TSATSU TSIKATA JAILED 5 YEARS

Stephen K. Effah
Thursday, 19 June 2008

THE trial of Tsatsu Tsikata, former Chief Executive of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation, which dragged for five years and eight months, ended yesterday with the Accra Fast Track High Court sentencing him to five years in prison.

He was charged with wilfully causing financial loss to the state and misapplying public funds.

The court found him guilty of all four counts of causing financial loss of about ¢2.3 billion to the state through a loan he, acting on behalf of the GNPC, guaranteed for Valley Farms Limited, a private cocoa producing company in 1991, and misapplying public property.

The court, presided over by Justice Henrietta Abban, sentenced him to five years imprisonment on each count to run concurrently.

Before his sentence, Mr. Tsikata was seeking an order at the Supreme Court to bring the International Finance Corporation to testify in the case in which both the Court of Appeal and the Fast Track High Court had ruled that the IFC has immunity from the processes of the courts.

But Mr.Tsikata insisted that failure to get the corporation to testify "will occasion a miscarriage of justice".

The Supreme Court had fixed June 25, to deliberate on Mr.Tsikata’s application, but when Justice Abban sat yesterday, she made it clear that she was proceeding to read her judgement because the court had not received any order from the Supreme Court to stay proceedings.

After the prosecution, led by Attorney General Joe Ghartey announced themselves to the court yesterday, Mr Tsikata, who had gone to seek an adjournment to enable him to move a motion for an acquittal, told the court that his counsel, Prof. Emmanuel Victor Oware Dankwa,was out of the court’s jurisdiction.

He argued that he needed the services of his counsel before the case could proceed, but the judge asked him to represent himself since he is a lawyer, so that she could go on with the case.

Delivering the judgement, which took about two hours, Justice Abban said the prosecution was able to establish, beyond reasonable doubt, a case against Mr Tsikata.

On the charge of wilfully causing financial loss, the court said the prosecution was able to lead evidence to prove that Mr Tsikata authorised the guarantee of the loan without the GNPC board’s approval, which Valley Farms defaulted in repayment.

The court held that the venture embarked upon by Mr Tsikata caused financial loss to the GNPC, which is a state institution, and the loss was occasioned by acts wilfully done by Mr Tsikata, then Chief Executive of the corporation.

On misappropriation of public property, the court further held that the prosecution was able to prove that Mr Tsikata intentionally misapplied public property when he authorised the guarantee.

When the judge completed reading her judgement, she asked Mr Tsikata who stood throughout the proceedings taking notes, whether he had any comments before the sentence was passed.

Mr Tsikata replied: "I have already indicated to the court that my counsel has travelled abroad. This court had previously adjourned proceedings to await an aspect of the Supreme Court ruling which can have significance for my defence".

He added, "This judgement is against the weight of evidence," but the judge cut in, saying "you are not in control of this court. You are not going to tell me what to do."

This resulted in a heated exchange between the judge and Mr Tsikata, but Justice Abban proceeded in passing the sentence.

She said: "I sentence you to five years in jail", Mr Tsikata responded: " I hope the albatross hanging around your neck has been removed"

Justice Abban: "Did I say I have any albatross hanging around my neck?"
Mr Tsikata: "You did say so some time ago."

Justice Abban stated: "I do not remember. All I said was that there should be an end to litigation."

Mr Tsikata then told the court of his intention to appeal against the judgement, and said, "before that I am applying for bail pending the appeal."

The judge then asked the prosecution to respond to the request by Mr Tsikata, and Mr Ghartey designated Mrs Yvonne Obuobisah, a Principal State Attorney, to do so.

Mrs. Obuobisah opposed the application when she took the floor. "This application is strange in the law. He must follow due process. There is no notice of appeal pending and he cannot put something on nothing," she said.

Further, she said, "the application has to rely on something but he did not state any exceptional grounds on which a bail should be granted".

But Mr Tsikata reacted: "There is no indication that judgement will be given today. I have been summoned to court but without my counsel who notified the court of his absence, and these are clearly unusual circumstances."

He said once the court rescinded its decision to await the Supreme Court’s verdict, it put him in a disadvantage, "I am taking steps to have the appeal filed but I have to be free to be able to do so."

The judge then replied: "I do not even know the grounds on which you are appealing. I therefore uphold the prosecution’s argument that there is no pending application based on which I can make my decision."

By the time proceedings ended, people had began to fill the court room. Notable among them was Mr John Mahama, the National Democratic Congress presidential running mate in the December poll.

After the court had ended proceedings, former President Jerry John Rawlings came there briefly and left.

Not long afterwards, the flag-bearer of the National Democratic Congress , Prof John Atta Mills and the party’s General Secretary Asiedu Nketsia also came around

Tsikata was later taken to the court’s registry by police escorts to process and sign the necessary documents before being taken to prison.

The Times later learnt that Mr Tsikata filed a notice of appeal and stay of execution pending

appeal and was due to move his application later yesterday.

The prosecution’s case was that Mr Tsikata, then Chief Executive of the GNPC, guaranteed a loan contracted by Valley Farms from Caisse Centrale, now Agence Francaise De Development (AFD) in 1991, but the company defaulted, thus compelling GNPC to pay the loan in 1996.

Mr Tsikata is said to have guaranteed the loan without the GNPC board’s approval.
The case started in October 2002 with the late Mr. Osafo Sampong, the then Director of Public Prosecutions leading the prosecuteion.

In 2002, the Supreme Court ruled that the Fast Track Court trying Mr Tsikata was unconstitutional, following a challenge by Mr Tsikata of its status, a decision which was overturned later in a judicial review.

Mr. Joe Ghartey is the third Attorney-General after Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Mr. J. Ayikoi Otoo, to prosecute the case.

In all, seven witnesses were called by the prosecution, while the defence called one. There were also two court witnesses from the Merchant Bank.

Ghana's Most Beautiful: Grand Finale Tomorrow

By Stephen K. Effah
Saturday, 14 June 2008

FROM a list of 10 contestants, four beautiful, intelligent and eloquent women have finally made it to the finals of the second edition of Ghana’s Most Beautiful, a unique educative and entertaining beauty pageant, at the National Theatre tomorrow evening.

For the past 13 good weeks, the women projected and educated hundreds of people on the diverse Ghanaian traditional values most of which have been taken for granted by society, especially in the 21st century, under the guise of modernity.

It has been exciting and fun for both television viewers and the contestants themselves, who were camped under one roof for the period.

