| News Home (Main Page) |  | | LATEST WORLD NEWS | | | | | NEWS ARCHIVE 2009 | | NEWS ARCHIVE 2008 | | NEWS ARCHIVE 2007 | | PHOTO REPORTS | | VIDEO REPORTS | | ARTS in GHANA | | Food & Drinks in Ghana |  | | Africa Cup 2008 | | Ghana Hotels | | Links / Websites | | Ghana Districts | | Ghana Tourism | | Ghana Adinkra | Names in Ghana | | | | * 11.06.2010 | Interpol arrests alleged drug baron connected with missing cocaine * Source: GNA | Accra, June 11, GNA - Pierre Wadini, the man believed to be behind the missing 42 kilogrammes of cocaine at the Police Headquarters Exhibit Room in 2006, has been nabbed by Interpol.
Wadini, a 34-year-old Senegalese and Lebanese, who was arrested by Interpol Washington for holding multiple passports, had been on Ghana's wanted list for drug trafficking.
Mr Yaw Akrasi-Sarpong, Executive Secretary of Narcotics Control Board (NACOB), told journalists about the arrest in Accra on Friday. In 2006, security personnel intercepted a vehicle with quantities of cocaine at Prampram in the Greater Accra Region and kept them in the Police Headquarters Exhibit Room.
Forty-two kilogrammes of cocaine got missing after it had been replaced with cassava dough popularly known as "kokonte."
Mr Akrasi-Sarpong said NACOB would request Interpol Washington to extradite Wadini to Ghana to be tried; adding arrangement on his extradition would be undertaken by the Ministries of Justice and the Interior.
He said that Interpol circulated lists to its sister organisations on Wadini and he was eventually arrested by Interpol Washington. Mr Akrasi-Sarpong stressed the need to de-politicise the fight against drugs and called on stakeholders to help in the crusade. He pointed out that the fight against drugs could not be fought by government alone and appealed to trades unions, faith based churches and civil societies to lend their support.
Mr Akrasi-Sarpong called for the strengthening of Ghana's borders adding "we need to engage government to strengthen surveillance at our borders". On the international list of drugs, he said Ghana had some political and businessmen on the list and that NACOB would not hesitate to arrest and prosecute people irrespective of their political affiliation. On NACOB's vision, Mr Akrasi-Sarpong said it intended to build a state-of-the-art rehabilitation centre for drug addicts. He appealed to the media to publicise dangers of drugs to the youth adding NACOB was ready to offer training to journalists. | | . | | . | | . | | . | | . | | ______________________ |
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| Ghana TV News 11th June 2010 + Latest Ghana News | * Ghana TV News 11th June 2010 + Latest Ghana News | | | | Low turnout on day one of voters' registration * Source: GNA | | Kumasi, June 11, GNA - The nationwide voters' registration exercise experienced a low turnout at most of the registration centres in the Kumasi Metropolis on Friday.
The 10-day exercise provides opportunity for Ghanaians who have just turned 18 years and other qualified people who could not previously register to get their names on the electoral roll. Lost voter Identification Cards would also be replaced during the period.
The registration officers attributed the poor turnout to the opening of prestigious FIFA world cup tournament in South Africa and expressed optimism that the registration would pick up. At the Asafo AME Zion, Mr Mohammed Appau, the registration officer, told the GNA that only 16 people had registered, six-and-a-half hours into the exercise.
He said registration officers had all the necessary materials to ensure a successful exercise. When GNA visited the Central Police Station Polling Centre, 19 persons had shown up and at the Asem Boys School 26 people had registered as at mid-day.
Other places visited included Suame State Boys, Nsuase, Ayeduase M/A, and Anwomaso, Primary school. | Sekondi-Takoradi workers oppose high utility tariffs * Source: GNA | Takoradi, June 11, GNA - Members of the Sekondi-Takoradi District Council of Labour (STDCL) have added their voice to the call on the government to impress on the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) to reduce the increase in electricity and water tariffs in order to meet the pocket of the ordinary Ghanaian.
Describing the increment as a killer, the workers at their emergency meeting to deliberate on the high tariffs in Takoradi on Thursday said the 89 and 46 percent increments in electricity and water respectively were not commensurate with the 10 percent increase in workers' salaries. They expressed surprise that while the 10 percent salary increment announced by the government had not reflected in their pockets, the high utility tariffs was to take immediate effect.
Majority of the workers noted that the leadership of the Trades Union Congress of Ghana (TUC) had been very considerate to issues affecting workers as against the TUC in the past who took quick decisions including nationwide strike action.
They appealed to the government to compel all government establishments to use pre-paid meters and government should also settle all arrears owed the Electricity Company of Ghana. | Ho Workers to hit the streets over utility tariffs * Source: GNA | Ho, June 11, GNA - Labour in Ho under the aegis of the District Coun cil of Labour (DCL), has threatened strike if government fails to reduce the recent hikes in water and electricity tariffs. "This street action is the only language government understands. The
percentage increases are too high for workers to bear." Ms Vivian Abla Adoboe-Tefe of the Communications Workers Union (CWU) said at the DCL's meeting on Thursday.
