Austen Harrison, four, from Crawley, West Sussex, has been named as the boy who died after being struck by a mirror in a Hugo Boss shop at Bicester Outlet Village in Oxfordshire

This is the first picture of the four-year-old who died after being struck by a falling mirror at a Hugo Boss shop.

Austen Harrison, of Crawley, West Sussex, was killed earlier this month at the Bicester Shopping Village in Oxfordshire.

His parents have now released a photograph of their son and issued a public statement through their solicitor.

Mr and Mrs Harrison, whose full names were not given, said: ‘Austen was a bright and vibrant boy who injected life into everything he touched.

‘His energy and creativity will be missed every day by all who met him and by those who did not have the privilege to meet him.’

The family is planning to set up a foundation in Austen’s name to help improve the lives of other children, the family added.

Tragedy struck as the family shopped in the outlet store at around 8.40pm on June 8.

It is not yet known how big the mirror was or what caused it to fall but Thames Valley Police and Oxfordshire County Council’s Environmental Health department are investigating.

The tragedy struck as the family shopped in the outlet store at around 8.40pm on June 8

An inquest into Austen’s death is set to be opened in Oxford tomorrow.

Retailer Hugo Boss released a statement today about the tragic death of Austen Harrison.

It read: ‘All of us at Hugo Boss remain devastated at the death of Austen Harrison on Saturday June 8th after the accident on June 4th.

‘It is a terrible tragedy, we are receiving condolences for the family from Hugo Boss employees and other people from all over the world who share their sympathies.

‘We will continue assisting the authorities in any way with an investigation into the accident.’

An off-duty doctor treated the boy until emergency services arrived at the store.

The Health and Safety Executive said that they were not involved in the investigation as shops are the responsibility of local authorities.

The Bicester Village also published a statement at the time.

It said: ‘Everyone at Bicester Village is deeply saddened by this tragic accident. We send our heartfelt condolences to the family and our thoughts and prayers are with them.

‘The matter is now under investigation and there is no further comment at this time.’

Dailymail

Ebo Barton Oduro

Pressure is mounting on the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Mr. Ebo Barton-Odro to resign, in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling in the Martin Amidu versus Waterville case.

The latest to demand the resignation of Mr. Barton-Odro is the Progressive People’s Party, which wants the Cape Coast North Member of Parliament to first remove himself from the position of Deputy Speaker to “restore dignity to Parliament”.

The PPP further wants Mr. Barton-Odro to step down as a Member of Parliament “as a sign of respect and remorse for his actions against the State when he was Deputy Minister of Justice and Attorney-General”.

Mr. Barton-Odro as Deputy A-G, publicly defended the state’s failure to file a defence to claims brought against it by Water Holdings Ltd. and businessman Alfred Agbesi Woyome. He insisted the state had no case and that attempting to defend the actions brought against it would have resulted in further liabilities. The state, therefore, entered into settlement agreements with the claimants in which tens of millions of dollars were paid to them.

A former Attorney-General, Martin Amidu maintained the monies were wrongly paid to the claimants. He took his case to the Supreme Court which last week granted his reliefs and ordered Waterville to return to the state an amount of 25 million Euros is illegally obtained.

A statement issued Tuesday by the PPP’s National Secretary, Kofi Asamoah-Siaw said: “The PPP campaigned on the platform of incorruptible leadership and we wish to hold Mr. Barton-Odro to this principle”.

“We cannot continue to glorify persons whose actions or omissions have injured the State by giving them additional responsibilities especially in positions where they are expected to hold governments or the executive accountable”.

The PPP called on President John Mahama to “demonstrate a clear and present commitment to the fight against corruption and put pressure on the party he leads to strip Mr. Barton-Odro of the position if he refuses to resign.

“It has become more evident the need to separate the Attorney-General’s Office from the Ministry of Justice so that corrupt officials would not procure party cards as an insurance against prosecution”.

Myjoyonline

Double tragedy: Charleigh Disbrey, 15 (left), and Mert Karaoglan, 18 (right), both died last night after being hit by a train close to Elstree and Borehamwood station

A teenage boy and a girl from the same secondary school died after being hit by a train just outside a station in a suspected suicide pact.

Charleigh Disbrey, 15, and Mert Karaoglan, 18, were found on the tracks around 200 yards from Elstree and Borehamwood station.

The pupils went to Hertswood Academy in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, where they were in years 10 and 13.

Charleigh, known as CJ, dreamed of being a professional musician and had posted videos of herself performing on YouTube.

In a final video posted five days before she died, the schoolgirl had recorded herself singing David Guetta’s Titanium.

Last night paramedics were called at 9pm to the scene where Charleigh and Mert were hit by the cross-London First Capital Connect train service from St Albans to Sutton.

