Vodafone Unveils Grand Prize to customers

By: Bismarck Tetteh & Jamila Akweley Okertchiri

Vodafone Ghana last Wednesday unveiled the grand prize for its “Vodafone Rewards promotion” at a ceremony in Accra.
The ultimate winner in the on-going promotion stands the chance of taking home a four bedroom Trasacco Valley house with a 4x4 Mitsubishi Pajero and a personal driver for three months.
Isaac Kojo Abraham, Manager of Corporate Communications of Vodafone stressed that the grand prize for the Vodafone Rewards is worth a million dollars.
“The whole programme was done for customers to feel how real the promotion was,” he added.
Mr Abraham wished all costumers luck and advised all who have entered into the promotion to keep their phones active. He stressed that the hallmark of Vodafone is to bring quality telecommunications to the ultimate customer, hence the partnership with Trasacco, an equally class estate developer in Ghana with amazing apartment designs, was a perfect one.
The Manager for Corporate Communications noted that no staff or immediate family relative of any staff of the company is allowed to take part in the promotion.
Mr. Gideon Sackitey, Public Relations Officer for Vodafone urged all who were present, including the media personnel, to register for the promotion if they have not registered, advising all customers to keep toping up their credits.

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Mechanic chews neighbour’s ear

By: Richard Amosah and Bismarck Nii Ogbamey Tetteh

Emmanuel A. Tetteh, a mechanic residing at Chorkor has been charged for causing harm to Godwin Kpormagbe and Stephen Nyardewor after he bit their ears.
The accused is reported to have become annoyed when he went to Allied Oil filing station to buy fuel and was not served first.
In view of this, he allegedly picked a quarrel with the complainants, employees of the stations and in the process bit them.
The accused who is on bail has however pleaded not guilty to the charge for which reason three witnesses have already been called to testify.
Appearing before an Accra Circuit Court, presided over by Justice D.E.K Dakpetse, Investigating Officer Wisdom Tsade who is the fourth prosecution witness told the court he was on duty at the Chorkor police station when the complainants were rushed to the station.
He said the complainants who are workers of the Allied Oil filling station were attending to customers when the accused came with a gallon in hand to buy diesel.
Tetteh became angry because he was not served first. This resulted in a misunderstanding between the complainant and the accused.
A witness tried to accompany the accused out of the filling station but he came back and confronted the complainant; this degenerated into a struggle and in the course the accused bit the complainant’s left ear. The second complainant, Stephen Nyardewor rushed to the aid of the first complainant only for the accused to bite his left ear as well, chopping part of it.
After they had lodged their complaint, they were issued with medical forms to attend hospital for treatment. The accused was arrested to the station and re-arrested for investigation. In his caution statement he did not deny biting the complainants.
The case has been adjourned to July 17, 2009.
In another development, Vida Owusu, a trader living at Abeka has been charged for defrauding Benjamin Amoah, a businessman of GH¢5,400.
The accused pleaded guilty but her sentence was deferred to July 30, 2009.
Prosecutor ASP Jubiok Michaels informed an Accra circuit court where the accused was standing trial that early this year, the complainant was in dire need of a store to rent at the Kantamanto market in Accra central.
In the process he came into contact with the accused who claimed she had a store at the same location and that she was renting it out for GH¢ 5,400.00 over a period of three years.
The accused after receiving an advance payment, showed Amoah a store which turned out not to be hers. Amoah after realizing that he has been defrauded reported the case to the police who then arrested Owusu.
After the investigations, the accused was charged with the offence and was arraigned before court.
She was granted a GH¢10,000 bail with a surety and convicted on her own guilty plea.

