THE Northern Regional Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service has bemoaned the high cases of road accidents involving motorbikes that claimed many lives in the region last year.
According to the MTTU, out of the 70 deaths that occurred in the region last year through road accidents, 40 of them involved motorbikes in the Tamale metropolis.
The Regional MTTU Commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Nana Kumi, who made this known to the Daily Graphic in Tamale, explained that although the total number of accident cases reduced significantly last year, compared to 2007 deaths and accident cases, involving motorbikes were still high.
He pointed out that last year, his outfit recorded 118 cases of accidents, involving 168 vehicles and motorbikes, while 178 persons sustained various degrees of injuries.
DSP Nana Kumi further said in 2007, the MTTU recorded 368 accidents, involving 305 vehicles and motorbikes, while 67 lives were lost with 157 persons sustaining injuries in the region.
The MTTU commander observed that the reduction in the cases of accidents was the result of the constant education campaign on road safety measures by the MTTU and the National Road safety Commission at lorry parks, schools and on various radio stations in the Tamale metropolis.
“The high cases of accidents and deaths, involving motorbikes is worrying to us, and that is so because a good number of motorbike riders do not have licenses,” he noted.
DSP Nana Kumi further stated that majority of the motorbike riders and their pillions did not observe road traffic regulations, adding that “in all cases recorded, it was observed that the causes of death were as a result of head injuries and the remote cause was the refusal of most motorbike riders to wear crash helmets”.
He indicated that this year, the MTTU was determined to vigorously enforce the Road Traffic Act to ensure compliance from all road users.
The MTTU commander also expressed concern about the rampant use of “fake” number plates on both motorbikes and vehicles and called for maximum co-operation from all to enable the police to perform their duties effectively.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
SIX IN CUSTODY FOR TERRORISING CHANGLI RESIDENTS (SPREAD)
SIX persons are in police custody for their alleged attack on some residents of Changli, along the old cemetery road, a suburb of Tamale, last Thursday.
One of the six suspects whose name was only given as Muftawu was reported to have in his possession a pistol. The suspects were among 10 persons who were arrested by the police on the day of the incident. However, four of them, all females, were later released by the police for lack of evidence.
Three persons sustained various degrees of injury when they were attacked in their respective homes by the alleged assailants. The victims are responding to treatment at the Tamale Teaching Hospital. They are Abdulai Rahman, 24; Shirazu Issahaku, 18, and one Sayuti, 34.
The Northern Regional Police Commander, Mr Ofosu-Mensah Gyeabour, told the Daily Graphic last Friday that the Regional Police Command met with traditional rulers and party executives to help iron out differences among the youth.
He further warned that the police would not accept a situation where political parties would interfere with the due process, adding that the suspects would be prosecuted.
“The youth should have good intentions about the country and traditional rulers must cooperate with the police administration by exposing those who breach the peace,” he pointed out.
Mr Gyeabour further stressed that the area was calm and “our concern is to ensure peaceful atmosphere in the Northern Region; the police alone cannot control crime without the support of traditional rulers and other stakeholders”.
The Regional Crime Officer, Mr Peter Baba, explained that the six suspects were yet to be screened, adding that investigations were in process.
One of the six suspects whose name was only given as Muftawu was reported to have in his possession a pistol. The suspects were among 10 persons who were arrested by the police on the day of the incident. However, four of them, all females, were later released by the police for lack of evidence.
Three persons sustained various degrees of injury when they were attacked in their respective homes by the alleged assailants. The victims are responding to treatment at the Tamale Teaching Hospital. They are Abdulai Rahman, 24; Shirazu Issahaku, 18, and one Sayuti, 34.
The Northern Regional Police Commander, Mr Ofosu-Mensah Gyeabour, told the Daily Graphic last Friday that the Regional Police Command met with traditional rulers and party executives to help iron out differences among the youth.
He further warned that the police would not accept a situation where political parties would interfere with the due process, adding that the suspects would be prosecuted.
“The youth should have good intentions about the country and traditional rulers must cooperate with the police administration by exposing those who breach the peace,” he pointed out.
Mr Gyeabour further stressed that the area was calm and “our concern is to ensure peaceful atmosphere in the Northern Region; the police alone cannot control crime without the support of traditional rulers and other stakeholders”.
The Regional Crime Officer, Mr Peter Baba, explained that the six suspects were yet to be screened, adding that investigations were in process.
2 CABLE THIEVES FINED (BACK PAGE)
THE Tamale Circuit Court has convicted and subsequently fined two farmers for stealing underground telephone wires valued at GH¢2,500 along the Tamale-Savelugu road.
The convicts, Bashiru Adam and Issahaku Alhassan, were each fined GH¢1,200 or in default, four years’ imprisonment each with hard labour.
According to the Prosecutor, Chief Inspector Simon Sampana, the convicts both lived at Nyereshie, on the Tamale-Savelugu main road.
According to Chief Inspector Sampana, in the recent past the underground telephone wires between Nyereshie and Damankuyili being the property of Ghana Telecom in Tamale had persistently been stolen but nobody had been caught.
