Amazing Grace

I wrote this for a good friend of mine....I will never forget her, because she is an amazing person.

It is an Amazing grace

To have the chance

To see your smiley face

The sound in your voice

Leaves a compelling trace

But gone were the days

When I usually dazed

At your slightest gaze

Your company was a maze

One difficult to embrace

It was crystal clear

That u had a special dear

The moment could only be hear

Just for today and not the year

You were superb in your dance

Your moves so complex yet simple

So simple yet spirited

A dancer I will discredit not

And a dance I will forget not

I am aware I owe you a dance

I pray it is not tool late

To have that one dance

So am saving it all for that date

A special grace that needs perfect treat

From an unassuming prince

Who through pain and patience

Have been hanging on a tiny rope

Praying and hoping against hope

To give this amazing grace

That one dance with all the bliss,

That once blossomed on her face

And run down every tiny spot of her being

If you are pleased, just make a sigh

But please don’t blush, hmm smiling?

You truly deserve every bit of it

Cus; that is how amazing you are.

Amazing Grace!!!!!!!!!

Blind Pupils School Under Trees

Blind Students Studying Under Trees

Pupils of the Three Kings School of the Blind at Avakpedome in the Central Tongu District of the Volta Region are studying under trees and sheds as the school is finding it difficult to bridge its infrastructure deficit.

Martin Gozah, the Headmaster, told DAILY GUIDE that the school, since its establishment in 2001 has only four structures that are being used as dormitories. 

The school, which houses the children due to the reluctance of their parents and guardians to keep them at home, has neither a kitchen nor dining hall. The congestion in the dormitories is unbearable for the students, the Headmaster said.

This situation has also compelled the school authorities to convert the corridors of one of the dormitories into a temporary dining hall. During rainfalls, classes are abruptly ended and the blind students struggle with other students of a nearby basic school, the Avakpedome D/A Primary, to escape the rains.

The school which runs full day lacks toilet facilities and proper bathrooms, forcing students to compete with the community over public toilets.

This came to light when five chapters of the Lions Club International in Accra, presented assorted items including used clothes to the school recently.

E.B Takyi-Micah, a past president of the Jubilee Lions Club who presented the items on behalf of the five Lions Clubs said the donation was to support the school about whose plight they heard during one of such donations at the Akropong School for the Blind in the Eastern Region. He promised that the club whose motto is “We serve”, will regularly support the school and asked the students to take their studies seriously.

The school currently teaches visually impaired students how to read and write through the use of Braille. Impressive students are then integrated into basic schools within the district to allow them have adequate access to education.

Despite the noble initiative and sacrifices of the headmaster and teachers of the Three Kings School of the Blind, inadequate funds and infrastructure seem to be dashing their hopes.

The lives of the over 30 visually impaired students of all ages are also at stake as their academic progression, career development and future is now dependent on the trees and sheds under which they study. The school also lacks teaching and learning materials, a must-have for every special school.

The Headmaster, Mr. Gozah founded the school before it was ceded to the government and placed under the School of the Disabled at Battor in Central Tongu. He explained that he was inspired by the fact that the entire country had only two schools for the visually impaired and none in the region.

He said although the government pays his wages and that of five others, the school lacks accommodation for them, hence making supervision after school another challenge. He thanked the Lions Club for the gesture and called on others to emulate it.

He also appealed to government, NGOs and other philanthropists to assist the school in getting adequate infrastructure, particularly resource classrooms to attract more visually impaired students. The students, most of whom have dreams of becoming great future leaders are now waiting on the world to make their dreams come true.

 From Fred Duodu and Caroline Tsormana, Avakpedome

freduoo@gmail.com

Daily Guide

More SHS Heads In Trouble

Best tutor Otsogah Lawrence Asamoah receiving and award from Prof. Naana Opoku Agyemang

The Minister of Education, Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, has noted that more heads of second cycle institutions in Ghana will soon be severely punished for continuously charging unapproved fees despite warning by the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service (GES).

The Minister revealed that the Complaints Unit of the Ministry had been reliably informed about the activities of some heads of schools, who deliberately charged unapproved fees.

