In the next three days we shall be saying farewell to the year 2013. The year came with remarkable and unfortunate incidents. But for many, the various fire disasters that engulfed our nation would forever remain on their minds. We revisit some fire disasters that occurred across the nation. Old Parliament House in flames Fire gutted sections of the old Parliament House, destroying several property and vital documents. The old Parliament House accommodates the Head office of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), the Economic and Organised Crime office (EOCO) and the Judgement Debt Commission. Fire guts Winneba Government Hospital Fire destroyed medical consumables at the Winneba Government Hospital in the Central Region. The fire is said to have started following a blast in the Pharmacy store of the hospital. Fire razes 13 shops in Swedru Fire razed down 13 shops and destroyed items worth hundreds of thousands of Ghana Cedis at Agona Swedru in the Central Region. 3,077 Fire kill 57 in 1st half of year Fifty-seven people lost their lives in 3,077 fire incidents recorded across the country between January to June, this year.  The figures represent an average of four deaths and 522 fires monthly with financial loss amounting to GH¢2.83 million monthly. Fierce fire gutted Abuja Slum Many people where rendered homeless as the wooden structures which served as the residential and business centres of the victims were completely destroyed by the fire which started at about 8pm. The slum accommodated mostly head porters and petty traders who ply their trade in the central business district of Accra. Fire hits Aboadze Plant The hope that the Volta River Authority (VRA) will improve power supply in the country suffered a momentary setback when a section of its thermal station at Aboadze exploded. LETAP Jewellery, Suame magazine hit by fire The unending fire disasters that have engulfed the nation hit Letap Jewellery on the Graphic Road and the Suame magazine in Kumasi. Fire destroys 49 shops at Makola Forty-nine shops were destroyed by fire at the Makola shopping mall in Accra. The fire which destroyed wooden structures, started at midnight. INFERNO, Makola No. 2 in flames.  400 shops gone Two fierce fire outbreaks rocked Accra, destroying the livelihoods of 400 traders and leaving one person dead. Kantamanto is gone A ferocious fire swept through the Kantamanto market taking away the livelihoods of about 800 traders and their families. Misery, hopelessness and confusion were written of the faces of many of them as they watched the raging fire devastate their waves which included provisions, confectionery, shoes, second-hand clothing, referred to as “Broni Waawu”.   

The Western Region recorded significant reduction in reported crimes in the passing year relative to the high incidence recorded in 2012, thanks to increased police vigilance. In 2012 a total of 24,525 crimes were reported in the region as against 17,957 cases in 2013.The 6,568 reduction, the result of police and public collaboration, represents over a quarter of the 2012 total.The Western Regional Police Commander, DCOP Kofi Boakye, is calling for further collaboration to bring the crime rate to the barest and make the region the most peaceful and attractive. He said modern day policing required collaboration between the public and the Police Service to ensure that those who wish to make life uncomfortable for others were exposed. Giving crime statistics during a cocktail for the media in the region, the Regional Crime Officer, Chief Supt. James Kofi Abraham said most of the major crimes including robbery, murder, attempted murder, defilement, rape and possession of narcotic drugs were reduced drastically. He said six arm robbery cases recorded in the region had those involved handed with a total of 125 years imprisonment. The crime officer said three suspects who were convicted for defilement were also handed 46 years imprisonment. He said in 2013 the police were relentless and adopted several measures to combat crime, including increase in its presence in the communities and urban centres. 2013 recorded 54 murder cases compared to 59 cases the previous year, while attempted murder cases also reduced from 18 to eight cases. The regional crime officer said, robbery cases saw slight increase as it moved from 62 cases in 2012 compared to 68 this year saying however, that as a result of the proactive policing and improved strategy almost all the culprits were arrested to face trial. In the area of narcotics, Chief Supt. Abraham said there were only seven arrests unlike the 59 arrests last year. He attributed the reduction to improved and proactive posture of the Police Drug Law Enforcement Unit (DLEU) in the region ensuring that such activities were unattractive to the peddlers. Due to the sensitization and strict enforcement of the law there was a reduction in the issues of rape cases, which reduced from 77 reported cases in the previous year to 45 this year.  Speaking at the event, the Deputy Western Regional Minister, Mr. Alfred Ekow Gyan said the region had become very unique in the country because it was home to a wide range of natural resources. He said given that the region has rich resources such as gold, cocoa, timber, oil and gas among others, it was easily attractive to all manner of people, including miscreants. He said it behoved the police to be responsive and professional at all times to deal with unscrupulous behaviour to protect lives and property, arrest offenders for prosecution and help to maintain law and order with recourse to the country’s constitution. Mr. Gyan lauded what he said was the tremendous relationship between the police and other security agencies, expressing the hope that the strong bond would be sustained to win the trust of the populace for their common good.

