Blue Rose Ltd, an estate company, is to collaborate with the Awutu Prison Camp in the Central Region to offer skills development to inmates at the camp. The collaboration would focus on construction works at the company’s project sites. It would not only support the inmates with skills but also serve as a source of an internally generated fund to support what has been provided by the government for the upkeep of the inmates and the running of the camp. Acquisition of skills Inmates who already have skills in building and carpentry work would join other professionals in the company in their field of specialty, while those without any skills in the construction industry would be engaged in the digging of foundations, carrying of blocks, fetching of water, among others. The Chief Executive Officer of Blue Rose Ltd, Mr Eric Ebo Acquah, announced that when his company presented items worth more than GH¢2,000 to the inmates at the camp. Blue Rose collaboration The collaboration was at the instance of the Officer In Charge (OIC) of the prison, CSP Eric Ainoo-Ansah, who appealed to the company to help the camp generate internal income by engaging some of the inmates to work at its construction sites. The OIC was of the view that aside the income that such a collaboration would bring to the prison, it would also be an avenue to provide skills training for the inmates. He was happy that Blue Rose was one of the loyal companies in the country that had virtually adopted the camp. Mr Acquah said the collaboration would help those without any skills to also acquire some skills so that by the time they were released, they would become useful citizens. “Blue Rose would be excited to be part of the success story of reforming inmates at the camp, leaving the prisons fully equipped with employable skills,” he said. Items donated He explained that the donation, which included bags of rice, biscuits, soft drinks, toiletries, wheel barrows, second-hand clothes and first-aid kits, was part of the company’s social responsibility towards the less privileged in the area the company operated. Receiving the items, the Administrator of the prison, Chief Gabriel Nortey, was grateful to Blue Rose Ltd for always remembering the camp every year.  

The wife of the Vice President, Mrs Matilda Amissah-Arthur, has called on Ghanaians in general and families of lepers in particular to accept and integrate cured lepers into their midst because the disease is curable. She said such integration would complement and add value to work going on at the leprosarium where efforts were being made to cure lepers. Mrs Matilda Amissah Arthur made the call last Sunday at the Weija Leprosarium where she joined the Lepers Aid Committee chaired by Very Rev. Fr Andrew Campbell to mark World Leprosy Day with the inmates. Rev. Fr Andrew Campbell has been championing the cause of lepers in Ghana over the years. The day is observed internationally on the last Sunday of every January to increase public awareness of the disease. Mrs Amissah-Arthur said leprosy was not contagious and that it was curable, hence the need to accept and integrate the treated patients into the society. According to her, society’s continued rejection for the healed lepers had far reaching consequences on what was going on at the leprosarium. She advised families of such people to at least visit the lepers to give them hope.  “Let us end the stigmatisation the lepers go through,” she advised.   She also took the opportunity to interact with some of them, shook hands with them and encouraged them. She presented some bags of rice, plastic buckets, bowls and some amount of money to help one of them who would be undergoing surgery at the Korle Bu hospital soon. For his part, Rev. Fr. Campbell said most people neglected lepers because they saw them as outcasts and urged all to show love and compassion to them since they are human beings and deserved to be treated as such. He bemoaned the stigmatisation and discrimination against cured lepers in Ghana and called on the citizenry to respect the rights of lepers. He urged all corporate bodies to extend their love to the lepers in kind. Rev. Fr Campbell said the Lepers Aid Committee had constructed a multi-skill training centre for the Ho Leprosarium.

