• 14.09..2008

EC photo taking in Ho Municipal Area is smooth

Ho, Sept 14, GNA-The exercise to take photos of prospective voters who could not get their pictures for their Voter Identity Cards, due to material shortages during the last limited registration exercise, is going on smoothly in the Ho Municipality.

Thirteen teams, each made up of a Photographer and a Clerk are scheduled to take pictures of close to 5,000 prospective voters in the municipality during the five-day mopping-up exercise. Mr Johnson Akafia, Ho Municipal Area Director of the Electoral Commission of Ghana, (EC) said the schedule of the teams were based on statistics of numbers pending in the various electoral areas. He said the teams would stay for the entire period at electoral areas where figures of those who could not have their pictures taken were high.

Mr Akafia said mobile teams would be available at areas with low numbers at appointed days within the five-day programme, promising that variations in schedules, based on reports on the ground, would be made to ensure total success of the exercise in the municipality. He said the exercise would also cover people who missed taking pictures during the 2004 and 2006 registration exercises and had slips to show.

Mr Akafia said besides EC programmes to publicize the programme, the Political Parties, were also using their channels of communications to get the message to the people. The centre at the offices of the Electoral Commission in Ho, where 38 photos were taken on the first day of the exercise on Friday, was without a queue when the GNA called.

 >  BACK  TO  TOP  <

Don't preach politics of ethnicity - Nduom

Bogoso (W/R), Sept. 14, GNA - Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, presidential aspirant of the Convention People's Party (CPP) has urged his fellow flagbearers, to avoid the "politics of ethnicity" during their campaigns.

This he said would stem the spate of violence that often characterise political campaigns.

Dr Nduom regretted the recent incident that happened at Gushegu, where lives were lost and properties worth millions of Ghana cedis were burnt, saying, "This is not in the interest of democracy".

Dr Nduom was addressing a CPP rally at Bogoso in the Prestea Huni Valley District of the Western Region, where he introduced Lawyer Mubashir Tamimu Dari as the party's parliamentary aspirant for the Prestea Huni Valley constituency.

Popularly known as Lawyer T, Dari was earlier nominated by popular acclamation by the Party, to stand as its parliamentary candidate for the constituency.

Dr Nduom said the rift was between the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and its aftermath was not the best, and called on the supporters of the CPP to campaign without insulting, shooting, killing and burning of houses. He said it was unfortunate that after the incident, only the CPP had gone to sympathise with the affected people while the two parties had not done so.

Dr Nduom told the people to vote for the CPP, which pursues peace for the December 7 elections.

Dr Nduom said subsequent governments after CPP, have eroded the gains made by the Party, saying that, the "Bonsa Tyre Company, Abosso Glass factory and State Hotels, among others, have either been sold out or left to collapse, leaving the people jobless.

He said with the discovery of oil in the country, the CPP when voted into power, would set up a petro-chemical and other vital industries to create job opportunities, which would enhance their living standards, saying, "The CPP has done it before".

Dr Nduom said the CPP would introduce free education from Kindergarten to Senior High School and also build more schools. He however told parents to ensure that their children go to school, to acquire the requisite skills and qualification.

"Lawyer T" Dari thanked the people for electing him to stand on the ticket of the party.

He said the CPP would ensure that "everyone gets a fair share of the national cake". Other speakers at the rally included Comrades, Mike Eghan, National Treasurer, Samuel Gordon Etroo, Western Regional chairman and Nana Kwabena Gyan, Public Education Officer. 14 Sept. 08

 >  BACK  TO  TOP  <

Unavailability of land delays Community Centre project - MP

Apam, Sept. 14, GNA - The unavailability of communal land has delayed the building of a multi-purpose community centre for the people at Apam, the initiator of the project has said. Mr Joe Kingsley Hackman, who is also the MP for the area, said he had been looking for a plot of land in the past two years for the facility, which had been designed to house a library and a computer training centre.

He said this at the inauguration of a statue at Apam roundabout last Friday.

He appealed to custodians in the Apam area to stop the indiscriminate sale of land to private developers at the expense of community projects.

Mr. Hackman initiated the erection of the statue, which depicts a fisherman carrying a paddle and a net on the shoulder. The MP said he had helped about 300 needy students to further their education. Alhaji B. Gibrine, Central Regional Organiser of the New Patriotic Party, said with the introduction of the National Health Insurance Scheme and the capitation grant, the government had placed the poor and the rich on equal levels. Ms. Joyce Aidoo, Gomoa West District Chief Executive, appealed to politicians to deliver their campaign messages devoid of insults and personal attacks in order to sustain the peace.

 >  BACK  TO  TOP  <

• 13.09.2008

Robbers Terrorise legon Campus

One of two armed robbers who broke into a room at the Mensah Sarbah Hall of the University of Ghana in the early hours of yesterday, has been arrested and handed over to the Legon police. Kofi Mensah, 22, was apprehended by the Legon security but his accomplice, Kweku James is on the run.

In the course of their operation, the robbers, who wielded a knife and a gun – later discovered to be a toy – inflicted knife wound on the hand of a female resident while another received a blow to her mouth.

The incident occurred around 3.30 am. The police said the two allegedly cut the net of one of the rooms at the ‘E’ Block of the Hall, removed the louver blades and stole a mobile phone and an unspecified amount of money.

They then attempted to escape by using an exit door but it was locked and therefore they became stranded. One of the injured females who saw what was happening is said to have screamed, causing people to come out of their dormitories by which time James and Mensah had taken “cover”.

The university security which later came to comb the area found Mensah hiding near the male side of the block. They arrested him and later handed him over to the Legon police which arrived at the scene an hour later.

Life on campus has since returned to normal and the broken louver blades have been fixed.

Chief Superintendent Anwubutoge Awuni, Nima Divisional Police Commander, confirmed the incident to the Times. Incidents of theft have been occurring for some time now in the university, causing the authorities to tighten security on the campus.

Last year at an internet café in Annex ‘A’, of the same hall a armed robber stole some laptop computers and an unspecified sum of money.

 >  BACK  TO  TOP  <

Rawlings too is corrupt : J H Mensah

The former Senior Minister Mr. John Henry Mensah has stated that former President Rawlings has no moral right to accuse the NPP government of corruption when he and the PNDC government did worse things.

"If the former President is not corrupt, then how come a whooping sum of $7 million went missing under his supervision," he asked.

According to him, Mr. Rawlings owes Ghanaians an explanation as to how $7 million cash got missing from a total of $10 million, secured by the government of Ghana for the refurbishment of Tema Food Processing Factory.

Speaking at an NPP rally in honour of President Kufuor last Saturday at Abuakwa, near Kumasi, and later with journalists in Sunyani, Mr. J.H Mensah disclosed that the former President, during the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) regime, took a $10 million loan from two International banks, dubbed the OPECBADEA loan.

The loan was meant for the refurbishment of the Tema Food Complex Corporation (TFCC), which was established by Dr. Kwarne Nkrumah.

According to J.H. Mensah, after securing the loan, the PNDC government led by Mr. Rawlings used only $3million on the project and then divested the company to SSNIT and IBN, a German group.

The Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), said, the deal was exposed by KPMG, an international audit firm, which was contracted by the Auditor General to audit the transaction.

He said, up to date, Mr. Rawlings and his PNDC government have not accounted for the remaining $7 million of the money.

"There are certain things my in-law (referring to President Kufuor) cannot say but I am not afraid to voice it out.

