekend Finder, Kwame Dzokoto who believes the issues about alcoholism in the country needs to be addressed in a more serious way said, “Alcohol is not meant for children hence the age caution that comes with it and so its advertisement during prime time and certain periods are seriously unacceptable and the regulators must see to it that it is implemented.” Kwame called on the media to contribute to the implementation of its regulation, adding that “if the media do not put in their best to streamline the situation the alcohol issue will get out of hand. “I believe the Food and Drugs Board should not just pass anything to go on the airwaves. It is important for them to check the potency of the beverage and every other important detail. Political Ambition Kwame has picked up nomination forms to contest in the upcoming National Democratic Congress (NDC) Parliamentary Primaries in the Tarkwa Nsuayem constituency in the Western region. Speaking on his political ambitions with the paper, Kwame who said he was well known in the constituency where he has lived the major part of his life said he wants to redefine the way politics was done in the country. “People feel that because they do not belong to the same political divide it is not prudent or wise to work together on projects.” This development he said is gradually dividing us as a people, “we are all fighting for one course which is the good of Ghana but through different media.” He told Weekend Finder that he was contesting the seat because the youth called on him to do so, “I have had so many calls from the youth to help get the roads in the constituency fixed among others and that is why I believe they would give me the nod to help the constituencies even though the seat is an NPP seat. But He is confident that he would be able to win it. He thinks the NPP have been over pampered in the constituency and they were taking the people for granted. Kwame said he had his Basic Education, wrote his Common Entrance examinations and O’ level at Tarkwa and even started his radio career at Dynamite FM in the same town while pursuing his tertiary education at the University of Mines and Technology. As a result, he is ready to bring the people of his constituency transformative, accessible and truthful leadership. “There used to be a lot of small scale mining industries in the constituency and since its closure, the youth have been greatly affected and I hope we would be able to talk to the stakeholders to re-open the mines to provide some employment for the youth. “I believes the time has come for people to stop looking up to government to bring development to their area we can do something and so we are trying to put together a youth in mining programme for mining to be done professionally in the area.” Kwame has promised to be always available and accessible.

Source: The Finder

My Husband Ran Off With Wedding Guest Three Months After Wedding

A 29-year old British bride was ditched by her husband three months after their wedding and after dating for seven years. Her 36-year old husband Alan Hoffman ran off with one of the wedding guests Gemma Hadley who is also a colleague at her husband’s work place. After a blind date in January 2004, Alan, a former soldier proposed to Michelle in December 2004. ‘He gave me several different shaped boxes and in the smallest box was a beautiful gold band with three diamonds. I was over the moon. When I saw the ring I almost cried. I was so happy – I couldn’t wait to marry him.’ It took seven years including a year of planning and preparation to have a wedding at Bournemouth Town Hall in September 2012. They invited 70 of their closest friends and family. ‘The day was absolutely perfect,’ she said. ‘We exchanged vows in front of everyone who was important to us. I’d never been happier but I couldn’t help but notice when Alan kept disappearing to talk to his colleagues, including Gemma, who kept glancing over at me. ‘I tried to push any worries out of my head. He was probably just checking they were having a good time. Besides, he’d just married me.’ They danced to Something Right by Westlife. But something was wrong. She said Alan grew distant and their sex life plummeted. He talked about Gemma during conversations. ‘They were seeing a lot of each other. My instincts told me that something wasn’t right. I didn’t want to make a fuss, but I felt threatened by Gemma. ‘She was younger, slimmer and prettier than me. And I didn’t feel comfortable with the idea of her and Alan being alone together in my flat. I tentatively asked Alan if there was something between them but he laughed it off. She also had a boyfriend, so Alan said he thought the idea was ludicrous. ‘But although Alan always insisted there was nothing going on between them, I couldn’t help feeling jealous by their friendship. I just tried to bury my feelings about it.’ In January 2013, Alan came home and dropped the bombshell ‘I don’t love you anymore,’ ‘He said things just weren’t right and that they hadn’t been right for ages, and that I felt more like his sister than his wife. ‘His words hit hard – but I knew he was telling the truth, I could tell it in the way he spoke.

