Pollution

By Helena Selby

The short life span of the average Ghanaian citizen has mostly been attributed to various kinds of diseases. Apart from the failure of the people adjusting themselves to good diet and their involvement in motor accidents which causes their early death majority of death in the country is are as a result of many kinds of diseases. According to studies the average Ghanaian lifespan is between the ages of 50 and 60 years. People die before their retirement age making it impossible for them to fully extend their knowledge and experience to the younger generation.

The government spent most of its resources in the prevention and eradication of diseases just to keep the citizens healthy and the labour force progressive. The waging of war by government against diseases in the country is a good initiative towards the achievement of one of the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s) which declares the combating of HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases by the year 2015.

On the verge of the government' combating diseases it must give priority to diseases caused by excessive pollution. Pollution especially air pollution has been one of the major causes of diseases and death in the country. Even though little attention is given to its nature, it is one of the situation which poses threat to health of the many Ghanaians. Air pollution, river pollution and other related pollution has the tendency of damaging the various organs of the human body.

Pollution in Ghana

Pollution on the Ghanaian environment is one thing which is not restricted by law even though there are existing by-laws which fights against it. The metropolitan assemblies which are responsible for the good keeping of the environment have their attention on the clearing of rubbish and the decongestion of slum areas but ignore the act of pollution by the citizens of the country. As it’s not considered an offence to pollute the environment many people tend to pollute the air by indiscriminate burning and smoking irrespective of where they find themselves.

Pollution and burning of e-waste at Abgobgloshie, Accra and effect on children
In the opinion of the United Nations Environmental Programme, 20-50 million tonnes of electronics are discarded each year, with 70% of these products being shipped to the poor countries, including Ghana. These e-waste products are deposited at the Abgobgloshie by people with the intention extracting certain metals and wires from them. The process of extracting these metals and wires, are mostly done with child labour and it involves the breaking apart burning of the products, which end up releasing toxic elements like lead, mercury and brominated flames, to pollute the atmosphere of the surroundings. The burning of these wastes results into water bodies for fishing and drinking to be polluted and what is more, the air in such areas is also being polluted. Who knows what kinds of diseases and illnesses can result from that?
According to SCIENCE DIRECT, a website on health, exposure to lead can have a wide range of effects on a child's development and behaviour. Even when exposed to small amounts of lead levels, children may appear inattentive, hyperactive and irritable.

Children with greater lead levels may also have problems with learning, reading, delayed growth and loss of hearing. At high levels, lead can cause permanent brain damage and even death. Early identification and treatment of lead poisoning, reduces the risk, thus preventing the children from suffering permanent damage. Treatment begins with removal of the child from the sources of the lead, while medications can remove lead from the body. With the rate at which lead has serious consequences on children, it is no wonder children at the Abgobgloshie dumping site tend to over react at the slightest provocation. Moreover the effect of lead on the children has made some of them lose interest in education.

Moreover burning of these electronic waste does not only pollute the air but water bodies as well and as a result has aquatic lives die out making others who fish for their livelihood lose their source of income, especially those in the fishing occupation, with the reason that the degradation of the land has brought about the contamination of the lagoon, resulting in the destruction of marine life.

Pollution, rubbish burning and its effects

Smoking can be considered the as one of the commonest kind of pollution but burning of rubbish on the Ghanaian environment is highly the commonest. Many Ghanaians are addicted to the old way of burning rubbish and toilet papers. The presence of waste trucks has not fully solved the situation as not all communities in the country get access to them; even those who get access to it do not get the chance to meet them due to their work schedules. If view of this many people find burning of their rubbish as the simplest solution to discard it. However little do they know the health risk of this attitude of theirs.

According to research the toxic smoke from open fires comes from burning plastics, treated wood, white paperboard, slick or bleached papers, foam mattresses and furniture foam. Even if a healthy adult does not suffer immediate effects such as headaches or nausea, the damage can be more serious the longer you are exposed to the smoke. The effects can include damage to your lungs, nervous system, kidneys, liver and well as chronic diseases such as bronchitis, emphysema and cancer, which can take many years to develop, can be caused by exposure to smoke and toxins. Moreover children can be at much greater risk, because of their body size; they inhale more air per pound of body mass than do adults, and can absorb a proportionately larger "dose" of toxins.

The health risks associated with burning rubbish come not only from inhalation of the pollutants released into the air but from the consumption of contaminated food when these toxic particles are deposited in water, soil, crops and farms which later is consumed again.

Pollution and smoking

Smoking in public is one of the commonest kinds of pollution in Ghana as it is not considered an offence. Many smokers regardless of the health implication they impose on the people, they smoke where ever they find themselves. As many Ghanaians are not aware of the health risk of catching smoking related diseases, they are not prompted leave the presence of a smoker but rather stay to inhale. According to World Health Organization (WHO) passive or non-smokers are at greater risk of getting lungs cancer heart diseases and even cardiac death. Over 600 studies undertaken by experts’ link passive smoking or the inhalation of tobacco smoke by non smokers, increases the risk of lung cancer, heart diseases and respiratory diseases. The international labour organization estimates also show that 200,000 workers die as a result of exposure to passive smoking in the workplace.

Conclusion

If the Ghanaians want to have a fully sound health, then they must consider ending the habit indiscriminate burning. It is about time citizens and government think of saving money and under taking developmental projects rather than always spending on the eradication of diseases. Many years of independence from the white man should be enough to build developmental projects to support the nation. It is up to the citizens especially to stop the habit of pollution especially air so as to make the nation a safe place to live. The government is not responsible for teaching the people what is right from wrong it is up to them to decide since it is for their own good.

WOYOME’S DAY IN COURT

By Helena Selby

An Accra based Businessman, Alfred Agbesi Woyome has been remanded into police custody, after he was refused bail yesterday by an Accra Financial Court over his role in the controversial GH¢51 million judgement debt paid to him.

He has been formally charged with conspiracy to commit crime, defrauding by false pretense and corrupting public officials, when he was arraigned together with three other people before the court, presided over by Justice John Ajet-Nasam.

The three other accused persons are Samuel Nerquaye-Tetteh, a Chief State Attorney, Paul Asimenu, a Director at the Legal Department of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and Gifty Tetteh, Businesswoman and wife of Samuel Tetteh.

Samuel Nerquaye-Tetteh and Paul Asimenu were also remanded into custody, while Gifty Tetteh was admitted into bail in the sum of GH¢500,000.00 with two sureties, with the condition that she reports herself to the police twice a week.

Woyome is alleged to have succeeded in obtaining GH¢51 million from Government, allegedly influence the conduct of the second accused person, Samuel Nerquaye-Tetteh, with an amount of GH¢400,000.00 to create condition for him to be paid the monies.

The third accused person, Asimenu, was alleged to have aided Woyome to defraud, while Gifty Tetteh, fourth accused, aided the second accused person, Samuel Nerquaye-Tetteh, in committing an act of corruption by a public officer.

Woyome is facing three counts of conspiracy to commit crime, defrauding by false pretense and corruption of a public officer, while the second accused person, Samuel Tetteh is facing the charge of corrupting a public officer.

The third and fourth accused persons, Asimenu and Gifty Tetteh respectively, on the other hand are facing the one count of abetment of crime but the third accused person is facing an additional count of conspiracy to commit crime.

All accused persons pleaded not guilty to all the charges leveled against them before the court. The presence of Woyome in court resulted in dozens of loyalists thronging the court premises, in solidarity with the businessman.

The Chief State Attorney, Miss Evelyn Lamptey, requested that the court remand them into custody since they need time to conclude the investigation, adding that granting them bail would lead to interfering with investigations.

In his application for bail, counsel for Woyome, Mr. Robertson Gbatsa told the court that the facts being read in court so far was not entirely the truth and that the amount that were paid to his client was as a result of a judgment of a competent court of law.

According to him, his client would in no way interfere with investigation since he had already provided the necessary documents needed for police investigation, adding that he had been in custody since February 3, 2011, and needs to be granted bail to have access to his lawyer and also have time to prepare for his defense.

The counsels of the rest of the accused persons pleaded for their clients to be granted bail almost on the same grounds. However, the court refused to grant them bail, with the exception of the fourth accused person, Gifty Tetteh, who was noted to be a nursing mother.

The case was therefore adjourned to February 13, 2012, for continuation.

Briefing the court on the facts of the case, the prosecutor mentioned that during 2009, Woyome made a false representation to the then Attorney General, Mrs. Betty Mould Iddrisu that he had a contract with the government of Ghana, regarding the construction of five sports stadia, but the contract was unlawfully abrogated.

She said Woyome filed a writ at the High Court claiming that he was owed an amount of GH¢41 million to which he added interest to make it a total of GH¢51 million. “The amount was paid in tranches, that is on February 2010, he was paid GH¢ 17,094,493.53, the second tranche was on January 27, 2011, which he was paid GH¢ million, the rest of the tranche was on April 18, 2011 with GH¢10 million and September 12, 2011, GH¢14188987.06”, the prosecutor told the court.