Battling it out for the ultimate prize are Sarah Adoley Addo (Greater Accra), Mavis Eyram Dotse (Volta Region), Fanny Aggrey Finn Amissah (Central Region) and Yakuba Ruweida (Northern Region).

The evictions saw Mroh Louisa Efua Baawa from the Western Region, Dauda Fawzia of Upper West and Rafiatu Eugette Gbormitah from the Upper East Region, missing the fun in that order.

They were followed by Ashanti Region’s Danso Abena Akorewaa, Asare Aponsah Akua Serwah from the Eastern Region and Erica Joana Arthur of the Brong-Ahafo Region.

Undoubtedly, either of the four finalists - Adoley, Eyram, Fanny and Ruweida during the elimination stages, put up ‘Ghana’s Most Beautiful’, thus raising the stakes of tomorrow’s grand finale higher than in the previous weekly contests.

The four contestants will first appear on stage as queen mothers of their respective regions and as usual, give insight into the significance and meaning of their regalia. Each of the four will be attempting to convince the judges and the public why she should be crowned ‘Ghana’s Most Beautiful’.

After the first round, each of them will again take up the stage but this time, enact what each has learned from the other region, ranging from language through food to dance. For this, Eyram will move away from the Volta Region to the Northern Region, Ruweida, with the Volta Region.

Adoley will switch from Greater Accra to the ‘Fanteland’ (Central Region) while Fanny assumes Greater Accra (‘Ga Land’) stature.

This round is to show how tolerant each of the contestants has grown during their 13 weeks of stay together in the house and to make the point that "we are all one as Ghanaians," as well as prove each contestant’s versatility.

The third round will be a fashion show, during which the contestants will model in contemporary evening and casual outfits, going traditional for sometime.

In an interview with the Times Weekend, Hamid Yakubu, Producer of the contest, talk about how the contest has improved over the last year, saying "the quality of contestants improved appreciably".

"Unlike last year, the contestants have been able to explore and give detailed meaning of the varied cultures and traditions in their respective regions.

"They also managed to present their different cultures mostly considered as archaic in an interesting and entertaining manner, thus disabusing people’s wrong perception on such traditional values and making them popular," he added

Commenting on the event’s objective, he said "yes, we are achieving what the event was set out to do."

Tomorrow’s show will be spiced up with performances from guest artistes, including the Ghana Dance Ensemble and singer, Elivava.

The event with the theme: "Redefining Beauty to Promote National Unity", is the brainchild of TV3 Network and is sponsored by Onetouch Ghana Limited.

Security Man Jailed 20 Yrs For Incest

By Stephen K. Effah
Wednesday, 11 June 2008

THE man who had a child by his 16-year-old daughter a year ago, was yesterday jailed 20 years by an Accra Circuit Court.

Forty-five-year-old Laud Ford Mensah, a security officer, was charged with incest, and was convicted on his own plea by the court, presided over by Mrs Georgina Mensah Datsa.

Looking sober in the dock yesterday, Mensah told the court: "My Lord, I am guilty." This, made everyone exclaimed in surprise, resulting in the shout of "order! order in court!" by court orderlies.

The prosecution told the court that Mensah divorced for the past eight years, lived with his five daughters at Agbogba in Accra.

To keep her from coming into contact with people, Mensah confined his daughter to their home and sexually assaulted her many times until she got pregnant.

On his arrest on Friday, June 6, Mensah confessed to the police that he had had sex with his daughter and admitted being the father of her child who is not a year old and whom he named Felicia Mensah.

He did so without the knowledge of his family because he said he did not want anyone to know about his affair with his daughter.

The prosecution said his daughter told the police that her father started making advances at her last year, and threatened to kill her if she refused to give in, so she obliged.

But, when he resumed making advances at her later after the child was born, she refused to give in and reported her ordeal to the Madina police who arrested him.

Cabbie Jailed For Stealing A Car

By Stephen K.Effah
Tuesday, 10 June 2008

A 47-year-old cabbie was last Thursday sentenced to four years’ imprisonment by a circuit court in Accra for stealing a taxi-cab he was entrusted with.

The cabbie, Awudu Nelson, was convicted on his own plea by the court presided over by Mrs. Georgina Mensah Datsa.

Presenting the case for the prosecution, Chief Inspector Mary Adika, told the court that Madam Juliana Addey told a friend of hers about her taxi-cab for which she needed a driver.

She said, on April 3, Madam Addey’s friend introduced Nelson to her as a taxi cab driver.

Consequently, Madam Addey engaged him to drive the taxi but asked him to park the car after work everyday at her house.

The prosecution told the court that since that very day, Madam Addey never set eyes on Nelson again. She then complained to her friend about the development and they mounted a search for Nelson.

According to the prosecution, on May 22, someone informed Madam Addey that Nelson was hiding at Agbogbloshie Market so she informed the Kaneshie Police and together they traced him to the market and arrested him.

During interrogation, Nelson told the police that while working on April 3, his first day of engagement, he stopped under the Kaneshie footbridge to pick a passenger, when he spotted a mini bus full of police officers so he sped off.

He said, he drove towards Abossey Okai where he abandoned the taxi and absconded.

He said when he went to the place later to pick the taxi, he could not find it there.

Stars Of The Future

By Stephen K.Effah
Saturday, 07 June 2008

IF the flair and performance exhibited by the 12 young men and women at the National Theatre in Accra last Saturday was anything to go by, then television viewers will for the next 10 weeks witness a classic and keenly contested show — Stars of the Future.

At the launch of the Season Three of the event last week, each of the 12 finalists, made up of five chaps and seven ladies, sang their hearts out to justify their inclusion in the ever-growing popular urban music reality TV show.

They are Max Joe, Dan, Adjoa, Max, Anita, Sheila, David, Stephanie, Adina, Deborah, Ike and Laureta.

Obviously, being their first performance on stage at the packed National Theatre auditorium, most of the contestants panicked, but that did not affect their rendition of songs from the camps of Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Alicia Keys, Lemar, Westlife and Luther Vandros among others.

Undoubtedly, this year’s event is expected to raise the bar from the previous ones won by Irene Logan and Justice Nhyira Owen in 2006 and 2007 respectively.

As exhibited at the launch, each of the 12 finalists is poised to battle out in a musical style for the ultimate prize of an international recording deal and a brand new car.

For the judges; singer Bibi Brew, recording engineer, Zapp Mallet and radio presenter, Doreen Andoh, it will be a herculean task to determine who becomes the next music star. And for the public who have 70 per cent of the votes, it will not be easy to choose a favourite due to the calibre of the contestants.

