Slums within the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) are to see an upgrade by the end of the year, the Mayor of Accra, Mr Alfred Oko Vanderpuije has said. According to him, there are ongoing discussions between the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and the Ministry of Works and Housing to ensure a total upgrading of communities in the capital. Speaking on Citi FM, Mr Vanderpuije noted that areas such as Nima, Momobi, Kotobabi and Sodom and Gomorrah are part of the Assembly’s agenda for an upgrade. On the issue of Sodom and Gomorrah, he said progress had been made to bring sanity to the area, noting that, it would be unlawful to “go in and bulldoze my way through Sodom and Gomorrah.†He added that following meetings with the Chiefs of Adjei Kotoku, plans have been made to move the commercial activities at Sodom and Gomorrah to Adjei Kotoku by the end of February. Dredging of Korle Lagoon Mr Vanderpuije said dredging of the Korle Lagoon have been hindered by the activities of residents along the lagoon, coupled with delays from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning. That notwithstanding, he said the residents had agreed to move 100 meters away from the lagoon. He noted that the Assembly was yet to conclude on what to do to with residents of Sodom and Gomorrah. “Discussions are on-going as to what to do with residents at Sodom and Gomorah. It is a decision that is not left to AMA alone because there are financial implications involved. There is an ongoing discussion between AMA and Ministry of Works and Housing to lead them to a permanent position,†he said. Meanwhile, Mr Vanderpuije hinted that dredging of the Korle Lagoon will resume in February. Â
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a permit for the construction and operation of a fuel station near the Family Health Hospital at Teshie in spite of objections by the management of the health facility and the  Ghana Health Service (GHS) for health reasons. The AI Energy Group, a licensed oil marketing company with a Logistics and Support Service Subsidiary rendering services to clients across the country, had discussed their intention to establish a bank, restaurant and fuel service station near the Family Health Hospital at Teshie and requested for the health facility’s consent. The management of the health facility replied that although the project would add to the economic benefits of the people of the community, it had serious concerns in relation to the fuel service station the AI Group wanted to provide to the health facility. It noted that living near a fuel station could be a health hazard; not only to patients and staff of the hospital but also to the in-vitro fertilisation (test tube babies), and urged the group to reconsider its decision. The management of the health facility also notified the Ministry of Health about the intention of the management of the AI Group to site a fuel service station near the facility, and requested the ministry to also provide the  AI Group and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reasons why it was not advisable to site the fuel station near a health facility.  The EPA had earlier requested the medical director of the Family Health Hospital Limited to provide an Environmental Impact Assessment for siting a filling station near a hospital facility in Teshie, a suburb of Accra. The request was necessitated by a petition from the management of the hospital  against  the siting of the fuel station near the health facility. Patrons of the health facility (with a 24-bed in-patient ward, consulting rooms for outpatients, theatre for surgical operations, laboratories, among others) risked contracting severe acute and chronic respiratory distress syndrome, increase in the incidence of cancers, fire hazards among other threats. The decision to issue the permit, the EPA explained, was due to the failure of the management of the health facility  to outline their environmental concerns as was agreed upon at a meeting on the proposed construction and operation of the fuel station. Health risk An Environment Impact Assessment of a proposed fuel service station at Teshie signed by Dr Gloria Quansah Asare, Acting Director General, Ghana Health Service, cited by the Daily Graphic, warned against the siting of the fuel station  near the hospital, citing health risks. According to the report, “evidence from the literature regarding risks from exposure to such a facility points to an increased risk of Leukaemia (blood cancer), Hodgkin’s lymphoma, fetal malformations and premature births.†The report urged “all stakeholders to work in tandem to limit the environmental and other exposures that constitute risk factors to their occurrence, as articulated in the Libreville Declaration 2008 which our two sectors have adopted with the formation of the Health and Environmental Strategic Alliance (HESA) in 2012.†The report said the health sector was seeking broader partnership with the private sector in meeting the health needs of Ghanaians. It said as the main health facility located between La and Tema General Hospitals, the Family Health Hospital, which provided a wide range of services, was making an immense contribution by complementing the government’s efforts at serving the  needs of a large proportion of persons living on the eastern side of Accra. Accusations But a letter signed on behalf of the Executive Director of the EPA by Mr Ebenezer Appah-Sarpong, a director, accused the hospital authorities of not responding to the issues raised in an earlier correspondence which required the hospital to outline its environmental concerns which should have reached the agency within one week from the receipt of that letter. In a different letter jointly signed by Mr Ben Koney, Project Coordinator, and Ms Abigail A. Harlley, Chief Executive Officer of the AI Energy Group Limited, owners of the Filling station, they said: “AI Energy Group is a duly licensed Oil Marketing Company with a Logistics and Support Service Subsidiary rendering services to clients across the entire country. According to the letter, “the said parcel of land is not within the perimeter of your land hoping that “our existence would not prove any discomfort to your operations whatsoever.