If Rawlings says he is not corrupt, he should tell us the whereabouts of that money," he dared.

Mr. Mensah urged Ghanaians to ignore the lies and propaganda being peddled around by the opposition National Democratic Congress.

According to him, the opposition NDC's campaign was characterized by deceit, insults and misinformation rather than focusing on issues affecting the good people of this country.

He said it would be very suicidal for Ghanaians to hand over the destiny of this country back to the NDC, who according to him, had shown little indication of their readiness to rule this country.

The National Chairman of the party, Peter Mac Manu, on his part urged disgruntled members of the NPP who have chosen to go independent after losing primaries to reconsider their decision.

Mac Manu noted that with the fresh wind of victory blowing in the camp of the NPP, it would be in the interest of the defeated candidates who have decided to go independent, to rescind their decision and rally behind the party in order to save their political careers.

The National Chairman noted that it would not be politically prudent and beneficial on the part of any party member to rival with the party at the constituency level, because according to him "the party is too strong to lose to an independent candidate".

The National Chairman's call, which was re-echoed by the President, comes in the wake of the decision by some disgruntled party members and activists, who feel embittered after losing in the primaries held some few months ago, to pursue their political dreams by contesting their various constituency seats as independent candidates.

According to Mr. Mac Manu, the party's tremendous achievements in the last seven and half years of its administration have made it so attractive that Ghanaians are ready to renew the mandate of the ruling party and vote massively for the NPP.

Mac Manu noted that with the massive support shown at rallies held at Kasoa and Takoradi in the Central and Western Regions respectively, and the enthusiasm shown to the party's presidential running mate, Dr. Maharnudu Bawurnia, are enough indications that the party is on the verge of achieving a resounding victory, come the December elections.

"I would therefore urge the prodigal sons and daughters of our dear party to think over their decision in order to secure their political future, because there is no way they can succeed as independent candidates" he stated.

>  BACK  TO  TOP  <

I am not an armed robber -Ataa Ayi

Notorious armed robber, Aryee Aryeetey, alias Ataa Ayi, has told an Accra High Court that he detests robbery and that he has never engaged in any armed robbery in his life.

"In my life what l have never done is armed robbery and for them to say that I have been engaging in armed robbery with others is false," he said, and added that what he told the court was the gospel truth.

Ayi, who said his full name was Raymond Aryee Aryeetey, was concluding his evidence in one of the string of cases involving him and other accomplices at the High Court on Friday.

He is serving a 70-year sentence after being convicted in 2006 and facing two counts of conspiracy and robbery for raiding the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) at gunpoint on May 19, 2004 with three others, namely, Sarfo Sarpong, Michael Tagoe and Nana Osei, aka Razak.

The facts of the case were that the chief cashier of the CAC and two other employees of the church went to cash GH¢5,625 from the Standard Chartered Bank, Osu Branch and were driving to the office when the accused persons chased them amidst gunshots to the premises but the complainants managed to run away with the money. While looking for the chief cashier and the others, the accused persons chanced on some officials of the church counting some money in another room and robbed them of GH¢662 at gunpoint.

The accused persons had denied the offence. Responding to a question by State Attorney, Mrs Rebecca Adjalo, that some prosecution witnesses saw him wearing a cap, Ayi retorted thus, "What I hate in my life is a cap. Nobody saw me wearing a cap on the day of the incident. I don't know them and I have never met anybody". He said on the day of the incident, he was at Bolgatanga attending the funeral of his wife's mother, Hajia Meli. "I went to Bolga on about April 10, 2004 and I was there for more than one month so how could it be possible for me to be present in Accra to rob somebody?" he queried.

According to Ayi, he did not know his alleged accomplices, apart from Razak with whom he was arraigned at the Accra Fast Track High Court on a similar charge. He said he was at home at Teshie on February 28, 2005 when the police came to arrest him that he was Ataa Ayi, a name he said he denied. The accused person said after his arrest, he was forced to append his signature to a statement written by the police and later taken to an identification parade during which nobody identified him as having robbed him or her.

"I am not a robber otherwise people would have come out to identify me," he said, and maintained that he was not the Ataa Ayi that the police claimed to have arrested because a picture published in the newspapers of the said Ataa Ayi and was made available to the Fast Track High Court by his earlier counsel was not his but the court ignored him. The court has fixed next Tuesday for its judgement. Meanwhile, another fresh case involving Ayi was called by the prosecution. After his conviction, Ayi has been shuttling from the Nsawam Prisons to the courts, where a string of armed robbery cases in which he has been named are pending.

 >  BACK  TO  TOP  <

Parents must help fight occultism in schools - Lecturer

Madina, Sept 13, GNA -- Parents of Senior High and Tertiary School students have been urged to collaborate with school authorities to formulate measures aimed at curbing the practice of occultism in the country's schools.

Occultism has recently gained root among students of Senior High Schools and Tertiary Institutions, especially those in the boarding houses and hostels.

A Lecturer of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Mr Joseph Agyenim Boateng who gave the advice, expressed worry over the rate at which occultism was gaining grounds in the schools. Speaking at the 2008 National Campus Community Congress of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry Campus Fellowship at Madina, he observed that some students also practice occultism to gain popularity while others were pressurized into it by friends.

The congress which was on the theme: "Invasion 08, recapturing the lost territories" was attended by students from the various public and private tertiary institutions in the country as well as national service personnel.

Mr. Boateng said students continuously practice occultism against the rules and regulations of the various schools, noting that it was time parents augment the efforts of school authorities to curb the practice. The Lecturer encouraged parents to visit their wards in school unannounced, adding that, by so doing, they would discover some activities the students were involved in as well as the type of friends they were moving with.

He added that parents must also question their children on expensive goods they acquire from school without their (parents) knowledge as most of the students enter into occultism to gain material things that others have in school.

Mr. Boateng pleaded with students not to fall victims to occult practices as it haD negative effectS on their education and personal life.

The National Coordinator of the Church, Pastor John Borham in a sermon entreated the students to put into practice the teachings they received from the church in order to be morally upright. Pastor Borham said the youth must embrace the tenets of morality to enable them stand the numerous temptations tertiary students go throw in their quest to obtain higher education. He expressed concern at the increasing rate of immorality including defilement, drug peddling, alcoholism, indiscipline, robbery and indecent dressing among others. He stated that the nation spends a lot of revenue to deal with effects of such immoral behaviours leading to the inability of governments to provide the needed developments

>  BACK  TO  TOP  <

• 12.09.2008

Clash Over GNA Boss' $8,000 / per Month Salary

The remuneration of the general manager of the Ghana News Agency(GNA), Nana Appau Duah, may soon be subjected to a legal tussle as the National Media Commission(NMC) and the Auditor General battle over it.

Documents gathered by an Accra-based radion station - JOYFM - have revealed that the total monthly emoluments of the GNA boss stands at GH¢8050 (= $8000), more than twice the take-home pay of a cabinet minister.