The Stars of the Future music reality TV show, the brainchild of Charter House Productions, aims at harnessing musical talents of people between the ages of 16 and 26 in the country.

Every week, the finalists would deliver live musical performances ranging from highlife through gospel to soul among others, to a large audience at different venues which will be telecast on GTV from June 22.

This year, radio favourites can also enjoy the performances on Citi FM in Accra, Kapital Radio in Kumasi and Skyy Power in Takoradi, according to the organisers.

The number of contestants would be trimmed down to four through weekly evictions which will be based on the contestants’ performance and the number of votes they secure. The final four would then battle it out at the grand finale of the event.

Court Refuses Bail To Four Dansoman Murder Suspects

By Stephen K.Effah
Tuesday, 03 June 2008

THE four people arrested for their complicity in the murder and robbery of the 72-year-old pensioner, Emmanuel Ayeh Asare, at his Dansoman Estate residence on February 29, were yesterday remanded in police custody after being refused bail by a magistrate court in Accra.

They are: Emmanuel Ayeh Asare, step grandson of the deceased and Jonas Kpakpo Allotey, unemployed, Abeiku Thompson, a drinking bar operator and Ayisha Razak, a hairdresser.

Two others, whose names the police gave only as Buju and Fuseini, suspected to have received or bought some of the stolen items, are on the run.

This was the second time that Ayeh Asare, popularly known as K.B and Thompson had appeared before the court.

Both Asare and Kpakpo, also known as Saamoa, are facing charges of conspiracy, murder and stealing, while Thompson and Ayisha are charged with dishonestly receiving.

Although their charges were read to them, their pleas were not taken. They are to appear again on June 17.

When the case was called, the prosecutor, police Inspector Joseph Kwao-Deho applied to substitute the charge sheet presented to the court on May 20, in view of the arrest of Saamoa and Ayisha. The application was granted by the court presided over by Ms Mariama Mamosa.

He told the court that the docket had been sent to the Attorney General’s Office for advice and the police are making efforts to arrest the other two suspects. He, therefore, requested that the accused should not be granted bail because they could interfere in investigations.

But counsel for Abeiku and Ayisha, Bannerman-Williams, objected, saying "so if it will take the Attorney-General 10 years to study the docket, would that mean they would continue to be in custody all this time?"

He argued that the charge preferred against his clients should not be linked with the murder charge preferred against Ayeh Asare and Kpakpo, since their involvement was after the murder had been committed.

He said in the case of Ayisha, the cloth was given to her for safe-keeping while Abeiku has totally denied receiving any item, adding "Saamoa denied having given any of the stolen items to Abeiku".

"Great injustice will be done if their (Ayisha and Abeiku) offence is tied up to that of K.B and Saamoa," he told the court, adding the A-G would even ask the police to de-link the charge after studying the docket.

However, the magistrate, refused the bail, but advised the investigator of the case to de-link the charge otherwise she would be compelled to grant Ayisha and Abeiku bail on their next appearance in court.

Reflecting On Festivals — A Critique Of NAFAC

By Stephen K. Effah, Akosombo
Saturday, 31 May 2008

WHAT started as a small festival in the 1960s in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region resulted in the birth of a National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFAC), to create a common platform for the promotion of national unity and integration through culture and arts.

Four decades down the lane, this unifying biennial initiative has been hit by a number of challenges ranging from postponement through lack of funds to continuing waning interest.

However, NAFAC has in some way, projected and promoted Ghanaian identity through culture and the arts on the international front, thus making it worthwhile.

At a four-day training workshop for some selected journalists reporting on culture, organised by the Cul-tural Initiatives Support Progra-mme, an EU funded programme, resource persons and participants made a critique of NAFAC.

Leading a discussion on the topic: "Reflecting on Festivals-A Critique of NAFAC", Efo Kodjo
Mawugbe, Director of the National Theatre, noted that it has become evident that traditional festivals are well established in the country than governmental festivals.

The governmental festivals, he explained, are those which are instituted by government to address certain needs in the country, and have changing themes all the time, like NAFAC and PANAFEST.

These festivals, he underscored, have not been internalised locally for the people of this country to appreciate and participate in them, saying "the people of Cape Coast for instance do not see themselves as part of PANAFEST. Meanwhile people take days off to attend their traditional festivals".

On NAFAC, he expressed concern about the lack of consistency, attributing it to non-flow of funds for its organisation, noting that it took 10 years to organise the Brong-Ahafo event after that of Eastern Region.

He said it is important that the needed funds are raised for the festival, noting "funds sometimes arrive late and in most cases, monies for the NAFAC celebration arrive after the event".

Further, he said, the traditional authorities and the various cultural groups invited to the festival mostly charge unreasonable prices for participating, noting "people want to be paid before they carry their chiefs in palanquins".

Efo Mawugbe admitted the fact that the organisation of NAFAC over the years has been fraught with problems, adding "perhaps, organisers have not done a review of the past events".
He underscored the need to have a permanent planning committee or secretariat which is currently absent in the system, so that the events could be planned ahead of time.

He said that NAFAC has benefited a lot from military regimes than in civilian governments, especially during General I.K. Acheampong’s rule, but said "the real politicians do not even want to hear about NAFAC.

On whether it is worthwhile to celebrate NAFAC in view of its challenges, Efo Mawugbe said "it is, because as a nation, there must be a time to take stock of things that are considered as our values. NAFAC is a forum to address the ills in society, like explicit lyrics and dances".

The Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture’s takeover of NAFAC organisation from the National Commission on Culture which has the rich experience and the right human resource could kill the festival, he said.

The Editor of the Graphic Showbiz, Nanabanyin Dadson, said "mediocrity" is what is collapsing NAFAC, noting that the event, especially the last one in Kumasi, was faced up to low participation and technical problems and described it as "a rather sad one", noting that the stages were improvised.

He expressed concern about how the country is "allowing politics to creep into the arts", as he recounted how the government made efforts to borrow money for the Wa NAFAC celebration, which never was the case in other regions.

Mr Kwasi Gyan Apenteng, Programme Coordinator of CISP, advocated a NAFAC Fund to provide financial resources for the organisation of the festival.

He noted that NAFAC has come to stay, saying "people are passionate about it and so we need to research into it to make sure that it is well planned and organised to make impact".

On his part, Appiah Agyei of CISP identified language at NAFAC celebrations as a barrier. He noted that the indigenous people often do not understand the English language used, thus they are deprived of information at the function.

