Poor drainage halts train services in Kumasi

Picture shows rail tracks submerged in floods with a locomotive trying to pass through it.
RUNOFF water always engulfs the rail tracks at Kaase after the slightest drizzle due to a major drainage problem in the area of the rail tracks.
The problem has gradually contributed to inactivity at the main Kumasi Railway terminal.
This is because the rail tracks get submerged under volumes of water at the Kaase level crossing area at the slightest rainfall in Kumasi.
As a result trains are unable to cross the Kaase portion of the rail tracks anytime it rains. This has resulted in erratic operations of the sleeper, commuter and haulage trains, leading to public disinterest and low patronage.
There are no intercity services currently running. The sleeper and commuter trains are no more functioning with the exception of intermittent haulage of goods such as cocoa. The railway station in Kumasi is currently engulfed with weeds as a result of the inactivity at the place.
Information gathered by the Daily Graphic indicates that many of the staff have been moved from Kumasi to Tema and Awaso where activity in the sector is slightly vibrant than Kumasi.
The Kaase portion of the main route from Kumasi to Takoradi is not accessible during rainy days as the rail tracks get engulfed by drainage water at the slightest incident of a rainfall.
The drainage problem at the Kaase level crossing has come about as a result of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly’s (KMA) inability to extend the concrete lining of the Subin River from Kejetia to Kaase and beyond to the Suatrem River as a result of what the Assembly terms as insufficient funds.
The KMA in its attempt to ensure free flow of water in the Subin River lined the base of the river with concrete from Kejetia to Kaase but refused to extend the project beyond Kaase to the Suatrem River, with the excuse that it had run out of funds.
As a result, when it rains, the rain water flows smoothly in the concrete drains from Kejetia and adjoining areas to Kaase. But when it gets to Kaase, the water is unable to travel with same speed as a result of silt in that portion since there is no concrete lining at that portion thus the area gets flooded.
Trains are normally unable to move through the volumes of water that accumulate on the tracks. When they do, the traction motors, which is the power house under the locomotive and are very expensive gets submerged under water and become defective.
Investigations at the Railway offices in Kumasi have indicated that this has led to the destruction of many locomotives, which tried to move through the water.
Railway services have not developed much beyond what was established during the colonial period to cart cocoa and timber from the hinterland to the ports at Takoradi hence Kumasi is served by railway lines to Accra and Takoradi. Because of the barrier mountain range just to the north, the rail system does not yet go further to the north.
A source as the Kumasi railway station told the Daily Graphic that for them to run the commuter service, they need a regular and punctual time.
However because of the perennial problems with flooding, trains from Takoradi were many of the times held at Bekwai or Aduadem, which is the nearest substation to Kaase till the level of water subsided.
At times it could happen for days and there was no way you can run a shuttle service with this problem of perennial flooding and inconsistency in the service, the source said.
It said the public has gradually lost confidence in the Ghana Railway Corporation (GRC) with its train service and has opted for road transport. This is because when passengers are unable to be carried to Kumasi by the train, they spend an extra cost on road to get to Kumasi, when they are held at Bekwai or Aduadem as a result of flooding on the tracks.
The source said the Takoradi sleeper service has been suspended as of now because passengers are most of the times brought to Bekwai or Obuasi for them to continue the rest of the journey on road as a result of flooding on tracks between Bekwai and Kumasi.
It said the level of train activity in Kumasi has gone down tremendously in the last two years and that there was the need to find a solution to the flooding situation at Kaase so as to enable smooth running of the trains.
The source indicated that the KMA had been contacted to come to the aid of the railway system with respect to the flooding but the assembly was yet to respond positively.
Information also gathered by the Daily Graphic indicates that the Ministry of Ports, Harbours and Railways was aware of the problem of the perennial flooding and the sector Minister had paid a visit to the flooding site but the Ministry was yet to also respond positively to the problem.

Cocoa production to go up

Ghana’s cocoa production was poised to increase to one million tonnes per year by the year 2010/2011, Mr Isaac Osei, Chief Executive of the Ghana Cocobod has said.
He said major reforms in the cocoa sector aim to boost total production from current levels of around 700,000 tonnes in order to achieve the target.
He said expansion in the cocoa and forestry sub-sectors, policy changes and good weather had in recent years led to improved production, from 300,000 tonnes before year 2001 to 700,000 tonnes currently.
He said the government’s prudent economic policies and support to cocoa farmers would ensure the tremendous increase in production.
Mr Isaac Osei was speaking at a handover ceremony of a new communal sanitation facility built by ADM Cocoa Ghana Limited for residents of Kaase, where Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) Company International is establishing a cocoa processing plant to produce cocoa liquor.
ADM turns crops into renewable products to meet the demands of the growing world. It has more than 240 processing plants around the world that convert corn, oilseeds, wheat and cocoa into products for food, animal feed, chemical and energy uses.
The new communal sanitation building was built by ADM as its first social responsibility project in Kaase where constructional works on the-state-of-the-art cocoa processing plant was still underway.
Mr Jack Sinclair, General Manager of ADM Cocoa Ghana Limited said the communal sanitation building was to help improve the quality of life of the village of Kaase.

He said the factory would offer employment for the youth so that they would not idle about when it was commissioned somewhere in March 2009.
He said when ADM started building its new state-of-the-art cocoa processing plant in Kumasi, it noticed that the neighbouring villages of Kaase on the edge of the site were missing basic hygiene facilities.
“Being new to the area, we thought that providing support to the community was an excellent way to get to know and help our neighbours as a way of exemplifying ADM’s commitment to good citizenship around the world”, explained Pieter Frieling, Deputy General Manager.
“At ADM, we firmly believe that supporting the economic and social development of the communities in which we operate is vital, and is an integral part of our commitment to make the world a better place”, he said.
The Kaasehemaa, Nana Abena Konadu II said the community was pleased to have the new toilet and showering unit adding that the facility would help reduce the risk of disease and increase the quality of life in the village.
She expressed appreciation to Nana Boakye Samuel, Chairman of the Cote d’Ivoire New Patriotic Party Overseas Branch through whose instrumentality ADM was able to secure the Kaase sight.
The communal sanitation facility was handed over to the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) who will have the responsibility to maintain and operate the unit on behalf of the villagers. The area previously used by the village would be landscaped and planted with local tropical vegetation including cocoa trees.

1. The Kaasehemaa, Nana Abena Konadu II (left), Mr Isaac Osei (middle) and Jack Sinclair, General Manager of ADM Cocoa Ghana Limited (extreme right).
2. Inset is the sanitation building.

Suame Magazine In Industrial Breakthrough

The Suame Magazine Industrial Development Organisation (SMIDO), the development unit of Suame Magazine, has led mechanics at Suame to manufacture chain links to service the mining industry.

The chain links, hitherto imported by the mining companies, form a key component of the machinery used in the transport of raw materials.

When the Daily Graphic visited the workshop, the artisans were busily working on offers from the Ghana Bauxite Company (GBC) at Awaso in the Western Region.

SMIDO has established a workshop at Suame Magazine, which it intends to turn into a major chain link manufacturing factory.

Mr Kwabena Boateng, Manager of the SMIDO Chain Link Workshop, said the mining companies he had approached so far had expressed satisfaction with their innovative products in terms of quality and time of delivery.

He said their activities were not limited to the chain links but they hope to expand their capacity to manufacture as many types of equipment that were currently imported to service the mining industry.

Speaking with the Daily Graphic, Mr Nyaaba-Aweeba Azongo, the consultant to SMIDO, indicated that the chain link project was part of the planning process towards the integration of Suame Magazine into the major economic sectors of the country.

He noted that the prospects of building a modern industrial village for Suame Magazine would remain a tourist exercise, if it were not consciously planned to service the needs of the industrial sectors of the country.

According to him, the best social corporate responsibility role the mining companies could play in the country would be to support the development of the largest informal sector of Suame Magazine, which serves as a source of livelihood for many youth in the informal sector.

