NPP Will Split If… - Ben Ephson

Posted: The Chronicle Wednesday, 15 April 2009

By Charles Takyi-Boadu

Mr. Ben Ephson, Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Dispatch Political analyst and Editor-in-Chief of the ‘Daily Dispatch’ newspaper, Mr. Ben Ephson has advised the leadership and members of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) to bury their individual differences to enable the party make an impact, since any division could split the party.

He said those belonging to the three factions or blocs in the party, that is, John Agyekum Kufuor, Nana Akufo-Addo and Alan Kyerematen factions should close their ranks and work together.He believes that the activities and operations of these three factions in the party if not checked within the next couple of days could spell NPP’s doom, since it is creating a lot of disunity amongst members and leaders of the party.Ben Ephson, who made this known in an exclusive interview with The Chronicle, stressed that “if the party is not careful, there would be a break-up in the party.” He therefore, stressed the urgent need for the leadership of the party to bury their individual differences and resolve the impasse before it deepens their woes.In 1996, when then Candidate Kufuor lost to ex-President Rawlings, Mr. Ephson noted that there was no campaign within the party to endorse Kufuor for the next elections.Instead, he noted that it became an open contest between Kufuor and Nana Addo, with the former emerging as winner. He therefore, saw no reason why anybody or a group of persons should attempt to circumvent the constitution of the party to prevent an open contest in favour of one candidate.For him, this has the tendency of dividing the party since unfolding events could compel some of its leading members and their supporters to opt out and probably form their own political party.Though there are moves to settle the emerging impasse in the NPP, he emphasized that the cooperation of all sides would be crucial. and Alan Kyerematen blocs.

Rawlings is Frustrated - Ben Ephson

Posted: The Chronicle Thursday, April 9, 2009

By Charles Takyi-Boadu

Political analyst and Editor-in-Chief of the ‘Daily Dispatch’ newspaper, Ben Ephson has described the continuous attack on the character of President John Evans Atta Mills by his former boss, Jerry John Rawlings as an act of frustration.
He believes Jerry Rawlings, who is the founder of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), the party on whose back Mills rode to office is finding it extremely difficult to come to terms with the fact that the incumbent President is exhibiting some level of independence.
In an exclusive interview with the paper to share his thoughts on the raging issues of internal democracy that has hit both the ruling NDC and New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr. Ephson, who is also a renowned Pollster, underscored that though the perception might not necessarily be true, it cannot be ignored in politics, stressing that "it is now becoming clear that Rawlings is getting frustrated by Mills’ fair amount of independence."
Whilst he concedes that Rawlings is very popular, Mr. Ephson noted that his popularity is not enough to win power for the NDC.
According to him, the NDC won the 2008 election based on the character and personality of then candidate Mills, and not through the popularity or personality of Rawlings.
At any given time, he emphasised that both the NDC and NPP need floating voters to win power. "Clearly, Rawlings is not used to his ideas and ideals been neglected, so I think there is a honest frustration for not having his advise adhered to."
That notwithstanding, Ben Ephson believes that the NDC is better placed to come out of the challenges confronting it, with the belief that the situation would not get out of hand.
Tension is brewing in the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) over the continuous attack on the personality of President John Evans Atta Mills by Rawlings.
Credible but confidential sources close to both the seat of government, at the Castle and the party’s Kokomlemle headquarters told The Chronicle that the NDC was still grabbling with the rippling effect of Rawlings’ recent outburst in which he virtually sought to question the authority of the sitting President.
Rawlings is seen by some party members and other members of the public as trying strenuously to usurp the powers of President Mills.
They see Rawlings’ continuous attack on the President as part of a deliberate ploy and ‘hidden agenda’ been hatched to create confusion and also to undermine President Mills for not towing his line.
According to our sources, this is gradually affecting the party, since it is creating factions and power blocs in the party. Under the current circumstance, the party is said to be divided into two power blocs, constituting those who support Rawlings’ actions and those against him, for acting ultra vires, but also believe in Mills’ leadership style.