This is salary approved by the NMC, the appointing authority in the GNA boss’ employment contract.
The Auditor General, following the revelation, has placed an embargo on the salary saying it cannot pay the said amount.
The Auditor General in a letter dated 31 July 2008, titled: “Certification of Salary Arrears for the General Manager of the GNA,” said the NMC had failed to bring to the attention of the President, the terms of agreement reached for the GNA boss, Duah.
According to the letter, seeking the consent of the President would have meant the NMC was keeping with its constitutional mandate of appointing heads of the state-owned media.
It would have also allowed the President to determine whether the state could pay the salary and allowances being offered the managing director of the GNA.
The monthly salary of the GNA boss as stated in the employment contract is GH¢3500 in addition to six separate allowances, amounting to GH¢4550 and equal to 138% of his basic salary.
This brings the total monthly emoluments delivered into his account to GH¢8050.
The Auditor General says the salary of the GNA boss exceeds those of cabinet ministers, including the information minister who earns less than GH¢4000 per month.
He has therefore instructed the NMC to submit the award of contract and terms and conditions to President Kufuor, for advice.
But the NMC has already furnished the Auditor General with a letter signed by its chairman Paul Adu Gyamfi expressing a strong rejection to the directive.
According to the NMC, the Auditor General in seeking to question the sincerity of the commission’s earlier consultation with the President “was attempting to interpret the meaning of the constitution.”
The commission maintains that the Auditor General’s submission interferes with the appointment process and could create problems between the NMC and the President.
“Any attempt to create problems between the NMC and the President will be vigorously resisted,” the letter emphasised.
The commission has meanwhile called on the Auditor General to remove what it calls “the unauthorised embargo” it has placed on the salary of the GNA boss.

 >  BACK  TO  TOP  <

Stinky, dirty water flows from taps at La

Accra, Sept. 11, GNA - For the past week, taps in the Abentia Block community at La in Accra, have been delivering unwholesome water that stinks and has colour, residents and utility officials have said.

Residents told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that what was supposed to be treated water running through their taps exuded stench similar to a choked gutter scent.

Mrs Sandra Ollenu, a resident, told the GNA she and her neighbours first noticed the abnormality with the water quality a week ago. "Even though water has been flowing regularly, it is unusable because of the dirt and the stench," she said, adding that, the neighbourhood had since been buying water from private suppliers at high cost.

Mrs. Ollenu and others also expressed fears of the likelihood of the utility company continuing to bill them, even though they had stopped using the water because they found it unsafe. Officials from the Ghana Water Company have confirmed that the water was unwholesome after they took samples from the neighbourhood, based on a report lodged to it by the GNA.

However, the company is yet to determine the source of the problem. Mr. Kweku Botwe, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Water Company, told the GNA that a technical team would be deployed to the area to find out the exact problem and take the necessary measures to resolve it.

 >  BACK  TO  TOP  <

Mahama challenges Akuffo Addo

Koforidua, Sept. 12, GNA- Mr. John Dramani Mahama, Running Mate of the flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has challenged the presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo, to demonstrate his belief in democracy by teaching people around him to respect democratic principles.

He explained that, if Nana Akuffo-Addo could not teach his immediate supporters to respect multi-party democratic principles, it would be difficult for him to talk about democracy to Ghanaians.

Mr Mahama was speaking at a forum organized by the Koforidua Polytechnic branch of the Tertiary Education Institutional Network (TEIN) in Koforidua as part of his 10-day campaign tour of the Eastern Region.

He explained that in 1996 when members of the Abuakwa South Constituency of the NDC hoisted miniature flags of the party on Royal Palm Trees at Kyebi, supporters of Nana Akuffo Addo went round to remove them.

Mr Mahama said in 2004 after the elections, though Nana Akuffo-Addo won the election as the Member of Parliament for the constituency, his supporters went on the rampage, brutalized some supporters of the NDC and burnt down the NDC constituency office at Kyebi.

He said until the recent burning down of NDC party office in Tamale, Kyebi, the constituency headquarters of Nana Akuffo-Addo remained the only place in the country where NDC party office had been burnt down by supporters of NPP.

Mr Mahama said this year, when members of the NDC in Kyebi went round to paste their posters at Kyebi, by the following day all the posters had been removed.

He explained that for multi-party democracy to develop there is the need for all political parties to be given a level playing ground to campaign and market themselves.

Mr. Mahama said God, in his own wisdom created human beings in a way that not all people accept the same thing and therefore all leaders who claim to be democratic needed to teach their immediate supporters to respect that principle.

 >  BACK  TO  TOP  <

Foundation Donates to Children's Hospital

Accra, Sept. 12, GNA - MTN Ghana Foundation has donated 90,000 dollars to the Princess Marie Louise Children's Hospital to facilitate the construction of a theatre and an intensive care unit. A statement issued in Accra on Friday said Professor Franklyn Manu, Chairman of the Foundation, speaking at a fundraising musical concert in Accra, said the donation was part of the telecommunications giant's corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities especially in the health sector.

He said MTN Ghana Foundation's vision was to partner with communities to create opportunities for people to experience socio-economic advancement as well as support national development efforts.

"I am happy to see the fulfilment of the promise by MTN Ghana Foundation to partner the hospital through this fundraising concert to provide a better quality health care for the children who patronise the services of the hospital," he added.

Professor Manu stressed that the personal involvement of the Chief Executive Officer of MTN, Mr Goshen Brett who provided funds for some of the wards in the hospital was an indication of the Foundation's commitment to the hospital.

The Rev. Father Andrew Campbell, Chairman of the Princess Marie Hospital, who received the donation on behalf of the hospital, lauded the Foundation for their immeasurable support and called on the Ministry of Health make efforts to raise the standard of the only Children's Hospital in the country.

 >  BACK  TO  TOP  <

Chiefs and people of Anyan Apaa hold durbar to climax Akwanbo festival

Enyan Apaa (C/R), Sept. 12, GNA - A Member of Council of State, Mr. Ato Essuman, has called on the leadership of various political parties to demonstrate their commitment to peace by ensuring that their supporters keep violence out of their campaign activities.

Addressing a durbar to climax a week-long Akwanbo festival of the chiefs and people of Enyan Apaa in the Central Region, Mr. Essuman urged Ghanaians to ensure that gains made over the years in the country's political dispensation are further developed and not destroyed. While urging parents to invest in their children's education, Mr Essuman, also called on chiefs and other community leaders to institute measures to ensure that children were retained in school. Mr. Essuman held that education that did not lead to the development and total well-being of the individual was not worth pursuing.

He appealed to parents and children in rural areas not to end education at the basic level, adding that they must go beyond that in order to realise their full potential. Mr. Essuman bemoaned the alarming reports of teenage pregnancy in basic schools and tasked parents, teachers and community leaders, including Assembly members, not to renege on their responsibility of providing proper direction to their children. He announced a scholarship for 10 brilliant children from the town for their four-year senior high school education and also donated GHc5,000 towards development projects in the area.

 >  BACK  TO  TOP  <

• 11.09.2008

Teachers will have better condition of service under my government-Mills

Agona Nyarkrom (C/R) Sept. 11 GNA - The flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Professor John Evans Atta Mills, has assured teachers of better condition of service when voted into power as the President of the country. He said this would enable teachers to give off their best to promote education in the country towards accelerated development and social economic advancement.

Professor Mills gave the assurance at separate NDC rallies at Agona Nkum, Agona Abodom, Agona Nyarkrom and Agona Swedru on Wednesday as part of his fourth phase tour of the Central Region to canvas for votes. Prof Mills was accompanied by Mr Ato Ahwoi, former Minister of Energy, Madam Ama Benyewa Doe, National Women's Organiser of the NDC, Mr Valis Achianu, and Central Regional Chairman of the Party and some other leading members of the party.