Contributing, one of the participants, Maureen Apraku-Dentu of GTV, said people have not developed interest in NAFAC because they are not aware of the significance of the festival, and therefore called for media involvement in the festival.

Abidjan 'Mami Water'

Saturday, 31 May 2008

(This article is by a group of journalists reporting on culture, including myself, who visited a shrine during a four-day training workshop on culture at Akosombo.)

WHEN you go to the beach and see that large expanse of water, do you ever imagine there could be a well laid out city under there, populated by beings, half human, half fish, whose spiritual powers impact on human life and activity?

Well, just across the Adomi Bridge in the Eastern Region, there is the ‘Abidjan Mami Water’ shrine where a 71-year-old priest in charge claims they tap spiritual powers from Mami Water, a mermaid from a city under the sea, to break spells and heal a multiplicity of sicknesses.

Getting to Abidjan Mami water shrine, which is about four hundred metres on the right turn after the Adome Bridge from Atimpoku round- about, one should not find it difficult to locate, as almost everyone in the immediate vicinity knows where and how to get to it.

Upon arrival at the junction to the shrine, one is met with an erected wall with a roof supported by bamboo poles. On the wall is a mural of a Merman in a red sash on his torso and a blue sash enshrouding parts of his Piscean tail.

INSCRIPTION

In his right hand is a pistol and in his left, something that looks closely like a double headed sickle. To his right are two female human initiates and on his left are two dwarfs. Above his head is the inscription ‘ABIDJAN MAMI WATER’.

Once inside the village one is immediately aware of the pristine calm and immaculate cleanliness of the environment. Our entourage was met upon entering the community by a youth in his early twenties. He could speak passable Akan so we were able to communicate our intentions of meeting with the elders of this society.

A few paces further opens our view to a clearing in the middle of the village, its main feature being a very old and gnarled neem tree, which has roots defiantly snaking out of the ground forming seating areas for the inhabitants of the community.

We exchanged greetings with the few inhabitants we found seated there and they were open and welcoming, while ushering us into the main shrine compound.

TRADITIONS

We were offered seats. As we were about to sit, an elderly looking man in a batik print cloth wrapped on his waist, a white ‘Chicago Grand prix’ T-shirt on, and a white calico cloth draped on his neck, stepped out of one of the mud hut.

This turned out to be the keeper of this mystery, Efo Agbenyo. With a clean shaven head and a thin layer of greying beard, Efo looks more like your average grandpa instead of the head of an ancient secret African society. His elderly but yet youthful demeanour, hides his true years and he could easily pass for a man of fifty.

In Efo’s opinion, the traditions of the Mami Water shrine are void of evil or wrongdoing as the gods of his shrine abhor all such malevolence. When asked why the society spurred on by the doctrines of the Christian church is constantly on their case, and why movies portray them in such biased views; to this he simply said: "I do what I need to be doing on a daily basis, I speak evil of no one and I pay little attention to people who do."

Abidjan Mami Water as Efo is popularly referred to, simply snickered after hushing up his son who attempted to answer if Christians or pastors visit the shrine. To this question he simply said: "No comment!"

Leaving the compound, we step into the main shrine which is adorned with murals of rainbow coloured snakes, more mere-men and women. Surprisingly, within the corridor of the shrine gateway is a painting of Jesus Christ on the wall.

In explaining the reason for this merger of beliefs, he gave the history of the shrine which began with his late father Togbui Adawusu Dophe.
Togbui was said to have gone hunting one day as was his profession at the time, with a stroke of good luck that day, he bagged 14 Akrantie (grasscutter). Upon reaching his home, he fell into a deep coma, thus presumed dead by some. He ‘resurrected’ after seven days with instructions from Mami-water to set up a shrine.

POWERS

The picture of Jesus, Efo Agbenyo said, was commissioned by his father in response to the imagery he found in the aqueous world of Mami-Water.

Togbui Adawusu Dophe was well renowned and highly respected. One can obviously tell by the reverent way with which he is referred to or spoken of. Togbui moved the shrine to its present location in 1956, shortly after the Adomi Bridge was built.

According to Efo Agbenyo, Mami Water required a bigger water body to dwell in, so Togbui moved his whole family and shrine from Akatsi to Adome. He, however, passed away in 2003, at 150 years.

Further into the main shrine compound in an enclosure are numerous black and white photographs, among them are several prominent Ghanaians including former presidents J.J. Rawlings and Gen. E.K. Kotoka. When we inquired about the photos, he would not comment on them but he referred to one in particular who happened to be a man hoping to join the police service, but was rejected onseveral occasions was finally drafted after Mami Water helped him out.

Efo also claims to have curative and healing powers, the shrine, he also said, deals with women with issues of barrenness, spiritual cleansing and aid people who want visas to travel. People are said to travel from all over the country, neighbouring countries and even from overseas to consult Mami Water.

Speaking to some inhabitants of the community, we inquired of their opinion on the shrine about an elderly woman seated on the ground peeling some cassava. She eloquently started with "my name is Comfort Adjeku."

When we proceeded to question her in English, the next line was in Ewe and we had to recruit the services of a translator. In Comfort’s view, the shrine’s presence in the community brought them good luck and bountiful produce during harvest. She was of the view that it is still relevant and pertinent in these times.

Our translator, Sammy, a Junior High School student, living at Atimpoku was interviewed next.. In his view the shrine was no longer relevant as the founder Togbui Adawusu had passed on.

VIEWPOINT

Regardless of what anyone’s viewpoint is, the shrine definitely commands authority and respect of not only the indigenous people and visitors, but also, of traditional leaders and other shrines within the vicinity and elsewhere. One proof of such respect accorded the Abidjan Mami-Water shrine, is a certificate of honour from the Akwamu stool, presented by Otumfuo Opoku Ware II, and awarded in 1987 by Odeneho Kwafo Akoto II, Akwamuhene.

Journalists To Acquire Skills In Culture Reporting

By Stephen K. Effah
Saturday, 24 May 2008

The first in a series of training workshops aimed at polishing the skills and capacity of mid-career and junior level journalists engaged in reporting on culture in the country begins today at Akosombo.

About 20 journalists have been selected from both the private and state-owned print and electronic media to participate in the four-day workshop being organised by the Cultural Initiatives Support Programme (CISP), an E.U sponsored initiative.

The workshop, which will be led by Dr. Audrey Gadzekpo, acting Director of the School of Communication Studies of the University of Ghana, will help orient the journalists towards adopting a broader perspective of culture and more innovative ways of approaching culture coverage.

