Saturday, February 14, 2009 (The Mirror Pg 46)
By Rebecca Kwei
Fashion designer, Michael Allan David of Allan David Collection has called on young designers to strive hard and come out with innovative designs since the fashion industry is constantly rediscovering itself and will, therefore, seek new talents.
Speaking to The Mirror in Accra after he had participated in Createurope: The Fashion Academy Award in Berlin, Germany, he said there was a lot of opportunities for people in the creative industries provided they remained innovative and not lose sight of their identity.
Createurope: The Fashion Academy Award which was initiated by Goethe-Institut served as a network for relevant academic and training centres and promote intercultural exchanges between young designers.
It was open for fashion design students and young fashion designers aged between 18 and 32 from all of Europe.
According to Allan David, although the competition was for European designers, Dr Ulrich Sacker of Createurope recognised that there was a lot of talent in Africa because he had seen the works of ace designers such as Kofi Ansah and Oswald Boateng and thus decided to invite other African designers to participate in the one week project.
The African designers came from Ghana, South Africa, Cote d’Ivoire, Sudan and Cameroon.
Allan David said although the Africans did not participate in the main competition, they exhibited their collections and also attended workshops on the new trends in the fashion industry.
He said the programme exposed him to other designs from Europe and also had the opportunity to share ideas with European designers and the need for networking.
He expressed appreciation to the Germany government, Goethe Institut and the German Embassy for their support.
He also participated in Afric Collection Fashion Parade which was held in Cameroon recently to showcase the best collection from the continent.
Presently, Allan David says he is preparing to participate in another fashion show for African designers slated for Kenya in April this year.
The challenge for him after participating in all these fashion shows, he said, was to strive hard and come out with better collections.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Trader 'abducts' student, 17
Saturday, February 7, 2009 (The Mirror Pg 27)
By Rebecca Kwei
NOT satisfied with the sexual intercourse he had with his victim, an accused person, Samson Kwakye, is said to have decided to lock up the victim in his room and abused her sexually several times.
The facts of the case, as presented by the prosecutor, ASP Lawrence Gbele, are that the complainant is a pensioner living at Dome Pillar Two with the victim, a 17-year-old final-year senior high school student.
During the Christmas holidays, the victim went home for a short period and was asked to go back to school on December 27, 2008.
While on her way, she met the accused, Samson, a trader who lives in the same vicinity, and a friend.
The accused asked the victim to buy him food, which she complied.
When she brought the food, Samson requested that she send it to his room, which she did.
The victim alleged that Samson then locked her up in the room, seized her phone and prevented her from receiving calls from anyone.
Later, the complainant had information from the victim’s school that she had not reported.
The complainant then called a cousin of the victim’s and informed him about what had happened.
The cousin began calling the cell phone and the accused picked the calls and warned the cousin not to call the victim again.
Samson also prevented the victim from going out and only allowed her to take her bath late in the night.
The witness managed to call the victim on her cell phone while the accused was away and she directed him to where the accused had locked her up and later she was rescued on January 20, 2009.
A complaint was lodged and the accused was arrested. During interrogations, he admitted the offence.
The accused was arraigned before the Accra Circuit Court where he pleaded not guilty to a charge of abduction.
He was granted bail in the sum of GH¢2,000 with one surety to be justified. He will reappear on February 11, 2009.
By Rebecca Kwei
NOT satisfied with the sexual intercourse he had with his victim, an accused person, Samson Kwakye, is said to have decided to lock up the victim in his room and abused her sexually several times.
The facts of the case, as presented by the prosecutor, ASP Lawrence Gbele, are that the complainant is a pensioner living at Dome Pillar Two with the victim, a 17-year-old final-year senior high school student.
During the Christmas holidays, the victim went home for a short period and was asked to go back to school on December 27, 2008.
While on her way, she met the accused, Samson, a trader who lives in the same vicinity, and a friend.
The accused asked the victim to buy him food, which she complied.
When she brought the food, Samson requested that she send it to his room, which she did.
