THE Food and Drugs Board (FDB) has destroyed quantities of a fake washing powder called ‘So Klin’ valued at GH¢31,000.
The 1,553 cartons of the fake product imported into the country from China were seized from the Ashaiman, Swedru and Koforidua markets after two months of post-market surveillance swoops in the towns.
The products, believed to have been imported into the country with the help of some customs officials, according to the FDB, contains high acidity levels of about 12.2, that is superior to the 3-12 acidity range in the original product being distributed by Hush Enterprise, sole importers of the product in the country.
Briefing the Daily Graphic at the Kpone landfill site where the product was destroyed, the Head of Public Relations at the FDB, Mr James Lartey, indicated that chemicals used in the manufacture of the fake washing powder posed a risk to users and could cause the skin to peel off with vast irritation occurring.
He said various challenges at the country’s entry points, where some officials of stakeholder agencies colluded with people by employing unscrupulous means to outsmart the original owners of trademarks, was impeding the FDB’s operations.
While sending signals to the general public that the board would not falter in prosecuting persons flouting the FDB Law, PNDC L 3058 on the importation of and distribution of registered trademarks of its clients, Mr Lartey appealed to stakeholder agencies, such as the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service, Immigration and Port authorities to fully collaborate with the FDB in ensuring that food and other imports into the country were safe for the public.
The General Manager of Hush Enterprise, Mr Yaw Kyei, said his outfit, with the help of the police, had launched investigations and would bring to book persons suspected to be associated with the fake imports of the washing powder.
He appealed to wholesalers and retailers of the product and the public to always ensure that purchases of the product were made from accredited sale vans that were regularly manned in communities and market centres.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
GUNMEN RAID CHURCH ...One shot dead...Pastor injured (LEAD STORY, AUGUST 27, 2010)
Story: Della Russel Ocloo in Tema, Michael Donkor in Accra
A spectacle of blood, death and injuries marred an evening of prayers at the Tema Community 8 branch of the Lighthouse Chapel International on Wednesday night, when five suspected armed robbers disguised themselves as worshippers to execute a murderous plan.
Moments after the service had ended, the gunmen exploded in a hail of gunfire, targeting members of the congregation who had moved to their vehicles, as well as a small group then meeting over the evening’s offertory.
In the process, the officiating pastor, Stephen Kwesi Baidoo, was critically injured in the left rib and his fingers while one of the gunmen was killed on the spot and another injured from bullets fired by members of a patrol team which responded swiftly to a distress call from a church member.
Doctors at the 37 Military Hospital confirmed that 13 pellets have been removed from the body of Pastor Baidoo and still working to remove about 22 more still lodging in him.
From his hospital bed at the hospital, Pastor Baidoo yesterday narrated his ordeal to the Daily Graphic, confirming that the incident occurred at about 10.p.m. on Wednesday after the church had closed from its evening service and four of the pastors, including himself, were about to move their cars at the car park of the church.
He said as soon as he sat in his car he saw a group of young men with guns and other offensive weapons attacking two of the female pastors who were about to sit in their cars.
Pastor Baidoo said sensing danger he immediately called the police patrol team and then got down from his car to rescue the lady pastors.
He said the gang immediately opened fire on him which sent him to the ground.
Pastor Baidoo said it was at that moment that the police patrol team got to the scene and began firing back at the gang while he was rushed to hospital.
Another pastor, who doubled as the spokesperson for the church, Emmanuel Mefful, said one of the lady pastors whose car keys the armed robbers demanded sustained bruises on her body because she was dragged on the ground.
He said a search on the deceased robber revealed a locally manufactured pistol, five live cartridges including a used one and a roll of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp.
A tour of the scene by the Daily Graphic at about 7:30a.m. yesterday revealed widespread blood stains at the forecourt of the church while residents converged in groups discussing the occurrence.
The Tema Regional Police Commander, ACP Augustine Gyening, also told the Graphic that the robbers attacked the worshippers, some of whom had convened for a short meeting after the service at about 10p.m., and also shot Pastor Baidoo.
