PUBLISHED ABOUT A WEEK AGO
The Meteorological Services Department has described the rainstorm that hit the northern parts of Accra and other areas of the country as a normal phenomenon, especially as the country moves away from the dry season.
Mr Amos Narh, a Senior Meteorologist told Daily Graphic that the occurrence was bound to happen in this transitional period of the year.
He said the rains also affected areas in the Eastern, Central and Western regions and Abetifi, for instance, recorded 46.1 mm, Asamankese 34.2 mm and Assin Fosu in the Central Region, 37.2 mm while Axim in the Western Region recorded the highest rainfall figure of 55.7 mm.
According to him, what happened was a local development, particularly over the high grounds and forest regions and it was an indication that the country was about to enter the rainy season.
He said more of what happened should be expected especially in the afternoons when the South Westerly winds become more stronger.
Mr Narh said that hilly areas should also expect the occurrence in the evenings and late afternoons.
He said the heavy rains that moved from the east to the west of the country would be experienced later in the year and there was the need to take precautionary measures to avoid the perennial floods in Accra.
The senior meteorologist said since parts of Accra got flooded in the peak of the rains, the drains and gutters should be desilted so that water ways would be free to enable rainwater to flow.
Friday, March 14, 2008
NATIONAL LOTTO AUTHORITY RESTRAINED BY COURT
AN Accra High Court today granted an interlocutory injunction filed by the Ghana Lotto Operators Association and six others to restrain the National Lottery Authority (NLA) from interfering with the property rights or lotto operating business of those concerned.
However, according to the court, the order would be in force for one month during which the registrar of the court should take steps to refer the matter to the Supreme Court for determination.
The court, presided over by Mr Justice Anthony Abadah said the order would elapse after the one month whether the matter had been referred to the highest court of the land or not .
According to the court, the outcome of the case in the Supreme Court would guide it in its decision in the case because the issue of constitutionality had been raised by the NLA.
The plaintiffs including Obiri Asare and Sons Limited, Rambel Enterprise Limited, Agrop Association Ltd, Star Lotto Ltd and From-Home Enterprises filed the interlocutory injunction to restrain the defendant from “interfering with the property rights or lotto operating business of the plaintiffs pending the final determination of this matter.”
The matter was dealt with by a High Court in September last year, which referred the parties to take the matter to the Supreme Court.
The plaintiffs sought a declaration that the directive from the National Lottery Authority to private lotto operators to surrender machines or equipment used for the operation of lottery to the Director-General by August 14, 2007 was unconstitutional, illegal and unreasonable.
Consequent to the order, they want an order to set aside that directive and a further order to restrain the NLA from “unlawfully, unconstitutionally or unreasonably interfering with the property rights of the plaintiffs.”
The plaintiffs maintain that the National Lotto Act, 2006 (Act 722), which outlawed the operations of lotto business by private lotto operators, infringes the constitutionally guaranteed right of the private lotto operators to free economic activity.
According to them, the creation of the National Lottery Authority to take over and monopolise the operation of the lotto business in Ghana infringed the constitutional injunction to the government to ensure a pronounced role of the private sector in the economy.
The plaintiffs, in their statement of claim, said they had been in private lotto operating business since 1989 and currently had a large number of employees and independent agents who conduct business for them or assist them in the operation of their lotto business.
According to them, the NLA in July advertised in the media about its establishment and said it was the only body that was mandated under the Act to operate lotto business in the country.
Plaintiffs contend that they had their own marketing agents and could not be easily relegated to the position of lotto marketing agents.
The advertisement, they claimed, also directed all persons, who before Act 722 came into force had their own machine or equipment for lottery business to surrender such equipment to the Director-General of NLA before August 14.
“The machines or equipment in question are our own property acquired with our own resources. We do not only have assets but also liabilities that cannot be severed from the assets,” they contended.
To them, the NLA did not negotiate with them as stipulated by Act 722 regarding the machines or equipment .
The plaintiffs said they could neither be compelled to surrender their property to the NLA nor can the defendant compulsorily acquire their property without prior agreement as to compensation and other consequence.
However, according to the court, the order would be in force for one month during which the registrar of the court should take steps to refer the matter to the Supreme Court for determination.
The court, presided over by Mr Justice Anthony Abadah said the order would elapse after the one month whether the matter had been referred to the highest court of the land or not .
According to the court, the outcome of the case in the Supreme Court would guide it in its decision in the case because the issue of constitutionality had been raised by the NLA.
The plaintiffs including Obiri Asare and Sons Limited, Rambel Enterprise Limited, Agrop Association Ltd, Star Lotto Ltd and From-Home Enterprises filed the interlocutory injunction to restrain the defendant from “interfering with the property rights or lotto operating business of the plaintiffs pending the final determination of this matter.”
The matter was dealt with by a High Court in September last year, which referred the parties to take the matter to the Supreme Court.
The plaintiffs sought a declaration that the directive from the National Lottery Authority to private lotto operators to surrender machines or equipment used for the operation of lottery to the Director-General by August 14, 2007 was unconstitutional, illegal and unreasonable.
Consequent to the order, they want an order to set aside that directive and a further order to restrain the NLA from “unlawfully, unconstitutionally or unreasonably interfering with the property rights of the plaintiffs.”
The plaintiffs maintain that the National Lotto Act, 2006 (Act 722), which outlawed the operations of lotto business by private lotto operators, infringes the constitutionally guaranteed right of the private lotto operators to free economic activity.
According to them, the creation of the National Lottery Authority to take over and monopolise the operation of the lotto business in Ghana infringed the constitutional injunction to the government to ensure a pronounced role of the private sector in the economy.
The plaintiffs, in their statement of claim, said they had been in private lotto operating business since 1989 and currently had a large number of employees and independent agents who conduct business for them or assist them in the operation of their lotto business.
According to them, the NLA in July advertised in the media about its establishment and said it was the only body that was mandated under the Act to operate lotto business in the country.
Plaintiffs contend that they had their own marketing agents and could not be easily relegated to the position of lotto marketing agents.
The advertisement, they claimed, also directed all persons, who before Act 722 came into force had their own machine or equipment for lottery business to surrender such equipment to the Director-General of NLA before August 14.
“The machines or equipment in question are our own property acquired with our own resources. We do not only have assets but also liabilities that cannot be severed from the assets,” they contended.
To them, the NLA did not negotiate with them as stipulated by Act 722 regarding the machines or equipment .
The plaintiffs said they could neither be compelled to surrender their property to the NLA nor can the defendant compulsorily acquire their property without prior agreement as to compensation and other consequence.
JUDICIAL SERVICE INAUGURATES CLERKSHIP PROGRAMME
THE Judicial Service has inaugurated a clerkship programme to engage newly qualified lawyers to work with Justices of the Superior Courts.
The services that the Judicial Clerks would perform include legal research, drafting of memoranda, court opinions, proof reading and verification of references and citations.
The programme is being implemented by the Judicial Service in collaboration with the Faculties of Law of Fordham University in New York, USA and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
The engagement is initially for one year and renewable depending on a number of conditions and factors.
