Eight CEPS officials, one policeman arrested over Anas' cocoa smuggling story

Nine arrested over Anas' cocoa smuggling saga         Eight Customs officers and a policeman implicated in the smuggling of cocoa to neighbouring countries have been arrested by police CID. Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Kwesi Ofori confirmed this to Joy News on Monday. The nine were captured on a video in a comprehensive undercover investigations led by ace investigative journalist and sub-editor of the New Crusading Guide newspaper, Anas Aremeyaw-Anas on how Ghana's cocoa get smuggled. DSP Ofori told Joy News reporter Benjamin Tetteh the police have begun further investigations into the matter and will soon arraign the suspects before court. This he said is part of measures to rid the security of bad nuts, but was quick to add that the accused persons will first have their day in court to defend themselves. Source: Myjoyonline.com

Five to probe Accra Psychiatric Hospital

The Accra Psychiatric Hospital A five-member Ministerial Committee of Inquiry has been set up to investigate issues of security, administrative lapses and professional ethical infractions at the Accra Psychiatric Hospital. The committee, chaired by Prof. J. Oliver-Commey, is expected to submit its report on February 1, 2010. The other members are Mr. Benjamin A. Ampomah-Boateng, a lawyer and Associate Executive Director of the Media and Governance Institute; Superintendent Michael Vieira of the Ghana Police Service, and Mr. E.T. Tidakbi, the Director of Health Administration and Support Services of the Ghana Health Service, with Mrs. Marian Tackie, the Director of Administration of the Ministry of Health as Member/Secretary. The establishment of the committee was prompted by a publication in an Accra daily which sought to expose some of the lapses in the general administration of the hospital. Inaugurating the committee, the Minister of Health, Dr. Benjamin Kumbuor, said its terms of reference were to inquire into the issues published in the December 21, 2009 edition of the New Crusading Guide on the Accra Psychiatric Hospital, determine the underlying causes and recommend immediate, medium and long-term measures to improve service delivery and conditions at the hospital. He said the report of the committee would serve as a useful input in shaping the draft Mental Health Bill in addressing challenges in mental health facilities, as well as improving service delivery and conditions in similar facilities. Dr. Kumbuor commended Mr. Anas Aremeyaw Anas for his sacrificial work that led to the revelations which he said would assist the ministry in shaping policy with regard to mental health in the country and also guide decisions on legal and human rights. He expressed the hope that the revelations would serve as a wake-up call to the administrators and managers of health facilities. He appealed to health professionals to desist from unprofessional acts and redeem their image. Prof. Oliver-Commey, on behalf of the members, thanked the minister for the confidence reposed in them and pledged their commitment to work to meet the objective for setting up the committee. Source: The Ghanaian Chronicle

USA has begun living up to its ideals - US Ambassador

Accra, Aug. 28, GNA - Mr Donald Tietelbaum, United States Ambassador to Ghana, observed on Thursday that the election of President Barack Obama, the country's 44th President, is an indication that America has begun to live up to its ideals that all men are created equal.

He said even though the issue of racism still mattered, it was much less, explaining that the average young American citizen, black or white, will not think about the fact that the country had an African-American president. "They only think of him as the President." Mr Teitelbaum said this at the first ever book discussion held by the Embassy in Accra. The discussion centred on the book entitled "Dreams from My Father," written by President Barack Obama on the subject of racism and inheritance.

The book describes the life of Barack Obama and the dilemma he went through in an effort to know who his father was, and what it meant for him to have an African father.

The U.S. Ambassador said Americans were fast becoming a post racial people, and that it was only stereotype that made people think that black people were bad or white people were bad. He said, "You don't have to hate all white people, there are some who love you and you don't have to hate all black people, there are some who really love you."

Mr Teitelbaum commended Ghanaians for the strong sense of pride they had in themselves, explaining that even though former President John Jerry Rawlings was half Ghanaian and half European, he had never heard any Ghanaian making a statement to the fact that he was not a true Ghanaian.

Participants at the function, who discussed portions of the book, said it was important that Ghanaians and Africans as a whole learnt from the story of Obama and believed in themselves, have confidence in themselves and in their capabilities.

Anas Aremeyaw Anas, an investigative journalist who led the discussions, shared his experiences and encouraged Ghanaians not to lose hope and not to be easily discouraged in whatever good thing they were doing.

He urged young Ghanaians to be involved and committed to helping the poor and vulnerable in society, saying "change must begin with you." 28 Aug. 09

Source: GNA