It will also provide an opportunity to sensitise the participants on common terminologies, key institutions, structures, forms and norms that generally comprises culture
According to the CISP, although most Ghanaians assert great pride in their culture, there is remarkable little systematic reporting on that broad and general area in the country.

"Culture as reflected in media content is often reduced to traditional drumming, dancing and festivals, and reportage in this area is episodic, sporadic and lacking depth and creativity," it stressed.

It said that only a few newspaper articles, radio and television programmes provide comprehensive and regular reportage on culture as manifested variously throughout Ghanaian life.

It also noted that the curricula of journalism training institutions have neglected culture as an important area of reporting and developed its development as is the case in other specialised areas.

That, it explained, has resulted in only a few practising journalists who are interested in covering stories on culture, adding "the Ghanaian media continue to show glaring deficiencies in journalistic skills and capacity to cover culture."

It said it is in the light of this that the workshop is being organised to address these challenges,
which will in effect highlight and promote cultural issues for development in the country.

AMA Contempt Case Adjourned Again

By Stephen K. Effah
Tuesday, 20 May 2008

An Accra High Court yesterday adjourned to May 28, a contempt suit against the Accra Metropolitan Assembly and its Chief Executive, Stanley Nii Adjiri Blankson, for failing to eject hawkers from the Knustford Avenue in Accra Central Business District.

The adjournment, the third in succession, followed an affidavit in opposition filed by the assembly to contest the case, and is to afford Godfred Yeboah Dame, counsel for the plaintiff, time to respond to the application which he is yet to be served with.

Labib C. Seraphim, owner of Seraphim Department Stores, filed a motion on notice to impose a heavy fine on the assembly and commit its boss to prison for the assembly’s refusal to evict hawkers from the Knustford Avenue.

He is again seeking an order to compel the assembly and its Chief Executive to discharge their obligation by evicting hawkers from Knustford Avenue to enable vehicular access to stores in the area.

The court, presided over by Justice Victor Ofoe, on April 22, adjourned the proceedings to May 5 and subsequently to yesterday, due to the difficulty by the plaintiff’s counsel to effect service on Mr Adjiri-Blankson personally.

Mr Dame had told the court on April 22, that bailiffs had been to the assembly’s office on three occasions but did not meet the Chief Executive, hence their inability to serve him.

But Mrs Selina Fenteng, counsel for the assembly, told the court that Mr Blankson had then been out of the court’s jurisdiction.

On February 28, 2005, the plaintiff commenced action against the assembly, and on April 10, 2006, the Fast Track High Court granted the plaintiff all the relief sought.
This included an order to compel the assembly to provide vehicular access to Knustford Avenue and another order restraining the defendants from converting Knustford Avenue into a market.

The court, in granting the relief in its judgement, declared that the action of the assembly in converting the Knustford Avenue into a market for hawkers was unlawful and asked it to discharge its obligation of evicting the hawkers.

It further asked the assembly to provide vehicular access to Knustford Avenue and restrain the Assembly from ever converting the place into a market for hawkers.

The plaintiff said the AMA had for the past two years refused to carry out the orders and hawkers continued to exercise "absolute dominion" at the place, which he said is gravely hampering the lawful business activities in the area.

Organisers Surprised At Criticism Over MTN Music Awards

By Stephen K. Effah
Saturday, 17 May 2008

The organisers of the annual MTN Ghana Music Awards Festival, Charter House, have expressed surprise at the criticism and allegation by the public that it influenced the results of this year’s awards.

"We were not privy to whatever results that were announced…so we were surprised at what people were saying about who should have won what" on the night of the awards ceremony, Theresa Ayaode, the Executive Director, stated on Tuesday.

Addressing the media at a ceremony to present the cash component of the prize to the award
winners, Mrs. Ayoade noted that her organisation had no hand in the results of the awards which was presented to them on the night of the awards on stage.

A section of the media and the public have after the awards night on April 25, questioned the credibility of some of the awards categories, especially the Best Female Vocal Performance and Record Label of the Year won by Irene and Jane, and Kwaw Kesse’s Mad Time Entertainment respectively.

She pointed out that the results of the awards were collated by KPMG, an independent event statistician, noting that the winners were voted for by the public, the selection committee and the planning committee.

"KPMG has a reputation to protect and will not do anything to tarnish its image," she noted, and urged all, especially the media, to be circumspect in their write ups and utterances regarding the awards.

Mrs.Ayaode said that while her organisation welcomes criticisms, such critiques should be "constructive", adding that persistent condemnation of the awards could have a negative effect on the festival since the main sponsors could pull out.

She commended all the committees, the title sponsor, MTN and the media for their various support that made the awards ceremony a success.

Commenting on the Ghana Association of Phonographic Industries’ boycott, she said that although she received the boycott letter, it came a few hours to the event and there was nothing they could have done.

She said Charter House has written to them to acknowledge receipt of their letter, and requested a meeting with the GAPI to discuss their grievances put forward in the letter with the view to addressing them.

In all, each of the award winners was given GH¢ 1,000. Kwaw Kesse, who won the ultimate award of Artiste of the Year was given an additional GH¢ 3,000.

DANSOMAN MURDER SUSPECT GRABBED

By Stephen K. Effah
Thursday, 15 May 2008


Emmanuel Ayeh Asare, the prime suspect in the robbery and murder of the 72-year-old pensioner, at Dansoman Estate, Accra, was yesterday arrested by the Dansoman Police at his hideout at Kasoa, in the Central Region.

The breakthrough followed a 12-week intensive manhunt for the 24-year-old, popularly known as ‘KB’ a step grandson of the deceased, Emmanuel Ayeh, who was buried on May 3.

In his statement to the police shortly after his arrest, KB admitted having hatched the idea of robbing Mr Ayeh with his friend, Adjei Kpakpo, a narcotics dealer whom he had known for only a week before the incident, that resulted in the death of Mr Ayeh.

After interrogating KB, a team of police personnel from the Dansoman Police and the Greater Accra Regional Police Command raided a safe haven for drug addicts at Odorkor where Kpakpo was said to be residing but was told he vacated the place two months ago.

However, the police succeeded in arresting a 44-year-old man, Abeiku Thompson, a drinking bar operator who allegedly bought the robbery items.

Narrating events that led to the death of his step grandfather, KB told the police that he had been smoking "wee" for the past four years, and that their motive for the February 29 attack was "to rob the old man of monies."

