The officer is reported to have been in possession of synthetic opioid substances, specifically tramadol, at Kpalsi, a suburb of Tamale in the Northern Region.

The substances are classified under controlled pharmaceutical drugs due to its potential for abuse and its connection to illegal narcotics distribution networks.

The incident was uncovered during a routine operation.

In a statement issued by the Police Administration, it confirmed the interdiction of the officer to allow for a thorough internal investigation into the circumstances surrounding his possession of the restricted drugs.

The interdiction forms part of the Service’s broader commitment to upholding integrity, professionalism and accountability among its personnel.

The Police Administration has further assured the public that appropriate sanctions will be applied if the officer is found culpable.

]]> https://www.Adomonline.com/ghanass-headmistress-breaks-silence-after-interdiction/ Fri, 08 Dec 2023 20:56:36 +0000 https://www.adomonline.com/?p=2329964 Interdicted headmistress of Ghana Senior High School (GHANASS) in Koforidua, Patience Naki Mensah has provided clarification on the sale of GH¢200 track suits to first-year students.

She explained that, the tracksuit serves the dual purpose of protecting students from mosquito bites during evening preps and maintaining the school’s uniformity, aligning with the National Prospectus.

Contrary to allegations of unauthorized items, Miss Mensah stated that the school, with its unique yellow shirts and leaf green trousers/skirts, deviates from the standard white and check uniforms.

Therefore, a seamstress was commissioned to create samples for interested parents, allowing them the option to acquire the new ceremonial dress and track suit at GH¢200 and GH¢250 per set, respectively.

She emphasized that parents were not compelled to purchase these items immediately, offering flexibility in acquisition.

“Out of excitement of being enrolled, some of the new students were introduced to the sample of the ceremonial dress which was selling at  GH₵200 for one set and the track suit which was also going for GH₵250.00 per one. However, parents were given the option of buying them or at a later period,” she stated.

The explanation comes in response to her interdiction by the Ghana Education Service (GES), pending further investigation into the alleged unauthorized sales.

The Eastern Regional Director of Education, Mrs. Ivy Asantewaa Owusu, outlined the unauthorized items, including ceremonial cloth and tracksuits, in a letter to Mrs. Mensah on December 7, 2023.

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This, according to Mr Paintsil, is because the Service should not have interdicted them in the first place based on an alleged leaked recording of a plot to remove the Inspector General of Police (IGP), which is now the subject of a parliamentary probe.

Speaking to JoyNews, the lawyer said the action could have been taken only after the Committee had concluded its investigations.

“Even though, in my honest view, they now claim to have withdrawn the interdiction, it is giving the public an idea of what they want to do, and even worse, what I am hearing is that they are talking about a disciplinary hearing.

“That is a presumption that what they have heard so far suggests or is an indication that something wrong has taken place, but that is not proper because Parliament has not finished its inquiry, they have not come out with their findings, facts, recommendations, or whatever it is. So where did they fall on the view that there is evidence or a case to go for a disciplinary hearing and if it is so, what are they waiting for?

“So I am thinking that the way they are going about this is very embarrassing, and what it means is that somebody is not advising the IGP or their legal department is not doing good work,” he added.

Earlier, former Director General of the Police Criminal Investigations Department, Rtd. COP Bright Oduro, had described the interdiction as premature.

He was also of the view that no criminality has been established against the three police officers since Parliament has yet to conclude its investigation.

“I don’t know if it is the IGP or the Police Council that instructed the IGP to interdict the officers, but if it is coming from the IGP, then I think it is premature.

“He should have allowed this investigation to continue, and then we see the outcome, and if after that the officers had somehow misconducted themselves, then he would have called for a service inquiry.

“But where I sit, I don’t see any criminality in what they did, what one can say is that they misconducted themselves, but even that must be purely after investigation,” he explained.

Backing this stance, lawyer Paintsil said the Police Service could have conducted their own investigations before Parliament.