She noted that a national taskforce will soon go round to monitor heads of second cycle schools who are engaged in such practices.

She added that any head teacher who will be found culpable will be dealt with accordingly.

“I am sorry that we have to do this because this is the only option left…we are very serious about this.

The Minister was speaking at the 60th Anniversary of the Our Lady of Apostles (OLA) Girls Senior High School in Ho over the weekend.

The event was chaired by Justice Agnes Dordzie, an Appeal Court Judge with Dr. Bernice Adiku Heloo as guest speaker, old girls of OLA.

It attracted old students, pioneers, dignitaries and traditional authorities, was on the theme; “60 Years of Holistic Catholic Education for Girls: The Prospects and Challenges.”

She also touched on the apology of the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools, CHASS over the practice, saying “let your words be backed by action.”

Teacher Absenteeism

The Minister also advised teachers in the country to shun absenteeism.

She noted that although the National Inspectorate Board put the current level of absenteeism at 20 per cent as against 27 per cent, more needed to be done.

She gave the assurance that her Ministry would ensure high productivity.

The Ghana Education Service (GES) has been tasked to collaborate with other agencies to enforce a system that ensures that all actors in education are accountable to the public.

She noted that supervision would be enhanced to ensure high level of professionalism in the country.

Appreciation

She expressed government’s profound gratitude to the Catholic Church for improving education and urged students of OLA to be an example of fine intellect and womanhood.

Earlier, she cut the sod for work to begin on the sports complex with the support of Togbe Afede and the Volta Regional Minister, Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo.

Awards were given to deserving students and staff for their excellence in their various fields.

 From Fred Duodu, Ho (freduoo@gmail.com)

Daily Guide.

Assemblyman Takes On Minister

The said Residence Under Construction

An assembly member for the Klefe Electoral Area in the Ho Municipal Assembly of the Volta Region, Ransford Delali Kasu, has described the Regional Minister, Nii Laryea Afotey-Agbo, as a novice of  the Local Government Act and Standing Orders of the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).

Mr Kasu was reacting to the Minister’s claim on an Accra-based Citi Fm that the General Assembly of the Ho Municipal Assembly has no power to set up a committee to investigate circumstances leading to some renovation works on the Municipal Chief Executive’s (MCE) residence.

However, Mr Kasu noted, “It is laughable when the Regional Minister comes out to say that he has dissolved the committee. He has to go and read his Local Government Act and acquaint himself with the Standing Orders of the Assembly. It is clear he is ignorant…He has no such powers over the Assembly.”

The Assembly member continued that “if the Regional Minister is not aware; he only has power over the MCE and not the General Assembly which is headed by the Presiding Member.”

“The General Assembly which is made up of the elected assembly members representing their electorates does not answer to the Regional Minister. We answer to our electorates; those who put us there. And so we are autonomous, just like how Parliament is not controlled by the President, the Minister cannot control us.”

He wondered why Afotey-Agbo, who is also a Member of Parliament for Kpong-Akatamanso and for that matter a law maker, would be so ignorant of such simple legality.

Mr Kasu, therefore, advised the Regional Minister to go and read his Local Government Act very properly and come again on his statements.

He also reiterated a claim that the Minister was interfering in the affairs of the Assembly by preventing persons summoned by the committee from heeding to their call.

Mr Kasu also alleged that the Minister after threatening the Presiding Member (PM), Yao Semordey, who is also the Regional Coordinator of National Youth Council to dissolve the committee, also instigated his (PM) transfer to Tamale.

He also disclosed that Mr Afotey-Agbo used a similar means some time ago, to dismiss some assembly members to make way for the appointment of the current MCE, Fafa Adinyira.

These and many instances he said prompted 18 out of 39 assembly members to petition President Mahama to call the Regional Minister to order and counsel him to stop interfering in the Assembly’s affairs.

 From Fred Duodu, Ho (freduoo@gmail.com)

Daily Guide.

Pay Nursing Teachers Well

Some Nurses Posing For a Picture

In a bid to motivate and enhance the performance of health training institutions in Ghana, government has been urged through the Ministry of Health (MOH) to draw up attractive conditions of service for principals and tutors of such institutions.

