• 09.11.2008

Passengers appeal to Highway Authority to repair road

Apeatu (E/R), Nov. 9, GNA - Travellers on the Suhum - Nsawam road in the Eastern Region, have appealed to the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) to take immediate steps to repair a damaged portion of that road at Apeatu near Amanase. They cautioned that the damag ed road could cause accidents that would result in several deaths, if it is not taken serious. Passengers had classified the Suhum - Nsawam stretch of the road forming part of the Accra - Kumasi International Route, as the most dangerous portion.

It had also been described as a death trap. Passengers, who spoke to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), at a particular spot of the road where it is very dangerous, said though the government had plans to construct the route into a first class road, at least some repair works on the damaged portions of the road should be effected.

In recent times, articulated trucks, and other mini-trucks carrying charcoal and foodstuffs run into ditches at the Apietu curve, over-seeing Amanase. Those, who had been using the road frequently, accused the GHA of not maintaining the road, saying: "They do not have mercy for travellers".

The GNA observed that a portion of the road, which stretches about 300 metres, had lost the entire tarring and had become muddy and undulating, as well as without any drainage by the sides of the road. The potholes had become very wide as a result of the torrential rains in the area, rendering that portion of the Accra - Kumasi road virtually impassable.

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Baah Wiredu laid to rest

Agogo (Ash), Nov. 9, GNA- The mortal remains of former Finance Minister Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, were on Saturday laid to rest amidst outpouring of grief at his hometown, Agogo in the Asante Akim North District.

As his casket was lowered into the grave, the final resting place, members of the bereaved family, friends and admirers could not hold back their tears and wept uncontrollably. This was preceded by a pre-burial service.

The late Minister was the Member of Parliament (MP) for the area and died at the Life Little Company Hospital in South Africa, where he had gone for medical treatment on Wednesday, September 24. He was 56 and left behind a wife Margaret and eight children. President John Agyekum Kufuor and the wife, Theresa, were among the thousands of mourners from all walks of life who thronged the Agogo Methodist School Park later in the day for the final funeral rites. They included the Chief of Staff and Minister for Presidential Affairs, Mr Kwadwo Mpiani, Foreign Minister Akwasi Osei-Adjei, Dr Kwame Addo-Kufuor, Interior Minister, Defence Minister Albert Kan-Dapaah, Mr Joseph Henry Mensah, Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission, Mr Emmanuel Asamoah Owusu-Ansah, Ashanti Regional Minister, and other senior Government Ministers, Members of Parliament (MPs) and District Chief Executives.

Also present were the Presidential Candidate of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his running mate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Mr Peter Mac Manu, the NPP National Chairman, and other national, regional and constituency executives of the party, chiefs, the clergy and youth groups. All clad in red and black and amidst traditional drumming and live band music, the event was a fitting tribute to the late Minister, whose hard work, humility and affable nature won the hearts of many Ghanaians.

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NDC dismisses 10 leading members

The National Executive Committee of the National Democratic Congress has dismissed ten leading members of the party, less than a month to the December polls.

The ten are contesting as independent parliamentary candidates in the upcoming polls after losing the party's primaries.

The committee has asked for the names of the ten to be expunged from the party's register and has authorised them to return all party property at their disposal.

Apart from the dismissal, other executives and members of the party, risk suspension if they are seen supporting any of the ten candidates.

The affected persons include, Mr. SK Oppong of the Agona West constituency, Seth Dominic Aglago, Avenor Ave, Samuel Kobby Adeapena, Ayawaso West Wuogon, Ekow Asirifi Buckman of the Mfantsiman East constituency.

Others are Anthony Frimpong, Essikuma Odobeng Brakwa and Alhassan Dramani, Tamale North constituencies.

The move is geared towards maintaining party loyalty and to deter others from defying party rules.

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Mills promises security for all

Akatsi, Nov 9, GNA - Prof John Atta Mills, presidential candidate of the National Democratic Party (NDC), has said a government under him would ensure security to enable the citizenry to live without fear.

He said this when he addressed rallies in North-Tognu, Akatsi and Keta districts part of his campaign tour of parts of the Volta Region. Prof Mills said contract killings, kidnapping and armed robberies that are fast becoming common crimes in Ghana needed to be halted in order to avert a national disaster.

"Today people are living in fear with the constant highway robberies. Can our country, grow in this situation?"

he asked, and added that the government has lost control of the security situation to the extent that the country has become a safe haven for drug trafficking. Prof Mills said his government would therefore resource the security services adequately and motivate them to perform to expectation.

He said a district youth training and placement programme would be instituted to enable the youth acquire skills after which they would be given tools and capital to establish their businesses. Tertiary school graduates would also be given specific training to seek job placement and basic school students who failed their examinations would have the opportunity to re-write those examinations.

Commodore Steve Obimpeh (RTD), a former minister in the NDC government, said it was that government which launched the cocoa rehabilitation programme in 1983 when bushfires devastated cocoa farms in the country. He said it was NDC government that began the National Health Insurance Scheme on a pilot basis in 1998, "therefore the NPP cannot claim that they initiated it", he said.

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TV Series of Economic History of Ghana

The television version of An Economic History of Ghana-Reflections on a Half Century of Challenges and Progress will start showing on Ghana Television (GTV) from Monday November 10 2008.

The Series of three episodes is a companion to the book of the same title which was written and produced by Ivor Agyeman-Duah and recently launched in Accra by the former Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa, Dr. K.Y. Amoako. The first episode, Structures and Institutions in a Post- Colonial Economy is at 9.30pm on November 10 followed on Tuesday with A Vampire Economy With a Silver Lining from 8-9pm and finally Crossing the Jordan: Stimulation and Innovation in the Economy on Thursday from November 13 from 9pm.

The Series which has the participation of distinguished international and local economists, scholars, politicians look at how the inheritance of the colonial economy from 1957 under Nkrumah has shaped the contours of it in the early years of the twenty-first century; it looks also at the role of institutions, policy and stimulation to the post-colonial structures.The participants include UN Secretary-General's advisor, Prof. Jeffrey Sachs, Director of the Institute of Statistical Social and Economic Development, Prof. Ernest Aryeetey, Dr. Nii Moi Thompson of the Convention Peoples' Party, Dr. Gareth Austin of the London School of Economics, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills, former Vice President, Dr. Anthony Akoto-Osei, Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, Executive Chairman of the Databank Financial Services , Dr. Gobind Nankani, former Vice President of the World Bank for Africa and others.

According to the writer and producer, Mr. Ivor Agyeman-Duah, “What this Series seeks to do is to use a multidisciplinary strategy to access Ghana's economic trajectory in the last 50 years and the way forward."

The Series and the companion book which have had tremendous international endorsement including from The Royal Africa Society in London would be launched at the African Studies Association annual conference, the biggest gathering of writers and scholars on Africa, in Chicago next week.

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Who Got What Out Of $16 Million Deal?

Unedited story of petitioner to CHRAJ on alleged $2m ‘aye fe notse’ kickback scheme

 
DETAILS PROVIDED to the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) by Mr. Fred Kofi-Lagbo, the petitioner in the Commission’s investigations into the $16 million Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) contract to a Chinese company, ZPMC, suggests that a number of people either benefited or were expected to benefit from the alleged scheme to reap Ghanaian taxpayers off.

According to the petitioner, who is a former alternate director of Kf94, a Ghanaian company located off the Spintex Road in Accra that represented the Chinese company in the award of the contract, the variation in the contract sum from $14.7 million to over $16 million was to inure to the benefit of the Chinese company and host of Ghanaians, including some top public officials.

The Chinese company allegedly kept $700,000 of the funds and according to the then Director of Kf94, declined to pay commission on that amount to them because it claimed it came in by way of kickback.

Mr Ben Owusu-Mensah, Director-General of the GPHA, allegedly demanded $500,000 as the share of the amount to be used to reportedly influence “top government officials”, according to Kofi-Lagbo

Below is an unedited copy of excerpts of an address by Kofi-Lagbo on Radio Gold almost two years ago which he tendered to CHRAJ, among other things, to back his allegations of corruption and conflict of interest against the DG of GPHA, Mr Ben Owusu-Mensah, during CHRAJ’s preliminary investigations into the allegations.

CHRAJ said recently that it would open full scale investigations into the allegations of corruption and conflict of interest against Ben Owusu-Mensah, DG of GPHA, in due course following conclusion of its preliminary probe.

Read below the unedited text of the statement on Radio Gold, which formed part of documentation and audio recordings and transcripts made to CHRAJ during it preliminary investigations by Kofi-Lagbo.

“EXCERPTS OF STATEMENT BY MR FRED KOFI LAGBO ON RADIO GOLD’s “ALHAJI AND ALHAJI” PROGRAMME ON DECEMBER 9, 2006 PRESENTED TO THE CHRAJ TO AID PROBE INTO $16. MILLION CONTRACT AT GPHA BY HIS REPRESENTATIVE ALFRED OGBAMEY THROUGH LAWYER EGBERT FAIBILLE.

Radio Gold: Good morning Fred Kofi Lagbo

Fred Kofi Lagbo: Good morning

Radio Gold: How are you sir?