He also described the ongoing parliamentary probe as unnecessary.

“If they have reason to believe that some wrong has been done or some evidence that suggests indiscipline, then they don’t even have to wait for Parliament at all because under the Police Service Act, there is no requirement for them to wait for Parliament to finish its work.

“And with all due respect to Parliament, it is my view that this parliamentary hearing is an unnecessary thing that need not have been done because, under the Police Service Act, the Police Council has a right and a duty to conduct this inquiry.”

The three police officers were interdicted on Thursday, September 6, after a leaked tape emerged with the content suggesting a plot to oust the IGP, according to a former NPP Northern Regional Chairman, Bugri Naabu, who claims he recorded the conversation secretly.

The officers are Director General Technical of the Ghana Police Service, Commissioner of Police (COP) Alex George Mensah, Supt. George Lysander Asare and Emmanuel Gyebi.

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This was contained in a statement signed by the Director of Public Affairs, ASP Grace Ansah Akrofi.

The interdiction, according to the statement is to make way for disciplinary proceedings into their conduct in line with Service regulations.

In a related development, the Director of Operations, COP George Alex Mensah, has also been interdicted with immediate effect.

He has been instructed to hand over his weapons, uniforms, and other police belongings to Depol Logistics.

The action comes after the three officers appeared before the Parliamentary Committee investigating the scandal and made startling revelations about the service.

COP Mensah accused Dr Dampare, of mismanaging the Police Service, adding that he is the worst IGP in the history of Ghana.

Insisting the tape was not authentic and doctored, he accused the IGP of masterminding the recording of the tape.

Supt Asare also corroborated the claims during his appearance, alleging one ASP Asante assisted former New Patriotic Party (NPP) Northern Regional Chairman, Bugri Naabu, to record the tape or the IGP.

To him, COP Mensah would have been a better IGP than Dr Dampare, so he suggested him to Bugri Naabu.

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• IGP agreed with Bugri Naabu to record our conversation – Supt Asare backs COP…

• COP Alex Mensah interdicted over leaked tape

Read the statement below:

The action is over their involvement in various offences that have brought the reputation of the Service into disrepute.

The interdictions were announced in a circular signed by the Comptroller-General of Immigration, Mr Kwame Asuah Takyi.

The officers in question have been accused of engaging in activities such as recruitment and/or visa fraud, among other offences, which contravene Regulation 138 (1)(a) and (k) of the Immigration Service Regulations, 2016 (L.I. 2245).

The interdictions are aimed at facilitating thorough investigations into the cases, in accordance with internal disciplinary procedures. Following the investigations, necessary legal action will be taken against those found culpable.

The interdicted officers are identified as Chief Superintendent Philipson Adeti, Superintendent Dominic Eshun, Assistant Superintendent of Immigration (ASI) Marvin Essandoh, Senior Inspector (Snr. Insp.) Augustine Nuamah, Snr. Insp. Martin Owusu, Inspector (Insp.) Stephen Kofi Acheampong, Insp. Patrick Asante, Insp. Benjamin Darko, Assistant Inspector (Asst. Insp.) Victor Donkor and Asst. Insp. Daniel Danso Ntiamoah.

Others are; Asst. Insp. Wisdom Ahorlu, Asst. Insp. Wisdom Elorm Addo, Asst. Insp. Hamdiya Abass, Asst. Insp. Elizabeth Quainoo, Asst. Insp Isaac Dzihlornu, Asst. Insp. Edmund Agbotey, Asst. Insp. Mary Agyemang Duah, Immigration Control Officer (ICO) Iddrisu Adam, ICO Christopher Torgbenu, ICO Joseph Ampomah, and ICO Francis Dabi.

The remaining officers include Assistant Immigration Control Officer I (AICO I) Cosmos Dakora, AICO I Ebenezer Azumah, AICO I Bright Buabeng, AICO I Collins Nyarko, AICO II Solomon Koney Laryea, and AICO II Samuel Kuranchie.

