Thursday, July 30, 2009

MAN LYNCHED (PAGE 3)

A MAN believed to be between 35 and 40 years of age was lynched at Adisadel Estate, a suburb of Cape Coast, in the early hours of yesterday.
Briefing the press, the Cape Coast District Police Commander, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) William Gyamfi, said the police received information around 7 a.m. that the body of a man suspected to have been lynched was lying by the roadside in the estate.
ASP Gyamfi said police personnel dispatched to the scene found the deceased naked and immediately plunged into investigations.
He said one suspect who had been mentioned in connection with the lynching was yet to be picked up whilst investigation continued to apprehend any other suspects.
He said so far the police were yet to establish the offence committed by the deceased.
ASP Gyamfi said the body of the deceased, who is yet to be identified, had been deposited at the Central Regional Hospital morgue in Cape Coast.
He denied earlier reports that the legs of the deceased had been chopped off.
ASP Gyamfi said that was the second lynching within the month and appealed to the public not to take the law into their own hands but to hand over suspects to the police for investigations.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

LIBRARY BUILT IN HONOUR OF MILLS (PAGE 17)

THE US$50,000 children’s library built by the African Trust Tokyo-Japan in honour of President John Evans Atta Mills has been inaugurated.
Dr Don Arthur, who performed the inauguration on behalf of President Mills at Ekumfi Nanaben last Friday, advised parents to ensure that their children reaped maximum benefits from the project.
Dr Arthur said even though one was not against parents asking their children to support their daily chores and occupation, it was necessary for the children to have adequate time to study.
This, he said, would enhance their education to make them useful citizens in society.
He commended the Africa Trust Tokyo-Japan for the honour done to President Mills, and said the library would help improve education in the area.
The Minister of Transport, Mr Mike Hammah, advised children in the community to emulate the humility, dedication and disciplined qualities of the President, and use them as an inspiration to attain greater heights in life.
The Africa Trust Ghana representative, Reverend Eldab N. Bonney, said the library was to honour the Mills family for the proper nurturing and good parenting qualities of Prof. Mills.
He said the siting of the library at Nanaben was to constantly encourage children in the area to aspire to the pinnacle of the academic ladder, as well as a reminder that there was virtue in patience, a testimony to the challenges Prof. Mills went through before assuming the leadership of this country.
Both the Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Benjamin Kweku Hayfron, and the Chief of Nanaben, Okufo Gyesi IV, commended Africa Trust Tokyo-Japan for their educational assistance to the children in the area.

REMAIN COMMITTED ON PANAFEST (PAGE 14)

The President, Prof John Evans Atta Mills, has challenged the organisers of the PANAFEST to remain committed to the noble aim upon which the event was founded.
PANAFEST establishes the truth about the history of Africa and the experience of its people using the vehicle of arts and culture to provide a forum to promote unity between Africans on the continent and those in the Diaspora.
In a speech read on his behalf at the opening of PANAFEST and Emancipation Day in Cape Coast by the Minister of Transport, Mr Mike Hammah, President Atta Mills said lack of sustenance and support for the festival had led to a decline in patronage and standards set at its beginning.
Prof Atta Mills therefore charged the PANAFEST Foundation to work with the appropriate agencies to restore the event as the leading international Pan-African festival on the continent.
He called on African-Americans in the diaspora to help create a viable PANAFEST Foundation to use as a catalyst in building the necessary bridges to the future.
He commended the organisers and those who sacrificed for its sustenance over the years inspite of the difficulties.
President Atta Mills said the organisation of the two events under one umbrella would definitely maximise its effectiveness as the pilgrimage festival for all Africans to come home to celebrate “ our heritage as one people”.
He expressed Ghana’s commitment to strengthen her ties by revisiting issues of common interest and the attainment of tangible goals and set targets to ensure recognition by the African Union (AU) of the diaspora as the sixth region and a crucial pillar for the development of Africa.
He said also that Ghana would continue to recognise and support the African Diaspora Forum and also rebuild PANAFEST and Emancipation Day as strong institutions and important dates on the heritage tourism calendar of the country and elsewhere.
He called on the AU to renew its pledge of support for the festival and ensure its sustainability in pursuit of using culture as a means of unifying the African continent.
He reminded the gathering about the heritage left to Africa by their ancestors, and urged them to take inspiration from those who championed black emancipation and the liberation of the continent.
The Minister of Tourism, Mrs Juliana Azumah-Mensah, said the celebration should be targeted at removing some of the misconceptions and negative publicity on the African people.
Mrs Azumah-Mensah said the celebration of the two events should be a forward march for political and economic liberation for all, and called for the reinforcement and strengthening of the structures set up to effectively manage the event officially for future celebrations.
She stressed the need to put in the right strategies and programmes with world-wide appeal to attract and generate interest in more people than it is doing now.
The Central Regional Minister, Mrs Ama Begyina Doe, said the event should be used as a forum for the unity of people with common ancestry.
The Ogua Manhen, Osabarima Kwasi Atta II, who chaired the function, described the event as significant, coming immediately after the visit of US President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, to the dungeons of Cape Coast.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