He said under his administration teachers would be given the necessary financial assistance to further their education, and also given incentives to relief them from their present hardship. Professor Mills has therefore urged Ghanaians to vote the NPP out of power because they have mismanaged the affairs of the country. He said under his administration a vocational institute would be established at every district capital to train the youth and also establish a cottage industry, based on the available raw material, to create job avenues for the youth in the area.

Madam Benyewa Doe urged Ghanaians to vote massively for Professor Mills because he has the abilities and qualities to build a better Ghana.

Professor Mills and his entourage had earlier paid courtesy calls on chiefs and elders of the various communities he visited their palace.

 >  BACK  TO  TOP  <

The sale of military/police lands continues unabated — SOLD!!!

—Eastern Regional NPP Treasurer buys VAG Airport land!

—Land sold for only ¢5 Billion instead of ¢60 Billion!!

The Veterans Association of Ghana (VAG) land at the Airport Commercial Centre from which a group of Second World War veterans were evicted a few years ago under the most inhumane of circumstances has been sold! Yes, sold, and for no public interest activity but to the Eastern Regional Treasurer of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), the party that believes in a property-owning democracy. His name is Dr. Samuel Yaw Annor.

And do you know Dr. Samuel Yaw Annor? Well, Ghana Palaver knows. Dr. Annor was a member of the “Alan Cash for President” Campaign Team during the NPP Presidential primaries rooting for President Kufuor's favourite candidate, Alan Kyeremanteng. Dr. Annor also wants to be the NPP Parliamentary candidate for the New Juaben North constituency in the Eastern Region and for that reason, is locked up in a battle to death with Hon. Hackman Owusu-Agyeman, the incumbent MP who has variously held the positions of Minister of Foreign Affairs, Water Resources, Works and Housing and Interior. The tussle is likely to end up in court, if it is not already there.

And do you know how much Dr. Annor bought the VAG land for? Ghana Palaver knows. He bought it for a paltry US$500,000 (approximately ¢5 Billion). At the time of the purchase, the asking price for one acre of the commercial plots at the adjoining Airport City at the Kotoka International Airport was US$600,000 (approximately ¢6 billion).

The VAG land sold to Dr. Annor is a total of 10 acres. At a conservative estimate therefore, the 10-acre VAG land, if it should be sold at all, should have cost US$600,000 x 10 = US$6,000,000 (US$6 Million) or ¢60,000,000,000 (¢60 Billion).

Ghana Palaver has unconfirmed information that already Dr. Annor has re-sold or is preparing to re-sell the VAG lands at a prospective price of US$1,000,000 (US$1 Million) or ¢10,000,000,000 (¢10 Billion) per acre, thus making a total of ¢100,000,000 (¢100 Billion). If this information turns out to be true, then if you deduct the purchase price of ¢5,000,000,000 (¢5 Billion), then it means that the NPP's Dr. Annor stands to make a cool profit of ¢95,000,000 (¢95 Billion) for doing practically no work.

According to documents available to the Ghana Palaver, the Deed of Assignment covering the transaction was prepared by Sozo Law Consult of No. 26 Sunyani Avenue, Kanda Estates, Accra, Telephone No. 021-258694/5, Fax No. 021-258694 and P. O. Box KD/PMB 2, Kanda, Accra and executed on 7th July 2006. The Deed was executed between the Veterans Association of Ghana and Annor and Associates. Lt. General Ocran (Chairman), a member of the National Liberation Council (NLC) that overthrew the Government of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah's CPP in 1966 and Col. E. D. F. Prah (Executive Director) signed on behalf of the VAG and Dr. Samuel Yaw Annor of P. O. Box 52, Effiduase, Koforidua, signed for Annor and Associates.

Ghana Palaver has no information that the VAG as a body met and authorised the sale of their landed property. What Ghana Palaver has rather discovered is that the VAG land was all along public land vested in the President of the Republic of Ghana and assigned to the Ministry of Defence as part of military lands.

On the 20th August 2004, in order to effect the VAG-Annor deal, the President authorised the Chairman of the Lands Commission, Justice Isaac Richard Aboagye, to assign the land to the VAG as beneficial owners to enable the VAG to sell the property to Dr. Annor. This was obviously to disguise the fact that the President was selling public land, and military land at that, to a private individual. In that preliminary transaction, Mr. F. O. Mpare, Chief Director of the Ministry of Defence, was the one who signed to dispose of the military's interest in the land.

Legal experts consulted by the Ghana Palaver have challenged the constitutionality of the transaction because according to them, where public lands are no longer required in the public interest, the first option of re-purchase should go to the original owners of the land. They cited Article 20 (6) of the 1992 Constitution which states as follows:

“Where any property [compulsorily acquired by the Government] is not used in the public interest or for the purpose for which it was acquired, the owner of the property immediately before the compulsory acquisition shall be given the first option for acquiring the property”.

According to the legal experts, this has been the cry of the Ga people for a long time that their lands are being indiscriminately sold to “strangers” without their being made to benefit from Article 20 (6) of the Constitution.

They also reminded the Ghana Palaver that the transaction falls into the category of transactions involving the sale of military and police lands, including the sale of the official residence of the Chief of Defence Staff

(whose sale the Minister of Defence Mr. Kan-Dapaah is now lamely trying to deny)

which the one-time Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier-General Nunoo-Mensah has been complaining about the legal experts suggested that the Airport VAG land is one of the transactions that will have to be investigated by the Government that takes over from the Kufuor Administration after the December 2008 elections.

 >  BACK  TO  TOP  <

Nduom donates to victims of Gushiegu violence

Gushiegu (N/R), Sept. 11, GNA - Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom, flag bearer of the Convention People's Party (CCP), for Election 2008, on Wednesday donated food items to victims of the recent clash between National Democratic Congress (NDC) and New Patriotic Party (NPP) supporters at Gushiegu in the Northern Region.

The items that worth 45, 000 Ghana cedis included 40 bags of maize, 20 bags of rice, 10 bags of sugar and 10 cartons of cooking oil. Dr. Nduom said the donation was meant to alleviate the plight of the victims and give them psychological support following the traumatic experiences they had gone through.

He said the CPP was not taking advantage of the situation but showing genuine concern for the people.

Dr. Nduom said "Whether you are CCP, NPP and NDC the important thing is that we are all Ghanaians and must assist one another in times of difficulties".

He said the CPP was not in Gushiegu to apportion blame to any political party for the violence.

Dr. Nduom said the development of the Northern part of Ghana was now a major political agenda of all political parties to help bridge the development gap between Northern and Southern parts of the country. He expressed worry that the Northern part of the country continued to witness violence,

Dr. Nduom said "It would be wrong for the people of the North to make people feel that they are not ready for development because of the recurrence of violence in the area". He urged the people in Northern Ghana to let peace prevail for the development of the area.

The CPP flag bearer paid a courtesy call on Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris, Northern Regional Minister, who expressed regret at the violence in Gushiegu.

The Minister expressed hope that with the support of eminent persons like Dr. Nduom, peace would return to the area. He said there was the need for constant public education on the need for peace and the use of dialogue in resolving differences among the people.

Mr. Alhassan Ibrahim, an opinion leader in Gushiegu, who received the items on behalf of the people, thanked Dr. Nduom and the CPP for their assistance, saying "To get to a man's heart you will first have to get to his mouth". Dr. Nduom was accompanied to Gushiegu by some CPP executive members including: Professor Abubakari Al-Hassan, a member of the central committee of the party, Alhaji Mohammed Tijani, CPP Regional Chairman and Mr. Basharu Daballi, CPP Regional Organiser.