The GIS in a statement signed by C/Supt. Michael Amoako-Atta encouraged members of the public who may have been victims of the alleged acts of these officers to come forward and provide information to assist in the ongoing investigations.

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The action which takes immediate effect according to GES is in connection with alleged illegal fee collection in the school.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Head of the Public Affairs Unit, Cassandra Ampofo Twum.

Mr Agbomodze has been asked to hand over the administration of the school to the Western Regional Director of Education.

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The interdiction is pending investigation as the investigative committee has been given two weeks to submit its report to management.

Read the full statement below:

The Inspector stationed at the Sampa District Police Command allegedly handcuffed one Frank Kofi Adu without taking him through due process.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Acting Bono Regional Head of the Public Affairs Unit, Superintendent Patrick Okai Kodjoe.

The Inspector, according to the statement, has been referred to the Police Professional Standard Bureau for investigations into the matter.

Frank Kofi Adu, a cobbler in Suma Ahenkro near Sampa in the Jaman North District of the Bono region was reportedly handcuffed by the policeman popularly known as Opete who operates a drinking spot for his inability to settle GH¢2 debt on alcohol he bought.

The victim indicated that he visited the drinking spot with a friend to make a purchase but was unable to pay for it and told the policeman he will settle his bill later but the officer disagreed and handcuffed him overnight.

Kofi Adu claimed after roaming with the handcuffs in search of the money to settle his debt, Inspector Mantey was nowhere to be found upon his return.

He, therefore, reported the matter to the Sampa Police to intervene by unlocking the handcuffs but all efforts proved futile.

Kofi Dey further headed to Suma Ahenkro Police Station for assistance but they couldn’t open the handcuffs and his hands got swollen.

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The Divisional Police Commander is said to have been interdicted on Monday, September 5, 2022.

Starrfm.com.gh reports the police commander was interdicted after he engaged in radio banter, which breaches police professional ethics.

Meanwhile, the Ellembelle Police have retrieved one of the excavators that were reported missing from Ellembelle, in the Western region.

A police report says while the team of police officers was escorting the excavator to Takoradi, at the Axim Junction, the DCE of Ellembelle, Mr Kwasi Bonzo allegedly organised and led some thugs to attack the police and obstruct the operation.

He was arrested together with three others.

Missing Excavators

The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Ellembelle in the Western Region, Kwasi Bonzo, had recently accused the Esiama Divisional Police Command over two missing excavators from the site of illegal mining, popularly known as ‘galamsey”, near the Nkroful Senior High School.

Briefing journalists on Thursday at Teleku Bokazo, Mr Bonzo expressed worry that brand new excavators retrieved from a ‘galamsey site’ in the custody of the police vanished.

In its rebuttal, the Western Regional Police Command said the police did not take custody of any excavator as alleged by the DCE.

A statement, signed by the Head of Police  Public Affairs Unit  in Western Region, Superintendent Olivia Ewurabena Adiku, on Saturday, said: “We wish to categorically state that no excavators  were handed to the police by the DCE, Mr Kwasi Bonzo, or any other person from the assembly.”

The reason for arresting the suspect, and placing him in police cells was reportedly not recorded in the station diary.

Besides, other inmates who noticed the suspect needed medical attention at night and drew the attention of the policeman on duty to it, were ignored until the suspect reportedly died the following day on Wednesday, May 4, 2022.

The suspect was arrested on Tuesday, May 3, 2022.

Those interdicted

Those interdicted are the Station officer, two counter NCOs [non commissioned officers] and the arresting officer.

The suspect who is now deceased is Ebenezer Dosu, a 35-year-old man, Graphic Online has gathered from police sources.

He reportedly died on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, at about 2:30 pm.

He was taken to the Tema General Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The body has since been deposited at the morgue.

Graphic Online also gathers that the police officers have been interdicted pending investigations because there is no record in the station diary or entry as to what led to the arrest of the suspect now deceased, and he was put in cells.