Fred Kofi Lagbo: I’m fine, thank you. And you?

Radio Gold: You say you have a story to tell to the people of Ghana. We’re listening to you now on Radio Gold in Accra, Ghana, to be precise.

Fred Kofi Lagbo: Okay. Good morning the good people of Ghana. Sometime err in the past we executed a contract on behalf of a Chinese company, ZPMC, to supply container terminal cranes. But in executing that transaction we built in a $2 million deal which was to be shared among certain top government officials and the Chinese company itself. That was very interesting.

I was a Director of KF94 Limited, with Christian Kweku Eshun as the Managing Director. Now the $2 million issue was hatched actually by Christian Kweku Eshun with the assistance of the GPHA boss, Ben Owusu Mensah, who is normally called Flash, and the Chief Engineer, Richard Anamoo. Now, what actually was the case was that two competitors bided for this very contract. That was ZPMC, the Chinese company and an Italian company, FANTUZI.

FANTUZI quoted a sum of over $17 million and the Chinese was $14.7 million. Now, during the technical evaluation of their proposals, ZPMC was found to be better. Now, it was at this stage that Mr. Kweku Eshun, who was then not representing ZPMC [and] who got to know that this was the case, wrote to the Chinese company, to see to the deal for them because at that material moment Dr. Richard Anane was behind the FANTUZI people with Kwame Poku as the agent for FANTUZI over here. Now, Kweku [Eshun] got to know the bid value for ZPMC and he suggested to them after he had been given the agency that they should increase their bid proposal by $2 million, and if they did that it was not going to measure up to that FANTUZI had quoted and this was acceptable. Now, to entice them, he suggested to them that they will retain $700 [$700,000] and $1.3 million will be what he would use to entice the top government officials of Ghana who would see to it that the deal goes through.

Somewhere along the line, Ben Owusu Mensah called Kweku, according to Kweku, and told him that things were a little bit tight so he should move and contact at least two members of the GPHA Board who could work things out in his favour. It was at this stage that I was very instrumental, and very helpful. We went to Nana Boakye Asafo Adjei and Mr. Quartey who are board members of GPHA. It was Kweku, who spoke to them, but I was with Kweku; I knew why we were there. But I took Kweku to a non-board member, a very good friend of mine, Mr. Maison Osei Kufuor, whose cousin is Gabby Nketiah, a special aide, a special assistant of President Kufuor, who said he could also help us. So we arranged a meeting and we went and saw Gabby [Nketiah].

We spoke to Gabby and we had some transaction and Gabby was able to help us with the transaction. Now, Ben Owusu Mensah had asked for $500,000 which he was going to use to influence the top government officials. Richard Anamoo, the Chief Engineer, we had promised him $50,000. That was what Kweku told me. I say we because I was a Director at that company and whatever happened to that company since we were only two Directors we both take responsibility of any action, whether it was executed by Kweku alone or the two of us jointly. Now, Ishaak is a friend of Ben Owusu Mensah who had transactions with Kweku on behalf of Ben Owusu Mensah. He was to have $150,000. Arnold Privy, the deputy of Kweku: $60,000. ZPMC itself was to retain $700,000 of Ghanaian taxpayers’ money. We promised Gabby and Maison $50,000 each. I myself, Kweku told me he was going to give me $100,000 as my package, and the package for the two board members was $20,000 each and Kweku himself was going to keep $300,000.

Now, when things got hot and we had to go to these very people, in one of our meetings Kweku and I left Gabby and Maison to take a decision as to whether we should let Maison and Gabby know about the $500,000 that Ben Owusu Mensah had asked for. I told him that, that was not the best but well, he won, because he was the boss and we had to tell them. Now, the reason was that Kweku was of the view that since he [Ben Owusu Mensah] was taking that chunk of money, he should be able to settle Mr Quartey and Nana Boakye Asafo Adjei. I told him that we could absolve it but he said no, Flash [Ben Owusu Mensah] was being too greedy. It was at this stage that we told Maison and Gabby that Ben had asked for $500,000. They didn’t also like it because they felt that, that was on the high side. Okay. All this while they didn’t know that the contract sum had been what, bloated. When we left, Mr Maison being my friend called me to know the nitty-gritty’s.

It was at that stage that I told him that in actual fact there was this component, do you see it, the $2 million that was being jacked up, because he was trying to find out how we were going to be able to pay these things and the way we had been he wanted to actually know whether there were some other things they did not know because he was of the view that we should come up with a bigger package for them because in the course of our meeting it was said that Gabby, whatever he gets he would be sharing with President Kufuor, and as such $50,000 was on the low side. It was not good at all. I came back and told Kweku that we should increase the component of Maison and Gabby and that this was the feeling of Maison. He said no, we should think of ourselves and that that will not work out.

Now, not knowing, when Mr. Maison needed some money, he was broke; he needed $10,000 for his rent, he owns Galibon Guest House just behind Koala [Osu], he went to Kweku and then told him that I have made mention of the $2 million issue to him. It was at this stage that they decided that I was like a mole and as such I should be marginalized. At that meeting according to Kweku, Kweku told me about a year-plus, later on, that this was what Maison told him, that he should retain our friendship, he should continue to pay me my director salary but he should not involve me in any other major transaction of his.

So Kweku’s relationship with me, with time, was not the best.

Now, l got to know; Kweku showed me the $2 million contract between him and ZPMC. Flash and co did know that it was $1 million and $1 million on the other side. I was the only one who knew with Kweku that $1.3 million was coming here, and also what was the case was that when with time they had discussed this issue, they wrote a letter revoking that contract. Kweku showed me a letter that the GPHA boss had written revoking that contract. What he told me was that the Chief Engineer, Richard Anamoo, has been sacked and he felt that it was not safe. He is an NDC loyalist , he might go and tell people what they had done, so they had reversed the contract sum to its original value and as such the $2 million was no longer on top so we were only going to share the commission value.

The cranes were delivered sometime last year, maybe February or thereabout, and l was shocked when TV3 carried the news, to know that the contract sum was still what l knew. That was $16.7 million, which means there was no reversal. It was at this stage that l decided to call my friend. First l called him to congratulate him that we had done well. He said yes, the cranes had arrived. And l said ah, but how come the value is still what it was. He tried explaining to me that during the execution of, during the manufacturing of the cranes, they had to change some specifications for it to re-align itself with what pertains in the sub-region here. I said no, why? And if this was the case, should it come to the same $2 million that l knew about?

Can you give me papers to show what actually went on and so on as Director? He said no, he has spoken to me sometime ago that l should cease to be his Director. I kept pestering him and one particular day, he told me that no, there were issues he had wanted to take up with me in 30 years time but that day he was going to tell me. It was at that point that he told me what Maison had told him; about me revealing the $2 million component to him and that even Maison he had been paid. Maison and Gabby he had paid them about 7 months earlier. I said what? You have paid them seven months earlier and you have not paid me yet? He said this is what l am telling you, but what l paid them is not what l told them much earlier. I paid them a total of $45,000. So l called Maison and l said look, Kweku says he has paid you people. He said no, Kweku has not paid them anything. I called Kweku back, Kweku calls, and says yes l have documentary proof of all that l do, the transfers that l made into his account and so on, for him and Gabby. So l decided to actually find out if the $2 million deal actually came through, hence l started my own discreet investigation. In a nutshell, this is my story.”

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• 08.11.2008

NDC supporters urged to be vigilant on voting day

Accra, Nov. 8, GNA - Former President Jerry John Rawlins on Saturday urged supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to be vigilant on voting day in order not to allow the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to rig the election.

"In 2004, when suffering by the masses was about to end as the NDC was about to win the election, we relaxed and allowed NPP to rig the election. It is the same situation in the run up to this year's election and we need not repeat that mistake"

He was addressing supporters of the party at a rally in the Odododiodio constituency to introduce the party's parliamentary candidates in the Greater Accra Region to the electorate. Former President Rawlings said from 1992 to 2000, the NDC organised free and fair elections when it was in office but the NPP does not believe in the conduct of transparent elections.

"The lust for power and greed by the NPP is creating a lot of pain in society. God has played His role already so it is left to us to ensure that the will of God comes to pass."

"There is hope for a change of government and God has given us the wisdom to effect that change. Americans have fought for a change even though they do not experience a quarter of the economic hardships we are facing in this country. Voting for the NPP means leading the country to destruction,"

he said.

"Immediately the NDC left office and they came to power, there was an increase in school fees but they are now saying education is free. You already know about the Ga lands and the way they are grabbing them," he said. Former President Rawlings said before the NDC left office it had connected about 95 percent of communities to the national grid but the NPP has failed to expand these electrification projects. He urged the electorate to judge both the NDC and NPP in order to make the right choice in the December election.

Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, Former First lady, said the NPP's slogan of "Moving Forward" was a clear indication that the party was going to increase the economic hardships it has already inflicted on Ghanaians if voted into power. Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketia, General Secretary of NDC, said the nation required quality leaders who could implement the manifesto of the party in order to save the masses from suffering.

Mr. Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, National Organiser of NDC, said the party would recruit competent polling agents to ensure vigilance in all the 22,000 polling stations. Mr. Enoch Teye Mensah, Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, said the party would win all the 27 seats in the Greater Accra Region.