  The Deputy Transport Minister, Mrs Joyce Bewa-Motgatri says there won't be any increase in fares till the middle of the year following some measures put in place by government. “Whatever rates of increment are introduced today, will be maintained for the next six months. There will be no increasing beyond 10% in the coming weeks,” she stated. According to her, government has put in place structures to ensure that the current adjustments remain until the first half of the year. Two weeks ago, the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) announced a 6% increase in petrol prices whiles gas process went up by 8%. This has led to an increase in fares. In a statement issued by the Ghana Road Transport Operators (GRTO) it said fares for taxis will see an increase from 10 pesewas to 1.40 pesewas, distances which cost 50 pesewas are now 60 pesewas and fares which cost GhC 7 is now GhC 8.40. Transportation in intra-city buses have gone up by 10 pesewas and 50 pesewas as well as long distance intercity fares are also up by 50 and GhC 13.50. Speaking on Accra-based radio station, Joy Fm, Mrs Joyce Bewa-Motgatri explained that due to the 10% cumulative increase in petroleum products by the NPA, and the envisaged increase of 10 % in February, the Ministry of Transport negotiated with transporters over a 20% increase for the next six to eight weeks. “The idea was to get a 70% increment for the time being but we maintain that since the increment in vision was not going to exceed 20% for the next six to eight weeks, what we wanted to do was to agree on ways that will hold for the next 6 months. So through the negotiation we arrived at the 20% which we take into cognisance this present 10% and the one that will be coming up in February,” she said. She assured commuters that the Ministry of Energy and the National Petroleum Authority have assured the Ministry that they will be no increases in the coming weeks.  

The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) has stated that financial constraints are hindering efforts to execute an agriculture census in rural areas. According to the Minister of Agriculture, Mr Clement Kofi Humado, the agricultural census has not been carried out in the past 20 years and it has resulted in a gap in the presentation of agricultural data in the country. Agricultural census The minister was speaking at a meeting on agricultural data and information systems. It was organised by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in Accra. The meeting sought to reflect on the development of agriculture data and information systems in the country. “The situation is affecting presentation of data on growth of agricultural GDP, data for planning agriculture and many others,” Mr Humado added. Gaps To strengthen the agricultural statistics system, he said, the ministry conducted an improved survey known as the Ghana Agricultural Production Survey (GAPS). This was done to provide a more accurate, reliable and timely agricultural production at the district, regional and national levels for decision making. The minister said GAPS provided a detailed coverage of agricultural production activities, including vegetables, tree crops, livestock rearing and many others in 20 districts over two cropping seasons, 2011/2012 and 2012/2013. The 20 districts, included the Amansie West, Sekyere Afram Plains, Dormaa East and the Techiman municipality. He stated further that district information and communication infrastructure in the 20 districts needed to be upgraded to improve data collection and management under GAPS. Commitment MoFA, Mr Humado said, had shown a lot of interest and commitment towards the success of the GAPS. He added that MoFA trained 100 district agricultural statistical officers (DASO) for the GAPS in the 20 districts and the officers were mandated to collect and process data from the field. The Government Statistician, Dr Philomena Nyarko, said comprehensive information on the structure of the agricultural sector could be achieved through an agriculture census. “Data from agriculture census will be a valuable monitoring and planning tool for the government and other development actors,” she said. She said the agricultural census would provide an up-to-date sampling frame and establish solid systems for regular production and dissemination of reliable agricultural statistics.

Rev. Mrs Elizabeth Donkor (in spectacles) in a pose with some widows at the end-of-year party organised by the Osei-Kusi Foundation in Accra. The foundation, which was established in honour of her husband, Rev. Lincoln Donkor, Managing Director of Lizdon Fabrics, feted the widows and their children to make them feel a part of society, to put smiles on their faces and to encourage them to trust in God.  They were given food and drinks and gifts such as pieces of cloth, bathing shampoo, biscuits, toothpaste and inspirational books. The widows, together with Rev. Mrs Donkor, cut a cake to crown the occasion.  The Executive President of the foundation, Mr Kofi Osei-Kusi, said the widows would be feted annually so that they would not feel rejected. He also expressed his gratitude to the African Support Network and Dots Concept for supporting them.