The victim alleged that Samson then locked her up in the room, seized her phone and prevented her from receiving calls from anyone.
Later, the complainant had information from the victim’s school that she had not reported.
The complainant then called a cousin of the victim’s and informed him about what had happened.
The cousin began calling the cell phone and the accused picked the calls and warned the cousin not to call the victim again.
Samson also prevented the victim from going out and only allowed her to take her bath late in the night.
The witness managed to call the victim on her cell phone while the accused was away and she directed him to where the accused had locked her up and later she was rescued on January 20, 2009.
A complaint was lodged and the accused was arrested. During interrogations, he admitted the offence.
The accused was arraigned before the Accra Circuit Court where he pleaded not guilty to a charge of abduction.
He was granted bail in the sum of GH¢2,000 with one surety to be justified. He will reappear on February 11, 2009.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Increase in rape, defilement cases
Saturday, January 31, 2009 (The Mirror Pg 28)
By Rebecca Kwei
Statistics available at the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Greater Accra Region indicate that there was an increase in reported cases of defilement from 449 in 2007 to 552 in 2008.
Rape cases reported also showed an increase of 161 in 2008 as against 151 in 2007, while there were 59 cases of indecent assault in 2008 as compared to 52 in 2007.
In 2007 the number of reported cases of incest was four but increased to 15 in 2008. However, assault cases decreased from 2172 in 2007 to 2122 in 2002
Speaking to The Mirror on the possible reasons why defilement cases have increased, the Public Relations Officer of DOVVSU, Accra, Chief Inspector Irene Oppong, attributed it to lack of effective communication between parents and their children.
She explained that suspects had a way of luring their victims such as sending them and giving them money or gifts before they defile them.
Chief Inspector Oppong said in cases where children had already been defiled, because there was no communication, the victims were unable to tell their parents or guardians and they (parents/guardians) were also not able to detect the abuse early.
She encouraged parents to educate their children on sex and sexual abuse and what they should look out for in order to identify possible predators.
According to her, it was important for parents to be cautious of people who took care of their children because it was the same people who turned around to abuse children.
“About 90 per cent of child abusers are not strangers or aliens to the victim but people they know,” she stressed.
On assault, she noted that some traditional and cultural practices played a major part in why people saw nothing wrong with it.
For instance, when a parent assaults a child, he or she says “the child is my property and so I can do whatever I want”.
She said most parents saw assault or abuse as a way of correcting their children.
With married couples, she said most people believed a man must ‘discipline’ his spouse when she went wrong hence most men did not see anything wrong with assaulting their spouse.
Chief Inspector Oppong said more people were reporting cases of domestic violence because of DOVVSU’s outreach programmes, which had educated them to know that domestic violence was a crime.
She advised couples to use dialogue in resolving issues rather than resorting to violence, adding that they may also contact DOVVSU, which would take them through their marriage crisis management programme, where they use mediation and counselling sessions to mend broken families.
Statistics of other cases reported at the unit are: Abduction 146 in 2008 as compared to 123 in 2007; child labour three in 2008 and 2007; child trafficking 10 and one in 2008 and 2007 respectively.
There were also 19 reported cases of criminal abortion in 2008 and 24 in 2007; exposing child to harm, 87 in 2008 and 123 in 2007. For compulsion of marriage two cases were reported in 2007 and three in 2008. Under the section of failing to supply basic necessities of health and life, 111 were reported in 2008 as compared to 116 in 2007.
By Rebecca Kwei
Statistics available at the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Greater Accra Region indicate that there was an increase in reported cases of defilement from 449 in 2007 to 552 in 2008.
Rape cases reported also showed an increase of 161 in 2008 as against 151 in 2007, while there were 59 cases of indecent assault in 2008 as compared to 52 in 2007.
In 2007 the number of reported cases of incest was four but increased to 15 in 2008. However, assault cases decreased from 2172 in 2007 to 2122 in 2002
Speaking to The Mirror on the possible reasons why defilement cases have increased, the Public Relations Officer of DOVVSU, Accra, Chief Inspector Irene Oppong, attributed it to lack of effective communication between parents and their children.