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THE GAMBIA EXPOSED

By Richard Amosah & Bismarck Tetteh

Nana Oye Lithur, Coordinator, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI), has described president Jammeh’s reign as dreadful and a regime of human rights repression.
She noted this at a forum organised by Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), in collaboration with Amnesty International at the International Press Center last Wednesday.
It was on the theme: “The Gambia- A Burial Place for Human Rights”
Highlighting on the topic, she said Gambian President Yahya Jammeh celebrates his 15 years of toppling the administration of former president Dawda Jawara as “Freedom Day” which ironically, is a day that marked the Gambian descent into tyranny.
She emphasized that the Gambian government was responsible for the killing of 44 Ghanaians who were traveling to Europe through Gambia in August 2006; allegations which have been denied by the Gambia president Yahya Jammeh.
She also stressed that the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which was signed by the government of Ghana and The Gambia could hold back investigations into the matter, expressing disgruntlement on the part of Ghana government for not releasing the reports of the ECOWAS Committee that was set up to investigate the killings. She said the report would help the CHRI to make assessments and declare its stand on the issue.
Mr. Suwaibou Touray a Gambian journalist and sub editor of a privately owned newspaper, ‘Foroyaa’ shared his experiences of violations of press freedom in Gambia saying that Chief Ebrima Manneh, a reporter of a government owned Daily Observer had been a victim of enforced disappearance since July 2006. He said the reporter was arrested by members of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) in connection with his trying to publish a BBC article which was critical of the Gambian government.
He also said Ebrima Manneh was seen for the first time 188 days after his arrest but the Gambian police continue to deny having arrest or detain him. “Manneh has spent about 350 days in detention or trial but the government still claims that it knows nothing about his whereabouts” he added.
Mohammed Shardow from the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), said president Jammeh had not hidden its long-standing hatred for independent media, and that he had publicly described the media as elements of opposition. He said many radio stations and newspapers had been closed down under flimsy excuses, some of which are incitement to rebellion and propaganda.
Shardow noted that a growing number of journalists are fleeing the repression and persecution of the regime and more than thirty journalists had escaped into exile; those in the country are practicing self-censorship as a means of preventing arrests.
He also pointed out that Gambian authorities, including the courts have been demanding bizarre bail conditions for citizens and journalists saying that Halifa Sallah who is a publisher of Banjul- based newspaper was asked by the court to post a bail bond of about US$50,000, three sureties resident in Brikama district, two of whom must be a retired Inspector’s General of Police (IG) and an army Brigadier and ensure the third surety is a District Chief.
“There is no retired IG in Gambia. They were sacked whiles in office so how done get a retired IG” he added.
Ugonna Duru, Legal Officer, MFWA said when they were entering the Gambia, they were stopped by the immigration, their passports ceased and interrogated for about an hour before they were released.
She said there is insecurity in Gambia and it poses a threat to the West African sub region.
She also called on the international community and journalists join the campaign to bring an end to the Rule of Fear in Gambia.

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‘Disabled Persons Are Social Partners’

By: Bismarck Nii Ogbamey Tetteh
THE INFORMATION Minister, Mrs. Zita Okaikoi has urged Ghanaians to see persons with disabilities as social partners who have a big role to play in our quest for development and growth as a society.
Mrs. Zita noted this noted during the official launch of a six month campaign on improving attitudes towards people with disabilities at the British council last Wednesday. It was on the theme “Improving Attitudes towards Persons with Disabilities”.
She further explained that the passage of the Disability Act in 2006 has created the necessary legal framework within which the constitutional rights of persons with disability and their welfare can be explored and protected. This she said, would enable them realize their full potential and contribute their quota towards national development.
She also added that is the Government was determined to enhance the social well-being of all, including persons with disabilities and to demonstrate this commitment; government had set up the National Council for Persons with Disability to implement the Law.
She stressed that government was ready to provide any assistance to the Centre for Employment of Persons with Disabilities and declared the campaign and Bohyeba documentary launched.
Mr. Charles Appiagyei, the acting Executive Director of Action on Disability and Development (ADD) in his closing remarks defined tradition as “handing down from generations to generations of opinions, beliefs, customs etc” or “opinions, beliefs, customs handed down”. Also, he added from the traditional perspective that the birth of physically challenged children most of the time to couple causes broken homes. He continued to say that in Einar Helander’s book “Prejudice and Dignity” stated “that the simplest definition of a disabled person is one who in his or her society is regarded as disabled because of a difference in appearance or behaviour.”
Explaining further, he added that the People with disabilities (Pwd) are stigmatized, marginalized and neglected making many excluded, poor, deprived and vulnerable, making them objects of pity, charity and rituals.
People with disabilities do not need our sympathy and the equal opportunity to help in the development of the country