  ­We bring to you some of the interesting events that took place in 2013. Education Private SHSs Cry for students Many private senior high schools (SHSs) in the country may not get enough first-year students for the 2013/2014 academic year. This is because the Secretariat of the Computerised Schools Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) virtually placed all the candidates who wrote the 2013 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in public SHSs. Consequently, the Ghana National Association of Private Schools (GNAPS) has accused the Ghana Education Service (GES) of embarking on the wholesale admission of candidates, irrespective of their performance, to public SHSs and technical institutes for the academic year. As of November 1, 2013, a total of 351,881 candidates had been placed, leaving only 40,000 yet to be placed.More than 390,000 candidates wrote the 2013 BECE. GES approves new fees for SHS The Ghana Education Service (GES) has released approved fees for the first-year day and boarding senior high schools (SHS) students for the 2013-2014 academic year. Boarding students are to pay GH¢437, while day students are to pay GH¢230 for the first term. Aviation Ghana Airways DC-10 now a restaurant The Ghana Airways DC-10 has been turned into a restaurant after government sold it out to some private individuals. Mandela died at 95 South Africa's first black president and anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela died at the age of 95. Mr Mandela led South Africa's transition from white-minority rule in the 1990s, after 27 years in prison for his political activities. He had been receiving intensive medical care at home for a lung infection after spending three months in hospital. Omanhene murdered AN uneasy calm hanged over the otherwise peaceful town of Seikwa, in the Brong Ahafo Region, following the murder in cold blood of  the Paramounnt Chief of the area, Nana Kwaku Dwuma Ankoana II. Two accidents claim 13 lives Thirteen people died in two separate accidents on the Kumasi-Obuasi highway and at Mfensi in the Atwima Nwabiagya District in the Ashanti region. Courts and Crime 10 robbers jailed 400 An Accra circuit court sentenced 10 persons to a total of 400 years’ imprisonment for enegaging in eight separate robberies. Obinim back in court The leader of the God’s Way International Ministry, Bishop Daniel Obinim, was granted GH¢10,000  bail with one surety by the Accra High Court for allegedly causing harm and destroying the property of a private radio station. Odartey Lamptey disputes fathering children What previously seemed a blissful marriage between former Ghanaian star Nii Odartey Lamptey and Gloria, his wife of nearly two decades, has hit the rocks and is set to end in divorce. It is one of the most bizarre cases of alleged infidelity which has left the football community stunned, after a teammate of the player was rumoured to be a father to one of the three children. Gloria Lamptey has reportedly filed for divorce at the Accra High Court on the back of marital problems arising out of alleged infidelity on her part, after the football star discovered through paternity tests that he was not the biological father of their three daughters. The Lampteys are blessed with three girls namely, 19-year-old Khadija, Moyesha, 18, and Latifa, 7.  Apart from the three children, the couple lost two of their children during their marriage. Election Petition Ghana's Supreme Court dismissed the petition by the opposition to annul President John Mahama's  victory in last year's disputed election.The New Patriotic Party (NPP) had alleged that there were irregularities which inured to the benefit of Mr Mahama, a charge his National Democratic Congress (NDC) denied.NPP leader Nana Akufo-Addo said he was disappointed but accepted the verdict and urged his supporters to do likewise.Ghana is generally seen as a beacon of democracy in the region.The case was broadcast live on television and radio in a rare sign of judicial transparency in Africa. Sports Black Stars for Brazil 2014 The Senior national team, the Black Stars qualified for the 2014 FIFA World Cup to be staged in Brazil next. The Black Stars played the Pharaohs of Egypt recently to secure qualification to Brazil 2014. Ghana now joins West African countries; Nigeria, Cameroon and Ivory Coast for the 2014 World Cup. Agbeko Wins IBO Bantamweight Title Ghana’s Joseph Agbeko recorded a