She explained that suspects had a way of luring their victims such as sending them and giving them money or gifts before they defile them.
Chief Inspector Oppong said in cases where children had already been defiled, because there was no communication, the victims were unable to tell their parents or guardians and they (parents/guardians) were also not able to detect the abuse early.
She encouraged parents to educate their children on sex and sexual abuse and what they should look out for in order to identify possible predators.
According to her, it was important for parents to be cautious of people who took care of their children because it was the same people who turned around to abuse children.
“About 90 per cent of child abusers are not strangers or aliens to the victim but people they know,” she stressed.
On assault, she noted that some traditional and cultural practices played a major part in why people saw nothing wrong with it.
For instance, when a parent assaults a child, he or she says “the child is my property and so I can do whatever I want”.
She said most parents saw assault or abuse as a way of correcting their children.
With married couples, she said most people believed a man must ‘discipline’ his spouse when she went wrong hence most men did not see anything wrong with assaulting their spouse.
Chief Inspector Oppong said more people were reporting cases of domestic violence because of DOVVSU’s outreach programmes, which had educated them to know that domestic violence was a crime.
She advised couples to use dialogue in resolving issues rather than resorting to violence, adding that they may also contact DOVVSU, which would take them through their marriage crisis management programme, where they use mediation and counselling sessions to mend broken families.
Statistics of other cases reported at the unit are: Abduction 146 in 2008 as compared to 123 in 2007; child labour three in 2008 and 2007; child trafficking 10 and one in 2008 and 2007 respectively.
There were also 19 reported cases of criminal abortion in 2008 and 24 in 2007; exposing child to harm, 87 in 2008 and 123 in 2007. For compulsion of marriage two cases were reported in 2007 and three in 2008. Under the section of failing to supply basic necessities of health and life, 111 were reported in 2008 as compared to 116 in 2007.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Review NHIS for sustainability
Saturday, January 24, 2009 (The Mirror Pg 26)
By Rebecca Kwei
THE Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH) has called on the government to review the operations of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to ensure its sustainability.
It noted that reimbursement to pharmacies and other providers was unduly delayed under the scheme, causing several providers to refuse to attend to patients.
In certain cases, pharmacies refused to supply expensive medicines because they did not want their capital to be locked up, it added.
Speaking to The Mirror, the President of the PSGH, Dr Alex Dodoo, said the society was also unhappy that doctors were allowed to prescribe and also dispense medicines to patients in several facilities under the NHIS.
That, he said, was against best practices and led to abuse and excessive prescribing which could make the scheme go bankrupt.
He said it had been shown in countries such as the US and the UK that if doctors did not have a commercial interest in the medicines being prescribed, patients were conservatively managed with fewer medicines and greater benefits to the scheme.
He called also for a re-examination of the drugs that could be dispensed under the NHIS, since patients were complaining that they had to buy expensive medicines themselves.
Dr Dodoo called for a standardised prescription form with security features to be used under the NHIS to prevent fraud.
He said the PSGH believed that the NHIS was a good health initiative which required constant review to ensure its sustainability.
He said he saw pharmacies playing a leading role as the main dispensers of all medicines under the scheme.
“Pharmacists can also act as ‘gatekeepers’ to the scheme, ensuring that only valid prescriptions are served. Members of the PSGH can also give information and advice to patients on how to manage common ailments, thereby reducing attendance at hospitals and cost to the scheme,” he added.
By Rebecca Kwei
THE Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH) has called on the government to review the operations of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to ensure its sustainability.
It noted that reimbursement to pharmacies and other providers was unduly delayed under the scheme, causing several providers to refuse to attend to patients.
In certain cases, pharmacies refused to supply expensive medicines because they did not want their capital to be locked up, it added.
Speaking to The Mirror, the President of the PSGH, Dr Alex Dodoo, said the society was also unhappy that doctors were allowed to prescribe and also dispense medicines to patients in several facilities under the NHIS.