Source: Wires

Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Wins Top Award

The Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge has been adjudged the Best Phone at the recently held TechRadar Phone Awards 2015, in London. Samsung ran away with the top award of the night with Best Phone going to their curved flagship. With a curved edge display, the Galaxy S6 Edge is one of the most interesting looking handsets available right now and has some impressive specs under the hood including an Exynos 7420 processor, 3GB of RAM and a beautiful 5.1-inch display. Judges were impressed by the handset's premium appeal and lush curves. While front of the S6 Edge is beautifully curved, the rear is as flat as a pancake, instantly making the handset feel a lot wider. The slight curvature of the Galaxy S6 Edge, the world’s first dual edge also set it apart from other smartphones. Following this award, industry watchers are excited about the new Galaxy S6 Edge+, which is an upgraded version of the S6 Edge and gives users a phenomenal multimedia experience on a 5.7 inch compactly deceitfully-shaped handset. Meanwhile, the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge can charge faster than any other smartphone and supports wireless charging, there's no real loss in trading the replaceable battery for the fantastic industrial design. Samsung announced at its Unpacked 2015 in New York, two latest flagship additions, the Note 5 and Galaxy Edge+. The Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ will be available to consumers on the Ghanaian market, in early September. Mobile phone enthusiasts in Ghana are eagerly awaiting its launch in Ghana.

Source: Peacefmonline.com

2 Grabbed For Buying Human Parts At Mortuary

Police in Sekondi in the Western region have arrested two persons for requesting to buy human parts from the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital Mortuary. The suspects, John Kyei Quadoo, 30, and Alhassan Abubakar, 57, a traditional herbalist, have been granted police enquiry bail, but asked to report at the police station periodically. Western Regional Crime Officer, Superintendent Reuben Asiwoko, confirmed the bizarre incident to the press in Sekondi yesterday. He said on Friday, August 28, Quadoo, who resides at Ketan Estate, near Sekondi, went to the Effia-Nkwanta Mortuary and told the mortuary attendant, one Christopher Dadzie, that he wanted to buy an albino or a Whiteman’s hair and water used to bath corpses. The mortuary attendant became alarmed and asked him to wait for some minutes and quickly informed the head of the hospital mortuary, Mr. Noah Ayisi. Mr. Ayisi then alerted the Sekondi police and Quaidoo was subsequently arrested. Upon his arrest, he told the police in his caution statement that it was Alhassan Abubakar, a herbalist and a resident of Adiembra Ridge, near Sekondi, who sent him for the items to enable him perform rituals. The police, therefore, arrested Abubakar on the same day in his house and both suspects were placed in police custody and charged for offensive conduct. However, they were granted police enquiry bail and asked to report at the police station periodically while police investigations continue.

Source: Today

Angry Youth Threaten To Stop 'Osu Chief'

Some youth within the four Quarters of the Osu Stool in the Greater Accra Region are threatening mayhem at the Osu Chief's planned dinner to raise funds at Banquet Hall tomorrow (Saturday. They contended that the four Quarters who were the true custodians of the Osu Stool would not countenance chief (Nii Kinka IV) attempt to raise funds in the name of the Stool. They claim that the Chief has been imposed on them through some government machinations and as far as they are concerned the chieftaincy matters in Osu remains unresolved so no party in the matter had the right to do anything in the name of the Osu Stool. According to the group leaders, Steven Nii Noi Omaboe and Richard Nii Adumuah Nortey and the Asafoatsemei as of now the matter is still in court and all parties involved, including the Osu Traditional council have been served by court to restrain from all activities in respect of the Stool so no one had the right to raise funds in the name of the Stool. They said, “We are therefore urging all the invitees and patrons going for that fund raising dinner to be advised on the matter and take precautions in that regard, for the sake of peace”.