It is based on the clerkship system in the US courts where the lawyers engaged were selected from the best graduates from the Law School.
For a start, four of such clerks were inaugurated into office in Accra yesterday and were each given a personal computer to work with.
In his inaugural address, Mr Justice S. A. Brobbey, a justice of the Supreme Court, urged the first batch of clerks to give their best in order to improve the quality of justice delivery in the superior courts.
The Judiciary, he noted, experimented with a similar programme in the 80s but could not be sustained for a number of reasons, among which was that the judges could not vouch for the confidentiality of the clerks.
Mr Justice Brobbey said following that the judges were not prepared to take risks with the new lawyers around them as far as leaking information on judgements before they were read publicly was concerned.
The services that the Judicial Clerks would perform include legal research, drafting of memoranda, court opinions, proof reading and verification of references and citations.
The programme is being implemented by the Judicial Service in collaboration with the Faculties of Law of Fordham University in New York, USA and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
The engagement is initially for one year and renewable depending on a number of conditions and factors.
It is based on the clerkship system in the US courts where the lawyers engaged were selected from the best graduates from the Law School.
For a start, four of such clerks were inaugurated into office in Accra yesterday and were each given a personal computer to work with.
In his inaugural address, Mr Justice S. A. Brobbey, a justice of the Supreme Court, urged the first batch of clerks to give their best in order to improve the quality of justice delivery in the superior courts.
The Judiciary, he noted, experimented with a similar programme in the 80s but could not be sustained for a number of reasons, among which was that the judges could not vouch for the confidentiality of the clerks.
Mr Justice Brobbey said following that the judges were not prepared to take risks with the new lawyers around them as far as leaking information on judgements before they were read publicly was concerned.
MAN JAILED 25 YEARS FOR ABUSING DAUGHTER
A 36-year-old father of four, Joseph Adotey, who sexually abused his 11-year-old daughter and made her pregnant has been jailed 25 years by an Accra Circuit Court.
Medical reports indicated that the class five pupil tested positive for pregnancy but she had been bleeding following physical assault on her by the father.
A further test would be conducted by doctors today to find out whether there is a threat of miscarriage or not.
Adotey was arrested after his daughter had reported his conduct to a Good Samaritan who reported him to the Odorkor branch of the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service.
He admitted the offence but attributed it to the devil.
Adotey pleaded guilty to charges of incest, defilement and assault and was accordingly convicted and sentenced to 25 years to run concurrently.
The facts of the case are that Adotey lived with his four children at Darkuman Cable in Accra and last week, the victim reported to the Good Samaritan that her father had had sex with her for four times, the last, being on February 8, 2008.
When the girl went home she narrated what had transpired between her and the Good Samaritan to her other siblings who also informed their father about it.
According to the prosecution, Adotey did not take kindly to that and subjected the victim to severe physical assault and packed her personal belongings, threatening to burn them.
The Good Samaritan then reported Adotey to the police and he was arrested.
He told the court that he had a problem with his wife who had gone to her hometown, Gomoa Abofu in the Central Region.
The victim had been handed over to a responsible adult to take care of her.
Medical reports indicated that the class five pupil tested positive for pregnancy but she had been bleeding following physical assault on her by the father.
A further test would be conducted by doctors today to find out whether there is a threat of miscarriage or not.
Adotey was arrested after his daughter had reported his conduct to a Good Samaritan who reported him to the Odorkor branch of the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service.
He admitted the offence but attributed it to the devil.
Adotey pleaded guilty to charges of incest, defilement and assault and was accordingly convicted and sentenced to 25 years to run concurrently.
The facts of the case are that Adotey lived with his four children at Darkuman Cable in Accra and last week, the victim reported to the Good Samaritan that her father had had sex with her for four times, the last, being on February 8, 2008.
When the girl went home she narrated what had transpired between her and the Good Samaritan to her other siblings who also informed their father about it.
According to the prosecution, Adotey did not take kindly to that and subjected the victim to severe physical assault and packed her personal belongings, threatening to burn them.
The Good Samaritan then reported Adotey to the police and he was arrested.
He told the court that he had a problem with his wife who had gone to her hometown, Gomoa Abofu in the Central Region.
The victim had been handed over to a responsible adult to take care of her.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
SHIPPING MAGNATE'S SON CONVICTED
AFTER nine months in custody, Haleem Banda, a businessman was today sentenced to one years’ imprisonment and a fine of GH¢6,000 for threat of death and unlawful possession of arms and ammunition.
The Accra Fast Track High Court said the sentence is to take retrospective effect from June 12, 2007, when the 32-year-old managing director of a company in Tema and son of Alhaji Asuma Banda, the shipping magnate was arrested.
The effect of the sentence is that if Banda is able to pay the fine, he would walk a free man, according to the prison calender.
The court convicted him on the two counts of possession of arms and ammunition and fined him 500 penalty units (GH¢12 per penalty unit) to run concurrently.
Banda was arrested for a nightclub brawl and faced two counts of threat of death and another two counts of possession of arms and ammunition without authority.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges but after the trial the court found him guilty on three of the counts and accordingly convicted him.
He was, however, acquitted and discharged on one count of threat of death.
The court, presided over by Mr Justice B.T. Aryeetey, a Court of Appeal judge with additional responsibility as a High Court judge took into consideration the fact that Banda was not known to the law and offered him the opportunity to start his life afresh.
According to the prosecution, on June 10, 2007 at about 1:30 a.m., the accused person stormed the Cinderella Nightclub in Cantonments and threatened, Kofi Okyere Darko (KOD), a broadcaster, and Kiki Banson, a businessman, with death.
The suspect was said to have given KOD a heavy blow which sent him sprawling and threatened to kill him if he tried to get up.
On June 12, 2007, Banda was said to have in his possession four live pistol ammunition without authority while he also had in his possession a pump action gun with an expired licence.
Regarding the first count of threat of death relating to KOD, the court held that the prosecution was able to prove the ingredients in the particulars and the impression was that other people heard the gunshots fired by Banda while he was also seen with the pistol, which was later confiscated by the police.
That evidence, the court said, was at variance with what Banda said; that the pistol had been confiscated by the police about seven years earlier.
The court said that the evidence adduced by the prosecution in respect of the second count of threat of death on Mr Banson did not match the particulars of that offence and was not credible enough.
It said the evidence relating to both counts of possession indicated that Banda possessed the arms and ammunition which had an expired permit.
Counsel for the convict, Mr Addo Atuah prayed the court to be lenient with his client because there was no evidence of any physical injury to any person in respect of the count of threat of death while he was also a first offender and a young man who had already spent nine months in custody.
The Accra Fast Track High Court said the sentence is to take retrospective effect from June 12, 2007, when the 32-year-old managing director of a company in Tema and son of Alhaji Asuma Banda, the shipping magnate was arrested.
The effect of the sentence is that if Banda is able to pay the fine, he would walk a free man, according to the prison calender.
