2 Nigerian Women Forced Into Prostitution

By Stephen Kwabena Effah

Friday, 24 April 2009

Four Nigerians who allegedly trafficked two female compatriots into Ghana, subjected them to inhumane treatment and forced them into prostitution, were yesterday put before an Accra Circuit Court.

The four were alleged to have slashed the private parts of the women and blotted the blood with cotton wood.

Thereafter, they blindfolded and took them to a fetish priest for rituals to ensure that they submit the proceeds from their prostitution to the accused persons, and also that they would not return to Nigeria.

The accused, Joseph Anayo Eze, Miriam William, Ijeioma Inyama and Amadi Stephanie, are charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit crime and human trafficking and have been remanded to police custody to enable them to secure a lawyer.

Although their charges were read to them, their plea was not taken.

They told the court presided over by Mr. C.A Wilson that they needed time to secure a lawyer.

The case was therefore adjourned to May 7.

Before then, Ms. Wilson said if by the next adjourned date, they had not been able to secure a lawyer, she would get in touch with the Legal Aid Board to assist them.

Both victims (name withheld aged 20 years were alleged to have been brought into the country by Eze under the pretext of sending them to Europe. But in Ghana, he handed them to William for a fee of GH¢1,000 to, introduced into prostitution.

Prosecuting, ASP Mary Agbozo told the court that Eze, who was a family friend to the victims, brought them to Ghana under the pretext of sending them to Europe but when they arrived in Accra, he handed them to William on arrival in Accra.

According to her, Eze was assisted by Inyama and Stephanie to forcibly cut the thumbs of the victims gave them the blood to drink after which they stripped them naked and shaved their pubic hair.

They then used sharp blades to make incisions on the vagina, of the victims and blotted the blood that oozed out with cotton wool.

ASP Agbozo said the victims were then blindfolded by the three accused persons and taken to a fetish priest, where they were made to swear that they would return proceeds from their prostitution business to the accused persons and would also not return to Nigeria.

They also swore not to disclose the ordeal to anyone.

ASP Agbozo said on April 18, when the victims were sent out for prostitution, they went to tell a pastor about their ordeal and the pastor in turn reported the matter to the police who arrested the accused.

Tsatsu Files A Motion At The Supreme Court

By Stephen Kwabena Effah
Wednesday, 08 April 2009

Tsatsu Tsikata, former Chief Executive of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation, (GNPC), has filed a motion at the Supreme Court to stop the court from determining whether or not the pardon granted him could have effect on his review application before the court.

In a 45-point affidavit in support of the motion, Mr Tsikata said the court “wrongly descended into the arena of conflict by raising the said issue (pardon) suo motu (on its own).”

The Supreme Court on February 25, expressed interest in determining the significance of the presidential pardon granted Mr.Tsikata on his review application before it (Supreme Court).

Consequently, the seven-member panel of judges headed by Justice William Atugubah, directed the Attorney General and Mr Mr Tsikata’s counsel to provide the court with submissions on the issue of the pardon for consideration in the case.

However, Mr.Tsikata averred that “the issue of the pardon can, in no way, absolve this honourable court from ruling on that (review) application” emphasising that the court did not have before it evidence of the alleged pardon, and cannot therefore ask for submissions on its significance for the pending review application.

In response to Mr.Tsikata’s application for a review of the court’s decision of October 16, 2008, the Attorney General argued that Tsatsu had been granted a presidential pardon, thus invalidating the pursuance of the case.

However, the A-G later filed an affidavit at the Supreme Court seeking a withdrawal of the aspect of its response that touched on the presidential pardon which the court granted and accordingly withdrew.

Arising out of this, Mr. Tsikata argued that the court, by its action, was pre-judging the relevance of something it had no evidence of since the court had granted leave for the withdrawal of the affidavit in which the issue of pardon was raised and had not been re-instated.

“For the court to make orders based on this pre-judgement….was a grave error,” Mr Tsikata argued and added, “for the court to raise the said issue of the pardon as a preliminary point of law was an improper exercise of the discretion of the court.”

Mr.Tsikata further contended that the affidavit filed and withdrawn by the A-G’s department did not raise the matter of the pardon as a preliminary issue but simply as part of their opposition to the review application.

He stated that even if the A-G’s Department wished to reinstate the pardon as an issue before the court, the court could not have done so at the time when what was pending before it was a ruling on an application that had been argued.

He said at the time of the pardon, his application for review of the court’s decision was pending, and contended that the former president and the A-G were aware of the pendency of the review and that papers had been filed opposing the review application.

Mr. Tsikata said what was before the court as at February 25, had nothing to do with the issue of the pardon hence “it is in the interest of justice that the court deals with what is pending before it.”

Meanwhile, the motion to set aside the court’s move which was due for hearing yesterday was adjourned to April 28, since neither the A-G nor a representative from her department was in court when the case was called, although the department had filed an affidavit opposing the motion.

It is recalled that on June 18, 2008, Mr. Tsikata was sentenced to five years imprisonment by an Accra Fast Track High Court presided over by Justice Henrietta Abban after finding him guilty of three counts of causing financial loss of GH¢230,000 to the state and misapplying GH¢2,000 in public property.

Mr Tsikata was in 2002 changed with the offence for guaranteeing a loan for Valley Farms, a private cocoa producing company, on behalf of the GNPC and another count of misapplying GH¢2,000 of public property.

Valley Farms contracted the loan from Caisse Francaise de Development in 1991 but defaulted in the payment and the GNPC, which acted as the guarantor, was compelled to pay it in 1996.

Mr Tsikata however, denied any wrongdoing and has since been fighting the legal battle to reverse the five-year jail sentence slapped on him by Justice Abban who he accused of bias and desecration of justice.

He consequently filed a motion at the Supreme Court invoking its supervisory jurisdiction to quash specified decisions and determinations of Justice Abban.

But the court on October 16, 2008, dismissed the application on the grounds that it was “incompetent and without merit” since the trial judge exercised her discretion properly and lawfully when she refused to adjourn proceedings on the date Mr.Tsikata was imprisoned.

Dissatisfied with the court’s ruling, Mr Tsikata filed an application at the court seeking a review of its decision claiming that he had fresh evidence to buttress his allegation of bias and to establish that the trial judge acted in “collusion with the Executive” in his conviction.

Mr. Tsikata was in January this year granted a free, absolute and unconditional pardon but he described it as “hypocrisy” and insisted on pursing the case to prove his innocence and to reverse the sentence.

He has since been on bail granted him by an Accra Fast Track High Court pending the determination of his appeal against his conviction.

Court Moves To Prostitutes Base

By Stephen Kwabena Effah
Tuesday, 07 April 2009

The Accra Circuit Court trying the three Chinese who allegedly trafficked seven female Chinese into the country for prostitution, went on a fact-finding mission yesterday to the house where the victims were allegedly exploited.

The trip was at the request of the prosecution to enable it to prove its case that the house, which is located at La, a suburb of Accra, was being used as a brothel and not as a restaurant as claimed by the accused.

The team, led by the prosecutor, ASP Mary Agbozo, included Mrs.Elizabeth Ankumah, the presiding judge; the court clerks, head of the Police Human Trafficking Unit, the accused persons and their counsel, as well as the media.

The team was shown round the six-room self-contained house which was used by the three accused persons and the seven trafficked females, after which the judge interviewed some of the neighbours in the area.

The accused persons, James Xu Jim, his wife, Chou Xiou Ying and his brother, Sam Shan Zifan, are facing two counts of conspiracy and human trafficking. They have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Those the court officials spoke to during the visit claimed to have had no idea about what went on in the house although they were certain that it could not be a restaurant.

A middle-aged woman who declined to give her name told the team that she rented the house to James at a cost of GH¢350 a month. She said "the main gate to the house is locked all the time".

A store keeper located directly opposite the house denied the claim that the house was a restaurant, adding the girls (victims) always went out in the day and returned very late at night "carrying foods." She said she never saw a black person ever entering the house.

Another man who lives near the house, told the team that he was aware of some Chinese in that house which he said was not a restaurant.

Earlier in court, Zifan, during cross-examination, denied having told the police in his statement that the victims’ main business was prostitution and that he was paid 600 dollars a month by James.

He, however, admitted that he took the 18-year- old victim to an Indian in a hotel in Accra where he (Zifan) was given 100-dollars but denied the prosecution’s claim that it was in payment for the victim’s sexual service.

Zifan also said he only interpreted for the victims in the said restaurant. When the "customers want to say hello to the girls…the girls will call me to translate."