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Kufuor inaugurates Accident and Emergency Centre

Kumasi, Nov. 8, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor has inaugurated a state-of-the-art National Accident and Emergency Centre, with a helipad on the roof, built at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi to serve as the nation's main referral facility for accident management.

The Centre with its four other components including a modern pathology unit with laboratories; a 280-individual-cubicle mortuary; comprehensive expansion and refurbishment of the Specialist Out-Patients-Department (OPD); supply and installation of modern equipment and spare parts and consumables for maintenance; was funded wholly by the Government at a total cost of about 75 million euro. This was done through proceeds from the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Fund and the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF). About two million euro, which would otherwise have been paid as consultation fees to Consultants, was saved as a result of it being managed by the in-house technical team of the Health Ministry. German contractors, "GerTech", undertook the job and it took less than three years to complete.

President Kufuor urged the Ministry of Health, the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons and the KATH Management to ensure that the facility was used to train specialists in trauma and orthopaedic surgery, intensive care and emergency medicine, which were its major pre-occupation.

His expectation, he said, was that in the next few years, it would become the West Africa Sub-Region's leading centre for training of health professionals in those specialties to justify the huge investment put into its construction. He noted that an emergency centre was worthwhile only when victims got there in good time and said that was why prior to its establishment, the Government put a National Ambulance Service in operation to manage pre-hospital care of accident victims. Currently, the service has 24 stations, covering all regional capitals.

President Kufuor said he was confident that with the coming on stream of the facility, accident victims would now have much better chances of survival. He, however, pointed out that building world-class facilities alone was not enough and that there was also the need for effective public education on accidents and their prevention. He, therefore, directed the Police, Driver Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) and the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) to step up their educational, monitoring and enforcement activities. They should check impunity on the part of motorists, who showed blatant disregard for traffic signs and warnings as well as other road users.

Such offenders should be put before the courts and the appropriate punishment exacted. "Let us all agree to do all in our power to avoid preventable accidents, which make such heavy investments in the society unprofitable."

Health Minister Major Courage E.K. Quashigah (rtd) said the Centre was part of the strategy for reducing the high number of deaths and disability due to accidents. "Our vision is to develop this edifice into a regional centre of excellence for managing accident victims and patients needing emergency care. We also intend that in the very near future it will be a centre of training for health personnel in the management of accidents." Dr Anthony Nsiah-Asare, Chief Executive of KATH, said they had rolled out a programme to ensure optimal use of the facility in order to extract maximum benefits from the investment. He said the Hospital had sought best practices in the management of accident and emergency centre from countries like Israel, Germany, United Kingdom, the United States and Italy, with a view to instituting functional management structures for its effective running right from the onset.

Already, KATH had entered into a number of agreements with some international voluntary medical organizations and institutions to turn the project into a major centre for specialist training for health professional in the West African Sub-Region. Dr Nsiah-Asare conveyed appreciation to President Kufuor for the vision, personal conviction and courage that made the construction of the facility, possible.

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Spotlight on Ashaiman

 A GNA feature by Laudia Nunoo

Ashaiman, Nov.5, GNA - On the morning of Tuesday June 3 2008 a number of radio stations in Accra shifted their focus from the usual newspaper reviews to comment on a clash between commercial drivers and the Police at Ashaiman, near Tema.
While some callers said Ashaiman was filled with troublemakers, others criticised the decision of President John Agyekum Kufour to give Ashaiman a municipal status as the incident happened barely two months after it was made a municipality.
The youth of Ashaiman had staged a demonstration in November 2007 to back their demand for Ashaiman to be made a municipality. Their worry was that the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA), which was the administered Tema, Ashaiman and Adenta, had neglected the community. A five-member Committee of Enquiry chaired by Mr Justice C. J. Honyenuga an Appeals Court Judge, which investigated the incident, made a number of recommendations including the dismissal of the Ashaiman Divisional Commander of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit of the Police Service (MTTU), ASP Timothy Dassah in addition to the paying of monetary compensation to the families of Moses Kassim and Moses Ofori, the two who lost their lives during the incident. Due to the incident and other perceived factors, the mere mention of Ashaiman sends shivers through the spine of some people, especially those who are yet to visit the town. But why do people have the phobia for Ashaiman? Why fear the community that has come to be popularly known as the United States of Ashaiman? Nii Ashai founded the town in the 17th century after he moved from Tema.
He named it Ashaiman meaning Ashai's town. His two brothers, Nii Amu and Nii Oko, settled in adjoining towns now called Mantseman and Moniomanye, respectively. Nii Tetteh Amui II is now the head of Ashaiman. Ashaiman grew as other migrants from the Dangme West District, precisely the Ada area, came to settle in the town and were followed subsequently by other ethnic groups including the Ewes and Northerners. As Ashaiman expanded, communities such as Lebanon, Middle East, Jericho and Bethlehem that derived their names because soldiers, who returned from peacekeeping duties in these countries, settled there, and Zongo Laka sprang up.
Currently about 50 different ethnic groups from all the 10 regions of Ghana and other African countries reside in Ashaiman, each with its ethnic chief.
Ashaiman is located about four kilometres to the north of Tema and about 30 kilometres from Accra, the capital of Ghana and shares boundaries on the north and east with the Katamanso Zonal Council of the TMA, on the south with the Tema Township, and on the west with Adjei Kojo, a community which forms part of Tema Zonal Council. The Ghana Year 2000 Population Census Report estimated the population of Ashaiman to be 150,312 with a growth rate of 4.6 per cent, which is higher than the 2.6 per cent national growth rate. The Ashaiman Municipal Assembly (ASHMA) estimated the current population of the Municipality to be 217,717 with an average household size of five. The Census Report further estimated that 75,183 of the population are males while 75,129 are females with the majority of the population falling within the ages of 15 years and 34 years. The main occupations in Ashaiman are farming, especially crop farming, livestock and poultry raising as well as fishing; manufacturing; food processing; quarrying and construction; commerce and kente weaving. Ashaiman has 17 public basic schools and 286 private basic schools consisting of nursery, primary and Junior High Schools. Ashaiman Senior High School (SHS) is the only public second cycle school. There are seven private SHS.
Ashaiman has only one public health centre, 14 private clinics and one private maternity home.
According to the Tema Human Development Report of 2004, apart from the insufficient health facilities, most of the existing ones did not have adequate qualified health personnel and also operated under poor hygienic conditions.
Malaria, acute respiratory infections, skin diseases, diarrhoea, chickenpox, hypertension, acute ear infection, eye infection, typhoid as well as home and occupational accidents were named by the Tema Metropolitan Health Directorate as the top 10 medical conditions reported in Ashaiman.
Some residents depend on the services of traditional healers. Ashaiman has a Traditional Healers Association with over 100 members, who treat various kinds of diseases such as stroke, hypertension, diabetes, asthma, infertility, sexual weakness, waist pains, hernia and piles, among other ailments.
These traditional healers sometimes worsen the health problems of the people. Some of their herbal preparations sometimes worsen the medical condition of their clients.
Ashaiman's proximity to Tema and Accra makes it easy for community members to have access to higher-level social facilities and infrastructure such as good roads with drainage, water and electricity. Even though the town has well engineered drains along its major roads, drainage within the residential units is very poor. Areas within these units have, therefore, been mired with liquid waste, compounding the already existing problem of sanitation.
Disposing of liquid waste is one of the major problems facing the Ashaiman Municipality. While most of the residential areas do not have good drainage facilities, the few existing ones have been choked with solid waste causing wastewater to stagnate, giving offensive odour in the communities.
Most households in Ashaiman do not have domestic toilet facilities in their houses. Landlords fail to add toilet facilities to their residential units and thus putting pressure on the limited public toilet facilities. This has led to the indiscriminate defecation in nearby open spaces and bushes in the area.
A trend which is also gradually evolving in the Municipality is that, some people defecate into black polythene bags and later dispose of them by either dumping them in their refuse containers, gutters or throwing them out without regard to wherever they might land. Another sanitation problem facing Ashaiman is the indiscriminate disposal of refuse even though the town benefits from an organized system of refuse collection by the Tema Metropolitan Assembly in addition to a number of refuse dumping sites in the Municipality. The sanitation problem has been compounded by the fact that most residents prefer littering the town to paying for the disposal of the refuse they generate.
The most worrying aspect of the situation is that apart from warding off possible investors, it could trigger the outbreak of communicable diseases like cholera, typhoid and malaria. Accessing potable water is not a problem at Ashaiman as the area is served with a network of water connections from the Kpong Water Works. There are 15 fire hydrants.
The Ashaiman District Police recorded 5,531 between January and September 2007. The reported cases included assault; stealing; threat of death; fraud and possession of narcotics drugs. Even though the 1,794 cases reported in the first quarter of 2008 were less than those for the same period in 2007, there was a sharp increase to 2,324 in the second quarter of 2008.
Other crimes reported were robbery; murder; defilement; causing damage; offensive conduct; rape and unlawful entry.
Mr Albert Boakye Okyere Municipal Chief Executive of Ashaiman, and, Mr Alfred Agbesi, Member of Parliament for Ashaiman told GNA that Ashaiman was not a town of criminals as people perceived. Happily, the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly recently held its first stakeholders forum. The Chief Executive announced that the Assembly's vision was to turn the town into a "24-hour-city". The Assembly is building a treatment and recycling plant to address its sanitation problems in addition to constructing new roads and drains and the tarring of existing roads. 5 Nov. 08

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• 07.11.2008

Presidential Palace is Ready

The presidential palace constructed to house winner of the December 7 general elections in Ghana is ready and would be commissioned Monday November 10, 2008, but the total cost of the project is unknown.The multi-million dollar Presidential Complex was reconstructed from the famous Flagstaff House, which served as residence for Ghana’s first president, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.