“The deceased robber engaged a police patrol team which was called to the scene for assistance in a gun battle leading to his death.”
ACP Gyening said a thorough investigation was being conducted into the incident and appealed to residents, as well as eyewitnesses, to volunteer information that could lead to the arrest of the accomplices of the deceased robber.
A spectacle of blood, death and injuries marred an evening of prayers at the Tema Community 8 branch of the Lighthouse Chapel International on Wednesday night, when five suspected armed robbers disguised themselves as worshippers to execute a murderous plan.
Moments after the service had ended, the gunmen exploded in a hail of gunfire, targeting members of the congregation who had moved to their vehicles, as well as a small group then meeting over the evening’s offertory.
In the process, the officiating pastor, Stephen Kwesi Baidoo, was critically injured in the left rib and his fingers while one of the gunmen was killed on the spot and another injured from bullets fired by members of a patrol team which responded swiftly to a distress call from a church member.
Doctors at the 37 Military Hospital confirmed that 13 pellets have been removed from the body of Pastor Baidoo and still working to remove about 22 more still lodging in him.
From his hospital bed at the hospital, Pastor Baidoo yesterday narrated his ordeal to the Daily Graphic, confirming that the incident occurred at about 10.p.m. on Wednesday after the church had closed from its evening service and four of the pastors, including himself, were about to move their cars at the car park of the church.
He said as soon as he sat in his car he saw a group of young men with guns and other offensive weapons attacking two of the female pastors who were about to sit in their cars.
Pastor Baidoo said sensing danger he immediately called the police patrol team and then got down from his car to rescue the lady pastors.
He said the gang immediately opened fire on him which sent him to the ground.
Pastor Baidoo said it was at that moment that the police patrol team got to the scene and began firing back at the gang while he was rushed to hospital.
Another pastor, who doubled as the spokesperson for the church, Emmanuel Mefful, said one of the lady pastors whose car keys the armed robbers demanded sustained bruises on her body because she was dragged on the ground.
He said a search on the deceased robber revealed a locally manufactured pistol, five live cartridges including a used one and a roll of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp.
A tour of the scene by the Daily Graphic at about 7:30a.m. yesterday revealed widespread blood stains at the forecourt of the church while residents converged in groups discussing the occurrence.
The Tema Regional Police Commander, ACP Augustine Gyening, also told the Graphic that the robbers attacked the worshippers, some of whom had convened for a short meeting after the service at about 10p.m., and also shot Pastor Baidoo.
“The deceased robber engaged a police patrol team which was called to the scene for assistance in a gun battle leading to his death.”
ACP Gyening said a thorough investigation was being conducted into the incident and appealed to residents, as well as eyewitnesses, to volunteer information that could lead to the arrest of the accomplices of the deceased robber.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
FOUR KILLED IN EXPLOSION (BACK PAGE, AUGUST 25, 2010)
FOUR persons lost their lives while 70 others got injured when an oil tanker, ‘MT 7 Seas,’ from which they were siphoning fuel, exploded at the Tema Newtown beach.
One of the deceased, identified as Mensah Ozigi, 27, was among a group of over 200 youths from the Manhean community who went and vandalised the vessel belonging to Sugian Senkuo Industrial Ghana limited.
Three persons, Gilbert Kpodivia, an employee of the Ghana Ports and Habours Authority, Seth ‘Abisma’ Amegashie, unemployed, and Emmanuel Boye Abbey, are being held by the Tema Police to assist in investigations. Kpodovia, according to police sources, was said to have confessed organising the youth involved in the raid.
A resident, Mr Nani Ahovi, told this reporter that the incident, which occurred at 7 p.m. on August 14, 2010, saw the entire community in turmoil as residents close to the seaside where the vessel was abandoned fled in various directions in an attempt to save their lives.
The acting Public Relations Manager of the Tema Port, Ms Serwa Owusu Acheampong, told the Daily Graphic that the dumping of the vessel at the beach by the GPHA was to avoid it sinking into the navigational areas of the port after it was involved in an accident with a cargo vessel on August 13, this year.