The government needs to commit more funds to the fight against cyber crime in Ghana, the Vice-Chancellor of the Valley View University (VVU), Professor Daniel Bour, has said. According to him, the fight against cyber  crime is becoming increasingly sophisticated, hence the need for more technologically sophisticated measures to counter the criminals. He emphasised that the exploitation of modern technology by criminals who engaged in practices such as hacking, cracking and the popular 419 was gaining ground and posing a serious threat to society. Prof. Bour was speaking at the opening of a month-long information technology and communications (ICT) training programme for 30 policemen and women in Accra yesterday. The training programme is being facilitated by the VVU, with sponsorship from the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC). The police  To effectively take on their task of  maintaining law and order, the police, Prof. Bour said, must keep pace with advanced techniques and mechanisms of detecting crime and fraud. That, he stressed, called for in-depth knowledge and extensive use of cyber forensics which required huge financial resources. “We hope the government will provide an adequate budget to provide the required logistics to enable the police to effectively and efficiently combat cyber crime,” he said. Sakawa The Inspector General of Police, Mr Mohammed A. Alhassan, in a keynote address, stated that cyber crime, popularly called ‘Sakawa’ in Ghana, had led to the loss of financial resources of many individuals and organisations, even though “most of such cases are usually unreported”. Internet connectivity, he said, had made it easier for criminals to act beyond national boundaries, saying “this requires a multi-stakeholder effort, including the government, the private sector, religious bodies and civil and social organisations”. The Director-General of Research and ICT of the Ghana Police Service, Commissioner of Police David Asante-Apeatu, said the participants, who were drawn from the various departments of the service across the country, would be trained in Microsoft Office Specialisation, Linus Administration, Networking and Ethical hacking. writer’s email address:[email protected] 

The Sacristy of the first Roman Catholic Cathedral in the country, the Saint Francis de Sales Cathedral in Cape Coast, has been razed by fire. The fire, which started in the sacristy around 9.30 p.m., destroyed historical materials, vessels, vestments and important documents. A sacristy is a room in a church where vestments, sacred vessels and items are kept. The church, which was established in 1926, was the first Catholic cathedral to be established in Ghana. Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) officials said the cause of the fire was yet to be established. It took firemen about 40 minutes to bring the fire under control. According to the Assistant Administrator of the cathedral, Rev Fr Vincent Kwesi Asare Bediako, he heard a strange noise in the building and rushed to the scene, only to see that smoke and fire had engulfed the sacristy. He was of the view that the fire could have been sparked by incense that had not been snuffed out properly or an electrical problem. He said he had tried to put out the fire with a fire extinguisher and when that failed the GNFS had to be called in. “The sacristy has totally been damaged. Everything in it is gone,” Rev Fr Bediako said. As at the time the Daily Graphic got to the scene, personnel of the GNFS were making efforts to bring the fire under control. Some policemen were also around to ensure that thieves did not take advantage of the situation to make away with valuables from the cathedral.

Prof. Ernest Dumor, the father of Komla Dumor, accompanied by family members, last Sunday called on the President of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs, Togbe Afede XIV, to inform him formally about his son’s demise which occurred in London last Saturday, January 18, 2014. Receiving Professor Dumor, Togbe Afede described the news as heartbreaking and said that he and the whole of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs would stand firmly behind the family in all that would do with respect to the funeral.  He indicated that the family had taken a decision to bring Komla home for his burial.  He added that the documentation associated with transporting the body to Ghana was far advanced.  The family used the opportunity to once again thank Ghanaians for their support, love and prayers.   “We are mindful of the worldwide legacy that Komla has left behind and thank the Almighty God for the impact of Komla’s life,” Prof. Dumor said. He added that he had been particularly struck by how deeply young people had been expressing their sympathies.  “The family would ensure that in the arrangements for the funeral, the involvement of such young people is not overlooked. The family is undertaking the consultations needed so that the numerous people who feel a deep sense of loss at Komla’s passing are able to participate meaningfully in his final journey,” Prof. Dumor hinted. Present at the meeting was Togbi Amenya Fiti V, the Paramonunt Chief of Aflao.