He told the court that the place was a restaurant they were operating and not a brothel, adding that he was the cook, and denied having abetted Jim and Ying to sexually exploit the victims through his translation between the girls and the clients.

A fourth defence witness, Pan Jiasong, who operates a restaurant at Tabora, a suburb of Accra, told the court the house was a restaurant, where he regularly went there to eat in the day time.

He said the victims were introduced to him by Jim as Ying’s "fellows and are here (Ghana) looking for job" and added that he also met the victims many times at the La Palm Casino when he went there to play cards.

Asked by the prosecution whether he would call the living room of the house as a restaurant, he replied affirmatively, saying "it is because in China, a lot of restaurants are decorated this way."
He said there were times he met some blacks in the restaurant who went there to buy take-away food.

He denied that he was a regular customer of the sex trade and had been going there to the house to satisfy his sexual desires.

Hearing continues tomorrow.

GBA Case Adjourned

By Stephen Kwabena Effah
Friday, 28 November 2008

AN Accra Human Rights Court has fixed December 4 to rule whether or not to grant an interlocutory injunction to restrain the Ghana Bar Association from holding fresh election to elect a national president pending the final determination of a matter brought before it by three lawyers.

The court, presided over by Justice U.P Dery fixed the date yesterday after counsel for both parties had argued their case.

Nana Ato Dadzie,Chris Arcmann-Ackumey and James Abiaduka are asking the court to declare that the demand and the request by the National Executive Committee of the GBA on Nii Osah Mills to resign his position as president of the GBA were illegal and contrary to law.

The three further want the court to declare that comments which were purported to have been made by Mr Mills bordering on the incarceration of Tsatsu Tsikata were “lawful comments made in his legitimate position as national president of the GBA”.

However, the GBA is saying that the three do not have the capacity to institute the instant action and do not have a course of action to pursue, noting that Mr Dadzie and Mr. Abiaduka were not members in good standing.

At the court’s sitting yesterday, two journalists covering the proceedings were heckled and manhandled by two lawyers for their refusal to vacate their seat.

It all started when two young lawyers rudely asked journalists from the Ghana News Agency and Atlantis Radio to vacate their seat for two other lawyers.

When the courtroom, with a seating capacity of about 32 filled up, a lawyer asked the reporters in the room to vacate their seat for the lawyers some of whom did not have any case before the court.

The two journalists voluntarily gave their seats for the lawyers to occupy while they stood for well over 30 minutes before some seats became vacant for them to occupy.

Not too long afterward a lawyer who sat beside the two journalists, asked the reporter from Atlantis Radio to give his seat to another lawyer who had just entered. The reporter refused but was prevailed upon to do so.

The GNA reporter was also asked to leave her seat for a female lawyer but she declined and questioned why she should vacate her seat in a public gallery for a lawyer.

This, apparently, did not go down well with the lawyers who ordered her to “get up!”
Another reporter from the Daily Graphic who tried to intervene had her share of the heckling by another lawyer who sat behind her.

According to the reporters, the lawyers have no justification to ask them to vacate their seat in the public gallery.

The issue which dragged on even after the court proceedings attracted the attention of some senior lawyers who apologised to the media for the incident.

$2.5m Agro-Inputs Dev. Projects Launched

By Stephen K. Effah
Thursday, 27 November 2008

A 2.5-million-dollar project to boost agricultural produc-tivity by increasing the availability, accessibility and affordability of quality agro-inputs in the rural parts of the country was launched in Accra on Tuesday.

The three-year project, known as the Ghana Agro-Dealer Development (GADD), would support 2,200 agro-dealers and 150 seed producers to make agro-inputs more accessible to 850,000 small-scale farmers in order to lift them out of poverty through productivity.

Under the project, being funded by the Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), agro-dealers would be trained in business skills, safe handling and use of modern technology besides being linked to seed and fertilizer suppliers to be able to serve farmers effectively.

It would be implemented by the International Centre for Soil Fertility and Agricultural Development (IFDC) and the Ghana Agricultural Association Business and Information Centre.

Current statistics put the use of agro-inputs in the country at 10 per cent of the recommended levels due to the underdeveloped marketing system.

President of AGRA, Dr Namanga Ngongi, underscored the important role of agro-dealers in ensuring productivity noting, “nothing is more urgent than ensuring that farmers have access to the inputs they need to increase farm productivity”.

He said efforts to increase access to agro-inputs in Ghana and Africa in general has been a major challenge as a result of geographical locations, and therefore urged all stakeholders to ensure that it is addressed.

Dr. Ngongi urged Ghanaian small-scale farmers to significantly increase their use of improved seeds and other modern inputs so as to increase their crop yields and incomes.

Dr. Kofi Debra, IFDC Representative in Ghana, said the project would bring to an end the issue of late arrival of agro-inputs for farmers in the country.

He said to ensure that the agro-dealers stock up and expand their operation to the rural areas, 500,000 dollar credit guarantee to cushion commercial banks against losses and make more funds would be made available to them.

In a speech read on his behalf, Minister of Agriculture, Ernest Debrah, said that although Ghana depends on agriculture for economic development, it faces challenges arising from globalisation, climatic changes, increased petroleum and fertiliser process.

He said a draft seed, fertiliser and crop protection bills are being worked on by the ministry and would soon be placed cabinet, noting that the appropriate environment would be created to protect agro dealers, farmers and consumers alike when it is passed.

'Goodies' Jailed

By Stephen Kwabena Effah
Thursday, 27 November 2008.

Music producer, Isaac Abeiku Aidoo, popularly known as “Goodies,” and his wife, could not hold back their tears yesterday when an Accra Circuit Court handed him a 13-year jail term in hard labour for narcotic related offences.

Aidoo was sentenced to 13 years on each of the two counts of attempted exportation and possession of narcotic drugs without lawful authority. The sentence which took retrospective effect from April 23, 2008, will run concurrently.

The “extempore judgment” by the judge Mr. Mahamadu Iddrissu, came shortly after Aidoo pleaded for leniency because “I did not know that the substance I swallowed was cocaine.”

“My lord, I’m not a drug dealer and I have never involved myself in any drug problem before. I don’t smoke and don’t drink. How on earth would I put myself in this situation,” he pleaded in a trembling voice and with bowed head.

“I have not even seen cocaine before. I am somebody I don’t involve myself in such things. I did not know what I was carrying in my stomach. I am very humble” Aidoo pointed out at the end of his defence.

His wife, who sat alone at the back of the court room dressed in a red pair of trousers and a red-and-white top could not control her emotions as she also broke down in tears.

Aidoo, who is the Chief Executive of Goodies Music Production was sneaked from the court cells by Prison officers to prevent waiting press photographers from taking shots of him.

Although in court Aidoo wore a white decorated T-shirt over a blue pair of trousers when he eventually emerged from the cells he was in a green shirt.

Before he was taken from the courtroom to the court cell, his armed escort warned journalists not to take pictures of Aidoo when he was brought out.

In his “unsworn defence” in court Aidoo said that he was surprised when officials of the Narcotic Board told him that the substance he expelled upon his arrest in April 23 was cocaine.

“I was surprised because I never knew it was cocaine. I am very sorry for putting myself in such a situation. I have three children and a wife that I love so much and I am sorry I have disappointed them,” he said.

He therefore pleaded with the court for leniency, saying “I am pleading with you to give me mercy”.

Throughout the 20 minute defence, Aidoo, who appeared remorseful could not speak up and occasionally looked in the direction of his wife and then wiped his face with his palms.

The judge urged him to “take heart and put yourself together”.
Aidoo, told the court that he lived in Ghana but also worked in London raising funds to support
Ghana’s delegation to the Beijing Olympics.

He said he was going for a meeting in London when a spiritualist friend of his in London, whom he named as William asked him to bring him “something whose contents he did not know.

According to Aidoo, William told him that the thing was for spiritual purposes and didn’t want people to see”. He said William offered to give him 3,000 pound sterling upon delivery of the substance.

He said he was so overwhelmed by the huge sum promised him that he did not bother to find out the nature of the substance and readily agreed to the deal.

He said that on April 23, when he got to the airport, the narcotic officials asked him to surrender his travelling documents since they suspected him of carrying drugs.

“I told them no and I suggested to them to take me for an X-ray because I knew I was not having drugs.”

He said he was then taken to the 37 Military Hospital for an X-ray after which he was told that he had foreign materials in his stomach to “which I replied yes, but it’s not narcotic drugs”.

