Ghanaians celebrate Easter

Christians in Ghana are on Sunday celebrating Easter, the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which is the most important Christian festival, and the one celebrated with great joy.

Christians, who only on Good Friday wore black and mourning clothes to commemorate the betrayal, crucifixion and death of Jesus, are jubilant because He has risen from the dead. Many Christians are in white apparel or other bright colours to celebrate Jesus Christ's victory over death through sermons, singing and dancing.Jesus Christ was executed by crucifixion on Friday; His body was taken down from the cross and put in a tomb, according to the Scriptures.An enormous rock was used to seal the entrance and guards were posted there to ensure that no one tampered with the body.

On the following Sunday, some women visited the tomb and found that the rock had been moved from the entrance and the body was not in the tomb.Jesus himself was seen that same day and afterwards by many people. His encounters with his followers after the resurrection embolden them to preach the Gospel.
Source:GNA

Replacement Voter ID Cards begins

The nationwide replacement of lost, defaced or badly damaged Voter Identification Cards started with the usual apathy on Friday as most of the centres in Accra recorded low patronage.

The exercise, which runs from Friday, March 14 to Saturday, March 23 between 0700 hours and 1800 hours daily, including weekends, forms part of preparation by the Electoral Commission (EC) to ensure that every eligible Ghanaian participates in Elections 2008.A visit to some of the replacement centres by Ghana News Agency revealed low turnout.

To ensure convenience, replacement centres have been located at least in each Electoral Area for all eligible voters who have these problems to appear personally and provide personal data to the Replacement Officer.According to the EC after the collection of data on applicants, processing and preparation of the new voter ID Cards would take place at the Head Office of the EC.

Appropriate measures would then be put in place to deliver the new cards to applicants before the Revision of the Voters' Register.Applicants who would be unable to have their cards during that period would have the opportunity to do so during the Exhibition of the Voters' Register.

The rationale behind this exercise, according to the EC, is to discourage voters in that category from the temptation of double registration, which is a punishable offence, and offenders are liable for prosecution.The EC said this arrangement did not constitute a transfer of vote.

The EC will put measures in place later for voters who have moved residence to transfer their votes to enable them to vote where they are currently resident.
Source:GNA

Christianborg Crossroad Shooting Incident marked

Wreaths were laid at the Freedom Monument, Osu, on Thursday in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of three ex-servicemen who were gunned down at the Christianborg Crossroads on February 28, 1948, while going to present a petition to the British Colonial Governor, Sir Gerald Creasy.

They were Sergeant Adjetey, Corporal Attipoe and Private Odartey Lamptey, all members of the Gold Coast Regiment of the Royal West African Frontier Force that fought alongside the allied forces during the Second World War.The colonialists had demobilized them promising to resettle them but had reneged.

Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah, Minister of Defence, laid a wreath on behalf of the government and people of Ghana and Lt-Gen J.B. Danquah, Chief of Defence Staff, laid one on behalf of the security services. The Chairman of the Veterans Association of Ghana, Air Vice Marshal Odartey Barnor laid one on behalf of the veterans, while the Ga Mantse, Nii Tackie Tawiah III, laid one on behalf of traditional rulers.

About 155 men drawn from the Army, Air Force, Navy, the Police and the Veteran Soldiers mounted a parade, which was witnessed by a large crowd.Special prayers were said for the love, dedication and the service the three soldiers rendered to the country. Major E. N. A. Laryea, Chaplain of the Ghana Armed Forces, thanked God for sustaining the country since the colonial era and prayed for peace and stability in Ghana and the world. Nuruddin Atuquaye, an Imam, also prayed for sustenance of peace and stability.

The acting Osu Klottey Wulomo, Nii Lantey Okunkah poured libation. Relatives of the fallen heroes, Ministers, Parliamentarians as well as other important dignities graced the occasion.Ex-WOI Robert Kumah, who read the history said on Saturday, February 28, 1948, a number of ex-servicemen were marching from Accra to Christianborg Castle to present a petition to the Governor on their unpaid war benefits when they were intercepted at the crossroads by a contingent of armed policemen.

The contingent led by British Superintendent, Mr Imray ordered that they dispersed and when they refused to obey, he gave an order to the police to open fire and the three ex-servicemen were killed. The ex-soldiers had fought alongside the allied forces in the Gold Coast Regiment of the Royal West African Frontier Force during the Second World War and had returned home poor and were not paid their gratuities.

After several appeals to the colonial government to consider their plight had failed, the ex-servicemen decided that a direct approach should be made to the British Colonial Governor of the Gold Coast. News about the death of the servicemen spread rapidly, leading to a situation where law and order broke down in Accra and other parts of the country.It encouraged anti-colonial movements to press the British government to institute a committee to investigate the killings and general disorder.

The Committee recommended self-government for the Gold Coast, which subsequently led to the attainment of political independence for the country. 28 Feb. 08

Inmate commercialises police cell

Mr Kofi Ahiabor, presiding over the Awutu District Magistrate Court, has said no inmate could arrogate to himself the status of a land lord in police cells and demand monies from new comers.

Mr Ahiabor said this before imposing a fine of 300 cedis on Kwabena Akyeampong charged with assaulting his fellow inmate, Nana Yaw Kumi, at the Kasoa Police Cells.

In default Akyeampong, who pleaded guilty, will go to jail for six months in hard labour. Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Helena Aidoo, said on February 19, Akyeampong subjected Kumi to severe beatings at the Kasoa Police cells where both them had been kept pending their trial.

She said investigations revealed that Akyeampong was demanding three Ghana cedis from Kumi for being a new comer and the amount would given to a purported leader of the cell.