This suggestion was made by a former Chairman of the Conference of Heads of Health Training Institutions (COHHETI), James Yambor, at the National Annual General Meeting of the Nurse Educators Group (NEG) in Ho recently.

It was themed: “Improving Academic Performance through effective teaching”.

According to him, the improved conditions of service should be tied to the signing of a performance contract between tutors and principals and another between principals and the MOH for quality delivery of service.

Mr Yambor explained that the signing of the performance contract, would offer the opportunity to identify the institutional challenges in the quality training of health professionals and allow high performing schools to be motivated to perform better, while low performing schools could be given special help to address their identified weaknesses.

This, he believed, coupled with student-tutor collaboration, would go a long way to reverse the poor performance of students in examinations, particularly the licensing examination.

He also advised the MOH to develop and implement strategies to monitor and evaluate the performance of health training institutions to promote quality health education and service.

The Chairman of the Nurse Educators Group (NEG), Samuel MacCarthy, in a speech read on his behalf mentioned the lack of infrastructure and inadequate teaching and learning materials as some of the challenges facing the institutions and called for assistance.

The Nurse Educators Group was established in 1978 in Kumasi, and comprises of all tutors from the health training institutions, public/private universities and other private health training institutions in Ghana. The meeting was used to take stock of activities of the year under review and how to find solutions to the loop holes within the group.

 From Fred Duodu, Ho (Daily Guide)

Confusion Over Ketu South MCE Confirmation

The Volta Regional Minister, Joseph Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo was said to have dismissed 12 government appointees in the Ketu South Municipal Assembly to pave the way for Mr Lamptey's endorsement.

The alleged conduct of the minister contravened the Local Government Law (Act 462, 1993).

The exercise, according to the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Akwasi Oppong-Fosu, was null and void.

A statement posted on the website of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) on Tuesday night after DAILY GUIDEreported the matter, said the purported revocation of the mandate of government appointees of the Ketu South Municipal Assembly was null and void.

Mr. Bronson Lamtpey was endorsed by majority of the assembly members in the controversial election on Monday, 28 th October 2013. Assembly members and residents, who spoke to DAILY GUIDE, noted that Pascal's confirmation was a clear case of arm-twisting by government officials.

Officials alleged to have perpetuated the illegality include the Member of Parliament (MP) of the area, Fiifi Fiavi Kwetey, who is also a Minister of State at the Presidency, Deputy Volta Regional Minister, Francis Ganyaglo, Deputy Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, who is also an assembly member, Dzifa Gomashie and the Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Kofi Adams.

The nominee failed to secure two-thirds majority of Assembly members present on Friday, October 18 th  2013 in the first round of voting.

He polled 33 out of 56 votes, representing 59 percent while three votes, representing five percent, were rejected. He needed at least 38 votes to be confirmed.

Since Pascal Lamptey, who is also the Deputy Constituency Youth Organiser secured more than 50 percent of the votes, he was entitled to take part in the second confirmation ceremony.

Few days to the second round on Monday, the Regional Minister allegedly issued two letters; one to revoke the mandate of government appointees and another to appoint new ones.

Out of 18 government appointees, 12 were replaced while six were maintained in a desperate attempt to confirm Pascal as new MCE for Ketu South.

Writ Of Summons 

On Monday, 28 th October 2013, the Presiding Member of the Assembly, Cephas Yao Anagbo recused himself after a writ of summons was served on him in relation to the confirmation ceremony.

The Assembly, with the backing of the Regional Minister, who is acting as MCE, appointed a new member, Mickson Akpavor to supervise proceedings.

The election was held immediately the new members were sworn into office by Judge Owuahene Acheampong.

Pascal polled 47 out of 55 votes, representing 85 percent.

There were no rejected ballot and he was quickly sworn into office.

Several police personnel, led by the Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Fred Agyepong Asare were at the premises of the assembly to provide security.

However, in the latest announcement by the Local Government Ministry, it has emerged that the letters were truly illegal.

The statement stressed that the President had not authorised the revocation of the appointment of any assembly member in the area.