Mr. Agbesi who demanded to know the total cost of the project at the time of commissioning in Parliament was asked to put in an urgent question instead, which he did. He is hopeful that the question would be fielded on Monday, November 10, 2008. Meanwhile, Citi News Parliamentary Correspondent, Richard Sky says a number of Minority MPs have told him that they would not be attending the ceremony.

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Forged British Visa Applications Reduce

The number of forged visa applications to the British High Commission has reduced from 40 percent in 2004 to eight per cent this year. The Immigration Liaison manager of the British High Commission, Mr. Paul Stafford, said in Accra yesterday that as a result of the success of the Visa and Documentation Fraud Unit of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), the United Kingdom’s Border Agency International Group was providing 26,500 pounds for the purchase of a vehicle and equipment for the unit.

Mr. Stafford was speaking when he visited the Director-General of the CID, DCOP Frank Adu-Poku. He said the British Government had also decided to replicate the programme throughout the world. “This is in recognition of the achievements of the Visa and Documentation Fraud Unit of the CID in reducing the submission of forged documents by visa applicants to the British High Commission in Ghana,” he stated.

He said since the unite was set up in 2004, through the instrumentality of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) K. K. Amoah, more than 3,200 visa applicants had been arrested at the British High Commission for submitting forged or fraudulently obtained documents or for identity abuse. Prior to the inception of the exercise, he said, an assessment of visa applications showed that 40 per cent of all applications submitted to the High Commission contained forged or fraudulently obtained documents.

Mr. Stafford said it was as s a result of the success of the programme that senior officials in the United Kingdom recognized Ghana’s effort as an “outstanding example of how to reduce fraud and work with local law enforcement agencies”. In addition to the CID boss, Mr. Stafford also commended Chief Inspector Antwi Tanoh and Inspector Joseph Mannoh for being excellent ambassadors for the CID in ensuring the success of the unit.

DCOP Adu-Poku expressed the appreciation of the Police Administration for the resources that various foreign missions were providing to support the work of the unit. He gave the assurance that the vehicle and equipment would be put to good use to reduce the incidence of forged documents in visa applications.

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Rawlings ask for massive vote for NDC

Kumasi, Nov. 07, GNA-Former President Jerry John Rawlings on Wednesday ended a campaign tour of the Brong Ahafo and Ashanti regions, calling on the people to vote massively for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the December polls.

Addressing a rally at Bantama he asked the people to vote for the Presidential candidate of the NDC Prof. John Evans Attah Mills. He said before 2000 when the NPP took over from the NDC government, Ghanaians were living happily since their standard of living was better than now.

He claimed that the standard of living under NPP was now unbearable, due to "greed, corruption, bad policies and untold hardships."

Former President Rawlings who is also the Founder of the NDC noted that in 1979 when he assumed office the development level of national electricity grid covered 20 per cent of the country but improved to 90 per cent at the time he left office.

President Rawlings said the rural electrification project, which was initiated by the NDC administration with the aim of connecting rural communities to the national grid to improve lives of rural dwellers through cottage industry projects has now been abandoned as a result of high electricity tariffs imposed by the NPP Government. He said due to the high electricity tariffs, some rural communities were compelled to use lanterns.

Former President Rawlings earlier paid a courtesy call on the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.

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NDC Rolls out Positive Agenda for Women Dev't

Accra, Nov. 7, GNA - The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has rolled out an agenda for women empowerment, promising to deal decisively with the socio-cultural beliefs that had barred a large section of women from earning income.

Mr John Mahama, running mate of the party's presidential candidate, said despite the positive steps the NDC government had taken in the past to deal with the problem through enactment of legislations and the adoption of an affirmative action policy, gender inequalities were still pervasive and gender gaps remained widespread. He said the country's quest for accelerated economic development and growth would remain mere wishes, unless attempts were made to provide equal opportunity to women who constitute about 51 per cent of the country's population.

Mr Mahama was speaking at a Vice Presidential Dialogue, dubbed: "Women's Dialogue on Elections 2008 in Accra on Thursday. The Dialogue was organised by Women in Law and Development in Africa as a platform for gender activists to interact with five running mates of presidential candidates. They are Dr Mahamudu Bawumia of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr John Dramani Mahama, of the NDC, Dr Abu Sakara Foster of the Convention Peoples Party (CPP); Ms Petra Maria Amegashie of the Peoples National Convention (PNC) and Ms Patience Ameku of the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP).

Mr Mahama said to strengthen the position of Ghanaian women in senior government positions, emphasis would be placed on women's rights and participation in decision-making at all levels whilst ensuring that gender sensitive language was used in all public policy and in-house records.

There will be legislative and policy reforms to give minimum of 40 per cent representation to women in senior government positions. Besides, NDC government will promote increased access to education, health, employment and socio-economic infrastructure and services. Mr Mahama said micro-credit institutions would be coordinated to achieve best practices.

The budget process will be rev iewed to take on board the needs and interest of women in national planning. Mr Mahama, who had to leave due to a pre-engaged programme, had his position taken over by Ms Hannah Tetteh during the question an answer session.

The dialogue had originally scheduled for between nine O'clock and 12 noon but had to be shifted because of the state funeral for Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, the late Minister of Finance and Economic Planning. Responding to a question on empowering women economically, Ms Tetteh said the NDC government would improve the agricultural sector as a means of improving the livelihood of the people. She stressed the need for access to micro-credit through rural and community banks to enable women to engage in meaningful economic activities.

On the question of employment of people with disability, Ms Tetteh said there must be sensitisation of the people as first step to getting them to understand the plight of disabled. In addition, NDC government would adopt affirmative action to ensure that they were employed in the public and private sectors. Other questions were on public safety and security, education and health.

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Today Is Farmers Day

Ghanaians from all walks of life, including President J.A. Kufuor, will turn out in large numbers at the Techiman Methodist School Park today to celebrate the achievements of the country’s farmers at the 24th National Farmers Day.

The theme for the occasion is : “Globalisation: its effects on agricultural production in Ghana”. Unlike previous years when the day was declared as a statutory public holiday, the Ministry of the Interior has explained that although this year’s National Farmers Day will be observed today, the day will not be a public holiday. The National Farmers Day, which was instituted in 1984, falls on the first Friday of December each year in which case this year’s celebration should have taken place on December 5.The observance of the day this year has to be shifted to November 7 in view of the forthcoming national elections, which fall on Sunday, December 7, 2008.In a statement issued earlier, the ministry, however, said December 5, 2008, the statutory Farmers Day this year, remained a public holiday.

On this occasion, the nation recognises the vital role farmers and fishermen play in the economy, especially the highly commendable output of farmers and fishermen in 1984, which was about 30 per cent growth, after the bad agricultural years of 1982 and 1983. The National Farmers Day is, therefore, celebrated to motivate farmers and fishermen to produce more.The first National Farmers Day was celebrated on December 6, 1985 at Osino in the Eastern Region. The package for the best national farmer then comprised only a pair of wellington boots and a preset radio. Since then the value of the awards has improved from year to year, moving from bicycles to power tillers to tractors, then to pickups and finally to a three-bedroom house since 2002.Despite the day not being a holiday, the focus of the nation is expected to shift to the commercial town of Techiman, where President J.A. Kufuor will address the Farmers Day for the last time as the Head of State.

A number of institutions, both public and private, have donated various sums of money and items through the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) toward the celebration. However, the government, just as it had done in previous years, will, on behalf of the people of Ghana, present the ultimate prize to the Best National Farmer as a form of appreciation to the winner and motivation to others in the agricultural sector.

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Our Security Has No Eye -ET

Members of the Minority in Parliament want to know how Ghana’s former National Security Minister, Mr. Francis Poku left the country. Mr. Muntaka Mubarak, MP for Asawase spoke to Citi News in reaction to admittance by the Chief of Staff and Minister for Presidential Affairs, Mr. Kojo Mpiani, that if government cannot tell Ghanaians how the former Minister left the country, “then what that means is that our security has no eye.”

Mr. Mpiani was answering a question on the floor of the House on how Mr. Poku left the country, he said “ Mr. Speaker, we have no idea as to how he left the country.” The question was asked by Mr. E. T. Mensah, MP for Ningo Prampram, on behalf on Mr. John Mahama, MP for Bole Bamboe. But Mr. Mubarak, who was not satisfied with the answer angrily told Citi News that “it tells you and I that we are insecure. That’s why we have serious armed robbery still going on, that’s why there is so much drug trafficking in our country.”