She stated that the vessel, which was said to have originated from Phnom Penn, Cambodia, was believed to have been on anchorage since November 15, 2008 with a gross tonnage of 2993 and had been poorly manned without any form of lighting thereby posing danger to other users of the port.
“Therefore, when the GPHA was informed about the incident and the subsequent inflow of water into the facility, officials moved in as a matter of urgency to tow it away to avert further inconvenience it may have created for both outgoing and incoming vessels,” Ms Owusu Acheampong noted.
The Tema Regional Police Commander, ACP Augustine Gyening, briefing the Daily Graphic on the incident, said the police were yet to retrieve the bodies of the deceased which were reported to have been burnt.
He said the three suspects who were currently in police custody would be put before court immediately investigations were over.
One of the deceased, identified as Mensah Ozigi, 27, was among a group of over 200 youths from the Manhean community who went and vandalised the vessel belonging to Sugian Senkuo Industrial Ghana limited.
Three persons, Gilbert Kpodivia, an employee of the Ghana Ports and Habours Authority, Seth ‘Abisma’ Amegashie, unemployed, and Emmanuel Boye Abbey, are being held by the Tema Police to assist in investigations. Kpodovia, according to police sources, was said to have confessed organising the youth involved in the raid.
A resident, Mr Nani Ahovi, told this reporter that the incident, which occurred at 7 p.m. on August 14, 2010, saw the entire community in turmoil as residents close to the seaside where the vessel was abandoned fled in various directions in an attempt to save their lives.
The acting Public Relations Manager of the Tema Port, Ms Serwa Owusu Acheampong, told the Daily Graphic that the dumping of the vessel at the beach by the GPHA was to avoid it sinking into the navigational areas of the port after it was involved in an accident with a cargo vessel on August 13, this year.
She stated that the vessel, which was said to have originated from Phnom Penn, Cambodia, was believed to have been on anchorage since November 15, 2008 with a gross tonnage of 2993 and had been poorly manned without any form of lighting thereby posing danger to other users of the port.
“Therefore, when the GPHA was informed about the incident and the subsequent inflow of water into the facility, officials moved in as a matter of urgency to tow it away to avert further inconvenience it may have created for both outgoing and incoming vessels,” Ms Owusu Acheampong noted.
The Tema Regional Police Commander, ACP Augustine Gyening, briefing the Daily Graphic on the incident, said the police were yet to retrieve the bodies of the deceased which were reported to have been burnt.
He said the three suspects who were currently in police custody would be put before court immediately investigations were over.
FOUR KILLED IN EXPLOSION (BACK PAGE, AUGUST 25, 2010)
FOUR persons lost their lives while 70 others got injured when an oil tanker, ‘MT 7 Seas,’ from which they were siphoning fuel, exploded at the Tema Newtown beach.
One of the deceased, identified as Mensah Ozigi, 27, was among a group of over 200 youths from the Manhean community who went and vandalised the vessel belonging to Sugian Senkuo Industrial Ghana limited.
Three persons, Gilbert Kpodivia, an employee of the Ghana Ports and Habours Authority, Seth ‘Abisma’ Amegashie, unemployed, and Emmanuel Boye Abbey, are being held by the Tema Police to assist in investigations. Kpodovia, according to police sources, was said to have confessed organising the youth involved in the raid.
A resident, Mr Nani Ahovi, told this reporter that the incident, which occurred at 7 p.m. on August 14, 2010, saw the entire community in turmoil as residents close to the seaside where the vessel was abandoned fled in various directions in an attempt to save their lives.
The acting Public Relations Manager of the Tema Port, Ms Serwa Owusu Acheampong, told the Daily Graphic that the dumping of the vessel at the beach by the GPHA was to avoid it sinking into the navigational areas of the port after it was involved in an accident with a cargo vessel on August 13, this year.
She stated that the vessel, which was said to have originated from Phnom Penn, Cambodia, was believed to have been on anchorage since November 15, 2008 with a gross tonnage of 2993 and had been poorly manned without any form of lighting thereby posing danger to other users of the port.