He said the current initiative to build a modern Industrial Village for Suame Magazine would be given a significant boost if the mining companies showed interest in Suame Magazine’s products to generate income to support the project.

KMA fails in decongestion exercise again. But this time accuse media of failure of exercise

The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly has once again back-pedalled on the decongestion exercise it claimed it was embarking on a sustainable base to evict traders who have taken over walkways in the Central Business District of Kumasi.
This time around the Chief Executive of KMA, Ms Patricia Apiagyei has accused the media of not supporting the Assembly in the exercise resulting in the failure of the exercise.
Answering a question on the fate of the decongestion exercise at the NPP’s 16th anniversary press conference in Kumasi, Ms Appiagyei said before the KMA embarked on the decongestion exercise, it appealed to all residents of Kumasi and the media to support the exercise.
However, she said some sections of the media criticised the KMA and that explained why the exercise had been stalled.
“Some media men criticised us as well as politicised it that is why we have relented on the exercise. We thought we were in partnership with you but we were wrong. You find people back on the pavements because the media did not support us”, she said.
This accusation has however been denied by some media personnel, who have described the Chief Executive’s accusations as baseless and unfounded.
“Why should the Chief Executive be bothered about criticisms if the assembly was treading a just course by enforcing the bye-laws of the Assembly”, Mr Kojo Marfo of Angel FM said as he responded to the accusation.
He said the accusation of the city mayor cannot be wholly true. “Some of us supported the exercise to the letter and praised it”.
“We cannot understand why she is probably categorising criticisms from one or two persons to be a general criticism by the media. Besides as an authority in the city, she should be prepared to enforce the law and go about good initiatives for the city and shouldn’t be bothered so much about critics once the initiative was a good one”, Mr Marfo said.
Last year, the KMA embarked on the exercise to decongest the CBD of traders who had indiscriminately taken over the streets and the pavements and millions of cedis were spent on the exercise, yet the hawkers are still on the streets doing brisk business with its attendant socio-economic problems.
Assurances were given by the KMA that the exercise was not going to be a nine days’ wonder but would be sustained to enable residents to appreciate the need to comply with the directives of the KMA.
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, at one of the Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs meetings charged the authorities of the KMA to gather the necessary political will to sustain the ongoing decongestion exercise in the metropolis.
Otumfuo told the leadership of the Assembly not to be afraid of the political consequences of the exercise but rather muster the courage to demolish all buildings and structures cited on waterways and unauthorised places to ensure sanity in the city.
He equally urged chiefs in Kumasi to support the Assembly to ensure the successful decongestion exercise in the city.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu then mentioned that the time had come to tell the people the truth that they could no longer do things the way they wanted but should follow right procedures in order to promote discipline in society and called for a passionate discussion on the decongestion exercise, while urging residents to desist from politicising the issue.
It is not clear what might have compelled the KMA, which in 2006 “blew” some GH¢100,000 on a similar abortive ejection exercise, to go back on its word in 2007, but the lack of political will, as the case has always been, cannot be ruled out.
However, Ms Appiagyei said, “we are not scared we would lose votes if we go back to sack the people”.
“It is because I was the only one under criticism. KMA needs the support of the entire residents of the metropolis and the media must be reminded that it has a role to play in that direction”, she said.
The activities of the hawkers, who have taken over pavements in the city centre, have compelled pedestrians to walk on the roads, putting them at great risk.
The irony of the whole situation is that the KMA collects daily tolls from these hawkers, whose very presence in the Central Business District is illegal, according to the bye-laws of the same KMA, thereby legalising an illegality in the process.
The decongestion exercise at its introduction was tailored to keep the hawkers out of the streets as there was going to be an influx of visitors to the city for the Ghana @ 50 celebrations and also for the 2008 Cup of Nations which saw Kumasi as one of the venues for the continental soccer fiesta.
Many were those who concluded at the time of the introduction of the exercise that, with this year being an election year, the decongestion exercise would be elapsed after the Ghana @ 50 and soccer fiesta celebrations.
Mr Edward Amedor of the Independent newspaper said he expected the KMA Chief Executive to face realities and admit that the decongestion exercise had hit the rocks instead of playing the blame game and shifting it on the media.
A huge number of petty traders have virtually hijacked the business district of the city which is seriously impeding the free flow of vehicles and pedestrians.
These lawless individuals have completely taken over all the pavements in the city centre and are busily going about their ‘normal’ duties as if there were no laws to bring them to order.

When NPP went gospel dancing in Kumasi

Thousands of gospel music fans and political campaigners flocked to the Jubilee Park in Kumasi on Sunday night in a special gospel concert in support of Presidential hopeful, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as well as celebrate the 16th birthday of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
The political concert, which featured top gospel music artistes, had been organised by the NPP to whip up support for the party.
It was on the theme, “To God Be the Glory” as it afforded the NPP the opportunity to say "thank you to God" for staying with their party in the last 16years in a peaceful atmosphere.
Over 15 top gospel music artistes mounted the stage at the Jubilee Park to entertain fans and supporters of the NPP in what could go for one of the biggest gospel shows to be witnessed in Kumasi in recent times as the crowd was indeed thick.
The concert started on a beautiful note, starting at a time Kumasi Asante Kotoko had just qualified into the money zone of the CAF Confederation Cup. Fans from the stadium together with the gospel music fans and political campaigners trooped to the Jubilee Park in their numbers to have fun.
The show got underway at about 7pm on the arrival of Nana Addo who had pulled out all the stops in his effort to appeal to religious voters and uniting top gospel artists on his campaign trail.
Pastor Josh Laryea, who led the organising team, Africa Media Core Promotion set the ball rolling with an opening prayer after which MCs for the night, James Oberko of Luv FM and Akosua Ago Banahene of Hello FM took over.
Their message was simple and clear, a night of good music where music was going to be used to preach peace before, during and after the December polls.
With many political stalwarts present at the event, the night was indeed a radical departure from the usual gathering of political campaigners amidst political talks.
“We have come here to listen to good music and give praises to God and not to be making speeches” was what Nana Addo said when he took the microphone.
Gifty Osei warmed the stage with Aseda, followed by Lady Prempeh, Noble Nketia and Danny Nettey.
When Kwaku Gyasi took his turn and he unleashed “Onyame Aseda ye bebree”, Nana Addo was kicked off his seat unto the dancing floor. He was joined by Alan Kyerematen, Dr Konadu Apraku, Kan Dapaah and many others as the place went agog.
Joe Beechem and Moses OK followed up, but Moses OK was indeed a delight to watch as he jumped and waved the crowd on. He humbly sung a rendition from the song, “This is how far you have brought me”, which was a special request from Nana Addo to usher him on the stage to give a terse speech.
After Nana Addo’s speech, the place was set agog with the NPP’s campaign soundtrack - Go High – by Phillipa Baafi. The song was rendered by Phillipa Baafi in a manner that moved the entire arena to resort to the “kangaroo dance”, which has come to be noted with the song and the NPP.
Joined by party stalwarts in the persons of Peter Mac Manu, Nana Ohene Ntow, Alan Kyerematen, Kan Dapaah, Hajia Alima Mahama, Boniface Abubakar Saddique, Isaac Osei, Gloria Akufo, Sheik I. C. Quaye, Dr Konadu Apraku, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto and many others, Nana Addo danced the kangaroo dance with excitement as Phillipa Baafi rolled out the song.
When she took her turn on the stage, Christiana Love was a delight to watch. She first took off her high hill shoes, hopped and jumped into a dancing mood.
She invited Nana Addo and Mr Kyerematen once again to the dancing floor and did her own thing with them with the song, “We are moving forward through Jesus Christ”.
As if that was not enough, she moved closer to Mr Kyerematen after the duo had taken their seats, boogied by squatting amidst twisting her waist in front of the “fine gentleman” as she shouted “Alan Cash eeeiii”.
Christiana Love indeed shook the place with her moves and as if she was lobbying for Alan Cash for the position of the vacant Vice Presidential slot in the NPP, she kept mentioning Alan Cash’s name in the song anytime she mentioned that of Nana Addo.
This indeed went down well with the crowd, who also cheered in appreciation of her performance.
The night was indeed full of excitement as other musicians in the persons of Fred Oware Junior, No Tribe, OJ, Soul Winners and Ohemaa Mercy took their turns.