The train was travelling at speeds of up to 90mph when it hit the two teenagers.

Charleigh, who only turned 15 last Friday, said she had auditioned for Britain’s Got Talent and Must be the Music.

She wrote online: ‘I have gone for pre auditions on must be the music and Britain’s got talent. I perform in school assemblies.

‘Whenever it is possible, I have been the lead part in two musical performances at school (secondary school) I am soon going to be recording my own album at my school recording studio.

‘I Write and compose A LOT of my own music and music is the only thing I ever do.’

Mert, who was in the sixth form, was studying A-levels in Media, Photography and Business.

He wrote last month that he hoped to attend Hertfordshire University to study Visual Effects and would be working on his film making through the summer months.

He said: ‘I am currently studying Photography as an A Level subject within Hertswood School,and the reason why I have taken that subject is because I have a big interest within photography and how we can simply document our lives by taking photographs and how technology has improved over the years to take photography as a subject or a hobby to new levels.’

As news of the double tragedy broke today, flowers were left at the scene which said: ’Rest In Peace, CJ and Mert. Never forgotten’.

Friends of the pair paid wrote on Twitter ‘R.I.P Cj and Mert such wonderful and talented people, you will be truly missed xxxxx.’

Another person wrote: ‘R.I.P CJ and MERT!! So sad!! Thoughts are with family and friends!!’

A spokesman for British Transport Police said the deaths were not being treated as suspicious.

He said: ‘Two teenagers who died after being struck by a train close to Elstree and Borehamwood station are believed to be 15-year-old Charleigh Disbrey and an 18-year-old man. Both were from the Borehamwood area.

‘The incident was reported to BTP at 8.57pm and was attended by officers from BTP and Hertfordshire Constabulary.

‘Medics from East of England Ambulance Service also attended the incident but sadly the two teenagers were pronounced dead at the scene.’

Superintendent Phil Wilkinson said: ‘Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the two teenagers involved in last night’s tragic and acutely sad incident.

‘Although my officers are continuing their investigations, as part of our work to prepare a file for the local Coroner, there are not thought to be any suspicious circumstances and no one else is believed to have been involved.’
Roger Perkins, a spokesman for First Capital Connect, said: ‘Two youths were hit by our St Albans to Sutton southbound service, 200 yards north of Elstree and Borehamwood station on the Thameslink route.

‘There were no passengers on board the train but there were two drivers in the cab, both of whom are being offered our full care and support.

‘The emergency services were on the scene investigating and, together with Network Rail, we have been doing everything we can to help.

‘This was a shocking incident and our hearts go out to those involved. We have been giving our full support to our employees who were at the scene and will do all we can to help the emergency services in their investigation.’

Dailymail

Drugs

Members of the Government and Hospital Pharmacists Association (GHOSPA) have also called off their two-month-old strike. 

The Pharmacists who work in public hospitals across the country went on a strike in April over their market premium on the Single Spine Salary Structure. 

The market premium of pharmacists has been the problem between the GHOSPA and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) for over past 18 months. 

The Secretary of GHOSPA, Franklin Acheampong who confirmed to Citi News that strike has been called off said the decision was taken at a national delegates conference. 

According to him “members considered that, they have become aware of the various pleadings that have been made by the general public and their friends and so, taking into consideration the court proceeding going on in which the National Labour Commission seeks to enforce its ruling, the option for them now is to suspend their strike and resume work. The strike is almost three months now. We have had reports from various hospitals that the internally generated funds, obtained by the sale of drugs have fallen and it has affected a lot of institutions.” 

He also added that “these issues were all known before members embarked on strike we have had informal discussions from well-meaning Ghanaians and we know because we had a ruling there will be the need for us to wait for the final verdict.”

Citifmonline

Nana Akuffo-Addo

The leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) will like to urge its teeming supporters not to mass up at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) tomorrow Wednesday 19th of June 2013 as the 2012 Presidential Candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo returns from a short trip to the United Kingdom.

Intelligence gathered shows that it will not be in our interest and to the larger public interest to mass up at the airport to welcome him.

It is therefore advised that all party faithful who wish to show solidarity and welcome Nana Akufo-Addo back are welcome to do so at his residence at Nima on Thursday during the day.

We are grateful to all who have kept faith with us and have shown concern.

We are also thankful to the general public for the support and prayers.

Long Live the NPP.

Long Live Ghana.

Kukurudu!

……signed……

Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie

General Secretary, NPP.

Source: Communications Directorate, NPP/Ghana

She said the Ministry of Education will liaise with the Ministry of Finance to ensure that grants for the schools are released on time to avert the current hardship some of the schools are facing.