 A 32-year-old woman and her father have been charged with bigamy by the police after she successfully got married to two different men legally in Ghana. According to a report by The Finder newspaper Patience Belinda Gyamfi (the woman at the centre of investigations) got married to Maximus Anumah, a member of staff at the 37 Military Hospital in 2012 and to Audrey Atikpo in January 2013 while she was still married to the former. The newspaper reported that Belinda’s marriage to Maximus was held at a church in Labadi and registered at the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) while and the second marriage was registered in Somanya in the Eastern Region. The report indicated that in mid-January 2013, Belinda, who had not been blessed with a fruit of the womb from her marriage with Anumah sought permission from her husband to go to Edumfa Prayer Camp in the Central Region for fasting and prayers to seek divine intervention so they could have children, to which her husband granted the request. It said unknown to Mr Anumah, Belinda, her father and some family members had arranged a secret wedding with another man, Audrey Atikpo, who came down from the United States of America (USA). How they met is yet to be established. The report said, according to the second marriage certificate, Belinda got married to Atikpo on January 31, 2013 and registered the marriage at the Somanya Magistrate Court. Atikpo then rented an apartment at East Legon where he stayed with Belinda for some days and went back to the US to process the necessary documents for Belinda to join him there. According to The Finder report, when Atikpo left, Belinda packed back to her first husband’s house at Labadi in mid-February 2013. It said, upon her return, Belinda always found faults with anything that Anumah did, resulting in frequent misunderstandings. Some months later, Belinda's father brought drinks and GH¢300 to Anumah saying his daughter wanted divorce, but Anumah rejected the items, the report said. Being suspicious of his wife’s calls from a gentleman and a woman from the US, Anumah enquired about the calls and Belinda told him that the man (Belinda's second husband Atikpo) was her cousin and the woman (Belinda's mother in-law in US) her aunty. Not satisfied with the answers, Anumah started searching for his own clues and it was in the course of the search, Anumah found a piece of paper in their room bearing the name and address of Atikpo, The Finder reported. According to the newspaper, Anumah logged on to Facebook, searched for Audrey Atikpo and sent him a friendship request. Upon accepting the request, and seeing Anumah and Belinda's wedding photos in Anumah’s Facebook photos, Atikpo confronted Anumah and the two men both claimed to be the rightful husband of Belinda, The Finder said. According to The Finder, Atikpo called Belinda from the US and confronted her on the matter and the following day, Belinda packed all her belongings from Anumah's house and went back to the house Atikpo rented for her at East Legon. Feeling fooled and cheated by Belinda, Anumah reported the case to the police, who are currently investigating the matter. Â
 Three suspects and their three accomplices have been arrested in connection with armed robberies at the Koforidua Medical Village where many health officials of the Eastern Regional Hospital live. The suspects are also alleged to be responsible for most of the armed robberies in other parts of the New Juaben municipality. They are Samuel Akwetey, alias Kwame Agbeko, 35, said to be the ring leader; Godwin Ametoyo, 38, and Isaac Agomor, 22. Their accomplices are Gideon Boateng, 28, said to be the carrier of the stolen goods, Charles Awuku, 47, and Mohamadu Zebu, 32, who allegedly receive the booty. Another member of the gang whose name has been given as Harrison is currently on the run. Items retrieved Items retrieved from them include one plasma television set, a laptop and a foreign made pistol, all of which, according to the police, were stolen from the Medical Village. A number of house-breaking implements and knives were also found on the gang. The arrest of the gang, according to DCOP Akuriba Yaagy, the Eastern Regional Police Commander, was a significant breakthrough by the police in the fight against crime. Media briefing At a press briefing at his office last Friday, DCOP Yaagy said, “We have made a significant breakthrough by arresting Akwetey, who has been on the police wanted list for some time now.†Giving details of the arrests, he said a ‘Good Samaritan’  who spotted Akwetey in the Koforidua business area last Thursday raised an alarm. The ‘Good Samaritan’ single-handedly struggled to get hold of Akwetey, he said, while a taxi driver joined him to overpower the suspected robber. According to the Eastern Regional Police Commander, after Akwetey had been handed over to the police, he mentioned the names of his accomplices, leading to their arrest at different locations. He indicated that the police were on the trail of Harrison and that investigations were being conducted into the case, after which the suspects would be put before court. Background    From September 2012 to November 2013, the Medical Village recorded a number of armed robbery attacks, during which some of the doctors werebeaten and their belongings stolen. That forced many of the doctors at the Eastern Regional Hospital who resided at the Medical Village to decide not to attend to emergency night calls to duty due to the persistent attacks by robbers.  Â