The Chief State Attorney noted that investigations had shown that Government does not owe him any money, with further investigations also revealing that the second accused person, Samuel Nerquaye-Tetteh, in charge of the case, drafted to the Ministry of Finance concerning the payment, as he failed to defend his actions before the court.

She said it was also found out that Woyome transferred GH¢400,000 into the account of the second accused person.

Trader convicted for bigamy

By Helena Selby

A trader has been sentenced to six months in prison for marrying a second wife, without annulling his previous legal marriage.
The accused person, Yaw Boamah Sarpong, who is married to the complainant under ordinance and with two children, was caught red-handed by his first wife getting engaged to one Nina.
He was charged with bigamy contrary to section 262 of Act 29/60. He pleaded guilty to the charge leveled against him and was convicted on his own plea before the court, presided over by Mrs. Sedinam Agbemeva.
The court, therefore, sentenced him to 25 penalty unit, an equivalent of GH¢300.00 and in default, 6months imprisonment in hard labour.
According to the prosecutor, ASP Sarah Acquah told the court that the accused person and the complainant were living as family with their two children, until after a misunderstanding, when the accused made the complainant to move to her parent’s house.
She said the complainant, however, on December 26, 2011, had information that the accused person was engaging another woman named Nina. “The complainant quickly went to the scene and realised her husband had actually engaged another woman.
The complainant then reported the case to the Domestic Violence Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) and the accused person was arrested, the prosecutor added.
ASP Acquah mentioned that the accused person admitted the offence in his cautioned statement and said he had nothing doing with the complainant anymore.
Meanwhile, in the same court, a retired Economist has caused his wife to be arraigned before the court for allegedly stealing his personal and land documents.
The accused person, Ablavi Esinam Duhadzi allegedly stole document covering one plot of land with an Executive Ville, two plots of land with foundation and fence at Denu, both in Viepe in the Volta Region, six plots of land at Tokor and four plots of land at Pokuase.
The accused person allegedly denied stealing the document but was however discovered that she was selling some of the plots of land the stolen documents are covering. She was charged with stealing. However, her plea was not taken since her husband claimed to be no longer interested in the case; the accused person was then discharged.
The facts of the case are that one January 20, 2012 the complainant found out that his brief case containing his personal and land documents have been stolen from his bedroom which he shares with the accused person.
According to the prosecutor, ASP IAA Ahor the complainant enquired from his family as to who might have taken the documents but they all denied knowledge of it including the accused person.
“However on January 25, 2012, the complainant had information that his wife has sold his piece of land at Denu to two people and that she is having the document to the said land.
It was there that the complainant discovered his wife stole the document. A report was made to DOVVSU office in Nungua a suburb of Accra and the accused person was arrested,” the prosecutor added.

Driver jailed 7yrs for defilement

By: Helena Selby

An Accra Circuit court yesterday sentences a-28-year-old driver to seven years imprisonment for having sexual intercourse with a-14-year-old girl.
The accused person, Jefferson Afavi, who lives in the same vicinity with the victim, pushed down the victim, dragged her into his room and had sexual intercourse with her.
Afavi, who pleaded guilty to the charge of defilement contrary to section 101 (2) of act 29/60 as amended by section 11 of act 554/98 was then convicted on his own plea by the court presided over by Mrs. Sedinam Agbemeva.
Presenting the facts of the case, the prosecutor, Chief Inspector IAA Ahor told the court that on February 3, 2012, at about 5:30pm, Afavi sent the victim to buy a bag of sachet water for him.
According to him, when the victim returned with the bag of water, Afavi met her at his door step, pushed her down and further dragged her into his room and had sexual intercourse with her.
“The accused person then warned the victim not to disclose it to anyone, but the victim went home and informed her mother, who also saw the victim’s skirt and pant stained with blood”, the prosecutor noted.
The prosecution further indicated that the complainant immediately went to the La police station and lodged a complaint which the police in turn issued her with a police medical report form to take the victim to the hospital.
The Chief Inspector told the court that the victim was sent to the La General Hospital, where she was admitted overnight, and a report submitted on her.
According to him the case was referred to the Domestic Violence Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) and Afavi was arrested. Upon his arrest, Afavi admitted the offence.

Driver, Unemployed in court over Mercury scam

By: Helena Selby

A driver and an unemployed, who allegedly presented some quantities of cement to a small scale miner, under the pretext of it being mercury element, have been arraigned before an Accra circuit court.

The accused persons, Felix Akoto and Reuben Nyamado, allegedly collected GH¢9,000 and presented the cement to the complainant instead of mercury and went into hiding.

Both accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charge of defrauding by false pretense contrary to section 23 (1) of act 1960, before the court presided over by Mrs. Patience Mills-Tetteh. They have been granted bail in the sum of GH¢20,000 with two sureties each, and are expected to re-appear before the court on February 28, 2012.

Both accused persons have so far been able to refund GH¢2,000 and promised to bring the rest on the next adjourned date.

The underlining facts are that in May 2011, the complainant was looking for a quantity of mercury element to buy when the accused persons agreed and acted together to defraud the complainant in Adenta, suburb of Accra.

The prosecutor, Chief Inspector Charles Chester said the accused persons collected a cash amount of GH¢9000 from the complainant and brought him some quantity of cement in a polythene bag.

According to him, the complainant tested the content and detected that it was cement. The complainant, therefore, confronted the accused persons but both of them could not give any tangible explanation adding that every effort made by the complainant for the refund of his money proved futile.

“On October 28, 2011 the complainant reported the case to the police. The accused persons were arrested. In their caution statement they admitted having collected the money but handed it over to one alhaji who produced the said mercury element” the prosecutor noted. He said the accused persons could not assist the police to trace the said Alhaji.

Meanwhile, a businessman was arraigned before the same court for allegedly damaging property worth GH¢895,932 belonging to an auto mechanic.

The accused person, Jeffery Laryea, was alleged to have assumed legal ownership a piece of land the complainant was place in-charge after renting it for almost 10 years and destroyed several items on the said land.

He allegedly destroyed the complainant’s property situated on the land under the pretext of protecting his land. He pleaded not guilty to the charge of causing damage and has been admitted to bail in the sum of GH¢40,000 with two sureties. He is expected to re-appear before the court on March 7, 2012.

The brief facts are that in 2000, the complainant rented a parcel of land situated at Chorkor “T” garden area from one Ben Halm for a work shop for a period of 10 years at the price of GH¢4,800.

The prosecutor, Chief Inspector Charles Chester said in return, Ben Halm handed the indenture and the tenancy agreement between the two of them to the complainant, adding that the complainant put up an auto mechanic workshop on the land without any interference from anyone.

“In 2006, the accused person filed a writ at a court claiming ownership of the same land the complainant was occupying. The land lord was informed but he denied having ever sold the land to the accused person”, the prosecutor told the court.

He further stated that on January 9, 2007, the accused person went to the complainant’s workshop in his absence and caused damage to the items. According to him on January 10, 2007, the complainant lodged a complaint at the police and the accused person was arrested

Cocaine-turned soda power saga Prosecution pleads for more time …to complete investigations

By: Helena Selby

The prosecution handling the controversial cocaine-turned-soda powder case, involving the Head of the Commercial Crimes Unit of the Police CID, DSP Gifty Mawuenyegah Tehoda, yesterday, pleading with an Accra Circuit Court to grant it more time to complete with the investigations into the issue.

According to the Principal State Attorney, Mr. Anthony Rexford Wiredu, investigations into the case were still on-going as there is the possibility of transferring the case to the High court depending on the outcome.

The court, presided over by Mrs. Audrey Kocouvie-Taycase, therefore, adjourned hearing to March 5, 2012.

The accused person, who pleaded not guilty to charges of abetting and undertaking an activity without lawful authority is on a GH¢100,000.00 bail with 2 sureties, one to be justified.

It is the case of the state put against DSP Tehoda that following directives from the Vice President John Mahama on December 4th, 2011, to the BNI to launch investigations into the loss of 1020 grams of cocaine, which was tendered as evidence before a circuit court on September 2011 and admitted without objection.

According to the prosecution, the following day, September 28, 2011, the defense counsel objected to the evidence, indicating that it was not cocaine.

The Principal State Attorney, Mr. Anthony Rexford Wiredu further told the court that evidence would be led to show that one Mr. Yankey and Serwah Djabah, uncle and sister of Nana Ama Martins told a witness in the case that they have been able, with the help of DSP Tehoda, to turn the cocaine into Soda powder after the judge had turned down some monetary rewards given him.

The prosecution indicated that an amount of GH¢4,000.00 was meant to be given to the trial judge, who handled the case in which Nana Ama Martins was charged for possessing cocaine, andGH¢1,000.00 was meant for one Lawani, a court clerk, adding that a family member of Nana Ama Martins, one Beatrice Naab had confirmed the act.

