TERMINOLOGIES USED IN THE COURT ROOM

                      

1.      MURDER: Deliberately taking somebody’s life.

2.      MAN SLAUGHTER: Taking somebody’s life unintentionally or not deliberate.

3.      RAPE: Having sexual intercourse with somebody without the prior concern of the person.

4.      CONJUGAL RIGHTS: This is where the man has his rights and the woman also has hers. If the woman does not give her consent when it comes to sex and the man forces her it becomes rape.

5.      ASSAULT: There are so many types of assault. Verbal assault is when somebody rains insult on another without any provocation.

6.      BATTERY: Similar to assault but means, hitting somebody and beating the person.

7.      DEFACTO: Someone who performs the role of another person in the absence of that person and does not have the backing of the law.

8.      EXPARTE: When an individual makes an appeal before a court in the absence of the other party.

9.      MISDEMEANOUR: It refers to a less serious crime.

10.  FELONY: This refers to a serious crime committed by somebody.

11.  DEFILEMENT: Illegally having sexual intercourse with a minor.

12.  ACQUITTAL: This means the person is not guilty of the charges leveled against him or her due to lack of evidence. If there is evidence in the future, the person can be arrested and trialed in the court of the land.

13.  MENS REA: An intent and purpose with which a person commits a crime.

14.  INDICTMENT: The written accusation with which a person is charged.

15.  INJUCTION:  Making an appeal to the court and the court telling somebody to stop doing something. The can sometimes ask the person to continue doing something.

16.  CERCIORARI: A tool used by the Supreme Court to quash a case.

17.  PROSECUTION WITNESS:  A witness brought into a trail by the prosecutor to help establish the guilt of the accused.

18.  WRIT OF SERMON: A document issued by the court to bring a person before it for hearing.

19.  LIBEL: This when a publication about somebody destroys the person’s reputation.

20.  MANDAMUS: When a public official refuses to take action, you can go to court so that the person will be force to do the work especially when the person is under contract.

21.  ACTUS REUS: An act that comprises the physical component of a crime.

22.  SOVERIEGN: A higher power above and beyond which no further legal power exists.

23.  PROHIBITION: When somebody is stopped from doing an act.

24.  SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE: When a person is held by the court to perform an obligation under contract.

25.  PLAINTIFF: The person who brings the case to the court.

26.  GUILTY BUT INSANE: The person is guilty of the charges leveled against him but is not in the right state of mind.

27.  ALTENATE DISPUTE RESOLUTION (ADR): Using mediation, negotiation and another means to resolve dispute other than the court.

28.  SELF COGNISANCE BAY: Signing a bill or surety in a criminal case.

29.  AFFIDAVIT: Swearing before the court using a Bible or a Quran. Also means making accessing on oath sealed by commissioner of oath or notary public.

30.  STATEMENT OF CLAIM: Putting your concern in writing to allege another.

Mansa Musa I, The Richest Human Being Of All History.

When we think of the world’s all-time richest people, names like Bill Gates, Warren Buffet and John D Rockefeller immediately come to mind.

But few would have thought, or even heard of, Mansa Musa I of Mali – the obscure 14th century African king who was today named the richest person in all history.

With an inflation adjusted fortune of $400 billion, Mansa Musa I would have been considerably richer than the world’s current richest man, Carlos Slim, who ranks in 22nd place with a relatively paltry $68 billion.

The list, compiled by the Celebrity Net Worth website, ranks the world’s 24 richest people of all time. The list advertises itself as the top 25, but 26 names appear in the list.

Although the list spans 1000 years, some aspects of wealth appear consistent throughout history; there are no women on the list, only three members are alive today, and 14 of the top 25 are American.

The list uses the annual 2199.6 per cent rate of inflation to adjust historic fortunes – a formula that means $100 million in 1913 would be equal to £2.299.63 billion today.

Mansa Musa I ruled West Africa’s Malian Empire in the early 1300s, making his fortune by exploiting his country’s salt and gold production. Many mosques he built as a young man still stand today.

After Mansa Musa I death in 1331, however, his heirs were unable to hang on to the fortune, and it was substantially depleted by civil wars and invading armies.

Second on the list are the Rothschild family, whose descendants are still among the richest people on the planet. Starting out in banking in the late 18th Century, Mayer Amschel Rothschild’s finance house accumulated a total wealth of $350 billion. The money has since been divided between hundreds of descendants, many of whom are business leaders today.

Meanwhile John D. Rockefeller, third on the list, is the richest American to have ever lived, worth $340billion in today’s USD at the time of his death in 1937.

In comparison, the poorest man on the list is 82-year-old Warren Buffett, who at his peak net worth, before he started giving his fortune to charity, was $64billion.