Radio

Gospel musicians descend on Kumasi

Kumasi would this weekend witness one of the biggest gospel shows in recent times when over 15 top gospel music artistes mount the stage at the Jubilee Park to entertain fans.
The occasion would be part of the 16th anniversary celebrations for the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
The show which would be free of charge to the public is scheduled for Sunday July 27 and expected to start at 5pm till day break.
Artistes billed for the night are Ohemaa Mercy, Josh Laryea, Christiana Love, No Tribe, Soul Winners, Pastor Joe Beechem, Fred Oware Jnr, Amy Newman, Moses O.K. and Noble Nketia.
Others are Danny Nertey, Phillipa Baafi, Gifty Osei, Grace Ashi, Kwaku Gyasi and Lady Prempeh.
Josh Laryea who is leading the organising team, Africa Media Core Promotion told the Graphic Showbiz that the programme was being organised to help promote a peaceful elections in the December polls.
He said it was also to afford the NPP the opportunity to say thank you to God for staying with their party in the last 16years in a peaceful atmosphere.
He explained that the musicians were expected to use music as an instrument to preach peace before, during and after the December Presidential and Parliamentary elections and would attempt to bring together all political parties and their supporters.
The Kumasi show was expected to kick start a series of other musical concerts in other parts of the country all aimed at promoting peace in the country during the elections.
Kumasi’s show would be an opportunity to use music effectively as a unifying force across barriers of conflicts as well as bridge ethnic and religious barriers.
The concert is to serve as a reference point for peace through the medium of music and peace building as a shared concern and a better way of getting everybody on board as music appealed to people's senses.
Patrons would have the opportunity to dance to good gospel music aside saying a prayer to God to guard against any form of ethno-political sentiments likely to threaten the peace and stability in the country.
The various artistes are expected to warn against foul language, insults, inflammatory, preaching of violence, disrespect for institutions of state and authorities, blackmail and lies to the unsuspecting public when they mount the stage.

Work on Oforikrom-Asokwa carriageway starts

President John Agyekum Kufuor at the weekend cut the sod for work to commence on a €37million dual carriageway from Oforikrom to Asokwa in Kumasi.
The project being jointly funded by the Government of Ghana and France forms part of government's move to handle the traffic situation in the city of Kumasi for easy vehicular movement.
The project, which will include the construction of an interchange at the Timber Gardens at Asokwa and improvement of the Lake road, is expected to be completed in two years.
It is being executed by a South Korean company, M/S Shinsung Engineering and Construction Limited.
The construction of the Oforikrom-Asokwa Bypass follows the near completion of the Sokoban Wood Village project, which is a key component of the project where wood workers at Anloga (who are carrying out their activities in the right of way for the road works) are to be relocated to give way for the construction of the road.
There would be a construction of another interchange at the Anloga traffic lights.
President Kufuor said that development of the Kumasi arterial road networks is on course in fulfilment of the government's promise made in November 2006 to undertake the Kumasi Road and Urban Development Project.
Roads earmarked for expansion in Kumasi are the Sunyani road from the Komfo Anokye roundabout to Abuakwa, which works had already started and scheduled for completion in 2010.
The Mampong road from the Suame roundabout to Ahwia and the Western Bypass from Sofoline to Santasi roundabout. The rest are the southern Bypass from Santasi roundabout through Ahodwo roundabout to Timber Gardens and the Eastern bypass from Timber Gardens to Oforikrom junction.
President Kufuor noted the significant aspect of the project was the outer ring road which is a 70 kilometre road around the city which would divert non Kumasi bound traffic away from the city.
Already a route location survey has been completed and properties which are to be affected have been assessed for compensation.
The President appealed to property owners to be patient with government and stop further developments of their properties while the acquisition processes proceed since any property development on the earmarked roads would greatly affect the progress of the project.
President Kufuor repeated the government's resolve to expand the country's transport infrastructure to support investment in the productive sectors of the economy, specifically agriculture, tourism, education, health and internal trade.
“Without doubt, investments in these sectors are critical to achieving a middle-income status and attaining the Millennium Development Goals,” the President said.
He stated that heavy government investment in the road infrastructure development has expanded the road network from 38,000 kilometres in 2001 to 63,000 kilometres as of 2007 and that from a rating mix of 27 percent good, 17 percent fair and 56 per cent poor in 2001, the road network now shows 46percent good, 35percent fair and only 19percent poorer as of 2007.
He disclosed that US$90million has been secured to rehabilitate the railway line.
The Minister of Roads and Transport, Dr Richard W. Anane said €10million has also been secured for the Anloga interchange and work would soon start for it to be done concurrently along the lines of the Oforkrom-Asokwa Bypass.
He said the construction of the project would further reduce human and vehicular traffic congestion in the city.
The French Ambassador to Ghana Pierre Jacquemot said his country would continue to support Ghana in her developmental efforts because of good governance, stability and cooperation existing between the two countries.
Daasebre Osei Bonsu, Mamponghene, who represented the Asantehene, said Otumfuo Osei Tutu II was very happy about road developments in Kumasi.
The Mamponghene appealed to the government to ensure the implementation of all projects that were on the drawing board for the metropolis.
The Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Emmanuel Asamoah Owusu-Ansah, in an address read for him by his deputy, Mr Osei Assibey Antwi, said the government was dedicated in the development of the Kumasi's infrastructure to match its growth.
He said Kumasi was strategically located at the heart of the country and the nerve centre of the road network which undoubtedly enhances commerce, tourism and business activities.

Lady Julia to spearhead redevelopment of Kumasi Children's Park

After years of neglect, the Kumasi Children’s Park is now going to be redeveloped under the initiative of Lady Julia Osei Tutu II, wife of the Asantehene.
Lady Julia announced her intention to assist with the redevelopment of the facility when she toured the facility on Thursday to have firsthand information on the state of affairs at the park, which has completely been abandoned in the last eight years.
She explained she was going to raise money with the help of the public to see to it that the main children’s park in the metropolis, which was now in a very bad shape and not in use, bounces back to life to help serve the interest of children.
As her contribution towards providing a more serene environment for children to interact, read, play and learn, Lady Julia said she would ensure that the park was redeveloped to a modern status.
She said the present state of the beautiful large tract of land at the park was indicative of the lack of maintenance culture in the country and called for the need to institute a well laid plan for the development and management of the place.
A team of architects has since been put together to fashion out a plan for the redevelopment of the facility.
A member of the team, Mr Edward Botchway said they would be looking at an estimated GH¢3million for the first phase of redevelopment. He however said about GH¢9million would be needed for the entire development of the facility.
He mentioned a modern electronic library, conference facility and internet cafe as some of the facilities they hope to add to the children’s park.
He expressed worry that a facility of that sort, which was sitting in the middle of the metropolis had been allowed to go waste unattended.
The Kumasi Children’s Park, which was developed in 1989 to serve as a recreational and learning centre for children in the Kumasi metropolis and beyond has since year 2000 been completely abandoned, putting the place in a deplorable state.
The facility had become a den for thieves and drug addicts and a place for church services and funeral celebrations.
The state of affairs has turned to discourage rather than attract children to patronise the facility for which it was established.
The place is totally dark in the night and has become a den of robbers and drug pushers.
Since the place has become a dangerous place to tread, residents in surrounding areas, such as Afful Nkwanta, Amakom, Oforikrom who normally use the park to access other areas no longer uses it after 7pm.
There have been numerous calls on individuals and organisations to collaborate efforts to maintain the Children's Park and library, hence the decision by the Asantehene’s wife to lead in the redevelopment of the park has been welcomed by Kumasi residents.
The Metropolitan Chief Executive, Ms Patricia Appiagyei, who accompanied Lady Julia on her inspection tour.