That, he said, was against best practices and led to abuse and excessive prescribing which could make the scheme go bankrupt.
He said it had been shown in countries such as the US and the UK that if doctors did not have a commercial interest in the medicines being prescribed, patients were conservatively managed with fewer medicines and greater benefits to the scheme.
He called also for a re-examination of the drugs that could be dispensed under the NHIS, since patients were complaining that they had to buy expensive medicines themselves.
Dr Dodoo called for a standardised prescription form with security features to be used under the NHIS to prevent fraud.
He said the PSGH believed that the NHIS was a good health initiative which required constant review to ensure its sustainability.
He said he saw pharmacies playing a leading role as the main dispensers of all medicines under the scheme.
“Pharmacists can also act as ‘gatekeepers’ to the scheme, ensuring that only valid prescriptions are served. Members of the PSGH can also give information and advice to patients on how to manage common ailments, thereby reducing attendance at hospitals and cost to the scheme,” he added.
Govt must address women's concerns
Saturday, January 17, 2009 (The Mirror Pg 42)
By Rebecca Kwei
The Women’s Coalition Manifesto, has called on the government to commit itself to addressing the demands made in the “Women’s Manifesto for Ghana”.
The “Women’s Manifesto for Ghana”, is a political document that outlines key issues of concern to women and makes demands for addressing them.
It also provides a platform of a common set of demands for the achievement of gender equality and equity and sustainable national development.
It was initiated in 2004 by ABANTU, for Development in consultation with women’s groups, NGOs and other civil society organisations from across the country.
The demands are centred around 10 critical areas of concern to promote women’s rights.
These are women’s economic empowerment, women and land, women, social policy and social development, women in politics, decision-making and public life; and women, human rights and the law.
The rest are discriminatory cultural practices, women and media, women, conflict and peace, women with special needs and institutions with a mandate to promote women’s right.
For instance, under the women’s economic empowerment, the manifesto among others, demands that government undertakes a fundamental review of economic policies to promote the well-being and security of women and men and ensure a reversal of past economic policy failures; that the government take steps to reverse economic policies which discriminate against women and ensure their active involvement in economic decision-making at all levels.
The section on women in politics and decision-making, the manifesto demands that all arms of government and political parties take action to promote the transformation of the political culture to make it more transparent, accountable and sensitive to the needs and concerns of women; that government ensures that by 2008, 50 per cent of appointees to district assemblies and to the offices of district chief executives and district coordinating director are women; that by the year 2008 at least 50 per cent of appointees to public offices, such as boards of corporations and institutions and the higher echelons of the bureaucracies are women.
In this regard, the coalition congratulated Rt Hon. Mrs Joyce Adeline Bamford- Addo on her appointment as the Speaker of the fifth parliament of the fourth republic.
It said it believes Mrs Bamford-Addo’s appointment was an attempt to fulfil one of the demands made in the manifesto.
By Rebecca Kwei
The Women’s Coalition Manifesto, has called on the government to commit itself to addressing the demands made in the “Women’s Manifesto for Ghana”.
The “Women’s Manifesto for Ghana”, is a political document that outlines key issues of concern to women and makes demands for addressing them.
It also provides a platform of a common set of demands for the achievement of gender equality and equity and sustainable national development.
It was initiated in 2004 by ABANTU, for Development in consultation with women’s groups, NGOs and other civil society organisations from across the country.
The demands are centred around 10 critical areas of concern to promote women’s rights.
These are women’s economic empowerment, women and land, women, social policy and social development, women in politics, decision-making and public life; and women, human rights and the law.
The rest are discriminatory cultural practices, women and media, women, conflict and peace, women with special needs and institutions with a mandate to promote women’s right.
For instance, under the women’s economic empowerment, the manifesto among others, demands that government undertakes a fundamental review of economic policies to promote the well-being and security of women and men and ensure a reversal of past economic policy failures; that the government take steps to reverse economic policies which discriminate against women and ensure their active involvement in economic decision-making at all levels.