The Local Government Minister, Akwasi Oppong-Fosu assured the public and the people of Ketu South in particular that under the Local Government Act, the President has the sole prerogative to revoke the appointment of government appointees of the Assembly.

 From Fred Duodu, Denu (Daily Guide)

US Group Dupes Clients

CEO of US Group, Chief Godfred Mediciné 

US GROUP of Companies, an indigenous company owned by one Chief Godfred Mediciné, has reportedly locked up investments belonging to a lot of Ghanaians.

Daily Guide's investigations indicated that the company had for the past four months virtually confiscated millions of Ghana cedis, belonging to unsuspecting clients who invested in various schemes started by the company about 10 months ago.

The company, which has offices in the Volta, Eastern, Ashanti and Greater Accra regions, promised their clients incredible profits which are now failing to materialize.

Chief among the schemes that were used to siphon the hard-earned income of clients were the Tilapia Investment Module and Money Investment Module under the US Farming Project. Clients were said to have invested amounts ranging from GH¢100 to over GH¢100,000.

The unsuspecting victims claimed they were promised interest of between 96 percent and 120 percent over six to 12 months period.

However, when the date for redeeming their investments was due (somewhere in June and July), not even a pesewa had been paid to the investors. More so, a four-percent default interest which was supposed to be paid on the investments every month had not been paid till date.

A visit to the Ho office of the company, where thousands of clients were affected, depicted a heartbreaking picture.

On the average, about 60 people visit the company’s office daily to make their claims but end up unsuccessful with different excuses. The situation at the company’s head office in Accra, a few meters from the Nungua Barrier towards Sakumono, has also witnessed the same spectacle.

This paper gathered that in August this year, the company issued post-dated Fidelity Bank cheques to its numerous clients which were bounced when the clients went to cash the cheques from their respective banks.

A suspicious feature on the cheques was that all had one signatory; a development which bankers alleged, cast doubt on the genuineness of the company.

This is because common business law precludes companies from having one signatory to their bank accounts. After the cheques bounced, the company recalled all of them but as some complied, others refused

Since then, clients have been receiving text messages apologizing to them and re-arranging several dates for collection of claims which have all turned out to be a wild-goose chase.

The last pay date promised was ending of October. Before the month could end, in another attempt to massage tension and delay payments, the company’s lawyer, Modesto Kpodovia of Providence Law Consults, wrote to all the investors and partners and told them of how and when the company intended to pay them.

The letter which was clearly fraught with mistakes stated that clients would be paid half of their money by December 23,while the other half would be paid on April 15, next year.

Clients Cry

Clients said they had caused the arrest of the Francis Dzanku, manager of the company’s office in Ho but he had been discharged on bail.

Arku Roland, a victim, said he took a loan to invest and make profits “but all has come to naught while the loan company is chasing me here and there.”

Anthony Mensah Attipoe, a business man, noted that he withdrew almost all his cash and invested it in order to expand his business after the returns from the first six months. However, the refusal of the US Group to pay him back has collapsed his fast food and provisions outlets.

Many more clients, including pensioners, lecturers of the Ho Polytechnic, students, farmers, single mothers and the like had their own stories to share.

Lack of Authenticity

The US Group of Companies, according to its website, has about 38 subsidiaries operating a restaurant, micro-finance, money lending firm, farms, car rentals and a radio station among others. It also says the company was founded in January 2008 by Chief Godfred Mediciné and incorporated by the Registrar General’s Department on June 2008.

However, the Facebook page of the company, which is managed by the Group’s Public Relations Officer, Pastor Kojo Quarshie Jnr, says it was founded in 2007.

As of March 2013, when the latest list of registered finance-related companies was released by the Bank of Ghana (BoG), none of the finance-related subsidiaries of the US Group of Companies had been registered.

The US Group’s Money Lending Company had no postal address, according to the September 2012 provisional list of the BoG.

Checks

A check into the background of the company revealed that the US Group of Companies used to be Unique Shepherd located at Nungua in the Greater Accra Region. The CEO, whose name has interestingly changed to Noble Chief Godfred Mediciné, used to be known as Godfred Atike Adonu, a native of Dzita-Agbledome in the Keta Municipality.