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Fishermen To Smile

By Bismarck Nii Ogbamey Tetteh & Leticia Allachie

THE RECENT shortage of premix fuel was last Wednesday resolved with the unveiling of a new brand of fuel.
Briefing the fishermen on the current issue pertaining to the premix fuel at Mantse Agbonaa, James Town in Accra, Zita Okaikoi, the Minister of Information said “people who are politicizing the shortage of the premix fuel are the very people causing the shortage.”
She added that measures have been put in place to ensure that fishermen do not face such problems stressing that “if the fishermen do not go and fish, prices of fish will rise and the consumers will be greatly affected.”
Mrs Okaikoi added that the colour of the new premix fuel has been changed from the old colour yellow to blue and that the new fuel will not affect the engines of the fisherman’s outboard motor in any way.
She also admitted that the new structures put in place requires that the premix fuel tanker drivers must inscribe premix on all the sides of their trucks and that anyone who refuses will not be allowed to purchase the premix fuel at Tema Oil Refinery.
The Information Minister also stated that tracking devices would be placed on each and every premix tanker to prevent the drivers from diverting from their locations.
Mrs. Okaikoi declared that the current government has cancelled pair trawling and asked fishermen to report any foreign vessel fishing on the sea to the police.
Nii Abeo Kyerekuanda, the chief fisherman added that the days where fishermen were regarded as useless and worthless is over.
Mr. Nicole also added that the fishermen are suppose to bring representatives for the formation of the committee which will be in charge of the sales of the premix.
Mr. Jonathan Nii Tackie Kommey, M.P. for Odododiodoo, assured that before the close of the week, they will provide the names of the representatives.

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Pakro’s school project unveiled

By: Bismarck Nii Ogbamey Tetteh

Mr. Martin Eson- Benjamin, the Chief Executive Officer of the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA), unveiled a plaque as part of activities to commission rehabilitated schools at Pakro in the Akuapim South Municipality over the weekend.
Mr. Martin in his speech last Friday admitted that he was happy the school project was completed successfully. He continued to say that he was overwhelmed by the turnout of all the dignitaries and the District Chief Executive (Akuapim South Municipal), Honourable Doctor Osei Bonsu to grace the occasion and that he has seen the importance the people of Pakro attach to education.
He explained that one of the key projects of the Development Projects of the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) Ghana Programme is to provide community service in support of Agricultural Transformation Programme. This support, he added covers the rehabilitation and construction of Kindergarten and primary schools, provision of portable water, sanitary facilities and the provision of electricity to rural areas and cottage industries in selected farming communities within 30 beneficiary Districts.
Mr. Martin added that the United States Agency for international development (USAID) has also agreed to address the unmet demand for quality teachers in MiDA – constructed schools. They have identified unqualified individuals to be trained by the international foundation for education and self- help (IFESH) to teach in MiDA Schools that are experiencing shortage of teachers. He further explained that the programme has already been launched in Amankwakrom in the Kwahu North District on the 16th day of July this year.
“I will like to reiterate the need to maintain these schools.” He added. He urged the district assembly, parent teacher associations and school management committees to undertake periodic and routine maintenance schemes to keep the buildings in good shape all the time.

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Biggest Promo Ever

VODAFONE, ONE of Ghana’s best telecommunication networks has launched the biggest promotion ever in the history of Ghana’s telecommunication industry.
Speaking to Business guide last Thursday, Amone Gbedemah the marketing manager of Vodafone admitted that “Vodafone”, is aimed at rewarding prepaid mobile and fixed line voice customers across the country and also to say a big thank you for the overwhelming patronage Vodafone has enjoyed since its launch in Ghana. She also added that retailers were not left out in the promotions, there is one ongoing called “Stock and win”.
The promotion started on 20th July and is due to end on 31st October this year. The promotion, she added, entails a furnished Trasacco Valley home with a 4x4 and a personal driver and other exciting prizes to be won including 3 Pajero 4x4 vehicles, 15 Yamaha motorcycles,60 two year scholarships, 30 Dell Laptops, 300 iPod shuffles, 1,500 mobile phones and loads of bonus talk time
She further explained that company did not want to impose the promotion on their customers so they allow customer to register anytime they want by dialing “1111” .To ensure that the fairness and integrity of the promotion is not compromised, Vodafone has contracted PriceWaterhouseCooper as the sole auditing company to authenticate all entries and the selection of winners.
She also urged all customers to register, top-up and keep their phones on since winners will be contacted on their phones.
Speaking to Business Guide, people chosen at random admitted that the other networks are also doing some promotions but “Vodafone Rewards” is the biggest promotion they have heard in Ghana with heard blowing prizes and as loyal customers of the network, they believe they can win if not the grand prize, the other prizes involved. Three out of the people whose names were not disclosed said they were happy such a promotion was running and it will attract more customers towards the company but it wasn’t enough to drift them from their old network Zain since Zain gives them back the total amount of credits they buy at the end of every month.
A retailer located just beside the Vodafone head office also added that since the launch of the promotion, the number of people who patronize the Vodafone scratch cards have really shot up, making his business very lucrative. Another retailer who deals only in the Vodafone phones also admitted that since the launch of the “Vodafone Reward” promotion, people have been rushing to her shop to purchase the Vodafone phones and that she had run out of the Vodafone music box.