unanimous decision over Luis Malendez of Columbia to win the International Boxing Organisation (IBO) Bantamweight title at the Accra Sports Stadium. Agbeko scored 117-111, 119-111, 117-113 on the cards of Lanchen Oungham of Netherlands, Deon Dwarte of South Africa and Attaa Eddie Pappoe of Ghana, to overcome the durable Columbian boxer in a fight under the auspices of Fresh King Entertainments. Politics The President sacked the Deputy Communications Minister, Ms Victoria Hamah. The minister was relieved of her post after she was allegedly heard on a secret tape saying she will only quit politics after making one million dollars. The tape went viral on the Internet and social networking sites with newspapers quoting verbatim the comments contained thereof. The driver who is alleged to have secretly recorded the private conversations is Ms Hamah’s cousin. Entertainment Naa Okailey beats them all Miss Ghana 2012, Naa Okailey Shooter, earned a place in the top three of this year’s Miss World competition. Ghana did not win the ultimate crown of Miss World but made the nation proud when she placed third at the Miss World pageant and thus became Miss World Africa 2013. Ghana had tried fruitlessly in the previous years to make it to the top at Miss World. Kirk Franklin came to Ghana International award winning American gospel musician, choir director and author, Kirk Franklin, headlined the 2013 edition of Adom Praiz. The nine-time Grammy Award winner, known for leading urban contemporary gospel choirs such as The Family, God's Property and One Nation Crew (1NC), was the main artiste at the biggest gospel concert in Ghana for the year, organised by entertainment powerhouse Adom 106.3 FM. Donnie McClurkin stands in worship Celebrated American gospel singer, Donnie McClurkin, performed live at a show dubbed 'Ghana Stands In Worship', at the Accra Sports Stadium. Donnie McClurkin was one of the main attractions at the MTN 'Ghana Stands In Worship' concert, which attracted a large number of gospel music fans. R2Bees Tema-based music duo, R2Bees was crowned Artiste of the Year at the 2013 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards. The group beat competition from D-Black, VIP, Kwaw Kese, Cwesi Oteng and 4X4 to win the coveted award which for the first time came with a prize of a brand new MG 550 saloon car. R2Bees also walked home with five other awards including Hi-life Song of the Year, Hiplife Song of the Year, Group of the Year, and the Vodafone Most Popular Song of the Year. Thomas Frimpong goes by wind Highlife musician Thomas Frimpong also put his microphone down and said farewell to his listeners. The veteran musician died at the age of 70 at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital. Frimpong had been taken ill for sometime and was on admission at the hospital. The late Frimpong was survived by some 10 children.  

  Tetteh David Asare, a 32-year-old driver at Agomanya, a suburb of Odumase Krobo, has been jailed six months by the Odumase Krobo Circuit Court for stealing charcoal worth GH¢50 belonging to Gladys Tetteh. The presiding judge, Mr Asmah Akwasi Asiedu, ordered the police to return the retrieved charcoal to the complainant. ASP Richmond Akwasi Yeboah said the complainant, who lived at Hwekpe, a suburb of Odumase Krobo, sold charcoal in front of her house which was near the roadside. He said Ms Tetteh, for six months now, had suffered continuous theft of some bags of her charcoal without any trace of the thief.  That, he explained to the court, had caused a rift between Ms Tetteh and her business partner who supplied her charcoal in large quantities. The prosecutor said as a result of the continuous theft of her charcoal, Ms Tetteh was compelled to keep watch over the charcoal especially at night and at dawn to catch the thieves. He said on November 27, 2013, at about 4 a.m., Ms Tetteh woke up as usual to go and find out if her products were intact. Fortunately for her, ASP Yeboah said, she saw Asare carrying two bags of the charcoal to the roadside to board a taxi. According to the prosecutor, Ms Tetteh then shouted for help and the taxi driver who was with Asare quickly unloaded a bag of charcoal which he had already put into the booth of the car and sped off, leaving Asare behind. The prosecutor said Asare was accosted by some sympathisers around and was subsequently sent to the Odumase Krobo police station with the bags of charcoal.   

