Thursday, November 29, 2007

AKETEKYI CONFLICT CLAIMS ONE MORE LIFE (Page 43)

Story: Kwame Asiedu Marfo, Takoradi

THE chieftaincy conflict at Aketekyi, near Princes Town in the Ahanta West District, has claimed another life, following renewed
violence in the area last Thursday. The latest victim is a 65-year-old man, Kwaku Adofo.
This brings the number of deaths in the conflict to three. The others are Nana Tabi Tiaka, a sub-chief installed at Aketekyi by Nana Kundumua IV, one of the two feuding chiefs at Princess Town, and John Yankey.
Following the latest troubles, people have been arrested and remanded in police custody to appear before the Takoradi District Magistrate Court on Friday, November 30.
They are facing charges of rioting, causing harm, fighting with offensive weapons and causing damage.
The Crime Officer of the Kwesimintsim Divisional Police in Takoradi, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Boakye Ansah, who disclosed this to the Daily Graphic, said 23 people, including Nana Kundumua V, a rival chief at Princess Town, had been identified at a parade to identify leaders of the violent actions at Princess Town and Aketekyi.
He said they were arrested during a swoop and that they would be screened and those found culpable prosecuted.
ASP Ansah explained that the suspects were put before the district magistrate court for them to be remanded for the police to conduct the screening in order not to violate the 48-hour constitutional requirement that a suspect should not be put in custody for more than 48 hours without being sent to court.
He said 23 houses, including the palace of Nana Kundumua V, were set ablaze.
According to ASP Ansah, the situation was calm but the police were still patrolling the two towns.
He said Aketekyi had been deserted but the people were being encouraged to return.
He said post-mortem on Yankey had been done at the Effia Nkwanta Government Hospital in Sekondi.
The body of the latest victim has been deposited at the Nana Dekyi Hema Hospital at Dixcove, awaiting post-mortem at the Effia Nkwanta Government Hospital.

OIL COMPANY PROVIDES POTABLE WATER FOR COMMUNITIES (Page 35)

Story: Kwame Asiedu Marfo, Mangyea

TULLOW Oil Company Limited, a multi-national company, which has been given the mandate to explore oil and gas from the West Coast of Cape Three Points and the Tano Basin, is expending GH¢100,000 (¢1 billion) for the provision of mechanised boreholes and boreholes fitted with pumps for some communities and schools in the Jomoro District in the Western Region this year.
Under the programme, Ahobre, Mangyea and Effasu will benefit from two mechanised boreholes each, while Elloyin will get one.
Besides, Alomatuope, Mpeasem, Appolonu, Annor Adjaye and Half Assini Senior High Schools (SHS) will each benefit from a borehole fitted with pump.
The oil company has earmarked an additional GH¢200,000 (¢2 billion) for the provision of basic amenities for some communities in the district next year.
It has also expressed the desire to assist the Half Assini and Annor Adjaye SHS with educational infrastructure.
The Jomoro District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Martin Yamekeh Ackah, who cut the sod for the commencement of the water project at Mangyea, said the change in the fortunes of the district, began with the emergence of the Balkan Energy Company Limited, to oversee the operations of the Osagyefo Barge to supply power to the country.
“Today, we are also witnessing the emergence of Tullow Oil Company,” he said, adding “The double entry of these two economic giants in Nzemaland is a double blessing and we must cherish it as such.”
Those ventures, Mr Ackah said, were avenue of job creation in its totality in the district, adding that “it is our prayer that job creation in the district, which seemed to be a mirage, would soon become a reality in multiple proportions”.
Mr Ackah stated that the discovery of crude oil and gas at Cape Three Points, as well as the Tano Basin, was a unique achievement for the ruling government and a boost in the potential of Ghana to make progress.
He said the use of oil in the industrial and transport sectors had grown to such alarming proportions that no country could boast of economic growth without reference to oil.
According to Mr Ackah, currently, consuming countries were at the mercy of oil-producing countries, adding that what controlled the economy of the nations today were not gold, timber and cocoa but oil.
The DCE said the government was mindful of the adverse repercussions associated with the discovery and the subsequent mining of the product.
In this direction, he said adequate measures had been put in place to ensure a favourable and congenial atmosphere for all to address critical areas to social and economic concerns.
Mr Ackah said it was expected that Tullow and Nzemaland would become one big family, weaving together a seamless relationship in the joint effort to ensure a successful operation and management of the crude oil and the gas field.
“Tullow will be part of Nzemaland, and Nzemaland will be part of Tullow for a sustainable development in Ghana. This calls for a symbiotic relationship between Comoro and Tullow Company,” he emphasised.
Mr Ackah noted that disputes and misunderstandings were inescapably part of any human-centred institution, but added that these must not be allowed to tear the two apart.
The Country Director of Tullow Oil Company, Mr Kofi Esson, said the company would continue to assist the communities in their development activities.
He, therefore, called on the people to practically assist in ensuring the successful operation of the company.

Saturday, November 17, 2007

maherm rt aketekyie

hedline

Proofread by KGE
14-11-07
Sampa(castle)
Story:Nehemia Owusu Achiaw
A delegation from the Sampa Traditional Area has formally informed the President, Mr J.A. Kufuor and, for that matter, the government of the death of Nana Kofi Sono, the Paramount Chief of the Sampa Traditional Area.
Nana Sono, who died in May, 2007 after a short illness, was 86 and is survived by three wives and children and grandchildren all numbering 150.
The delegation, which was led to the Castle by the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Ignatius Baffour Awuah, extended an invitation to the President and the government to mourn with the bereaved family and the Sampa Traditional Area in their moment of grief.
The funeral of the late Nana Sono, who reigned for 25 years, would be held from November 22 to November 26, 2007.
In a tribute, President Kufuor said the late chief paid his due and expressed deep condolences to the bereaved family and chiefs and people of the Sampa Traditional Area on the loss of their beloved leader and relative.
He expressed regret that the forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Kampala, Uganda, on November 22, 2007 would deny him the opportunity to attend the funeral of the late chief, whom he described as a friend and a father, but assured the delegation that a high powered government delegation would be sent to mourn with the chiefs and people of Sampa.
In a related development, a delegation of Chiefs from the North Birim District was at the Castle to thank the President for appointing Madam Esther Obeng Dapaah, MP for the area as Minister of Land, Mines and Forestry.