“Therefore, when the GPHA was informed about the incident and the subsequent inflow of water into the facility, officials moved in as a matter of urgency to tow it away to avert further inconvenience it may have created for both outgoing and incoming vessels,” Ms Owusu Acheampong noted.
The Tema Regional Police Commander, ACP Augustine Gyening, briefing the Daily Graphic on the incident, said the police were yet to retrieve the bodies of the deceased which were reported to have been burnt.
He said the three suspects who were currently in police custody would be put before court immediately investigations were over.
One of the deceased, identified as Mensah Ozigi, 27, was among a group of over 200 youths from the Manhean community who went and vandalised the vessel belonging to Sugian Senkuo Industrial Ghana limited.
Three persons, Gilbert Kpodivia, an employee of the Ghana Ports and Habours Authority, Seth ‘Abisma’ Amegashie, unemployed, and Emmanuel Boye Abbey, are being held by the Tema Police to assist in investigations. Kpodovia, according to police sources, was said to have confessed organising the youth involved in the raid.
A resident, Mr Nani Ahovi, told this reporter that the incident, which occurred at 7 p.m. on August 14, 2010, saw the entire community in turmoil as residents close to the seaside where the vessel was abandoned fled in various directions in an attempt to save their lives.
The acting Public Relations Manager of the Tema Port, Ms Serwa Owusu Acheampong, told the Daily Graphic that the dumping of the vessel at the beach by the GPHA was to avoid it sinking into the navigational areas of the port after it was involved in an accident with a cargo vessel on August 13, this year.
She stated that the vessel, which was said to have originated from Phnom Penn, Cambodia, was believed to have been on anchorage since November 15, 2008 with a gross tonnage of 2993 and had been poorly manned without any form of lighting thereby posing danger to other users of the port.
“Therefore, when the GPHA was informed about the incident and the subsequent inflow of water into the facility, officials moved in as a matter of urgency to tow it away to avert further inconvenience it may have created for both outgoing and incoming vessels,” Ms Owusu Acheampong noted.
The Tema Regional Police Commander, ACP Augustine Gyening, briefing the Daily Graphic on the incident, said the police were yet to retrieve the bodies of the deceased which were reported to have been burnt.
He said the three suspects who were currently in police custody would be put before court immediately investigations were over.
COCOA PROCESSING COMPANY SHUTS DOWN (PAGE 23, AUGUST 26, 2010)
THE Confectionery Factory of the Cocoa Processing Company Limited (CPC) which has been shut down since May this year for rehabilitation and expansion works, is expected to re-open by October.
The factory, which produces the golden tree chocolate among other products, is being rehabilitated to meet modern trends in food processing operations.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic on the backdrop of the shortage of golden tree chocolate on the market, the Public Relations Manager of the company, Mr Ekow Rhule, said the decision to close down the confectionery unit was arrived at in March this year at the company’s annual general meeting.
According to him, since its establishment in 1965, the factory had not seen any major rehabilitation works resulting in inefficiency in production owing to the frequent breakdown of machinery.
Mr Rhule said the new equipment would also produce the five and 10 grammes chocolate bars in addition to the 20, 50 and 100 grammes, which the company currently produces.
He said the rehabilitation, which was being carried out at a cost of $5 million, would see the installation of new machinery, upgrading of old equipment as well as general civil works, including the laying of epoxy floory, which he said, was required in chocolate production the world over.
A tour of the factory premises by the Daily Graphic team revealed various construction works, including tiling of walls.
Mr Rhule stated that when the rehabilitation work was completed, the unit is expected to record an annual production stock of the golden tree bars from 900 to 1400 tonnes between the 2010/11, thereby increasing production to about 64 per cent over the existing capacity.
He also stated that the shutdown of the confectionery plant does not affect the production of royale drinking chocolate powder and choco delight spread.
Mr Rhule blamed the shortage of the golden tree bars on panic buying on the part of most retailers who might have presumed the situation and therefore decided to hoard stocks at the time of the closure, because according to him, management at the time of the shutdown ensured adequate supply into the system to avoid the current situation and appealed to retailers holding products to make them available to consumers who have been yearning for them for the past months.