He said he told Kpakpo about some money he saw in Mr Ayeh’s house which he wanted them to steal. He said that a week later he got to know that his grandmother had travelled, so he went to the house with Kpakpo to steal the money.

When they got to the house, the door was locked and there was nobody inside. "We waited outside for sometime before I saw Mr Ayeh coming. He opened the main gate and went to his room and I followed him inside," KB told the police.

KB said that he had a chat with Mr Ayeh at his living room while Kpakpo waited outside.
He later sneaked into Mr Ayeh’s bedroom. "I was in the bedroom stealing when I heard some noise in the living room so I rushed there and saw Kpakpo struggling with Mr Ayeh."

According to him, he helped Kpakpo to tie Mr.Ayeh’s neck and hands with telephone wires, after which he also tied the old man’s legs, and "we carried him to the bedroom."

Afterwards, he said that he escorted Kpakpo to the main gate with the stolen items which included GH¢230 and he returned to the bedroom only to find blood oozing out of Mr Ayeh’s mouth. "I loosened the wire on his neck and wiped the blood before fleeing," he recalled.

He said that when he came out of the main gate, he met two of his friends whom he had a brief conversation with before leaving for Odorkor to join Kpakpo.

After spending three days at Kpakpo’s place, he said, he went into hiding at Agona Swedru where he spent a month before leaving for Kasoa in the first week of April.

Looking rather remorseful he told the interrogators that he never heard about the death of Mr Ayeh until yesterday when he was arrested by the police, adding "I feel really regretful."

Mrs Joyce Umanta, daughter of the deceased told the Times yesterday that although the family members had not been informed about K.B’s arrest, she was thankful to God that he has been arrested.

Arts In The Garden

By Stephen K. Effah
Saturday, 10 May 2008

THE Swiss Ambassador to Ghana, Nicholas Lang, on Wednesday hosted some art works of four renowned African contemporary artists at his maiden arts exhibition held at his residence in Accra.

Dubbed: "Arts in the Garden," the exhibition, the second of which is to be held next year, forms part of the ambassador’s quest to promote young but less known contemporary Ghanaian artists in order for them to market their works.

The exhibition featured works on the Ghanaian culture, environment and everyday situations and were by Professor Ablade Glover of Artists Alliance Gallery, Kofi Agor-sor and Wiz Kudowor, all from Ghana, and Joseph Ogunsunlade Kolawole, a Nigerian living in Ghana.

The four artists have in their various capacities and specialities, gained remarkable reputation that goes beyond their borders to Europe,Asia and America, and have mounted and participated in various international exhibitions.

Mr Lang, who described himself as an ardent contemporary art fan, told Times Weekend that his bid to support young unknown artists stemmed from the great potential they have.

He explained that although his support will not be monetary, he would create platforms for young contemporary artists in the country to showcase and market their works.

He observed that Ghanaians are not much conversant with contemproary arts, and therefore have not shown much interest in it, as is the case in Europe and elsewhere, noting that this has made it "difficult to make a living out of their works."

The Ambassador said perhaps, most people in the country do not enjoy contemporary arts because they do not understand or get the idea behind those works by the artists.

Mr Lang described Ghanaian artists as "open minded," whose works he sees to be of international standards, saying "their works are of a very high standard and they match what you see elsewhere".

He said that it is important that one feels art work,understands it and becomes part of it, adding that "there is more behind art, thus the ordinary works we see", saying "art works are self-evident".

A. F. Spinnler, a Swiss and admirer of African contemporary art, underscored the high quality standards of art works from Ghana and Africa as a whole, but said the artists have a huge task of marketing their work in the competitive America and Europe markets.

With more than 150 contemporary art collections in his house, Mr.Spinnler outdoored a book focusing on a time window from 1995 to 2005 paintings from five and 32 artists in Ghana and Nigeria respectivly.

He said that he is "fascinated by Ghana, its people, and especially its arts".

Musicians Dream Of One-Stop Music Centre

By Stephen K. Effah
Saturday, 10 May 2008

Ghanaian musicians have appealed to the government to assist the music industry to establish the first-ever one-stop music centre to cater for the entertainment needs of the large number of visitors into the country.

They explained that Ghana has become a tourism destination in Africa, hence the need for a vibrant entertainment industry where one could enjoy live music, have access to a recording studio, a library, theatre and musicians hall of fame among others.

A member of the Musicians Union of Ghana, Amandzeba Nat Brew, made the call when some winners of the ninth Ghana Music Awards Festival called on the Minister of Chieftaincy and Culture, Sampson K. Boafo, at his office in Accra yesterday.

Amandzeba said that such a one-stop music centre would also boost the music industry, which he noted, "is a focal point of our development.We are the voice of the people so it will be proper for government to initiate a one-stop music centre."

He commended President J.A. Kufuor for the establishment of the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture which, he said, will among other things, help preserve and market the rich culture of the country.

He urged the minister to arrange a meeting between President Kufuor and the musicians in order for them to table their request before him for consideration.

Mr. Boafo assured the musicians that the government would create the enabling environment and facilitiate their activities to ensure that the industry thrives, and urged them to always take advantage of that to improve their work.

He asked the musicians to portray the unique culture of the country on the international scene, saying, "you must be able to come out with a unique style typical of Ghana."

The minister again took the opportunity to advise the musicians to avoid obscenity in their presentations stressing that they should be ambassadors of the Ghanaian culture.

He urged them to also use their work to further promote the peace being enjoyed in the country, "especially as we prepare towards the upcoming general election in December."

Mr. Boafo asked the musicians to engage professionals like managers, auditors and directors among others to help them in their musical career, noting "that is how you can work well and be managed properly."

Having a management, he stressed, would also help them to make the neccessary investment that would make them profitable.

He commended the award winners for their various works which earned them the awards. He also thanked Charter House Productions, organisers of the awards for the initiative and urged them to improve upon subsequent events.

In a related development, all the ninth MTN Ghana Music Awards Festival award winners will on Tuesday, May 13, be presented with their cash prizes at an event that will be used to address issues raised after the awards festival.

On top of the issues will be the award of the Record Label of the Year, Best Female Vocal Performance of the Year, and whether Cee and Ohemaa Mercy who boycotted the awards night, should be given their money or not.

E.U Week Drawing Competition- Winners Receive Prizes

By Stephen K.Effah
Saturday, 10 May 2008

Ten pupils were on Thursday presented with their prizes for their outstanding performance in a drawing competition with a focus on gender equality which formed part of the European Week celebration in Ghana.