 Residents of Adjei Kojo whose structures were demolished last week are to benefit from relief items presented to the Tema Development Corporation (TDC) by the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO). Initial assessment by NADMO indicates that more than 800 people from 167 households, mostly women, children and the aged, were displaced after a team of military and police personnel had demolished houses on lands acquired by the TDC for the expansion of Tema. The National Coordinator of NADMO, Mr Kofi Portuphy, handed over the items, made up of 10 tents (each with the capacity to shelter between 10 and 18 people), 300 mats, 400 blankets, 1,000 plastic bowls, three bales of used clothing, mosquito nets and packets of mosquito coil, to the Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mr  Isaac Ashai Odamtten, for distribution to the affected persons. Mr Odamtten expressed appreciation to NADMO for the swift response which, he said, would help ameliorate the pain and anguish of the displace persons. He admitted that there had been some lapses in the work of some of the members of the task force and pledged to convene a meeting with all stakeholders, including the TDC, to streamline and promote the development of the metropolis. Present were the Tema Coordinator of NADMO, Hajia Zeinab Abdulai, and a former Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Samuel Ofosu- Ampofo, who was the NDC's parliamentary candidate for the affected area in the 2012 general election. Presenting the items, Mr Portuphy explained that the donation was just the initial consignment mobilised in the heat of the moment and indicated that as and when resources became available, more items would be given to the displaced persons, some of whom had been compelled to sleep in the open. Lack of consultation He bemoaned the manner in which the exercise had been carried out, stressing that although the TDC might have the right to carry out such an exercise, NADMO should have been consulted to handle the plight of the internally displaced persons well. Mr  Portuphy said while the legalities must be pursued, there was also the need for the application of a human face to the exercise, adding that the TDC could not be absolved of complicity in the sale of lands to individuals in the affected area. He said there was evidence that occupants of the land had paid various sums of money to the TDC and Tema Metropolitan Assembly and wondered what might have prevented the TDC from dialoguing with the occupants and the allodial owners of the land in order to resolve the problem amicably. Mr Ofosu-Ampofo also expressed discontent at  the lack of consultation among the TDC, the TMA and agencies such as NADMO when the TDC decided to carry out the demolition exercise. Writer's email: benjamin.glover@ graphic.com.gh Â
 Identical twin girls were last Friday killed when the building in which they slept collapsed on them at Abenabo, a village in the Suhum municipality in the Eastern Region. The twins, identified as Akweley and Akorkor, aged four, were killed instantly when the bricks of the weak thatched structure fell on them following a heavy downpour. Six others who were also sleeping in the same structure, including the twins’ parents, sustained minor injuries and were rushed to the Suhum Government Hospital, where they were treated and discharged.  Bodies under debris Briefing the Daily Graphic, the Suhum Municipal Police Commander, Superintendent Anane Appiah, stated that the bodies of the twins had been deposited at the Suhum Government Hospital. He said the police received a report last Friday that twin girls had been killed by a collapsing building at Abenabo near Suhum. When the police rushed to the scene, they found the bodies of the little girls under the debris of the collapsed building, he said. Too late to save According to him, the mother of the children, Akweley Madzi, told the police that she was sleeping in the same room with the kids when she heard cracking sounds in the building. She, therefore, woke up to check what could be the cause of the cracking. “But before she could open the door, the building caved in and the bricks fell on the kids, killing them instantly,†the police commander stated. Â