The court convicted him on the two counts of possession of arms and ammunition and fined him 500 penalty units (GH¢12 per penalty unit) to run concurrently.
Banda was arrested for a nightclub brawl and faced two counts of threat of death and another two counts of possession of arms and ammunition without authority.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges but after the trial the court found him guilty on three of the counts and accordingly convicted him.
He was, however, acquitted and discharged on one count of threat of death.
The court, presided over by Mr Justice B.T. Aryeetey, a Court of Appeal judge with additional responsibility as a High Court judge took into consideration the fact that Banda was not known to the law and offered him the opportunity to start his life afresh.
According to the prosecution, on June 10, 2007 at about 1:30 a.m., the accused person stormed the Cinderella Nightclub in Cantonments and threatened, Kofi Okyere Darko (KOD), a broadcaster, and Kiki Banson, a businessman, with death.
The suspect was said to have given KOD a heavy blow which sent him sprawling and threatened to kill him if he tried to get up.
On June 12, 2007, Banda was said to have in his possession four live pistol ammunition without authority while he also had in his possession a pump action gun with an expired licence.
Regarding the first count of threat of death relating to KOD, the court held that the prosecution was able to prove the ingredients in the particulars and the impression was that other people heard the gunshots fired by Banda while he was also seen with the pistol, which was later confiscated by the police.
That evidence, the court said, was at variance with what Banda said; that the pistol had been confiscated by the police about seven years earlier.
The court said that the evidence adduced by the prosecution in respect of the second count of threat of death on Mr Banson did not match the particulars of that offence and was not credible enough.
It said the evidence relating to both counts of possession indicated that Banda possessed the arms and ammunition which had an expired permit.
Counsel for the convict, Mr Addo Atuah prayed the court to be lenient with his client because there was no evidence of any physical injury to any person in respect of the count of threat of death while he was also a first offender and a young man who had already spent nine months in custody.
BARCLAYS BANK MD IN COURT
THE Managing Director of Barclays Bank Limited, Margaret Mwanakate and the Head of Human Resources Business Partner, Laureen Lokko, has appeared before the Accra Fast Track High Court to show cause why they should not be cited for contempt.
The two were dragged to the court by eight employees who are executives of the local Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (ICU) of the bank following the pendency of a motion for injunction against the bank’s decision to summarily dismiss them.
After hearing the arguments of lawyers of both parties, the court fixed April 16, 2008, to rule on the matter.
The eight employees are Opare Yeboah, Samuel A. Anarwat, Angela Deku, Esther Asiedu Larbi, Gariba Adam Andan, Edward Boakye, Thomas Benjamin Quainoo, and Matthew Kotoku.
According to Mr Albert Adaare, counsel for the applicants, the respondents were in contempt of the court because they prevented the affected workers from going to work and violated provisions in their collective bargaining agreement that suspended employees shall continue to report to his or her nearest branch and during the period be paid their full salary.
He said that respondents were aware of the contempt application and knew its purpose but went ahead to restrain the applicants from entering their offices.
However, counsel for the respondents, Mr Charles Hayibor, described the application as misconceived because there was no proof that the applicants were either prevented from entering their offices or had not been paid their salaries.
According to him, the applicants had been paid their salaries for January and February 2008, an assertion which was disproved by Mr Adaare that although the affected workers had been paid their January salaries they were paid for only 10 days in February.
The disagreement between the applicants and the bank stemmed from the bank’s decision to dismiss the entire executive of the ICU.
An affidavit deposed by Opare Yeboah on behalf of the rest of the applicants in support of the motion for contempt said that on the true and proper interpretation of Articles 15 and 16 of the collective bargaining agreement between the ICU and the bank, the letters issued to them on January 11, 2008 purportedly dismissing them summarily was were illegal and in contravention of the Labour Act, 2003 (ACT 651).
According to the applicants, that action was unconstitutional, null and void and ought to be quashed by the court because it was victimisation of the workers as trade union leaders within the bank.
The applicants said that on February, 8, 2008, they filed an application for interlocutory injunction against the bank seeking to restrain it from preventing them from entering their offices and continue to carry out their duties and responsibilities as employees of the bank.
They said that the said application was served on the bank on February 22, 2008 and that the Managing Director and Human Resources Business Partner, were personally aware of the pendency of the application for injunction.
In spite of their knowledge, the applicants said, the respondents wilfully and intentionally disregarded and treated with disdain the application, which was a sacred process of the court.
The said that for the month of February 2008, the bank withheld their monthly salaries and paid them pittances, which they said the bank described as monthly salaries.
The two were dragged to the court by eight employees who are executives of the local Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (ICU) of the bank following the pendency of a motion for injunction against the bank’s decision to summarily dismiss them.
After hearing the arguments of lawyers of both parties, the court fixed April 16, 2008, to rule on the matter.
The eight employees are Opare Yeboah, Samuel A. Anarwat, Angela Deku, Esther Asiedu Larbi, Gariba Adam Andan, Edward Boakye, Thomas Benjamin Quainoo, and Matthew Kotoku.
According to Mr Albert Adaare, counsel for the applicants, the respondents were in contempt of the court because they prevented the affected workers from going to work and violated provisions in their collective bargaining agreement that suspended employees shall continue to report to his or her nearest branch and during the period be paid their full salary.
He said that respondents were aware of the contempt application and knew its purpose but went ahead to restrain the applicants from entering their offices.
However, counsel for the respondents, Mr Charles Hayibor, described the application as misconceived because there was no proof that the applicants were either prevented from entering their offices or had not been paid their salaries.
According to him, the applicants had been paid their salaries for January and February 2008, an assertion which was disproved by Mr Adaare that although the affected workers had been paid their January salaries they were paid for only 10 days in February.
The disagreement between the applicants and the bank stemmed from the bank’s decision to dismiss the entire executive of the ICU.
An affidavit deposed by Opare Yeboah on behalf of the rest of the applicants in support of the motion for contempt said that on the true and proper interpretation of Articles 15 and 16 of the collective bargaining agreement between the ICU and the bank, the letters issued to them on January 11, 2008 purportedly dismissing them summarily was were illegal and in contravention of the Labour Act, 2003 (ACT 651).
According to the applicants, that action was unconstitutional, null and void and ought to be quashed by the court because it was victimisation of the workers as trade union leaders within the bank.
The applicants said that on February, 8, 2008, they filed an application for interlocutory injunction against the bank seeking to restrain it from preventing them from entering their offices and continue to carry out their duties and responsibilities as employees of the bank.
They said that the said application was served on the bank on February 22, 2008 and that the Managing Director and Human Resources Business Partner, were personally aware of the pendency of the application for injunction.
In spite of their knowledge, the applicants said, the respondents wilfully and intentionally disregarded and treated with disdain the application, which was a sacred process of the court.
The said that for the month of February 2008, the bank withheld their monthly salaries and paid them pittances, which they said the bank described as monthly salaries.
TOUR OPERATOR LIAISES WITH FOREIGN MINISTRY TO BRING BACK STRANDED PASSENGERS
SEASONS Travel and Tours (STT), the tour operator responsible for the 153 stranded passengers in Barbados, is liaising with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to get them transit visas to return home via Europe.