Source: New Crusading Guide

Afotey Agbo Faces High Court 12 Today

The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Hon Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo, who was sued together with other six persons by Dr. Nii Tetteh Kwei II, Dzaasetse and other kingmakers of the Ga Dsaase Paramount Stool for Contempt is to appear before Justice J. K. Dorgu, in High Court 12 Judge today, to show cause why he should not be convicted for flouting the orders of the court. Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo was sued for flouting an injunction application placed on the Homowo celebrations and his verbal diarrhea on radio resulting in his utterances against the newly installed Ga Mantse, Ga Dzaasetse, and the Ga Dzaase Council to the effect that the installation of the new Ga Mantse was an illegality. It could be recall that, the legitimate Dsasetse of the Ga Traditional Paramouncy Dr. Nii Tetteh Kwei and others filed an injunction on the celebrations, but the celebration was held by some people and chiefs who sprinkled the kpoikpoi during the Homowo. In view of that, Nii AyiBonte ,Adama Latse, Yaote Otoga, David Tackie Commey, Afotey Agbo, And Nii Bi Anyah alias fingers, Gbese Mantse Nii Ayi Bonte have all been cited for contempt as regards the celebration of the homowo. In the writ filed at the High Court, it was stated that the 2nd, 5th and 6th Respondent, Thomas Okine, Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo and Nii Nabi Anyah respectively, at all material times acted as the mouthpiece of the 1st Respondent, (George Adama Tackie aka. Latse). According to a writ, the 6th Respondent was on radio on the 14th of August, 2015 on two morning shows on Rainbow Fm and Radio Gold saying that the pending process had no effect and went on to promise and indeed gave armed Police protection to the 1st Respondent throughout the conduct disrespecting the pending process and ensured that nobody went close to the 1st Respondent. “That the 6th and 7th Respondents are not parties to SUIT NO. BMISC 863/2015 but they aided and abetted the contempt committed by the other Respondents. …… that in spite of the pending of the injunction application the 2nd Respondent exhibited a total disregard of the law and a complete exhibition of disrespect for the courts by openly declaring that the event that application for injunction was seeking to restrain would go ahead as scheduled.” It however emerged that the defendants during the Homowo went ahead and sprinkled the traditional Kpoikpoi even though they were aware of the injunction, pretending as if they have not received any writ or injunction order from the High court. The Defendants, according to the writ filed for which Afotey Agbo is appearing to day in Court, have been holding themselves as Kingmakers. The Plaintiffs are praying the court to restrain the defendants from holding themselves as such and Adama Latse from holding himself as Ga Mantse. Applicants also stated that the conduct and behavior of the Respondents is an exhibition of gross, unimaginable and unmitigated disrespect for the process of the Honourable Court and without a doubt contemptuous of Court. In view of these, the applicants are praying the court to impose custodial sentences on the Respondents including Afotey Agbo as the only appropriate punishment for their contumelious behavior in addition to any other punishment that the Court will impose.

Source: New Crusading Guide

Demand Quality work on Projects

The Central Regional Minister, Mr Aquianas Tawiah Quansah, has asked Ghanaians to demand quality work on projects executed in their communities. He said it was important that people showed interest in developmental projects around them by constantly monitoring the work of contractors and their respective district assemblies to ensure value for money. The minister indicated that it was the community that would ultimately suffer if the people displayed a lukewarm attitude and allowed shoddy work to be undertaken on projects in their areas. This was contained in a speech read on his behalf at the opening of a two-day workshop on the Ghana Strengthening Accountability Mechanism (GSAM) project at Cape Coast. Participants included district chief executives and some officials from selected district assemblies in the Central Region. GSAM Project The five-year project, which began in November last year, is to educate and empower citizens to play an oversight role over capital developmental projects in their communities to ensure accountability and transparency. Under the project, call cards, e-platforms, cameras and mobile phones would be provided to the people for the effective advocacy and monitoring of projects. The project is being implemented with support from USAID, CARE, IBIS and the Integrated Social Development Centre (ISODEC), all NGOs and the Ghana Audit Service. Mr Quansah said capital projects were undertaken with the taxpayers’ money and, therefore, required supervision to ensure transparency. He said effective supervision would help clear the perception that, capital projects were avenues for technocrats and public officials to enrich themselves. Social Accountability Gap The chief of party of the GSAM, Mr Clement Nana Tandoh, said there was still limited information flow from the national to the community level. “There is a social accountability gap and there is still low participation in local governance,” he noted, and indicated that there was the need for more community participation in governance. He therefore expressed hope that the GSAM would enhance the participation of communities in local governance. The Paramount Chief of the Efutu Traditional Area, Neenyi Ghartey VII said citizens deserved to be informed of decisions that affected them.