He further stated that the matter became a serious concern for the two communities.
Chief Inspector Sampana indicated that on the night of April 18, 2008 the two convicts and their accomplices who are now at large were heard by a resident of Damankuyili discussing how and when they should dig, cut and steal the underground telephone cables in the area.
The resident, according to the prosecution, informed his friend about the issue. They then decided to monitor the movements of the two up to Damankuyili, where the convicts and their accomplices started their operation and succeeded in digging and cutting some of the cables.
Chief Inspector Sampana explained that while the convicts and their accomplices continued cutting the cables, the two witnesses in the case moved in to arrest them but they took to their heels with the booty.
The witnesses chased them and succeeded in arresting them and sent them to the police station.
According to the prosecution, after police investigations the two culprits were charged with stealing and were accordingly arraigned.
The convicts, Bashiru Adam and Issahaku Alhassan, were each fined GH¢1,200 or in default, four years’ imprisonment each with hard labour.
According to the Prosecutor, Chief Inspector Simon Sampana, the convicts both lived at Nyereshie, on the Tamale-Savelugu main road.
According to Chief Inspector Sampana, in the recent past the underground telephone wires between Nyereshie and Damankuyili being the property of Ghana Telecom in Tamale had persistently been stolen but nobody had been caught.
He further stated that the matter became a serious concern for the two communities.
Chief Inspector Sampana indicated that on the night of April 18, 2008 the two convicts and their accomplices who are now at large were heard by a resident of Damankuyili discussing how and when they should dig, cut and steal the underground telephone cables in the area.
The resident, according to the prosecution, informed his friend about the issue. They then decided to monitor the movements of the two up to Damankuyili, where the convicts and their accomplices started their operation and succeeded in digging and cutting some of the cables.
Chief Inspector Sampana explained that while the convicts and their accomplices continued cutting the cables, the two witnesses in the case moved in to arrest them but they took to their heels with the booty.
The witnesses chased them and succeeded in arresting them and sent them to the police station.
According to the prosecution, after police investigations the two culprits were charged with stealing and were accordingly arraigned.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
TAMALE RESIDENTS EXPRESS MIXED REACTIONS (PAGE 13, JANUARY 9)
Residents of Tamale have reacted differently in their expectations of the newly inaugurated President John Evans Atta Mills-led government.
While some residents have expressed optimism that the new President and his administration are capable of uniting the country that has been polarised politically over the years and accelerating its development, others believed that the success of his administration depended on his ability to bring on board members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to harness the needed human resource base for development.
Alhassan Abdul-Basit and Ibrahim Umar Farouk, both second-year students of the Nursing Training College in Tamale, told the Daily Graphic in an interview that President Atta-Mills should not renege on his campaign promises, particularly those regarding his preparedness to continue with some of the policies of the former administration.
They entreated the new President to consider reviewing the National Health Insurance Scheme, for instance, to ensure that ordinary Ghanaians did not pay premiums before enjoying the facility.
The students also expressed the hope that salaries of workers would be improved while ensuring that incentives were adequately provided to motivate workers to increase their output.
They equally entreated the new government to help improve on facilities at the Tamale Teaching Hospital and upgrade the Tamale Airport.
They said they expected the new government to reduce fuel prices and subsidise agricultural inputs and the production of cement to enable more workers to put up their own houses.
A cameraman with a state media who pleaded anonymity entreated the new President to be “magnanimous” and to bring on board Ghanaians, irrespective of their ethnic, political or religious backgrounds to ensure accelerated development of the country.
The Tamale Metropolitan Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Alhaji Mohammed Baba, observed that the new President, Professor Atta Mills, and his administration had a Herculean task to deal with the challenges facing the nation.
According to him, the youth for instance had high expectations of a government that would bring change in all spheres of life including the creation of more jobs for them, while ensuring that the country’s infrastructure was also enhanced.
Alhaji Baba observed that President Atta Mills’s pledge not to engage in “witch-hunting” but at the same time ensure accountability was welcome news.
“The National Democratic Congress has great challenges ahead and if they want to succeed then they must hit the road immediately” he stressed.
While some residents have expressed optimism that the new President and his administration are capable of uniting the country that has been polarised politically over the years and accelerating its development, others believed that the success of his administration depended on his ability to bring on board members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to harness the needed human resource base for development.
Alhassan Abdul-Basit and Ibrahim Umar Farouk, both second-year students of the Nursing Training College in Tamale, told the Daily Graphic in an interview that President Atta-Mills should not renege on his campaign promises, particularly those regarding his preparedness to continue with some of the policies of the former administration.
They entreated the new President to consider reviewing the National Health Insurance Scheme, for instance, to ensure that ordinary Ghanaians did not pay premiums before enjoying the facility.
The students also expressed the hope that salaries of workers would be improved while ensuring that incentives were adequately provided to motivate workers to increase their output.
They equally entreated the new government to help improve on facilities at the Tamale Teaching Hospital and upgrade the Tamale Airport.