While in cells, other inmates drew the attention of the counter policeman to the fact that the suspect needed medical attention but the policeman did not reportedly act.

The case has since been referred to the Regional Criminal Investigations Department (CID) for investigations following which the said officers have been interdicted, including the station officer.

Arrest last week

Some reports last week suggested Ebenezer Dosu was arrested for an alleged road traffic offence.

But the police have said he was arrested for an offence, conducive to the breach of peace.

The interdicted officers, Graphic Online understands are Chief Inspector Bismark Adongo, the station officer, the two counter NCOs, Sgt Eric Kumi Ansah, Sgt Lasiru Mustapha and the arresting officer, Lance Corporal Prince Ofosuhene of the Ashaiman Divisional Visibility Unit.

Lance Corporal Prince Ofosuhene after arresting the suspect for the said offensive conduct, conducive to the breach of the peace took the suspect to the Ashaiman police station to be detained.

The suspect reportedly vomited while in cells and complained to the counter NCO, Sgt Eric Kumi Ansah, who reportedly ignored him and did not act even after the cell mates also drew his attention to the condition of the suspect.

Sgt Kumi reportedly did not make any entry into the station diary when the suspect was handed over to him until about 5:15 am on May 4, 2022, when he was about to end his duty.

Sgt Kumi ended his duty at 6 am May 4, 2022, and handed over to Sgt Lasiru Mustapha and reportedly did not disclose the condition of the suspect to Mustapha about what had happened the previous night.

Preliminary police investigations Graphic Online reports that the two NCOs claim they alerted the station officer about the condition of the suspect, but the station officer has denied their claim.

Death

It was about 2:30 pm on May 4, 2022, that the NCO, Sgt Lasiru Mustapha informed the station officer, Chief Inspector Bismark Adongo that Dosu was unconscious in the cell with “yellowish” fluid from his nose.

They, therefore, took him to the Tema General Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

This comes on the back of allegations of financial malfeasance levelled against Mr Kutor.

The embattled SRC President has been accused of buying a car for the SRC from his company and another for his personal use under questionable circumstances.

He was earlier asked to step aside pending an independent investigation into the matter.

His interdiction was announced in a statement signed by the SRC Secretary, Safo Kwame Oheneba.

The statement indicated the decision was taken in accordance with Article 34(d) and (e) of the School’s SRC constitution.

“The interdiction is grounded on, among others, a prima facie case established upon the probing of Mr Wonder Kutor before the Executive Council on April 7, 2022, and subsequent admissions in a radio interview on Citi FM on April 12, 2022, which acts bring the SRC into disrepute,” part of the statement read.

Meanwhile, the Council has appointed the Vice President of the Greenhill campus, Yoofi Impraim, as interim President until the findings of the Investigation Committee are ready.

“Mr Kutor is, therefore, in the interim is, not to be recognised or dealt with as SRC President. The SRC Executive Council shall in writing subsequently communicate the end of the interdiction if necessitated by the findings of the Committee,” it added.

Below is the council’s statement:

The four include Assistant Inspector of Immigration, Awuku Kumi Joseph age 39, Constable Appiah Christian Junior 24yrs, G/Constable Apraku Augustine 28yrs and G/Constable Owusu Ansah Richmond 30yrs.

The interdiction, according to the Savannah Regional Police Command, follows investigations into the matter to serve as deterrence to other personnel.

The personnel were arrested on November 29, 2021, and found with phones and sums of cash suspected to have been stolen from some miners arrested at a galamsey site in the area.

Constable Appiah was found with GHS4,135.00 and Constable Apraku and Owusu Ansah with smartphones while the immigration officer had cash of GHS 10,880.

The suspects were detained at the Savannah regional police custody and the exhibit was retained for further investigation.

The fire officers were said to have made away with the money after working at the scene of a car crash that led to the death of the paramount chief of Sekyere Kwamang Traditional Area, Barima Bretwum Okyere Bediako II on December 22, 2021.