 >  BACK  TO  TOP  <

• 10.09.2008

NGO calls for ban on tobacco advertisements

Accra, Sept. 10, GNA-Vision for Alternative Development (VALD), a Non-Governmental Organization which aims at enhancing education on tobacco control and health issues has called on the Ministry of Health and the Foods and Drugs Board to institute measures to ban tobacco advertisements in the country.

A statement issued in Accra on Wednesday and signed by its Programmes Director, Mr. Labran M. Massawudu said the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) which was ratified by Ghana in June 2004, and deposited at the United Nations Headquarters in November, 2004, became an international law on February 2005, was being violated by tobacco industries in the country. It said international tobacco companies, knowing that the international tobacco control treaty was in force continued with tobacco advertisements, promotion and sponsorship targeting the youth and poor communities.

"If you tour most of the streets in town including Nima, Maamobi, Kanda, Ridge and other deprived communities, you will see posters and umbrella of Pall Mall, Gold Seal and Capital Cigarettes pasted on walls, trees, and shops close to school." He added that, the messages are directed and attractive to children and the youth and that the vehicles of the companies sometimes patrol the schools day in and day out which does not augur well for smooth learning. It said last year, during the Eid-il Fitr celebration Gold Seal and Capital Cigarettes collaborated to organize a rap and dance competition for the youth at Maamobi to climax the festival. The statement therefore advised the youth not to entertain such rap and dance, shows this year since the events are a violation of the article 13 of the FCTC Law.

The statement calls on the government therefore to take the necessary steps in accordance with the constitution of Ghana to ensure that the appropriate policies are developed to implement a comprehensive ban on tobacco advertisement, promotion and sponsorship.

 >  BACK  TO  TOP  <

Come out with true state of the economy -NDC to NPP

Koforidua Sept 10 GNA - Mr John Dramani Mahama, Vice-Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), on Wednesday challenged the government to tell Ghanaians the true state of the national economy.

He observed that contrary to what the government was saying, that the economy was stable, the real truth is that "all is not well with the economy".

Mr Mahama, who was addressing the Koforidua Polytechnic Chapter of the Tertiary Educational Network (TEIN) of the NDC, said the poor state of the economy could be seen in the "government's rush to sell Ghana TELECOM to raise funds to balance the budget".

He said in 2005, donor partners advised the government to guard against "ostentatious living" but it failed to heed the advice and went on to "spend lavishly during the Ghana at 50 celebrations, purchased expensive presidential jets and later, embarked on the construction of a Presidential "mansion".

Mr Mahama said in 2000 during the NDC regime, prices of petroleum products went up by over 100 percent while cocoa prices fell drastically yet the government was able to manage the economy well. Mr Mahama said when the NPP came into power in 2001, it accused the NDC government of leaving behind a national debt of 41 trillion cedis but now the NPP, which was fortunate to benefit from huge donor inflows, cancellation of debts and HIPC funds had piled up a national debt of 91 trillion cedis.

On Polytechnic education, he said an NDC government would put the polytechnics at their rightful places, adding that, a nation could not be developed without manpower. He told the students that an NDC government would replace the present full cost recovery on academic user fees with cost sharing to enable as many qua lified students as possible to have access to tertiary education. Mr Mahama urged the government to stop glorifying itself on the provision of free basic education in basic schools and said the policy was a constitutional provision, which it could not ignore and even the policy was not being implemented well.

He said when the NDC comes into power, it would set up a committee to examine how much it would cost to educate a child at the basic level and come out with a realistic figure for the capitation grant to replace the current three Ghana cedis being spent on a pupil for the whole year. Mr Mahama appealed to the media to be fair and to stop "their praise singing" and tell the government the truth.

"You should tell the government that due to its bad economic policies it is going to lose the December elections so that it would not get the shock after counting of ballots on December 07". He said the NDC was committed to peace and advised supporters to go about their campaign in peace but cautioned that the message did not mean that they should not be vigilant to prevent any fraud during the polls.

Mr Iddrisu Mahama, National Youth organizer of the NDC, accused the government of failing to check corruption and said an NDC government would not demand evidence before investigating any corrupt practices. He appealed to the security agencies to be fair and firm in their dealings with all political parties to ensure peace before, during and after the December polls.

Mr Felix Amoah- Zafortor, President of TEIN, Koforidua Polytechnic Chapter, expressed worry about the present situation, where education, which is a constitutional right of every Ghanaian child of school going age, has turned to be a privilege under the government. "Now the trend has changed, only people from rich and well to-do families can become lawyers and doctors".

He spoke against high academic user fees and school fees "that had become the order of the day" and that most students who were offered admissions into tertiary institutions were not able to report for admission, simply because the fees attached to the admission letters were beyond them.

He said the SSNIT loan, of which previously, students took not less than GHC 24O per semester had been changed by the government to the Students Loan Trust, which only enables students to take just GHC140 per semester. Mr Amoah-Zafortor urged the government to address the issue of high unemployment, alarming rate of armed robbery, rampant contract killings and high cost of building materials. 10 September 2008

 >  BACK  TO  TOP  <

Bi-lingual sign posts in Ghana ?

Accra, Sept. 10, GNA - Mrs Brigitte Girardin, Special Representative of La Francophonie, has proposed that sign posts at Ghana's entry points, tourist sites and international areas should be written in both English and French to strengthen economic, political and cultural cooperation between Ghana and her Francophonie partners. "It will be in the best interest of Ghana as a matter of economic, political, academic and cultural cooperation to write sign posts at the suggested areas in both French and English so that business persons and tourists from the Francophonie countries would feel more welcome into Ghana," she told journalists.

Mrs Girardin ends a four-day working visit to Ghana on Wednesday at the request of La Francophonie Secretary-General, Senegalese President Abdoulaye Diouf to explore ways of improving the learning, understanding and speaking of the French language in Ghana, especially French for business.

Ghana was promoted from being one of 14 observer countries to an associate member of the French-led Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie, also known as La Francophonie during the 2006 Bucharest Summit of Heads of Government of La Francophonie states. Even though Ghana is an Anglophone country, she is surrounded by three Francophone countries, Togo on the east, Cote d'Ivoire on the west and Burkina Faso up north.

It is therefore prudent for Ghanaians to learn to communicate in the French language with her neighbours and ensure better socio-economic and cultural integration in the sub-region.

Mrs Girardin noted that the government of Ghana was under no pressure from La Francophonie to institute a bi-lingual sign post system, but there was already a strong political will from the government of Ghana to embrace the proposal.

She said Ghana and the six other non-French speaking countries selected to join La Francophone during the Bucharest Summit were chosen as model countries to show how inventive the promotion of French language could be for countries.

"Ghana made the right choice in becoming a member of La Francophonie because there are lots of economic, educational and cultural opportunities for Ghana to benefit from," she said. Mrs Girardin said part of her assignment in Ghana was also to strengthen French language skills of Ghanaian diplomats and public officers acting in international fields, increase the number of teachers for French language in Senior High and tertiary education and develop partnership for French teaching with private companies and non-governmental organizations.

She noted that currently there was a shortfall of 4,000 French teachers at the Junior and Senior High levels in Ghana and La Francophonie was working hard to help Ghana make up for the shortfall, but the major initiatives would have to be driven by the government of Ghana itself.