The children, aged between eight and 10, were presented with school bags stocked with stationery.

They include Regina Sai Obodai, Michaela Efua Appiah, Leets Agbado, Maama Akita, Esther Dede and Enamm Ati Woka, all of Morning Star School in Accra.

The rest are Aretha Bamford of Akosombo International School, Sharon Asomani Wiafe of Bishop Bowers School, Eugene Kwajaye Hayford of Believers Hope Preparatory School and Rhoda Naa Akuyea of St. Bernadette Soubirous School.

Their works were selected from 88 entries received from seven out of the 10 regions in the competition, which was launched on March 8, and aimed at raising awareness on the need for a gender balanced society.

The children, through their drawings, depicted the many skills and potentials that men and women have in common, and suggested how equality can be incorporated into households through sharing of household chores equally.

Speaking at an exhibition of the drawings in Accra on Thursday, Filiberto Ceriani Sebregondi, Head of the European Commission Delegation in Ghana, said the children also highlighted some of the special assets nature has given to women "making them even more equal or unique as mothers".

He said that the 10 drawings will represent one of the African countries in the ACP region, noting that two drawings each will be selected from the ACP countries, Asia, Latin America, the Mediterranean and the neighbouring countries of the EU to receive 1,000 euros.

Mr Sebregondi said the works of the global winners would be published into a booklet for worldwide distribution, and also be used for an exhibition in Brussels during this year’s international day for the elimination of violence against women.

He said that all over the world today, girls and women have less opportunities than boys and men, especially in education and their professional lives.

"Therefore, equality between women and men was chosen as the topic of a drawing competition which the European Commission in Brussels launched on International World Women’s Day 2008," he stated.

He indicated that it is not only knowledge and laws, education and justice, brains and stamina, that are needed to ensure gender equality in the world today but also vision and creativity.

He commended all children who participated in the event and demonstrated very creative ideas on gender equality.

Museums Board To Decide On New Use For James Fort

By Stephen K. Effah
Saturday, 10 May 2008

THE Ghana Museums and Monuments Board says it is considering what to use the James Fort Prison for after a successful evacuation of all the 979 inmates to other prisons nationwide.

Although it did not state exactly what it intends to use the facility for, a source at the board told the Times on Wednesday that it would only announce that when the Ghana Prisons Service offically hands over the facility to it.

The fort was built in 1673 for slave trading and was converted into a prison after the infamous trade. But the Ghana Bar Association last year asked the government to immediately relocate the inmates due to the dilapidated state of the fort.


The Times gathered that the handing over was supposed to have been done in March but was postponed indefinately at the last minute following the unavailability of President J.A. Kufuor who was to do it.

When contacted, a source at the Prisons Public Relations Office, told the Times that the service was waiting for the presidency to fix a date for the handing over ceremony.

"Once the date is fixed, we will hand over the facility to the Museums and Monuments Board," the source told the Times.

Police Gather Vital Info On Lost Cocaine

By Stephen K.Effah
Tuesday, 06 May 2008

THE Police Administration says that although it has gathered "some level of sensitive information" linking some personalities and companies to the 67 cartons or 1,970 kilos of cocaine seized on the shores of Prampram, it is not ready to make it public.

DSP Kwasi Ofori, Director of Police Public Affairs, told journalists yesterday that the police have established a link between some individuals and companies to the cocaine but the police is "not prepared" to come out with their names now.

It will be too early and unprofessional to disclose their names while they are being investigated, he said, adding that those involved will later be identeified.

DSP Ofori was briefing newsmen after a tour of the Exhibit Store at the Police CID Headquarters in Accra, where 2.13 per cent of the 1,970 kilogramme of cocaine was substituted. The loss of cocaine was the subject of a committee of enquiry chaired by Mr Kojo Armah, a Member of Parliament.

The tour of the Exhibit Store, he said, forms part of the police’s Open Door policy and was also to afford journalists the opportunity to gain first-hand information on the store to stem speculations in the media.

He said that the police are concerned about the missing cocaine from the exhibit store, and would therefore use both their internal and external arrangements to bring the perpetrators to justice.

DSP Ofori said police administration demonstrated enough commitment to the Kojo Armah Committee set up by the Interior Ministry to investigate the matter, adding that the police made available to the committee, all the necessary documents, the exhibits store and police personnel who were needed in the investigation.

He said the police are bent on clamping down on the drug trade and the recent numerous arrests made attest to that and stressed that the police would not cover up any personnel found culpable.

Dansoman Police Slam Bereaved Family

By Stephen K. Effah
Tuesday, 29 April 2008

THE Dansoman Police say that a family member of the 72-year-old pensioner who was murdered on February 29 at his Dansoman Estate residence, is leaking information to the prime suspect, Emmanuel Ayeh Asare, alias K.B.

However, a family spokesperson denies this.

The District Commander, Superintendant Alex Yartey Tawiah, told the Times yesterday that a member of the family, whose name the police are withholding, was the person who gave money to the prime suspect, "K.B." step-grandson of the late Emmanuel Kwasi Ayeh, to escape.

According to him, a police intelligence report has revealed that "the prime suspect has been communicating with a member of the family who gave him money to abscond," noting that some members of the family are quiet on the issue.

Supt. Tawiah said the police are to invite that family member for interrogation.

Meanwhile, he has denied allegations levelled against his outfit in a petition to the Inspector General of Police by the family.

He expressed surprise at the action by the family but said "this won’t stop us from doing our work."Two weeks ago, the family petitioned the IGP to, among other things, reprimand and take over investigations of the murder case from the Dansoman Police Command in view of the unprofessional manner in which it had handled the case so far.

The family is also asking the IGP to compel the Dansoman Police to ensure the refund of the GH¢466 that Nana Sei managed to extort from them between March 6 and March 23, under the pretext of using it to facilitate investigations, as they got to know Nana Sei through them.

But Supt.Tawiah maintained that his outfit never introduced Nana Sei Kwadwo, the imposter, to any member of the family as a police officer detailed to handle the case as the family members suggested in the petition.

He said that Nana Sei, who has been parading as a police officer and extorting money from unsuspecting people, got to know about the murder case and the family members when he met them at the police station where he had a case pending against him.

The Commander said that he was surprised that the family members did not inform him when they gave Nana Sei a car and money to facilitate investigations to arrest the prime suspect.

He told the Times that investigations into the matter are ongoing and his outfit would not allow the allegations to disturb them, saying "ours is to get to the bottom of the matter by bringing the perpetrators to book."