The MP said simply put Ghana has no security, emphasizing that “our security has no eye. The security is hopeless.” He insisted that while the security apparatus may not know how he left the country, it was possible to gather information on his movements long after he had left the country. Mr. Mubarak said they should know and document how Mr. Poku left the country. Mr. Francis Poku was reported to have left the country unnoticed after he was fired by the President. Soon after announcement of his dismissal reached the public, heavily armed military and police personnel stormed his residence, following news that he was placed under House Arrest. The government however, denied he was placed under House Arrest.

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I Will Unite JJ And JAK -Asantehene

... Duo are priceless assets to the nation

The Asantehene, His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has pledged to establish cordial relationship between the former President Jerry John Rawlings and President Kufuor, when the latter’s term of office comes to an end after the December 2008 elections.

Describing the two personalities as the country’s priceless political assets, the Asantehene promised that he would invite President Kufuor and former President Rawlings to his palace after the December elections to see how the two of them could contribute their experience as former Presidents to advance the country’s course for democracy and development.

“As President Kufuor’s term of office comes to an end this year, it is my hope to invite him and Rawlings to my Palace as one people so that we would share common ideas and deliberate on issues that would help in the development of the country,” the King promised. The Asantehene, who made the pledge when the former President and the Founder of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings called on him at his Manhyia Palace, emphasized the need for peaceful co-existence between the political leaders to ensure the forward movement of the country.

The ex-President’s visit to Manhyia was purposely to pay homage to the Asantehene and to ask for his permission to address party supporters at a rally organized at the Bantama constituency. Otumfuo Osei Tutu II noted that both political leaders have contributed immensely in their own way to nurture the country’s young democracy and it was, therefore, their duty to work towards consolidating the peace that the country was currently enjoying.

He said as the former President, Mr.Rawlings set the country on the path of democracy when he agreed to introduce constitutional rule with the election of leaders through the ballot box, and subsequently handed over power peacefully to his successor after his term came to an end, adding that it was his duty to make sure that the democratic seed which he planted years ago yields the desired fruit. The Asantehene stressed that since the whole nation has embraced democracy as the best political option for governing this country, there was the need for all the political parties to conduct their activities within the confines of the law and avoid negative practices that have the tendency to plunge the nation into chaos and anarchy. “I have always maintained that the best way to secure the confidence of voters is to address the myriad of problems which confront us as a nation and tell the people what you can do to solve them when voted into power, and not use insults and intimidations.”

Otumfuo Osei Tutu, however, emphasized that the success or otherwise of this year’s elections would depend much on the conduct of the Electoral Commission (EC), and therefore, appealed to the commission to be fair, neutral and objective to all the political parties competing in the elections to ensure that sanity would prevail after December 7. The ex-President in his address noted that the overwhelming reception and welcome he had received from the people in the region signified that the people of Ashanti have now come to accept the fact that there was the need for change.

He lamented about the deplorable nature of the country’s political system in the country, which he said had been muddied with lies, dirty political machinations, threats and intimidations from the present government. He said the current government, after failing to deliver on its promise of positive change, had now resorted to the use of lies and money to induce people in their bid to retain power come the December elections. According to him, the current government had reduced the criteria for the election of people to power to the mere use of lies, manipulations and money to buy the conscience of voters.

The founder of the NDC observed that unlike the traditional system whereby a person’s character and integrity are adequately checked before being appointed to lead the people, the same thing could not be said of political leadership, saying one only needs to exploit the people with money, insults and lies to secure their mandate. Mr. Rawlings warned that the country stands the risk of being plunged into more hardship if we fail to assess the quality and the integrity of the people who aspire to lead this country and also question the credibility of their message before voting them into power. “Our problem in this country is that we do not take time to crosscheck and examine the integrity of our political leadership before voting them into power and by the time we realize, it would be too late,” he noted.

The ex-President pointed out that few months to the 2004 elections, the pain and suffering which the government had inflicted on the people gave way to a fresh wind of excitement because the people were ready to change the government, but their enthusiasm suddenly changed into bitterness and sorrow because the government succeeded in manipulating the elections to their advantage. He, however, prayed with the traditional rulers of this country to use their authorities to prevail on the government to allow Ghanaians to exercise their freewill to ensure peaceful elections.

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Norsk Hydro says no plans for Ghana investment

Norway's aluminium group Norsk Hydro said it had no intention of investing in Ghana, whose authorities approved on Friday a potential sale of state aluminium maker VALCO to Hydro and a Brazilian firm.

Ghana's National Assembly had approved a deal for the sale of 70 percent of state aluminium maker VALCO to Brazil's Vale for $175.5 million.

'Hydro has no plans to make any investments in Ghana,' Norsk Hydro spokesman Stefan Solberg told Reuters when asked about the decisions made by the Ghana assembly.

'We have not signed any agreement. This is something we have looked at just like (we have looked at) other places in the world,' Solberg said.

Ghana said that under the deal, the two companies will invest $4.7 billion in new bauxite mining and an alumina refinery, along with outlays for railway and power generation.

VALCO has been inactive since March 2007 when it was shut down due to power shortages.

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• 06.11.2008

Atta Mills begins campaign tour of Volta Region on Friday

Ho, Nov. 6, GNA - Professor John Evans Atta Mills, Presidential Candidate of National Democratic Congress (NDC) would begin a three-day campaign tour of some constituencies in the Volta Region from Friday, November 7.

A statement issued in Ho and signed by Mr Francis Ganyaglo, Volta Regional Secretary of NDC said constituencies to be visited include North, South and Central Tongu, Anlo, Ave Avenor, Ho Central and Hohoe North.

It said Prof. Atta Mills would have a whistle stop at Aveyime in North Tongu Constituency on Friday and continued to Battor and Mepe, pay courtesy call on the chiefs and elders and address rallies. The statement said Prof. Atta Mills would pay courtesy call on the chiefs and elders of Sogakope in South Tongu Constituency and address a rally.

It said the NDC Presidential Candidate would address rallies at Mafi-Kumasi and Adidome in Central Tongu Constituency, Blemazado in Anlo Constituency and Akatsi in Ave Avenor Constituency. Prof. Atta Mills would round-up his tour with rallies at Hohoe and Ho on Sunday, November 10.

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Reduce Fuel Prices Adequately to Relieve Ghanaians-NDC Youth Forum

Accra, Nov 6, GNA-The Youth Forum of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), on Thursday pointed out that it was a matter of great hypocrisy for the government "to refuse to adequately reduce fuel prices."

This, the Forum said, had prevented Ghanaians from having "more relief which they aspire to and deserve."

In a statement issued and signed by its Co-ordinator, Mr Tony Kpobi, the Forum said the good people of this country "demand a downward reduction of not less than 30 per cent," to reflect the true world price situation and also reflect the depreciation of the Cedi to the Dollar. The Forum pointed out that anything short of this "shows that NPP will rather deepen the woes of Ghanaians than alleviate them." The Forum said the government and the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) "are exploiting the current global crises to confuse the masses and inflict unjustified and undeserved hardships on the innocent and defenseless people of Ghana."

It pointed out that the current price of fuel which "does not reflect the exact situation re-emphasizes the fact that the NPP government is highly insensitive to the plight of the suffering masses." "The masses can barely survive the hardships being inflicted on them by this unrealistic and unfair treatment meted out to them by NPP under the guise of so-called independent NPA and world financial crunch."

The Forum, therefore, cautioned that these double standards must stop. It pointed out that a visionary government would have taken preventive measures to forestall the effects of the crude oil price hikes, especially when the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) indicated prices would go up, 200 dollars per barrel being the target. "A listening government would have acted promptly when the NDC proposed hedging. If the NPP government had hedged for at least six months, Ghanaian consumers would not have been saddled with a colossal debt of 118 million dollars today."

It said before elections in 2,000, President Kufuor and his cronies urged Ghanaians to vote out NDC, because petrol which was sold at 64 pesewas per gallon was too expensive, but wondered why today, his government "would not even reduce prices in Ghana to reflect world prices to give credence to NPP's belief in affordability."

The Forum expressed concern about the double standards and deliberate refusal of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) and the NPP government "to adhere to and to implement policies in all fairness to the good people of this country."

It, therefore, urged the electorate to vote massively for the NDC's Professor Mills "who clearly understands Ghana's perennial problems and is honestly committed to reversing the negative trend of our development," in order "to save this country from further decline into the abyss."

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¢285,000 'Vanishes' At Railway Company

The Managing Director of the Ghana Railway Company (GRC), Mr. Rufus Quaye and "the Financial Controller, Mr. Christian Barnes have accused each other over the missing GH¢ 285,000 from the accounts of the company.

Another GH¢ 400,000 which got missing earlier before the MD assumed office is being investigated by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) in Sekondi.

Government has already set up a seven-member committee to investigate the alleged malfeasance at the GRC. When the Committee investigating the allegations of financial malpractices, chaired by Hon. Albert Kwaku Obbin, Member of Parliament (MP) for Prestea Huni- Valley and Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Transportation queried the two -MD and FC over the unaccounted money, the two blatantly denied knowledge of it.