The prosecution noted that the witness was asked not to tell anybody about the role played by DSP Tehoda, adding that the witness mentioned having contacted Mr. Kobla Senanu, counsel for Nana Ama Martins and demanded money from Serwah Djabah to pay his legal fees of GH¢10,000.00.

It is the case of the prosecution that Serwah Djabah has indicated that she had no such money to pay the legal fee, so according to the witness, they agreed to sell off the property of Nana Ama Martins to off-set the expense incurred in the case.

The court further heard that the uncle of Nana Ama Martins decided to sell the property of his niece to defray the expenses by giving the proceeds to DSP Tehoda, who called Lawyer Senanu to her office, where he paid his legal fees.

“The accused person told the lawyer that they have managed to swap the cocaine into Soda-Carbonate and that he should request for a re-test”, the prosecutor told the court, noting that the advice was followed, resulting in the final discharge of Nana Ama Martins.

Mr. Wiredu told the court that he would lead evidence to show how DSP Tehoda jubilated in her office on hearing the eventual discharge of Nana Ama Martins of charges of possessing cocaine, stressing that the accused person facilitated the swapping of the cocaine exhibits into soda-carbonate.

3 Nima Youth remanded …. for use of offensive weapons

By: Helena Selby

A businessman and two others, who allegedly inflicted severe wounds on some residents in Nima, in the Greater Accra Region have been remanded into custody after fresh charges were brought against them.
The accused persons, Ibrahim Kumordzi, Businessman, Mohammed Karim, driver’s mate and Mohammed Suala, trader, who were previously granted bail, ended up in custody again, after their charges were substituted with new charges.
The court, presided over by Mrs. Patience Mills- Tetteh, however, issued a bench warrant for the arrest of a fourth accused person, Sulley Fuseini alias Achi Dun –Du, a goal keeper, who failed to appear in court.
All the accused persons, who are residents of Nima, allegedly organized a demonstration upon the arrest of some of youth in area.
The accused persons, who organized a demonstration against the Nima police and the Nima Neighbourhood Watch Committee, for the release of some of their colleagues, who were in custody, allegedly vented their spleen on the Nima police and in the process inflicting severe cutlass wounds on one Amadu Ibrahim Jabkle and Mohammed Tetteh, alias TT.
The accused persons were also alleged to have had in their possession, offensive weapons like cutlass, sticks and missiles.
They pleaded not guilty to the charges of conspiracy to commit crime, contrary to section 23 (1) of act 29/60 and two counts of use of offensive weapons contrary to section 70 of act 29/60, when they appeared before the court. The case has therefore been adjourned to March 28, 2012.
The brief facts are that due to the numerous criminal activities in Nima and its environs, the Nima Police on November 15, 2011, mounted a swoop and arrested five suspects from their various ghettos.
The prosecutor, Chief Inspector B.O Yeboah told the court that the exercise infuriated the passion of the accused persons and others now at large who led a group of youth, armed with cutlass and other missiles, with the view of freeing those arrested by the police, but failed.
“At about 8:00pm the same night, the same group of Nimayouth, led by the accused persons and their accomplices, armed with cutlass, sticks and other implements vented their temper on the members of the Nima Neighbourhood Watch Committee”, he noted.
According to him, they attacked them, claiming they instigated the police operations and in the process inflicted severe cutlass wounds on the complainant, who became unconscious as a result of excessive bleeding, adding that they were rushed to the 37 Military Hospital and the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital for treatment.
The prosecution further indicated that the victims were admitted and later discharged after treatment. On November 28, 2011, the accused persons were arrested from their hide out by some members of the Nima Neighbourhood Watch Committee, and handed them over to the police.

Internet escapade lands trader in court

By Helena Selby

An internet escapade has landed an Accra-based trader into trouble with the law, after he allegedly defrauded a teacher in the Northern Region, of an amount of GH¢14,000 with the pretence of buying some seeds.
The accused person, Joseph Addo has, therefore, been remanded into police custody by an Accra Circuit Court, presided over by Mrs. Audrey Kocouvie-Tay, after he was arraigned on charges of conspiracy to commit crime and defrauding by false pretence.
Joseph Addo allegedly conspired with two others to convince the complainant to buy some seeds equivalent to the said amount from their accomplices.
Nana Osei and Kojo Acheampong, who are accomplices to the crime, are currently at large. The accused and his accomplices allegedly swayed the complainant to buy as much as possible, since it was in urgent need in the United Kingdom (UK), for the manufacture of drugs.
Addo pleaded not guilty to the charges leveled against him, and he is expected to re-appear before the court on March 8, 2012.
Briefing the court, the prosecutor, Chief Inspector Charles Chester disclosed that in November 2011, the complainant was contacted by a lady through the internet, who introduced herself as a nurse in the United Kingdom.
According to him, the said nurse told the complainant that a doctor, whom she works with, needed some seeds for medical purposes adding that she had an agent in Ghana, who could assist him, and she ended up taking the complainant’s mobile phone number.
“Later, one Nana Osei called the complainant in Ghana, claiming to be an agent for the lady and requested the complainant to get him a sample of the seed. The lady also gave the supplier’s number to the complainant, who introduced himself as Mr. Boateng”, the prosecutor told the court.
He said Nana Osei then directed the complainant to the Kaneshie Market, where he could buy the sample for GH¢150 and then sell it to the agent at a cost of GH¢230.
The prosecutor further noted that since the complainant was in Tamale, he directed a witness, Bilali Yakubu, who is his brother in Accra to Kaneshie Market and bought the seed from the second witness, Abdul Narsre Kassim.
Chief Inspector Chester stated that the witness Bilali Yakubu was directed to Nana Osei, the agent now at large, who bought the sample of the seed at GH¢230.
“Nana Osei then called the complainant that the sample was good, so he should get him about “hundred sachets”, the prosecutor indicated, adding that the supplier directed the complainant to Nkawkaw thereafter and bought hundred sachets of seeds at the cost of GH¢14,000.
On reaching Accra, the complainant called the agent, Nana Osei and the supplier, Mr. Boateng, but their phones were switched off.
“The complainant then released that he has been defrauded and reported the case to the ministries police”, the prosecutor told the court.
According to the prosecutor, during investigation, the witness, Bilali Yakubu led the police to the second witness, Abdul Nasere Kassim, where he bought the sample seed, adding that the second witness told the police that it was the accused person, who bought the seeds for him.
The prosecutor pointed out that the witness had informed the police that the accused person has so far bought three sachets of the seeds to him and normally direct people to come for the seeds and deposit the sum of GH¢150 for each seed.

Land guard in alleged robbery case

By Helena Selby

A land guard has been remanded in custody by an Accra Circuit Court for allegedly taking part in robbing a Petrol filling station in Accra.

The accused person, George Atakora Fosu, alias Stopper, allegedly invaded the premises of the filling station with three others, who are currently at large, and made away with unspecified amount of money and mobile phones.

Fosu and his accomplices were also alleged to have shot one of the pump attendants and the supervisor of the filling station after their operation, and further hijacked and shot the driver of a taxi cab, with registration number G.W 3931-11, as well as a passenger on board the taxi at the time.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges of conspiracy to commit crime and robbery contrary to section 23 (1) 149 of act 29/60, when he was arraigned before the court presided over by Mrs. Audrey Kokouvie-Tay.

He is, therefore, expected to re-appear before the court on March 19, 2012. The brief facts of the case are that on January 19, 2012, four men armed with pump action gun, attacked the Lily Gold filling station between the hours of 8:00pm and 9:00pm.

According to the prosecutor, Chief Inspector Charles Chester, the four armed men on board a Nissan Amera taxi cab, with the said registration number, attacked the filling station.

He said they attacked one of the pump attendants, the supervisor and the security man, and robbed them of an amount of money and some belongings.

The Prosecutor told the court that in the process of their exercise, the armed men shot and killed Gifty Antwi, who is the pump attendant, and Mohammed, the security man on duty.

“The police investigations later revealed that the same four armed men, before attacking the filling station hijacked the said taxi cab, killed the driver and one passenger on board”, the prosecutor pointed out.

Chief Inspector Chester further noted that an in-depth investigation into the incident led to the arrest of the accused person as one of the armed men, who robbed the filling station.

He noted that an identification parade was held at the Regional Criminal Investigation Department (RCID) in Accra and the accused person was identified by one of the pump attendants as one of the robbers, who attacked and killed two of her colleagues.

Businessman gets 10yrs …for possessing cocaine

By Helena Selby

An Accra circuit court has sentenced a businessman to 10 years imprisonment in hard labour for possessing 66 pellets of cocaine.

Eric Afriyie Acheampong was convicted on all three counts of conspiracy, attempted exportation of cocaine and possession of narcotic drug and sentenced to 10 years on each count to run concurrently.