He was then taken to the Narcotics Control Board office “where I expelled the suspected drugs”, later, the officials told him that the substances he expelled were found to be cocaine upon testing by the Ghana Standards Board.

Mr.William Kpobi, Chief State Attorney, who led the prosecution team yesterday, described Aidoo’s defence as “overwhelming” and reminded the judge of the minimum sentence under the law for narcotics.

Responding to the plea, Mr.Mahamadu said he was not going to give him the minimum sentence under the law, but “he’ll definitely get beyond 10 years. In the circumstances I’ll give him 13 years”.

He said that the accussed had opportunity at the initial stages of the trial to have pleaded guilty and asked for mitigation of sentence, but for dragging the issue on, there was no way he would give him the minimum sentence.

Mr. Mahamadu said that the sentence is to send a signal to all that narcotic drug deals would not be countenance, in the country regardless of the personality involved.

He advised lawyers to examine cases thoroughly and dispassionately before taking them, so that they would not take “unpalatable cases”.

Judges Prepare For Poll Disputes

By Stephen K.Effah & Doris A. Antwi
Tuesday, 18 November 2008

SIXTY-FIVE judges and 10 experts in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) are being prepared to effectively and expeditiously handle election related disputes that may arise from the December polls.

The two-day training workshop, which began yesterday for Court of Appeal and High Court judges, will expose the participants to the electoral process, as well as procedural and substantive laws governing the adjudication of electoral disputes and offences.

Chief Justice Georgina Wood who opened the workshop, noted that the specialized nature of electoral adjudication made it “absolutely imperative” that judges were sensitized on their role.

In view of the constitutional mandates of courts to resolve all electoral disputes arising from elections, she said, “it is crucial that judges are adequately prepared to meet the challenges of adjudicating petitions that may arise from the upcoming elections”.

Mrs. Wood said “non-violence is what Ghanaians are seeking, before, during and after the December 7, polls so that they can carry on with their legitimate business in a peaceful manner.

To this effect, she said “they are counting on all the agencies mandated to oversee the conduct of the elections to manage their affairs in such a manner as will promote and ensure free, fair and transparent elections.”

The Chief Justice said “Ghana has no option than to do everything within its power to consolidate and deepen its democracy, as well as build on the socio-economic gains made so far.

“Duty calls us to exercise our mandate competently, that is fairly, effectively and expeditiously in consonance with the mission statement of the judicial service,” she told the judges.

Mrs Wood said some people have understandably questioned the applicability of ADR in election adjudication but noted that “in the context of election related litigation, ADR is not about power sharing.

“Court-connected ADR is part of mainstream judicial practice and is already being patronized by willing parties at the District Courts in particular.

The Chief Justice said that the possibility that a dispute may revolve solely around computation of figures in which case ADR might prove a better alternative, should not be lost on them.

Chairman of the Electoral Commission, Dr Kwadwo Afari Gyan lauded the judiciary for the workshop which he described as timely, as Ghana goes to the polls.

He said that the work of the Commission is subject to judicial review; hence, equipping the judges on the electoral processes is important.

Judge Slams 3 Investigators

By Stephen K. Effah & Doris Antwi
Thursday, 20 November 2008

A Circuit Court Judge yesterday reprimanded three police investigators for their lackadaisical attitude towards cases before him, saying their behaviour was affecting the speedy trial of the cases.

At the court’s sitting yesterday, the judge, Iddrisu Mahamadu, did not mince words in rebuking Detective Corporal Anokye Amaniampong, a police investigator with the Nima Police, for continuously holding two accused persons in police cells since August 2007.

Mr.Mahamadu said although the records in the case dockets indicated that the two accused persons were in prison custody, they were indeed being held at the Nima police station.

This was after counsel in one of the cases drew the judge’s attention to the fact that Cpl. Amaniampong was holding his client in the Nima Police cells instead of Prison custody and had failed to bring the accused to court.

This information infuriated the judge who asked the investigator, who had just brought the accused to court, why he was holding the accused in police custody instead of prison custody.
Cpl. Amaniapong answered that he was keeping the accused in police custody because of transportation difficulties. That explanation did not go down well with the judge who remarked: “How dare you!”

“You think we are joking here! Without shame you can come here to tell us because of transportation difficulties you are keeping the accused in police custody, instead of prison custody”, the judge queried.

Mr. Mahamadu enquired: “Is it because the family members of the accused would bring food and bring you your share? How on earth can you do that? You have decided to write your own laws and implement them in your own ways.”

He said such attitudes of some investigators often fueled the perception the public had of the judicial system. “The impression is that there is some kind of corruption,” he added.

Ghana, he said, has good laws but the attitude of its people “is what is creating all the mess”.
Similarly, the judge expressed concerns about the attitudes of Hans Addai and Edward Asante, both police investigators who were not in court yesterday, noting that they had failed to bring narcotics exhibits in the case they were handling to court for an order for their destruction.

He said he even doubted whether the exhibits were still in the custody of the police in view of the failure on the part of the two investigators to bring them for destruction as required by law.

Mr.Mahamadu said that by law, once the plea of accused persons were taken, a large quantity of the exhibits must be destroyed to leave just a little amount to be used as evidence in the case, especially in the likely event of an appeal.

He said that it was important to let the public see those narcotic drug exhibits destroyed all the time.

He expressed disgust at the disappearance of the two investigators from court room anytime they brought accused persons.

Lotto Operators Press On With Legal Tussle

By Stephen Kwabena Effah
Tuesday, 11 November 2008

The Ghana Lotto Operators Association (GLOA) appears to be unrelenting in its legal struggle to ensure that it remains in business in spite of the ban on private lotto business operation in the country.

It has initiated yet another action at the Court of Appeal to restrain the National Lottery Authority from implementing the Fast Track High Court’s ruling of August 20, which outlawed the operation of private lotto business.

The application, expected to be moved on December 3, is in view of a pending determination of an appeal against the Fast Track High Court’s ruling.

An initial application filed on August 21 to stay the execution of the court’s decision, was thrown out last Tuesday by another Fast Track High Court, presided over by Justice K.A. Ofori-Atta, for lack of proper assertion of their right to law of equity.

The legal tussle between the NLA and the GLOA resulted from the passage of the National Lotto Act 722, which received presidential assent on December 27, 2006, and established the NLA.

In an affidavit in support of the application, the GLOA described the dismissal of their earlier application for injunction pending an appeal, as “wrong, improper and ultra vires”.

It is praying the Court of Appeal to restrain the NLA from interfering in their work or property rights while they await the determination of the appeal.

The GLOA said the appeal has good grounds and has a great chance of succeeding, given the serious errors that culminated in the August 20 ruling of Justice Asante.

“The refusal of the instant application would render over 500,000 people jobless when no compensation has been available to cater for their redundancy,” it stated.

The GLOA said a decision of the appellate court reversing the ruling of the Fast Track Court would be rendered nulled if the enforcement of the said ruling is not injuncted pending the determination of their instant appeal.

The GLOA on August 13, 2007, began the action at the High Court and applied for an interlocutory injunction against the NLA, which was granted, until the determination of the matter.

However, since the NLA raised the issue of constitutionality, the matter went to the Supreme Court because the law required that proceedings concerning such matters should be stayed for determination by the Superior Court to serve as a guide to the trial court.

On March 14, 2008, the Accra High Court, presided over by Justice Anthony Abada, granted an interlocutory injunction filed by the GLOA to restrain the NLA from interfering with the property rights of lotto operating businesses of the plaintiffs.

According to the court, the outcome of the case at the Supreme Court would guide it in its decision in the case because the issue of constitutionality had been raised by the NLA.

On July 23, the Supreme Court unanimously declared that the National Lotto Act 722, in no way violates the Constitution, especially the fundamental human rights provisions and the Directive Principles of State Policy, as stated by the GLOA.

It said that the GLOA is not at the mercy of the state in seeking to participate in the state’s regulatory lottery industry and directed that the licensing regime required to participate in the business has to conform to the standards in Article 296 of the Constitution.

0.3m GH Cedis To Be Disbursed Under CISP

By Stephen K. Effah
Saturday, 01 November 2008

The Cultural Initiatives Support Programme (CISP), is to disburse GH¢300,000 as small grant to individuals, associations and organisations engaged in the country’s arts and culture business to undertake activities and projects aimed at enhancing the sector.

This was announced by the Programme Coordinator, Kwasi Gyan-Apenteng, in Accra on Wednesday.

The CISP is a three-year programme prompted by the need for the country to make up for the shortfalls and weaknesses in the implementation of its cultural policy. The two million-euro grant is being provided by the European Union.