He said he is yet to receive a response from the IGP regarding the allegations against his outfit. He therefore urged the family members to cooperate with the police and appealed to the public who may have information on the whereabouts of K.B to report to the nearest police station.

However, when contacted, Mrs Joyce Umanta, daughter of the deceased, denied the allegation by the Commander, saying that on March 6, when her mother and brother were picked up by the police for interrogation, Nana Sei asserted that her mother had given money to K.B. to escape but her mother denied it.

Mrs.Umanta said, "I called Nana Sei to ask him about it and he told me that it was my sister-in-law who told him that," but when she later called her sister-in-law, she denied having told Nana Sei anything.

Mrs Umanta said she then phoned Nana Sei about it, but he could not defend his claim and he "brushed over it and said she is lying."

Mrs. Umanta explained that her mother has been at home since the murder case, and was not even on phone at that time, "so I asked Nana Sei, how did my mother gave K.B money to escape?"

On whether the family has received a response to their petition to the IGP, she said, they were invited to the Police Headquarters last Thursday where their statement was taken.

She said that the family and the Dansoman Police were supposed to have met the police officer handling the petition at the Police Headquarters yesterday but the Dansoman Police did not turn up, and the meeting was postponed.

She said the officer told her that another meeting will be arranged between the family and the Dansoman Police at the Police Headquarters.

Breakthrough Soon On New Malaria Vaccine

By Stephen K. Effah
Tuesday, 29 April 2008

Research scientists from Africa are on the verge of discovering a safe and effective malaria vaccine which has the potential to save thousands of lives in Africa, Dr Daniel Ansong of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology School of Medical Sciences, has said.

"We are closer than ever before to having a safe and effective malaria vaccine…that will make a positive impact on the economy and the capacity of our health care system," he noted.

Speaking on the topic: "The search for malaria vaccine, where are we now?" at a forum to mark this year’s World Malaria Day in Accra last Friday, he said that research on the vaccine in Ghana and other African countries "is progressing well".

The forum was organised by the Africa Media and Malaria Research Network in collaboration with Malaria Clinical Trials Alliance and Malaria Consortium of Mozambique.

Dr Ansong said the vaccine was being tried in Ghana, Tanzania, Kenya, Malawi, Gabon, Burkina Faso and Mozambique.

The trial in Ghana started in 2006 by the Kintampo Health Research Centre and the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research, and is expected to enter the third phase this year.

It will end in 2011 for onward submission of the vaccine results to the regulatory authorities for approval and subsequent introduction to the market.

He said the vaccine would be "a key component of defeating malaria" which kills more than one million children annually, pointing out that vaccines are playing a leading role in the prevention of diseases like tuberculosis, polio and tetanus

He said results from the Mozambique trials showed a 49 per cent efficacy against severe malaria for 18 months in children between one and four years, while he described the results from Ghana’s trial as "encouraging" and the safety profile of the vaccine as "good".

He said 16,000 children are expected to be recruited across Africa for the third phase of the trial to determine the safety of the vaccine on a larger scale.

"We can no longer sit on our hands and accept the burden it (malaria) imposes," Dr Ansong said noting that 90 per cent of malaria deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa with a child dying every 30 seconds and within 48 hours of developing the symptoms.

Giving the link between HIV and malaria, Dr. Michael Ofori of the Nugochi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, said HIV and malaria influence each other. "HIV is known to impair elements of the immune system which is important in host-defence against malaria."

Malaria on the other hand, he said, has the potential to accelerate HIV disease’s progression through increased replication but added that it has not been proven anywhere in science that mosquitoes can transmit HIV to a person as the virus does not survive in mosquitoes.

‘Africa Must Intervene In Zimbabwe’

By Stephen K. Effah
Wednesday, 23 April 2008

THE Zimbabwean opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, who was in Accra yesterday, at the end of a West African tour, has called on all African leaders to intervene in the electoral crisis that has hit his country following last month’s disputed election.

African leaders, he said must acknowledge that he won the presidential election and therefore, convince the incumbent, President Robert Mugabe, leader of the Zanu-PF party, to accept defeat and "make a graceful exit".

"We hoped that he (Mugabe) would accept defeat and honourable exit, for a peaceful transition," Mr.Tsvangirai told reporters at a news conference in Accra yesterday after meeting with UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, and heads of state at the ongoing UNCTAD.

The news conference was organised by the Institute of Economic Affairs on whose ticket Mr Tsvangirai was in Ghana.

"We know what he (Mugabe) has contributed… as a liberation hero on our continent but he must respect it when the people of Zimbabwe speak," the leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), said.

"There is no basis for a run-off in the presidential election," he said, adding, "I will not participate in a stage-managed run-off simply because Robert Mugabe does not want to accept that we won this election decisively."

Mr Tsvangirai, whose party won majority seats in parliament, said Mr. Mugabe is using the delay in the release of the presidential results to "engineer a run-off" in spite of the polling stations results that he won decisively.

He said that the continent may suffer serious disrepute if it allows Mr. Mugabe to undermine the result of a democratic election by refusing to transfer power, knowing that he has lost the popular support of the people.

"If Mugabe’s regime wants to rule as an illegitimate government, it is their choice. All we can say is that we will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that the whole world confirms that he is illegitimate," he said.

He accused Mr. Mugabe of a carefully planned and orchestrated military plan, which he said, "has changed the electoral environment and created an environment of fear with people being killed and intimidated as I speak."

"Zimbabwe is burning," he said, noting that Mr Mugabe and his "band of criminals have unleashed violence on the people as punishment for choosing to vote for a change in the country."
So far, he said, 10 people have been killed, 500 injured and hospitalised, while thousands have fled their homes.

On allegations he is being backed by European countries like the U.K and Australia to get Mr Mugabe out of power, he said, "I’m under the mandate of the people of Zimbabwe, and not under any brief of anybody."

Mr Tsvangirai, who described himself as a "son of Africa" said, the MDC is disturbed by the role being played by the South African President, Thabo Mbeki, in undermining the Zimbabwean people’s victory in the election.

"We are disturbed by his conduct as a mediator, particularly by his comments regarding the crisis in our country as well as his disinformation campaign during the recent SADC meeting in Mauritius as well as during the just ended UN Security Council meeting in New York," he said.

He said although he does not object to his involvement in the mediation, he advised that he is not given a key role in the mediation.

He called on Mr Mbeki to be bold and utilise the opportunity "to side with the people of Zimbabwe and not with any political party."