According to the court, presided over by Mr. Eric Kyei-Baffour, the prosecution had proven beyond reasonable doubt that Eric Afriyie Acheampong, who was arrested by suspicion of his demeanor at the Kotoka International Airport by the Narcotic Control Officials, while he was going through departure formalities, committed the offence.

Upon his arrest, Acheampong accepted ownership of the item but denied its content, adding that the second and third accused persons, one Awal and Mohammed, currently at large, gave the item to him to be given to one Evelyn in Italy.

He was charged with conspiracy related to prohibited business in narcotic drugs contrary to sections 56 and 3(2), attempted exportation of cocaine, a narcotic drug without license issued by the Minister for Health, contrary to section 56 (a) and 1(10), and possession of narcotic drug contrary to section 2 (1) all of PNDC Law 236, 1990.

The second and third accused persons were charged with supply of narcotic drug without lawful authority contrary to section 6 (1).

The accused person pleaded not guilty to the charge of conspiracy, with explanation to charges of attempted exportation of cocaine and possession of narcotic drug. However, the court, after listening to his explanation, entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf.

The accused person, who denied knowledge of the content of the item, told the court in his evidence that on April 3, 2008, Awal called him and said he wanted to hand a parcel to him to deliver in Italy on his behalf, and it was one Yakubu who brought the parcel to him, on behalf of Awal.

He took the item to the airport on April 4, 2008, when he was arrested for possessing the narcotic drug. He denied knowing the content of the parcel being narcotic drugs.

The court noted that the report of the Ghana Standard Authority, after a test on the substance proved positive for cocaine.

Additionally, the court indicated that the third prosecution witness, Inspector Hans Addai, in his evidence disclosed that while on duty at the Narcotic Control Board on that fateful day, Acheampong mentioned the second and third accused persons as his sources of supply, when he was brought to him for investigations.

The first prosecution witness testified that when he approached the accused, he demanded if the contents of the bag were his, to which the accused answered in the positive, which story was corroborated by the second prosecution witness.

The accused denied knowledge by claiming that when Awal gave him the items to be given to Evelyn in Italy, he did not check the content of the items.

State to commence case against DSP Tehoda on March 19

by Helena Selby

The prosecutor in charge of the contentious cocaine-turned-soda powder saga involving the Head of the Commercial Crimes Unit of the Police CID, yesterday told the court that the state was likely to begin trial of the case on the next adjourned date.

The Principal State Attorney, Mr. Anthony Rexford Wiredu indicated to the court, presided over by Mrs. Audrey Kocouvie-Tay that he would be ready with witnesses to give evidence in the case against the accused person, DSP Gifty Mawuenyegah Tehoda.

Meanwhile, the prosecutor had complained about the accused person’s failure to comply with the bail conditions given to her by the Fast Track Court (FTC), adding that the accused person had failed to report once a week to the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), where she could be formally charged with the substituted charges.

The accused person, who is currently on charges of abetting and undertaking an activity without lawful authority is on a GH¢100,000.00 bail with 2 sureties, one to be justified. The case was therefore adjourned to March 19, 2012 for hearing.

Presenting the facts of the case, the Principal State Attorney, Mr. Wiredu, had informed the court that following directives from the Vice President, John Mahama on December 4, 2011, to the BNI to launch investigations into the loss of 1020grams of cocaine, which was tendered as evidence before a circuit court on September 2011 and admitted without objection.

According to the prosecution, the following day, September 28, 2011, the defence counsel objected to the evidence, indicating that it was not cocaine.

Mr. Wiredu further told the court that evidence would be led to show that one Mr. Yankey and Serwah Djabah, uncle and sister of Nana Ama Martins told a witness in the case that they have been able with the help of DSP Tehoda, to turn the cocaine into Soda powder after the judge had turned down some monetary rewards given him.

The prosecution indicated that an amount of GH¢4,000.00 was meant to be given to the trial judge, who handled the case in which Nana Ama Martins was charged for possessing cocaine, and GH¢1,000.00 was meant for one Lawani, a court clerk, adding that a family member of Nana Ama Martins, one Beatrice Naab had confirmed the act.

The prosecution noted that the witness was asked not to tell anybody about the role played by DSP Tehoda, adding that the witness mentioned having contacted Mr. Kobla Senanu, counsel for Nana Ama Martins and demanded money from Serwah Djabah to pay his legal fees of GH¢10,000.00.

It is the case of the prosecution that Serwah Djabah has indicated that she had no such money to pay the legal fee so, according to the witness; they agreed to sell off the property of Nana Ama Martins to off-set the expense incurred in the case.

The court further heard that the uncle of Nana Ama Martins decided to sell the property of his niece to defray the expenses by giving the proceeds to DSP Tehoda, who called Lawyer Senanu to her office, where he paid his legal fees.

“The accused person told the lawyer that they have managed to swap the cocaine into Soda-Carbonate and that he should request for a re-test”, the prosecutor told the court, noting that the advice was followed, resulting in the final discharge of Nana Ama Martins.

Mr. Wiredu told the court that he would lead evidence to show how DSP Tehoda jubilated in her office on hearing the eventual discharge of Nana Ama Martins of charges of possessing cocaine, stressing that the accused person facilitated the swapping of the cocaine exhibits into soda-carbonate.

MV Benjamin 77 parcels of Cocaine Docket on Asem Dake before A-G

By Helena Selby

State prosecutors prosecuting the fugitive involved in the importation of 77 parcels of cocaine on board the notorious MV Benjamin Vessel, yesterday told the court that the investigation team handling the case had forwarded the duplicate docket to the Attorney General (AG) for advice.

The prosecutor, DSP A.A. Annor, who stated on the last adjournment that investigators of the case were on the verge of rounding-up with the inquiry, mentioned that the first docket was with the AG, and that it was believed that once the duplicate was forwarded to the AG, he will be able to reconcile both, and come out with advice.

The court, presided over by Mrs. Audrey Kocouvie-Tay, once again, denied the accused person bail, following the bail application by his counsel.

Counsel for the accused person pointed out that the duplicate docket was supposed to be presented to the AG as part of the former docket, adding that prosecution was deliberately delaying the trial.

The accused person, Christian Asem Dake, a.k.a Limping Man, pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit crime, possession of narcotic drugs without lawful authority, and importing and transportation of narcotic drugs without license.

The case was, therefore, adjourned to March 21, 2012.

The Prosecuting Officer, who presented the facts of the case, had informed the court that on April 26, 2006, intelligence gathered indicated that a shipping vessel called MV Benjamin was on the high seas carrying about 77 parcels of cocaine, and heading towards the West African coast, specifically, Ghana.

He said around midnight the same day, the said vessel docked at Tema/Kpone and discharged the 77 parcels, which were offloaded into a waiting vehicle and taken away.

According to him, investigations led to the arrest of a number of persons, who were put before various courts, tried, and convicted to various prison terms.

He mentioned that during the course of the trials of the suspects, the name of Asem Dake featured prominently as the importer and owner of the 77 parcels.

He, therefore, told the court that ‘Limping Man’ chartered a vessel at the cost of $150,000 to transport another vessel carrying the narcotic drugs from Guinea, and which were then offloaded into the MV Benjamin on the high seas.

The prosecutor said the accused person reportedly carted the 77 parcels from the vessel on its arrival at Kpone.

According to him, on Thursday, February 2, 2012, Asem Dake was arrested at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital upon a tip-off, and consequently arraigned.

The police picked him up and handed him over to the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) to commence investigations into the case.

Canada-based driver in the dock … for defrauding a farmer & church elder

By: Helena Selby

A driver, based in Canada and who posed as an international car dealer, has been arraigned before an Accra circuit court for allegedly defrauding a farmer and a church elder of a total amount of US$37,790.
The accused person, Bruce Amoah Korankye, aka Tony Walters, allegedly succeeded in collecting the said amount under the pretext of shipping from Canada a CLK Mercedes Benz, Toyota RAV 4, Toyota Corolla, Honda CRV, and GL Mercedes Benz 4×4 vehicles to the complainants.
He allegedly collected US$27,790 and US$10,000 from the complainants, Isaac Aryeetey, a farmer, and Daniel Owusu, a church elder, respectively, and went into hiding.
He pleaded not guilty to two counts of defrauding by false pretense, before the court presided over by Mrs. Audrey Kocouvi-Tay.
He has refunded US$5,000 and has been admitted to bail in the sum of GH¢500,000 with three sureties, two to be justified, and his passport deposited with the Court Registrar.
He is further expected to re-appear before the court on March 30, 2012.
The facts of the case are that in 2006, the complainant met the accused person in Canada and through that they became friends.
According to the Prosecutor, Chief Inspector Charles Chester, the accused person convinced the complainant that he exports cars to Ghana for sale, and succeeded in winning the trust of the complainant.
The prosecutor noted that the accused person paid a visit to his relatives in Ghana in 2010, and through that the complainant led him to his church elder, Daniel Owusu, second complainant in this case.
According to him, in the course of a conversation with the second complainant about car dealings, the accused person succeeded in collecting US$10,000 from him as part payment for a GL Mercedes Benz 4×4, which he was going to send down to him.
Chief Inspector Chester mentioned that the accused person, after collecting the money, travelled back to Canada and asked the second complainant to give him the remaining balance of US$9,600 and US$50 to the first complainant, Isaac Ayeetey, to transfer to him.
“The accused person later informed a witness in this case, Nana Abban, that he can send him nice cars from Canada to buy, to which the witness showed interest.”
The accused person, however, directed this said witness to send US$13,200 through the first complainant in order for him to send him a Toyota Corolla and RAV 4 cars.
“In view of the confidence the first complainant had in the accused person, he also gave US$5,000 to the accused person to buy him a Honda CR car”, the prosecutor told the court.
Chief Inspector Chester pointed out that the accused person, after succeeding in collecting US$37,790 from the complainants, never sent the cars and went into hiding anytime he came to Ghana.
According to him, on March 3, 2012, the accused person was arrested from his hideout at Madina, a suburb of Accra, adding that during investigations the accused person admitted having collected the said money from the complainants.