The FC, who was the first to appear before the committee admitted that he cashed the said amount, but said he was acting upon the instructions of the MD. He had reported this claim in his earlier correspondence to the committee. When the MD, who is currently on leave was first invited by the committee to respond to the allegation, he vehemently denied knowledge but when the cheques were shown to him, he could not defend it.

He allegedly told the committee that he cashed the money and gave it to government officials who were on assignment at the company. The cheques were issued and paid by both Ghana Commercial Bank and the Standard Chartered Bank. The Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Albert Kwaku Obbin has refused to comment on the matter when asked by reporters at the last sitting of the committee in Takoradi, last Friday. His reason was that since the' committee would come out at the end of its investigations, there was no need for him to jump the gun.

Meanwhile, the Committee has dismissed application by Mr. Rufus Quaye that he wants his lawyers to represent him at the committee sitting. The dismissal follow reasons giving by the committee that since the former MD had appeared twelve times on the committee sitting, the committee did not see reason in allowing his lawyers to represent him. Hon. Albert Kwaku Obbin disclosed this to Journalists to end the committee sitting in Takoradi.

When Chronicle contacted Mr. Rufus Quaye on phone, he said the amount involved is GH¢65,OOO and not GH¢285,OOO as being alleged. He said the amount was part of the impress he has been signing for officials and that the money did not go into his personal pocket. He said, currently there is a controversy surrounding GH¢12, OOO of the amount because the FC was not retiring the impress as he should be doing.

According to Rufus Quaye, when he assumed office as acting MD, he discovered that GH¢400,OOO had gone missing from the accounts of the company. He said because he was alarmed about this he decided to report the matter to the Serious Fraud Office in Sekondi, which is still investigating the case. Quaye alleged that his decision to report the matter to the SFO did not go down well with some of the people involved, and therefore, they made all sorts of allegations against him. He was hopeful that at the end of the day he would be cleared.

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"..that short man, what's his name." - Rawlings on Akufo-Addo

Jerry John Rawlings’ abhorrence for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) continues unabated, as he launched insults on the party’s presidential candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, right in front of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene, at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi yesterday.

Virtually displaying absolute disrespect for the NPP leader and tradition, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) founder recklessly referred to Nana Akufo-Addo as a ‘short man’, to the chagrin of the people present, most of whom were chiefs. Mr. Rawlings caused the stir whilst urging the electorate to critically access the eight presidential aspirants vying for the highest seat of the land before making a choice. He said: “Whether Prof. Mills or that short man, what is his name, Nana Akufo-Addo, the electorate should watch against politicians who fabricate deceit and lies and rather vote for the one who is imbibed with integrity to lead the country”.

The NDC founder was addressing a mini durbar of Ashanti chiefs including the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II. Immediately he threw the bombshell, some of the chiefs present who seemed uncomfortable with the statement, were seen murmuring, perhaps in protest of the unguided utterances made by the former President. Curiously, Mr Rawlings’ lackey, Daniel Ohene Agyekum who had been his right-hand man, pulled a fast one on his boss as he stayed out of the Manhyia ceremony. A couple of weeks ago, Mr. Ohene Agyekum stunned the whole nation when he, in the full glare of the powerful lenses of the media, took a bottle of schnapps, some eggs and other materials to invoke the spirit of ‘Antoa Nyamaa’ and 30 other deities in the Ashanti region to kill some people, including media men.

Mr. Rawlings and his entourage entered the palace quietly, devoid of fanfare and merry making of NDC supporters in the city. Fuming with anger, the former President who spoke ‘broken Twi’ which was later straighten up by a staff at the palace, lamented over what he described as deception by African politicians who always managed to get away with atrocities, insisting that those things did not pertain in the Western world. “It is unfortunate that our continent’s politicians easily fabricate lies and deceit to win the votes of the electorate at the detriment of competent people who could have done the job better,” he charged. He made reference to the 2000 elections where he claimed the NPP then in opposition formulated falsehood to paint the NDC black to win the presidency.

Mr. Rawlings wished that criteria such as dedication, hard work, integrity, patriotism and good morals, used as yardstick to pick a chief in the Ghanaian traditional circles, were used by the electorate to pick the next president. Virtually seeming uncomfortable with life in opposition, the former President descended heavily on the NPP government, accusing it of rigging the 2004 elections. “Before the 2004 polls, the people upon knowing the bad deeds of the NPP government, swore to vote them out but eventually the ruling party stole the polls. “The NPP leadership in 2004 changed some of the ballot boxes in some parts of the country to redirect the original outcome of the elections,” he alleged.

Delivering an incoherent statement, which was entirely in character, Mr. Rawlings directed his anger and frustration at any person, group or institution in the country that cropped up in his mind without any provocation. A clear case in point was when he charged at the Judiciary, slamming it for inefficiency when the NDC sought justice about the supposed 2004 election rigging on the part of the NPP. The NDC founder hoped that this time around, the elections would be held fairly devoid of hitches to ensure sustenance of the peace that the country was enjoying. On NDC’s chances in the upcoming polls, he said without producing any evidence that his party was winning the elections hands down. He particularly stated that based on a warm welcome accorded him in the Ashanti region recently where he toured to campaign for the NDC, the largest opposition political party was a few days away from entering the Flag Staff House.

Mr. Rawlings was at the palace to seek Otumfuo’s blessings and good counsel before he embarked on the second round of a campaign tour of the Ashanti region, where the flagbearer, Prof Atta Mills managed to tour just 14 of the 39 constituencies in the region. The former President showered praises on the Asantehene for his good works and numerous achievements around the globe which had brought honour and prestige to Asanteman and for that matter the entire Ghanaian populace, urging him to sustain his exemplary deeds. Otumfuo Osei Tutu commended Mr. Rawlings for playing a vital role in establishing democracy in the country in 1992, and charged him to equally play an instrumental part in sustaining it, adding, “Democratic dispensation is the best form of government for the country”.

He reiterated the call on President Kufuor to collaborate with Mr. Rawlings to help deepen democratic principles in the country, promising to invite the two personalities soon to the Manhyia Palace for a meeting in that regard. On the impending polls, Otumfuo admonished the Electoral Commission (EC) against conniving with a particular political party to rig the elections, warning, “Such acts would be a recipe for rancour and chaos in the country, which we all hate”. Still on the elections, the Asante King advised the various presidential aspirants to shun insults, deceit and insinuations whilst campaigning, and rather embark on an issue-based campaign which would address the myriad of challenges facing the country such as poor road networks, lack of potable water, and insufficient hospitals among other problems.

Mr. Rawlings was accompanied to the palace by his close aide Kofi Adams, Collins Dauda, MP for Asutifi South, and Kwame Bonsu, NDC National Deputy Chairman among others. Shockingly, the regional executives of the opposition party were visibly absent, leaving room for speculations. Mr. Rawlings, after leaving the palace, was billed to address the NDC faithful in the region at a rally slated for Bantama Constituency.

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Two died in an accident at Ayakomaso

Sunyani, Nov 6, GNA - A 55 year old woman, Madam Rebecca Achia and her 18 year old daughter Abigail Oppong, died on the spot when a Nissan urban bus they were travelling on from Sunyani toward Berekum collided with a Ford mini bus at Ayakomaso in the Sunyani Municipality. Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Paul Wesley Baah of the Brong Ahafo Regional Motor, Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) said on October 5, 2008 the Ford minibus with registration number WR 1507 W was heading toward Sunyani from Berekum with 10 passengers on board.

He said on reaching Ayakomaso, the mini bus driver Kusi Peprah suddenly came across a tractor without lights and reflectors ahead of him and in attempt to avoid hitting the tractor swerved to the other side of the road only to collide with the oncoming urvan bus with registration number AS4136 travelling from Sunyani to Berekum. The remaining 23 passengers on board together with the two drivers who sustain various degrees of injuries were rushed to the Berekum Holy Family Hospital, whilst the dead were deposited at the Sunyani Government Hospital.

ASP Baah said efforts were being made to arrest the driver of the said tractor who was alleged to have contributed to the accident. He advised drivers to refrain from driving in the night without lights and reflectors.

Drivers must avoid over-speeding and over loading to ensure an accident free era in the forthcoming elections as well as during Christmas, he advised.

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• 05.11.2008

Govt's ultimatum is over -What Next

Government says a definite action would be taken this week over allegations that the President had misappropriated $5.5 billion of an unnamed company in an illegal oil business.

“Before this week ends, you are going to hear an official statement of the direction the president has taken on this matter,” Deputy Information Minister told the Accra-based radio station, Joy FM.

The Weekly Standard News paper edited by Victor Smith, broke the story, and accused the President of paying $4 billon of the alleged debt but was dragged to an international arbitration in Hague after failing to pay the $1.5 billion left.

The accusation was later corroborated by Alban Bagbin Minority Leader in Parliament on an Accra Radio Station, and insisted an impeachment process would begin immediately allegations were firmed up.

Incensed by the accusation, the President through his press Secretary Andrew Awuni issued a 14 day ultimatum for the accusers to substantiate the allegations or retract, failure which the appropriate action would be taken.

It is 14 working days and still counting and without any word or action from the president, perceptions are that the ultimatum was nothing but empty.

However, Deputy Information Minister Frank Agyakum maintained the “ultimatum was not made in vain.”

