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4 students of Comboni arrested for vandalising property at SOGASCO
Four students of Comboni Vocational Technical School (CVTS) have been arrested by the Sogakope District Police Command for allegedly vandalising the main gate of Sogakope Senior High School (SOGASCO) in the South Tongu District of the Volta region.
The incident reportedly occurred on Sunday, March 10, 2024, around 1:00am. Sliding glasses of the main entrance of SOGASCO were allegedly shattered, while mosquito nets of one of the classroom blocks were also torched.
Confirming the incident to JOY News, Headmaster of SOGASCO, Newman Dziedzoave said that even though calm has been restored, four students and four town folks have been picked up by the police in connection with the incident.
“Let me assure you the situation is almost under control. Some arrests have been made this morning by the police and the NIB. So those who were actually behind the destruction, four of them have been picked, and others are on the run. So the four that have been picked are assisting the police with the investigation, together with four additional town boys who happened to be old students of Cambodia, which we suspect were hired to assist them. So the destruction is not only the gate, but one of the classroom blocks as well, “the headmaster confirmed.
Explaining what led to the incident, he said the friction between the two schools started when a student from SOGASCO was admitted to Comboni Hospital a few weeks ago.
“About two weeks ago, a student of ours fell sick, and then one of the officers in the cadet took him to Comboni Hospital. At the hospital, he came out to buy something at the hospital gate for his colleague who was inside the yard. So when he came out, three Comboni students accosted him that he should tuck in his shirt,” he said.
Mr Dziedzoave explained that the SOGASCO student declined by explaining that he’s also a senior in another school and that they did not have any authority to ask him to tuck in at another school. However, they threatened to beat him up if he refused to obey their orders. Sensing danger, he complied and knelt.
According to Mr Dziedzoave, “whilst kneeling, they took videos of him then later, these videos that they took of him, they posted it on their platform that they have conquered SOGASCO.”
This, he said, infuriated the entire student body of SOGASCO. “So on 6th March 2024, when they came for the independence anniversary parade in our school, our students also asked those who put their shirts on to tuck in, but they refused.”
The headmaster indicated that was the last straw that broke the camel’s back.
“So that brought about an exchange. They were throwing stones here and there. And so one of the drivers from Convotech got injured during the process.”
Mr Dziedzoave explained further that even though they could not establish who hit the driver with the stone, they decided to send him to the hospital for medical attention.
However, when the driver was discharged, they took him to the Campus of Comboni only for him to be attacked again by the students.
“So on Thursday, the driver was discharged. We sent him to his campus. When they realised that we were coming from SOGASCO, they started throwing stones at the vehicle, which we reported to the police and their principal. And this morning, this is what they have done to us again.”
Joy News sources within the Sogakope District Police command say the four are still in police custody assisting the investigation. A District Security Council (DISEC) meeting is scheduled on Monday, March 11, 2024, to address the issue. Meanwhile, some students of SOGASCO have told Joy News they are living in fear.
But a former National President of the SOGASCO Old Students Association (SOSA), and an aspiring Member of Parliament (MP) on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the South Tongu Constituency, Maxwell Lukutor, has assured that he would help mediate to find lasting peace between the two schools.
Source:Myjoyonline.com
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ASWIM lauds Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang
The Association of Women in the Media, (ASWIM) has congratulated Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang on her historic achievement as Ghana’s first female Vice President.
The association said her trailblazing journey with sterling accomplishments from academia to politics, is undoubtedly, a vivid inspiration to countless women and girls across Ghana and Africa.
This was contained in a statement signed by its president, Mrs Mavis Kitcher, and copied to The Spectator on Tuesday in Accra.
“ASWIM celebrates your remarkable career, marked by numerous firsts, including the first female Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, (UCC), and the first female to hold a professional chair in Ghana, (UCC),” the statement said.
It said the accomplishments of Prof Opoku- Agyemang were clear testament to the brilliance, resilience and resourceful nature of the complete beautiful African woman.
“As she takes on this new role, ASWIM proudly lauds her commitment to education, women’s empowerment, distinguished public service and patriotism and is very confident that her pursuit of excellence, love for humanity, humility, decency, modesty and commitment to the welfare of the vulnerable will characterise Ghana’s political leadership and public service,” the statement added.
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
Entertainment
Demolition of Fantasy Dome unfair — Mark Okraku-Mantey
Months after the Fantasy Dome was dismantled to make way for construction at the Ghana International Trade Fair site, the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr Mark Okraku-Mantey, has expressed concern over the manner the facility was destroyed.
In an interview on Daybreak Hitz with Andy Dosty, Mr Okraku-Mantey criticised the handling of the dome’s dismantling, suggesting that it could have been done without causing damage.
“I don’t think that leadership gave instructions that they should do what happened. The structure was a prefab but I hear the people destroyed it. That one, we cannot defend it. It is unfair to him (owner). Sometimes, you give instructions and people will go and do things that will make you look bad,” he stated.
When asked about any punitive measure against the workers responsible for the destruction, Mr Okraku-Mantey clarified that the Trade Fair does not fall under his ministry.
He said he had previously contacted the owner, Leslie Quaynor, to discuss relocating the dome, and even suggested the National Museum as a potential site, though it was too small.
The demolition of the 20,000-seater Fantasy Dome occurred on March 16, 2024.
According to Dr Agnes Adu, CEO of the Ghana Trade Fair Company Limited, the action was taken after multiple notices were given to Quaynor to vacate the premises for redevelopment, as per their tenancy agreement.
Dr Adu noted that all previous tenants had complied except for the Fantasy Dome.
Quaynor, in an interview with JoyNews, confirmed that his lease had ended, and was in the process of relocating the dome.
He had requested an extension, which was denied, leading him to seek a writ and an injunction from an Accra High Court to halt the demolition.
Despite this, the demolition proceeded, causing significant damage to the structure.
Quaynor described the incident as a major setback, not only for his business but also for the entertainment industry, which relies on venues like the Fantasy Dome.