The Manager of the company, Mr Eric Bannerman, said last Friday that the passengers included Nigerians, Jamaicans, Ghanaians and Canadians who were returning to their destinations and that the actual passengers who would return to Ghana were about 30.
He said the company was paying for their accommodation in decent guest houses while it awaited the arrangements with the Foreign Ministry.
Mr Bannerman was responding to questions on arrangements to bring back the passengers, especially when Ghana International Airlines Limited (GIA) had denied that the passengers were its passengers.
According to the airline, it did not have any contractual relationship with the passengers because the passengers bought their tickets from STT.
“GIA did not either directly or indirectly sell tickets to the passengers,” it said in reaction by its acting CEO, Ms Gifty Annan-Myers, to protest about the headline of the story which portrayed the GIA as being responsible for the passengers.
The GIA said STT contracted the airline to transport its passengers to and from Barbados upon the payment of an agreed consideration fare (charter price) at seven days before each flight. The GIA under the agreement was to undertake two return flights to Barbados.
The first flight, according to GIA, left Accra on January 31, 2008 with 151 passengers and returned with no passengers to Accra on February 1, 2008 and STT paid the fixed portion of the charter price for that while the reimbursable expenses were yet to be paid by STT.
It said the second flight from Accra to Bridgetown was scheduled for February 15, 2008. However, STT had so far not been able to pay GIA the charter price.
The GIA said the problem had arisen because the Barbados Ministry of Transport, Works and International Transport was demanding that STT repatriate the passengers who landed on February 1, 2008 before it would be allowed to bring in any more passengers.
It said STT insisted that it would run into huge financial loss if it did not put passengers on the aircraft that would fly from Accra to that country to bring the first group to Accra.
In view of the development, GIA said it offered to carry the passengers at an agreed fare on its schedule flight from London Gatwick to Accra if STT transported them from Bridgetown to London.
The GIA said that it was informed by STT that 19 of the 151 passengers were willing and ready to return to Accra and in pursuance of that GIA, upon a request from STT, wrote to the British High Commission in Bridgetown on February 22, 2008 confirming that seats had been reserved for all the 19 passengers on GIA flight from London to Accra on February 23, 2008.
But the visas were not issued because the British consulate needed additional documentation.
After two postponements of the return flight on February 15 and February 29, 2008, the passengers were reported to have run out of money and many of them have resorted to working illegally as labourers.
Barbados government officials said some of the passengers had officially requested for work permits to allow them to support themselves while in that country.
The Barbados Ministry of Transport, Works and International Transport has stated that it is doing everything to ensure that the stranded passengers return home successfully.
“The first indication received by the Ministry of Transport, Works and International Transport of any intention to operate a direct charter service from Ghana to Barbados was an e-mail application dated January 17, 2008 from the GIA, in association with Seasons Travel and Tours, to permit a charter tour operation into Barbados on January 20, 2008 and depart the next day,” a government statement said.
Having received the application, the ministry said it queried the actual period of the tour, since no return date had been given, but on January 28, 2008, a revised application was received from the GIA, stating in part that the revised dates were now January 31, 2008, with a subsequent service on February 15 to return passengers.
It said on January 29, 2008, the GIA advised the ministry that it should expect 160 passengers in Barbados on January 31, 2008, out of which 40 would be proceeding to other Caribbean countries via alternative arrangements.
The remaining 120 were to return to Ghana on the flight on February 15, 2008.
Based on the arrangement and exchanges, a permit for the charter was issued to the GIA and, according to immigration documents, 153 passengers were landed in Barbados from the GIA flight, including those going to other Caribbean countries.
The Barbados government said the local ground handling agency for Seasons Travel and Tours had been very proactive in efforts to repatriate the passengers, while it was taking urgent steps, through Ghana’s High Commission, towards the speedy repatriation of the stranded passengers.
The Manager of the company, Mr Eric Bannerman, said last Friday that the passengers included Nigerians, Jamaicans, Ghanaians and Canadians who were returning to their destinations and that the actual passengers who would return to Ghana were about 30.
He said the company was paying for their accommodation in decent guest houses while it awaited the arrangements with the Foreign Ministry.
Mr Bannerman was responding to questions on arrangements to bring back the passengers, especially when Ghana International Airlines Limited (GIA) had denied that the passengers were its passengers.
According to the airline, it did not have any contractual relationship with the passengers because the passengers bought their tickets from STT.
“GIA did not either directly or indirectly sell tickets to the passengers,” it said in reaction by its acting CEO, Ms Gifty Annan-Myers, to protest about the headline of the story which portrayed the GIA as being responsible for the passengers.
The GIA said STT contracted the airline to transport its passengers to and from Barbados upon the payment of an agreed consideration fare (charter price) at seven days before each flight. The GIA under the agreement was to undertake two return flights to Barbados.
The first flight, according to GIA, left Accra on January 31, 2008 with 151 passengers and returned with no passengers to Accra on February 1, 2008 and STT paid the fixed portion of the charter price for that while the reimbursable expenses were yet to be paid by STT.
It said the second flight from Accra to Bridgetown was scheduled for February 15, 2008. However, STT had so far not been able to pay GIA the charter price.
The GIA said the problem had arisen because the Barbados Ministry of Transport, Works and International Transport was demanding that STT repatriate the passengers who landed on February 1, 2008 before it would be allowed to bring in any more passengers.
It said STT insisted that it would run into huge financial loss if it did not put passengers on the aircraft that would fly from Accra to that country to bring the first group to Accra.
In view of the development, GIA said it offered to carry the passengers at an agreed fare on its schedule flight from London Gatwick to Accra if STT transported them from Bridgetown to London.
The GIA said that it was informed by STT that 19 of the 151 passengers were willing and ready to return to Accra and in pursuance of that GIA, upon a request from STT, wrote to the British High Commission in Bridgetown on February 22, 2008 confirming that seats had been reserved for all the 19 passengers on GIA flight from London to Accra on February 23, 2008.
But the visas were not issued because the British consulate needed additional documentation.
After two postponements of the return flight on February 15 and February 29, 2008, the passengers were reported to have run out of money and many of them have resorted to working illegally as labourers.
Barbados government officials said some of the passengers had officially requested for work permits to allow them to support themselves while in that country.
The Barbados Ministry of Transport, Works and International Transport has stated that it is doing everything to ensure that the stranded passengers return home successfully.
“The first indication received by the Ministry of Transport, Works and International Transport of any intention to operate a direct charter service from Ghana to Barbados was an e-mail application dated January 17, 2008 from the GIA, in association with Seasons Travel and Tours, to permit a charter tour operation into Barbados on January 20, 2008 and depart the next day,” a government statement said.
Having received the application, the ministry said it queried the actual period of the tour, since no return date had been given, but on January 28, 2008, a revised application was received from the GIA, stating in part that the revised dates were now January 31, 2008, with a subsequent service on February 15 to return passengers.