Asked whether the president would take the matter to the National Media Commission, Agyakum noted there were several options opened for redress, but maintained it was the decision of the President’s legal team.

According to him, the Weekly Standard news paper, the originators of the allegations will also bare the brunt of the sanctions even though the ultimatum was directed at the opposition National Democratic Congress.

Meanwhile a media practitioner Dr. Arkofa Segbefia has questioned why the president would want to pursue the case in court when he made similar allegations against the ex-President

“ The president should do an introspection.When he alleged the ex-president Rawlings had gone to solicit funds to destabilise the country, did he provide any evidence, and did any body take him to court?” he queried.

He was however quick to note that if the President felt slighted by the allegations he could seek redress.

He also found it unnecessary for the NDC to have been drawn into the fray,especially when the Weekly Standard Newspaper is not an official mouth piece of the party.

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Wenchi Schools losing text books through theft

 Wenchi, Nov. 5, GNA - Mr Michael Kusi Wiredu, Wenchi Municipal Director of Education, has appealed to traditional authorities to help track down people who steal government properties in schools. He told GNA in an interview that 25 theft cases had been recorded between 2000 and 2008 in both primary and junior high schools in the municipality.

The thefts were at Tromeso, Awisa, Yooyoano, Amoahkrom and Model "C" primary at Wenchi.

He said about 2,000 text books and other teaching and learning materials provided by the government had been stolen and deplored the attitude of some traditional leaders who failed to assist in investigations into some of the cases in their communities. Mr Wiredu alleged that a suspect who was arrested at Awisa was released through the influence of some of the community elders and investigations into the case ceased.

"As a result teachers in the town threatened to abandon the classroom and I had to hold talks with them to change their mind and the matter was resolved," Mr Wiredu said.

He said stealing of school material had contributed to the poor academic performance of pupils in the municipality. Mr Wiredu said distribution of books and other items had become a burden for him and appealed to the government to provide the schools with adequate security.

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President Richards visits Cape Coast and Elmina Castles

Cape Coast, Nov. 5, GNA - The visiting President of Trinidad and Tobago, Professor George Maxwell Richards on Wednesday toured the Cape Coast and Elmina Castles as part of his visit to the Central Region. Professor Richards, accompanied by his wife, Dr Jean Ramjohn-Richards, visited the two sites for the first time and said he was sad because of the atrocities meted out to the slaves there. The couple was taken round the castles by the Deputy Minister of Tourism and Diasporan Relations, Mr Osei Ameyaw and the Central Regional Minister, Nana Ato Arthur.

The President had earlier paid a courtesy call on Nana Arthur at his residency where he was briefed on the history of Cape Coast. Nana Arthur expressed his desire for Cape Coast to form a bilateral partnership with a city in Trinidad and Tobago in the form of Sister Cities for their mutual benefit.

He said Cape Coast was a strategic ancient town which had a similar history as Trinidad and Tobago and being the former capital of the then Gold Coast, it was the cradle of education, tourism and the "heartbeat" of Ghana.

On tourism, the Minister said a number of tourist attractions could be found in the region and named the two castles and forts including Fort Saint Jago at Elmina, the Kakum National Park and the many eco-tourism sites as areas that could attract investment. He said the inhabitants of the region were predominantly farmers and fishermen adding that agro-processing was an area that the proposed partnership could benefit from.

Prof. Richards pledged to make arrangements to partner one of the two cities in his country to a town in the Central Region.

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Mpiani accounts for Golden Jubilee budget

Accra, Nov, 5 GNA - Each Regional Co-ordinating Council, with the exception of the Greater Accra, was allocated 400,000.00 Ghana cedis to construct a Jubilee Park for Ghana's golden jubilee celebrations, Mr Kwadwo Mpiani, Minister of Presidential Affairs, said on Wednesday in Parliament.

Additional 150,000.00 Ghana cedis were allocated to each of the regions to renovate regional venues that were to be used for the celebrations.

Mr Mpiani was responding to questions on cash and resources given to each region for preparations towards the celebrations between 2006 and 2008.

He said an amount of 20,000 Ghana cedis and assorted souvenirs were also given to the regions while "each of the 138 district assemblies was given an amount of 10,000 Ghana cedis for the jubilee day activities". In response to another question on the circumstances surrounding the deployment of armed security personnel to the residence of the former National Security Minister, Mr Francis Poku, and his subsequent departure from Ghana, Mr Mpiani said he had no idea how he left the country.

He said at the time the minister was removed from office, his official residence was being guarded by the military. Mr Mpiani said this was contrary to the directive that the police should provide security for all members of the Executive, including the President.

"An exercise was therefore undertaken to replace the military with police personnel," he said.

Dr Richard Anane, Minister of Road Transportation, who was also in Parliament to answer questions, said the construction of three interchanges across the Accra-Tema motorway, the widening of the Spintex road and other projects to be implemented soon, would help minimise the use of un-authorised exits and entries from and onto the Tema Motorway. Mrs Gladys Asmah, Minister of Fisheries, told members of the House that plans were in place to develop an improved breed of tilapia along the Volta Lake and efforts were being made to encourage people to invest in cage and pen fish culture along the lake, as part of measures to revamp the fishing industry in the Volta Lake.

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Mills begins five-region tour on Monday

Accra, Oct. 5, GNA - The leader and presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Professor John Evans Atta Mills beings a tour of five regions on Friday that will take him to the Volta, Northern, Upper East, Upper West and Bring Ahafo regions. A statement signed by Mr Koku Anyidoho, Head of Communications of the Mills Campaign Team, said the tour would start from southern Volta Region where he would visit North Tongu, South Tongu, Central Tongu, Ketu South, Adaklu/Anyigbe, Ho Central, Hohoe North, Nkwanta North, and Nkwanta South, constituencies.

It said he would specifically visit Aveyime, Battor, Dabala, Sogakope, Mafi Kumasi, Adidome, Aflao, Waya, Ho, Hohoe, Nkwanta and Kpassa.

The statement said from the Volta Region, the NDC leader would move to the Northern Region where in between campaigning, he will take part in second Presidential Debate, before moving to the Upper East, Upper West and Brong Ahafo, Regions.

The statement said before Prof. Mills heads out of Accra, he would be in La on Thursday, where he would visit the La Traditional Council, interact with market folk and drivers and address a mini rally at Olympia.

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Man lynched for allegedly stealing a goat

Ashaiman, Nov. 5, GNA -- A young man was in the early hours of Wednesday lynched at Lebanon Zone One, a suburb of Ashaiman for allegedly stealing a goat.

An eye witness account said the deceased was unknown in the community and might have been lynched somewhere and dumped at the area. It said the deceased was left in mud around 3:00 a.m. and died two hours later.

As at 9:00 a.m. when GNA left the scene the corpse soaked in blood was lying in the open with the dead pregnant goat beside it surrounded by a crowd.

Personnel at Lebanon Police Station confirmed the incident and covered the corpse with a cloth to be deposited at the mortuary for autopsy.

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• 04.11.2008

10 Million Ghanaians Live On Less Than ¢1 a Day

A study conducted by the United Nations International Children's Education Fund (UNICEF) in 2007, has revealed that more than 10 million people in Ghana, live on less than GH¢1.00 a day, while more than 2.5 million children and families go to bed hungry every day.

Poverty is considered a critical social issue, and the root cause of a wide spectrum of other socio-economic problems.

Admittedly, its multidimensional nature and complexity in definition, poses intractable challenges in addressing it.

To help alleviate poverty in Ghana, the Millennium Development Goals/Global Call Against Poverty (MDGs/GCAP) Secretariat, hosted by the Christian Council of Ghana, is seeking to empower citizens to hold their government accountable for the attainment of the MDGs by 2015.

The General Secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana, Dr. Fred Deegbe, told journalists in Accra, at a press briefing on Stand Up and Take Action Against Poverty and Inequality, that around October 17 each year, Anti-Poverty Campaigners all over the world, join citizens to undertake various activities aimed at giving voice to people, so their needs and suggested solutions could be heard at the highest levels.
It was also about creating opportunities for people to participate in the global fight against poverty, and to learn about the MDGs, he added.
Dr. Deegbe, therefore, challenged the present and successive governments of Ghana, to work towards the absolute eradication of poverty, and to achieve the MDGs by 2015.
The Programme Officer of the MDGs/GCAP Secretariat, Ms Kyerewa Akua Asamoah, called on the government to make poverty eradication a key priority, and further appealed to Ghana's development partners, not to cut promised aid, but stay committed to helping stem poverty.
She announced that the secretariat mobilised about 1,115,520 people, including civil society organisations and individuals, at events in rural, urban, and cities in all the 10 regions of the country, as part of this year's Stand Up and Take Action Campaign.
This represents a 953.43% increase in the 2007 number of 117,000, sending a clear message to today's leaders of Ghana and aspiring ones, that the citizens would not stay seated, while promises to end poverty and inequality remain unfilled.
The involvement of the youth, drawn from the educational institutions (primary, junior and senior high and tertiary schools), represented over 65% of Ghana's total number of 1,115,520.
This suggests an improved awareness of the youth about the MDGs like never before, and championing campaigns that affect their future.
Beyond this, the children in the primary, junior and senior high schools were privileged to learn and share their thoughts about the solutions to poverty, as they stood up to be counted by their teachers, Ms. Akua Asamoah explained.
She emphasised that the "Stand Up and Take Action 2008 campaign, was certainly the beginning of a new kind of action we are seeing. It is the local influencing the national. For instance, deprived children, women and peasant farmers in our villages, from the Western Region, are connecting and joining their peers in the three Northern, Volta, Central, Greater Accra and Eastern regions, to make demands for poverty to be consistently and purposefully addressed."
Globally, more than 116 million, representing nearly two per cent of the world's population, were mobilised at events in 131 countries, as part of the 2008 campaign, and this has been ratified by the Guinness Book of Record, as having shattered the world record for mass mobilisation.
The Secretariat, through its platform members, would further be looking at stepping up their monitoring, and hold the leaders accountable to their commitment to the MDGs. The power of "Stand Up and Take Action" 2008 mobilisation, would be used as a lobbying tool, as various messages like "No excuse for 2015", "Government must be peaceful", "Make support for agriculture a reality,
"We need portable drinking water" and the many more are shared.