Salesman gets three years for stealing

By: Helena Selby

A former salesman of Don Emilio Company Limited in Accra has been sentenced to three years in hard labour by an Accra High Court for refusing to account for the loss of GH¢11,002.40 belonging to the company.

The accused person, Edmund Tenkorang, blamed the loss on customers of the company, who he claimed, owe the company the said amount. He however, was not able to give the names of the customers he claimed were the cause of the loss.

He was charged with stealing, contrary to section 24 (1) of the criminal code, and pleaded not guilty to the charge leveled against him before the court presided over by Justice C.A Wilson. The court, however, found him guilty, after the prosecution proved its case beyond all reasonable doubt. He was sentenced and ordered by the court to refund the said amount to the company.

According to the court, the manager, in his evidence, indicated that a meeting was held with the accused person and the Managing Director of the company, where the accused was asked how long it would take to pay the money. The accused, however, promised to pay within three months, but couldn’t fulfill his promise.

The evidence of the police investigator further disclosed that the accused person claimed he delivered the goods to customers in Kumasi and Obuasi, but was not paid, and based on that, they conducted further investigations.

“Though the accused person insisted that he supplied goods to various customers at different locations, and that there were unpaid debts owed by some customers, the accused person could not provide any documentation to support his defense. Given the fact that he could not account for it, the only logical inference was that the accused person appropriated the monies he received from the customers, and failed to pay them into the company’s accounts.

The accused person could have saved himself of the prosecution of the charges by repaying the amount he wrongly appropriated to the company,” the court emphasised.

The presiding judge, in his judgment, stated that the police investigator said in Kumasi the accused person led them to only one woman whom he alleged to be one of the customers, but investigations revealed the said woman owed GH¢300 plus.

According to the court, the police investigator noted that at Obuasi, the accused person could not show the investigative team any customer, but rather showed a particular spot where an alleged customer used to work.

Additionally, the investigator noted that investigations in both Kumasi and Obuasi could not trace any of the alleged customers the accused person had mentioned.

However, the accused person, in his defense, noted that he supplied goods to various customers of the company at different locations, including Obuasi and Kumasi. He said any money he received from the customers was paid into the company’s account.

According to him, he paid with a number of cheques, some of which were dishonoured.

Trader in brawl with co-tenant

By Helena Selby

A trader has been arraigned before an Accra circuit court for allegedly inflicting wounds on a co-tenant, over an allegation of her being a lesbian.
The accused person, Ayishetu Amidu, who is said to be at loggerheads with the complainant, became furious after she heard rumors of the complainant tarnishing her image in the neighbourhood.

She allegedly hit the complainant with an object on her forehead, after the complainant labeled her as a thief and a lesbian, who engages in the said act with the landlady’s daughter.
She pleaded not guilty to the charge of causing harm, contrary to section 69 of act 29/60, before the court presided over by Mrs. Patience Mills-Tetteh.
She has been admitted to bail in the sum of GH¢10,000 with one surety, and expected to re-appear before the court on March 27, 2012.

Narrating the facts of the case, the Prosecutor, Chief Inspector Charles Chester, told the court that the accused person had a long outstanding difference with the complainant for about three years due to a false allegation leveled against her by the complainant.

He said the complainant was alleged to have leveled an unsubstantiated allegation on the accused person that she had stolen her undisclosed amount of money and some quantity of provisions from her store. This, he said, created some ill feelings between the two of them, but was later resolved by the landlady.
According to the Prosecutor, in early February 2012, one Amama was alleged to have told the accused person that the complainant had still been insulting her in the neighbourhood that she was a thief.

“Moreover, the said Amama told the accused person that the complainant had accused her of being a lesbian, and that she is practicing it with the landlady’s daughter. The accused person upon hearing, became peeved, igniting their ill feelings,” the prosecutor indicated.
Chief Inspector Chester noted that in February, the accused person told her husband to warn the complainant to desist from her constant backbiting, but the she became furious and began shouting.

He mentioned that the accused person, on seeing the reaction of the complainant, also became very furious and hit her with an object on her forehead, resulting in a deep cut.
Chief Inspector Charles Chester, therefore, told the court that the complainant was rushed to the 37 Military Hospital as a result of the deep cut she sustained, and was admitted for three days and discharged afterwards.

The prosecutor emphasised that both the accused person and the complainant reported at the police station and were issued with police medical forms to attend hospital and report, adding that during investigations, the accused person denied hitting the complainant with an object.

Old Fadama: Threat to Ghana achieving MDGs

By Helena Selby

Old Fadama has been identified as the largest slum in Accra. It occupies 3.1 hectares of land and having a population of about 80,000. The place, over past years, has become a shelter for a lot of youth, especially, those from the northern parts of Ghana, seeking greener pastures and a better standard of living.

It is also a shelter for most northerners trying to escape from forced early marriages and witchcraft accusations. The settlement is considered illegal and the settlers threatened with forced eviction, and have been denied developmental projects, in terms of health and creation of jobs.

The government, in a nutshell, has indirectly made the people aware that they are on their own. Even when it comes to the fulfilling of the Millennium Development Goal (MDGs), from the look of things, it seems the government is prepared to risk failing the achievement of these goals by not paying attention to the problems of Old Fadama, since the people have refused to relocate.

Old Fadama and MDGs, HIV/AIDS Combat

The combating of HIV/AIDS in Ghana is one of the priorities of the government, which is why it went ahead to include herself among the 189 nations which signed the MDG declaration including the combating of HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases by 2015. Since the government is committed to achieving these goals, it has brought about and organised many campaigns to raise awareness for its citizens, especially, in the area of HIV/AIDS, which is incurable.

As the nation needs healthy people to strengthen her labour force, the government is making sure that the campaign on the awareness of HIV/AIDS reaches the doorsteps of every individual. Though Old Fadama has almost 80,000 settlers, the government has not thought it wise to save the people from these dreadful diseases by extending HIV/AIDS campaigns to the community. With the explanation that their occupation of the land is illegal, the government has refused to bear in mind that as they are still citizens of Ghana, and that the stigma associated with the diseases does not affect the individual only, but the nation as well.

It is sad to note that the recent research conducted by the Ghana Federation of Urban Poor (GHFUP), the People’s Dialogue on Human Settlement, Journalists for Human Rights and some students of the Africa Communication University College, revealed that national HIV/aids activities and programmes do not reach the community, resulting in the members organising such activities for themselves. According to the research, members of the Old Fadama Development Association (OFADA) organise and run HIV/ aids programmes and activities.

According to the Secretary and the local HIV/AIDS activist, Mr. Imoro Toyibo, members of the association usually perform dances and drama to educate the settlers on the dangers of the diseases, how they are transmitted, and how one can protect him or herself. He said, even though this activity is just a visual form of educating the people, it has gone a long way in sensitising the community, to the extent that for the past four years he could recall only one HIV/AIDS patient who had died in the vicinity.

The Vice Chairperson of the association, Mr. Abubakari Shei, disclosed that the slum had quite a number of brothels, numbering over 30. The sex workers are mostly young women who travel from the northern parts of the country in search of greener pastures. They arrive in Accra without skills, thereby resorting to prostitution when the going gets tough. He said most of these girls usually have no knowledge of the existence of the HIV scourge, but acquire this during their numerous campaigns.

According to him the kayayei (female head porters) and traders are the group who mostly contribute to the spread of the virus in the community, as they don’t reside in the community, but come there to do business, and do not bother to check their HIV status. As the community is a slum, there is no government health monitoring agency to keep records of cases of affected people. He said with the help of foreign non-governmental organisations (NGOs) like the American Jewish World Service, the association members were able to get access to condoms which they distribute to sex workers through ten public outlets in the community. The cry of the association is that they want government, especially, the Ghana AIDS Commission, to come to their aid, as the community needs testing and counseling every month.