The programme in its first phase disbursed GH¢150,000 to 50 individuals and organisations in the sector for various programmes which sought to promote arts and culture as a means to fighting poverty.

With the launch, Mr.Gyan-Apenteng said, individuals and organisations in the sector have up to December 15, to submit proposals for consideration.

He said the grants to be disbursed were meant for activities and projects related to cultural heritage, performing and fine arts, crafts, film and audio-visual art, as well as language and literary arts.

He said the maximum grant to be given an individual, association or organisation under the second phase will be GH¢16,000, an increase over the GH¢5000 given under the first phase.

He said by January next year, all the processing and selection of beneficiaries would have been completed for contracts to be signed before disbursing the funds to them.

On eligibility, he said, the individuals or organisation applying must be recognised as being in the arts and culture field, either by registration with the Registrar General, the Centre for National Culture and District Assemblies among others.

The Coordinator said one of the main objectives of the programme was to create work and wealth in order to fight poverty through the undertaking of creative and artistic endeavours.

He said the first phase of the project was able to bring out the depth of talent and creative aspirations of the country; “but we are also equally aware of the extent to which lack of resources and support have stifled the nurturing of people’s creative talents.

“This is why this programme has come as a godsend for the creative sector and this fact is highlighted by the award of these grants,” he said.

Mr.Gyan-Apenteng said under the first phase, training workshops were organised for administrators of cultural institutions, theatre technicians, journalists reporting on culture, and craftsmen and women to equip them to be more effective.

He said such training workshops would be repeated in the second phase which he said was expected to attract an even bigger number of participants.

The co-ordinator said a monitoring and evaluation system had been put in place under the programme to ensure that the beneficiaries use the grants for its intended purpose and as well to put them on track in their projects.

A representative of the European Commission Delegation in Ghana, Ute Mohring, said the EU acknowledges the fundamental role of culture in societies, noting “Culture is recognised as an important part of EU cooperation with Africa”.

With CISP, she said, the EU intended supporting the National Cultural Strategy of Ghana by funding activities in the areas of human resource development, employment and income generation.

A member of the CISP Steering Committee, Diana Hopeson, described culture as the very fabric of life, hence its development should help the country’s development as well as its people.

She stressed the need to “preserve the country’s rich culture” so that our history will be preserved in that regard and urged all those in the sector to put in their proposal.

Two Lawyers Clash In Court

By Stephen Kwabena Effah
Wednesday, 05 November 2008

Tempers flared up yesterday at an Accra Fast Track High Court between two lawyers over an alleged improper transfer of a case from one judge to another.

The case is between the National Lottery Authority (NLA) and the Ghana Lotto Operators Association (GLOA).

What initially started as an argument between Aurelius Awuku and Kizito Bayuo, counsel for the GLOA and NLA, respectively, almost degenerated into personal attacks.It all began when Mr. Awuku drew the attention of then presiding judge, Mr K.A. Ofori-Atta to the fact that the case before him was not properly laid as required by law.

He explained that the case was before another judge, Justice Edward Amoako Asante, as at the last adjourned date. “We just heard that the matter is before you.

My clients are not aware of how the case was brought before you”, he said.

Mr Awuku argued that there was nothing on record indicating that the case had been transferred from Justice Asante to Justice Ofori-Atta stressing, that “the (court) registrar has no power to transfer case. It’s only the Chief Justice” who can do so”.

He said he was not aware of whether or not there had been any such transfer by the Chief Justice, and prayed the court to ensure that due process was followed. “Justice should be seen to be done”.

He alleged that “somebody just made a phone call and the case was brought before Justice Ofori-Atta,” he advised the judge to wash his hands from it (the case) if proper procedure for case transfer is not done.

“I’m prepared to vouch. He said, adding that “there are other matters I do not want to say at the Bar”, Mr Awuku said.

“As far as we are aware, the case is before Court One (Justice Asante). There is no order from the Chief Justice that the case has been transferred to High Court Two (Justice Ofori Atta),” he pointed out.

But Mr.Bayuo, unhappy about the allegations by his colleague retorted: “How much are we getting from this case? What I have in this case is my reputation.”

He described Mr.Awuku’s attitude as “most reprehensible” and said, “That’s the end of our friendship”. With this, he angrily hit his table with his hands.

Mr. Bayuo said Mr Awuku’s action inferred that Justice Ofori-Atta was corrupted. “You should be bold to say he is corrupted.”

The development prompted Justice Ofori-Atta to calm down the nerves of the two lawyers who had otherwise, had cordial relationship. They then apologised for their actions after the court’s intervention.

Justice Ofori-Attah condemned the action by the two lawyers noting that it was the first time he had seen and heard them do that, adding “this is not proper,” and warned them not to let that happen again.

On how the case was brought before him, Justice Ofori-Atta said that it was brought to him in his chambers by the Court Registrar in view of the fact that Justice Asante was on his annual leave.

In the case, the GLOA is seeking an interlocutory injunction to stay the execution of a ruling by an Accra Fast Track High Court which outlawed the operations of private lotto in the country.

The GLOA and six others filed for stay of execution of the court’s decision pending the determination of an appeal against the ruling, but the court at yesterday’s sitting refused to grant the injunction.

'Goodies' Prosecutor Proceeds On Leave

By Stephen Kwabena Effah
Friday, 24 October 2008

The trial of music producer Isaac Abaidu Aidoo, popularly known as Goodies, could not continue yesterday following the absence of the prosecutor who has proceeded on his annual leave.

Assistant State Attorney Paul Asibi Abariga told the Accra Circuit Court yesterday, that the Chief State Attorney, Mrs. Valerie Amartey, had begun her leave, and prayed the court, for a short adjourned date to enable him to go through all that is necessary to proceed from there.

The court, therefore, adjourned the case to October 30.

Aidoo, who is the Chief Executive of Goodies Music Production, is facing two counts of attempted exportation and possession of narcotic drugs without lawful authority. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Aidoo was arrested at the Kotoka International Airport on April 23, on suspicion of possessing narcotic drugs while going through departure formalities to board a flight to London.

He was subsequently taken to the 37 Military Hospital by officials of the Narcotics Control Board for x-ray, which revealed that he had foreign materials in his stomach.

He was put under surveillance during which he allegedly expelled 80 pellets of whitish which substances proved positive of cocaine upon testing by the Ghana Standards Board.

During police interrogation, Aidoo allegedly mentioned Abdul Haid, a musician resident at East Legon, Accra, as the one who gave him the drugs to be delivered to one Willie in London for a fee of 3,000 dollars.

Haid has not yet been located by the police.

Aidoo was arraigned before the Greater Accra regional Tribunal on April 25, but the case was subsequently transferred to the Circuit court in August on the orders of the Chief Justice.

On September 12, he asked his counsel, Jah Josiah, to withdraw his representation in the case, after which he prayed the court for a short date to secure a new counsel to defend him.

He is currently being represented by Oliver Atsu.

The prosecution finally opened its case on September 26, five months after his arrest, and has since called two officials of the Narcotic control Board as witnesses.

The investigator in the case was expected in court on October 1, to give his testimony but when the case was called, Mr. Amartey told the court that she could not notify him.

Hearing was, therefore, adjourned to October 8, but the court did not sit that day.

It was accordingly adjourned to October 16, and again to yesterday.

Election Is Not Do Or Die Affair - Opare Hammond

By Stephen K. Effah
Wednesday, 22 October 2008

The Member of Parliament for Adenta, Kwadwo Opare-Hammond, says politicians who are making the election appear as a “do and die affair” do not have the country at heart.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Needy Support Programme (NESP), a non-profit organisation, in Accra on Sunday, Mr.Opare-Hammond said it is imperative for all to desist from making such claims and be concerned about peace.

The NESP is a collaboration between the Assembly of the Bible Way Ministries and the African Movement for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, and is aimed at helping the vulnerable in the country.

Mr.Opare-Hammond, who is also the NPP Parliamentary candidate for Adenta said that Ghana has had successive peaceful elections since it adopted democracy over the years, adding “this year’s will not be an exception”.

He therefore urged all Ghanaians, irrespective of their political affiliations, to ensure that Ghana comes out of the December poll peacefully.

He said although they could argue over political messages and issues, that should not result in violence since “at the end we are one people and nation with a common destiny”.

The MP also appealed to the country’s youth not to allow themselves to be used by politicians to cause mayhem in order to satisfy their selfish aims, saying “you should not allow anybody to deceive you to do anything that will not benefit you”.