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Rally in honour of Bawumia turns sour at Bolga

A CHAOTIC scene created at the Jubilee Park in Bolgatanga last Saturday, during a rally organized in honour of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Presidential running mate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, nearly marred its beauty. It all started when the Member of Parliament for Navrongo Central Constituency, Joseph Kofi Adda, had addressed party supporters and was going back to the dais to take his seat.

According to some NPP members who were at the dais at the time of the incident, Mr. Adda did not acknowledge the Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, who was also part of the running-mate’s entourage, before and after mounting the platform to give his brief comments on why Ghanaians should renew the mandate of the NPP.

This sounded odd to Mr. Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, who then verified from the MP why he did not acknowledge the presence of the Vice-President.

Mr. Adda reportedly told Jake that the Vice President hated him, and that there was no need for him to greet him.

The Vice President confronted him on why he has resorted to violence, but he responded in the negative and insisted that people were rather fighting him because they were scared he was going to win massively.

This did not go down well with Mr. Adams Mahama, a close ally of the vice-President, which resulted in heated verbal exchanges between him and the former Energy Minister. Narrating his version to this reporter after the incident, Mr. Adams Mahama said after Adda had engaged in the altercations with the Veep and was going to take his seat, he asked him why he did that in the full glare of the party supporters.

According to him, Mr. Adda reacted rather violently and called him a silly boy. Adams alleged that Adda rushed to hit him but he pushed him away. Adda would not make any comment when our Deputy News Editor, George Frimpong

contacted him on phone, except to say that “Aliu is peeved because I did not support him in the NPP Presidential race”.

According to him, he was going to see his lawyers to take appropriate action against Adams for assaulting him.

On Joy FM, Adda maintained that if he had offended the Vice President he would have been arrested by his security detail. He wondered why the security could not handle the case but left the matter to Adams to take the law into his own hands.

He indicated that he had lodged a formal complaint with the police and has been issued with medical forms to attend to the Clinic.

Mr. Yaw Kwara, the Driver of the District Chief Executive of the Kasena Nankana Assembly, who claimed that he witnessed the incident, told The Chronicle when contacted from Accra that when it got to Mr. Adda’s turn to deliver his speech, he heard Adams screaming “Adda, this time we are taking the seat from you.” This comment, according to him, led to the exchange of words and Adams allegedly hit Kofi Adda. “My shirt even got torn when I tried to restrain Adams from the assault,” he remarked.

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• 03.11.2008

Be vigilant on 7 December -Rawlings

Nkoranza (B/A) Nov. 3, (credit Adu Simon) GNA - Former President Jerry John Rawlings has called on National Democratic Congress (NDC) supporters to be vigilant during the counting of votes at the polling centres to check any rigging on 7 December. He said as much as they would vote for the party they should also ensure that the counting of the votes is carried out genuinely.

Former President Rawlings was addressing NDC supporters at Nkoranza as part of his tour of the area to canvass for votes for NDC presidential candidate, Professor John Evans Atta Mills. The former President said told the supporters that their vote was their power and they should not elect leaders who would look down upon them and amass wealth at their expense.

He described the New Patriotic Party (NPP) leadership as greedy, corrupt and selfish, saying they "are always after their own welfare to the disadvantage of the rest of Ghanaians". The former President said when the NDC came to power only 20 per cent of the nation's population enjoyed electricity, good roads and good drinking water, but it extended electricity to many rural communities.

He appealed to the supporters to vote for NDC for a resounding victory to enable it to improve the living standards of Ghanaians. Mr. Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum, Nkoranza South Constituency NDC parliamentary candidate, who was officially introduced to the people, called on the electorate to vote for him. Mr. Peter Owusu Baffoe, Constituency chairman of the party, commended the former the former President for touring the area to canvass for votes for NDC.

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NPP Leaders Are Drug Traffickers- Bagbin

The Minority Leader in Parliament, Mr Alban S. K. Bagbin, has accused the leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) of direct involvement in drug trafficking. He made these revelations at the launch of National Democratic Congress constituency campaign at Ho.

The Member of Parliament for Nadowli West described the incidence of drug in Ghana as “too much”, creating insecurity and tarnishing the image of the country. “We have allowed ourselves to be ‘cocalised’. The cocaine now is too much in the system, any country where cocaine, heroin and wee, become the centre piece of their trade or income, it raises a number of issues. The first issue is that the security has broken down; the second issue is that the political leadership is part of the trade.”
He said when voted into power, the NDC government would no longer tolerate the use of Ghana as a drug hub in the sub-region and promised to go to the source of the issue to solve the menace. He added that they are not going to tolerate this anymore and are going to root all of them out. Mr. Bagbin said he has evidence to support the allegations and has therefore challenged any member of government, including President Kufuor to dispute his claims. He suggested that a committee be put in place to investigate him and the NPP and he will give them the evidence for them to see who are dealing in the trade.

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Nana Akufo Addo is Joking - Bagbin

... Urges politicians to stop making incredible promises
... NPP Leaders Are Drug Traffickers

(               c) ghanaweb-news.com & EventPicture.co.uk

Ho, Nov. 3, GNA - Mr Alban Bagbin, Minority Leader in Parliament, on Sunday urged politicians to stop giving incredible promises to the electorate only to renege on them once elected.

He said for example, any politician who promises doubling the number of the police force from the current figure of 25,000 to 50,000 when elected must be joking. (This was a promise by Nana Akufo Addo) Mr Bagbin was speaking at a rally at the Civic Centre in Ho to formally launch Captain George Nfodjoh's (retired) bid to retain the Ho-Central Parliamentary seat for the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

He said currently the dire needs of the 25,000 police personnel included accommodation and other human resource morale boosters. Mr Bagbin said it followed logically, therefore, that any addition to their numbers, especially in the figures promised and within the time limit suggested could spell catastrophe for the Police Service, already bogged down by very low morale.

He said campaign platform promises should be of some substance so as not to put the integrity of politicians in question. Mr Bagbin said jobs in Ghana should be real jobs created mainly in the private sector and not thrusting people onto the public sector without adequate pay.

He recalled that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) when it was in opposition criticised the NDC government's cost sharing policy in tertiary schools and promised to waive it should it come to power. But the party has only resort to a policy of full-cost recovery on coming into power.

Mr Bagbin advised party supporters to be vigilant during the coming elections and resist all forms of temptation that could result into quarrels and fights with opponents.

He demanded that all police personnel on duty on Election Day had name tags with their service numbers for easy identification and verification.

Mr Dan Abodakpi, Member of Parliament (MP) for Keta said the growing strength of the NDC debunked statements by of some top executives of the NPP seven year ago when they assumed power that the NDC would be dead in a matter of years.

He said the bid for power by Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom on the ticket of the Convention People's Party (CPP) was hollow, given his association with the NPP government, which he served as a Minister. The NDC, he said, had won the Ho-Central seat in all elections since 1992, with overall percentage votes between a high of 90.4 percent in 1996 and low of 83.3 percent in 2000.

In the 2004 elections, Captain Nfojoh got 49,463 votes representing 84.8 percent of the 58,301 valid votes cast to beat four other contestants.

Captain Nfojoh is contesting the seat with the New Patriotic Party's 51 year-old Dr Archibald Letsa, private medical practitioner, Mr Manfred Nuku-Dei, 52, Architect, Democratic Freedom Party (DFP), Mr Osei Moses Ernest Kwasi, 52, Teacher, Convention People's Party (CPP), and Ms Diana Kafui Nane, 38, Peoples National Convention (PNC), hairdresser. Mr Isaac Kodobisah, Ho-Central Constituency Chairman of the NDC said the clout of Dr Letsa as a long time medical practitioner would not make a difference in the fortunes of Captain Nfodjoh, whose achievements as Ho District Chief Executive (DCE) in areas of cost control and management, sanitation and general development remained unsurpassed in any reckoning.
Captain Nfodjo, who promised continued good leadership, said the tortuous road to his nomination was replete with court suits and media wars and said that had no way daunted his resolve to win the seat for a second time.

Source:

GNA

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