They made the call when the two Security Chiefs paid a day’s working visit to the Aflao-Segbe borders in the Volta Region,and took turns to address personnel of both agencies.

The joint visit by the two forms part of strategies to strengthen the Integrated Border Management (IBM) initiative being adopted by the two agencies, and was also to afford them the opportunity to interact with the personnel.

In his opening remarks, the Commissioner of CD-GRA underscored the need for personnel of the two agencies to work together in the interest of the country.

He illustrated the bond of friendship that exists between the two security chiefs as an example worthy of emulation by the personnel.

Mr. Isaac Crenstil further emphasized the need for both agencies to share intelligence and work together, adding that, the days of needless rivalry between the two agencies should be a thing of the past.

He noted that the success of the IBM project was dependent on a well-coordinated border management approach. He, therefore, encouraged personnel to emulate the good working relations that existed between the Senior Officers of the two agencies.

The Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kwame Asuah Takyi, admonished officers to eschew all forms of conflicts and perceived tension that existed between personnel of the two agencies at the border.

He noted that personnel should be mindful of such unnecessary perception, and that such perception could be a reality if not nipped in the bud.

“Perception can be a reality if care is not taken. Allow a sense of unity and purpose to prevail among of you and work in the national interest,” he said.

The Comptroller General intimated that, as a way to strengthen the bond of friendship among the two agencies, a joint end of year get-to-gather (WASSA) should be held among personnel of GIS and CD-GRA at the Aflao Sector Commands, adding that, the migrant band of the GIS will be in attendance to provide good music.

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

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This was contained in a communique issued by the two agencies at the end of a-three-day workshop, held at Dodowa in the Eastern Region.

It noted that, the two agencies were working together to establish an Integrated Border Management (IBM) to provide effective and efficient border management in the country, stating that, as part of the processes, the two agencies have agreed to jointly patrol the borders, share intelligence and information, use resources common to the two agencies, undertake joint operations and investigations as well as training.

The communique noted that, the initiative started in the year 2014 with a-five-member technical committee from the two agencies tasked to come out with a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).

The initiative received further boost with the reconstitution of the committee in July this year, to finalize the MOU, SOP and the design of an implementation plan, it added.

It indicated that, global trends revealed the harmonization of border management of customs and immigration operations towards efficient facilitation of travel and trade among nations, and the decisive onslaught against transnational organized crime.

It said the two agencies have agreed to pilot the IBM project at the Aflao Border Post, and later extend it to all Border Posts.

“The two agencies have also drawn up an implementation plan and detailed manual on operational procedures to support the practical implementation of the IBM”, it stated.

It recognized that, the current border management system in the country was uncoordinated, ineffective and inefficient.

This it said was due to lack of cooperation between border agencies owing to the lack of appropriate legal and administrative framework.

The communique noted that, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), had been developed to finalize and give effect to the agreement.

The three-day workshop was under the auspices of Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA)

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Monday, a member of CEPS communication team, Paa Kow Ekumah, said they also do not think something untoward happened during the clearing of the goods.

“In the case of this chicken, yes, the full work hasn’t been done yet, and we have our officers down there and I’m sure in a matter of a day or two, we will come to the conclusion of it. But nothing really has gone wrong that has to do with Customs having done the wrong thing or even the FDA,” he added.

[contextly_sidebar id=”SxSpc9naPlZt2uGxpQOKugLEsifeuuvl”]Mr. Ekumah also said they are investigating the matter to ascertain the entire truth.

“That issue has come up and we are seriously looking at it – investigations going on from different angles. It’s a little sensitive now and it’s a little early to draw conclusions but what we know is that when it comes to Customs, we will always make sure that we will not find ourselves at the wrong side of the law.”

The Herald newspaper on Monday reported that, thousands of Ghanaians may be in danger as credible information they have from the Tema Ports suggests that, some unwholesome frozen food products, have found their way into the country under bizarre circumstances.