CHRISTIAN DIVINE CHURCH MARKS 50TH ANNIVERSARY (PAGE 35, JULY 13)

THE Central Regional Pastor of the Christian Divine Church, Pastor Techie Menson, has urged Christians to endeavour to influence others positively for the benefit of the Christian community and society.
Pastor Menson said the best legacy a good Christian could leave society was to lead a life that impacted positively on people.
Preaching at the 50th anniversary celebration of the church at the Jubilee Park in Cape Coast, Pastor Menson said Christians could do so if they were able to change the bad behaviour, character and attitude of other people.
He said the biblical David was able to influence others due to his courage and that Jesus also changed the profession of the fishermen he commanded to follow Him to preach the word.
Pastor Menson wondered why some Christians had waited this long in impacting good virtues into their generation.
He however, cautioned against negative tendencies such as extremism which could lead to destruction.
He, therefore, advised Christians to avoid joining bad groups, chart a good cause and shine like the light which brightens a city.
Activities which marked the seven-day event included ministration, talk on prostitution,child labour and prayers for the nation.

CAPE COAST READY FOR OBAMA'S VISIT (PAGES 34 & 39, JULY 9)

IN spite of numerous reports in the media about the deplorable state of some ancient buildings in the Cape Coast Metropolis which include the Omanhene’s Palace, the Cape Coast Castle, Court buildings, the Ministries’ Block, the Ghana Commercial Bank building, among others, nobody made any attempt to have them renovated until recently, when it was announced that the President of the United State of America (USA), Barrack Obama was to visit the historic town.
As one of the most historical cities in Ghana, Cape Coast was the centre of British Administration and capital of the Gold Coast from 1700 until 1877, when the capital was moved to Accra. Most of the oldest and best schools in Ghana are also in Cape Coast. The Cape Coast castle is one of the biggest of the trade and slave castles on the coastline of Ghana and has one of the country's best-organised museums.
Of late, most of these historical monuments which defined the city had been in ruins but the announcement that the visit of President Obama and his wife would include a trip to Cape Coast where the US President will address a durbar of chiefs, has stimulated the spirit to rebrand the town and its landmarks.
This has totally changed the face of Cape Coast as our Central Regional correspondents Joe Okyere and Shirley Asiedu-Addo report.


THE town of Cape Coast has seen a significant facelift as the town anxiously awaits the historic visit of President Barrack Obama of the USA.
The drains are being cleared, pavements are being fixed and hedges are being trimmed. Thanks to the scheduled visit of President Obama.
The Victoria Park has been painted and the pavement along the park is regularly being worked on as the countdown to the visit begins.
The palace which is undergoing significant transformation is still receiving finishing touches before it receives President Obama tomorrow.
The Cape Coast Castle has been repainted, though authorities of the Castle say it is part of the routine painting, it is obvious that it was done because of the visit since the painting of the Castle was usually not done during the rainy season.
One place that has seen extensive renovation is the palace of the chief, Osabarima Kwesi Atta as President Obama is billed to pay a courtesy call on the Omanhene. Osabarima Kwesi Atta II told the Daily Graphic that it had become necessary for the palace to be renovated since it would host the US President, Barrack Obama.
“We are ready to make him feel at home.” he said.
Osabarimba Atta II said the traditional area was happy to be part of the historic visit and to host the US President adding that there was the need for the chiefs and people of Oguaa to put their house in order to receive such an important personality who is part of us.
All major buildings around the castle including the Ghana Commercial Bank, the Ministries Building, the SSNIT block and the Court Complex have enjoyed a significant facelift.
The newness of the place has elicited a feeling of anxiety and expectation from the people.
The Oguaa traditional council has banned funerals in the metropolis at the moment because of the visit.
The Siwdu Park that is expected to receive the President, is also being put in a good shape. Chippings are being put on the frontage of the park to prevent the usually soggy state in case it rains.
Frantically, people along the streets are making extra efforts at cleaning the place for the visit of the US President.
The castle, which is one of the World Heritage sites, and which was a major transit point of African slaves to the Americas, is also being painted.
The over 200 workers of the Zoomlion Waste Management company in the metropolis are working extra three hours to clear the beaches, paint and clean the drains.
The Regional Co-ordinator of Zoomlion, Mr Rhoda Donkor says the workers are not being paid any extra monies because it is their contribution towards the preparation for President Obama’s visit.
Radio Central, the regional station of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) in Cape Coast has also introduced a segement on their morning show tagged Obama’s corner to help sensitise residents to the visit and to encourage them to keep the environment clean while they await Obama’s visit.
Some residents the Daily Graphic spoke to said they were grateful to the committees involved in planning Obama’s visit for including Cape Coast.
A few people could be seen having Obama and President Atta Mills stickers on their cars while a few others wore the cloth with the inscription of President Obama.
Mr Kofi Asare said, “I believe the country deserves the visit of President Obama, we are doing well as a nation. Coming to Cape Coast is also in the right direct as it is a very historic town.”
A groundnut seller said “all I know is that Obama is coming and if for nothing at all, everything suddenly looks new here and we are happy.”