President John Dramani Mahama has assured the family of the late Komla Afeke Dumor that the government will participate fully in the funeral of the iconic broadcaster. He said the demise of the 41-year-old BBC presenter was not a loss to the family alone but to Ghana, Africa and the world. Consequently, he said, the government would work with the family to give the late Dumor a befitting funeral. The President gave the assurance when a delegation of the bereaved family, led by the Paramount Chief of the Aflao Traditional Area, Togbe Amenya Fiti V, formally informed him of Dumor’s death at the Flagstaff House in Accra yesterday. Mr Mahama,  said it was painful that a star of Africa cast in the mould of Komla should lose his life in such an unexpected and terrible manner. Komla the iconic broadcaster "He had become an icon in broadcasting and his knowledge about Ghana and Africa was phenomenal. It is extremely sad that his life has been cut short at just age 41,"  the President said. Recalling the day Dumor informed him that the BBC had employed him, President Mahama said, "I knew from that day that Africa was getting a gem in the field of journalism." He disclosed that when he was returning from his recent trip abroad, he took time to pass through London to console Dumor's wife, The family, he noted, was a  young one and indicated that his heart went out to them in such a difficult period. Togbe Fiti Briefing the President on preparations being made toward the funeral, Togbe Fiti said no date had been set for the return of Dumor’s remains to Ghana. The date for the funeral was also yet to be fixed, he said, and assured the President that the family would keep him informed when preparations were complete. Togbe Fiti said Dumor's death was a huge blow to the Aflao Traditional Area where the deceased had been installed the Youth Commander, a traditional position that carried so much weight. Ambassador Gbeho  An uncle of the deceased, Ambassador Victor Gbeho, stated that the family was consoled by the "strong heart" of the deceased's father, Professor Ernest Dumor,  who, in these trying moments, had shown resilience. He commended the President for the show of support to the family. Other members of the delegation were Dumor's sister, Mrs Mawuena Trebah; Prof Dumor and some chiefs from the Aflao Traditional Area.

There were unusually long queues of vehicles at most fuel stations in Accra yesterday as the metropolis was hit by  petrol shortage. On a day transportation fares had gone up by 20 per cent, diesel vehicle owners were the lucky ones to have fuel at almost all fuel stations in the national capital. At the Accra Sports Stadium Shell filling station, impatient drivers, eager to get their share of the now scarce commodity, were in a long winding queue that stretched as far as the Freedom Monument, near the Independence Square. “I used the little fuel I had in my car to drive from Teshie to this place. I have been looking for fuel since morning,” a not-too-excited Mr John Aidoo told the Daily Graphic. The Supervisor of the station, Mr Desmond Darko, said it had earlier reserved some of its stock for its customers but had to give in as more and more people drove there to queue for fuel. “We placed the order, but the supply is not coming in. We place orders for fuel every three days but there has been no response yet. We don’t know what is going on,” he added. At the Adabraka Total filling station, near the Roxy Cinema, only diesel was available.  The situation was similar at the Total Station, near the Trust Towers. An attendant, Mr Davis Sarpong, said there was diesel but that for three days premium petrol had not been available. He said there was no sign fuel was coming soon, as the orders placed by the station were yet to receive positive responses.   At the Total station at Osu, near the Ebenezer Presby Church Hall, the Engen and Champion stations on the Kojo Thompson Road, the attendants virtually sat idle, occasionally telling customers that there was no petrol. A frustrated trotro driver, Daniel Odoom, wondered why there was no fuel, especially on a day fares had been increased. NPA speaks In an interview with the Daily Graphic, the Head of Communications at the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Mr Steve Larbi, attributed the crisis to pressure on the supply chain. According to him, there were more than 30 million litres of fuel in the system, with more being discharged. “There are only a few petrol tankers supplying the whole country and so after supplying in Accra, they have to move to the regions and then return,” he explained. The Chief Executive of the Association of Oil Marketing Companies (AOMC), Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Duah, confirmed the fuel shortage and blamed it on the delay by vessels to timeously deliver the product, reports Sebastian Syme. He explained to the Daily Graphic in an interview yesterday that whenever the vessels delayed in coming, fuel shortage arose. He added that what could also be responsible for the problem was that the bulk distribution companies (BDCs) failed to deliver the product on time. At a meeting with oil marketing companies (OMCs) yesterday, the NPA assured stakeholders that the issue would be resolved in the shortest possible time. Business Plan Mr Agyeman-Duah indicated that what the country needed was a business continuity plan (BCP) which the private sector would be encouraged to champion. He expressed the resolve of industry players to push for that plan which, when implemented, would help bring to an end the occasional shortage of fuel in the country. Fuel consumption Ghana currently consumes 42 million litres of diesel and 32 million litres of petrol a week. Chase Petroleum The Chief Executive Officer of Chase Petroleum, Mr Daniel Amoah, in a separate interview, however, painted a positive picture, saying his station had enough fuel and expressed surprise at the news of the shortage. He added that he had not heard of the shortage, since, for him, business was going on at his outfit. In a related development, commercial drivers yesterday increased transport fares by 20 per cent, following increases in the prices of petroleum products. However, they asked the government to give them concessions on fuel price increases, reports Caroline Boateng. They said fuel constituted a major component of transport operation and, therefore, any increase in the price of the product could have negative effects on their business. They added that although they were private business people, increases in vehicle income tax, driver and vehicle licensing fees, taxes by the various assemblies, as well as fuel price increases, were constraining their businesses.