Crazy shorts galore at Luv FM's pool party

It was fun galore at the Luv FM – Smart Energy Drink Crazy Shorts Pool Party, as ladies of different shades converged at the Miklin Hotel in Kumasi and paraded what was described as the craziest shorts of all times in the Garden City.
The atmosphere was indeed packed with lots of excitement as patrons ‘fed their eyes’ on ladies wearing shorts of different types.
The organisers of the pool party, Luv FM had requested lady patrons to appear at the function in shorts and indeed shorts of different shades were paraded at the event.
Activities lined up for the day included swimming competition, rap competition, dancing as well as crazy shorts exhibition among ladies.
Both young and old patrons had fun as the event was packed with exciting activities.
A lady from Tafo, Murabel Antwi emerged as the winner for appearing in the craziest shorts of all time and she took home a carton of Smart Energy drink, a T-Shirt and souvenirs from Luv FM.
Winners of other competitions also took home cartons of Smart Energy Drink and souvenirs provided by Luv FM.
Artistes in the persons of 4x4, Lord Kenya, King Ayisoba and Okyeame Kwame entertained patrons with tunes from their various songs.

OTSUNOKO SPEAKS: “I will expose fake pastors”

POPULAR radio talk show host, Kwabena Asare, aka “Otsunoko”, has stated categorically that he will never stop exposing the negative activities of fake pastors so long as he remains in the radio business.
This, however, does not mean he has any sinister motives against pastors or churches.
The anchorman of, “wiase mu nsem”, on Nhyira FM in Kumasi, perhaps the most listened to programme in the Ashanti and Brong Ahafo regions, said, “I am only interested in helping to expose wrong doings in society”.
In a wide-ranging interview with the Graphic Nsempa in Kumasi, Otsunoko said what he was doing amounted to pastoral work only that he had not received the calling yet.
For many in Ashanti and Brong Ahafo regions, Otsunoko is one of the finest presenters in the radio industry who has been contributing greatly in exposing wrong doings in society.
Ironically, his name “Otsunoko” in Ga language literally means “do something”. Therefore Otsunoko has taken it upon himself to expose some of the false prophets, activities of witches and wizards as well as marital problems and other social vices on his radio programme, which is aired on Nhyira FM between Mondays and Fridays from 7pm to 10pm. Numerous revelations bordering on witchcraft, wonder stories, marital problems and some bad activities of certain pastors are made known on the programme. He claimed he has been studying the Bible very well and is presently involved in a research on the genesis of sin, which he was undertaking with the help of a collaborating institute in the United Kingdom. He therefore does not agree with people who think that he was personally interested in attacking pastors on his programme. “It would surprise you to know that many members of the churches, whose pastors cheat them and practice all sorts of negative activities come to me with their own stories”, he said.
Otsunoko said his interactions with many of the pastors had indicated that many of them make numerous promises to their flocks, mainly the women, some of whom they have sexual relations with.
“So when it gets to the point where the women feel cheated, they rush to the media and to be precise, Otsunoko’s programme for exposure of the pastors. ”Before the stories are aired, the pastors are contacted for their versions and it is interesting listening to the explanations of some of them on air as many of them end up exposing themselves the more”, he said. Whilst some pastors have achieved fame with their appearance on Otsunoko’s programme, others have lost theirs as a result of exposures made about them on the programme. According to Otsunoko, it was through his instrumentality that the fetish priest at Akomadan, Nana Kwaku Bonsam, has become very popular in media circles in recent times. Adding, he said, although, Nana Bonsam had been around for some time, “he was operating on the quiet without media attention until he appeared on my programme”. Otsunoko described himself as someone who had since his infancy yearned to help expose wrong doings in society. “I was a very troublesome boy during my childhood days but I always insisted on the truth”, he stressed. He claimed there was a prophecy about his birth and that the prophecy was that, he was going to be a strong boy, who would insist on nothing but the truth and would also save lots of people from trouble and from being cheated. This prophecy was said to have come from three people at a time Otsunoko's mother, Madam Martha Agyeiwaa, a businesswoman, had given birth to two children and was earnestly looking for a third one which was not forthcoming. The last prophecy was said to have been made by one Prophet Mary of Kyebi in the Eastern region. “So all that I am doing now is a prophecy come true”, he said. On how he ended up in the radio industry, Asare said he entered the industry at about 10 years ago at Otec FM in Kumasi as a panel member on discussion programmes and was motivated by listeners to take up job as a radio presenter on full time basis because of how he made positive contributions on air as a presenter of highlife, gospel and reggae music on part time basis. In 2003, whilst still working at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) hospital as a laboratory technician, he secured another part time job at Classic FM in Techiman and worked only on weekends as a presenter. After a year’s sojourn at Classic, he moved to Kumasi to work with Radio Mercury on full time basis where he played highlife, reggae and gospel music. At Mercury there was a programme called “Nsem Pii”. The concept of the programme was to broadcast foreign wonder stories, superstitious stories and stories on witchcraft with occasional broadcast on local witchcraft stories. The host of that programme, ‘Sir’ Richard was one time physically attacked at the Radio Mercury premises by a group who claimed he had exposed their diabolic activities on the programme. Sir Richard was said to have been frightened by the physical attack and decided not to host the programme again. That marked the turning point in Otsunoko’s career as he was asked to take over the programme. When he took over, he discarded the idea of broadcasting mainly foreign stories and veered into the local scene where he invited so called wizards and witches to the studios to tell stories about their activities. The programme “Nsem Pii” became very popular in Ashanti and beyond and attracted many listeners to Radio Mercury. People started rushing to the station for their stories to be broadcasted. There were times that Otsunoko travelled to shrines, interviewed fetish priests and invited some of them to the studio. Perhaps the story that enabled Otsunoko to attract more attention was the Sefwi Yaw Donkor murder case in 2004 where he managed to convince Donkor, a suspected murderer then, to the studios of Radio Mercury to tell his story on the murder case. Donkor’s account on radio gave the police a clue to the fact that, he was the brain behind the murder and was subsequently apprehended from where he led the police to exhume the body of the deceased, which he secretly buried in the bush. From then on Otsunoko organised a durbar at the Cultural Centre at where a number of supposed witches and wizards from various parts of the country converged and recounted their stories which was broadcasted live on air. He left Radio Mercury for the new Nhyira FM in 2006 after the death of the Chief Executive of Radio Mercury, Nana Kwabena Poku. At Nhyira, he introduced the programme “Wiase mu nsem”, which had the same concept as that of the “Nsem Pii” programme. A native of Nsuta in Ashanti, Otsunoko was born in Accra some 40years ago to the late Sergeant Owusu Bediako a.k.a. Akatapore of the Ghana Police Service and Madam Martha Agyeiwaa, a businesswoman. He schooled briefly and moved to Koforidua Anglican Primary as his father was on transfer there, then to Tamale Anglican Middle School and Duayaw Nkwanta Anglican Middle School. He had his secondary education at the Duayaw Nkwanta Secondary School where he completed his ‘O’ Level in 1990. From there he took some private courses and obtained a certificate in laboratory technology, worked for two years at the KNUST Hospital and later to Rophi Clinic at Akwatialine before taking up radio on full time basis. Otsunoko claims his hobby is travelling and has travelled to many Asian countries including India. He claims he does not like food very much but prefers taking tea at all times and does not like making friends. He is married to Naana and they have three boys.
The talk show host s also a philanthropist who occasionally make donations to various orphanages as well as assisting needy people who come on his programme.