Source: Daily Graphic

91 Companies, Clearing Agents to pay GH¢14 billion to state

The Special Operations Unit (SoU) of the Office of the President has issued demand notices to 91 companies and clearing agents to recover about GH¢14 billion owed the state through fraudulent business activities in 2014. The companies have been given a 30-day ultimatum from their date of notice to refund the money, failure of which would result in a penalty of up to 300 per cent, coupled with legal action. A Deputy Commissioner in charge of Operations at the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Mr Frederick Gavor, in a letter of notice to the companies, said all legal and court related costs in connection with the recovery would be borne by the individual companies. Individuals and companies served with demand notices are required to submit their payment receipts to the Chairman of the SoU, Nii Adote Din Barima I, as evidence of the payment. Fraudulent Activities The fraudulent activities included underpayment of revenue to the state. For instance, instead of paying GH¢45,713 to the state, one importer paid GH¢15,687. Some also engaged the services of multiple destination inspection companies (DICs) and ended up underpaying their permits. Others falsified invoices and other documents from the DICs and used wrong custom procedure codes and that constituted one of the major sources of revenue leakage to the state. Currently, the SoU has in its custody 9,000 companies that have under declared their financial accounts for 2010, 2011 and 2012. Meanwhile, 33,000 companies have filed credits against the state and are now awaiting investigation. Nii Barima I told the Daily Graphic that preliminary investigations by the unit’s monitoring team had established a connection between domestic tax and financial accounts fraud, as well as warehousing fraud filed by companies. He said many other fraudulent activities currently under investigations needed to be concluded to prepare persons for prosecution and added that importers of different types of goods in bonded warehouses since 2009 had not paid duties on them. A recent report in the Daily Graphic revealed that annual revenue lost to the state as a result of fraudulent activities of importers and other companies was estimated at GH¢36 billion. Background President John Mahama in 2014 inaugurated a reconstituted SoU at the Flagstaff House and charged members of the unit to recover revenue lost to the state and also adopt strategies, including the use of technology, to plug the revenue loopholes. The unit recovered GH¢765 million last year and in the previous year, exposed some importers and operators of bonded warehouses that owed the state an estimated US$340 million, out of which GH¢320 million was paid. Challenges The SoU is faced with a number of difficulties in spite of its achievements. Sources within the unit told the Daily Graphic that the domestic tax mobilisation team of the unit was unable to call for files of defaulting companies as a result of the apparent reluctance by some senior staff of the GRA to collaborate with the SoU. The sources added that there were logistic problems such as identity cards, internet connectivity and operational vehicles that were hindering the work of the unit, saying “many outstanding cases have either not been processed at all or the cases have been poorly prepared.”

Source: Daily Graphic

Veterinary Service Destroys 40,154 birds

The Veterinary Services Department (USD), has destroyed 40,154 birds and 1,103 crates of eggs as part of measures to contain the spread of the bird flu disease in the Greater Accra, Volta and Ashanti regions. In addition, 37 bags of feed have been destroyed, with a feed mill situated in an outbreak area under investigation for destruction, while 23,987 birds have died  from the disease. The Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, Livestock, Dr Hanna Bisiw, made this known in an interview with the Daily Graphic shortly after the opening of a three day training programme for regional and district veterinary officers in Accra. Non-negotiable ban As part of the containment measures, the movement of poultry and poultry products from infected zones into free zones had also been banned. Dr Bissiw cautioned that the ministry would not negotiate on the ban because that would encourage the spread of the virus. She stressed that movement from non-affected areas to affected areas would only be approved if the poultry and poultry products were accompanied with health certificates and movement permits issued by staff of the veterinary services department. “We understand when people are used to doing something freely and there are restrictions, it is uncomfortable, but we are in an outbreak, hence we need to take special decisions to contain the disease and also completely kick it out of the country. When we have an outbreak, it’s like you are at war with the disease or virus so you cannot negotiate”. Current situation In a presentation on Bird Flu Update and Epidemiology, the Head of the  Epidemiology Unit of MOFA, Dr Paul Polkuu said the first case was reported on May, 4,  and confirmed on May, 12, 2015. Dr Polkuu mentioned commercial poultry, local poultry, guinea fowls, geese, ducks, turkeys, partridges, quails, pigeons as species affected. Government’s support As part of facilitating the movement of the staff of the veterinary service and the fight against the influenza, government has released six vehicles and 20 motorsbikes to the veterinary services department and other things needed for the laboratory.

Source: Daily Graphic

More School Girls Getting Pregnant In A/R

Sexual activeness among basic school girls in the Ashanti Region has led to many of them getting pregnant and their academic dreams shattered. Mrs Emma Awateng-Mensah, the Regional Girls’ Education Officer, termed the situation as deeply disturbing and said every effort must be made to tackle it head-on. She told the Ghana News Agency that over the past four years a total of 357 girls could not write the Basic Education Certificate Examination for the simple reason of having become pregnant. These are teenage girls from 13 and 16 years and the situation should give cause for everybody to worry, she said. Mrs Awateng-Mensah blamed irresponsible parenting for what is happening, saying, parents needed to be vigilant and spend quality time with the adolescent girls in counselling them. She asked parents to shield their children from bad peer influence and follow with keen interest whatever they do on the internet, chat platforms and on the mobile phone. “Nobody should discount the powerful influence that movies and television programmes meant for adults could have on children – the curiosity and the tendency to practice what they see.” She said as part of measures by the Ghana Education Service (GES) to reverse the trend, girls’ clubs are being formed in basic and senior high schools in the region to provide the pupils with adequate sex education, build their self-esteem and actively engage them to put their time to profitable use. Mrs Awateng-Mensah appealed to community leaders and other stakeholders to combine efforts to promote girl-child education and discourage them from early sex. She encouraged teenage mothers to take advantage of the system introduced by the GES, which gives opportunity for their re-entry into the school system to complete their basic education and climb further the educational ladder.