A woman who could not stand the pain of losing her husband to another woman has been arrested for allegedly setting her husband, his new found lover and their daughter ablaze, leading to their death. Peter Amos Asobayire, 35; his wife, Felicity Asobayire, 25, and their two-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Sarah Asobayire, were burnt beyond recognition. The suspect, Efua Badu, 33, popularly known as Saman Kwenim, allegedly set fire to a can of kerosene and threw it through the window of the uncompleted abode of the family at Dome CFC at about 2 a.m. Monday. Two other occupants of the building, Tanko Asobayire, 28, and Michael Amanguri, 25, however, escaped unhurt as they were said to be sleeping in another room in the building. Background Badu, a chop bar operator, was said to have been married to Asobayire for seven years, during which period they had two children, a six-year-old boy and a two- year-old girl. Asobayire is alleged to have recently informed the suspect that he was no longer interested in their marriage. Briefing The Accra Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Mr Christian Tetteh Yohuno, told newsmen in Accra yesterday that Asobayire allegedly sacked Badu from their abode and brought in his new wife, Felicity. He said the suspect became offended on hearing that her husband had brought in a new woman. According to the police commander, the suspect claimed she decided to burn down everything in the house to teach the man a lesson. The suspect, he said, also claimed that she set a can of kerosene ablaze and threw it into the room, thinking that there was no one in the room. Mr Yohuno said the suspect claimed she took to her heels on hearing of screams from the room. Investigations According to Mr Yohuno, preliminary investigations by personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) led the police to arrest the suspect after it had emerged that someone might have set the family ablaze. There were fresh burnt marks on her hand and cheeks when she was arrested, but the commander indicated that the suspect earlier denied the charge, but after thorough interrogation she allegedly confessed to committing the crime. Fire scene When the Daily Graphic visited the scene around 2 p.m. yesterday, residents of the area had gathered around the entrance of the house discussing the issue.  Fire destroys building and property It was observed that property running into thousands of cedis had been destroyed by the fire, while some materials believed to be the body parts of the victims were seen. According to an eyewitness who pleaded anonymity, the fire began at approximately 2 a.m. Monday. Click to view more photos of the incident