 SavaNna Signatures, a non-governmental organisation in the Northern Region, is making effective use of information and communication tools to aid pregnant women access important information related to their welfare. The technology, being piloted in four districts of the region, is to help improve maternal health. The NGO is using information and communication tools to implement the Technology for Maternal Health (TMH) project, which started in September 2013 in the Tamale Metropolis, Savelugu/Nanton, Kumbungu districts and the Yendi Municipality. Miss Elizabeth Hariba Jakalia,  the  Project Officer for TMH, said under the project, some computers and software had been donated to four hospitals for nurses and midwives to educate pregnant women, especially on safe delivery. She said SMS messages were sent to the pregnant women who had been registered with the system and that some 1,735 pregnant women received periodic information on nutrition, hygiene, tips on antenatal care, dangerous signs and preparations towards delivery. At the King’s Medical Centre at Bontanga in the Kumbungu District, Mr Nii Otu Ankrah, the Director of Administration, commended the Savanna Signatures for implementing the innovative project but suggested the need for a projector to showcase video documentaries to the pregnant women at antenatal clinics. He said such a documentary would better inform the pregnant women, especially those who could not read and write, stressing that the facility had upgraded the ICT knowledge of the staffMadam Amina Mumuni, a Matron at the King’s Medical Centre said the project would serve as a complementary education about pregnancy to the expectant mothers in addition to what was being provided by nurses and midwives. She said 200 pregnant women in the hospital had so far been registered on the system and received periodic information on their mobile phones. Madam Vida Molah, a pregnant woman, said the technology had helped her to receive timely information which enabled her to understand her pregnancy.  — GNA Â
   Some female porters (kayayei) interviewed in a study conducted by ABANTU for Development, a non-governmental organisation, on their access to health care under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) have expressed dissatisfaction about the services they receive in some health centres. According to the study, they complained of being discriminated against anytime they visited health facilities, leading to unnecessary delay in accessing health care, and called for improved services at health facilities. The research, which was conducted in three metropolises, namely Accra, Kumasi and Takoradi, revealed that the ‘kayayei’ complained of discrimination from the hospital staff, particularly nurses whenever they visited the facilities to seek  health care. The research, a STAR-Ghana funded project, was on the topic, “Enhancing Gender and Social Responsiveness of the NHIS: The case of the female porter and senior citizens.†At a stakeholders forum organised by ABANTU for Development, in collaboration with Window of Hope, a local NGO, to disseminate the research report, it also came to light that majority of the respondents expressed their unhappiness about the fact that despite the operation of the NHIS, they sometimes paid for the cost of some drugs  and medical tests, which, according to health officials, are not covered under the scheme. Out of the 303 interviewed in the three metropolises, 71.6 per cent had registered with the scheme with 50.8 per cent having valid NHIS cards, that is, unexpired cards. The study, however, established that female senior citizens who reported at the hospitals were given fair treatment by the hospital staff. Majority of those with valid NHIS cards were found to be female senior citizens and this was because most of them were pensioners, while others fell under the exempt group and as such paid lower than the average subscription premium. The research, therefore, recommended the need for the scheme to do sex disaggregated data to enable it to respond to the specific needs of different groups of women and men. It further suggested that the scheme should collect the mobile numbers of members during registration and find ways of tracking the expiration and renewal dates. That, according to the research, would allow the scheme to partner with the telecommunication companies  operating in the country to send text messages or voice messages to prompt card holders to renew them. According to Ms Afua Gyapomaa of ABANTU for Development, who presented the report, “there is the perception among our respondents that the NHIS covers only the less expensive medicines.†This was confirmed by some of the health officials who attended the programme and claimed it was becoming very difficult to run the facilities due to unavailability of funds and as result, health facilities had to charge the patients for their services. The study established that most of the respondents had a fair knowledge of the NHIS, despite  some few misconceptions and misunderstandings, particularly with regards to renewal.   Â