He advised the electorate to analyse the various political messages and manifestoes and vote for the one that offers a brighter future for the country. “Do not vote strictly on partisan basis. Vote the one with the best programmes and policies”.

Mr.Opare Hammond asked the Electoral Commission which has been given the mandate to conduct election must not be bias but rather “have Ghana’s interest first to ensure a free, air and transparent election.”

He said the NPP has done a lot for Ghana during its eight-year period rule, hence urged Ghanaians to vote to retain it in power to continue its good works. He appealed to all Adentans to vote to give him a second chance to lead them.

During his reign, he said, he managed to bring pipe-borne water and street lights to a number of areas in his constituency.

He said he gave scholarship to the tune of GH¢30,000 from his MPs Common Fund.

ECOBANK Robbery Suspects Freed

By Stephen K. Effah
Tuesday, 07 October 2008

The three Nigerians who were put before an Accra Circuit Court in connection with the June 23, Madina Ecobank robbery, and the killing of a police guard, were yesterday discharged.

This follows the withdrawal of the charges against them by the police. No reason was given.
Daniel Pedro, (aka Oghenervena), Festus Suleman and Israel Otubu, were facing two counts of conspiracy and robbery.

When the case was called yesterday, ASP Reindorf Agyemang, the prosecutor, informed the court that he received a letter from the Deputy Regional Police Commander that the charges be withdrawn.

CPP Didn't Nullify Blay's Nomination

By Stephen K. Effah
Tuesday, 07 October 2008

THE results of the Convention People’s Party’s (CPP’s) August primaries for the Ellembelle Constituency won by the incumbent Member of Parliament, Frederick Blay, have not been nullified, the party has said.

The party’s Executive Committee only objected to the candidature of Mr Blay in a press release issued after the election.

Yao Yegbey, counsel for the CPP in the dispute over the August 23 primaries between Mr Blay and the party’s Central Committee, said the application filed by Mr Blay "is based on falsehood".

Mr Blay is challenging the party’s Central Committee to the nullification of his election on August 23, as the party’s Parliamentary candidate for the December polls, and seeking the court to declare his election "lawful, proper and valid".

Mr Yegbey told the court, presided over by Edward Amoako Asante, that Mr Blay’s action against the Central Committee executive was based on what he termed "misunderstanding" of a press release issued after Mr Blay’s election and thus described the action as "incompetent before the court".

He said that if Blay had deemed it necessary to find out what took place at the Central Committee’s meeting, he would not have concluded that the result of the primaries had been nullified.

He therefore stated that the objection to Mr Blay’s candidature was based on article 48(f) of the CPP constitution.

Mr Blay’s counsel, Godfred Odame, had earlier argued that the move by the Central Committee to nullify the results of the Ellembelle Constituency primaries of the party was "tainted by irregularities".

He said the CPP is a political party in which the public has interest hence the Central Committee "cannot arrogate to itself any power without advancing its rules," adding "it acted in excess of is jurisdiction".

Mr Odame said the committee is not a body which elects candidates; its duty is to approve candidates. "It does not have the power at all to nullify the results".

He therefore prayed the court to quash the decision by the Central Committee of the party since it is "palpably unlawful", and to recognise Mr. Blay to enable him to contest the December poll.

Mr Bright Akwetey, a leading member of the CPP, who prayed the court at the last adjourned date to allow an in-house settlement, told the court that the parties in the case had sat to resolve the matter "in the spirit of comradeship".

The parties, he said, had come out with a resolution but somewhere along the line, something untoward came up, which probably did not go down well with Mr Blay, making him (Blay) continue to pursue the matter.

In spite of that, he said, they would try to settle the matter by the next adjourned date.

The judge in response, described the state of affairs as "not healthy" for the party since time was running out for the filing of nominations, and therefore urged the two factions to settle their differences.

The court adjourned to October, to deliver its judgement if by that time the party had not been able to reach a settlement.

Castello Enters Music Scene

By Stephen K. Effah
Thursday, 02 October 2008

Francis Jojo Cann, a U.K-based Ghanaian singer, has made his entry to the Ghanaian music landscape with his debut album set to make waves on the international front.

The seven-track R&B album, which touches on love and life, is designed to break the barrier of low patronage of the hip-life genre that has not gained the expected recognition on the world arena.

Titled: "The Stick Up Kid," the album that has tracks like All I Need,Tell Me, Lyfe, The Burning Rose and It’s A Shame, is exclusively in English, and features Bandana, Kansa, Samita and Djin.
"I want my music to be heard worldwide and build my own fan base. I hope to make inroads," Cann told the TW in an interview on Wednesday.

He pointed out that just as Nigerian artistes who are doing R&B music have been able to penetrate other frontiers and been able to build fan base across those areas, he could do same with his slow jam music through determination.

He said Ghanaians have come to love slow jam or R&B music, hence the need as a musician to come up with songs to satisfy them saying, "Ghanaians listen to cool music."

Also known as Don Jojo Castello, Cann said his debut album which is woven in a poem forms means a lot to him. "It’s like an exhibition of art, but it came in a form of music portray," he said.

Touching on the songs on the album, he said life for instance, talks about the hurdle and troubles one endures when being raised by a single parent, which he relates to his own experience as a child raised by her mother only.

"It talks about how what mama, my sisters and I had to deal with when dad left. But any way we made it to this far," he said.

"I was brought up in a church but always see myself as a lost soul, as a child growing up, it wasn’t very pleasant, things were very hard in those days and mama had to go through a lot," he recounted.

On the Ghanaian music scene, he said: "I am not happy about the music industry," noting that issues of royalties and payola need to be tackled seriously.

He recalled how an Accra private radio presenter in a radio station at Kokomlemle who promised to help him, collected 100 Ghana Cedis as payola before granting him an interview. "That isn’t helping us", he added.

The presenter, according to him told him he would use some of the money to "sought his boss out".

The singer, who is also a poet, told the TW that he hopes to set up a music studio in Ghana and a live band to help grow the industry. He is also working on poetry book
Cann, who was born in Leeds in the UK was raised in Ghana. He went to Martyrs of Uganda at Mamprobi and proceeded to the Kinbu Secondary Technical where he graduated in 1995.

He started music at an early stage in the UK where he found himself holding position as a lead tenor in his local choir.

"For me it’s the only thing I love doing because I wasn’t really good in class but I try to find some thing I could escape to and with God, every thing is possible," he said.

Fashion TV Reality Series To Hit The Screen

By Stephen K.Effah
Saturday, 27 September 2008

The first ever fashion television reality series to scout for a young promising fashion designer will soon hit the television screens in the country.

The series dubbed: The Sew Project, will be used to raise funds for the treatment of the over 5,000 trachoma victims in northern Ghana who are on the verge of going blind.

Ten best fashion designers will on October 9, be selected from a line-up of 20 at a fashion show christened: Daviva Ghana Collections, to be held at the Universal Motors Showroom in Accra, for the reality show.

The show is being organised by D & P Holdings and is under the theme Changing the Face of Fashion. The series which would run for 13 weeks is expected to start at the end of next month.

During the period, each of the 10 contestants will be assigned fashion tasks as well as come up with a clothing collection for a season and based on their performance, they will be evicted one after the other until the winner emerges.

The fashion show, to be witnessed by both local and international audience, will see talented tailors and seamstresses featuring stylish and classy
clothing inspired by the rich traditions of Africa, known as "Africhic".

The fashion grandeur will be heralded with a celebrity catwalk for trachoma on the day of the show.

The celebrities participating in the catwalk will be Kwami Sefa Kayi and Jessica Saforo, both broadcasters, Kofi Adjorlolo and Jackie Appiah, both actors, and Anthony Baffoe, a footballer.

The rest are Mawuena Dwomor, Communication Specialist; Akosua Agyepong, Army Newman and Kwabena Kwabena, all musicians.

They will all dress in elegant designs by the country’s top fashion designers like Kofi Ansah, Mawuli Okudjeto, Kwesi Nti, Joyce Ababio and Royal Fashions and others.

There will also be some ready to wear designs for auction.
Speaking to the TW, Mrs. Pearl Nyamekor, Managing Director of D&P Holdings, said the idea to support trachoma patients stemmed from the fact that Ghana has achieved about 75 per cent success in its effort to eliminate blinding trachoma in the Northern and Upper West regions.

"It is a significant step towards meeting the 2010 target set by the country, to eliminate the disease," she stated.

The show is being sponsored by DAVIVA, Universal Motors, Gandour Cosmetics, Citi FM, Metro TV and Home Style Food Services.