Scrap dealers and electronic waste

Electronic waste burning and scrap dealing are some of the profitable businesses in Old Fadama, but very hectic, coupled with the health risks associated with them. The youth involved have to go long distances under the scorching sun in order to get the needed electronic waste to burn or scrap. The heat associated with the burning does not only affect the young men who usually deal in this business, but children around and the environment as well. The process of extracting these metals and wires, mostly done with child labour, involves the breaking apart and burning of the products, which end up releasing toxic elements like lead, mercury and brominates, which pollute the atmosphere of the surroundings. According to SCIENCE DIRECT, a website on health, exposure to lead can have a wide range of effects on a child’s development and behaviour. Even when exposed to small amounts of lead levels, children may appear inattentive, hyperactive and irritable.

Children with greater lead levels may also have problems with learning, reading, delayed growth and loss of hearing. At high levels, lead can cause permanent brain damage, and even death. Early identification and treatment of lead poisoning, reduces the risk, thus preventing the children from suffering permanent damage. Treatment begins with removal of the child from the sources of the lead, while medications can remove lead from the body.

The soil from an open burning site is moderately contaminated, while sediment from the Agbogbloshie Lagoon contains a very high level of these highly toxic, highly persistent and bio accumulative chemicals, at a level just below the threshold defined as being indicative of serious contamination for sediment.

Conclusion

Due to Old Fadama being abandoned by the government, the Ghana Federation of Urban Poor (GHFUP) and the People’s Dialogue on Human Settlement have taken it upon itself to help the community through an enumeration programme that gathers statistics in the community. This collection helps the city authorities and NGOs to know more about the community, and can also be used to solicit the government to draft policy decisions to address the challenges faced by the residents.

The enumeration programme is the first step to improving conditions in the country’s most notorious slums. In 2007, it was quoted by public authorities that the population in Old Fadama was 48,280, without the large number of kayayei, but it was in 2009 that GHFUP came out with the right figure. The programme has helped identify the major problems of the community and allowed members of the GHFUP and Old Fadama community to take care of their own development.

The GHFUP research revealed that although the Accra Metropolitan assembly (AMA) continues to threaten the settlers of Old Fadama with eviction, they have learned how to negotiate with stakeholders in securing a better future for themselves, and are being empowered to stand up for their rights.

Ghana: Marijuana (ntampi) Usage in Country

by Helena Selby

The abuse of drugs is one of the most popular social vices among the youth today. The fight against the use of drugs, and especially drug addiction, has become the priority of many world leaders. Even though drug abuse and addiction is an unfortunate situation that is taking the better part of the youth nowadays, the number of youth engaged in it increases every day.

In Ghana the abuse of drugs among the youth is no more news in the various communities, as many drug users do not care about the stigma associated with it. Unlike in the past, where by users hide themselves when using the substances, things seem to have changed, as some hide themselves others smoke it in the public, especially, in places of excessive fun.

The terrible thing about drug abuse, which really drags down the progress of the nation so far, has been the period whereby the user loses his or her state of mind. The use of substances such as marijuana mostly land users in mental institutions, and considering the present condition of Ghana's mental hospitals, and the number of users increasing by the day, what will then be the future of the economy, as the government will have to sacrifice and pump some of its scarce resources into taking care of them. The use of marijuana in Ghana has become one of the main causes of mental illness among the youth today, as some end up in psychiatric hospitals, while others find themselves on the streets and in prayer camps.

Use of marijuana in Ghana

In Ghana, the most substance abused is marijuana (indian hemp or wee) which is the cheapest drug and packaged at Gp50 per piece, which is very affordable. The use of heroin and cocaine is not very popular among substance abusers in Ghana, due to their high cost. According to the 2007 World Drug Report by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, 21.5% of Ghanaians, aged from 15 to 64, smoked marijuana or used another cannabis product in 2006. The report continues that Ghanaians use marijuana more than five times the world average, which, as a result, has made Ghana the leader of African countries and third in the world in cannabis or marijuana.

The report further indicates that Ghana ranks third in the world on marijuana use, behind Papua New Guinea and Micronesia with 29 per cent each. If Ghana was the leading in country in the usage of marijuana in Africa and the third in the world, as of 2007, then one will not be surprised if it rises up to be the first in the world, considering the rate at which the youth indulge in the substance every day.

Gone were the days when Rastafarians were the most popular users of marijuana, but things have changed now. The culprits are mostly youth who migrate from rural to urban areas for greener pastures, as many of these youth during their stay in the various cities get themselves involved in substance smoking. Many students in the senior high schools and at the tertiary level are as well culprits of marijuana usage. The fact of the issue is that youth from both rich and poor homes get themselves into this mess due to peer pressure.

Marijuana smoking places in Accra

At Agbogbloshie, a suburb of Accra, where electronic waste are burnt, many of the youth, coming from the northern part of Ghana, smoke marijuana while burning the electronic waste, and the funny aspect is that when one piece is lighted, it is transferred from one person to another till it is finished. Sometimes, they go to the extent of fighting over one lighted piece with the explanation that one is taking too long to transfer it to another.

The surprising thing is they are not bothered about the level of heat produced by the burning electronic waste, but go ahead and smoke, no wonder they often complain of feeling excessive heat in their heads.

At Tudu, also a suburb Accra, which is a well known vicinity of substance abuse in Accra, marijuana, which is popularly known as "taaba, ntampi or ganja," is sold at wholesaler to retailers in the various communities outside Tudu. The popularity of the place and the rate at which social vices occur there compelled the police to raid there in the late part of April 2011, to arrest many substance abusers, since it is illegal. Surprisingly, many of these substance users who were arrested and put before court in at the long run might be given just about three years jail sentence.

Marijuana use and health

According to Buddy T of about.com guide, when marijuana is smoked, it begins to affect the users almost immediately, and can last for one to three hours. When it is eaten in food, such as baked in brownies and cookies, the effects take longer to begin, but usually last longer. Sometimes, marijuana use can also produce anxiety, fear, distrust, or panic.

The active ingredient in marijuana, delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, acts on cannabinoid receptors on nerve cells and influences the activity of those cells. Some brain areas have many cannabinoid receptors, but other areas of the brain have few or none at all. Many cannabinoid receptors are found in the parts of the brain that influence pleasure, memory, thought, concentration, sensory and time perception, and coordinated movement.

When high doses of marijuana are used, usually, when eaten in food rather than smoked, users can experience symptoms like hallucinations, delusions, impaired memory and disorientation.

Within a few minutes after smoking marijuana, the heart begins beating more rapidly, and the blood pressure drops. Marijuana can cause the heart beat to increase by 20 to 50 beats per minute, and can increase even more, if other drugs are used at the same time.

Because of the lower blood pressure and higher heart rate, researchers found that users' risk for a heart attack is four times higher within the first hour after smoking marijuana, compared to their general risk of heart attack when not smoking.

Smoking marijuana, even infrequently, can cause burning and stinging of the mouth and throat, and cause heavy coughing. Scientists have found that regular marijuana smokers can experience the same respiratory problems as tobacco smokers do, including daily cough and phlegm production, more frequent acute chest illnesses, increased risk of lung infections and obstructed airways.

Conclusion

The smoking of marijuana can as well adversely affect the immune system which will make it very difficult for the individual system to fight against various diseases. Smoking marijuana regularly (a joint a day) can damage the cells in the bronchial passages which protect the body against inhaled microorganisms, and decrease the ability of the immune cells in the lungs to fight off fungi, bacteria, and tumor cells.

For patients with already weakened immune systems, this means an increase in the possibility of dangerous pulmonary infections, including pneumonia, which often proves fatal in AIDS patients. As the use of marijuana does not only affect the brain, but the other parts of the body, especially, the immune system, the government, in this case, must be prepared to risk some part of the nation's money on the treatment of substance addicts if it does not work hard to control and eradicate the activities of marijuana or substance addiction in the country.

Retired civil servant in GH¢40,000 land fraud

By Helena Selby
A retired civil servant has been arraigned before an Accra circuit court for allegedly collecting an amount of GH¢40,000.00 from a land surveyor, with the pretext of selling to him a land at Adjiriganor, near East Legon, a suburb of Accra.

The accused person, Vivian Adu Acheampong, who had no title to the land, has been charged with fraud for selling a plot of land. She pleaded not guilty before the court, presided over by Mr. Eric Kyei Baffour and has been admitted to bail in the sum of GH¢45,000.00 with two sureties to be justified.

She is, therefore, expected to re-appear before the court on April 8, 2011. The facts of the case indicate that in April 2010, the accused person approached the complainant and informed him of the sale of a piece of land she owned at Adjiringanor in East Legon.

