Paul Osei-Tutu in Accra, reviews the Ghanaian press. The stories have not been verified and therefore we cannot vouch for their accuracy.
The Graphic in a front page lead story reports that the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) has for the past eight years, raised 365.3 billion cedis for investors on the stock market. The GSE has also assisted in mobilising long-term capital to finance long-term investment of the listed companies to the tune of 158.5 billion cedis as at the end of March, this year. The paper says Mr Frank Tweneboa, General Manager of the Ghana Stock Exchange announced this in Accra at a lecture organised as part of activities marking the 10th anniversary celebration of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Ghana (CIMG) yesterday. Mr Tweneboa, who was speaking on 'GSE: The past, present and future - The Exchange's point of view', is reported as saying the GSE has succeeded in proving that investment on the capital market is quite rewarding with an average yield of about 62 per cent per annum over the last five years. He ccited other achievements of the GSE as the promotion of the marketability of securities, socialisation of share-ownership to the public as seen in the Ashanti Goldfields Company (AGC and the Ghana Commercial Bank offers, assistance to government in the divestiture programme and opening the investment gate to foreigners.
'Too many crooks in cassocks-They must be stopped - Bishop Sarpong', says the Times in a front page banner. In the accompanying story, the paper reports the Right Reverend Peter Akwasi Sarpong, Catholic Bishop of Kumasi as saying that too many perverts and extortionists, under the protection of freedom of worship, are parading the streets as religious men, abusing religion with impunity and destroying families by their weird utterances. The Times says Bishop Sarpong who was opening a three-day national conference of the Association of Heads of Catholic Higher Institutions at Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region, therefore called for a national crusade against such 'crooks' before they cause irreparable damage to the nation's reputation as a God-fearing country. The Bishop is reported as saying that without any link to God in any way, those 'extortionists' would tell gullible followers tales which they would claim to have heard from God. According to him, such perverse people would often tell a married woman in dire need of a child that 'thus says the spirit. I should sleep with you if you want a child'. 'Another time they will say your mother, sister, aunt, father and other relatives are all witches'. 'What a blasphemy, such people are destroying families', Bishop Sarpong is quoted as saying.
'Asantehene to be enstooled on Monday', says the Independent in a front page story. Giving the preamble to the enstoolment of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, as Asantehene on Monday, the Indpendent says the Mamponghene, supported by the Nifa and Adonten chiefs, takes old of the Asantehene's right head. The Essumejahene, similarly supported by the Benkum chiefs, takes hold of the Asantehene's left hand. The Kronti and Akwamu chiefs take hold of his right foot while Gyaase, Ankobea and Manwere chiefs take hold of his left foot. The Akyempimhene and Kyidom chiefs take hold of his waist. The paper says this ritual will end the period of confinement of the Asantehene-elect, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and Asanteman will have a new king. According to the Independent, in Kumasi itself, strenuous last-minute efforts are in motion to ensure a smooth out-dooring and enstoolment of the new king. The paper says details of the programme are very scanty as major players in the drama are keeping minute details close to their chests. However, says the Independent, details of the programme, a seven-age document titled: 'Enstoolment of Barima Kwaku Dua', reveal a well-planned cultural gig which will set the few distinguished citizens who will be privileged to witness the exclusive aspects of the enstoolment on a path of cultural renaissance.
A front page screamer of the Guide reads: 'Demolition of 65-room hotel-Mike Gizo's head on the block'. According to the paper confusion has broken loose at the executive levels of government over the justification or otherwise of the demolition of the 65-room hotel in Accra a fortnight ago. The paper says while President Jerry Rawlings said in the Brong Ahafo Region that Alhaji Yusif Ibrahim needs no sympathy, Mr Mike Gizo, Minister of Tourism, has described the demolition as 'very unfortunate'. The Guide says the counter position by the Minister, has infuriated the President. According to the paper, its sources have it that Mr Gizo is trying to avoid the President in a face-to-face encounter. Mr Gizo is reported as expressing shock at the demolition exercise and much so because the hotel had been earmarked For the hosting of the African-African/American summit scheduled to be held in Accra soon. The Guide says a letter from the Minister's outfit had actually pleaded for the granting of a space around the hotel to be used as a car park. The paper says fears are that Mr Gizo might lose his job for the second time. It says a meeting that was at Ministry of Finance last week which was attended by the United States Ambassador to Ghana, Mrs Kathryn Dee Robinson, brought to the fore the rationale for the demolition. The Guide quotes sources close to the meeting as saying the United States Ambassador had explained the anxieties of American investors to the demolished hotel and wanted to know how secure their investments are. The paper alleges that at the governmental level all NDC activists are feeling very uncomfortable about commenting on the issue.
The paper in a lead story says the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Isaac Adjei-Mensah, still has some pertinent questions to answer in Parliament in respect of the controversial Keta Sea Defence project. According to the Crusading Guide, the main thrust of the questions may border on who is taking custody of the machinery the Ministry purchased for Pentrexx, the company which was charged with the demolition of houses for the supposed commencement of the project. The paper says this was disclosed by the Minority Spokesman on works and Housing, Mr Kwamena Bartels during a debate on the Keta Sea Defence on a 'Groove FM' weekly radio programme - 'Hotline'. The Crusading Guide quotes Mr Bartels as revealing how the Ministry of Works and
Housing bought some machinery for Pentrexx. 'Look three things happened. The Ministry gave 674,388,000 cedis to Pentrexx on September 4, 1996 for the purchase of two caterpillars. On December 20, 1996, the company was again given 728,394,000 cedis-plus to buy 'M.A.N' Diesel articulator heads with chipping trailer', he is reported as saying.
'Wonder at Egyambra-Crocodiles dine with men', is the hard-to-believe banner headline of the Graphic Showbiz. The accompanying story has it that the people of Egyambra in the Western Region, regularly invite crocodiles as guests to meals, and not only meals but entertain the reptiles with bottles of Coca-Cola as dessert. The paper says the people so cherish meal times with the crocodiles of 'Erazule pond', especially when they have visitors, that they vow to do so over and over again. The Graphic Showbiz is of the view that maybe it is the punctuality of the crocodiles as against the national problem of lateness to functions that has so much endeared the animals to the inhabitants. According to the paper, the reptiles respect and are prompt to answer invitations. It is said that once the crocodiles are hinted of a meal a day before, it takes only a reminder of the meal day via an African 'mobile phone', operated solely by Nana Nrede, custodian of the pond, and 'presto!', the reptiles are present to dine and wine. The story is accompanied with a picture of a man holding a bottle of Coca-Cola inviting the crocodiles while one of them has come out of the pond as if it is responding to the invitation.