While sympathising with customers on the current shortage of the bars in the system, Mr Rhule appealed to the general public to bear with the company as they made strides towards an improvement in product quality.
The factory, which produces the golden tree chocolate among other products, is being rehabilitated to meet modern trends in food processing operations.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic on the backdrop of the shortage of golden tree chocolate on the market, the Public Relations Manager of the company, Mr Ekow Rhule, said the decision to close down the confectionery unit was arrived at in March this year at the company’s annual general meeting.
According to him, since its establishment in 1965, the factory had not seen any major rehabilitation works resulting in inefficiency in production owing to the frequent breakdown of machinery.
Mr Rhule said the new equipment would also produce the five and 10 grammes chocolate bars in addition to the 20, 50 and 100 grammes, which the company currently produces.
He said the rehabilitation, which was being carried out at a cost of $5 million, would see the installation of new machinery, upgrading of old equipment as well as general civil works, including the laying of epoxy floory, which he said, was required in chocolate production the world over.
A tour of the factory premises by the Daily Graphic team revealed various construction works, including tiling of walls.
Mr Rhule stated that when the rehabilitation work was completed, the unit is expected to record an annual production stock of the golden tree bars from 900 to 1400 tonnes between the 2010/11, thereby increasing production to about 64 per cent over the existing capacity.
He also stated that the shutdown of the confectionery plant does not affect the production of royale drinking chocolate powder and choco delight spread.
Mr Rhule blamed the shortage of the golden tree bars on panic buying on the part of most retailers who might have presumed the situation and therefore decided to hoard stocks at the time of the closure, because according to him, management at the time of the shutdown ensured adequate supply into the system to avoid the current situation and appealed to retailers holding products to make them available to consumers who have been yearning for them for the past months.
While sympathising with customers on the current shortage of the bars in the system, Mr Rhule appealed to the general public to bear with the company as they made strides towards an improvement in product quality.
Friday, August 20, 2010
POLICE SWOOP ON SUSPECTED CRIMINALS (MIRROR, PAGE 21, AUGUST 21, 2010)
From Della Russel Ocloo, Tema
THE Tema Police have arrested 11 suspected criminals in separate operations carried out in the metropolis.
Five of the suspects, John Ampabilla, 30; Abibu Ibrahim, 24; Yaw Eric, 26; Kubetesu Martin, 22 and Afua Benewah, 21, were arrested at about 1:45a.m. on Tuesday morning on the premises of the Continental Trading Limited, a subsidiary of the Finatrade Group. They had in their possession 17 bags of sugar, each weighing 50 kilograms. The driver of a KIA truck which was being used to cart the cargo and another accomplice, however, managed to escape.
Also arrested was Mohammed Siedu, an assailant, who bolted away with gunshot wounds after a July 14 shoot-out with the police on the Accra-Tema Motorway. Three persons, Munkaila Yahaya, Issifu Musah and Charles Dikro, who were treating the wounds on the suspect at Ashaiman Zongo have also been arrested to assist the police in investigations.
Two other suspects of Nigerian nationality, Maxwell King Chizoguzi, 30 and Onuha Otisi, 35, who were arrested at Lashibi, a suburb of Tema, had in their possession two laptop computers on which several letter heads belonging to different government institutions were found.
The over 20 letter heads with accompanying documents found in their custody included those of the Republic of Ghana Company Registration Act, Bank of Ghana Treasury Department and unit letter heads, Ministry of Mines, Ministry of Finance payment schedule, MOFEP monitoring unit and cash movement authorisation certificate.
Others included VAT Service Certificate of Exemption, Internal Revenue Service, Parliamentary identity cards, National Security monitoring unit, a letter purported to have been signed by the Finance Minister, Dr Kwabena Duffour, to the Controller and Accountant General, among others. Also found in their possession was an Office of the President letter head.
Briefing The Mirror, the Tema Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Augustine Gyening, said his outfit had a complaint from Vodafone Ghana Limited of the activities of the two Nigerians who were running a false promotion using a telephone number 0303- 403189 belonging to the network.