"Even though French is the common language in La Francophonie we do not intend to impose the French language on member countries in a manner that would be disrespectful to their own cultural values and national languages - and members are also allowed to promote their cultures and languages within La Francophonie."

She said beyond using French as a common communication denominator within La Francophonie, countries were required to have a good record in the promotion of the culture of democracy, good governance and respect for human rights to become and to maintain their membership. While in the country, Mrs Girardin held separate meetings with Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama, some ministers of state and groups involved in the teaching and promotion of the French language in Ghana to collate ideas on what major actions to be tabled at the at the October's Heads of Government meeting in Quebec, Canada.

 >  BACK  TO  TOP  <

Voters register hits 12.8 million

Accra, Sept. 10, GNA - The voters' register has hit a record of 12,822,474, an increase of 16.7 per cent over the 2006 electoral list of 10, 987,057, a provisional electoral statistics made available to the Ghana News Agency on Wednesday revealed.

The electoral list prepared by the Research and Monitoring Department of the Electoral Commission indicates that the limited voter registration last month recorded an increase of 290.4 per cent over the 2006 limited registration.

The EC captured 1,835,417 voters during the recent exercise while the figure for 2006 was 632,087 voters.

The regional statistics indicate that Western recorded 185,400 new voters an increase of 292.0 per cent over the 2006 figure of 63,491. The provisional voters' list for the region stands at 1,256,707, an increase of 17.3 per cent over the 2006 figure of 1,071,307.

Central recorded 141,351 new voters as against 49,713 captured during the 2006 limited voter registration, an increase of 284.3 per cent. The total provisional voters' list for the region is now 1,048,351, an increase of 15.6 per cent over the 2006 figure of 907,000 voters.

Greater Accra captured 340,694 new voters during the limited registration exercise, an increase of 298.4 per cent over the 2006 exercise which recorded 114,171 voters. The provisional list for the region is now 2,553,645, an increase of 15.4 per cent over the 2006 figure of 2,212,951 voters.

Figures for the Volta Region indicate that 151,718 new voters were captured as against 63,066 recorded during the limited registration in 2006 an increase of 240.6 per cent. The region's provisional voters roll now stands at 1,034,250 as against 882,532 recorded in 2006 an increase of 17.2 per cent.

Statistical data for the Eastern Region shows that 186,708 new voters were captured during the recent limited registration exercise as against 61,965 voters captured in the 2006 exercise, an increase of 301.3 per cent. The provisional total list for the region is 1,391,063 as against 1,204,355, an increase of 15.5 per cent.

The Ashanti Regional statistics indicated that 374,451 new voters were captured during the limited registration exercise an increase of 330.7 per cent over the 2006 exercise which recorded 113,236. The provisional voter population for the region is 2,381,214 voters, an increase of 18.7 per cent over the 2006 electoral roll of 2,006,763 voters.

Brong Ahafo Region recorded 186,604 new voters, an increase of 285.1 per cent over the 2006 exercise which recorded 65,456 voters. The provision figure for the region is 1,191,288 voters, an increase of 18.6 per cent over the 2006 list of 1,004,684 voters.

Figures for the Northern Region indicate that 153,793 new voters were captured during the exercise, an increase of 226.3 per cent over the 2006 figures of 67,952.

The provisional figures for the region stands at 1,116,087 voters, an increase of 16.0 per cent over the 2006 voter's list of 962,294 voters.

The statistics for the Upper East Region show that 69,988 new voters were captured during the limited voters' registration exercise, an increase of 396.3 per cent over the 2006 figure of 17,660. The provisional total figure for the region is now 514,404 voters as against the 2006 statistics of 443,416 voters, an increase of 15.8 per cent.

The Upper West Regional figures indicates that 44,710 new voters were captured during the recent exercise as against 15,377 voters captured in 2006 limited registration exercise, an increase of 290.8 per cent. The provisional figure now stands at 336,465 voters, an increase of 15.3 per cent over the 2006 voter list of 291,755 voters.

Meanwhile, the Commission has intensified education of politicians on the electoral system, laws, and its operational structure in an effort to build confidence in the integrity of the electoral process. Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, Chairman of the EC, speaking to Regional Inter-Party Advisory Committee members from the Western and Ashanti regions after a tour of EC's facilities urged the political parties to collaborate with the commission for peaceful elections.

He said the EC would display two electoral rolls during the provisional exhibition - the 2006 Voter Registration roll and the current limited voter registration figures for verification by the electorates.

On resolution of electoral disputes the EC Chairman said that mandate had been given to the judiciary adding, "adjudication of electoral dispute is directly under the purview of the Courts".

Dr Afari-Gyan debunked the notion that the electoral framework was late, saying, "we are still operating within the legal framework for conducting elections in Ghana. The September deadline was EC's own operational date, which we have changed for the exhibition of the voters register."

The EC took the opportunity to educate the politicians on the electoral timeframe, exhibition of the provisional voters' register, filling of nomination, operations at the Data Processing Department and Elections Operation Room (Strong Room).

The study tour was organized by the Commission in collaboration with the KAB Governance Consult with support from the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung.

 >  BACK  TO  TOP  <

Oboshie launches cocoa festival

Accra, Sept. 10, GNA - The first ever cocoa festival was launched in Accra on Wednesday with a call on the private sector to partner government to make it a major attraction to tourists all over the world. Mrs Oboshie Sai-Cofie, Minister of Tourism and Diasporan Relations, said if packaged well, the festival could help create jobs and generate the necessary revenues to speed up the country's socio-economic development.

The maiden festival scheduled for September 20 at Mampong Akuapem, where the first cocoa trees were planted, is being organised by FM24 Company, managers of Tetteh Quarshie farms and is expected to be an annual event.

It is estimated that about 200 tourists visit the Tetteh Quarhsie farm daily and an added attraction of a festival will help swell the numbers.

Mrs Sai-Cofie, who recounted the benefits of the cocoa industry to the economy, entreated all to consume cocoa products to take advantage of its health attributes. She called on all, especially corporate organisations, to support the cocoa festival to portray the uniqueness of cocoa in the Ghanaian culture.

Mrs Ursula Owusu, Corporate Affairs Manager of Zain Telecommunications (ZT), sponsors of the festival, said cocoa was a passion of Africa and that ZT believed in supporting passions of Africa. She said ZT would by close of the year launch innovative products to serve the telecommunication needs of Ghanaians.

As a toast of what to expect on the day of celebrations, a rendition of Ghanaian cultural display was performed by Abibigroma Drama Group of the University of Ghana.

  >  BACK  TO  TOP  <

Physically disabled appeals for considerations during election

Akim Oda (E/R), Sept. 10, GNA - Mr Joseph Adu-Boampong, National President of the Ghana Society of the Physically Disabled, has expressed regretted that the physically challenged did not often get the enabling environment for voting during elections.

This, he explained was because provisions were often not made for members to have easy access to campaign grounds and neither do authorities make room for them to vote. He said some of the places where voting took place, required that voters climbed staircase and the like, without any provision for the physically disables.

Mr Adu-Boampong said the association expects political parties to provide interpreters for the deaf at their rallies, so that the deaf would not only join the crowd to clap without hearing the message. He also expressed the hope that provisions would be made for the physically challenged in the upcoming elections. The National President urged members to endeavour to vote massively during this year's presidential and parliamentary elections, adding that members should comport themselves and leave scenes where violence would erupt at rallies.