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“Implement Youth Policy Now”

Mr. Dennis Ofosuapea, the President of the Federation of Youth Association of Ghana (FEDYAG) has called on the youth to support the implementation of the national youth policy programme.
This he noted will prevent young women and men from engulfing in brothels and hotels and sleeping in coffins in the name of “sakawa” respectively. Adding, the policy will serve as measuring tool to enable us monitor and evaluate the progress being made.
Mr. Ofosuapea made this known at the International Press Centre during a press conference last Tuesday.
A press statement issued by the federation indicated that, for about seventeen years now the country had been run without a youth policy on the premise that the policy had no action plan and also government is making the policy relevant to the young people of Ghana.
He also added that in July, 1999, the policy was launched and in July, 2001, they were told the policy could not be implemented because it was not dynamic enough and that there was no action plan therefore the policy had to be put on hold.
The president of FEDYAG however said that in December 2008, they were told the policy had received executive authority. “The young wings of all the political parties were in favour of the policy when it was launched” he stated. He concluded that the youth can hold able arms of government. “For the war to be won, the young men had to hold the able arms of Moses. I therefore call on all young people to stand up and fight for our future”.
George Appiah, a media practitioner from Vibe Fm asked if the government would be able to finance the policy in its current economic state if it is implemented. Mr. Ofosupea in his response state that money is not needed to do everything, the policy comes with codes in programme to be held every year. Another media practitioner from Ghanaian Times also advised the house to educate youth on the policy and its advantages and then they can talk of an action plan. He stated that the youth needed to set the trend themselves.

The president of FEDYAG, Mr. Ofosuapea in his closing remarks stated that the youth forms the largest labour force in the country. He asked the government to beat the drums,give them a sense of direction and they will dance to it.

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FDB raises fake drug alarm

By: Bismarck Nii Ogbamey Tetteh.
The Food and Drugs Board (FDB) is alerting the general public on the presence of fake Coartem tablet being distributed countrywide.
In a press statement issued by Dr. Stephen K. Opuni, Chief Executive of FDB, it indicated that after series of tests into the efficacy of the product by the Quality Control Laboratory, Coartem tablets turned out not to contain active ingredients as in the original drug. The active ingredients include Artemether and Lumefantrine.
The fake Coartem drug, which comes in a dummy-shape, has no positive bearing on patients due to the absence of effective anti-malaria components.
The release further emphasized that pharmacies, licensed chemical stores and healthcare facilities ought to dispose off all fake Coartem and its associated drugs from their shelves and dispensaries.
Also, it urged healthcare professionals to assist both patients and consumers to distinguish between the genuine Coartem from the counterfeited ones on the market.
The public, it added could visit the FDB website, www.fdbghana.gov.gh for pictorial presentations of the fake product and the genuine brand.
FDB however assured the public of its commitment to bring such perpetuators in the fake drug business to book.

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Journalists Must Be Interested In Economic Issues

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By Bismark Tetteh

The acting Director of the School of Communication Studies, University of Ghana, Dr. Audrey Gadzekpo, has tasked journalists to be interested in issues relating to the Global financial crises.
This, she said, will equip them on economic development strategies which will help solve the current economic problems.
Speaking at a four-day workshop on the theme: “The State of Business and Economic Reporting,” Dr. Gadzekpo revealed that a recent story she read on export market of pawpaw, quoted only the experts, forgetting completely the farmers who were affected, adding “people want to read and hear good and compelling stories on people’s plight, therefore journalists should humanize their stories for people to see and accept the stories. People are not reading business stories because they do not comprehend the stories.
She further warned journalists against the use of technical language.
Dr. Gadzekpo urged all Business Journalists to go beyond the normal reporting and do more investigations because it enriches their stories.
The workshop, held at the Fiesta Royale Hotel was organised by the Ghana Journalist Association (GJA) and sponsored by Unilever Ghana and the U.S Embassy

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