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Editorial: Enough of the man-made disasters and associated deaths

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THE CHRONICLE
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Editorial

On January 20, 2022, Ghana experienced one of the deadliest man-made disasters in recent times when a truck carrying mining explosives to the Chirano Gold Mines got involved in an accident. The highly unfortunate incident occurred at Apiatse, a farming community in the Prestea Huni Valley Municipality of the Western Region.

After the accident, the driver of the truck was said to have raised an alarm, asking the nearby inhabitants to run for their lives, because of the impending danger of an explosion he anticipated. Though the alarm was meant to create a high level of alertness so that the people would take cover, some of the residents were said to have ignored the driver’s alarm bells, and went to the scene to have first-hand information about what had happened.

As envisaged and announced by the driver, the explosion occurred in the deadly form of a big blast, which shook the entire community, killing some of the onlookers and destroying homes. The big blast, however, heightened the anxiety of the people, as a lot of them allegedly rushed to the scene to catch a glimpse of the calamity that had befallen their town.

As many converged at the accident scene, a second explosion occurred, which killed most of the people who were within range or were rushing to the area. According to official information, the blasts killed at least seventeen people, while a total of fifty-nine others sustaining various severe degrees of injuries.

What is of grave concern to The Chronicle is that many of the unfortunate deaths which occurred at Apiatse could have been avoided if we had instilled in ourselves a high level of alertness and self-discipline.

However, it seems that hard lessons were never learned from the highly devastating Apiatse situation that claimed precious human lives. A recent media report indicates that some residents of Kaase in the Ashanti Region went out in their numbers to siphon fuel from an overturned diesel tanker.

Very eager to cash in on the unfortunate accident, they ignored all warnings and calls on them to move away from the accident scene, because of the foreseeable dangers involved in such situations. As a matter of fact, not even the presence of the police could deter the people from going on with their deadly expeditions to siphon part of the over 50,000 litres of diesel.

From all indications, it is quite obvious that another disaster could have occurred and possibly claimed the lives of those who engaged in the siphoning of the fuel, and this is what the paper is extremely worried about.

We are overly concerned about the rate at which precious human lives are lost in this country through man-made disasters, and, therefore, call for a national discourse to deal with such situations. If possible, a law must be enacted to criminalise such conducts, because it appears to us that a mere warning is not helping to deal with the situation.

Unipower helping to build teacher trainee bungalow, JHS block for Abetimaso

By
KWESI ALFRED ADAMS
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Nana Ampem Darko (3rd left) and the DCE for Wassa East donating te items

An indigenous large scale mining company operating in Daboase in the Wassa East District of the region has gone to the aid of the chiefs and people of Abetimaso, one of the host communities of the firm to extend a helping hand to put up a teacher trainee bungalow and Junior High School structure.

Consequently, the mining company, Unipower Mining, has donated 1,000 bags of cement, one and a half tonne of iron rod, and five packs of roofing sheets amongst others totaling GH¢50,000 as part of its corporate social responsibility.

The Corporate Affairs Manager of Unipower, Nana Ampem Darko, who presented the items, said his company decided to extend a helping hand to the host community to realise its long-held dream of putting up a teacher trainee bungalow and Junior High School.

He said, considering the importance of education, his company though had not started mining yet, decided to help because the two projects the community had decided to embark upon were a laudable ones.

Nana Ampem Darko, however, said his company had realised that the area had been neglected for a long time, and as an exploration firm, Unipower would do its best to empower the community, most especially, the youth.

The empowerment programme would be in the form of helping the youth learn vocations, most particularly excavator and heavy duty machines operations so that they could secure employment with Unipower when it finally starts full mining operation.

“We have opened our doors ready to train the youth to learn how to drive heavy machines so that they can work with us.:

The Chief of Abetimaso, Nana Mercy Ansah, lauded the mining company empowerment programme to train the youth gain employment. She said the community welcomed the idea and was ready to partner the company to embark on the empowerment training programme.

But, however, appealed to the mining company to engage her palace when it had issues with the community for amicable resolutions and settlements.