Speaking to Citi News, the Public Relations Officer of the Fire Service, A.C.F.O. Timothy Osafo Affum, said an internal investigative committee is expected to complete work into the matter on Monday.

“When issues of this nature happen, a board of enquiry is set up. The officers in grave offences like what we have now are interdicted so that they do not interfere with the investigation. If we finish the investigations, and they are found culpable, we will hand them over to the police.”

“If there is no criminality involved, then we will go through our normal processes and give them the punishment [or whatsoever] they deserve.“

The affected include five officials from the Greater Accra Region, four from the Ashanti Region, One from Oti and Bono East Regions respectively.

According to GES, a report from the West African Examination Council (WAEC) form the basis of the action.

GES in a statement which announced the decision indicated the 11 officials have already admitted the crime before a committee tasked to probe the alleged malpractices.

“Management directs that the appointment of the officers be terminated from the GES in line with Section 3, 32 (III) of the Code of Conduct for staff of Ghana Education Service (GES).

“In view of that, Management directs that the appointment of the officers be terminated from the GES in line with Section 4.3 (IV) as contained in the code of conduct for staff of GES,” portions of the statement read.

It, however, noted the interdiction is pending a final action which will be communicated in due course.

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“Since the termination of appointment requires the endorsement of the Ghana Education Service Council, the officers should be interdicted forthwith pending the final determination of the matter by the GES Council which will be communicated to you in due course,” it added.

Read the full statement below:

Some staff members in the sectors of finance, production, distribution, Import and Export (shipping) MOP and RFCC were affected.

The 14 staff members, who held various positions of responsibility with respect to the transfer of products, have been queried and interdicted.

This became necessary following series of incidents of five major product storage and transfer losses over a period of time.

The losses were recorded from 2012 to September, this year, a statement issued to that effect indicated.

This includes the disappearance of 105,927 litres of gas oil on September 4, 2021 which belongs to a CBD client.

Also, there was a disappearance of LPG belonging to a client between 2012 and 2015, as a result of which TOR became indebted to the client to the tune of USD 4.8 million, as confirmed by an audit.

Another wrongful overloading of 252,000 litres of Aviation Turbine Kerosene (ATK) instead of regular Kerosene into BRV trucks at the loading gantry between September 21 and 25 was recorded.

The discovery of 18 drums of electrical cables worth GHS 10.4 million from TOR’s Technical Storehouse in April 2021, is also a factor for the sanctions.

There was also a loss of Naphtha to a BDC recorded.

Consequently, the persons in charge have been sanctioned pending the outcome of ongoing investigations.

Find attached press statement below:

The Ghana Education Service (GES) announced the development in a statement on its official Facebook page.

The statement explained the interdiction took effect from Tuesday, September 7, 2021, pending investigations.

Mr Donkor has since been directed to hand over the administration and management of the school to the Ashanti Regional Director of Education.

The student, Mary Amoako, is reported to have been flogged after she gave her cardigan to a male student who came to class without a uniform.

The headmaster, Mr Donkor seized the cardigan of one male student and instructed him to go for his school uniform, leaving him bare-chested, hence, she offered hers for him to cover up.

However, her act of generosity incensed the headmaster who summoned the students to find out who gave out the cardigan.

The lady, who is a General Arts student, suffered bruises on her back following the lashes.

Read GES’ post below:

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Prof Ransford Gyampo said he respects the order by the management of the University asking him to step aside for investigations into the allegations.

“I think it is a fair thing to be asked to do…I will submit myself to the process. I know that at the end of the day they [investigators] will do a good job,” he told Evans Mensah on Joy FM’s Top Story.

ALSO: UG interdicts Prof. Gyampo, Dr Butakor over BBC’s ‘Sex for Grades’ exposé

Prof. Ransford Gyampo of the Political Science Department and Dr Paul Kwame Butakor a lecturer at the Department of Teacher Education of the School of Education and Leadership were filmed making sexual advances to ‘students’ who were actually undercover investigators.