Paa Joe Appiah's tomb vandalised

Unknown persons at the Tafo Cemetery in Kumasi have desecrated the tomb of the late Mr Joe Appiah, a renowned politician and statesman who died 18years ago.
Family members were shocked on Tuesday morning as they discovered that the tomb had been desecrated.
A cleaner was going to clean the tomb when he discovered that it has been broken into from one of the edges.
However that of his wife, Peggy Appiah, who died two years ago, which lay next to his husband’s tomb was not touched.
An inspection of the tomb revealed that the casket had been opened with the cover lying sideways. The bones had been scattered and some parts of them were missing, together with jewellery and a rich kente cloth which were used in burying him in 1990.
The skull together with parts of the bones and a blanket which the bones laid on were however intact, except that they were scattered in the casket.
A shocked Ms Abena Appiah, one of the daughters of the late statesman described the act as disgraceful.
She wondered why someone would attack the tomb of her father after 18 years saying, “This is indicative of the act of wicked minds”.
“It is pathetic as it makes it look like a restage of his whole death”, Abena told the Daily Graphic in Kumasi.
The matter has since been reported to the Police and investigations have been instituted into it.
Inspector Yusif Mohammed Tanko of the Police Public Relations Unit confirmed to the Daily Graphic that investigations had been instituted into the matter.
He said the family members claimed that some jewellery they used in burying the late statesman were missing.
Some people in Kumasi have however attributed other sinister motives to the whole incident saying it goes beyond ordinary robbery.
Some have read political motives into it saying whoever took the bones was probably going to use it for juju so as to be able achieve political victory.
“You know, this is an election year. Anything can happen”, an auto mechanic at the Tafo cemetery said.
The Tafo cemetery has no security at night and has no fence wall as well.
Thieves quite often break into the graveyard at night, open the tombs and steal just any items they can lay their hands on.
The Cistern of the cemetery, Mr Frimpong told the police after this latest incident that he was unable to stop criminals from going there because he was the only person around.
The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly had, on numerous occasions, announced plans of fencing the cemetery so as to stop it from being used as a hideout for criminals.
“People under the cover of darkness walk out of the place with caskets and other items on their heads," an elderly man, who resides near the cemetery, said.
The late Joe Appiah was a Ghanaian statesman and politician who was born in 1918 and died in 1990. He had relations with the Manhyia Palace and was closely involved with the West African Students' Union (WASU), eventually becoming its president in the United Kingdom.
Through his involvement with WASU, he came to know many of the main players in the fight against imperial rule in Ghana and elsewhere in Africa among whom were Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first President to whom he became very close.
Dr Nkrumah was Joe Appiah's first choice for best man at his wedding to Mrs Peggy Appiah (nee Peggy Cripps) a British Royal in 1953. Mrs Appiah, who died in 2006 has her tomb next door to her husband at the Tafo Cemetery.
Joe Appiah, a renowned lawyer and his young family returned to Ghana in late 1954.
Soon after, his friendship with Dr Nkrumah was ruined; he joined the National Liberation Movement (NLM) party and won the Atwima-Amansie seat in 1957.
After the coup that overthrew Nkrumah in 1966, he was asked to explain the new regime's motives to Ghana's friends and neighbours. Joe Appiah was intermittently involved in public life as a diplomat and a government minister from then on until his retirement in 1978.
He returned to Kumasi, where he continued to fulfil his duties as a clan elder. He was remarkable for the consistency of his moderate nationalism, his Pan-Africanism, his cosmopolitanism and the steadying role he played in post-independence Ghanaian politics. His autobiography is an important source for the late colonial/early post-colonial period in Africa.

Dan Lartey affirmed GCPP flagbearer. But EC says its illegal

Daily Graphic Monday June 9, 2008 Front Page

Story: Enoch Darfah Frimpong in Kumasi & Donald Ato Dapatem in Accra

About seventy people on Saturday met at the Prempeh Assembly Hall in Kumasi to affirm Mr. Dan Lartey as the flag bearer of the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) in an election that the Electoral Commission (EC) has described as illegal.

According to the EC, the congress, which was marked with strange and interesting developments, was unlawful because prior to the congress, the party had organised only one regional congress instead of 10 regional congresses, as required by law.

The Director of Elections at the EC, Mr Albert Arhin, who disclosed this to the Daily Graphic on Sunday, said the party had been informed previously that unless the EC had supervised the regional congresses, it would not oversee its national delegates’ congress.

He said the EC had advised the hierarchy of the GCPP to organise regional congresses in the remaining nine regions and ensure that they were supervised by the EC before the commission could supervise the national delegates’ congress to make it acceptable.

About 80 people, including journalists and observers, attended the congress that elected the octogenarian politician for the third time running as its presidential candidate.

Mr Lartey and the chairman of the party, Mr John Thompson, had earlier given conflicting figures about the number of delegates expected at the congress.

While Mr Lartey mentioned 1,300, the national chairman said they were expecting up to 500 delegates.

And when the numbers they were expecting were not forthcoming, they explained that, the delegates were "held up in traffic".

The entire event, which also included the election of national executive members took about an hour to complete.

Quite surprisingly, the elections were carried out without the involvement of the Electoral Commission (EC).

No other political party was at the congress to give any solidarity message.
Ten national executive members of the party, five of whom were absent at the congress, were also acclaimed.

They were Mr John Thompson as National Chairman; Miss Georgina Rita Bimpong as Women's Organiser; Mr. Adams Ali, General Secretary; Mr Kwasi Ameyaw, Treasurer; and Mr Amadu Haruna, Deputy Organiser.

Those who were absent but acclaimed as national officers were Mrs Adelina Dennis, First Vice National Chairperson; Mr Adu Tetteh as Second National Vice Chairman; Mr Caleb B. K Dorfenyoh as National Organiser; Mr Justice Worae, Youth Organiser; and Mr Ohene Ofori, Educational Secretary.

In his acceptance speech, Mr Lartey said when given the nod as President of Ghana, he would increase wages and salaries of workers by 400 per cent.

He said workers had not been given salaries to meet the rising cost of living, and promised that his government would ensure improved conditions of service for workers at all times.

He said his main focus as President would be on domestication and that he would concentrate on improving local industries.

Mr Lartey said now that he was aware of the support of his party followers and he had accept.ed to lead them to the general election, the campaign of the GCPP was in "full gear.”

He charged the few delegates around to go back and preach the message of "domestication".

He said he was happy the GCPP had been able to organise its national congress at long last.

Explaining why many of the delegates and some of the national officers were not present at the congress, Mr Lartey said, "1 have information that they are still on their way here only that some of them are stuck in traffic at Nsawam on their way to Kumasi from Accra."

"You see the road network in the country is very bad so my people have been stuck in a traffic jam at Nsawam spending almost four hours over there."

Earlier, Mr John Thompson, the National Chairman, said they were waiting for more of the delegates to join them and added that 100 delegates could form a quorum for the congress to go ahead.

But, the congress went ahead with less than 80 people, journalists and observers inclusive.

Mr. Thompson, in his address, charged the few delegates who were present to go back and work hard to ensure victory for the party in the December elections.

