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.