The section on women in politics and decision-making, the manifesto demands that all arms of government and political parties take action to promote the transformation of the political culture to make it more transparent, accountable and sensitive to the needs and concerns of women; that government ensures that by 2008, 50 per cent of appointees to district assemblies and to the offices of district chief executives and district coordinating director are women; that by the year 2008 at least 50 per cent of appointees to public offices, such as boards of corporations and institutions and the higher echelons of the bureaucracies are women.
In this regard, the coalition congratulated Rt Hon. Mrs Joyce Adeline Bamford- Addo on her appointment as the Speaker of the fifth parliament of the fourth republic.
It said it believes Mrs Bamford-Addo’s appointment was an attempt to fulfil one of the demands made in the manifesto.
Monday, January 12, 2009
President Mills — Moving Ghana forward
Saturday, January 10, 2009 (The Mirror Pg 3)
By Rebecca Kwei
ON a bright Wednesday (January 7) morning at the Independence Square in Accra, thousands of Ghanaians waited anxiously for the swearing-in ceremony of President-elect Professor John Evans Atta Mills.
Although the programme had been slated for 11 a.m. many Ghanaians had thronged the Independence Square as early as 2am perhaps to get a good place to sit and watch proceedings.
However, the enthusiastic crowd had to wait patiently as Heads of State, other dignitaries, and special guests filed in one after the other from 12 noon.
Then at 2.35pm Professor John Evans Atta Mills was sworn in as the new President of Ghana.
Dressed in rich Kente, the President took the oath of allegiance in front of thousands of Ghanaians. It was administered by the Chief Justice, Georgina Theodora Wood.
After signing the parliamentary album, Prof. Mills raised the State Sword to symbolise his authority as President, amid cheers from the enthusiastic crowd.
Speaking shortly after he had been sworn in, Prof. Mills said it was a new dawn of a new era of change for a better Ghana.
He said it was not a change for the sake of change but “change in the right direction to move the nation forward”.
Prof. Mills said his administration would pursue a consensus-driven agenda and that he would be a President for all Ghanaians irrespective of political persuasion and which part of the country one came from.
“I will heal wounds and strive to ensure unity of the country,” he said. Touching on security, he said improvement in internal security would be top priority and that no Ghanaian should live in fear of armed robbery.
He assured Ghanaians that his administration would not pursue politics of power and privilege but would ensure that they listen to people and address the concerns of the people.
He said he would immediately hit the road running and that there would be no time for witch-hunting and vendetta.
In the same vein, he said his administration would work on the principles of accountability and justice would be administered irrespective of one’s status.
He reiterated that the elections were over and there was no NDC Ghana or NPP Ghana adding that “we are one people with one destiny”.
He said the NDC was voted into power on four pillars of wealth creation, investing in people, improvement in infrastructure and an open and honest government, on which the success or failure of his government should be measured.
On the business front, he assured the business community that he would resuscitate local industries to go hand in hand with foreign ones and that local industries would not suffer unfair advantage to cheap foreign imports.
With his right hand raised, he said, “Let’s respond to the call to help put Ghana on her feet. With the help of the Almighty we shall succeed. There is nothing we can’t do if we are united.”
By Rebecca Kwei
ON a bright Wednesday (January 7) morning at the Independence Square in Accra, thousands of Ghanaians waited anxiously for the swearing-in ceremony of President-elect Professor John Evans Atta Mills.
Although the programme had been slated for 11 a.m. many Ghanaians had thronged the Independence Square as early as 2am perhaps to get a good place to sit and watch proceedings.
However, the enthusiastic crowd had to wait patiently as Heads of State, other dignitaries, and special guests filed in one after the other from 12 noon.
Then at 2.35pm Professor John Evans Atta Mills was sworn in as the new President of Ghana.
Dressed in rich Kente, the President took the oath of allegiance in front of thousands of Ghanaians. It was administered by the Chief Justice, Georgina Theodora Wood.
After signing the parliamentary album, Prof. Mills raised the State Sword to symbolise his authority as President, amid cheers from the enthusiastic crowd.