The District Chief Executive for Wassa East, lauded the mining company for its vision for the host communities, and said, considering the scarcity of employment in the area, it was advisable the community welcomed the company to help reduce the unemployment rate.

Earlier, the mining company had also donated bags of cement and plastic chairs to the Nsuta community.

Effia-Nkwanta Hospital: We have pursued every breaches of customer care reported for correction and action

By
KWESI ALFRED ADAMS
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Dr. Joseph Kojo Tambil, Medical Director, Effia Nkwanta Hospital

The management of Effia-Nkwanta Government Hospital has advised patients of the facility to report and exhaust laid down procedures established to handle complaints over breaches they may have encountered or endured from staff at the facility.

According to the hospital, it was hurting that patients would decide to abandon the complaint procedures established to handle cases of negligence and customer breaches.

Engaging the media at the hospital on Wednesday, the Medical Director, Dr. Joseph Kojo Tambil, said though the facility was not barring any patients from running to the media, it was just advisable that they resorted to the procedures established by the hospital.

This was because, the hospital had actively pursued every breach of the customer care policies for correction and action reported.

Leading management in the media engagement, the Effia-Nkwanta Hospital Medical Director explained that it was not for anything that the Ghana Health Service (GHS) set up a code of ethics for staff of hospitals to follow religiously.

As a result, “You cannot get up and punish any staff without following the steps outlined in the code of ethics.”

Dr. Kojo Tambil further explained that it was not like the hospital turned a blind eye when a staff was reported to have misbehaved, but there must first be a complaint before action could be taken against the said staff.

He said management had on so many occasions punished staff over minor complaints lodged against them, which had culminated in transfers and interdictions.

He said management of the facility agreed amongst themselves to behave as professionals, so they expected every staff to follow suit.

In checking cases of misconduct, the Medical Director told journalist the hospital had fixed Close Circuit Televisions (CCTV) at most of the department, especially the Out Patient Department (OPD), where it monitored the conduct of staff.

Present at the media encounter included Michael Danso, Head of Administration, Justina Amo-Yartey, Head of Nursing, Francis Afari, Head of Pharmacy, and Simon Osei Tawiah, Internal Auditor.

Taking journalist through the complaint procedures as established by the GHS, Mr. Michael Danso, Head of Administration, said the complaint procedure was hierarchical. A patient who felt aggrieved over a staff conduct or negligence must first report to the head of the unit, where the latter would, in turn, report to the head of department.

He said taking to the media without first filing a complaint at the head of the unit was worrisome and could cause irreparable damage to the hospital.

The Public Relations Officer (PRO), Christian Baidoo, advised journalist to strive to protect the hospital from injurious publication, considering that was the only referral hospital in the region. Not gagging any journalist from writing negative stories about the hospital, the Hospital PRO asked journalist to seek the side of the hospital before running to press with the story.

Man, 20, convicted 3yrs for possession of narcotic drugs

By
ISAAC AKWETEY-OKUNOR
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Court

A 20-year-old unemployed man, Richard Peprah, has been convicted to three years’ imprisonment in hard labor by the Asamankese Court for possession of narcotic drugs, contrary to section 37(1) of the Narcotic Control Commission Act 2020 (Act 1019).

The accused person was convicted on his plea when he appeared before the court, presided over by His Honour Abass Abubakari Adams.

Prosecuting, Chief Inspector Samuel Appiatu Appiah stated that the complainants in this case are police officers at Asuom, while the accused person also lives in the same town.

He said on September 5, 2021, at about 7:20am, the police at Asuom were out for an investigation on the suspicion of the involvement of the accused in a case, which occurred on August 5, 2021, in which a person was robbed and another murdered, when the police spotted the accused at Asuom Amankwakrom and picked him on the suspicion of possession of a firearm without lawful authority.

During a search of his room, the police found a yellow parcel containing cannabis (Indian hemp) which he admitted ownership of and said he sold it to some people at a mining site at Asuom.