Plans to improve water supply in Kumasi

Aqua Vitens Rand Limited, Operators of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) has developed a water supply master plan for the Kumasi metropolis and its surrounding areas. This is to help improve on water supply for the metropolis and its surrounding areas in the next two years. The metropolis has been experiencing acute water shortages in recent times forcing management to institute a water rationing programme to equitably distribute water. This water problem has been attributed to a rapid increase in the population in the city without a commensurate increase in water production. The demand for water in Kumasi and its surrounding areas with a population of about 1.8million far exceeds supply of about 65 percent thereby resulting in acute water shortages. Mr Haruna Asoga, Ashanti Regional Public Relations Officer of the GWCL told the Daily Graphic that the master plan to be developed would entail the construction of new main transmission pipelines, rehabilitation and refurbishment works at the Owabi and Barekese treatment plants as well as construction of a new treatment plant. He said a total plant output of 120,000 metric cubes per day was expected to be achieved on completion of the project. He said the entire project, which has been estimated at Euros 37,999,870 is being funded by the Dutch Government Mixed Credit Facility under ORET/MILIEV programme. It would consist of a grant of 50percent of the contract price and 50 percent contribution by the Government of Ghana through a concessionary loan from the Fortis Bank. M/S Taylor Woodrow B.V is expected to implement the project on a turnkey basis. Kumasi being the capital of the Ashanti region and the second largest urban centre in Ghana as well as an important administrative and commercial centre, gets its water source from the Barekese and Owabi Headworks respectively. The total capacity of the two headworks are 95,000 metric cubes per day with Owabi producing 13,600 metric cubes per day and Barekese producing 82,000 metric cubes per day. Mr Asoga said the scope of the project would be construction of water transmission mains from Barekese to Suame, an additional 27,300 metric cubes per day treatment facilities at Barekese, construction of new booster stations and reservoir as well as modification and expansion of the treated water pumping station. He said the distribution network would be reinforced and extended and that a sludge treatment facility would also be constructed. He said a technical support including a programme for reduction of unaccounted for water, training of GWCL staff on asset management, hydraulic management, water resource study, master plan study and two years post construction operational support. Mr Asoga explained that the project when completed would improve the reliability and increased availability of water supply to Kumasi and its surrounding areas. This, he said was expected to increase the productivity of inhabitants of the metropolis thereby leading to economic development and reduction of poverty. The project will also tackle the environmental problems created by non-treatment of effluent from the existing plant and lead to the maximisation of the social and health benefits of clean safe reliable drinking water. "In the final analysis water supply to the metropolis would be enhanced to accelerate business opportunities such as food processing industries, tourism and other productive ventures and alleviate hardships associated with shortages of water to women and children in the region", he said.

Hello, meet Efiewura of Kumasi radio

Many Ghanaians may be wanting to know who is that humorous voice behind those radio and television commercials, advertising almost all the Ghanaian movies these days.
The commercial are always in Fante and almost always narrates parts of the plot of the movies, paints vivid scenarios and end by urging listeners to go and find the “Veee Ceee Deee” (VCD).
Well for those of you who don’t know, the man behind it is Kwame Dzokoto, a.k.a. “Efiewura”, a popular radio presenter in Kumasi and a film actor as well. Coincidentally, he is an actor in the television soap, “Efiewura”, but that has nothing to do with his nick name. In the Efiewura soap, he is known as Lawyer Kabou from the “Apoto ayowa” Chambers and married to Benyiwa, the fat woman with the famous “buttocks”.
In Kumasi where he is a radio presenter at Hello FM, he is popularly noted by one of his signature jingles, made with that same tiny engineered voice which stretches his name as “Efiewura eeeiiiii”.
Hello FM is undoubtedly one of the most listened to radio stations in the Garden City and the entire Ashanti region and it is no wonder that one of the people behind the success of the station is Kwame Dzokoto, who is Programmes Manager of the station and the host of Kwanso bre bre programme aired from 3pm to 6pm each working day.
Kwanso bre bre is a magazine programme which entails motivational messages and music. With Kumasi being a business hub of the country where many traders in the country converge, Dzokoto’s programme is aimed at giving motivational messages especially to traders who were unable to make good sales in the day, encouraging them not to give up but look up for another day.
The first part of the programme is where he does most of the talking which cuts across targeting both the youth and the elderly and he play gospel music as well. The second half entails playing secular music with tit bits on sports from his sports crew, as well as “Kanawu” special, where he discusses social issues with Kwaku Adusei, a social commentator.
The programme is interspersed with jokes and Dzokoto is indeed very humorous on air, getting listeners glued to the station. It is with that same humour that he has extended to doing the radio and television commercials advertising the Ghanaian movies.
Hitherto, many radio and television commercials advertising Ghanaian movies were seen as not making the films catchy enough. But Dzokoto’s entrance has indeed helped moved radio marketing for the movies to a new pedestal. He has his voice on about 90 percent of the commercials and his sound engineer is Nana Otou Gyandour of Skyy Power Radio in Takoradi.
What is your secret behind the monopoly for all the commercials? The Graphic Showbiz asked Dzokoto in an interview in Kumasi.
“Well, I did one commercial for Miracle Films sometime back, and he followed it with another and another. Before I could say jack almost every film maker was rushing to me to do the jingle for them. Many of the Ghanaian movies are produced in Kumasi so it is not easy for them to find me. But some people from Accra also come to me.”
As to how he is able to do the job very well for other producers to rush to him, Dzokoto said his secret was his advantage as an actor since he is able to put himself in the film and narrate it.
He said some even just call him and narrate the story line on telephone and before they could say jack, he is ready with the work.
He explained that it is common for people to tune off a radio station the moment commercials start playing so he tries to introduce his commercials with humour in order to get attention.
“I was introduced to radio commercials by Mr Wilson Arthur, owner of Skyy Power Radio in Takoradi, who after listening to me on Dynamite FM in Tarkwa, drove to the station and asked to speak to me. He ended up poaching me to work with him at Skyy Power in Takoradi”.
Dzokoto explained, he ended up in radio as an “accident”. “
“Well you see, I attended a programme at Takoradi and the MC was late so my colleagues some of whom worked with Dynamite FM asked me to stand in for the MC to which I executed the job perfectly”.
He explained his friends advised that he could do better in radio so he was allowed to read announcements on air in Fanti. Significantly, Dynamite FM which was an English speaking radio station on the campus of the Tarkwa School of Mines was then turning to the local language so as to be able to get outside the university community to the local one.
“So that explains how I got into radio in 1998” Dzokoto said.
Whiles at Dynamite, Mr Wilson Arthur, owner of Skyy Power Radio who was then driving through Tarkwa on a mission of trying to extend his airwaves from Takoradi to the area, heard Dzokoto on air and fell in love with his style.
“Mr Arthur approached me at Dynamite and asked that I moved with him to Takoradi to work at Skyy. I was initially hesitant, since I found it difficult moving away from my mother’s side at Tarkwa to Takoradi. But he came back and moved me to Takoradi at a time I had worked with Dynamite for about three years”.
He introduced me to radio advertisement and guided me with both positive and negative criticisms. “I owe a lot to him because he schooled me very well to become what I am today in the industry”.
Dzokoto shot to fame in Takoradi where he worked with Skyy Power for about four years. He handled the mid-morning programme but what really shot him to fame was the Saturday morning programme, “Ade akye abia”, which attracted many listeners in Takoradi because of his jokes and humour.
Unfortunately for Takoradi listeners, and fortunately for Kumasi people, Mr Kwame Despite poached Dzokoto to Kumasi at the onset of Hello FM at a time, Dzokoto had just married his wife, Christina.
But he had to move to Kumasi by all means, because, the offer on the table at Hello was “big”. His switch to Kumasi then was the second time in his entire life that he was visiting the Garden City.
Dzokoto, whose wife just gave birth to a boy is in his mid 30s and was born at Abease in Sekondi to Mr Moses Dzokoto, a retired railway worker and Madam Mercy Oppong, a businesswoman. He attended Queen Elizabeth Day Care in Takoradi and moved to Tarkwa with his mum who was then on transfer there. He continued school at Gogoe Memorial Preparatory, Tarkwa Secondary School then to Cape Coast Polytechnic where he pursued a course in Mechanical Engineering, but did not complete.
He claimed he always wanted to be a seaman since most his uncles where seamen but did not have qualification. So he decided to go for a certificate at the Nautica College at Nungua in Accra before becoming a seaman, but it was during one of his school’s recess that he found himself entering radio and finding radio interesting, he decided to abandon his dream of becoming a seaman.
Dzokoto claims he would wish an improvement in the film industry for actors to be paid well. Besides he enjoys radio work so much.

