FRAUDSTERS ON THE LOOSE @ XMAS

At about 9:15am today December 29, 2011, I heard my dogs bark and was drawn to the gate by the incessant barking of the dogs only to be met by a gentleman with a knapsack on his back curiously taking a study of my features. We exchanged pleasantries and I asked him of his mission. He smiled and spoke in Broken English that he was from the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation [GBc] and that he is a member of a ‘Task Force’ moving from house to house to inspect TV Licences.

I asked him what License he meant and that if he was unaware of the Public announcement from the same Ghana Broadcasting Corporation [GBC] somewhere in the middle of the year suspending the payment of TV Licenses till further notice? He admitted he was aware BUT they are just going from house to house “gathering data on all those who have Television sets and the CODES of their Licences”.

I was disconcerted and told him I could not comprehend his arguments. I advised him to go back to GBC and pick up either a letter of authority or an Identity Card before I grant him entry to my compound.

Immediately after this exchange, I made a few calls to the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation to ascertain this unusual exercise. Interestingly, I was informed to let the Police pick up any person who comes again purporting to be from the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation and on such a mission.

My ephemeral encounter with this odd young man aroused my sense of curiosity and security and I wondered how many homes he had been before finally making it to my place and where he was going from there and how much money he had extorted from these innocent residents in his attempt to threaten them with one action or the other.

We are still in the festive season and I recall the Ghana Police Service warned the public that we should be in the lookout for suspicious characters that might come by our homes and offices under the guise of fixing broken pipes, checking utility bills or to deliver parcels from unknown persons. These people could be thieves or armed robbers who are on a scouting mission to identify possible targets.

In as much as we should be conscious as citizens not to fall for such tricksters and fraudsters, I think it is equally important that we drum home the sophisticated modus operandi of these hoodlums walking about neatly dressed and in some cases with fake ID Cards.

These institutions that mandate others to carry out such duties on their behalf must duly inform the public on these operations and their timeline so residents are not taken by surprise.

In this particular case, I expect the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation and well as other media houses to repeat that announcement to the public to avoid situations as I found myself in this morning.

I wish all my readers Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

“okhada bizness” in Ghana @ the Crossroads

According to CitiNews at 11am, on Tuesday February 1, 2011, a group of young men numbering about 500 besieged the House of Parliament seeking the House to heed their call to legitimize the use of motor cycles for Commercial transport services in the capital.
Inasmuch as it rests within their rights granted under the 1992 Constitution, I believe their reported invasion of the House of Parliament to virtually intimidate the august House to do their bidding leaves much to be desired.

Beside the security breaches that their actions have posed the members of parliament and the staff, I am yet to understand how any individual or group of people can just organize themselves in a mob and then go to that area let alone enter the House of parliament without any notice to the Police. The Public Order Act mandates this group of young men to have notified the police in advance before they rushed to the House of Parliament to make their case.

Maybe they are unaware of the existence of such a law or they cared less about it anyway or they were just not ready to use the appropriate channels to seek redress to their grievances. I wonder what that House of Parliament would be reduced to if any group of persons can defy the Public order Act and rush there to intimidate our MPs into doing one thing or the order. Judging from what happens in other parliaments across the globe vis-à-vis threats of terrorist activities, it is only appropriate that we took security of the august House and these who work there more seriously before we are overtaken by surprise.

Commercializing motor cycle activities is not a new phenomenon in Ghana. Indeed there are many places in the Northern parts of this country that depend heavily on motorcycles for reasons which are not too different from the situation in Accra.

Foremost, commercializing their activities could be an income generating venture for those who might be attracted into the business. Motorcycles are cheaper to maintain than vehicles owing to the fact that their spare parts are readily available on the market with ever-waiting mechanics to fix a broken down motorcycle.

Indeed, it would have a direct effect on technical and skill training for those who would want to go into apprenticeship after dropping out of the mainstream educational system.

Second, commercial motorcycle users will pay tolls or taxes to Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies. Payment if insurance premium would also be mandatory. It might be marginal but it will be additional revenue to the insurance firms and the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies all over the country. This will ensure that only properly insured and licensed motorcycled would be operational our roads.

Third, the cost of transport fares might come down due to stiff competition between the vehicles and the motorcycles. It is noticeable that soon after the NPA review prices of petroleum products in the country, many commercial drivers take advantage of the situation and make huge profits by arbitrary increases in fares while passengers are left helpless.

In some cases, open fights erupt on-board vehicles and lorry stations over disagreement in charges. The introduction of commercial motorbikes will therefore offer a choice to the passenger as to what mode of transport one could take at a cost one will bargain for. Short distances would be covered at cheaper fares than hiring taxis for same service.

Forth, many areas that are difficult to access by road will be quite easy to reach on motorbikes.

Conversely, commercializing motor cycles might expose us to many dangers across the country. Already armed robbers use motorcycles to engage in their unholy activities including maiming their victims. More motorcycles on our roads will thus witness a rise in such case as many of these hoodlums might become motor riders overnight and rob their unsuspecting victims in their homes, in dark areas, churches, among others.

It might equally worsen the traffic situation in the capital. During the rush hour, many of these riders might incur the wrath of vehicle users as they criss-cross the traffic lights, change lanes without ample notice and clog the limited spaces on the walkways, bus stops and lorry stations.

We might just brace ourselves up for more accidents on our roads. Children, the elderly and women would be the victims. In short, lawlessness and crime might actually increase on our roads and in our neighborhood once the activities of the motorcycles are legalized.

The numbers might look manageable from the onset, but as many young men and women begin to join in the business, the police might be overwhelmed by the numbers and enforcement of laws and regulations. Chaos will be the direct outcome and frustrations on our roads might even escalate.

As it stands, I presume Parliament will take time to review the petition and engage in a wider national consultation on the matter so that as many people as possible can consider the issue and a final decision taken in the interest of the people parliamentarians represent.

Anything done in a rush today in that respect will only create more problems for road users if time is not taken to discuss this matter and broader interests sought in spite of the advantages that come with legalizing the operations of the motor cycle users.

I wish my readers a Happy New year.