Speaking shortly after he had been sworn in, Prof. Mills said it was a new dawn of a new era of change for a better Ghana.
He said it was not a change for the sake of change but “change in the right direction to move the nation forward”.
Prof. Mills said his administration would pursue a consensus-driven agenda and that he would be a President for all Ghanaians irrespective of political persuasion and which part of the country one came from.
“I will heal wounds and strive to ensure unity of the country,” he said. Touching on security, he said improvement in internal security would be top priority and that no Ghanaian should live in fear of armed robbery.
He assured Ghanaians that his administration would not pursue politics of power and privilege but would ensure that they listen to people and address the concerns of the people.
He said he would immediately hit the road running and that there would be no time for witch-hunting and vendetta.
In the same vein, he said his administration would work on the principles of accountability and justice would be administered irrespective of one’s status.
He reiterated that the elections were over and there was no NDC Ghana or NPP Ghana adding that “we are one people with one destiny”.
He said the NDC was voted into power on four pillars of wealth creation, investing in people, improvement in infrastructure and an open and honest government, on which the success or failure of his government should be measured.
On the business front, he assured the business community that he would resuscitate local industries to go hand in hand with foreign ones and that local industries would not suffer unfair advantage to cheap foreign imports.
With his right hand raised, he said, “Let’s respond to the call to help put Ghana on her feet. With the help of the Almighty we shall succeed. There is nothing we can’t do if we are united.”
Monday, January 5, 2009
Miss Malaika spreads Christmas joy
Saturday, January 3, 2009 (The Mirror Pg 39)
By Rebecca Kwei
In the spirit of the Christmas season, Miss Malaika 2008, Tamara Dzormeku, visited the New Horizon Special School in Accra to share the season’s good tidings with the students on Boxing Day, December 26.
The school caters for children and adults who are intellectually disabled.
According to Tamara, she thought it wise to begin her Miss Malaika task by giving students of the school a special treat to let them know “they are loved and appreciated in society”.
She said “I believe the x-factor needed to partake in a beauty contest is to have the virtue of being passionate about the vulnerable in society.
During the party some of the students engaged in activities such as dancing competition, musical chairs and a question and answer session on malaria.
Those who performed well were given prizes ranging from footballs, pens from the sponsors: Vimto, ATL, Ezal Trading Company and FAACO.
Tamara expressed gratitude to all the sponsors, especially her mother, Miss Stella Beatrice Cochrane, formerly of SSNIT Investment Department, who was the main sponsor for the party.
She advised the students to smile always and be happy no matter the situation they found themselves in.
She said she loved watching the students playing and interacting happily, adding that “I learnt not to sympathise with them but rather encourage them in life”.
Officials of the school used the opportunity to invite individuals and organisations to visit the school since people who come around to show love and care always make the students happy.
By Rebecca Kwei
In the spirit of the Christmas season, Miss Malaika 2008, Tamara Dzormeku, visited the New Horizon Special School in Accra to share the season’s good tidings with the students on Boxing Day, December 26.
The school caters for children and adults who are intellectually disabled.
According to Tamara, she thought it wise to begin her Miss Malaika task by giving students of the school a special treat to let them know “they are loved and appreciated in society”.
She said “I believe the x-factor needed to partake in a beauty contest is to have the virtue of being passionate about the vulnerable in society.
During the party some of the students engaged in activities such as dancing competition, musical chairs and a question and answer session on malaria.
Those who performed well were given prizes ranging from footballs, pens from the sponsors: Vimto, ATL, Ezal Trading Company and FAACO.
Tamara expressed gratitude to all the sponsors, especially her mother, Miss Stella Beatrice Cochrane, formerly of SSNIT Investment Department, who was the main sponsor for the party.
She advised the students to smile always and be happy no matter the situation they found themselves in.
She said she loved watching the students playing and interacting happily, adding that “I learnt not to sympathise with them but rather encourage them in life”.
Officials of the school used the opportunity to invite individuals and organisations to visit the school since people who come around to show love and care always make the students happy.
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