The police later sent the suspected Indian hemp for test and confirmation at the Forensic Science Laboratory in Accra, and the result confirmed the drugs.

Later, the accused was arraigned before court for prosecution.

Youth of St Bakhita Catholic Church gives to 32 aged, vulnerable and home-ridden persons

By
ISAAC AKWETEY-OKUNOR
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Their smile tells the joy in serving the aged and disadvantaged in society
The bags of the various items to be shared

The Youth of St Bakhita Catholic Church, Old Estates-Koforidua, on Monday reached out to 32 aged, vulnerable and home-ridden persons with various assorted groceries under the “I Care Project.”

The ‘I CARE Project’ was an initiative mooted by the youth of the church to primarily solicit for various supports from well-meaning people in an effort to reach out to needy persons during the Easter period, but was deferred to this Monday.

This year’s donations were the second of the project since its inception, with its first project being at the Nsawam Female Prison, where several boxes of sanitary pads and other items were donated on World Sanitary Day.

It was sheer love for humanity and contributions to both physical and spiritual development of the needy and aged as the youth took four hours of their precious time moving through communities in the new Juaben Municipality of the Eastern Region to do the donation.

The all happy youth bore the scorching sun as they navigated their way over some dilapidated foot bridges, and bushy pathways to bring joy and happiness to the disadvantaged individuals in society.

The Parish Priest of St Bakhita Catholic Church, Old Estates-Koforidua, Rev. Fr. Sebastian Hackman Owusu-Mensah, could not hide his appreciation of the youth for coming up with this initiative.

According to him, the Church had a critical role in supporting the needy as their spiritual welfare is seen to. “Well done for this project; may your needs and that of the donors be answered. We really need to care for the vulnerable.”

A beneficiary who was excited to receive the packages, saying, “I am happy you remembered me, God bless you.”

Two farmers fined GH¢3,600.00 for possession firearms

By
ISAAC AKWETEY-OKUNOR
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Firearms

Two farmers in Akyem Kwamang in the Eastern Region have been fined GH¢3,600 by the Asamankese Circuit Court for possession of firearms without lawful authority, contrary to Section 11 of the Narcotic Regulatory Control Department Act 9 (1972).

The accused persons, Jonas Opare, 40 years, and Samuel Obeng, 49 years, in default to pay the fine will be sentenced to two years imprisonment.

Samuel Obeng was fined another GH¢3,600 for transferring firearms, but his sentences will run concurrently.

The prosecution statement said on December 3, last year, at about 3:00pm, there was a shooting incident in the Akyem Abenaso Forest by a 16-year-old son of Jonas Opare, which led to the death of one Paa Kwasi Goglomi, aged about 22 years.

Police investigations revealed that Samuel Obeng was the owner of the unregistered single barrel gun with serial number 47538, and without authority transferred it to Jonas Opare who left the gun at home, which his son took for hunting in the Akyem Abenaso Forest where he mistakenly shot a human being.

After further investigation, Samuel Obeng and Jonas Opare were put before court for prosecution.

ECG declares GH¢625.34m as bad debt

By
INUSAH MUSAH
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Mr Kwame Agyeman-Budu, MD of ECG

The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has declared GH¢625.34 million as a bad and doubtful debt over three years spanning 2019 to 2021. In 2019, ECG made provision for GH¢58.51 million as bad and doubtful debt.

The figure shot up to GH¢276.50 million and GH¢290.33 million in 2020 and 2021 respectively.

These figures were contained in ECG’s 2022-2026 tariff proposals submitted to the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) for consideration. “This is based on the company’s policy on provision for bad and doubtful debts,” ECG said.

It explained that the unrecoverable debt, comprising debt due to demolished structures, debt examined under the ECG’s debt recovery process, and fixed charge debt were due to long periods of disconnection.

“Majority of these bad debts emanate from demolished structures due to road constructions, relocation of slums, removal of temporary structures, illegal transfer and removal of meters by unscrupulous customers (mostly SHEP areas),” it explained.