“Generally speaking, sometimes the money is not released on time and it is always a challenge for the schools, especially those that have special needs. So we are going to liaise with the Ministry of Finance to do whatever we need to do to ensure that the monies are released on time,” she said.

She said the Ministry will also make a case for funds to be released for the completion of structures in the various schools to cater for the increasing number of children.

“We need to make a case for the structures to be completed because we know that the students have special needs and we need to help them as much as we can,” she noted.

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang gave this assurance when she visited some schools in the Greater Accra and Eastern regions to supervise the commencement of the 2013 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

At exactly 9:00am most students were ready for the English Language paper one which was followed by part two of the same paper and Social Studies paper one to be written later in the afternoon.

The minister, together with the heads of department of her ministry toured the Kanda Cluster of Schools, Achimota School, Accra Girls Schools, Anunmle Junior High School and the Legon Junior High School in the Greater Accra Region and the Mampong Demonstration School for the Deaf and the Akuapem Mampong School for the Blind.

At the Accra Girls School, one of the centres for the examination, 457 students from 15 schools were expected to sit for the English Language paper one examination, but four students were absent as at 10:00am when the minister visited the school.

There were two students from the 220 students expected to take part in the exam that did not turn up At the Anunmle Junior High School

Nine deaf students and 24 blind students also took part in the exanimation.

Prof. Agyemang expressed satisfaction at the smooth commencement of the examinations and encouraged the students to abide by the regulations of the exams adding that she had confidence they will make good grades.

At the Ledzekuku Municipality some teachers were seen as early as 8:00am in classrooms leading students in morning devotion to seek the face of God for the exams.

Teachers and head teachers who were present at morning assembly of the LEKMA Cluster of School told candidates to remember the rules and regulations guiding the examinations and also reminded them not to forget their index numbers since failure to indicate it could affect them adversely.

It was noticed that some students writing a major examination for the first time were accompanied by their parents apparently to give them moral support with some expressing high confidence.

Examination papers had also arrived early that morning and supervisors together with some policemen were on guard, indicating that the seal will only be broken after all students were set for the paper at 9:00am.

Kanda Schools

At the Kanda Cluster of Schools, candidates were busy with Social Studies paper one when the newspaper visited the school in the afternoon.

The supervisors in charge, Nutifafa Mortey and Mrs. Odame-Larbi indicated that a total of 494 students from nine public schools which include Nima no. 1 and 2 JHS, Ring Road East JHS and the Institute of Islamic Studies and St Kizito RC JHS.

They stated that the number this year is an improvement on that of previous years, adding that most students, in recent times, have attached some seriousness to their academic work except for two students who travelled outside the country and so have absented themselves from the exams.

Some students in the primary schools in the capital were, however, asked to stay home and report after the completion of the ongoing examination.

Teaching staff in various schools left the school premises when the examination begun. Some schools were seen with police officials and others had no police official or health personnel.

Minna Oye Mensah, chief examination supervisor at Grace Preparatory School said the school is hosting six additional schools in the municipality, adding that, there was no record of special students except one student from Grace Preparatory who had travelled outside the country.

She said “so far everything is going on well. Students from various schools reported on time, even though the educational material arrived quiet late. So we began 10 minutes after 9:00 am”.

At the JT Cluster of Schools, students were fortunate to start on time since their educational facilities arrived early.

The Chief Examination Supervisor, Gilbert Avafia, said the school is hosting six schools, of which two are private, giving a total number of 341 students sitting for the examination.

BY Jamila Akweley Okertchiri, Lady Agyapong & Ernest Nutsugah

Bishop Oral Agyei Blankson performing the anointing.

The Director of Mother Care School, Miss Sheila Acquah Asare, has assured parents of the school’s preparedness for the impending Basic School Certificate Examinations (BECE), and urged them not to exercise any fears with regards to their children’s performance during the examinations.

She said a lot of collaboration had gone on between management and teachers to sufficiently ensure that teachers prepared the candidates for the BECE examinations which were due to start Monday, June 17-24, 2013, nationwide.

The Director said this on Sunday June 16, 2013 during the school’s annual “Anointing Service” held for BECE Candidates, held at the forecourt of the school, located at East Cantonments in Accra.

Miss Sheila who beamed with confidence said the school was presenting 54 candidates for the BECE examinations. She reminded them that the school had over the years built a track record of training its candidates to appreciate hard work rather than resort to cheating during the examinations.

The Director charged the candidates to uphold this very admirable quality of the school and uphold excellence in discipline adding that, they should neither indulge in cheating nor encourage any action that would likely mare the good reputation of the examination and their future.

Bishop Oral Agyei Blankson of The Wonders Chapel International at La-Trade Fair in Accra who performed the Anointing service described the school as one with a difference, a place where God dwelled, and had a passion of nurturing children in the fear of God.