A source also alleged that Chief Medicine was once prosecuted for similar reasons some years ago.

Earlier this year, the CEO launched a book (his autobiography) titled, “Zero to Hero” and has been a regular host on some television and radio shows where he is portrayed as an inspiration to young people.

Antics

When DAILY GUIDE visited the Ho office on October 10, a gentleman in the manager’s office who gave his name as Jonathan declined to comment on the matter and insisted the reporter should leave his contact to be called later by the appropriate officer.

Interestingly, Pastor Kojo Quarshie Jnr and another senior staff, Bright Senanu, gave similar assurances but efforts to contact them for two whole days proved futile.

Disguised Visit

This reporter disguised himself as a disgruntled client and went to the head office of the company where he met an officer from the client relations department by name Henry Tetteh.

He explained that monies received from clients under the tilapia investment and cash investment modules of the US Farming Project were invested in fish farming.

However, the company was unable to get good market for the fish to make the expected dividends so it could pay its clients as promised. As a result, it has resorted to retailing the fish. So far, it has purchased cooling vans and built cold stores across the country to retail at better prices to be able to pay back their clients.

Finally when the reporter ingeniously contacted Corporate Affairs and Clients Relations Manager, Dela Tengey, he admitted that the group had not been able to pay most of its clients but added that some clients had been paid based on their peculiar situations.

Business Partners

Mr Tengey chose to describe the clients as partners. “The clients are not investors. They are partners from whom we borrowed money to farm on their behalf.” More so, “US Group is not operating any subsidiary by name US Microfinance, that one was stopped about two years ago.”

Interestingly, the agreement form for the Tilapia Investment has the stamp US Tilapia Investment Project. The bounced cheques bore the name US Microfinance Company Limited, a name which is not in operation as mentioned by Mr Tengey and also not licensed by the Bank of Ghana.

Receipts issued to clients had payments christened as Tilapia Investment or Cash Investment. Also, letters written by the company’s lawyer and other documents referred to clients as investors/lenders and not partners.

Concerns

It is on record that the company has, for the past year, received hundreds of Ghana cedis if not millions from the public without a caveat. The question some concerned Ghanaians are asking is; who was monitoring the money the US Group of Companies was receiving and what policies were in place for such a business which had been disguised as a fish farming investment?

Pastor Jailed For Contempt

The Ho High Court has sent a strong signal to persons who have the penchant for flouting court orders that they are not above the law.

In one of such instances, the Leader and General Overseer of the Glory Redeemed Ministry International, Samuel Addae, has been sentenced to 14 days imprisonment with hard labour for contempt of court.

Pastor Addae, who was convicted and sentenced yesterday, February 10, 2014 by the court, has his church at Taviefe-Avenya, a few minutes’ drive from Ho.

According to the facts as presented in the court presided over by His Lordship Charles Agbovor, Pastor Addae was said to have violated a court order restraining him and his members from using a disputed premises.

The said location was in contention between his church and another church, the Glory Renewal Ministry at the same area.

The presiding High Court judge, in handing the sentence, stressed that the court was setting an example to all those who disobeyed such injunctions. He was hopeful that many would learn and treat court orders sacred.

From Fred Duodu (freduoo@gmail.com), Ho

Man And Fiancée In Court Over Wee

Afademgbo Segbedzi and his fiancée, Celestine Kudzordzi

Twenty-eight-year-old Kofi Segbedzi and his fiancée, Celestine Kudzordzi, 21, on Monday, February 10, 2014 opened their defence at a Circuit Court in Ho over possession of Indian hemp.

The two, who claimed to have been dating for about four years before their arrest, have been remanded into prison custody and would reappear on February 19, 2014.

Narrating the incident to the court presided over by Mariama Sammo, the Prosecuting Officer, ASP Samuel Aboagye, said Celestine was first arrested on June 23, while Segbedzi was arrested later, when the Drug Law Enforcement Unit of the Ghana Police Service in the region went on an anti-narcotics operation at Anlo-Afiadenyigba.