Touching on the measures being adopted to minimise the bad and doubtful debts, ECG said it regularly engages Districts and Municipal Assemblies to ensure that information on demolishing exercises and road constructions, among others, are communicated to ECG in good time to avoid this problem.

It, however, noted that despite bad and doubtful debts being part of the company’s policy, the board, for the past 10 years, has not approved them even though the necessary provisions were made in the budgets.

Cover of ‘medical doctor’ blown; slapped with GH¢600k cost

By
ERNEST BEST ANANE
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Richard Kwadwo Owusu Nyarko- Fake doctor

A legal action taken by a self-acclaimed medical doctor has given him away and he would have to part with a total of GH¢600,000.00 to the six defendants.

Richard Kwadwo Owusu Nyarko, the plaintiff, who was seeking damages ofGH¢5,000,000.00 against the defendants for defamation, ended up having to pay the cost of GH¢100,000.00 each to the six defendants.

He was seeking an order declaring that the defendants had defamed him and thus harmed his reputation as a medical doctor. But a Kumasi High Court has dismissed the plaintiff’s action with a total cost of GH¢600,000.00 against him.

The presiding judge, Justice George Krofa Addae, explained the courts position that the plaintiff sought to claim GH¢5,000,000.00 from the defendants if he had won the case, hence the cost of Gh¢100,000.00 to each of the defendants to defray their legal fees and the period the case travelled.

Richard Kwadwo Owusu Nyarko, the plaintiff, claims to be a Senior Medical Doctor at Patasi South Hospital. He claimed in his statement that he is a Registered Licensed Senior Health Practitioner, a member of the European Health Association, a Trainee Doctor with the Accra College of Medicine and also current Chairman of the Kumasi Club, with a Bachelor’s Degree and Dual Master’s Degree qualifications.

The plaintiff submitted that he has acquired a training certificate in occupational Health from the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons and has started a part-time Doctoral (PHD) in Health care programme with Ghana Technology College.

It was also the case of the plaintiff that he is also a renowned Health Research Scientist who has published many Academic and Professional Journals, locally and internationally.

On May 26, 2020 he initiated action against the defendants, claiming an order, declaring that the defendants had defamed him and harmed his reputation, an order directed at the defendants to retract and apologise for the said defamatory statement or comments through a publication in a newspaper of National Publication, preferably the Daily Graphic, as well as restrain the defendants from ever defaming him.

Counsel for the defendants, Lawyer Asante Krobea and Kennedy Kwarteng argued that the plaintiff indicated on his application form, when he joined the Kumasi Club in 2012, that he was a Medical Doctor.

They submitted that, on becoming the Chairman of the Kumasi club, he wrote letters to Banks to inform them that the signatories to the club’s account has changed, hence new signatories had become necessary, following the formation of a new management Committee.

As result, in all correspondence the plaintiff prefixed the word ”Dr” to his name and subsequently gave out business cards to members of the Club on which he described himself as the Director of Health Services at Family Tree Medical Centre, with Dr. prefixing his name.

The defendants claimed they became suspicious of the plaintiff’s academic and professional qualifications following the conduct and bragging of the plaintiff on video, that he is a qualified Medical Doctor and had a license to manage several hospitals.

As a result, a section of the members of the Club petitioned the Trustees to investigate the veracity of the information he provided, following which it was established from investigations at the Kuntenase Hospital where plaintiff alleged he practiced, revealing that, plaintiff was not a Medical Doctor at that Hospital.

Another investigation by the Trustees at the Ghana Medical and Dental Council revealed that the plaintiff’s name could not be traced in their Register. The Trustees also found out that the plaintiff was arrested in 2014 by the police and charged with the offence of impersonation, forgery and false pretence to be a Medical Officer.

That it was further discovered by the Trustees that when the police arrested the plaintiff they found a stamp on him with an inscription ” Dr” Richard Kwadwo Owusu Nyarko (Senior Medical Doctor),  Kuntenase Hospital.

