Women groups present petition to Attorney General

Women's groups in the Accra Metropolis will on Monday present a petition to the Attorney General over the killing of women in Accra in the past two years.

The executives of the Women's Wing of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), who announced this at a meeting in Accra called on women workers around the ministries, market women and other women's organizations to be in mourning cloth for the presentation. The march would be under the theme "Sister's Keeper" and a Guide to Safety Planning". The women said they think that they are not being adequately protected by the state security agencies. "It is important that we take steps to ensure our safety". They appealed to women to always travel with someone they know especially at night, avoid taking taxis alone especially at night, to know their surroundings and avoid unfamiliar areas. Those on shift and close work at night or early morning should find a co-worker to walk with and should let a friend or family member know their movements.

The executives noted that women should know that they have a constitutional right to be protected.

Some men interviewed by the GNA were of the view that women should learn to protect themselves before they could be protected. "We totally support women in their march to present the petition to the Attorney-General but they should also try as much as possible to observe some personal security measures," a public servant said. He said it is frightening to see women standing by the roadside at night asking for lift. "You should learn to protect yourself. One lift can prove fatal," he said.

Meanwhile, more than 50 of Ghana's cream of musicians have teamed up to produce three albums aimed at conscientising Ghanaians on pertinent matters that could change the fortunes of the country. The first of the albums, "Dedicated to our dear women", is in memory of the women recently murdered in parts of Accra and to express solidarity with bereaved families. The two other albums would be titled, "Ghana Land of Peace" and is aimed at promoting peace before and after election 2000, while the third, "HIV/AIDS" is meant to raise the awareness of Ghanaians about the risks posed by the disease. Alhaji Sidiku Buari, MUSIGA President, said "as opinion leaders in society we find it necessary to add our voices to condemn these shameful acts of destroying our mothers without whom none of us would belong to this motherland of ours."

Soldier, accomplices rob trader of 1.3 million cedis

Private Sarpong Kumankuma of the Sunyani Three Garrison and three accomplices last week at about 2130 hours, allegedly robbed a trader of 1.3 million cedis at Techiman.

Pte Kumankuma, dressed in military uniform and wielding a jack knife, allegedly snatched a polythene bag containing the money from the victim, Yaason Iddrisu, gave it to his accomplices who fled with it before he was arrested. A source close to the Brong Ahafo Regional Police Criminal Investigations Department (CID) told the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Sunyani, that the victim was in Techiman with a friend, Alhassan Kasim, to buy a second hand refrigerator. The source said when the two realised that they would have to spend the night, they decided to check in at the Tano River Hotel, but before they could reach there, their taxicab was blocked by another taxicab carrying Pte Kumankuma and his gang. Pte Kumankuma came out accusing Iddrisu of dealing in fake currencies and said he had arrested Iddrisu and was taking him to the police station for dealing in fake currencies.

However, midway, Pte Kumankuma stopped and ordered Iddrisu to get out of the car or be stabbed. It was at this juncture that Iddrisu realized that his purported arrest was a cover up and, therefore, raised the alarm and the soldier was arrested. Pte Kumankuma is being kept at the guardroom of the Garrison pending further investigations.