2 Cops Charged With Robbery

By Stephen K. Effah
Thursday, 02 October 2008

Two policemen were put before an Accra circuit court yesterday, charged with robbing a Malian of a truck-load of bicycles and motor spare parts valued at GH¢120,000.

The case could not, however, be heard because, according to the presiding judge, Mahamadu Iddrisu, it was not properly assigned to his court. He explained that the case docket only bore the initials of the Deputy Judicial Secretary and not his signature, and asked that the case be sent back for the proper thing to be done.

The two policemen, Joseph Frimpong and Frank Boakye, both with the Airport Police Station, are facing two counts of conspiracy to rob and robbery.

According to the prosecution, on August 14, a truck load of bicycles and motor spare parts, being driven from Tema Harbour to Mali by Abdul Aziz, was stopped at the Dzorwulu Traffic Light by
six people including the two policemen and Solomon Antwi, a brother of Frimpong, now at large.

The policeman then pulled Aziz and his two mates out of the truck into a waiting taxi and drove them to the Achimota Forest area where they were abandoned.

However, they were able to find their way back to the spot they left the truck but it had been taken away. They reported the matter to the police and caused announcements to be made on radio.

The prosecution said that the following day, an anonymous caller was able to assist the police to trace the truck which had been abandoned on the Mallam-Kasoa road but without the goods in it.

On September 16, the two cops were arrested following a police intelligence report.
According to the prosecution, Frimpong told the police that on August 14, at about 2:30 pm, he had a call from an unknown man who told him that Antwi, his brother, had asked him to call the station to request for policemen for an exercise at Dzorwulu.

Frimpong informed Boakye who was on duty at the station and they left for Dzorwulu where they met three civilians who told them to impound a truck loaded with uncustomed goods which they were waiting for.

The truck arrived at about 5.30 pm, and the two policemen stopped the driver, pulled him and his two mates out of the truck and took them away.

The prosecution said Frimpong told the police that the truck was driven to Darkuman Alafia where the goods were discharged into an uncompleted house.

He denied knowing the civilians who took part in the operation even though they gave Boakye and himself GH¢80 after the operation.

Why "Goodies" Swallowed Coke

By Stephen K. Effah
Saturday, September 27,2008

A prosecution witness has said that music producer, Isaac Abaidu Aidoo, popularly known as Goodies, was “hard pressed for cash as a music producer” hence his swallowing of cocaine to be delivered to someone in the United Kingdom for a fee.

Anthony Smith, the Narcotic Control Board officer who arrested Aidoo at the Kotoka International Airport on April 23, said this on Thursday when he testified as the first prosecution witness in the case.

This was after the prosecution had opened its case, five months after the arrest of Aidoo who is facing two counts of attempted exportation and possession of narcotic drugs without lawful authority at an Accra Circuit Court.

Aidoo, who is the Chief Executive of Goodies Music Production, has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Led in evidence by Valerie Amartey, Chief State Attorney, Mr. Smith said Aidoo confided in him during interrogation that one Abdul gave him the substances to be delivered to one Willie in London for a fee of 3,000 pounds sterling.

Narrating the circumstances that led to the arrest of Aidoo, Mr. Smith said about 10:30pm the accused arrived at the airport as the last but two people to board a Ghana International Airline flight to London.

According to him, Aidoo was suspected by the narcotic officials of carrying foreign materials in his stomach but could not convince the officials with his answers so he was asked to produce his urine for a narcotic test. But he failed to do so. That was when he, Mr. Smith as the commander of the officers on duty, was called in to intervene.

He said he explained to Aidoo why he should go through the test and he obliged but could still not produce the urine for the test after drinking some water. “He then suggested that if there is another way of testing him we should do that.

“He told me he had a meeting the next day in London and he did not want to miss the flight,” he added.

In view of this, Mr. Smith said he asked two of his officers, Abew and Dadzie, to take Aidoo to the 37 Military Hospital for an X-ray test, but the first result could not be interpreted.

Mr Smith said a second test was done and while the results were being awaited, he communicated with Dadzie on phone to rush Aidoo to the airport “since I didn’t want him to miss the flight which had only two hours to departure”.

According to him, when Aidoo was brought, he took his passport and rushed him to the boarding gate at which point he called Abew on phone to find out about the results of the test.

He told the court that Abew told him the results showed that Aidoo had foreign substances in his stomach. “So I politely told him I cannot allow him to travel because he had swallowed some substances. He then told me he swallowed cocaine”.

Mr. Smith said that he asked his officers to handcuff Aidoo “but he pleaded not to be handcuffed in view of his reputation”. He said he took Aidoo to the NACOB office where Aidoo told him that the substances were given to him by one Abdul resident at Adjiringanor, near East Legon.

Mr. Smith said when he asked Aidoo why he swallowed the cocaine, “he said that he was hard pressed for cash as a music producer”.

He said at about 2:30am, Aidoo was sent to Adjiringanor to show them where the said Abdul was residing but “we didn’t see him that night.” Consequently, Aidoo was handed over to the NACOB police investigators and he wrote his statement.

Asked by counsel for the accused, Mr. Oliver Atsu, whether he was satisfied with the X-ray results, Mr. Smith replied in the affirmative.

To another question by Mr. Atsu on how long he had been working at the airport, Mr. Smith said since March, this year.

The court then adjourned the case to September29.

The prosecution’s case is that Aidoo expelled 80 pellets of whitish substances suspected to be cocaine after his arrest at the airport.

The substances proved positive of cocaine upon testing by the Ghana Standards Board.
Aidoo, who is the Chief Executive of Goodies Music Production, was first put before the Greater Accra Regional Tribunal in April this year, but the case was subsequently transferred to the Circuit Court in August, upon the orders of the Chief Justice.

On September 12, he requested his first counsel, Jah Josiah, to withdraw his legal representation in the case, after which he prayed the court for a short date to enable him to secure a new counsel to defend him.

2 Cops Charged With Robbery

By Stephen K. Effah
Tuesday, 30 September 2008

Two police officers were yesterday put before an Accra Circuit Court for allegedly robbing a student of GH¢25,000.

Lance Corporals Emmanuel Mawuli Awadzie and Solomon Awudu of the Adenta and Madina stations, respectively, pleaded not guilty to two counts of conspiracy to rob and robbery and were remanded in prison custody until October 10.

The prosecution’s case is that Awadzie who was on AU Peace-keeping mission in Liberia before the incident, returned to Accra on a visit and met Awudu on September 4, at a drinking spot at Madina.

According to ASP Reindorf Agyemang, the prosecutor, a police informant hinted the two officers that Sylvester Osei Gyamfi, the student had allegedly succeeded in defrauding an expatriate of 75,000 dollars through the internet.

He said the informant was able to locate the residence of Gyamfi, after an attempt by the officers to arrest him days later failed.

At about midnight of September 10, the officers and the informant went to Gyamfi’s house to arrest him without making any entries in their respective station diaries, he continued.

ASP Agyemang said Awudu who was in uniform and armed with a rifle was supposed to be on duty at Deas and D Ventures at Ashaley Botwe that night but went to Agbogba Police Post and requested the officer on duty, Wisdom Hormeku, to help them arrest Gyamfi.

Hormeku, not suspecting any hidden agenda of the two officers and the informant, made entries in the Agbogba Station diary and took a riffle to accompany them to Gyamfi’s house.

After pointing out Gyamfi’s room, the informant went to hide somewhere while the policemen forced the door open after Gyamfi refused to open it, he said.

"Immediately the door opened and Awudu saw Gyamfi dialling a number on his cell phone, he allegedly gave him some slaps and snatched the phone and all other phones of Gyamfi plus that of his fiancée."

ASP Agyemang told the court that the officers handcuffed Gyamfi and asked him "to bring out all his money" and when he failed, Awadzie ransacked the room but did not get any money.

They then packed Gyamfi’s computer and accessories into his own car, after which they told Hormeku to return to post while they took Gyamfi away in the car leaving his fiancée.

The prosecution said after Gyamfi had failed to show where he kept his money, the officers threatened him with death and for fear of his life, Gyamfi told them the money was in the room of the fiancée’s sister, Sadia.

According to the prosecution, they then went for Sadia and she was "told to quietly go for the money which was said to be 25,000 Ghana Cedis but she could not since the key to the bag in which the money was kept had been left in Gyamfi’s room".

They later found the key and Awadzie took the money after which the handcuff on Gyamfi’s hand was removed. They, however, handcuffed the fiancée’s sister and locked her in her room.