The electricity and water tariffs had gone up by 89 and 36 percent respectively. Mr Maxwel Akoto-Mireku, briefing the well-attended emergency meeting
said the Ghana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) had slammed the increases as too high and was seeking support from the base unions to tackle government on
the issue. He said Labour thinks the Public Utility Regulatory Commission (PURC ) did not consult enough and that the reasons of recapitalization and meeti ng cost of production were flawed and not defensible.
Mr Akoto-Mireku said government in accepting the increases and going on to justify them was not being responsive to the welfare needs of the peop le. Mr Gordon Bodza, Industrial Relations Officer of the Public Service Workers Union (PSWU) in the Region said government could have devised mea ns of shoring up the utility companies rather than passing all the cost to t he people. He said it was pity for workers to be slapped with these increases w hen their salaries remained static.
Emmanuel Baidoo of the Ghana Statistical Service said the zero to 50 units electric consumption lifeline, did not actually benefit the poor because most poor Ghanaians live in compound houses sharing meters that exceed the consumption limit. A resolution signed by DCL Chairman Bright Agyei-Acheampong and Maxw ell Akoto-Mireku, Secretary GTUC, said it feared the tariffs could result in layoffs and also expressed apprehension about recent increases in road to lls and insurance premiums. It said DCL reject the increases and call for a downward review of t he rates. It gave PURC up to the end of next week to review the rates. The resolution said "if government of Ghana cannot uphold our intere st we will do so on our own". | Amnesty International, Ghana, calls for abolition of death penalty * Source: GNA | Accra, June 11, GNA - Mr. Lawrence Amesu, Director of Amnesty International, Ghana, on Friday appealed to Government to abolish the death penalty in the country.
He noted that Ghana was among countries in West Africa that had retained the law on death penalty, although in practice there had not been any execution in the country since 1993. Mr. Amesu, who was addressing a press conference under the theme: "Time to Abolish the Death Penalty in Ghana", in Accra, said Ghana had 99 prisoners on the death row.
He noted that for the past 10 years, 95 nations had abolished laws on capital punishment for all crimes adding "We all need to take collective action immediately to avoid these callous and inhuman bloodshed in Africa and the world,".
Mr. Amesu called on governments of Ghana, Nigeria, Mauritania, Libya, Iran, Iraq to end executions and threats of executions. Mr Vincent Adzahlie-Mensah, Board Chairman of Amnesty International, Ghana, said that death penalty was the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading form of punishment, which violated the right to life. He said: "the death penalty is irrevocable, coupled with a justice system that is prone to human error and prejudice. The risk of executing an innocent person is ever present".
Mr Adzahlie-Mensah noted that most people advocated the death penalty in the name of "victims' rights but was an inappropriate and unacceptable response to violent crime.
He appealed to journalists to educate the people on issues that were illegal under the domestic laws and international human rights standards and the need to abolish the death penalty to protect people against some of these infractions. Mr Tuinese Edward Amuzu, a legal practitioner, said it was impossible to overcome the menace of death sentence even if new evidence exonerated those convicted. He asked government to endeavour to remove the death penalty from the constitution. | Eighty-six-year-old school block collapses on children * Source: GNA | Apam (C/R), June 11, GNA - The roofing of a two-unit block for Apam Methodist A and C Primary School has carved in during school hours on Wednesday, injuring 14 children. The injured were treated and discharged at the Apam Catholic Hospital whilst one whose condition was serious was referred to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital. Miss Stella Emma Addision, a teacher, told newsmen that because of hea vy rains that morning many of the children had not reported as at 0920 hours when the accident occurred .. She said she was getting ready to start lessons when she heard noise from the roofing and saw that
the scantlings had started dismantling. She ordered the children, numbering about 50, to get out of the room but before those sitting at the back could run, the roofing carved in injuring some of them. Mrs Marvis Anyanful, the headmistress, said the building, which was constructed in 1924, had not seen any maintenance since then. She attributed the accident to the effect of erosion which had made s ome of the pillars supporting the building to fall off. Mrs Anyanful appealed to the Gomoa West District Assembly, donor agencies and the Methodist Church to help re-roof the building to prevent interruption of the childr en's education. The Gomoa East District Chief Executive, Mr Isaac Ahunu-Armah, led a team including Mr Fred Addai, the District Co-ordinating Director, and Mr Daniel Domie District Nationa l Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), visited the school and the homes of the affected children to express their sympathy. Also present was Rt. Rev. Dr Kow Ghunney, Bishop of the Winneba Dioce se of the Methodist Church of
Ghana. | | |
_____________________________________________________ ----- | | Ghana TV News 11th June 2010 + Latest Ghana News | - Low turnout on day one of voters' registration - Sekondi-Takoradi workers oppose high utility tariffs - Ho Workers to hit the streets over utility tariffs - Amnesty International, Ghana, calls for abolition of death penalty - Eighty-six-year-old school block collapses on children - China Jiangxi International denies allegation - Interpol arrests alleged drug baron connected with missing cocaine | Your Opinions | Have Your Say!