Not all the chicken were rotten – FDA

The Foods and Drugs Board (FDA), one of the bodies involved in supervising such products, also defended its action, saying not all the chicken were rotten at the time they saw it at the Tema Port.

According to the FDA, after  its officer assigned to the consignment realized that not all the chickens were rotten, ordered for the unwholesome ones to be destroyed, but prevented the company [that imported the products] from clearing a second consignment full with frozen chicken.

The Head of Public Affairs at FDA, James Lartey told Bernard Avle on the Citi Breakfast Show that, although the second consignment was embargoed, they later realized that it had been cleared.

He explained that their officer was subsequently able to detain 2,800 cartons of the embargoed consignment.

“I don’t know why our officer should be blamed in this instance. In the first place, he has allowed a product to be cleared…he went there, he did sorting, there was a second institution that was among the sorting team, samples were taken, the wholesome ones were kept and the unwholesome ones were destroyed. What has he done wrong? I don’t know how I’m going to blame our officer.”

Mr. Lartey noted that “With the second consignment, he had clearly agreed that the product should not be cleared, and it has been cleared, how do you blame him?”

“He has followed up and found 2,800 cartons of the one that was not supposed to be cleared, and he has detained them, and you blame the officer for what?”

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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The Herald newspaper reported on Monday that, thousands of Ghanaians may be in danger as credible information they have from the Tema Ports suggests that, some unwholesome frozen food products, have found their way into the country under bizarre circumstances.

But according to the FDA, its officer assigned to the consignment realized that not all the chickens were rotten, and thus ordered for the unwholesome ones to be destroyed, but prevented the company from clearing a second consignment full of frozen chicken.

[contextly_sidebar id=”hmthvVEcReSKn53vDMbI4mL1zN9fmbfq”]Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on the matter, the Head of Public Affairs at FDA, James Lartey, said although the second consignment was embargoed, they realized later that, it had been cleared.

He explained that, their officer who was assigned to the consignment, was subsequently able to detain 2,800 cartons of the embargoed consignment.

“I don’t know why our officer should be blamed in this instance. In the first place, he has allowed a product to be cleared…he went there, he did sorting, there was a second institution that was among the sorting team, samples were taken, the wholesome ones were kept and the unwholesome ones were destroyed. What has he done wrong? I don’t know how I’m going to blame our officer.”

Mr. Lartey noted that, “With the second consignment, he had clearly agreed that the product should not be cleared, and it has been cleared, how do you blame him?”

“He has followed up and found 2,800 cartons of the one that was not supposed to be cleared, and he has detained it, and you blame the officer for what?”

Don’t blame us – CEPS

The Customs Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), has said it is investigating the matter.

CEPS, however said it cannot be blamed for the issue.

Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Monday, a member of the CEPS communication team, Paa Kow Ekumah, said although they do not think something untoward had occurred, they won’t leave anything to chance, as a probe is underway into the incident.

“That issue has come up, and we are seriously looking at it – investigations are going on from different angles. It’s a little sensitive now, and it’s a little early to draw conclusions. But what we know is that, when it comes to Customs, we will always make sure that we will not find ourselves on the wrong side of the law.”

“In the case of this chicken, yes, the full work hasn’t been done yet, and we have our officers down there and I’m sure in a matter of a day or two, we will come to a conclusion on it. But nothing really has gone wrong that has to do with Customs having done the wrong thing or even the FDA,” he added.

Rotten products destroyed

This comes on the back of some impounded rotten mackerel that found its way into the country.

The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) on October 1, 2017, destroyed 4,500 cartons of unwholesome canned fish that were said to be in transit to Togo, but were diverted onto the Ghanaian market.

–

By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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The Herald newspaper reported on Monday that thousands of Ghanaians may be in danger as credible information they have from the Tema Ports suggests that, some unwholesome frozen food products, have found their way into the country under bizarre circumstances.

Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Monday, a member of the CEPS communication team, Paa Kow Ekumah, said although they do not think something untoward had occurred, they won’t leave anything to chance, as a probe is underway into the incident.