Thereafter, the prosecution said, the two officers fled in Awudu’s car and Gyamfi made a complaint to the Madina police, giving the description of the officers.

Awudu was arrested at post and he is said to have admitted having committed the offence with Awadzie who on hearing of Awudu’s arrest, left the country back to Liberia on September 19 to avoid arrest but was brought back.

He also admitted the offence but denied taking GH¢25,000, saying that he collected only GH¢9,000, out of which he took GH¢5,000 and gave GH¢3,000 to the informant, while the rest was given to Awudu for safe-keeping.

Let's Go Salsa Dancing

By Stephen Kwabena Effah
Saturday, 13 September 2008

Picture this. With his right hand, he holds her left hand tightly, and then her waist firmly with his left hand. He draws her closer, and takes some back and forth steps and there they go!

Wow! Isn’t it simply mesmerizing and lovely. Well, that’s Salsa dancing for you. If you are a fan and wishing to learn how to do the Salsa boogying, just put on your dancing shoes as Close-Up tooth paste is giving you the opportunity.

In fact, the dance is not only romantic, but magical, funny and a therapeutic experience, especially for those who hardly jog or have time off their schedule to exercise their body.

Salsa, a Latin American dance, has been in the country for the past decade and has gained much popularity among the youth.

This is evident by the number of Salsa clubs on the various school campuses, social and keep fit clubs across the Accra metropolis.

To give opportunity to the larger public to learn how to do the Salsa dance, Close-Up, one of Unilever Ghana Limited brands, last Friday unveiled what it termed as "Close-Up Salsa Fiesta" in Accra.

In the next five weeks, starting last Monday, those who buy four tubes of Close-Up tooth paste from some designated spots in Accra and Tema will be issued with a coupon to learn the dance free of charge at registered Salsa Clubs in the city.

Judging from the performance at last Friday’s launch, it is clear that those who want to learn the Salsa moves would be treated to some great twirls, steps and some of the intricacies of the great dance, which has become a craze in the country.

"Through Close-Up, you can learn more than just perfecting your Salsa steps, you’ll develop the awareness of socialising, keeping fit, teamwork and ultimately, personal hygiene especially when you are close up," said Nana Yaa Kissi, Close-Up Brands Manager.

On October 11, fans will converge on a big platform at the Trade Fair site in Accra to show off their mastery of the Salsa movements in the past weeks in a keenly competitive style.

Breaking Through Marriage Life Out Soon

By Stephen Effah
Saturday, 13 September 2008

A book, "Breaking Through Marriage Life," on the fundamental and strategic techniques in handling marriages, especially in contemporary context, is to be launched soon.

The 193-page book is specially directed at both the married and the yet-to-marry, and exhaustively touches on when, why, who, where and how to marry in today’s world.

The writer, Evangelist Edward Adofo-Somuah, an Executive Member of the Ghana Gospel Preachers Association, discusses what he described as the six essential stages or phases of marriage.

These are conception, gestation, birth, life, death and after life.

He elaborates extensively on the various stages with respect to the socio-cultural background of man and woman. It also discussed divorce, how to identify its symptoms and how to prevent it.

Speaking with the TW on the rationale behind the book, Evan. Adofo-Somuah noted that "marriages are breaking down in almost every home presently due to matrimonial illiteracy".

He said many couples have been crying in their matrimonial homes, perhaps they either married at the wrong time or choose the wrong partner, hence the writing of the book to help save marriage breakdowns that have plagued our society."Some people are even committing suicide and many wished they had not married at all," he added.

Touching on what motivated him to write the book, Evangelist Adofo-Samuah, an ex-serviceman, said during the 1979 uprising, while on Anchor Guard duties he sustained multiple injuries.

"I was hospitalised and went into coma for 13 days. While in this state, the spirit of the Lord took me to many places and finally to a T-junction. To the right of the junction, was Heaven and to the left hell."

"For about the two hours that I stood at the junction, I was only two people were seen towards Heaven while a huge number that could be described as ‘a swarm of bees’s among them were men of God, Kings, Soldiers and others identified by their dresses"

"These people are for hell because of their marriages and everything the Lord said to me about marriage was recorded. Miraculously all that l recorded in writing which was found under my pillow after I had regained consciousness," he said"

Also known as ‘Old Soldier’, the first class former Ghana Navy navigator said what the Lord told him which was found under his pillow formed the content of the book.

Evangelist Adofo-Somuah said he wondered why God could use him at the time since "I was then in the world engaged in all kind of lifestyle".

He said that he has initiated the "Otumfuor Special Initiative on Distance Learning" yet to be rolled out to educate people on marriage.

He has also started distributing copies of the book to some prominent people in the country as well as radio and television stations for use in educating people on marriage issues.

3 Nigerians Charged Over Ecobank Robbery

By Stephen Kwabena Effah
Tuesday, 09 September 2008

THREE Nigerians yesterday made a second appearance before an Accra Circuit Court in connection with the June 23 Madina Ecobank robbery, and the killing of a police guard.

Daniel Pedro, aka Oghenervena, Festus Suleman and Israel Otubu, who are facing two counts of conspiracy and robbery, first appeared before the court on August 26.

Their plea was not taken and they have been remanded in police custody to appear again on September 26.

When the case was called yesterday, police prosecutor Reindorf Agyemang informed the court that the Attorney General’s Department had taken over the prosecution of the case and the new investigator needed more time to study the docket of the case.

ASP Agyeman therefore requested a two-week adjournment but this was opposed by defence counsel Dela Blagodzi who said the move by the prosecution was a calculated attempt to delay the case.

Expressing unhappiness about the turn of events, he said his clients were innocent students who had been arrested by the police. "The real robbers are enjoying somewhere; I am so much passionate about human rights" he said.

Mr Blagodzi said that if indeed his clients were behind the robbery, they would have left the country before their arrest since the amount involved could have taken them out of the country.

The judge Idrissu Mahamadu said he was also much concerned about human rights, but explained that for proper investigation to be carried out, it was prudent that the police was given ample time.

According to the prosecution, at about 9.00 a.m., on June 23, an Ecobank bullion van which was scheduled to convey GH¢60,040 to the Madina-Zongo Junction branch of the bank under escort by Sgt William Kweku Quansah was attacked by five armed men who had positioned themselves at different locations within the bank premises.

The armed men wrestled with the police guard on duty, Constable David Agbosu and took away his AK 47 assault rifle with 10 rounds of ammunition.

During a scuffle between Sgt. Quansah and one of the robbers, a member of the gang who was in a waiting car shot the sergeant from behind and he died later in hospital.

The robbers made away with the money amidst sporadic gunfire during which two passengers in a commercial vehicle were hit.

Judge Blasts Prosecutors

By Stephen Kwabena Effah
Friday, 05 September 2008

A Circuit Court judge hearing narcotics and armed robbery cases at the Cocoa Affairs Court in Accra, yesterday lashed out at the prosecution team for their lackadaisical attitude towards some of the cases being tried at the court.

The judge, Iddrisu Mahamadu, has consistently complained about the prosecution’s lateness, failure to bring suspects to or show up in court, poor investigation and laxity in pursuing cases assigned them, among others.

At the court’s sitting yesterday, the judge did not mince words in criticising a police investigator for showing up in court about an hour after a case he is handling had been called and adjourned.

“Are you not sensitive to all the criticisms flying around?” he asked the investigator, Edward Asante, and described the attitudes of some members of the prosecution as a shame.

What angered him most was when he detected that even the plea of the accused person in the case being handled by the investigator had not been taken five months after his arrest.

Mr. Mahamadu was further infuriated by the fact that the prosecution had not been able to produce to the court a report on the substances suspected to be cocaine expelled by the accused, Michael Ntiamoah, upon which he was arrested in April.

“It is barely five months and it is nobody’s business. What kind of country is this? It’s a shame and I’m very, very disappointed. If we keep this attitude, then let’s forget it,” he said.

He wondered why the investigator has not expedited action to the extent that no plea of the accused was taken five months after his arrest.

“His plea has not been taken…nothing has been done! And for months, everybody is busy pretending to be what?” he questioned, noting that some of them are so busy that they cannot handle the cases assigned them.

“Do we always have to wait for the laboratory report of the substances before the cases could be heard”, “he asked, noting “the accused’s freedom is taken away”.


Mr Mahamadu said the prevailing situation does not augur well for administration of justice and stressed that its continuity would compel him to compile a list of those prosecution members for the appropriate authorities for action to be taken against them.