After weeks of accusations Esther Smith's dad says: Get Out! To a 'wrong' husband

After accusations and counter accusations of infidelity, the four-year marriage of gospel diva, Esther Smith to Reverend Kwame Ahenkan Bonsu has been customarily dissolved.
The couple who have three children between them have been hurling accusations at each other for some time now. While the husband accused Esther of flirting with another man, Esther has also accused the husband of abusing her by beating her on numerous occasions as well as flirting with their house help.
Confirming the divorce, Mr Anthony Smith, father of Esther Smith told Graphic Showbiz in Kumasi that he is happy the marriage has ended. “I never supported that marriage from day one. I knew from day one that, that guy was not going to be a good husband for my daughter hence I opposed the marriage”.
“I saw him as a gold digger who was only in to rip Esther of her wealth. So I did not give them my blessing neither did I sanction the marriage. I also did not attend the wedding. My opposition to that marriage even cost me my wife, who divorced me”, he said.
Esther Smith gave birth to her third born in March this year in Germany, and according to her father, she went through complications as a result of beatings from the husband during pregnancy. He claimed the baby was still in an incubator since it was born prematurely and the doctors say, they would have to do surgery on the heart.
However, Rev Bonsu claimed he suspected he was not the father of the baby and even doubts the paternity of all his two other children with Esther.
There was news in the media last week that gospel music star, Esther Smith had separated from her husband of four years, a Kumasi based pastor, Reverend Kwame Ahenkan Bonsu with whom they have three children.
Esther Smith is currently in Germany and has not spoken publicly on the issue locally but there are reports of counter accusations of infidelity against each of them.
Recounting why he opposed the marriage, Mr Anthony Smith who is into the printing press business in Kumasi said he used to work with Esther in the same printing press until misunderstanding ensued between them over her decision to marry Rev Bonsu.
Somewhere in 2003 getting closer to Christmas, the Rev Ahenkan Bonsu came to our workplace to print some posters. He introduced himself as a promoter of gospel music and expressed interest in wanting to work with Esther.
“I did not like the sound of his sudden interest but there was little I could do. Three days later he came back and said he wanted to take Esther to Prestea to do some performances at a show”.
Mr Smith said the two of them left for Prestea and Akwatia later, Esther came back and showed him a small stone, which looked like gold and told him that Bonsu had given it to her as a present.
“I told my daughter to return that gift immediately since it was a juju which was going to cast a spell on her for her to follow that guy but she refused to listen to my call. I assumed the spell was already in motion”.
From then on Esther became so fond of him and turned against me and refused to listen to my advice to stay away from Bonsu.
“I told her that guy was a gold digger and was only in to rip her of her money and was not a gentleman as he portrayed to be, but my daughter refused to listen to me”.
“Bonsu said he was a pastor but there were few times that I smelled alcohol in his breath and there were some guys who also told me he was their drinking mate. I told Esther all this but she would not listen”.
Mr Smith said Esther’s mother also jumped in support of the relationship and within a short while, Esther came to tell him that Bonsu wanted to marry her.
“I refused to give them my blessing and my wife decided to divorce me on that score. She returned my ring to me and went ahead to receive Esther’s dowry with the support of her family members and went ahead to do the wedding”.
“I had to part ways with my daughter on that score and for the past four years we have not been on good terms and I tried as much as I could not to let the public know about this problem until now”.
Mr Smith said that even though he had been informed that Esther was having problems with the marriage and that the husband was a wife beater, he tried as much as he could not to meddle in the affairs.
He said at one point he nearly decided to interfere so as to bring in the police but upon a second thought, he stopped because he was not sure if he was going to get Esther’s support.
He said it was only recently that Esther phoned to tell him that the husband had been molesting her and she wanted to quit the marriage and that she wanted to tell the father about it all this while but she did not know how to go about it because of the circumstances surrounding the marriage.
He said when Esther gave birth in March this year in Germany, she phoned him and said she has had some complications as a result of beatings from the husband and the doctors said they needed to undertake surgery on the baby.
Mr Smith said her daughter has since apologised to him explaining that she now realised that she was under the “spell” of the husband who tried to create disaffection between her and the father.
He claimed Esther’s mother has also apologised to him as of now.
“I am happy the marriage has been broken now”, he said.
He accused Rev Bonsu of rushing to the media in an attempt to tarnish Esther’s image knowing very well that he has no case and can no more enjoy from Esther’s riches now that they are divorced.

Justice for All Programme extended to Ashanti

The Justice for All Programme initiated by the Attorney General’s Department to help expedite justice on the cases of remand prisoners has been extended to the Ashanti Region. The programme was introduced in September last year and piloted at the James Fort Prisons in Accra and at the Nsawam Prisons to help speed up justice on remand cases in the wake of massive congestion in the country’s prisons and delays in handling remand cases. It was targeted at people who had spent a considerable period on remand, and for minor crimes. Mr Joe Ghartey, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, at a familiarisation tour of the Kumasi Prisons today (Tuesday), said the programme was being extended to the Kumasi Central and Female Prisons. There are presently 614 remand and trial prisoners at the Kumasi Central Prisons, and 16 at the Female Prisons. There is a major problem of overcrowding especially at the remand block where the inmates sleep in shifts. According to the prisons authorities, this had led to most of the inmates developing swollen feet and other health problems associated with overcrowding. Mr Ghartey said the Justice for All programme was aimed at speedy adjudication of cases in a bid to reduce overcrowding in the prisons. He said his outfit was only trying to ensure that the trials were expedited and those found guilty convicted hence people should not misconstrue it to mean that the AG was going about releasing prisoners. The Attorney General said the Justice for All programme was not meant to free prisoners en mass but to make it possible for the prisoners to share the little space available.
He said the pilot phase of the programme was very successful, adding that the Ghana Bar Association had been involved to try and get lawyers to do pro bono cases.

Pro bono is a situation where lawyers render legal services free of charge. He said beginning next week, the Legal Aid Department would begin interviewing the remand prisoners to be able to get counsels for them and that the Chief Justice would create a court at the prisons in a month’s time for them to be tried.

That he, said would facilitate the process of truly speedily dispensing justice. Accompanied by Mr Richard Quayson, a Deputy Commissioner at the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Mr Ghartey advised the remand prisoners to be of good behaviour so that when they manage to find their ways out of the prisons, they don’t end up being sent there again. At the Female Prisons, the Attorney General was touched by the story of a 17-year-old girl, Elizabeth Zong, a native of Bolgatanga whom had been convicted because prosecutors gave her age in court as 19-years. She has since spent three months of the sentence. She was sentenced to 18months in prison because a complainant, whom she transacted business with accused her of defrauding her of GH¢30. She claimed the complainant gave her goods to sell with the anticipation of reaping GH¢70 but she was able to realise only GH¢40. This she said did not go down well with the complainant who accused her of stealing the GH¢30 hence she was taken to court, convicted and sentenced accordingly. Mr Ghartey offered to pay the GH¢30 on behalf of the young girl and said the Justice for All Programme would take up the girl’s case and ensure that she was freed. Briefing the Minister of Justice, Mr Ambrosse I. Salifu, Ashanti Regional Commander of the Prisons Service said the Kumasi Central Prison alone currently has 1817 inmates in the facility, which was built to cater for only 800 inmates. He said the overcrowding at the prisons was mainly due to the delay in trying the remand prisoners. He said some of the remand prisoners have spent 11years in custody and are still waiting to be tried. The Commander said another problem facing the Prisons was the refusal of the Police to take sick remand prisoners to seek medical attention. “We are always compelled to guard those who are admitted at the hospital in uniform even though they have not been convicted”, he said. He said remand prisons with expired warrant were abound in the prisons and that monthly returns on them are sent to the Police and copied to AG’s outfit for action. He therefore appealed to the AG to liaise with the Chief Justice and the courts to speed up the trials of remand prisoners to help ease overcrowding problem currently facing the prisons.