“That issue has come up and we are seriously looking at it – investigations are going on from different angles. It’s a little sensitive now, and it’s a little early to draw conclusions. But what we know is that, when it comes to Customs, we will always make sure that we will not find ourselves at the wrong side of the law.”

“In the case of this chicken, yes, the full work hasn’t been done yet, and we have our officers down there and I’m sure in a matter of a day or two, we will come to a conclusion on it. But nothing really has gone wrong that has to do with Customs having done the wrong thing or even the FDA,” he added.

This comes on the back of some impounded rotten mackerel that found its way into the country.

The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) also on October 1, 2017 destroyed 4,500 cartons of unwholesome canned fish, that were said to be on transit to Togo, but were diverted onto the Ghanaian market.

Mr. Ekumah explained that, with the mackerels, they were bound for Togo and not Ghana.

“The other one that has to do with sardine, that one was diverted goods. They were not meant for Ghana’s consumption, they were meant for Togo. So with that one, nothing really went wrong as far as CEPS or FDA are concerned. When there are goods declared as transit consignment, the FDA would not be hauled to come and work on them just because they are not meant for home consumption.”

“Customs will not be tasked to exact duties on them because they are not meant for home consumption.  Ours is to make sure we expedite any documentation that has to do with them, and then we police them to leave the country – at the point of exit. What we do is that, we try to attach satellite devices to them,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Food and Drugs Authority, FDA, has explained that, only a portion of the entire container had rotten chicken in it, and they were sorted out and destroyed with the help of veterinary officers.

–

By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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The Finder Newspaper on Friday reported that, 500 kilograms of cocaine worth about $30 million dollars had disappeared from the Port under mysterious circumstances.

But the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Tema Port, Juana Adda, told Citi News that they were only told by the Joint Port Control Unit (JPCU) that the containers were carrying rice.

[contextly_sidebar id=”zqCLNnSDCjzwQOOdA5LR6BShxzuymWVp”]“Yes indeed, the said containers were delivered to Depot 10 last year around November/December 2016, the joint Port control unit wrote to [Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority] GPHA, requesting the authority to prompt them when the said containers were due to be sent to the Golden Jubilee. In other words, the said containers should not move out of the terminal without their knowledge.”

“The unit further requested that, the said boxes would have to go through scanning before they are conveyed to the Golden Jubilee Terminal (GJP). The letter to GPHA did not state the reason for that directive. The letter did not indicate that cocaine was concealed in one of the containers,” she told Citi News on Friday.

The PRO explained that, the importer of the rice in February 2017, wrote a letter to the Customs Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) requesting to send samples to the lab for testing which she said was approved by CEPS.

“Following Customs approval, GPHA moved one of the containers to the state warehouse,” she added.

When asked whether Tema Port alerted the Joint Control Team about the development, Madam Adda explained that “Customs [CEPS] is part of the Joint Control Unit and whatever sampling would be done, NACOB is a member of the committee so if it has to do with sampling all of them would be part.”

“I believe that when they asked us to move the container, we complied with their directive. It was the duty of CEPS to also inform other members of the team that indeed this was happening. NACOB and Customs under these circumstances would have worked together,” she noted.

Why wasn’t there 24-hour surveillance?

She further blamed NACOB for the missing cocaine if indeed there was any, since according to her, the board could have mounted a 24-hour surveillance on the containers.

“If NACOB knew that cocaine has been concealed in one of the containers, the onus was on them to have taken over and mounted a 24-hour surveillance until such time that the importer was ready to clear. Maybe they could have hinted us that there was cocaine in this container and that is why we are doing this,” she said.

No cocaine missing – CEPS Tema Port commander

Meanwhile, the Sector Commander of CEPS, of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), at the Tema Port, Confidence Nyadzi, has also dismissed claims that some cocaine had disappeared from the Port.

According to him, thorough investigations conducted by the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), Narcotics Control Board (NACOB), the Ministry of Interior and other sector institutions, revealed that no container with cocaine had been detained at the Port.