The Headmistress of the school urged the students to believe in themselves and their abilities. He also highlighted that they should make it their core value to come out successfully and make it to their first choice schools.

In a related development, the school held its elections to elect its prefects. Master Gilbert Annang and Miss Sandra Sarfo Konadu   won overwhelmingly to take up those positions as Boys and Girls Prefect, respectively.

A statement to this effect stated that they would take the oath of office during the school’s graduation next month.

By Solomon Ofori

Kofi Adams

Joseph Bediako, a leading member of the National Democratic Party (NDP,) has labeled spokesperson for the Rawlingses, Kofi Adams as a traitor.

He consequently charged the former first family to sack him.

Mr. Bediako said Kofi Adams’s hypocrisy led to the disqualification of NDP, formed by former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, in the 2012 polls by the Electoral Commission (EC.)

He angrily threatened to stop offering services to the party if Kofi Adams is spared by the Rawlingses after his misconduct.

Bediako alleged that Adams, then an insider of the newly-formed NDP, took steps to prevent the flagbearer from participating in the elections.

“Kofi Adams contributed from within to make sure that the NDP was disqualified by the EC last year,” the NDP guru told Ash FM, a radio station based in Kumasi.

“If the Rawlingses do not sack Kofi Adams I will not perform any NDP work.”

“I will not work for NDP if Kofi Adams is not sacked by the Rawlingses,” he vowed, stressing that but for Kofi Adams’ unfaithfulness and hypocrisy, the NDP would have participated in the 2012 polls.

Bediako criticized the Mahama administration for promoting corruption among its officials.

According to him, the NDC administration, since its assumption of office, has done nothing to improve the lives of the populace.

Touching on the Supreme Court case in which Nana Akufo-Addo and some NPP stalwarts are contesting the results of the 2012 presidential polls, Bediako stressed that the petitioners have a strong case.

He taunted NDC General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, who represented the President in court, for exposing his lack of knowledge about the case.

Bediako observed that Mr. Nketia, during cross-examination, fumbled on countless occasions and also struggled to even articulate his views in English, a situation that put the respondents in a tight corner.

 FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi

Nii Ansah Sasaraku

The Dzasetse of Nii Arde Nkpa family from Kokrobite, Langma and Tuba in the Greater Accra Region, Nii Ansah Sasaraku III, has been jailed 30 days by an Accra High Court for contempt.

The court presided over by Justice Elizabeth Ankamah slapped the jail sentence because the chief was said to have defied a court order.

The court also warned Nii Kojo Ababio IV of James Town, for his involvement in the case.

The court was said to have ruled that Nii Ansah Sasaraku III was not the legally recognized head of the Nii Arde Nkpa Family. The said chief, with the aid of Nii Kojo Ababio IV, wrote a letter to Nii Arde Nkpa that he had been destooled as the head of family.

The facts of the case are that, after the installation of Nii Ansah Sasaraku III as the Dzasetse of the Nii Arde Nkpa family, he allegedly imposed himself as the head of the family against a legalized appointed head of the family, Rev Nii Tackie Tagoe.

Because of the existing confrontation, Nii Sasaraku III then took the family to court seeking an injunction on the head of the family and Daniel Nii Arde Tagoe, the administrator of Kokrobite, Langma and Tuba Lands.

A Fast Track High Court presided over by Justice Offei dismissed the application describing it as frivolous and vexatious.

Nii Sasaruku failed to abide by the court ruling and continued to operate as the Dzasetse and also as the head of family.  He then wrote a letter to Nii Arde Nkpa that he had been destooled.

The jailed chief was said to have started re-selling lands which were already sold by the family and organized land guards to pull down private properties and structures with the aid of the James Town Mantse.

The Dzasetse even went to the extent of appointing head men in the villages and further wrote a letter to the Municipal Chief Executive of Ga South that he had destooled Nii Arde Nkpa.

The two then wrote to the Lands Commission that he, Sasaraku was the Dzasetse and the head of family contrary to the ruling.

Not able to take it anymore, the family initiated contempt proceedings at the High Court in Cocoa Affairs Division against the two respondents.

Delivering his ruling last Friday, Justice Ankamah said the fact that Nii Kojo Ababio was the paramount chief of James Town did not in any way give him the right to unnecessarily interfere in other family affairs.

He escaped punishment because in his statement of defence, he told the court that he was not aware of the earlier ruling against Nii Sasaraku III.

In the case of Nii Sasaraku III, the court admonished that he was fully aware of the ruling and should not have acted otherwise, so the court sentenced him to one month imprisonment.

Counsel for Nii Sasaraku, George Heward Mills, prayed the court to temper justice with mercy and convert the sentence to fines, but the court opposed the application.

 By William Yaw owusu