Asantehene bans use of academic titles in addition to chiefstaincy titles in Asanteman

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has banned the use of academic titles by chiefs in his domain.
He said the practice, which have some chiefs with stool names like “Nana Dr, and Nana Professor” was against the custom and tradition of Asanteman and could therefore not be entertained any longer.
At a meeting of the Asanteman Council at the Manhyia Palace on Monday, the Asantehene tasked the standing committee of the Asanteman Council, which include paramount chiefs like the Mamponghene from the Ashanti Region and the Nkoranzahene from the Brong Ahafo Region, to work out the details of the decision to serve as a guide for the future.
The decision covers all chiefs within the Ashanti region, as well as those in the Brong Ahafo region and the Volta region who owe allegiance to the golden stool.
Otumfuo noted that the use of “big titles” did not make one a good chief and said, the time had had come for Nananom to make the stools they occupied looked traditional.
He also spoke against the wearing of suits by chiefs when attending important functions where they were expected to showcase their status as chiefs.
The Asantehene asked queens to desist from “selling” stools to unqualified people, stressing this had the tendency to bring about chieftaincy disputes. While advising the queens, Otumfuo also warned people who want to buy their way through to occupy stools, saying they should know that they would be exposed one day.
He said the world had changed and any chief, who was unable to lead his people to fight poverty, disease and ignorance, which were enemies of development, could not claim to worth his position.
The Asantehene said he had persistently drummed home the fact that chiefs who engaged in indiscriminate sale of lands would be doing his people a great disservice and noted that posterity would not forgive such chiefs.
He challenged Nananom to let truth be their guide so that they would win the trust of their people.
The Asantehene asked chiefs who owe allegiance to the golden stool to have time for activities at Manhyia.
“You swore an oath to serve the golden stool come rain or shine, and you cannot turn against this pledge”, he said.
Otumfuo announced that the Kabaka of Uganda, one of the respected kings on the continent would be celebrating Akwasidae with him at the Manhyia palace on Sunday.

Politics in the NPP in Kumasi

This week has been hectic for political pundits in Kumasi. The NPP was holding primaries to elect parliamentary candidates who would represent the party in the various constituencies in the metropolis. There was really some shockers as persons widely tipped to win the contest failed in their bids to become parliamentarians.
The biggest shockers were at Subin and Manhyia where Mr George Ayisi-Boateng, a founder member of the NPP and Mr Osei Assibey Antwi, Deputy Ashanti Regional Minister lost to Mr Isaac Osei, Cocobod Chief Executive and Dr Mathew Opoku Prempeh respectively.

The Chief Executive of Cocobod, Isaac Osei, on Wednesday won the Subin constituency primaries of the NPP, when he polled 52 votes to beat two other contestants, Mr Eugene Antwi and Mr Ayisi-Boateng, in an election supervised by the Electoral Commission (E.C)
Whiles Mr Antwi obtained 34 votes Mr Ayisi-Boateng also got 18.
Mr Osei called on all the party members in the constituency to unite and work as a team to retain the seat
Mr Antwi and Mr Ayisi-Boateng also pledged to rally behind Mr Osei so as to maintain the seat for the NPP in the 2008
The election was nearly marred as it came twice that some
People were allegedly sharing monies at the congress.
At Kwadaso, Madam Josephine Hilda Addo the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) had a shock of her life as Dr Owusu-Afriyie-Akoto, Chairman of the Manifesto committee of the NPP who had 42 and Madam Addo, 30, defeated him. The third contestant Mr Alex Abel Adusei, deputy Executive Secretary of Divestiture Implementation Committee (DIC)
The Deputy Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Ossei-Assibey Antwi was also defeated by Dr Mathew Opoku Prempeh, a Medical Officer 82 against 43

Hello!, Bobie on air

This guy is prolific in the Akan language. He is the anchor of Akan news at Hello FM in Kumasi and above all very humorous on air.
He calls himself Nana Kwabena Bobie Ansah and in all sincerity, he is unquestionably one of the finest twi news casters and presenters on the airwaves in the Ashanti region.
He is an amusing presenter Kumasi has known in recent years.
He works with Hello FM and aside twi news cast, he is the stop gap morning show host when the main anchor man, Tweneboa Kodua (TK) is not around.
He also host Saturday morning’s political talk show ”Akoko Abon” which is aired on Hello FM in Kumasi and Peace FM in Accra and all other affiliate stations of Peace FM.
Bobie, studied Akan langauge in school at the ‘O’ Levels but says that has no bearing with his proficiency in the language.
“I see it as my mother tongue and the vocabulary flows on my lips as soon as I sit behind the microphone”, he said in an interview with the Graphic Showbiz in Kumasi.
“I sometimes find it very difficult to understand some of the words I use on air when I sit down to reflect over them after listening to myself on tape but surprisingly, upon consultations, I get to realise that those fit perfectly”.
Undoubtedly, he has been able to use his frolics, comedy and his flowery Akan language to pull many listeners to Hello FM, ever since he joined the station from Peace FM.
He has been instrumental in making Hello Akan news one of the most listened to in Kumasi and the entire coverage area.
But some people object vehemently to his usage of proverbs in news items, playing with words on air and thinks he embellishes news items a lot when presenting them.
Responding to that, Bobie said he appreciates criticisms very much, since it helps to straighten up peoples’ lives.
“I am happy listeners have been pointing out my mistakes to me and I appreciate that so much”.
He claims he was inspired by Komla Dumlor’s style of radio presentation which attracted him to enter the radio business.
“I felt there was something missing in peoples’ social lives and felt the urge to be on air to help them fill that vacuum”.
He entered the radio industry in year 2000 at Mighty FM at Asante Mampong as a gospel presenter, where he played music and conducted religious morning devotions on air.
He worked for one year and moved to Meridian FM in Tema, where he worked for only eight months and moved back to Mighty FM at Mampong.
He was poached by Luv FM in Kumasi in 2004 where he worked for two years and moved on to Peace FM/Hello FM in 2006.
Bobie holds a Diploma in Theology from the Shiloh Bible College in Kumasi. He spent his entire childhood days at Asante Mampong, his hometown where he schooled.
His ambition is to seek peace for all humanity which he claims had culminated in his formation of the Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Ghana Youth for Peace Association.
Kwabena feels many private radio station owners especially in Kumasi have not been doing much for their workers in terms of in house training and that is one of the things he would prefer to be changed.

Kumasi film actors are shocked over Kwame Owusu Ansah's death

“We have been devastated with the news of Owusu Ansah’s death”, this is how some players in the film industry in Kumasi have summed up their feelings about Kwame Owusu Ansah’s sudden death in a song.
The players are Evander Kwame Agyeman, a cameraman with Miracle Films and No Limit Entertainment, Nana Ama McBrown, Cornelius Phanthomas of Revelle Films, Yaw Owusu Ansah, a soundtrack engineer and Samuel Owusu Asare, an editor.
The dirge talks about how the actors feel about Owusu Ansah’s demise as they take turns to express their feelings and pain in the song.
Evander told the Graphic Showbiz in Kumasi that the idea of the song was spontaneous upon hearing about Kwame’s death.
“We were on a film set in Kumasi on Thursday night when news filtered in that Kwame had been involved in an accident”.
“Everybody on the set was shocked and we had to stop shooting. We reassembled the following day and heard he was in a coma in the morning but later received the unfortunate news in the afternoon”.
He said it was really a shocker for them as everybody on the set broke into tears. It was during the grief that Cornelius suggested that we team up to express our feelings and pain in a song”, he said.
Nana Ama McBrown refers to Kwame in the song as a senior brother and calls him “Braa Kwame”. She described the death as too sudden and said he would always be remembered.
Evander on his part said it was a great loss to them. “Personally Kwame was a brother to me. I took lots of inspiration from him”.
When contacted Naana Hayford, also a Kumasi based actor on her part said she was shocked upon hearing the news. “I was extremely shocked”, she said.
She described Kwame as a person who was full of inspiration especially on a film set and said he would be greatly remembered for his encouragement to fellow actors and choice of the phrase, “be bold”.
“Honestly, his demise has created a big vacuum”, she said.
She said they least expected a thing of that sort to happen to Kwame for them to lose his soul in a jiffy.
“But we are consoled by the fact that God in his own wisdom give life and take life. Our prayer is that God would keep Kwame’s soul in his bosom till we meet again”.