Source: GNA

Stop Seeking Affection Outside - Agyin Asare Tells Cheating Partners

Perez Chapel International’s Bishop, Charles Agyinasare is challenging cheating partners to stop seeking affection outside and heat up their own relationships.  At his 30th Marriage celebration, he expressed disappointment that many marriages are crumbling over lack of passion between couples hence the increase in extra marital affairs According to him, apart from God, continuous expression of affection and respect between couples is what holds marriages and guards them against troubles especially outside the relationship “Affection is the environment of the marriage, while sex is the special event. So men must learn sexless affection.. If the husband wants the wife to be turned on after the marriage, he must do what he used to do,” he said. He said this before renewing vows with his wife, Rev. Mrs. Vivian Agyinasare to mark their 30th marriage anniversary at the Perez Chapel. Bishop Agyinasare was looking suave in a black and peach three piece suit and a bow tie matching that off his wife’s skirt suit. The vows were witnessed by his three children, in-laws, friends and church members as well as the media. The ceremony also saw about 10 couples married 15 years and above also renewing their vows.

Mahama Sees Off Hajj Pilgrims

President John Mahama has officially seen off the first batch of Ghanaian pilgrims embarking on this year’s holy journey to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

A total of 5424 Ghanaians are expected to embark on the hajj, with each pilgrim paying $ 3450 or GHc 11900 which is a special rate determined by the Pilgrims Affairs. The first batch of about 450 pilgrims will leave for NAS Air at 10: 30 pm followed by a daily airlifting of the remaining pilgrims from the Kotoka International Airport until the last flight on September 16, 2015.

In line with the Pilgrims Affairs secretariat’s commitment of ensuring utmost convenience of the pilgrims, the secretariat has made adequate security, medical and logistical arrangements for them.

Muslim Pilgrims Urged To Be Law Abiding During Hajj

Muslims travelling to Mecca for this year’s Hajj, have been urged to be law abiding and disciplined during the pilgrimage. Alhaji Mohammed Amin, Deputy Communications Director, Pilgrims Affairs Office of Ghana, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview in Accra, that one responsibility of pilgrims was to know the rules of the Hajj and abide by them. “This is an annual event, and the true essence of the Hajj is about showing reverence to God. Pilgrims should make sure they do not take along contraband items such as cola nuts, pomade and narcotic drugs,” he said. He cautioned, that if any pilgrims, decided to indulge in activities that had nothing to do with the Hajj and got into trouble as a result, they would have to realize that it would not be fair to saddle the Hajj authorities with such problems. Alhaji Amin added that a new universal bagging system had been introduced for this year’s Hajj. He said each pilgrim would be allowed two big bags as main luggage, a ten kilogram bag for hand luggage, and a wrapper around the waist, which would contain documents. “The problem of people coming in with more bags than could be allowed has been a perennial problem, and that has led to this new bagging system,” said Alhaji Amin. The first batch of pilgrims in Ghana, are expected to leave the Kotoka International Airport today, Thursday September 3rd, 2015, for the Holy city of Mecca, for this year’s Hajj. A total of five thousand four hundred and twenty four (5424) Muslim pilgrims, are expected to leave the country to perform this year’s Hajj in Mecca. This number would be ferried over from the Kotoka International Airport in Accra in twelve flights and twelve batches respectively. The last batch and flight is expected to leave Accra on September 14th.

Source: GNA

ECG Disconnects GBC, Others In Volta Region

The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) in the Volta Region Thursday cut electricity supply to a number of public institutions including the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation’s (GBC’s) transmission station at Amedzofe for non-payment of electricity bills. The disconnection has taken GBC’s television and radio transmission off air in the region. The regional secretariat of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and some health facilities were also disconnected. Tigo, Airtel and Glo telecommunication companies also suffered the same fate. Mr Sylvester Abrefa-Besa, Volta Regional Commercial Manager of ECG said the Company was “forced” to take such an action to retrieve monies owed it. Mr Joseph Mensah Forson, General Manager of ECG, Volta, said the indebtedness of some public and private institutions and individuals was having a negative impact on the Company’s operations and served notice that the Company would not relent in efforts at making defaulters pay for power they have used. He said a new phase of the campaign would target customers, who were illegally tapping power from the Company. Last week, ECG reportedly issued final demand notices to some high defaulting individuals and state owned enterprises, threatening to either take legal action against them or disconnect them if they failed to settle all outstanding debts.

Source: GNA