According to him, the suspects sent out several messages to unsuspecting customers informing them of winning a lottery out of a random selection by the network to reward its loyal clientele.
This, according to ACP Gyening, was a ploy by the two to dupe unsuspecting clients, some of whom they have already taken money from for the processing of a special identification pin to enable them access their winnings.
The two Nigerians, according to the commander, admitted producing the documents in their caution statement, after preliminary investigations carried out in the institutions revealed they were forged.
He said the 11 suspects would be put before court after investigations adding that the service would not relent to make life uncomfortable for persons who have decided to reap from where they have not sown.
ACP Gyening appealed to the general public to volunteer information on suspicious characters within their neighbourhood as the police make strides towards the protection of the citizenry.
THE Tema Police have arrested 11 suspected criminals in separate operations carried out in the metropolis.
Five of the suspects, John Ampabilla, 30; Abibu Ibrahim, 24; Yaw Eric, 26; Kubetesu Martin, 22 and Afua Benewah, 21, were arrested at about 1:45a.m. on Tuesday morning on the premises of the Continental Trading Limited, a subsidiary of the Finatrade Group. They had in their possession 17 bags of sugar, each weighing 50 kilograms. The driver of a KIA truck which was being used to cart the cargo and another accomplice, however, managed to escape.
Also arrested was Mohammed Siedu, an assailant, who bolted away with gunshot wounds after a July 14 shoot-out with the police on the Accra-Tema Motorway. Three persons, Munkaila Yahaya, Issifu Musah and Charles Dikro, who were treating the wounds on the suspect at Ashaiman Zongo have also been arrested to assist the police in investigations.
Two other suspects of Nigerian nationality, Maxwell King Chizoguzi, 30 and Onuha Otisi, 35, who were arrested at Lashibi, a suburb of Tema, had in their possession two laptop computers on which several letter heads belonging to different government institutions were found.
The over 20 letter heads with accompanying documents found in their custody included those of the Republic of Ghana Company Registration Act, Bank of Ghana Treasury Department and unit letter heads, Ministry of Mines, Ministry of Finance payment schedule, MOFEP monitoring unit and cash movement authorisation certificate.
Others included VAT Service Certificate of Exemption, Internal Revenue Service, Parliamentary identity cards, National Security monitoring unit, a letter purported to have been signed by the Finance Minister, Dr Kwabena Duffour, to the Controller and Accountant General, among others. Also found in their possession was an Office of the President letter head.
Briefing The Mirror, the Tema Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Augustine Gyening, said his outfit had a complaint from Vodafone Ghana Limited of the activities of the two Nigerians who were running a false promotion using a telephone number 0303- 403189 belonging to the network.
According to him, the suspects sent out several messages to unsuspecting customers informing them of winning a lottery out of a random selection by the network to reward its loyal clientele.
This, according to ACP Gyening, was a ploy by the two to dupe unsuspecting clients, some of whom they have already taken money from for the processing of a special identification pin to enable them access their winnings.
The two Nigerians, according to the commander, admitted producing the documents in their caution statement, after preliminary investigations carried out in the institutions revealed they were forged.
He said the 11 suspects would be put before court after investigations adding that the service would not relent to make life uncomfortable for persons who have decided to reap from where they have not sown.
ACP Gyening appealed to the general public to volunteer information on suspicious characters within their neighbourhood as the police make strides towards the protection of the citizenry.
AUSTRALIA TO ASSIST PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED PERSONS (DAILY GRAPHIC, PAGE 22, FRI AUG 20, 10)
Story: Della Russel Ocloo & Nathaniel Mensah,Tema
THE Australian High Commission in Accra has pledged to financially support skill training programmes for the physically challenged persons who were making strides towards betterment of their lives and society.
The Vice Consular, Dr Kate O’Shaughnessy speaking on behalf of the High Commissioner disclosed this at Tema during the launched of the “Yes We Can” project by the Hope in Christ Physically Challenged Foundation; a Tema based Non Governmental Organisation (NGO).
The project which was among a series initiatives outlined by the foundation seeks to engage members in skill training to enable them make decent livelihood.