“I can tell you that there is no truth in that reportage. I know that this matter has been dealt with at the office of the Minister of Interior and at that meeting was the commissioner of customs, the ex-commissioner, Mr. John Vianney, myself, NACOB and the relevant stakeholders. We looked at all the issues involved, as to whether there was a cocaine missing or not, I don’t think anybody can tell you that. And I’m telling you that the report is misleading. There was no cocaine in Tema Port in anybody’s custody which got missing,” Mr Nyadzi insisted.

–

By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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According to him, thorough investigations conducted by the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), Narcotics Control Board (NACOB), the Ministry of Interior and other sector institutions, revealed that no container with cocaine had been detained at the Port.

[contextly_sidebar id=”FdavEyM0ribiUzfZALknvLEDs1XKtKAP”]This is contrary to The Finder newspaper’s report suggesting that 10 bags of cocaine, hidden in a consignment of rice with an estimated street value of about $30million, has vanished from the Tema Port under mysterious circumstances.

The said container was detained on December 2016, but speaking to Citi News’ Franklin Badu Jnr, Mr Nyadzi insisted that, the report cannot be true.

“I can tell you that there is no truth in that reportage. I know that this matter has been dealt with at the office of the Minister of Interior and at that meeting was the commissioner of customs, the ex-commissioner, Mr. John Vianney, myself, NACOB and the relevant stakeholders. We looked at all the issues involved, as to whether there was a cocaine missing or not, I don’t think anybody can tell you that. And I’m telling you that the report is misleading. There was no cocaine in Tema Port in anybody’s custody which got missing.”

“We have done investigation, BNI has done investigation, NACOB is doing investigation. It is expected that we will know what exactly the story is; whether there is cocaine at all or not. On authority, I can tell you that I’m not aware of any cocaine shipment. I’m the head of Customs at Tema Port and I’m not aware of cocaine shipment. I am telling you categorically that I am not aware of any missing cocaine at Tema Port. If somebody says so perhaps he has some facts I don’t have,” he added.

Finder report on ‘missing’ cocaine

According to the Finder newspaper, a ship carrying some containers with cocaine onboard arrived in Tema Pot in December 2016, but the suspected cocaine vanished before February 23, 2017, when all stakeholders conducted compulsory tests on the container.

The report stated that, K9 Dogs which are specially trained to detect cocaine, confirmed traces of cocaine in the said container, while UK’s Operation West Bridge also conducted sampling by the use of itemisers which also confirmed traces of cocaine.

The newspaper also said separate investigations it conducted on the suspected missing cocaine by the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) and Customs, have been submitted to the Interior Minister and the Attorney General’s offices.

–

By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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The Guinean singer, who is based in France, was given just a local anaesthetic and hypnotised to help with the pain during the operation in Paris.

Kante was nervous about losing her voice, but in a “world first” her surgeon suggested she sing throughout.

He said one slip of his scalpel could have destroyed her singing voice.

‘Into a trance’

Professor Giles Dhonneur, who is head of the anaesthesia and intensive care department at Henri Mondor hospital, performed the operation in April but gave a press conference over the weekend, playing a video of Kante singing as he worked.

Kante had a tumour on the parathyroid gland, but because she was singing during the “critical moments” the surgeon could be sure the operation “was going well”.

Professor Dhonneur said it was the first time a tumour has been removed using the technique, as the procedure would usually be carried out under general anaesthetic.

“The pain of such an operation is intolerable if you are fully awake. Only hypnosis enables you to stand it,” he was reported as saying by to French publication Le Figaro.

“She went into a trance listening to the words of the hypnotist. She went a long way away, to Africa. And she began to sing – it was amazing,” he said.

The Times reported that singer Kante, who has made a full recovery, was also at the press conference where she revealed she had been asked before the operation if she wanted to “travel”.

“I let myself be guided. It’s as though I was not in the operating theatre at all, I was far away in Senegal,” she said.

Dhonneur said Kante had fallen silent at the end of the procedure, when “everyone held their breath” before she spoke, much to the relief of the room.

Source: BBC

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