That the police arraigned him before court, the defendants case was that after all these investigations the Trustees found out that the plaintiff was in fact not a Medical Doctor as he claimed to be. The Defendants stated that following the outcome of the investigations the Trustees convened a meeting to inform all the club members that the plaintiff was not a Medical Doctor but a fake or quack Doctor.

According to the Defendants, having seen  the plaintiff  to be dishonest, there was the need to remove him as Chairman and also to revoke his membership, upon which the Trustees finally informed its members on their Whatsapp Group platform that the plaintiff is in fact a fake Doctor and that his conduct was dangerous to  the members and society and directed that nobody should consult him again as a medical doctor.

The court, however, deduced from the case of the plaintiff and the defendants that the plaintiff’s use of the title ”Dr” and presenting himself to the Kumasi Club Members was a misrepresentation.

The court also contended that whatever words which the Defendants used to describe the Plaintiff were true because he mispresented himself  to them (defendants) emphasising in the circumstance  the defendants were justified in using the alleged words on the Plaintiff and therefore cannot be held to be liable to the case of defamation and therefore not actionable.

As a result, the court dismissed the plaintiff’s case an awarded cost of GH¢100,000.00 to each of the defendants to offset their legal fees.

‘Zipline Operations must be guarded by GAF’

By
MAXWELL OFORI
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A humanitarian/development worker, Mr. Fredrick Adu Anti, has urged the government urgently commence processes to review the current operations of Zipline and transition the service provider from a self-guarded civilian institution to an entity heavily guarded by Ghana Armed Forces or National Security.

According to him, the nature of the operations of Zipline makes it a sensitive installation in the country, as such, its operations, medical service delivery, must not be left in the hands of civilians in a lightly guarded environment.

His advocacy, sent to The Chronicle, comes at a time the United States Department of Defence has also indicated that drones meet the requirement of modern warfare.

UK-Russia War

Mr Fredrick Adu Anti, a co-host of the Africa Security Series on Clubhouse, buttressing his point, drew attention to what is happening in Ukraine.

He indicated that drones of similar delivery service at Zipline were used by Ukrainians to drop smaller but very destructive explosives to destroy equipment and supply lines of almighty Russia, cutting off much needed replenishments for effective advancement of the troops and equipment.

Referencing the above, Mr. Anti affirmed that “in the case of any insurgency in Ghana, where the nation would be mobilizing all available resources to counter the same, Zipline would be the most effective saviour and swiftest means with its unmanned ‘delivery’ service, this time not sending blood and medical supplies, but sending the right signals and explosive devices to ‘kiss’ the insurgents, wherever they may be hiding, in the forests, on the sea, and at the borders even before the armed forces get there.”

Visit to Zipline

He recalled his visit to Zipline in the West Mamprusi district, where he witnessed the dedicated team working to ensure that very much needed medicines were dispatched to very remote and hard-to-reach parts of the north.

He described how within minutes over five very critical flights were launched, with an opportunity given to him by the flight crew to proudly launch one.

As part of his mission to the facility, a collaborative arrangement was discussed and agreed for Zipline to support the eye health sector in Ghana to deliver eye medicines and surgical inputs to remote communities.

Worry After Visit

Mr. Anti said, although he was very much impressed with the work of Zipline, he had since then been worried over the safety of staff, whom he thought could be hijacked and their services used to commit dangerous crimes.

He cited crimes such as dropping of explosives, delivery of weaponry to robbery or organized crime areas and even hard drugs for the use of bad people.

His worry was heightened by the fact that the entire facility, deemed a civilian installation was guarded by a single security man from a private security company.

Reluctantly, Mr. Anti agreed to reveal his biggest fear, stating that, considering how key personalities, including the President, the vice and key state personalities like the IGP, CDS, mostly gather at one function, the security implications with regards to the drones must be relooked at.

He recalled the funeral observance of the mother of the Vice President, Dr Bawumia. “As usual, state protocol put all these important personalities under one nicely decorated presidential canopy for the occasion,” he observed.

Mr Anti recounted that less than 5km away, there was a lightly guarded (Zipline) civilian facility that hosted a large number of unmanned aerial vehicles that could deliver with precision ‘anything’ to any location as shall be determined by the GPS coordinates simply punched into their systems.