They said they expected the new government to reduce fuel prices and subsidise agricultural inputs and the production of cement to enable more workers to put up their own houses.
A cameraman with a state media who pleaded anonymity entreated the new President to be “magnanimous” and to bring on board Ghanaians, irrespective of their ethnic, political or religious backgrounds to ensure accelerated development of the country.
The Tamale Metropolitan Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Alhaji Mohammed Baba, observed that the new President, Professor Atta Mills, and his administration had a Herculean task to deal with the challenges facing the nation.
According to him, the youth for instance had high expectations of a government that would bring change in all spheres of life including the creation of more jobs for them, while ensuring that the country’s infrastructure was also enhanced.
Alhaji Baba observed that President Atta Mills’s pledge not to engage in “witch-hunting” but at the same time ensure accountability was welcome news.
“The National Democratic Congress has great challenges ahead and if they want to succeed then they must hit the road immediately” he stressed.
CALL FOR COMPREHENSIVE COMPANIES ACT (PAGE 29, JANUARY 6)
THE Business Law Reform Committee of Experts (BLRCE) of the Ministry of Justice and Attorney-General’s Department has proposed the establishment of a comprehensive revised Companies Act to effectively help regulate the activities of both profit and non-profit making companies in the business environment.
It has also advocated the abolition of the practice where certificates of commencement of business are issued to businesses regardless of whether they have completed certain requirements.
It further recommended the repeal of the minimum capital requirements of the current Companies Act.
The Chairman of the BLRCE, Mr Justice Samuel Date-Bah, made the suggestions during the second consultative stakeholders conference in Tamale on the review of the Companies Act 179 of 1963.
It was aimed, among other objectives, to collate views from stakeholders on the review of the act to ultimately help improve transactions in the business environment.
Legal brains in Northern Ghana drawn from the Attorney General’s Department and the secretariat of the Business Law Reform Committee of Experts attended the conference.
It was organised by the Ministry of Justice and Attorney General’s Department.
The activities of the committee of experts are within the framework of the Business Law Reform Programme of the Ministry of Justice.
The programme was being implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Private Sector Development and the President’s Special Initiatives.
Mr Justice Date-Bah further recommended the “retention of the distinction between public and private companies”.
He explained that the suffix for a public company limited by shares should be Plc, while that for all other companies limited by shares should be Ltd.
Additionally, companies limited by guarantee which to date had not been obliged to have a suffix should now use Lbg.
“A new concept which the committee considers should be introduced into our companies legislation is that of the minority buy-out that is intended to strengthen the position of minority shareholders by giving them the right to demand compulsory purchase of their shares by the company”, the chairman further stated.
Mr Justice Date-Bah observed that “company law provides an important legal framework for the channelling of private enterprise and entrepreneurship for productive purposes”.
According to him, in spite of the forward-looking nature of many provisions of the Companies Act 1963, the time was ripe for a review after almost half a century of its existence.
The Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris, asked the participants to fashion out laws that would stand the test of time.
“I am in no doubt that with such legal brains we would be able to make useful inputs into reviewing the Companies Act; the horizon looks very bright for us”, the minister stated.
It has also advocated the abolition of the practice where certificates of commencement of business are issued to businesses regardless of whether they have completed certain requirements.
It further recommended the repeal of the minimum capital requirements of the current Companies Act.
The Chairman of the BLRCE, Mr Justice Samuel Date-Bah, made the suggestions during the second consultative stakeholders conference in Tamale on the review of the Companies Act 179 of 1963.
It was aimed, among other objectives, to collate views from stakeholders on the review of the act to ultimately help improve transactions in the business environment.
Legal brains in Northern Ghana drawn from the Attorney General’s Department and the secretariat of the Business Law Reform Committee of Experts attended the conference.
It was organised by the Ministry of Justice and Attorney General’s Department.
The activities of the committee of experts are within the framework of the Business Law Reform Programme of the Ministry of Justice.
The programme was being implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Private Sector Development and the President’s Special Initiatives.
Mr Justice Date-Bah further recommended the “retention of the distinction between public and private companies”.
He explained that the suffix for a public company limited by shares should be Plc, while that for all other companies limited by shares should be Ltd.
Additionally, companies limited by guarantee which to date had not been obliged to have a suffix should now use Lbg.
“A new concept which the committee considers should be introduced into our companies legislation is that of the minority buy-out that is intended to strengthen the position of minority shareholders by giving them the right to demand compulsory purchase of their shares by the company”, the chairman further stated.
Mr Justice Date-Bah observed that “company law provides an important legal framework for the channelling of private enterprise and entrepreneurship for productive purposes”.
According to him, in spite of the forward-looking nature of many provisions of the Companies Act 1963, the time was ripe for a review after almost half a century of its existence.
The Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris, asked the participants to fashion out laws that would stand the test of time.
“I am in no doubt that with such legal brains we would be able to make useful inputs into reviewing the Companies Act; the horizon looks very bright for us”, the minister stated.
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