For those who support Rawlings, the paper’s sources have it that they appear to be unaware of his supposed ‘hidden agenda and are blindly following him because they believe that he is being sidelined from the party, whilst others who support President Mills think Rawlings is harboring the feeling that he can still ‘run the show’ from behind the scene, though he is not in power. The usually calm President is said to have been infuriated by Rawlings’ recent outburst in which he virtually sought to question his authority by raising doubts about his firm grasp on the nation’s administration.
The President is, however, said to have referred the issue to some elders and key stakeholders of the party since the on-going animosity could affect the chances of the party in future elections, considering the fact that Ghanaians are gradually getting fed up with the ex President’s tantrums.

FAMILY SUES CHINESE COMPANY

… Over chilling story of death of employee
Posted:The Chronicle / Friday, April 07, 2009

By Charles Takyi-Boadu
An Accra High Court is set to begin hearing a chilling story, in which a 26 year old Ghanaian, Bismark Adotey Mensah, was crushed to death by a concrete mixing machine, sometime in the year 2007.

The suit has been brought against the China Railway Wuju Corporation, by one Seth Victor Ofoe, for and on behalf of the Ada Bedeku family of Ada Foah, seeking an order from the court to declare that the death of the deceased was not accidental, and that it was intentionally caused by one Chan Jian of the defendant company, and that the defendant was liable for the deceased’s death.

Until his death on May 5, 2007, Bismark was an electrician of the company, which is undertaking certain construction projects in the country.

He was stationed at the company’s offices along the banks of the Korle Lagoon in Accra.

It is the case of lawyers of the plaintiff, Bright Akwetey of Akwetey and Associates, that it had credible information, which has been confirmed by some workers of the defendant company to the effect that the deceased was crushed in a concrete mixer, used and owned by the defendant company on the premises of the same company on May 5, 2007.

He averred that the deceased, who was an electrician, was invited by his Chinese boss, Chan Jian, to enter the concrete mixer with him.

While in the concrete mixer, Jian was said to have instructed the deceased to scrape off pieces of caked cement residue that had gathered along the inner walls of the concrete machine.

Plaintiff family said information it had, which some workers of the same company had equally confirmed, suggested that when the deceased began the assignment he had been given in the concrete mixer, Jian stepped out of the mixer, and immediately pressed the button to switch the machine on, while the deceased was still in the concrete mixer.

In the process, they noted that the machine began crushing the deceased as he yelled for help.

Plaintiff further narrated that that information available to him, indicated that when he Jian heard the deceased screaming in the concrete mixer, he was seen running away from the machine room, but was immediately apprehended by some of the workers, one of whom run to the machine room and switched the engine off.

After the machine was switched off, some workers of the company managed to enter the concrete mixer, and pulled the deceased out.

He was found in a state of shock with his limbs crushed.

The deceased was then rushed to the 37 Military Hospital in Accra, by a driver called Victor Foli, a colleague driver of the company, who was accompanied by others including Daniel Lamptey, Anthony Kumah and one Felix Yeboah.

One Gertrude Martey, Secretary of the company, and another Mrs. Jian, Project Manager, later followed them to the hospital.

On the way to the hospital, the deceased was said to have spoken with the workers, but not long after the doctor had examined him, he gave up the ghost.

A post-mortem report indicated that he died as a result of hemorrhage, abdominal pelvic injuries, and having been trapped inside a working concrete machine.

Plaintiff therefore asserts that by all accounts, the death of the deceased was not accidental, since at the time Jian switched the machine on, there was neither cement, sand nor stones in the concrete mixer for mixing. It is therefore the case of plaintiff that Jian knew very well that there was a human being, in the person of Bismark Adotey Mensah in the concrete mixer, who he himself had instructed to work in the machine.

Plaintiff family are therefore seeking an order of the High Court for the defendant company and Chan Jian, to pay the full cost of the mortuary fees from the day the body was deposited in the morgue, until the day of the burial.

They are also seeking a relief for the payment of a lump sum of GH¢200,000 for the loss of the deceased life, and compensation of GH¢50,000 for the upkeep of the deceased’s wife, child, and mother, and any such orders as the court may deem fit.