It said on January 29, 2008, the GIA advised the ministry that it should expect 160 passengers in Barbados on January 31, 2008, out of which 40 would be proceeding to other Caribbean countries via alternative arrangements.
The remaining 120 were to return to Ghana on the flight on February 15, 2008.
Based on the arrangement and exchanges, a permit for the charter was issued to the GIA and, according to immigration documents, 153 passengers were landed in Barbados from the GIA flight, including those going to other Caribbean countries.
The Barbados government said the local ground handling agency for Seasons Travel and Tours had been very proactive in efforts to repatriate the passengers, while it was taking urgent steps, through Ghana’s High Commission, towards the speedy repatriation of the stranded passengers.
Thursday, March 06, 2008
SMART TURN OUT AT NATIONAL PARADE
A SMART turnout of schoolchildren and security agencies at the Independence Square in Accra yesterday climaxed the celebration of Ghana’s 51 years of independence.
The ceremony, which attracted a massive gathering of people from all walks of life, showcased military hardware and Ghanaian culture in dress and dance.
On show were armoured vehicles, multi-rocket launchers, jet fighters, Fokker 27 transport planes and police crowd control vehicles, among others.
Most of those who attended the ceremony were dressed in either kente, smock or white cloth as part of their show of patriotism and respect for the country.
At exactly 8.30 am, the President, dressed in a black suit over blue shirt with a multicoloured neck tie to match, and his wife Theresa emerged from the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium end of the square in his sleek black presidential Mercedes Benz.
His car was ushered in to the ceremonial grounds by a large motorcade and police personnel on beautifully decorated horses to add colour to the occasion, the last by President Kufuor, after what many have described as dedicated service to the nation.
Before his arrival, the Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, gorgeously dressed in his white ‘agbada’ with a black Muslim hat to match, and his wife Ramatu arrived to an abridged national salute by the mass band.
The President, on his arrival, immediately took the national salute and retired to his seat after exchanging pleasantries with some of the VVIP dignitaries, including The Speaker of Parliament, Mr Ebenezer Sakyi-Hughes, his wife, and the Chief Justice, Mrs Goergina Woode.
That set the tone for the commencement of proceedings for the simple but very colourful parade.
Traditional and Christian prayers were offered by pupils from the Osu Klottey sub-metropolis, while pupils from Ayawaso sub-metropolis also offered the Muslim prayers for peace and unity, a violence-free elections in the country and wisdom and vision for the nation’s leaders.
After that, President Kufuor, accompanied by the Inspector General of Police, Mr Patrick Kwarteng Acheampong, Chief of Defence Staff, Lt Gen J.B. Dankwa and the Ministers of the Interior and Defence, inspected the contingent and later lit the national flame at the Cenotaph for the unknown soldier.
A social dance of the Nzemas and the Ahantas from the Western Region, Kundum, was performed by pupils from the Chemuna and Sempe Junior High Schools in the Ablekuma sub-metropolis while pupils from the Labone SDA Preparatory School in Accra entertained the crowd to a splendid gymnastic activity in which the group wrote “51” and “So far so good”, probably to indicate Ghana’s achievement through the years.
A contingent of 45 officers and 900 other ranks drawn from the Ghana Armed Forces, Ghana Air Force, Navy, Police, Immigration Service, Ghana National Fire Service, Prisons Service and Customs Excise and Preventive Service, as well as the a Ghana Education Service (GES) contingent of 32 teachers and 480 schoolchildren. took part in the parade.
The GES contingent was made up of basic schools from Ablekuma North, Osu Klottey, 5 Garrison and Kpeshie sub-metropolis and two private schools, an HIV/AIDS awareness group and a special group from the Dzorwulu Special School.
The others were second cycle schools such as Accra High, Ebenezer Secondary School and Presbyterian Secondary School at La.
The Army cadet from Kinbu Secondary Technical, Navy Cadet from Labone Secondary School, Air Force cadet from Odorgonno Secondary School and Police cadet from Depot/Airport Basic School were also at the parade.
The parade was under the command of Brig Gen Austin Apogan-Yella and had the mass band of the central bands of the Ghana Armed Forces, Ghana Police, the Ghana Navy and the Ghana Air Force, as well as the GES Accra Metro School band providing music.
It was attended by people from all walks of life, including Ministers of State, Members of Parliament, traditional rulers, members of the Bar and the Bench, clergymen and politicians, and members of the Diplomatic Corps.
During the march past by the contingents, they formed a line to spell “Ayekoo”, meaning well done while the Ghana Armed Forces and Ghana Police Service displayed their might in working apparatus.
Some of the military equipment bore inscriptions such as” Ghana Armed Forces, Partners in development” and Ghana Armed Forces, Ensuring peace and stability”.
While the ceremony was on-going , the Ghana Armed Forces gave the crowd an added impetus of satisfaction when some helicopters and military aircraft simultaneously hovered past, spewing smoke of the national colours of red, gold and green.
At the same time, a Ghana Navy ship was sighted on the ocean doing some displays while the 21-gun salute also boomed in the background amidst cheers from the teeming crowd.
Before President Kufuor could deliver his last independence address, a student from the Armed Forces Secondary Technical performed a drum appellation, which was interpreted by a female student from the Labone Secondary School.
Some senior service commanders were presented with Ghana’s Golden Jubilee medals.
The ceremony, which attracted a massive gathering of people from all walks of life, showcased military hardware and Ghanaian culture in dress and dance.
On show were armoured vehicles, multi-rocket launchers, jet fighters, Fokker 27 transport planes and police crowd control vehicles, among others.
Most of those who attended the ceremony were dressed in either kente, smock or white cloth as part of their show of patriotism and respect for the country.
At exactly 8.30 am, the President, dressed in a black suit over blue shirt with a multicoloured neck tie to match, and his wife Theresa emerged from the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium end of the square in his sleek black presidential Mercedes Benz.
His car was ushered in to the ceremonial grounds by a large motorcade and police personnel on beautifully decorated horses to add colour to the occasion, the last by President Kufuor, after what many have described as dedicated service to the nation.
Before his arrival, the Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, gorgeously dressed in his white ‘agbada’ with a black Muslim hat to match, and his wife Ramatu arrived to an abridged national salute by the mass band.
The President, on his arrival, immediately took the national salute and retired to his seat after exchanging pleasantries with some of the VVIP dignitaries, including The Speaker of Parliament, Mr Ebenezer Sakyi-Hughes, his wife, and the Chief Justice, Mrs Goergina Woode.
That set the tone for the commencement of proceedings for the simple but very colourful parade.
Traditional and Christian prayers were offered by pupils from the Osu Klottey sub-metropolis, while pupils from Ayawaso sub-metropolis also offered the Muslim prayers for peace and unity, a violence-free elections in the country and wisdom and vision for the nation’s leaders.
After that, President Kufuor, accompanied by the Inspector General of Police, Mr Patrick Kwarteng Acheampong, Chief of Defence Staff, Lt Gen J.B. Dankwa and the Ministers of the Interior and Defence, inspected the contingent and later lit the national flame at the Cenotaph for the unknown soldier.