Here’s the full list of the ‘26 richest people of all time’:

1. Mansa Musa I, (Ruler of Malian Empire, 1280-1331) $400 billion

 

2. Rothschild Family (banking dynasty, 1740- ) $350 billion

 

3. John D Rockefeller (industrialist, 1839-1937) $340 billion

 

4. Andrew Carnegie (industrialist, 1835-1919) $310 billion

 

5. Tsar Nicholas II of Russia (last Emperor of Russia, 1868-1918) $300 billion

 

6. Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII (last ruler of Hyderabad, 1886-1967) $236 billion

 

7. William the Conqueror (King of England, 1028-1087) $229.5 billion

 

8. Muammar Gaddafi (former Libyan leader, 1942-2011) $200 billion

 

9. Henry Ford (Ford Motor Company founder, 1863-1947) $199 billion

 

10. Cornelius Vanderbilt (industrialist, 1794-1877) $185 billion

 

11. Alan Rufus (Fighting companion of William the Conqueror, 1040-1093) $178.65 billion

 

12. Bill Gates (Founder of Microsoft, 1955- ) $136 billion

 

13. William de Warenne, 1st Earl of Surrey (Norman nobleman, ??-1088) $146.13 billion

 

14. John Jacob Astor (businessman, 1864-1912) $121 billion

 

15. Richard Fitzalan, 10th Earl of Arundel (English nobleman, 1306-1376) £118.6 billion

 

16. John of Gaunt (son of Edward III, 1330-1399) £110 billion

 

17. Stephen Girard (shipping and banking mogul, 1750-1831) $105 billion

 

18. Alexander Turney Stewart (entrepreneur, 1803-1876) $90 billion

 

19. Henry, 1st Duke of Lancaster (English noble, 1310-1361) $85.1 billion

 

20. Friedrich Weyerhaeuser (timber mogul, 1834-1914) $80 billion

 

21. Jay Gould (railroad tycoon, 1836-1892) $71 billion

 

22. Carlos Slim (business magnate, 1940- ) $68 billion

 

23. Stephen Van Rensselaer (land owner, 1764- 1839) $68 billion

 

24. Marshall Field (Marshall Field & Company founder, 1834-1906) $66 billion

 

25. Sam Walton (Walmart founder, 1918-1992) $65billion

 

The refute of the new smoking law among Ghanaians.

On July, 19, 2012, the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health, chaired by Alhaji Muntaka Mubarak, stated at a workshop on the public Health Law in Accra that under the law, one could not smoke anywhere if the next person close by was a non-smoker.

Ghanaians have been banned from smoking around in the presence of others. This law, seems to be a wise quote said to the hearing of corpses. Under the law, smoking has been banned in places such as the streets, homes, vehicles, bars, restaurants and other places of public use. But what do see, my observations have made it known to me that, the law is been put aside by Ghanaians who intend to do their own things. Ghana's Parliament, passed into law a bill banning smoking in public places, after about seven years of intense lobbying and agitation, on July,11, 2012.

 In the enforcement of the law, Alhaji Muntaka said in bars and restaurants, special places were to be created for smokers explaining that even in those cases, there had to be mechanisms in place to ensure that the smoke did not escape. So what are the owners of these places doing about it. Because  during this Christmas festive, bars, restaurants, and  hotels, holds lot of people. These people are exposed to perceive the smokes of smokers, which is very dangerous to their health; it constrict the blood vessels, which in turn causes high blood pressure. Another effect is raising the heart rate, which adds extra stress on the heart.

The question to ask is  that, is the media and officials not playing their roles well or Ghanaians did not accept this law? In an interview with a young man who refuse to reveal is identity told me that, he has not heard any law against smoking publicly. He explained that, it is not wise for officials to set up such a law. Because as a Ghanaian, we all have the right to do what we want at any time. He further, stated that, are the officials going to set law against drinking? With not, then there is no need for enforcement of such a law against smoking.

The ages of smokers in Ghana ranges from teens to adults. In most places in the Zongo areas in Ghana, each and every day, people are found of smoking “ marijuana”. In public uses, such as the lavatory, some people cannot ease  themselves without smoking. I bars and restaurants the issue remain as the same.

It will be advisable for the general public to put a stop to the habit of smoking publicly. Because, the new Tobacco Control Law has banned smoking in public places, tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, and prohibits young people under the age of 21 from buying and selling tobacco products, among others.

All those involved in the production and distribution of tobacco are remained to be watch as the law revolves around them too. According to the new tobacco law, smoking in public will now attract a fine of GHc9, 000 or a three-year imprisonment .