The prosecutor, ASP Reynolds Agyemang, noted that the accused person had noted that the land belongs to her late brother, who sold it to one Beatrice Aboagyewah Bamfo, who currently resides in the United State of America, and who had consented to the sale of the land.

He said the accused person priced the land at GH¢60,000.00 -which the complainant paid GH¢40,000.00 to the accused person, and issued a cheque of GH¢20,000.00 in the name of Beatrice Aboagyewah Bamfo.

ASP Agyemang mentioned that when the complainant went to develop the land he was chased out, after which he drew the accused person's attention and asked her to withdraw the cheque, which was in the name of Aboagyewah

Bamfo, since he was no more interested in a land under litigation.

'The accused person agreed but failed to honour her promisesk despite several demands. A report was made to the police and the accused was arrested', the prosecution told the court.

Russian Faces Extradition

by Helena Selby

A Russian Geologist is in the process of being extradited by an Accra circuit court for allegedly defrauding two people in his country. The accused person, Valasis Andrey, is alleged to have defrauded K. Tsalkosov and A. Danilov of an amount 350,000 Ruble under the pretext of supplying them with quantities of wheat.

He was alleged to be on trial by the Mozodoskiy District Court of the Republic of Russia sometime in July 2006, and has since then been on the hide out in Winneba in the Central Region of Ghana.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge of defrauding by false pretense contrary to section 131 of act 29/60 of the Ghanaian constitution before the court presided over by Mrs. Patience Mills-Tetteh. He has been remanded into police custody to re-appear before the court on February 24, 2012.

The facts are that sometime in July 2006, in the town of Mozodoskiy in the republic of Russia, the accused person received an amount of 350,000 Ruble from one K. Tsalkosov and A. Danilov under the pretext of supplying them with quantities of wheat.

According to the prosecutor, ASP Mary Agbozo, upon receipt of the said amount, the accused person failed to execute the contract and kept the money for his personal use, and thereafter went into hiding.

She said a criminal proceeding was instituted against him and an arrest warrant was issued on December 12, 2008, by the Mozodoskiy District Court of Republic of Russia and signed by Judge A.I. Laliev.

She mentioned that Interpol Moscow then circulated a red notice alert on October 21, 2009 requesting all Interpol member countries to be on the lookout, arrest and detain the accused person to face trial.

"The message also hinted that the accused person was suspected to be hiding in Ghana introducing himself as the director of geology of F.E.S Mineral Company Limited based in Winneba. Interpol in Accra informed the intelligence unit service within the said location to be on the lookout for the accused person" the prosecutor added.

ASP Agbozo stated that the accused person was subsequently arrested by the Winneba Police and handed over to the Interpol Accra on February 9, 2012 for further action. She said the accused person is currently detained at the cid head quarters pending extradition process.

Inside the Accra Psychiatric Hospital

By Helena Selby

Mental health in Ghana is one thing the government does not really give priority to. It seems to be content with the situation in the psychiatric hospitals in the country, despite the insurmountable problems they face.

Even though the state of mind of every country’s citizens has a reflection on its economic productivity, there still seems to be no attention for them on the side of the government. If the research of the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) official figures indicates that about 10% of Ghanaians suffer from mental disorder, then mental health is an issue worth looking into by the government.

As the poor people with mental illness in the developing countries have a higher risk of being deprived of life’s chances, then Ghana, being a developing country, must give priority to its psychiatric hospitals to have a safe future, and if any step needs to be taken, then the Accra Psychiatric Hospital should be their first and foremost step toward the upgrading of mental health hospitals.

Psychiatric hospitals in Ghana

The Accra Psychiatric Hospital is about 100 years old and obviously, one of the oldest mental hospitals in Ghana. Its long years of existence has however, not caught the attention of the various government who come and go out of power since the regime of the first President, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. The lack of innovation and attention has resulted in this hospital being rated as one of the worst in the country. The Director, Dr. Akwasi Osei, might be doing his best to turn things around however, the reluctance of the government, even to pass the mental health bill, makes it evident that the government, in every way, is not very much bothered about the wellbeing of the inmates, making the Director’s efforts invisible.

According to research, more than two million of Ghana’s population fall within the category of mental illness and need urgent attention. The number might be a disbelief for many people, however, it must be put into consideration that these mentally ill people are spread throughout the regions of the country, as some are left on the streets, other find themselves in prayer camps, shrines, herbalists, and the rest in psychiatric hospitals. A psychiatric hospital, for many Ghanaians, is one of the trusted ways of treating mental illness, apart from the medication being free. In Ghana, research indicates that there used to be about 11 psychiatric hospitals, but unfortunately, the number has gradually reduced to three, which can be found in the Greater Accra, Eastern and Central regions. Among these three hospitals, the Accra Psychiatric Hospital is in the worst state, and ironically has the most number of patients.

Inside the wards

A visit by this reporter into the ward indeed, proved how dearly the hospital needs help. It was a hospital though, with beds, nurses, a few doctors to attend to the inmates, and cleaners to clean the place. Some sections looked like a hospital, and others looked so different, way below the likeness of a hospital. The hospital has about 22 wards, but only a few looked like wards in a hospital. The outlook of the rest, indeed, proved that the inmates were being taken advantage of by the government; it shows how extremely they are exempted from the sharing of the national cake. Surely, the medication is free, but the atmosphere and most parts of the environment don’t look free enough, considering the situation of these inmates, the environment and atmosphere create a kind of cage, coupled with the lack of freedom for these inmates.

Most of these wards, despite the fact that the hospital is a clinic, look almost exactly like the normal situations of the mentally ill people on the streets, the difference being that in the clinic they are fed, given medication and sometimes, given a bath. Their place of abode is very unfavorable, in the sense that it might even hinder the progress of their recovery. They sleep in wards which look like a wide open public bath house, which according to the nurse, during the night, takes about 100 inmates per room when they are using their mats. According to him, the lack of wards has compelled the hospital’s administration to convert some of the bathrooms into wards. The wards have canals into which the inmates urinate into during the night. The number of inmates in the wards, and the number who urinate into the canal, makes the place really stinky, even after being scrubbed with antiseptics or disinfectant. All the inmates are told to sit outside during the day, with no enough recreation or sheds to sit under. Some choose to have a nap, sometimes on the bare floor; those whose cases are fresh, and find it difficult to do the right thing, choose to sit in the scorching sun in the ward, until a nurse comes to tells them to leave.

During the visit of this reporter, the female rehabilitation ward, which has 17 beds, had 15 patients at that time, and according to the nurses in that ward, the high level of congestion has made the hospital to receive all stages of mental health patients in that ward. In admission Ward 1, there are 17 beds but 130 patients, in Ward E, there are 14 beds 106 patients, in Ward C, 25 beds 100 patients. According to the nurses, those without beds or mats sleep on the bare floor, exposing them to the risk of getting pneumonia. The situation become worse during the rainy season, apart from them getting a conducive place to stay, when it rains during the day, they also have to face the trauma of sleeping in wards with broken windows through which mosquitoes invade the place.

The Occupational Therapy Department

After thorough treatment and therapy by the hospital, patients who seem to be getting better are referred to the Occupational Therapy Department (OT Department). In this department, patients learn all sorts of craft and vocations to enable them take care of themselves and not become a burden to the family or the society, when discharged. Patients, who already have an idea of craft and other vocations, are helped to better them, in order not to forget their skills. The existing craft and vocations in the hospital at the moment include carpentry, tailoring, ceramics and cane weaving. One of the main ideas behind the creation of this department is to help patients stay focused and not misbehave.

As good as this project sounds, during the visit of this reporter to the hospital, this department seemed to be non-functional, as the only part which seemed functional was the carpentry section, which at that moment, had only 12 patients. The cane weaving section had almost collapsed due to the lack of raw material, the tailoring department was so pathetic, in the sense that not only was the room extremely congested, but also the section had only two tailoring machines to teach patients who are referred there. As for the ceramics section, thanks to Mr. Jojo Peter Abdullah, a product of the University of Ghana, Legon and an inmate who has almost recovered, is making use of his talent. It is his creative skills and talent which has beautified the ceramic section.

According to the nurse, who took this reporter around the arts of Mr. Abdullah, his works are sometimes sold and he is given 10% of the amount for his efforts. He said the OT Department has about 50 patients, however, since there is not enough material to use to teach them, most of the inmates resort to the playing of games to occupy their minds. Apart from the playing of games, some of the patients sometimes go to the library to read, however, it is a shame that the library does not exist anymore, and there seems to be no trace of it coming back to life again. At certain points too, patients occupy themselves in group therapy or therapeutic community, that is they gather themselves in groups to share their problems, give advice to each other, and sometimes, they even have discussions about their medication.

The OT Department helps patients recover quickly to face life once again, but due to the lack of enough material the teachers find it difficult to teach, resulting in the department deteriorating daily.