  The Keta Municipality in the Volta Region is one of the places definitely known for beautiful and decorative, as well as functionally tight, woven straw mats referred to as ‘ketsiba.’ Places in the municipality  identified  for the highest quality straw mats, which are a  testament to fine weaving skills,  include Alakple, Tregui, Azanu, Ahavi, Agortoe and Gbatsivi. Many women on this well-watered land of rolling lagoons work  mainly from their homes. They have revived what was once a dying craft and turned it into an art form for international acclaim. They have also managed to turn the making of African straw mats into a home industry to supplement their incomes, and for some, this is their only source of income. The mats are made by hand, using  reeds  obtained in the area.  The women  collect the reeds and hammer them into a fibre. Weaving can be an individual  activity but  it is also a social activity where  women in a given community collect,  prepare materials and weave as a group. Though straw mats have been replaced with mattresses in many homes these day, the mats continue to hold great cultural significance for many Ghanaians, many of whom even use them these days for ceilings, beds and fence walls. Young women usually start  learning how to make straw mats from older women, especially their mothers, aunties and  grandmothers. Madam Celestine Amekudzi , a 37-year- old straw mat weaver who has been in the business over the past 10 years,  says she weaves at least three mats every day. She sells them  on  market days. According to her,  women from Accra, Kumasi,  Koforidua, Togo and Benin visit the Anloga, Akatsi and Dabala markets to buy the mats for various reasons. She says  the government and other benevolent organisations should help   them acquire  modern equipment to enable them improve on the quality of their products.  

Food Sovereignty Ghana, a non-governmental organisation, has called on the government to suspend the confined testing of genetically modified (GM) foods in the country until the necessary bodies to oversee their introduction are set up. It said the confined testing currently going on in the three regions in the north was an affront to the Biosafety Act which mandated the setting up of a biosafety authority, a governing body, a technical committee and inspectors to oversee the risk assessment and impact of GM foods in the country before the confined test trial. Confined field trial Ghana has started a confined field testing of GM biotechnology cotton in the three regions in the north. However, Ghana is yet to set up the biosafety authority, the governing body, the technical advisory committee, regulatory agencies and inspectors, according to the organisation. The Biosafety Act, 2011  (Act 831), Section 11 (1), under the heading, “Application for contained or confined use,” states: “A person shall not conduct a contained or confined use activity involving genetically modified organisms or their development without the written approval of the biosafety authority”. Section 12 (1) continues: “A person shall not introduce into the environment a genetically modified organism without the prior written approval of the authority.” Position of Food Sovereignty Ghana In an interview with the Daily Graphic, a leading member of the Food Sovereignty Ghana, Mr Yaw Opoku, stressed that the organisation was not against the application of biotechnology in agriculture, but was against genetically modified biotechnology. “Food Sovereignty Ghana fully supports the application of biotechnology in agriculture; it is not something new. But we are strongly opposed to GM biotechnology, where a gene of a different species, like pest or an animal, is transferred into another species which is a plant,” he stressed. He said Food Sovereignty Ghana was opposed to GM biotechnology because biotechnology had been applied in the country with resounding success by the CSIR and other sub-regional research centres, stressing that biotechnology in agriculture was, therefore, not new. Mr Opoku stressed that scientists and politicians in the country were not being fair to Ghanaians as far as educating them to understand the difference between biotechnology and genetically modified biotechnology was concerned. “Biotechnology is the application of science and technology to produce crops that are relevant to us. But when it comes to GM biotechnology, we are talking about a gene from an insect being transferred into a plant or another species through the application of science and technology in the laboratory, but the scientists and the politicians make it look as if all biotechnologies are the same,” he explained.  Seed Breeders’ Bill Touching on the Seed Breeders’ Bill, Mr Opoku stressed that the bill, if passed, would shift focus from the GM biotechnology to complement it with patenting the seeds that would come from foreign agribusinesses. He accused Ghanaian scientists pushing for the bill to be passed and described them “as scientists who have been sponsored by those agribusinesses to use their GM crops in Ghana. We don’t expect those scientists to come and tell you anything less than the fact that it is good.” He alleged that correspondence with some scientists at the CSIR revealed that “they have been asked by Acadia, for example, to do those tests,” and threatened that even though his organisation would not reveal the names of those scientists, if it became necessary, “we can publish those letters for the public to know that some of these scientists are doing the work of those agribusinesses in order to push these GM foods into the Ghanaian environment.”