Mr. Anti thought: “it would have taken just a group of few bad people with weapons to take over the Zipline facility, force the civilian crew at gun point to punch in the GPS coordinates of the beautiful presidential canopy at the funeral grounds into the brains of several drones and load them with little but lethal explosives. The flight time for these silent messengers from the Zipline facility to the funeral grounds would have taken less than 3 minutes; the time between sighting the incoming fleet of programmed ‘death birds’ and their destination, would be within seconds, making it impossible to determine their mission; and before any of the security detail and their command centre would confirm a threat and think of an appropriate response, the ‘beautifully decorated presidential canopy’ and every living thing under it would only be fit for disposal.”

Recommendations

Mr. Anti is therefore calling on the President of the Republic to call for a meeting with all the heads of the security services, and experts to assess the situation, put immediate measures, with efforts continue the services of Zipline.

He recommended that all Zipline facilities be declared as security zones and allocate protective facilities appropriate, with all staff given the required reorientation and security training. The staff then must be re-engaged but this time technically under the appropriate security service e.g. Airforce.

He said there must be extra security on the facilities if the President is within the range of any of the drones’ flight zone; and most importantly, the manufacturers of the drones should provide a coded facility that could send self-destruct instructions to any drone suspected of inappropriate behaviour.

Comptroller-General pays courtesy call on WaNaa

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admin
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The Comptroller-General paying homage to Wa Naa
The Wa Naa, Alhaji Seidu Fuseini Pelpuo IV, sitting in state with some members of the Wa Traditional Council

The Comptroller-General of Immigration (CGI), Mr Kwame Asuah Takyi paid a courtesy call on the WaNaa, Alhaji Seidu Fuseini Pelpuo IV, the 34th Chief of Wa and overlord of the Wala traditional council during his duty tour of the Upper West Region.

The WaNaa thanked the CGI for taking time off his busy schedule to visit his palace. He also praised the Immigration boss for the good work he and his officers are doing to protect the borders of Ghana and making Ghana a safe haven.

The CGI and members of his delegation

The WaNaa referred to the Immigration Boss as both a son and a brother who always calls on him anytime he is in the Region and assured him of his continuous support and prayers and also encouraged the Comptroller-General to continue with the good works he is rendering for mother Ghana.

“Everyone knows the good works you are doing for the Immigration Service and the security of the country. You have my support and I will always pray for Allah to guide you and give you wisdom to do your work”, the WaNaa alluded.

He called on Mr Asuah Takyi to post more men to the region especially to man the many unapproved points to deter smugglers and miscreants from having a field day.

The Comptroller-General in his response thanked the overlord of the Wala traditional council Alhaji Siedu Fuseini Pelpuo for his immerse support to the Service in the Region and also his great leadership style which has contributed to the peace in the Upper West region.

The Comptroller-General addressing the Wa Naa

Mr Kwame Asuah Takyi assured the WaNaa that he has directed the Immigration Regional Commander and all border commanders in the Upper West Region to adapt an enhanced border patrol strategy to counter all such incursions.

Further to this and in the light of the death of an officer of the Service, strategies and protocols have been put in place to ensure that smugglers and miscreants won’t have an easy day to engage in their nefarious activities which are detrimental to the security of the State and has negative impact on the economy of the country.

The WaNaa and his Council prayed for the Comptroller-General and members of his delegation for a successful tour in the Region.

The Comptroller-General was accompanied on the visit by Assistant Commissioner of Immigration (ACI) Mr. Lawrence Agyei Agyapong, Chief Staff Officer, ACI Thomas Ewutorma, Head of Policy Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, ACI Emmanuel Ashely, Special Aide to the Comptroller-General, ACI William Andoh, Upper West Regional Commander for Immigration, Chief Superintendent of Immigration (C/Supt.) Christopher Attivor, the Deputy Upper West Regional Commander and C/Supt Michael Amoako-Atta, Head of Public Affairs.

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