| Archived News for 2010 | News Page was last modified on Sunday, 13 June 2010 18:59:14 | 
| All about the Ghana Election 2008 | | | * Ghana TV News 11th June 2010 + Latest Ghana News | China Jiangxi International denies allegation * Source: GNA | Accra, June 11, GNA - The Management of China Jiangxi Corporation for International Economic and Technical Cooperation (CJIC) has denied workers' allegations of wrongful and frequent dismissals; under payment; failure to provide them with safety gadgets and payment of compensation. Workers of the company working on the Akatsi-Tadzewu-Dzodze-Akanu road in the Volta Region had complained to the GNA about what they described as bad treatment by the Management.
Reading a press statement at a press conference in Accra on Friday in response to the accusation, Mr Vincent Pu, Interpreter to the Project, said: "The Management of China Jiangxi Corporation for International Economic and Technical Cooperation (CJIC) was very surprised and shocked on Tuesday 8th June 2010 when a publication captioned "Workers accuse Chinese Company of Maltreatment" was published on no less a media than the Ghanaweb and sourced to Ghana News Agency, then subsequently on myjoyonline and other media websites.
"The story sought to say that tension was mounting among the 221 Ghanaian workforce of the company engaged on the Akatsi-Tadzewu-Dzodze-Akanu road over bad treatment by the Chinese management.
"The story also said among other things that management effected wrongful and frequent dismissals, under payment, failure to provide them with safety gadgets and refusal to pay compensation to workers who died or suffered payment disabilities on duty.
"The specially calculated malicious publication sourced an unnamed spokesperson who said the company did not provide any medical package for the workers.
"The anonymous spokesperson also accused management of frustrating attempts by the workers to form a union under the Construction and Building Material Workers Union (CBMWU) of the GTUC.
"Now in our response, the Management of China Jiangxi Corporation for International Economic and Technical Cooperation hereby state that all the accusations or allegations are NOT TRUE. They are mere fabrications meant to drag the good name of OUR COMPANY into the mud.
"To start with, even the picture used in the story has nothing to do with us. You may get to understand from our Consultant that we have not started doing our U-Drains or what we call gutters laying works at all. "The present total number of Ghanaian employees at our project is 189, including the 40 newly-employed workers in May. Hence, the so-called 221 workers was fictitious and far from the truth. Besides, no tension had mounted at the site at all. On 8th June, 2010 our monthly site meeting was successfully held as scheduled with the attendance of our client Ghana Highway Authority, our Consultant Twum Boafo and Partners and other invited agencies, from whom you can confirm that our undergoing works are smooth and well-regulated.
"No one had been wrongfully dismissed let alone the so-called "frequent dismissals". According to our Payrolls, you can find that our employee number is steadily increasing month by month. Although some employees had left, the management made the decisions on the basis of the complete negotiation and respect. Few were let go because of stealing and negligence which had already caused huge damages financially and technically. "With regards the under-payment and the workers not knowing the wage ranges, we hereby state that all workers are duly informed their particular salary rate and the mode and time of payment before they are recruited. They have Time cards which states the daily hours they have earned. If there is any missing or wrongly-calculated hours, everybody is free to cross check his/her hours whenever they want and we always amend accordingly as soon as possible.
"As for medical care, we fully pay every employee whenever the bills are brought to us. We have some receipts here to show.
"The company had duly compensated the family of the worker who passed away in the Quarry Accident and we have documents here to prove including the police and hospital statements.
"The unfortunate worker who lost a leg suffered from a road accident by a tipper truck and not a pay-loader as reported. He was a driver's assistant then. We reported it and brought the tipper driver immediately to Dzodze Police Station as it happened. Afterwards, we bore all medical bills accrued and we hired one full-equipped ambulance with escort to take him home in the Northern Region when his family requested to have him brought home. "We had never frustrated nor stopped our employees from joining workers union. We have an apology letter from the Volta Regional Secretary of GTUC to show you. Some workers who decided to form a union ended up causing havoc among themselves. They beat up their local people and locked the main gate to the site, thus holding the entire company and its workers to ransom for one and half hours. One of them was eventually taken to Court. "We are law-abiding professionals rated among the top 225 International contractors in the world. We would never do anything to maltreat any employee from Ghana for that matter.
"Against this we also request the Ghana News Agency and all media website to withdraw the story and correct the erroneous impression they have created about China Jiangxi International.
"If this is not done, we would exploit every avenue to seek justice." The GNA was performing its statutory duty when it carried the original story and has published this rejoinder because the Constitution of the Fourth Republic enjoins the Agency to publish rejoinders and not because of the veiled threat of legal action. | | . | | . | | . | | . | | . |
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