In the course of their operations, the police had intelligence on Segbedzi’s ‘wee’ peddling operations and decided to follow up on it.

When the team got to Segbedzi’s house, they found the fiancée in possession of Indian hemp which she tried to conceal in a cloth under a bed in the room.

When she was interrogated, she mentioned the name of her fiancé, Segbedzi, as the owner of the ‘wee’.

He was also arrested on February 26, 2014 at Aflao in possession of an alleged stolen motorbike.

When he was interrogated, Segbedzi claimed ownership of the substance and mentioned one Budu of Afiadenyigba as the supplier. He, however, refused to give the location of the supposed supplier.

In her caution statement, Celestine admitted selling ‘wee’ to clients in her fiancé’s absence.

However, when she was arraigned before court, Celestine denied any knowledge of the substance.

 From Fred Duodu (Freduoo@gmail.com), Ho

Man Loses Eye To Police Brutality

Evangelist Simon Deffour

A month after the Ghana Police Service interdicted 10 police officers, with 13 others facing Service Inquiry for misconducting themselves, DAILY GUIDE has uncovered another police brutality which led to the damage of the eye of one Simon Deffour.

The victim, Simon Deffour, 39, cannot discharge his responsibilities as the evangelist

of the Theocracy Seven Day Church at Aflao as a result of the attack by the police.

He has poor blood circulation and his nervous system is gradually deteriorating.

Mr Deffour is currently pleading with philanthropists and other benevolent organizations to help him undergo surgery to save his life.

Deffour was brutalized and unlawfully detained by detective Buabeng and Sgt Vincent Agbenoo on July 14, 2003 at Aflao in the Ketu South District of the Volta Region.

Since then, all attempts by the victim to get the main perpetrators and the Ghana Police Service to address the matter had proved futile.

As a result, the victim reported the case to the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) at Denu after three years of frustration.

To date, the Ghana Police Service has failed to pay for the victim’s medical cost.

Recommendations by CHRAJ to the Director General of the Police Intelligence and Professional Standards (PIPS) in August 2012, after earlier attempts, are yet to be addressed.

According to DAILY GUIDE’s investigations, the case was first reported to the Denu CHRAJ office on November 2, 2006.

The Denu CHRAJ wrote to detective Buabeng and the Aflao Police Station for their comments.

However, the police failed to respond until July 21, 2011 when it issued a report.

The report, which was signed by the Aflao District Commander, confirmed the arrest of Simon Deffour, but the docket was transferred to the Divisional Command in Keta.

The District Commander also informed the Commission that Detective Corporal Buabeng resigned from the Ghana Police Service in 2005 and was living in the United States of America.

Attempts to trace the docket from the Divisional Command in Keta also proved unsuccessful.

Meanwhile, Sgt Vincent Agbenoo, who assisted the D/Cpl Buabeng in arresting Deffour, in a reply to a CHRAJ letter addressed to him in 2008, distanced himself from the incident, saying he only encouraged the two to proceed to the police station peacefully.

CHRAJ’s investigation revealed that Deffour, who resides in Aflao, lodged an assault and death case against him to the Aflao Police Station on February 24, 2003.

Detective Corporal Buabeng, who was directed to hand the case, later advised the victim to take civil action against the culprits.

Some months later, however, the detective again asserted that one Mr Luka had also made a report accusing Deffour of encroaching on his land.

Deffour then advised the detective not to get involved in the case since he (detective) claimed it required a civil action.

On July 14, 2003 at about 5:00pm, Buabeng, in the presence of some witnesses, pounced on Deffour without provocation, dragged him to the police station and subjected him to severe beatings.

Despite the bloody eyes of the victim and plea to be allowed to visit the hospital, the detective locked him up in a cell until he was granted bail the next day.

He then visited the hospital where a doctor drove him to the police station to request a medical form from detective Buabeng.

The victim was then transferred to Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra due to the severe damage to the left eye.

A directive by the Aflao Police to Buabeng to pay for the medical costs was ignored.

CHRAJ also identified a case of collusion between detective Buabeng and the officer assigned to deal with the matter at the Keta Divisional Police Command.

 From Fred Duodu, Ho