MTV Base to Shoot 'King of The Streets'

By Stephen Kwabena Effah
Saturday, 06 September 2008

“King of the Streets”, as he is popularly referred to, Kwaw Kesse is steadily hitting the height of his musical career. At the recent ninth Ghana Music Awards, he swept away five awards.

Just few months after his crowning as the event as the king of Ghana music, he was given yet another award, Best Hip-life Artiste, in the competitive category of the Arts Critics and Reviewers Association of Ghana awards.

Again, the Abodam singer was signed up by Exopa Model Agency in June this year as a model, prior to the first ever Fashion week.

Kwaw Kesse has now been nominated by the international music television channel, MTV Base and Shell International, to have his video shot by internationally acclaimed music video directors free of charge.

His nomination as the second artiste in Ghana to have his music video shot free-of-charge by international directors and producers after Aletse Tinny, is another feat expected to shoot him up, especially in the international music arena.

Dubbed: “MTV Making the Video with Shell,” the video of Kwaw Kesse to be shot by the MTV Base crew in partnership with a Ghanaian music director, will feature Professsor J, a celebrated international artiste.

Consequently, MTV has launched a project tagged MTV Making the Video Challenge with Shell, to scout a creative, aspiring or experienced Ghanaian music video director to part its crew to shoot the music video.

The MTV crew are expected in the country on September 15 to begin the shooting of a video clip for one of Kwaw Kesse’s songs yet to be announced at a press conference on September 17.

So, if you are a Ghanaian aged between 18 and 25, with or without previous music video experience but with a passionate enthusiasm for the art and craft of music video-making just log on to www.mtvbase.com/makingthevideo to register.

The MTV-Shell partnership project is designed to uplift the image of the African music industry and also improve the quality of African music videos.

Last year, the MTV crew followed the Ghanaian hiplife sensation, Tinny, in December as he strove to complete the brand new music video for ‘Incomplete’ track, together with director Rachel Watanabe-Batton and a crew of Ghanaian video directors.

'Agony of the Christ' Premiered

By Stephen Kwabena Effah
Saturday,06 September 2008

Venus Film Production, one of the forces behind movie production in the country, last Friday premièred their latest and finest movie, yet to hit the market later this month, at the National Theatre in Accra.

The thriller, “Agony of the Christ,” is set in a small village called Ejukrom where human beings are at the mercy of fellow men as some are unluckily slaughtered like chickens and goats as sacrifices to appease their god.

Until the emergence of Christianity in the village, innocent people, especially virgins, were upon the orders of Azaazi, the priestess of the kingdom, killed at a spiritual durbar of the chief, elders and people of the land.

Although, many of the residents considered the consistent killing of their fellows inhumane, they were helpless. But the story began one day, when two virgins of Agya Asamoah, were surrounded by the chief’s executioners who wanted to take them for to sacrifice t to heir god.

Not comfortable with the situation, the son of Agya Asamoah, stood in defence of his sisters resulting in the death of one of the executioners. He was then given a wild chase by the executioners until he found himself in the evil forest.

After wallowing in the evil wood, Jama landed in another village with “strange” tradition altogether. But that was the turning point in his life as he was shown the light to the world, the word of God.

Being someone who stood against the gruesome killing of his people in the name of tradition, Jama embarked on a journey back to Ejukrom in the company of two men of God to liberate his people who have for years been living in the dark without.

At this stage, one would not be wrong to call the action this epic movie presents as fireworks or showcase of powers between God and the gods. The storyline is likened to story of the struggle that Jesus Christ went through to save the earth.

Talk about the betrayal, beatings and crucifixion, Jama who is the hero in the movie, went through them in his struggle to let his people know God who cares and loves but does not need blood as sacrifices.

Written and produced by Abdul Salam Mumuni, the movie portrays the sufferings of true believers of Jesus Christ the son of God in the latter days while showcasing the artistic beauty of African Culture.

Starring Nadia Buari (Azaazi), Majid Michel (Jama), Kofi Adjorlolo (Agya Asamoah), Naana Hayford (wife of Agya Asamoah) and a host of others, the movie was directed by Frank Arase.

MALAIKA '08 Takes Off.....Ex Queen Warns: Beware of Sexual Favours

By Stephen Kwabena Effah
Saturday, 06 September 2008

Sixteen young Indies dressed in tight pairs jean trousers with nicely designed African fabric tops to match, last Saturday began a 13-week walk into celebrity at the Crown Apartmento Hotel in Accra.

Beaming with smiles but certainly not without some seemingly trembling in their appearance and voice, the 16 were introduced to the public finalists for this year’s coveted Miss Malaika Ghana crown.

They were shortlisted from among hundreds across the country at the preliminary stage with physique intellect and boldness as the criteria.

The finalists, endowed with height, shape, intelligence, poise, elegance and style among others, will be camped in a Malaika House, East Legon, Accra, for 13 weeks and engaged in a number of tasks and activities.

While in the house, they will be filmed live for a Miss Maliaka Reality TV show, to provide the public the opportunity to identify them so as to be part of the crowing of Miss Malaika 2008 Queen brough voting for their favourite via SMS.

Six out of the16, who in the estimation of the public are unable to impress while in the house, will be evicted on weekly basis.

The Miss Malaika Ghana Beauty Pageant has been organised by the Charter House Ghana to bring out the best in young women.

The 16 girls who will be endearing themselves to TV viewers for weeks in the fight for the Malaika crown include Nadra Osman, Racheal Obeng-Somuah, Sandra Odamtten, Sermira Adams, Tamara Aku Dzormeku, Naa Yemoley Tetteh, Yvonne Eyram Kofigah and Ama Sitsofe Sedegah.

The rest are Akosua Agyemang-Abrokwah, Faustina Michelle Ayonka, Christabel Ekeh, Christine Ofori, Daisy Edem Attu, Erika Thompson, Ivy Wereh and Mamata Adams.

Speaking at the launch, the reigning Malaika Queen, Laurie Lawson, urged the aspiring queens to guard themselves against what she described as “sex favours” among other challenges that may come their way.

She advised them not to allow inferiority complex to worry them when they see that other colleagues are doing better than they are offering but rather put in their best at all times, be themselves and have fun as well.

Kofi Osei Ameyaw, Deputy Minister of Tourism and Diasporan Relations, said
beauty pageant “is not irrelevant” as many people have portrayed it to be.

He said it opens up opportunities for those who participate in them and expose them to many things and should therefore be encouraged

"Goodies" Re-surfaces after Judge's Warning

By Stephen Kwabena Effah
Saturday, September 6, 2008

Music producer, Isaac Abeiku Aidoo, popular known as Goodies, being tried by an Accra Circuit Court for alleged narcotic offences, resurfaced in court on Friday after the trial judge expressed concern about the prosecution’s failure to produce him in court on two consecutive times.

However, trial of the case could not go on because the Chief State Attorney, Valerie Amartey, who has taken over the prosecution from the police also failed to show up in court yesterday.

When the case was called at about 10:30am, a police prosecutor, ASP Kofi Blagodzi, informed the court, presided over by Mr Iddrisu Mahamudu, that the Chief State Attorney had been taken ill, and prayed the court for a short adjourned date.

The court then adjourned roceedings to September 12.

Aidoo, Chief Executive of Goodies Music Production is facing two counts of attempted exportation and possessing narcotic drugs, without lawful authority.

He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

He was first put before the Greater Accra Regional Tribunal last April, but the case was transferred to the Circuit Court last month on the orders of the Chief Justice.

On August 25, Mr Mahamudu expressed doubts as to whether Aidoo was indeed in prison custody at the Nsawam Medium Prisons, because he had failed to appear before him on two occasions on the grounds of ill-health.

He said that the prosecution failed on those occasions to produce any evidence to prove that Aidoo had been ill and warned that he would visit the Nsawam Prisons one day to personally verify if Aidoo was there.

Aidoo was arrested on suspicion of possessing narcotic drugs at the Kotoka International Airport on April 23 while going through departure formalities to board a flight to London.

He was subsequently taken to the 37 Military Hospital by officials of the Narcotics Control Board for an x-ray examination which revealed that he had foreign materials in his stomach.

Aidoo was put under surveillance during which he allegedly expelled 80 pellets of whitish substances suspected to be cocaine. The substances proved positive of cocaine upon testing by the Ghana Standards Board.

The prosecution had told the tribunal at its first hearing on April 25, that during police interrogation, Aidoo said Abdul Haid, a musician resident at East Legon, Accra, gave him the drugs to be delivered to one Willie in London for a fee of $3,000.

Haid has not been located by the police.