A social dance of the Nzemas and the Ahantas from the Western Region, Kundum, was performed by pupils from the Chemuna and Sempe Junior High Schools in the Ablekuma sub-metropolis while pupils from the Labone SDA Preparatory School in Accra entertained the crowd to a splendid gymnastic activity in which the group wrote “51” and “So far so good”, probably to indicate Ghana’s achievement through the years.
A contingent of 45 officers and 900 other ranks drawn from the Ghana Armed Forces, Ghana Air Force, Navy, Police, Immigration Service, Ghana National Fire Service, Prisons Service and Customs Excise and Preventive Service, as well as the a Ghana Education Service (GES) contingent of 32 teachers and 480 schoolchildren. took part in the parade.
The GES contingent was made up of basic schools from Ablekuma North, Osu Klottey, 5 Garrison and Kpeshie sub-metropolis and two private schools, an HIV/AIDS awareness group and a special group from the Dzorwulu Special School.
The others were second cycle schools such as Accra High, Ebenezer Secondary School and Presbyterian Secondary School at La.
The Army cadet from Kinbu Secondary Technical, Navy Cadet from Labone Secondary School, Air Force cadet from Odorgonno Secondary School and Police cadet from Depot/Airport Basic School were also at the parade.
The parade was under the command of Brig Gen Austin Apogan-Yella and had the mass band of the central bands of the Ghana Armed Forces, Ghana Police, the Ghana Navy and the Ghana Air Force, as well as the GES Accra Metro School band providing music.
It was attended by people from all walks of life, including Ministers of State, Members of Parliament, traditional rulers, members of the Bar and the Bench, clergymen and politicians, and members of the Diplomatic Corps.
During the march past by the contingents, they formed a line to spell “Ayekoo”, meaning well done while the Ghana Armed Forces and Ghana Police Service displayed their might in working apparatus.
Some of the military equipment bore inscriptions such as” Ghana Armed Forces, Partners in development” and Ghana Armed Forces, Ensuring peace and stability”.
While the ceremony was on-going , the Ghana Armed Forces gave the crowd an added impetus of satisfaction when some helicopters and military aircraft simultaneously hovered past, spewing smoke of the national colours of red, gold and green.
At the same time, a Ghana Navy ship was sighted on the ocean doing some displays while the 21-gun salute also boomed in the background amidst cheers from the teeming crowd.
Before President Kufuor could deliver his last independence address, a student from the Armed Forces Secondary Technical performed a drum appellation, which was interpreted by a female student from the Labone Secondary School.
Some senior service commanders were presented with Ghana’s Golden Jubilee medals.
COURT ISSUES WARRANT FOR ARREST OF PASTOR FOR DEFILEMENT
AN Accra circuit court has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Pastor Nana Akwasi Agyeman who is accused of defiling eight girls under his care.
The court ignored pleas by counsel for Pastor Agyeman to stand the case down to enable them to provide evidence that the Man of God had been taken seriously ill and could not come to court.
Pastor Agyeman was alleged to have defiled the girls, aged between three and 12, between May and December 2006 at his St John’s residence near Dome in Accra.
The girls’ parents, who are all domiciled in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, were said to have arranged with the pastor to take care of the girls in Ghana.
Initially, the pastor faced eight counts of defilement and pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail in the sum of GH¢50,000 with two sureties.
However, when the case was called yesterday, the prosecution entered a nolle prosequi in six of the counts, which unconfirmed information said would form the basis of a fresh trial at the Fast Track High Court.
According to the facts of the case, Pastor Agyeman was the pastor of the Shiva Linga Church based in Abidjan. He also runs a prayer centre in Accra, along with being a herbalist.
The complainants are either members of his church or became associated with the pastor through his prayer centre.
The prosecution said the accused person lived in both Abidjan and Accra and that while in Accra, he lived with a number of children who were brought from Abidjan to live with him.
Pastor Agyeman is alleged to have secretly had sexual intercourse with the eight girls in his bedroom and bathroom.
The prosecution said he was found out when he had sex with a 12-year-old girl who visited him from Abidjan in December 2006.
The girl said while she was on holidays in Accra, the accused person defiled her and she, therefore, reported the matter to her parents when she returned to Abidjan.
She was alleged to have also said that the accused person had defiled most of the girls under his care and when their parents called them on telephone to enquire, the allegation was confirmed to them.
When the accused person was confronted with the allegation, he denied it, but two other parents whose children were said to have fallen victim came to Ghana and reported the matter to the police.
When the victims were issued with medical forms to undergo medical examination, doctors confirmed that all the eight girls had been defiled.
The court ignored pleas by counsel for Pastor Agyeman to stand the case down to enable them to provide evidence that the Man of God had been taken seriously ill and could not come to court.
Pastor Agyeman was alleged to have defiled the girls, aged between three and 12, between May and December 2006 at his St John’s residence near Dome in Accra.
The girls’ parents, who are all domiciled in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, were said to have arranged with the pastor to take care of the girls in Ghana.
Initially, the pastor faced eight counts of defilement and pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail in the sum of GH¢50,000 with two sureties.
However, when the case was called yesterday, the prosecution entered a nolle prosequi in six of the counts, which unconfirmed information said would form the basis of a fresh trial at the Fast Track High Court.
According to the facts of the case, Pastor Agyeman was the pastor of the Shiva Linga Church based in Abidjan. He also runs a prayer centre in Accra, along with being a herbalist.
The complainants are either members of his church or became associated with the pastor through his prayer centre.
The prosecution said the accused person lived in both Abidjan and Accra and that while in Accra, he lived with a number of children who were brought from Abidjan to live with him.
Pastor Agyeman is alleged to have secretly had sexual intercourse with the eight girls in his bedroom and bathroom.
The prosecution said he was found out when he had sex with a 12-year-old girl who visited him from Abidjan in December 2006.
The girl said while she was on holidays in Accra, the accused person defiled her and she, therefore, reported the matter to her parents when she returned to Abidjan.
She was alleged to have also said that the accused person had defiled most of the girls under his care and when their parents called them on telephone to enquire, the allegation was confirmed to them.
When the accused person was confronted with the allegation, he denied it, but two other parents whose children were said to have fallen victim came to Ghana and reported the matter to the police.
When the victims were issued with medical forms to undergo medical examination, doctors confirmed that all the eight girls had been defiled.
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
AYIETA FAMILY TO SETTLE CASE OUT OF COURT
The Court of Appeal has granted leave to the Ayieta family of the Builsa Traditional Area to attempt an out of court settlement in the case involving Robert Atong Abekabta and others on one side and Alexis Tampuri Azantilow and others.
Consequently, the court has adjourned the matter sine die and urged the parties to file the terms of settlement within 30 days beginning February 25, 2008.
Mr Justice B.T Aryeetey, presided, with Mrs Justice Henrietta Abban and Mr Justice R.K. Apaloo as the members.