 Most of the drainage systems in the Ledzokuku constituency are choked with refuse and other waste materials, a situation which has raised public health concerns. The Member of Parliament for the Ledzokuku constituency, Mrs Benita Sena Okity-Duah, last Thursday led the Deputy Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Mr Vincent Oppong Asamoah, and the Ledzokuku Krowo Municipal  Chief Executive (MCE), Mr Seth Badu Tawiah, to inspect the choked drains. Places visited The team inspected drains at Teshie Sangonaa, Nkome Nfa, Teshie Lascala, Sangojor and the GREDA Estates. One common feature identified during the inspection was the stench that emanated from the drains. Blocked drainage systems Mrs Duah said most of the drainage systems had caused flooding in the past, adding that “just a few weeks ago and before Christmas, we experienced a disaster in the constituencyâ€. Mrs Duah also said a lot of structures had been erected on waterways, thereby blocking the flow of water during the rainy season. She called for a change in people’s attitudes, especially in respect of sanitation. In her interaction with residents, Mrs Duah advised them not to throw rubbish into the drains. She also cautioned them about the possible flooding of the area if they did not change their attitude. Demolition exercise Mr Tawiah told the journalists that the assembly had passed a resolution to destroy all structures built on waterways. Though he would not disclose the period the exercise would take place, he said it  would begin after the necessary consultations had been done. Ministry of Water Resources Works and Housing Mr Oppong Asamoah said the ministry of Water, Resources, Works and Housing was working hard to expand most of the drainage systems in Accra. He said the government had made a lot of investments to improve the drainage systems in Accra and gave the assurance that most of the systems in the Ledzokuku Constituency would be cleared by March this year. Â
Two magistrates and a circuit court judge were dismissed last year from the judiciary for misconduct. Justice Dennis Adjei, an Appeal Court Judge who made this known, said the move was part of efforts by the judiciary to weed out undesirable elements in the system. Speaking at a forum organised for young lawyers in Accra, Justice Adjei said the General Legal Council which was mandated by law to deal with lawyers whose actions might contradict the ethics of the legal profession had placed an eagle eye on its members to ensure that they upheld the tenets of the profession. He emphasised that  one must have a good moral attitude with no criminal record to qualify to join the bench . Justice Adjei further told the young lawyers that they could apply to work in various capacities in the Judicial Service but cautioned them not to make money their sole inspiration and focus as lawyers. He advised the young lawyers to be good apprentices to their senior partners in order to gradually acquire the needed knowledge and skills attached to the legal profession. Upgrading of skills The Chief Justice, Justice Georgina Theodora Wood, in her address, advised the young lawyers to seek further knowledge by enrolling in post graduate programmes. She said her office was committed to enhancing the capacity of members of the judiciary adding that “to show my commitment to this course, we have sent some judges abroad, to undertake some postgraduate coursesâ€. Young Lawyers’ Forum The President of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), Nene Amegatcher, said the forum was organised to create a platform for young lawyers to contribute to the progress of the GBA. He added that the forum was established as a platform to enable the GBA members to follow best practices and also afford the young lawyers a platform where their  needs would be addressed. “It is to address these issues bordering on the welfare of young lawyers, which have been impeding their professional growth that led to the proposals to establish the Young Lawyers’ Forumâ€, he added. He also added that the Young Lawyers’ Forum would be a platform for dynamic and resourceful lawyers to make a difference. Pro bono For his part, the Criminal Justice Advisor to the British High Commission, Mr Roger Coventry, advised the young lawyers to use their legal knowledge to seek justice for the poor and the underprivileged. He told the young lawyers to make themselves available for pro bono or free service cases, to help the underprivileged, adding that “pro bono will also help you sharpen your skills in lawâ€. Mr Coventry also advised the young lawyers not to be afraid of committing mistakes and further encouraged them to be confident in their bid to seek justice.   Â