Cape Coast Castle
The Cape Coast Castle, standing magnificently in the ancient city of Cape Coast was built around 1665 by the British.
The Castle which was once a major sea port for the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade between the 17th and 18th centuries, was listed by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1979 and is now one of the most popular tourist attractions in the country.
It was once constructed as a fort by the Swedes in 1653, changed hands about four times until it was handed over to Ghana in 1960 when the country became a Republic.
For example, in 1658, Henrich Karloff captured it for the Danish Company of Guinea. Again, in 1661, it was seized by the Fetu people of Cape Coast.
The Dutch occupied it between 1663 and 1664 but due to the Dutch war the subsequent year, the British took over the fort and developed it into the status of a castle in 1665.
Over a period of about 60 years, the British developed the fort then known as Fort Carolusborg into a castle.
With its stature and place in history, the Cape Coast Castle cannot be missed by any visitor to Cape Coast.
It is bordered on the west by the Victoria Park, East by a landing place for canoes where hundred of fishermen virtually live to make a living, North by the Wesley Methodist Church and office buildings, and South by the deep blue Gulf of Guinea.
It occupies approximately 73,600 square feet with many rooms including the Palaver hall, the Governor’s Residence, the Maclean’s Hall, the English Church, the Magazine and the Slave dungeon.
The occupants of the castle were many and of varied categories. These included administrators or governors, chaplains and clerks of the church treasurers, medical officers, warehouse keepers, accountants, auditors, regular soldiers and ad hoc recruits and captives which numbered about 1,300 in a “favourable” season.
There were also skilled artisans such as masons, carpenters, tailors and armourers.
There were two kinds of captives, those intended to be domestic slaves in the castle and the other group, the commercial slaves who were transported by sea.
The English administration of the castle was under the absolute command of the governor or administrator, who was a direct representative of the Queen of England. He had the jurisdiction in both civil and criminal matters over all inhabitants of the castle as well as on other English settlements on the coast.