Challenges of the hospital

Disclosing one reason for the congestion in the male ward, the nurse noted that inmates brought by the police with a court order, are abandoned in the hospital. He said inmates brought by court order are supposed to stay in the clinic between to two weeks to six months at most, but the refusal of the police to go for feedback about the condition of the inmates, and the inefficiency of the country’s system, makes the inmates stay in the hospital for between 7 to 20 years, hence making the place overcrowded, since the number increases almost every day. The hospital does not have the facilities to separate the wild inmates from the calm ones, so they end up mixing them up, and one is only locked alone in a room when he becomes too aggressive and violent. The hospital has the problem of insufficient water suppy, and not enough food to feed the inmates. Most of the nurses complained that they always have to write a memo to the authorities before they get water.

Apart from this problem they face, they as well have problems locating the families of patients once their treatment is over. It is unfortunate that some relatives, due to reasons known to themselves, do not come to visit their wards once they are put on admission, or even come for them when they have been discharged. The hospital, therefore, refers them to the Department of Social Welfare to find their families, as most families who do not want to be stigmatised by society give wrong addresses to the hospital, making it difficult locating them when the patient is fine, however, if the patient is able to remember the whereabouts of his family, then the hospital allows him to go home by himself.

Conclusion

It has always been the dream of many stakeholders on the mental health bill that once the bill is passed into a law, situations in the mental health will change for the better, however, looking at how severe the situation is in the Accra Psychiatric Hospital, one can hardly tell how things will change for the better when the bill is enacted into law

DOVVSU adopts strategic plan for improvement

by Helena Selby

The Deputy Minister of Interior, Dr. Kwasi Apea-Kubi has indicated that government is desirous to intensify public education against negative socio-cultural practices that discriminate against women. Additionally, other relevant legislations will be enacted to safeguard the dignity of women and create conditions to propel their advancement.

The Deputy Minister of Interior said these in recognition of the need to protect the rights of the vulnerable, especially women and children in society. Speaking at the launch of a Strategic Plan for the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service for 2010-2015 in Accra, Dr. Kwasi Apea-Kubi, noted that DOVVSU needed support from all citizens to make women and children feel valued, safe and protected in society society.

The purpose of the plan is to communicate the mission of the Unit, assist management in decision making and to set the basis for evaluating the performance of the Unit. It will also serve as an opportunity for the Unit to collate ideas of good intervention practices to provide a framework for the Unit to collaborate with other agencies and service providers.

The strategic plan, according to him, will go a long way to help prevent, protect and prosecute crimes of violence, abuse, neglect of the vulnerable in society. He mentioned that completely eradicating cases of domestic violence in the society will demand citizen's collective responsibility and ownership of the strategic plan.

The Inspector General of Police, Mr. Paul Quaye, pointed out that the Unit has been embarking on advocacy programme to sensitize the public to act cautiously and responsibly, in order to avoid conditions that encourage domestic violence and child abuse.

According to him, the police administration would encourage DOVVSU to continue with its anti-domestic violence campaign to enable more Ghanaians to better appreciate the import of the Children's Act 560 of 1998, Domestic Violence Act 732 of 2007, and Juvenile Justice Act 653 of 2003.

He emphasized that the unit has lived up to expectation since its formation, which is why it became the winner of the President's silver medal award for public sector performance during Ghana's 50th independence anniversary celebration.

He pointed out that despite its immense performance, the Police force and other stakeholders such as the United Nations Food and Population Agency (UNFPA) and United Nation's International Children's Educational Fund (UNICEF), there was still much to be done.

He complained that the Unit faces the problem of office accommodation which is causing over-crowding in the few available offices. He brought to notice that over the years the unit had expanded its manpower strength from about 20, since its establishment in 1998 to over 230, but has not seen a corresponding improvement in terms of infrastructure.

On her part, the Minister of Women and Children Affairs (MOWAC), Honourable Akua Sena Dansua noted that the focus of DOVVSU on victim support correspond to the vision of MOWAC, creating an environment where domestic violence is freely reported and that it is an undeniable fact that the unit is working to meet its vision and mandate in the face of numerous challenges.

In a speech read by Miss Nancy Dzah on her behalf, she made an assurance that even though the Ministry cannot satisfy all their regional and district offices, it will satisfy about 90% of their offices.

AGRA: Helping to solve food insecurity in Ghana

By Helena Selby

Africa is the second largest continent in the world and has about 70 percent of its population engaged in agriculture. In spite of this, when it comes to the issue of food insecurity in the world, Africa is pin pointed as one of the graveyards of starvation.

Food insecurity has been part of the African continent, due to the larger number of farmers operating as small holder farmers.

The poverty level in Africa, which has resulted in many small scale farm holdings, has made it impossible for the continent to come out from food insecurity, since the farm products of these farmers are insufficient for their families, much more for marketing purposes.

The eradication of hunger from Africa has been one of the priorities of many African leaders, hence compelling them to show enthusiasm in the signing of the millennium development goal (MDG), which includes the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger from the continent by the year 2015.

Time is running out, with about four years to hit the targeted year for the MDG goals, with almost every country in Africa still importing food, and the less privileged ones still depend on food aid from the developed nations.
It is, therefore, a good thing that the Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) has stepped in to help improve the situation of farmers in Africa, hence helping reach the first goal of the MDG.

AGRA

AGRA is an African based organisation established in 2006, it is focused in helping small scale farmers in Africa, by enhancing their access to locally relevant techniques, knowledge and affordable finance.

Its priority countries include Mali, Mozambique, Tanzania and Ghana. In Ghana agriculture forms the central part of the economy; it has created $6 billion which is about 36% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and its employing about 56% of the workforce.

According to AGRA’s research, three million small scale farmers, with average farm sizes between 0.5-2 hectares currently produce 95% of the country’s food crops. Despite the level of growth of agriculture in Ghana, it still faces food security problems and always has to seek for help through food importation.
The production of crops by these small scale farmers has still not reached the targeted point of government’s goal towards food security.

AGRA in the Northern Region

AGRA, with its agenda to help small scale farmers, focuses it attention on areas of high potential of agriculture yield, also known as the ‘breadbasket’ areas. In Ghana, AGRA focused its attention mostly in the Northern Region, which has larger scale of lands, and more small scale farmers, with majority of them being women.

According to AGRA, the region is one of the four potential breadbaskets, with about 7 million hectares of potential agricultural good soil, currently about 10 percent is under cultivation, primarily by approximately 350000 small scales.

“Despite relatively good availability of water through local rivers, only 600 hectares of the land is currently irrigated. Agricultural production techniques are still basic, with less than 50 percent of farmers using fertilizer, and only 5-10 percent use improved seeds.

As a result, yield are low at 2.6 tons/hectares for rice and 1.7 tons/hectares for maize and average farm household income is about $700-800 per year (with six members per household). Hence, the Northern Region has ample potential to increase cultivated land area, boost yields through irrigation and improve farming techniques, thereby increase small scale farmers’ income”.

AGRA’s initiative for small scale farmers

AGRA is at the moment supporting the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) in the development of a ‘breadbasket’ approach to concentrate and combine interventions in a specific region that has the potential to produce a large share of the country’s staple food requirement.

It is the objective of AGRA that the breadbasket project will increase food security in Ghana, improve small scale farmer’s income and increase agriculture’s contribution to the country’s GDP.

With these objectives, AGRA has planned on engaging with the private sector as local change agent, mainly focused on post harvest aggregation, which the government, donors, input companies and banks can work with, and who in turn will combine and extend support to lead farmer groups and individual small scale farmers on the production side.

AGRA will as well continue to support high value added crops, by extending the production of vegetables and fruits, especially on irrigated lands, and linking farmers to potential farmers. Moreover, it will as well prioritize government efforts on five key transversal topics in terms of inputs, credit, roads, extension and price transparency.

Benefit derived from AGRA’s project

So far, AGRA has since 2006 after its establishment, been able to show a kind of commitment to fight against food insecurity in Ghana. Its work in the Northern Region brought about the creation of the Northern region bread basket study.
It signed an agreement with DANIDA for an agriculture value chain facility totaling $17.9million, with a significant portion of which will flow to the breadbasket region.

AGRA also invested $4.6million in Ghana in 2010, which is about half of that in the breadbasket area, and plans to invest another $8.2million in 2011, of which over 50% will be Ghana’s breadbasket.

AGRA’s agro dealers supported project implemented by IFDC and has so far trained 171 agro dealers. The agro dealers sold 2,187 MT seeds and 2,094 MT of fertilizer in 2010.

Moreover, the AGRA and Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (SARI) supported soil health project conducted on farm demonstrations in 13 districts of the Northern region.

In conclusion, with the initiative and achievement of AGRA after about 6 years of establishment, one can emphatically say that the organization is prepared to go to higher height, if government fully commits itself in supporting them.

As government has the priority of securing food in the country and working hand in hand with AGRA, will help improve the lives and farming systems of small scale farmers who in turn will reduce poverty.