The background of the case was that following the death of Nab Dr Azantilow Ayieta, paramount Chief of the Builsa Traditional Area on November 14, 2006, his biological children decided to put the body in a public mortuary in Bolgatanga.
That action was not acceptable to the rest of the Ayieta family who felt that was contrary to their customary practice.
The aggrieved family members allegedly broke into the mortuary to remove the corpse amidst fanfare, drumming and other activities.
After that they allegedly held an “adua” a Muslim rituals performed after 40 days of the death of an icon of tradition.
The rest of the family instituted an action against the biological children to restrain them from breaking tradition and also involve the nine constituents of the Ayieta family in the performance of the burial and funeral of the late Nab Azantilow.
The High Court declined jurisdiction in the matter on the grounds that it affected chieftaincy.
Not satisfied with that position, the plaintiffs instituted the instant action at the Court of Appeal, which had urged the family to settle the matter out of court.
Consequently, the court has adjourned the matter sine die and urged the parties to file the terms of settlement within 30 days beginning February 25, 2008.
Mr Justice B.T Aryeetey, presided, with Mrs Justice Henrietta Abban and Mr Justice R.K. Apaloo as the members.
The background of the case was that following the death of Nab Dr Azantilow Ayieta, paramount Chief of the Builsa Traditional Area on November 14, 2006, his biological children decided to put the body in a public mortuary in Bolgatanga.
That action was not acceptable to the rest of the Ayieta family who felt that was contrary to their customary practice.
The aggrieved family members allegedly broke into the mortuary to remove the corpse amidst fanfare, drumming and other activities.
After that they allegedly held an “adua” a Muslim rituals performed after 40 days of the death of an icon of tradition.
The rest of the family instituted an action against the biological children to restrain them from breaking tradition and also involve the nine constituents of the Ayieta family in the performance of the burial and funeral of the late Nab Azantilow.
The High Court declined jurisdiction in the matter on the grounds that it affected chieftaincy.
Not satisfied with that position, the plaintiffs instituted the instant action at the Court of Appeal, which had urged the family to settle the matter out of court.
CHINESE EMBASSY DONATES COMPUTERS TO JUDICIAL SERVICE
THE Chinese Embassy in Accra has donated eight Dell computers and accessories to the Judicial Service at a short ceremony at the Supreme Court buildings in Accra.
The Political Counsellor and Deputy Head of the Embassy, Mr Wang Lushan, presented the computers to Mr Justice William Atuguba, Justice of the Supreme Court, who received them on behalf of Her Ladyship, the Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Georgina Theodora Wood.
Mr Wang was hopeful that the computers would help to increase the efficiency of work in the Judicial Service.
He said that the presentation was part of the total effort of the Chinese government’s effort to support Ghana’s development process.
Mr Justice Atuguba thanked the government and people of China and said the presentation would enhance the establishment of healthy co-operation between Ghana and China at the judiciary level.
The Political Counsellor and Deputy Head of the Embassy, Mr Wang Lushan, presented the computers to Mr Justice William Atuguba, Justice of the Supreme Court, who received them on behalf of Her Ladyship, the Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Georgina Theodora Wood.
Mr Wang was hopeful that the computers would help to increase the efficiency of work in the Judicial Service.
He said that the presentation was part of the total effort of the Chinese government’s effort to support Ghana’s development process.
Mr Justice Atuguba thanked the government and people of China and said the presentation would enhance the establishment of healthy co-operation between Ghana and China at the judiciary level.
GHANAIAN PASSENGERS STRANDED
ONE hundred and fifty three passengers, made up of Ghanaians and some Nigerians, are stranded in Barbados after arriving on the island aboard a Ghana International Airlines (GIA) charter flight from Accra.
After two postponements of the return flight on February 15 and February 29, 2008, the passengers are reported to have run out of money and many of them have resorted to working illegally as labourers.
Barbados government officials say some of the passengers have officially requested for work permits to allow them to support themselves while in that country.
Reacting to the situation, the GIA said it was contracted by Season’s Travel and Tours, a company certified by the Ghana Tourists Board to permit a charter tour operation, to airlift the passengers to the Caribbean island on February 1, 2008 and that its services were paid for.
The tour operator had defaulted in paying for the return flight, especially when the government of that country required the GIA to fly empty to that country, a situation which could not be borne by the operator since it entailed extra cost, Ms Gifty Annan-Myers, the acting Chief Executive Officer of the GIA, told the Daily Graphic in a telephone interview.
The Barbados Ministry of Transport, Works and International Transport has stated that it is doing everything to ensure that the stranded passengers return home successfully.
A statement reportedly issued on the stranded passengers said the Ghanaians were among those who, on February 1, 2008, visited that country for a two-week stay, adding that as a result of the breakdown of private tour arrangements, the government had intervened and was actively seeking ways to facilitate their repatriation.
The visit, it noted, was organised through a private sector arrangement by the Ghanaian tour company, using a Barbadian counterpart as ground handler.
“The first indication received by the Ministry of Transport, Works and International Transport of any intention to operate a direct charter service from Ghana to Barbados was an e-mail application dated January 17, 2008 from the GIA, in association with Season’s Travel and Tours, to permit a charter tour operation into Barbados on January 20, 2008 and depart the next day,” the statement said.
Having received the application, the ministry said, it queried the actual period of the tour, since no return date had been given, but on January 28, 2008, a revised application was received from the GIA, stating in part that the revised dates were now January 31, 2008, with a subsequent service on February 15 to return passengers.
It said on January 29, 2008, the GIA advised the ministry that it should expected 160 passengers in Barbados on January 31, 2008, out of which 40 would be proceeding to other Caribbean countries via alternative arrangements.
The remaining 120 were to return to Ghana on the flight on February 15, 2008.
Based on the arrangement and exchanges, a permit for the charter was issued to the GIA and, according to immigration documents, 153 passengers were landed in Barbados from the GIA flight, including those going to other Caribbean countries.
The Barbados government said the local ground handling agency for Season’s Travel and Tours had been very proactive in efforts to repatriate the passengers, while it was taking urgent steps, through Ghana’s High Commission, towards the speedy repatriation of the stranded passengers.
Ms Annan-Myers told the Daily Graphic that Season’s Travels and Tours contracted the GIA to lift the passengers to Barbados and that, after paying for the outward flight, the return flight had not been paid for.
According to her, the arrangement was that the tour operators were to pay the return flight seven days before February 15, 2008 and when their attention was drawn to that, the operators replied that the Barbados government wanted the GIA to send an empty flight to bring back the passengers. She said that entailed a heavy cost which the company could not bear.
Ms Annan-Myers said the GIA was ever ready and on standby when Season’s Travels were ready and that the airline had even offered to send the passengers to London from where it could bring them to Ghana.
After two postponements of the return flight on February 15 and February 29, 2008, the passengers are reported to have run out of money and many of them have resorted to working illegally as labourers.
Barbados government officials say some of the passengers have officially requested for work permits to allow them to support themselves while in that country.