Ghanaians are ready to cast their votes peacefully.

Today, December 6, 2012, marks the last day to election 2012. As I walked through Accra township, the people have really comported themselves very where. They have set a peaceful environment for election free violence. 

If I cast my mind back to the numerous campaign launched by the various parties, the tensions that were created and strong oppositions in ideas. I thought tensions would be at its high level before and after the election.

As I walked through the street of Accra as early as 5 am to have a view of the reactions of parties sympathizers, I found out that Ghanaians are ever ready to embrace peace, joy and harmony. The fact is, looking at the huge people who troop to the last grand finale rally champion the two strong parties in the country, I thought, the spirit of winning election 2012 was still fresh in the heart of these supporters.

All the leaders in the various parties have put down their campaigning tools. They have abide by the principles set by the Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana. In the morning I met a vehicle painted with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) colors.  As that time no campaign song was played in the car. When the driver got to the place were some people were gathered, he sounded the horn of the car and some people around cheered him up. By saying “E Dey Be K3k3.”  Some minutes away from this scene brought another scene around Russia junction, I also met a pik-up car painted in the colors of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). The driver did similar act and some people around also cheered him up the tunes of NPP.

In the afternoon, I boarded a car from Banana-Inn to Post-office , Accra. Whilst I was in the car I observed that the people were calm. There was no disturbances and distortion. The behavior of the public drove my mind  away from what will be experienced tomorrow.

Immediately, I asked myself,  how could this peaceful reaction of the public develop into fight tomorrow. The people behaved as if nothing is going to happen tomorrow. This is the best of reaction portrayed by the entire public towards tomorrows event.  

When I got to Accra central, people were busy buying while traders were also busy selling their products. I felt the fever of Christmas more than that of tomorrow’s election. Okaishie, Makola and Kantamato markets were full of customers shopping towards Xmas celebration. I only saw a young woman who was selling NPP kits around Rawlings park.

The behavior of the public as at in Circle was similar to that of the people in the early mentioned places. At the, VVIP bus station, numerous of passengers were ready to travel  to Kumasi, in order to cast their votes. This was the only reaction that brought my mind back to life towards tomorrow’s event.

Through observations, Ghanaians are ready to experience another peaceful election tomorrow, in the fifth republic of the sixth parliament.

    

A YOUNG BOY JAILED FOR STEALING COCOA BEANS

The Enchi Magistrate court has asked a young man of 22 year of age to either pay a sum of GHC 360 or be remanded for four months in police custody, for escaping from Dadaiso police cells in Western Region.

Kwame Nketia and two others stole 2 bags and 20 kilos of cocoa beans from a neighbor. They decided top sell it to a Produce and Buying Company (P.B.C) vender in the resident, on July, 15, 2012.

Unfortunately, the residents’ of Dadiaso had hints about missed cocoa beans. So they rushed to these three young men when they made an attempt to sell these cocoa beans. In a chased, Kwame Nketia was caught while the rest of the other two got to their heels.

The good people of Dadiaso handed Kwame to police. Three days later, Kwame asked permission in order to enable him to empty his urine but tried running away. The police personnel’s’ in charged, put their forces together and had Kwame arrested for the second time.

Kwame appeared to July, 26, 2012. The case presided over by Mr. K. Solomon, charged Kwame of Conspiracy, stealing, and escaping from police cells.

Kwame explained to the court that, he is not guilty of the first two charges but rather quilty to escape from police cells. Mr. Solomon on Kwame’s guiltiness and asked him to pay that sum of money or will be put in imprison for four months.

He also asked Kwame to appear on trials for the next two charges after two weeks.

 By: Benjamin Kwame

THE RESULT OF CARELESS DRIVING.

On Sunday, December, 2, 2012, a n accident occurred at Sukura Taxi-rank. Around 10 am in the morning, a car crashed with a motor bike.

The car beard the registration number GE 2743-11, it was a Mahindra   Scorpio pik-up, painted brownish. The car was moving from a rough junction road to join the main Taxi-rank to Loso junction road. Th e driver of the Mahindra car did not look at his sides before making a try to join the street.

As he was about to join  the street a violet motor bike with a registration number M 12-GE 36, crashed with the car. There was no pillow rider. The motor rider was smart enough to jump from his motor bike. he jumped to the other side of the road.

No injury was sustained. According eye witnesses, the motor rider saw the car approaching from the right curve. He attempted with a break to stop the motor but he was so close to the car that his motor hit the car.

The car was approaching from a right curve of the road to join the road on the left side. Also, the motor rider was on the right lane of the road. The driver of the car parked his car and came to the aid of the motor rider. He then said sorry to him and after some minutes started his car and drove off.