 >  BACK  TO  TOP  <

Elmina IMC wants investigations on chief fisherman publicized

Elmina, Sept. 10, GNA - The Interim Management Committee on pre-mix fuel at Elmina, has expressed worry over government's delay to make public, the report on the embezzlement of GH¢35,000 being profits from the sale of fuel.

It said it had been two and a half years since the allegation was levelled against, Mr. Apofohen Jojo Solomon, a chief fisherman and was suspended by the Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Frank Asmah in 2006. The IMC formed with the sector Minister, Mrs. Gladys Asmah promising that she would cause an auditing of records on the sale of the fuel and a report released within two weeks.

Addressing a press conference at Elmina, in reaction to threats issued by a section of fishermen in the township last week, that they would cause mayhem, if the IMC was not dissolved, Mr. Joseph Asmah, secretary to the IMC, explained that the Minister had since then, failed to release the report into the investigations.

He claimed that rather, she had directed the oil marketing companies to supply Apofohen Solomon pre-mix fuel in his own name, without going through the Central Regional co-ordinating committee on pre-mix, as regulations stipulate.

Mr. Asmah also claimed that this directive had been given, in spite of a directive from the Chief of Staff and Minister of Presidential Affairs, Mr. Kwadwo Mpiani, asking Mrs. Asmah to investigate the chief fisherman, since no report into the investigations had been released by her office.

He said the IMC had however, complied with another directive from Mr. Mpiani that the Apofohen should be paid half of his allotted commission, with effect from last June, pending the investigations into the allegations against him.

He said the IMC had been compelled to remain in office due to the situation and refuted allegations by the fishermen that the IMC had never rendered account of its stewardship. Mr Asmah said it had, among others, awarded scholarships to children of some fishermen, in addition to the provision of books and other stationery, and donated 50 bags of cement towards the construction of the Omanhene's palace.

He said Mrs. Asmah should be blamed if any trouble arose as a result of the present situation in the pre-mix sector at Elmina.

 >  BACK  TO  TOP  <

• 09.09.2008

Package festival to attract tourists -Kuntu Blankson

Ekumfi Eyisam C/R), Sept. 9, GNA - Ghanaians have been called upon to packaged their rich culture, and make it more attractive to tourists. By so doing, the country would earn more foreign currency to help it attain the middle income status by 2015, as it so desires. Mr George Kuntu Blankson, Member of Parliament for Mfantsiman East Constituency made the called at the annual Akwambo festival of the chiefs and people of Ekumfi Eyisam in the Central Region.

Mr Kuntu Blankson urged the youth and some religious bodies not to see festivals as demonic, or as things of the past spearheaded by some chiefs and old men who do not appreciate modern world. He said the "bible approves of festivals and that was why Jesus Christ was born in a manger". The MP called on the people to see festivals as cultural, social and economic developmental activities, that when enhanced will bring meaningful social transformation to the people within our communities.

"Festivals are not only for merry making but a period to take stock of the individual, family and the community activities and plans towards the coming year," Mr Blankson said. He praised the chief and his people for a well organized Akwambo festival and urged the people to take a good look at it, and see how it could be re-packaged and sold to tourists to earn foreign exchange for development.

The MP had earlier joined the people of Ekumfi Dunkwa, Ekumfi Nanabin, Ekumfi Ekrawfo, Ekumfi Gyinankuma, Ekumfi Gankwaa all in his constituency to celebrate the Akwambo festival. In his welcoming address, Nana Impraim VII, Odikro of Ekumfi Eyisam called on politicians to address issues, and tell the electorates what they can do for them, instead of insults and personal attacks on opponents.

The Chief who is also the Twifo of Ekumfi Traditional Area, praised the youth of the town for providing dustbins for the community to improved sanitation. 9 September  2008

 >  BACK  TO  TOP  <

Rawlings criticises NPP for corruption

Kpando, Sept. 9, GNA - Former President Jerry John Rawlings on Monday said there was corruption in high places under the tutelage of President John Agyekum Kufuor, which he said was unprecedented in the annals of the country.

He said the re-denomination of the Cedi by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) led by President Kufuor was to facilitate looting of the national coffers.

Former President Rawlings was speaking at NDC rally at Kpando, on the first day of his four-day campaign tour of the Volta region. He said "A sizeable valise stashed with the new Ghana Cedis could total 4.5 billion old cedis, just for easy handling to aid corruption". Former President Rawlings would tour North Dayi, South Dayi, Hohoe South, Ho-East and Ho-West.

He questioned the rationale and legitimacy of government doing business with other banks at the expense of Ghana Commercial Bank, the pride of the nation.

Former President Rawlings observed that the moral standing of the nation had taken a nosedive and the only way for redemption was to vote out the Kufuor Government

He said majority of Ghanaians have been reduced to second and third rated citizens in the face of affluence displayed by cohorts and cronies of government.

Former President Rawlings said "How long can we continue to die and suffer in search of justice and dignity". He cautioned the electorate against falling prey to the display of affluence by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the machinery of propaganda of lies basically to confuse them. Commodore Steve Obimpeh (rtd), former Member of Parliament (MP) for Hohoe-North, said the development pendulum would tilt towards the NDC if the balance sheet was drawn between it and the NPP.

He said Ghanaians would be the best judges to compare the two regimes stressing that most of the development projects in the roads; health or education sectors were either piloted or initiated by the NDC. Mr Joseph Amenowode, MP for Hohoe-South, urged the NPP to begin to compose its handing over notes, as the "elephant has metamorphosed into kangaroo and was likely to become a shrew by December".

Ms Akosua Sena Dansua, MP for North-Dayi, said the party was strategizing to repeat the 2004 dosage by recording the highest figure in the Parliamentary elections.

She said the NDC was firm on the ground and victory was steering at the party.

Mr Modestus Ahiable, Volta Regional Chairman of the NDC, appealed to party supporters to remain vigilant and peaceful for a resounding

 >  BACK  TO  TOP  <

Ghana Railways Crisis Worsens

The Minister of Ports, Harbours and Railways, Prof. Christopher Ameyaw Akumfi, has directed management of the Ghana Railway Company (GRC), to use its internally-generated funds to pay its workers.

In a letter sent to the GRC management, the Minister made it clear that his ministry could no more pay the salaries of the workers.

The government, through the Ministry of Ports, Harbours and Railways, is reported to have spent almost $950,000 in paying the salaries and expenses of the company. Ameyaw Akumfi's ministry has also spent a chunk of its budgetary allocation on the GRC, ever since the crisis which has engulfed the company began.

This, the ministry thinks, it can no more continue to do, and has therefore directed the management of the company to start paying its staff from their internally-generated funds.

"The Ministry and government has had to approach the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning to seek approval for the release of GH¢680.000 from the Contingency Fund to pay your salaries for the months of April and May 2008.

"I wish to advise that this trend cannot continue, so you (referring to GRC) should put in place prudent measures which will enable you generate enough revenue to pay your staff from now on, in view of the fact that the Ministry can no longer approach government for the release of funds to pay your staff.

"This however requires the concerted efforts of the Management and Workers of the company. It is our expectation, therefore, that in the months ahead, you would make progress in your efforts at resolving the challenge of the payment of salaries for workers," Ameyaw Akumfi's letter stated.

The Chronicle gathered that the directives from the Minister had put the management of the struggling company in a tight corner, because the company virtually has no source of income to pay the workers.