According to her, seeing physically challenged persons initiating meaningful projects aimed at alleviating poverty within their folds needs commendation and encouragement.
“It is for this reason the commission as a major stakeholder in strengthening diplomatic relations and working towards the reduction of poverty would want to fully provide logistic and monetary support to disability societies working to reduce alms soliciting among members”, she stated.
While commending the foundation for the initiative, Dr O’Shaughnessy was optimistic the project will go a long way to help the physically challenged to be independent in society.
The President of the NGO Mr Benjamin Ofosuhene indicated that, the training programme which has been alienated in phases would see over fifty physically challenged persons being trained in footwear production in the first face of the project.
He said twenty persons were currently undergoing a two months training in the production of tourist wear and sandals including ladies footwear.
Mr. Ofosuhene lamented at the low rate of enrollment owing to the lack of means of transportation to and from the learning center which he said was forcing most trainees to return to the streets to beg for alms.
He has therefore appealed for support from corporate institutions within the Tema metropolis to provide assistant to the NGO towards a successful implementation of outlined projects as well as equipping trainees at the end of the two months programme.
Mr ofosuhene was optimistic the programme which would also provide working capital and tools at the end of the two-month course would go a long to reduce streetism among persons with disability.
The NGO established in 2001 by a team of social workers and Christian volunteers to reach out to persons with disability has over the years provided platform to the most vulnerable physically challenged persons through education, socio-economic empowerment and counseling.
The Board Chairman of the NGO, Mr Francis Gariba paid glowing tribute to the Australian High Commission for its immense assistance and was hopeful the project would significantly empower persons with disability to financially to contribute their quota toward the country’s development..
The Tema Mantse, Nii Adjei Krakue III charged beneficiaries of the programme to serve as worthy ambassadors and commended the high commission for its sole sponsorship.
THE Australian High Commission in Accra has pledged to financially support skill training programmes for the physically challenged persons who were making strides towards betterment of their lives and society.
The Vice Consular, Dr Kate O’Shaughnessy speaking on behalf of the High Commissioner disclosed this at Tema during the launched of the “Yes We Can” project by the Hope in Christ Physically Challenged Foundation; a Tema based Non Governmental Organisation (NGO).
The project which was among a series initiatives outlined by the foundation seeks to engage members in skill training to enable them make decent livelihood.
According to her, seeing physically challenged persons initiating meaningful projects aimed at alleviating poverty within their folds needs commendation and encouragement.
“It is for this reason the commission as a major stakeholder in strengthening diplomatic relations and working towards the reduction of poverty would want to fully provide logistic and monetary support to disability societies working to reduce alms soliciting among members”, she stated.
While commending the foundation for the initiative, Dr O’Shaughnessy was optimistic the project will go a long way to help the physically challenged to be independent in society.
The President of the NGO Mr Benjamin Ofosuhene indicated that, the training programme which has been alienated in phases would see over fifty physically challenged persons being trained in footwear production in the first face of the project.
He said twenty persons were currently undergoing a two months training in the production of tourist wear and sandals including ladies footwear.
Mr. Ofosuhene lamented at the low rate of enrollment owing to the lack of means of transportation to and from the learning center which he said was forcing most trainees to return to the streets to beg for alms.
He has therefore appealed for support from corporate institutions within the Tema metropolis to provide assistant to the NGO towards a successful implementation of outlined projects as well as equipping trainees at the end of the two months programme.
Mr ofosuhene was optimistic the programme which would also provide working capital and tools at the end of the two-month course would go a long to reduce streetism among persons with disability.
The NGO established in 2001 by a team of social workers and Christian volunteers to reach out to persons with disability has over the years provided platform to the most vulnerable physically challenged persons through education, socio-economic empowerment and counseling.
The Board Chairman of the NGO, Mr Francis Gariba paid glowing tribute to the Australian High Commission for its immense assistance and was hopeful the project would significantly empower persons with disability to financially to contribute their quota toward the country’s development..
The Tema Mantse, Nii Adjei Krakue III charged beneficiaries of the programme to serve as worthy ambassadors and commended the high commission for its sole sponsorship.
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