 President John Dramani Mahama has underscored the need for Ghanaians to bury the acrimonious past and live together as one people, working for the good of the country. “Whether NDC or NPP; Kusasi or Mamprusi; Alavanyo or Nkonya; Andani or Abudu, we are one people and must not succumb to divisions,†he said. The President made the call at a memorial service in Accra put together by Action Chapel International and the South African Embassy in Ghana in memory of former South Africa President, Nelson Mandela, who died on December 5, last year. Held at the Action Chapel, the service received high patronage from former President Jerry Rawlings, politicians, members of the Diplomatic Corps and Christians from other churches who joined the congregation of the host church to celebrate the life of the late South African leader. No revenge President Mahama said the South African situation, where Mr Mandela and the Black population never allowed the evils of apartheid to push them into revenge, was worth emulating by Ghanaians and, indeed, the people of other African countries. “Apartheid was the most inhuman form of governance the world ever  witnessed, yet Mr Mandela sought reconciliation. “We should not just eulogise this great African leader but learn from his life,†Mr Mahama said. The President made reference to the sacrifices the late South African leader made for his nation and said it was important that Africa emulated the example. Patriotism Recalling a recent statement by the Council of State that the level of patriotism on the part of Ghanaians had waned, the President indicated that the issue needed to be taken seriously by all in order to correct the wrongs in society. Mr Mahama rejected claims by some people that apartheid was defeated through dialogue, insisting that it was the arms struggle that forced the apartheid leaders to go to the negotiating table with the Africa National Congress (ANC). Archbishop Duncan-Williams At the memorial service punctuated with melodious South African songs and applauses, Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams, the General Overseer of Action Chapel International, said what made President Mandela stood out and also commanded much respect across the world was that he taught the world three things—forgiveness, respect for human dignity and reconciliation. “These were values he held onto. He lived forgiveness; he demonstrated it. Forgiveness is not a forgotten memory. Forgiveness is memory without revenge; memory without pain,†he said He observed that although the late South African President had the power to pay back all those who mistreated him and other black South Africans, he chose to reconcile the nation. South African High Commissioner The South African High Commissioner to Ghana, Madam Jeanette Ndhlovu, in an emotional tribute, described the life of Mandela as ‘well lived’.  Â
 It has now emerged that the man who is alleged to have attacked a second-year medical student of the University for Development Studies (UDS) in Tamale is the victim’s cousin. The police have mounted a search for the suspect, who is on the run.  A stethoscope, one of the items stolen from the victim after the attack, has been retrieved by the police. A co-tenant, who allegedly bought it from the suspect, handed the item over to the police. Meanwhile, the 20-year old victim, Salma Yakubu, is currently responding to treatment at the Intensive Care Unit of the Tamale Teaching Hospital for the multiple injuries she sustained. Last Monday afternoon, the suspect allegedly attacked the student at her residence at the SSNIT Flats in Tamale. The Northern Regional Police Crime Officer, Alhaji Mahama Arhin, told the Daily Graphic that when the picture of the suspect, whose name has not been given for security reasons, was shown to the victim on her sick bed yesterday morning, she nodded her head. Ms Salma is currently unable to speak or answer any questions pertaining to the assault as a result of the severity of her injuries. Alhaji Arhin explained that the suspect, who is a nephew of the victim’s father, had lived closely with the family till  now. He said the suspect was enrolled into electrical apprenticeship by his uncle in Accra where the victim and her family resided. The suspect was subsequently brought back home to Tamale where the uncle rented a room for him to continue his work as an electrician. He said on the fateful Monday, January 13, 2014, the suspect went to the victim’s apartment where he allegedly demanded to have sex with her. However, she turned down his amorous advances.  The suspect is said to have subsequently attacked her with some sharp implements, resulting in the serious injuries on her head and other parts of her body. She was left in a pool of blood. Later, when she gained consciousness, she descended the stairs to the ground floor where she collapsed.  Her condition attracted the attention of her neighbours who had to call in the Ambulance Service to pick her to the hospital. According to Alhaji Arhin, further investigations were ongoing to ascertain whether the suspect acted alone or with other persons. He, however, gave an assurance that the suspect was being pursued and “would be capturedâ€. Â