Gothic House
A visible and unique part of the cultural heritage of Cape Coast , is the Gothic House, commonly known as the Public Works Department building.
Lying just to the west of Cape Coast Castle and adjacent to the historic Victoria Park (now Jubilee Park), Gothic House is a reminder of the Gold Coast era.
Built during the third quarter of the 19th century by a British merchant, Gothic House (the name implies the style of decoration-Gothic Revival) became the property of Jacob Wilson Sey (Kwabonyi) in the 1890s. Sey, a prosperous palm wine tapper, and founder of the Aborigines Rights Protection Society (ARPS), transferred the property to the Gold Coast government before his death in 1905.
It was during this time that Queen Victoria, a sympathetic supporter of Sey and the ARPS, transferred title to all lands along the Gold Coast to the Crown. As a result, the Queen presented a bust of herself to a delegation representing the Gold Coast government.
This bust was placed in a park close to the Victoria Park and adjacent to Sey’s Gothic House. In 1925, the bust was uneveiled by prince Edward, the grandson of the late queen, and the park commissioned.
Both Gothic House and Victoria Park (Jubilee Park) express the history of the struggle and triumphs of the Aborigines Rights Protection Society which are in need of restoration.
Until it was donated by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government to the Oguaa Traditional Council for use as a palace and its seat, the Gothic House remained the property of the government of Ghana. It was managed by the Central Regional Co-ordinating Council as lettable space for government and non-governmental agencies.
The first period of construction consisted of the main dwelling, a garden to the west, the anterior courtyard, various ancillary structures and the underground cistern to the southeast.
The main dwelling enclosed a modified hall and parlour supported by extensive vaulted storage areas on the ground floor. Exotic architectural details, loosely categorised as the Gothic Revival style, decorated the interior and exterior of the dwelling.
The second phase of architectural change might have occurred during the first quarter of the 20th century when the building served as a public/government office.
At this time, it was presumed that several changes occurred. First, timber additions, in the form of enclosed porches and rooms, changed the facades and rooflines of the dwelling.
Second, original ancillary structures were demolished and replaced with a low-pitched one storey wing to the west and enlarged as a two-storey wing to the east. Third, the garden was transformed into a paved courtyard.
Post-independence changes were assumed to be minimal and might have included the addition of partition walls, a sandcrete block extension connecting the main dwelling to the east and infrastructure improvements.
Considering the location and size of the building, and its historic links to the Gold Coast era, and notable Cape Coast citizens like Jacob Wilson Sey, make the property ideally suited and adaptive reuse by local authorities.
It is based on this that it was recommended that the main dwelling could be reused as the palace for the Omanhene of the Oguaa Traditional Area. The paramount stool and traditional shrines could be housed and customary rites performed.
Traditional court hearings and meetings of the council could also be held in the main dwelling. In addition, the paved courtyard to the southeast could serve as a small durbar or festival ground. Larger festivals such as the Oguaa Fetu Afahye are currently held in the nearby Victoria Park (Jubille Park).
Current scope of work is to transform the adjacent wings of the dwelling to house an exhibition on the history of the Gold Coast, Cape Coast and the building itself. The exhibition could be manufactured locally and could be maintained by entrance fees to both the palace and the museum. Community residents could be hired as site guides and interpreters.
Other unused rooms, and the entire eastern wing could become lettable space as guest rooms for hire, a small restaurant/bar and gift shop. Proceeds from the rent could be channelled into a fund which could be used for the maintenance of the property.
By expanding the the scope of the preservation/restoration efforts beyond Cape Coast Castle, the sustainability and the economic development of the historic and culturally significant town surrounding will be insured.
Model rehabilitation and adaptive reuse projects serve to promote increased pride and valuation of neighbourhoods, family houses, open spaces, forts and shrines and encourage enterprise activities and the development of a culture of maintenance in the public and private realm.

Sunday, July 5, 2009

COLLAPSED BUILDING KILLS BOY, 9 (MIRROR PAGE 24)

From Joe Okyere, Nkanfoa

A Nine-year-old boy whose name was given only as Aboagye died instantly when the wall of a mud house, in which he and others were sleeping, collapsed during a heavy down pour at Nkanfoa, near Cape Coast last Sunday night.
The body has been deposited at the Cape Coast Regional Hospital morgue.
Two other people elsewhere also suffered an injury, one of them seriously, when a wall of a room collapsed in a downpour three weeks ago.
The seriously injured Florence Owusu, 12, a Class Four pupil, who was trapped in the rubble, was admitted at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra, whilst Margaret Bonkom, 9, a Class Three pupil, has already received treatment. The third Florence Bonkom, 12, however, escaped unhurt.
Narrating the first incident during a visit to the community by the Central Regional Minister, Mrs Ama Benyiwa-Doe, to ascertain the extent of damage on Tuesday, Mr Kwame Esuon, an uncle of the deceased, said Aboagye was sleeping in the room with his mother and another sibling when the incident occurred.
In the second incident, Ms Sarah Kumi told the Regional Minister that she was awakened by the sound of the collapsed wall at midnight.
Ms Kumi said she rushed out only to find her mother, Doris Quainoo, and one of her children, Margaret, screaming for help with Florence trapped in the rubble.
She said Margaret, who sustained minor injury, was able to move out from the rubble on her own, whilst Florence was covered in the rubble.
She said Margaret was treated and discharged whilst Florence was referred to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, where she was operated upon and had since been discharged.
The Central Regional Minister consoled the bereaved family and advised the people to maintain their houses to avoid recurrence of such mishap.
Mrs Benyiwa-Doe also visited Yamoransa where the rains also blocked the main Cape Coast-Accra highway last Friday and caused damage to property. She advised the people not pour garbage into the drains.