Less than 48 hours of the broadcast titled ‘Sex for grades’, the University of Ghana has announced their interdiction.

The two are also expected to face the University’s anti-sexual harassment committee probing the scandal.

ALSO: Court acquits Dr Obengfo

”…the University has taken a decision to interdict Prof. Ransford Gyampo and Dr Paul Kwame Butakor, the two lecturers featured in the documentary to allow for further investigations into the matter. 

“In line with University regulations, the two will be invited by the Anti-Sexual Harassment Committee in the next few days to assist with further investigations into the BBC documentary,” the University said in a statement issued on Tuesday.

Sex for grades

Academic institutions in West Africa have increasingly been facing allegations of sexual harassment by lecturers. This type of abuse is said to be endemic, but it’s almost never proven.

ALSO: Audio: BBC’s ‘Sex for Grade’ documentary over-hyped – Atik

After gathering dozens of testimonies, BBC Africa Eye sent undercover journalists posing as students inside the University of Lagos and the University of Ghana.

Female reporters were sexually harassed, propositioned and put under pressure by senior lecturers at the institutions – all the while wearing secret cameras.

This is similar to the cocaine turned baking soda scandal, which hit the police administration on two previous occasions.

The five men are undergoing internal service enquiry.

Deputy Director of Police Public Relations, DSP Shiela Packman told Joy News’ Evans Mensah the officers were clearly in breach of police procedures.

According to her, the East Legon police officers seized the gold from officials of Global Resources Ltd (victims of gold scam) after arresting them in a hotel trying to buy the gold.

The gold was initially tested and confirmed it was real gold but somehow when it was later tested by officials of the police head quarters, the gold had suddenly become fake.

“Five officers of the Legon Police face possible trial,” she said, adding, “a duplicate case docket has been sent to the AG to find out whether the AG will prosecute the matter or the police should go ahead,” DSP Packman said.

The cash amount of GHS1.3 million which officials of Global Resources Ltd paid for the original gold cannot also be traced, DSP Packman admitted, explaining that two other persons are on the police wanted list for bolting with the money.

Background

On 12th November 2016, officials of Global Resources Ltd, met Mr. Courage Gegepe Kobby, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of General Union Investment Agencies, a supposed gold dealer to transact business.

Mr Gegepe had in his possession 13 kilos of gold which was tested by the buyers and found to be real gold.

The buyers being officials of Global Resources Ltd paid for the gold but before they could seal the transaction police officers from Legon raided the hotel and arrested them for buying stolen gold.

They were sent to the Legon Police station put in police custody with the 13 kilos of gold taken away from them by the East Legon Police Commander, DSP Mr. Emmanuel Basintale. The gold was supposed to be exhibit.

The victims were later sent to court and charged with buying stolen gold. They were later released.

Whilst in custody, the victims claimed to have witnesses who saw the police commander return to his office at 4:00 am ostensibly to take away the gold.

Later on the same commander was reported to have brought the gold for testing but this time it was fake.

Director of Strategic & Business Development at Global Resources has described as ludicrous claims by the police that the gold paid for by his company was fake.

James Barbieri, at a press conference in Accra Tuesday said “in all, the buyers paid for eleven kilos of gold but were in possession of thirteen (13) kilos which they paid for since the quality of two (2) were tested and found to be below their standard. They used their own technical gold testing equipment and were very convinced of the quality before the payment was made.”

In a subsequent interview with Joy News, Barbeiri said he does not understand how real gold will turn fake in the hands of the police.

He is also accusing top police officers of trying to cover up but the Deputy Police PRO insists nothing will be put under wraps.

DSP Shiela Packman said the police administration is vigorously investigating the matter and have only recently published pictures of some of the suspects. “The police will not hide anything,” she assured, adding all the officers found culpable will be dealt with.