   A 13-year-old girl has been paralysed temporarily after she had allegedly been defiled by a first-year student of the University of Ghana, Legon. The girl, whose name has been withheld by the police for security reasons, has been on admission since Tuesday, January 21, 2014. She was rushed to hospital unconscious and has since been receiving medical attention. Girl was drugged She was said to have been drugged by Hamid Ayiku, the suspect, who forcibly had sex with her while she was unconscious. The incident happened at Anyaa Insunfa in Accra on Monday, January 21, 2014. Ayiku, who lives with his parents in the same house where the victim and her family live, is said to have forcibly had sex with the girl in his room. Mother Reports to Police Though the house is a compound one, none of the tenants could tell how the victim ended up in the suspect’s room. The victim’s mother reported the ghastly sexual encounter her daughter had been subjected to to the police. The suspect has been arrested and the Kaneshie Office of the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service is handling the case. The Kaneshie DOVVSU told the Daily Graphic that the office was still investigating the matter and would put the suspect before court soon. writer’s email:[email protected]   Â
Traders at the Makola Number 2 Market at Agbogbloshie in Accra have appealed to the government to come to their aid as their lives are threatened by sewage running through the market. According to the traders, initially, it was only the effluent that passed through the market, but now the stench emanating from it was unbearable. They claimed the situation had forced many of them to abandon their stalls, and all efforts to get the managers of the market to come to their aid had so far proved futile. The traders, who called at the offices of the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday, said they had been given a raw deal by the government because it had failed to honour a promise to rebuild the market, which was razed down by fire last year. History of the Market According to them, about 24 years ago, they were trading at the old Makola Number 2 Market until fire razed down the whole market, causing authorities to  relocate them to the new site at the Agbogbloshie Market, where they had been for the past 15 years. Incidentally in 2010, they suffered their first fire outbreak at their present location in which goods worth millions of cedis were lost. At that time, President Atta Mills came to the market to console them, and assured them that the government would to assist them but unfortunately, he passed away. They said just as they were trying to rebuild their lives, another fire razed down the whole market again in 2013, and on that occasion, not a single shop was salvaged. President Mahama After the incident, President John Mahama also came to console them and thereafter, the market was closed for weeks for repairs; but after waiting for while, without any immediate sign of serious repairs,  they moved to the parking lot within the market where they erected makeshift stalls. Unfortunately, the sewage currently flowing through the market has made trading and life unbearable for the traders, as well as their customers. The traders claim they have to sweep the sewage daily before they can display their wares, despite the fact that the stench emanating from it is ‘killing’ them and has made it difficult for buyers to patronise their wares. All attempts by the market women to get the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) to solve the problem has so far not yielded any response. Meanwhile, they had to pay GH¢140 to AMA before the stalls were erected and now pay a monthly charge of GH¢12. Reaction from AMA According to the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the AMA, Nuumo Blafo, the first time the issue of the sewage came to the notice of the AMA, they quickly contacted the Sewage Department of the AMA, which solved the problem. He disclosed that nobody had contacted the AMA about the latest development, and advised the women to report the matter to the sewage department. In connection with the construction of a new market, the PRO revealed that the market did not belong to the AMA but SSNIT and a private company, and that those two organisations would have to reconstruct it for the traders. He, however, indicated that after the fire outbreak, the company in charge of the market promised to rebuild the market but up to date, nothing had been done. Writers email: [email protected]
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Instagram
Google+
YouTube
LinkedIn
RSS