Reacting to the situation, the GIA said it was contracted by Season’s Travel and Tours, a company certified by the Ghana Tourists Board to permit a charter tour operation, to airlift the passengers to the Caribbean island on February 1, 2008 and that its services were paid for.
The tour operator had defaulted in paying for the return flight, especially when the government of that country required the GIA to fly empty to that country, a situation which could not be borne by the operator since it entailed extra cost, Ms Gifty Annan-Myers, the acting Chief Executive Officer of the GIA, told the Daily Graphic in a telephone interview.
The Barbados Ministry of Transport, Works and International Transport has stated that it is doing everything to ensure that the stranded passengers return home successfully.
A statement reportedly issued on the stranded passengers said the Ghanaians were among those who, on February 1, 2008, visited that country for a two-week stay, adding that as a result of the breakdown of private tour arrangements, the government had intervened and was actively seeking ways to facilitate their repatriation.
The visit, it noted, was organised through a private sector arrangement by the Ghanaian tour company, using a Barbadian counterpart as ground handler.
“The first indication received by the Ministry of Transport, Works and International Transport of any intention to operate a direct charter service from Ghana to Barbados was an e-mail application dated January 17, 2008 from the GIA, in association with Season’s Travel and Tours, to permit a charter tour operation into Barbados on January 20, 2008 and depart the next day,” the statement said.
Having received the application, the ministry said, it queried the actual period of the tour, since no return date had been given, but on January 28, 2008, a revised application was received from the GIA, stating in part that the revised dates were now January 31, 2008, with a subsequent service on February 15 to return passengers.
It said on January 29, 2008, the GIA advised the ministry that it should expected 160 passengers in Barbados on January 31, 2008, out of which 40 would be proceeding to other Caribbean countries via alternative arrangements.
The remaining 120 were to return to Ghana on the flight on February 15, 2008.
Based on the arrangement and exchanges, a permit for the charter was issued to the GIA and, according to immigration documents, 153 passengers were landed in Barbados from the GIA flight, including those going to other Caribbean countries.
The Barbados government said the local ground handling agency for Season’s Travel and Tours had been very proactive in efforts to repatriate the passengers, while it was taking urgent steps, through Ghana’s High Commission, towards the speedy repatriation of the stranded passengers.
Ms Annan-Myers told the Daily Graphic that Season’s Travels and Tours contracted the GIA to lift the passengers to Barbados and that, after paying for the outward flight, the return flight had not been paid for.
According to her, the arrangement was that the tour operators were to pay the return flight seven days before February 15, 2008 and when their attention was drawn to that, the operators replied that the Barbados government wanted the GIA to send an empty flight to bring back the passengers. She said that entailed a heavy cost which the company could not bear.
Ms Annan-Myers said the GIA was ever ready and on standby when Season’s Travels were ready and that the airline had even offered to send the passengers to London from where it could bring them to Ghana.
NINE NIGERIANS JAILED 5 YEARS FOR 419 FRAUD
NINE people who faked various documents, including the letterheads of the Office of The President, and used them to defraud a number of victims in Accra have each been jailed five years by an Accra circuit court.
The nine, all Nigerians and believed to belong to an advanced fee fraud (419) syndicate, also forged documents belonging to National Security, the Ministry of Defence, the Ghana Police Service, the Office of the Attorney-General, the Auditor-General, the Bank of Ghana, among others.
They include Victor Okechuku Okoye Ibuze, who is at large and was sentenced in absentia, and Ibrahim Mato, alias Edward Mensah.
The rest are Benson Nnadi, Budy Sampson, Raymond Popson, Ashanor Wright Waheed, Adeotan Oluwafemi Adenyi, Abolade Oluwaseyi Toyosi and Ekpemadu Chuku Andy.
They were convicted and sentenced to five years each on one count of conspiracy and another count of possessing forged documents, while Mato was further convicted and sentenced to 18 months on another count of forgery of passport.
All the counts are to run concurrently.
According to the facts of the case, the nine lived at Achimota in Accra and described themselves variously as businessmen, traders, computer engineers and technicians.
The prosecution said the group operated an Internet cafe at Achimota from where the convicts prepared forged documents to convince their victims that huge sums of money had been deposited in some banks in Ghana for them, for which the victims had to make payments in dollars as deposits.
Through their modus operandi, the prosecution said, the convicts convinced a French national that he had $8.5 million bequeathed to him at the Kokomlemle Branch of the SG-SSB Bank and that he had to pay 185,000 Euro for its release.
The prosecution said through some fraudulent correspondence with the forged documents, the syndicate managed to invite their victim to Ghana on May 25, 2005 and collected 35,000 Euro as part payment for the 185,000 Euro charge.
After that transaction, the victim was asked to go back to France, where he discussed the issue with a Ghanaian to whom he showed the forged documents.
The Ghanaian told the victim that all the documents had been forged and, therefore, he should report the matter to the Ghana Police, which he did.
Therefore, when the syndicate invited the victim to Ghana again on August 16, 2005, its members were arrested by the police when they went to pick him from the airport.
Upon their arrest and subsequent search, the forged documents and other items, including computers, were seized.
The nine, all Nigerians and believed to belong to an advanced fee fraud (419) syndicate, also forged documents belonging to National Security, the Ministry of Defence, the Ghana Police Service, the Office of the Attorney-General, the Auditor-General, the Bank of Ghana, among others.
They include Victor Okechuku Okoye Ibuze, who is at large and was sentenced in absentia, and Ibrahim Mato, alias Edward Mensah.
The rest are Benson Nnadi, Budy Sampson, Raymond Popson, Ashanor Wright Waheed, Adeotan Oluwafemi Adenyi, Abolade Oluwaseyi Toyosi and Ekpemadu Chuku Andy.
They were convicted and sentenced to five years each on one count of conspiracy and another count of possessing forged documents, while Mato was further convicted and sentenced to 18 months on another count of forgery of passport.
All the counts are to run concurrently.
According to the facts of the case, the nine lived at Achimota in Accra and described themselves variously as businessmen, traders, computer engineers and technicians.
The prosecution said the group operated an Internet cafe at Achimota from where the convicts prepared forged documents to convince their victims that huge sums of money had been deposited in some banks in Ghana for them, for which the victims had to make payments in dollars as deposits.
Through their modus operandi, the prosecution said, the convicts convinced a French national that he had $8.5 million bequeathed to him at the Kokomlemle Branch of the SG-SSB Bank and that he had to pay 185,000 Euro for its release.
The prosecution said through some fraudulent correspondence with the forged documents, the syndicate managed to invite their victim to Ghana on May 25, 2005 and collected 35,000 Euro as part payment for the 185,000 Euro charge.
After that transaction, the victim was asked to go back to France, where he discussed the issue with a Ghanaian to whom he showed the forged documents.
The Ghanaian told the victim that all the documents had been forged and, therefore, he should report the matter to the Ghana Police, which he did.
Therefore, when the syndicate invited the victim to Ghana again on August 16, 2005, its members were arrested by the police when they went to pick him from the airport.
Upon their arrest and subsequent search, the forged documents and other items, including computers, were seized.
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