This reporter gathered from sources within the company, that the contract for the haulage of Manganese and Bauxite, which was the main source of revenue for the company, had been cancelled following the prolong strike action embarked upon by the workers of the company.

Prof. Ameyaw Akumfi confirmed, in a telephone interview with this reporter, that he had asked the GRC management to pay its staff from internally-generated funds, and that his ministry could no more afford to source money to pay the workers.

A management staff of the company also stated, "We are not solidly on the ground at the moment, and we have to double our stand."

 >  BACK  TO  TOP  <

Mills' bodyguard was assaulted without any provocation- C/R NDC

Cape Coast, Sept 9, GNA - The Central Regional Executive Committee of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has observed that the reported assault on the bodyguard of the NDC flag bearer, Professor John Atta Evans Atta Mills in Cape Coast last Saturday, was without any provocation.

It said the President, Mr John Agyekum Kufuor had not been in any danger at the time of the incident as is being speculated in the media and that even if there had been any provocation, it did not warrant the act of "instant justice"

In a statement issued and signed by the regional secretary of the party, Mr Peter Light Koomson at Cape Coast on Tuesday, said it wants to "set the record straight since some distortions being brought into the case would not help to forestall a recurrence of such a situation". The statement explained that the bodyguard, Mr Emmanuel Ewusi, was not assaulted near the Presidential dais, but that he was rather assaulted by the security personnel guarding the President when he went to exchange greetings with the NDC flag bearer.

It consented that the incident occurred on the blind side of both the President and the Regional Minister, Nana Ato Arthur and that it "suspects that the tumultuous applause Prof Mills received on his triumphant entry into the durbar grounds might have enraged the security personnel and others".

It said it was also untrue that those who had followed Prof. Mills to the durbar had been in NDC paraphernalia.

It would be recalled that the NDC flag bearer's bodyguard was reportedly assaulted when both President Kufuor and Prof Mills joined the chiefs and people of the Oguaa traditional area at a durbar to climax the celebration of this year's Fetu Afahye.

Also present at the function, were the Convention People's Party (CPP) flag bearer Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom and Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the New Patriotic Party's (NPP) running mate.

 >  BACK  TO  TOP  <

• 08.09..2008

 Mills’ Bodyguard In A Coma

....After Beating by Kufuor's bodyguards

Monday, 08 September 2008 A bodyguard of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) 2008 flag bearer, Professor John Evans Atta Mills was beaten up by President John Agyekum Kufuor's bodyguards last Saturday, which resulted in the bodyguard falling into a coma. The victim of the incident, who goes by the name ‘Angola’ is second in command of Mills’ security guards.

He was mercilessly beaten up by some soldiers who accompanied President Kufuor to the grand durbar of the Fetu Afahye last Saturday, making him unconscious in the process. The former national walker, Vincent Essuman, rushed him to the Central Regional Hospital in Cape Coast.

The Chronicle yesterday gathered that ‘Angola’ has been referred to the Korle-bu Teaching Hospital in Accra for further treatment. An elderly woman who complained about the molestation of Mills’ bodyguard by the soldiers was also not spared some beating, while a local photographer who captured the scene live was assaulted and had his camera destroyed.

The incident occurred when President Kufuor's security prevented ‘Angola’ from following the NDC flag bearer when he was exchanging pleasantries with Kufuor, but that problem was quickly resolved.

The situation went from bad to worse when the bodyguards of Prof Mills decided to retaliate by preventing the President’s security detail from getting closer to Prof Mills when President Kufuor went back to greet the NDC flag bearer.

This resulted in a fierce scuffle with ‘Angola’ being heckled and whisked away by armed military men who accompanied the President. This incident, however, did very little to take away from the splendour of the festival itself, with Prof. Atta Mills and Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom setting the durbar ground agog when they arrived at the durbar grounds with their ‘yeresesamu’ slogan.

The flag bearer of the NDC, Prof John Evans Atta Mills, who was the first to arrive at the durbar, which was held at Chapel Square in Cape Coast, entered with his entourage doing the “yeresesamu” sign, and this caught up with the crowd.

Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom, flag bearer of the CPP arrived shortly after Prof Mills and also did the same ‘yeresesamu’ sign, which again received cheers and applause from the crowd. The occasion took an interesting turn when the CPP entourage went round to greet the chiefs and members of the NDC present.

Dr. Nduom, on reaching the canopy occupied by Prof Mills and his entourage started doing the ‘yeresesamu’ sign as the way of greeting, compelling the NDC to also respond with the same sign, thus, attracting thunderous clapping and cheering from the large crowd gathered.

Even the chiefs could not hide their joy and excitement as they joined the gathering to cheer the two political giants as they did their own thing. The ceremony, which was used to purify the township, was also used to mark the 10th anniversary of the Omanhen of Oguaa Traditional Area, Osabarima Kwesi Atta II, whowas dressed in a red cloth with a headgear to match.

Prof Mills presented GH ¢ 2,000 (¢20 million), five cartons of schnapps and assorted exotic drinks as well as 18 crates of assorted minerals to support the celebrations. He also pledged GH ¢ 1,000 (¢10 million) in support of the Cape Coast Palace which is under construction.

Dr. Nduom, on his part presented a bull, crates of assorted minerals and foodstuff as well as GH ¢ 500( ¢ 5 million). Prof Mills later visited the Cape Coast Metropolitan Hospital where he was met on arrival by the Metropolitan Health Director at the Hospital, Dr Joseph Nuertey. He also donated GH ¢ 1,500 (¢ 15 million) to the Hospital for the upkeep of patients on admission.

Prof Mills told the doctors and nurses at the Hospital that the gesture was part of the party’s social responsibility, indicating that politics should be about caring for one another and that politicians would toil in vain unless they listen to and address the needs of the masses.

“When the NDC says we care for you, we truly mean it because politics should be about care that one can give to individuals in need”, he stressed. Prof Mills was in the city to participate in the Fetu Afahye festival.

 >  BACK  TO  TOP  <

MVP (UN) trains 113 non-professional teachers

Manso-Nkwanta (Ash), Sept. 8, GNA - The United Nations (UN) Millennium Villages Project (MVP), which operates in the Amansie West District of Ashanti, has for the past two years supported 113 untrained teachers, to pursue the Untrained Teachers Diploma in Basic Education (UTDBE) distance education programme at the Wesley College in Kumasi. Mr Samuel Asare Afram, Cluster Manager of the Project, who disclosed this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency at Manso-Nkwanta at the weekend, said the MVP has also supported 30 needy but brilliant students in the district with scholarship packages. He said as part of the package, the Project paid 500 dollars each to enable the 30 beneficiaries to further their education at the Senior High School level.

The Cluster Manager explained that the goals of the MVP were to reduce extreme poverty on the part of the people in the area through various programmes and development interventions, and said for instance that the Project in the past trained farmers in new method of farming. Consequently, he said these farmers have been supplied with over 40,000 improved cocoa seedlings for replanting at their individual farms to improve yields.

On health, Mr Afram said the project has also paid medical bills for residents in the Bonsaaso cluster of areas, to enable them seek quality health care delivery at health facilities, stressing that his outfit intends to register the people to access the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). He said the MVP further supported the District Health Administration and Assembly to organise various courses and workshops for their staff to update their skills, whiles increasing their knowledge in their fields of endeavours.

 >  BACK  TO  TOP  <