The Chronicle carries a screamer headline which reads: "Osei Tutu sits on Golden Stool today… Elaborate programme in Kumasi. In the accompanying story the paper says the elaborate programme to find a new Asantehene to succeed the late Otumfuo Opoku Ware II, reaches its climax today when the new King is officially presented to his subjects at a colourful ceremony in Kumasi. Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, becomes the 16th occupant of the Golden Stool. The Asantehene is widely regarded as one of the most powerful monarchs in the world and in Ghana, he is the embodiment of the culture and tradition of the Akans, the largest ethnic group in the country. The Chronicle says the out-dooring of Otumfuo Osei Tutu today, closes the chapter on the search for a successor to Otumfuo Opoku Ware, who Died on February 25 and was interred on March 25. According to the aper, a day after Otumfuo Opoku Ware’s death, the contest was officially opened for all contestants to the Golden Stool to stake their claim. In the event, six main candidates staked a claim to the stool. They were Barima Kwaku Dua, son of the Asantehemaa, Nana Afua Kobi Serwaa Ampem II, Nana Akwasi Agyeman, Chief Executive of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, Nana David Osei Yeboah, a quantity surveyor, his senior brother, Dr James Yeboah, a medical officer and Harley Street medical officer, Dr Prempeh.
In another front page story, the Chronicle says the suit for interim injunction filed at an Accra High Court by Acrra Brewery Limited against Guinness Ghana Limited over what it terms as ‘restraint of trade’ and ‘unfair practice’ is to be withdrawn and the case settled out of court. The paper quotes sources close to the companies as saying that the chief executives of the Accra Brewery and Guinness Ghana Limited have agreed in principle to the settlement. In the next couple of days, according to the sources, the two companies are to instruct their counsel to prepare an agreement to that effect for presentation to the court on April 30, when the court is to rule on a preliminary objection raised by counsel for Guinness, Mr Sam Okudzeto. The counsel contended that Accra Brewery’s action is baseless and vexacious, since the company has lost nothing. The court action, Guinness said, is merely a panic move by Accra Brewery for
Publicity and it should therefore, be dismissed. Accra Brewery is seeking an interim injunction against Guinness which it claims has under the guise of its "Guinness means profit retailer scheme", allegedly entered into an agreement with retailers who distribute products of Guinness Ghana Limited, to sell exclusively ‘Guinness Extra Stout’ and no other packaged stout or dark beer until the year 2100.
The Chronicle says Accra Brewery contended that the agreement competition is, to all intents and purposes, contrived to achieve unfair business advantage over competitors and, as such, contrary to public interest. Accra Brewery is also praying the court to declare the agreement as null and void, unreasonable and a restraint of trade against public policy. According to the paper, the cessation of what has come to be known as the "beer war" by the two leading breweries, both of which are listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange, was facilitated by the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
"NDC not behind demolition of hotel – AMA boss…Huudu Yahaya expresses dismay over allegations", says a banner headline of the Democrat. The paper says the NDC government did not in any way, influence the demolition of a new hotel complex at the Airport Residential Area in Accra, which was carried out on April 12, by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA). The Democrat quotes the AMA Chief Executive, Mr Samuel Addokwei-Addo as stating this in a radio broadcast to the residents of Accra, last Wednesday.
Mr Addokwei-Addo is reported as saying that it was unfortunate that since the exercise was undertaken, a section of the press and some politicians, who have an axe to grind with the government, have introduced a confrontational partisan politics into the exercise which is a routine one, in order to score cheap political point. According to the AMA boss, what the Assembly did that Monday, was not outside the mandate given it to beautify the city of Accra and make it environmentally clean. Mr Addokwei-Addo, the Democrat says, stated that it was not the first time that the Assembly was pulling down any such unauthorised structure and that it was a continuous exercise which would be carried out where and when it is necessary, without fear or favour. Meanwhile, the paper says the General Secretary of the NDC, Alhaji Huudu Yahaya, has called on Ghanaians to weigh the merits and demerits of any situation or action before jumping into conclusions. He is reported as saying that Ghana has been enjoying relative peace for some time now, and nobody should create any situation that will lead to tension in the country. According to him, the government has never in any time influence the AMA to demolish any structure. "How do we know when a structure is illegal and unauthorised? It is only those who are in the business who can know this", he is quoted as saying.
In an inside page story headlined: "Another AMA blunder", the Public Agenda says the Accra Metropolitan Assembly’s demolition exercise at Labadi in Accra, took a dramatic twist last Wednesday, when owners of "Mawuli Bar" and its adjoining two-storey house, obtained a court injunction restraining the Assembly from demolishing what was left of a once imposing structure. The paper quotes the Assembly as explaining that Mawuli Bar, a popular local eating joint, had no permit and the structure was built on a junction between two adjacent roads. The Public Agenda says the property owners, however, dispute this and they produced permits to defend their stance. According to them, they obtained the necessary permits from the Assembly. The paper says so far, the Assembly has not denied issuing the permits. A spokesman for the family, Mr Alomenu Ofosu, is reported as saying that the building was put up after the road design had been changed. According to him, originally the piece of land was supposed to be a road to link two adjacent road, but later on, the plan to construct the road was abandoned and permit was issued by the Assembly in 1985 for the building to be constructed. Mr Ofosu said it took about ten years for the building to be completed adding that at no time within the ten-year period was any warning sign put on the structure.
According to him a warning sign was pasted on the wall of the building and within three days, April 15, the Assembly’s team had come to demolish the bar. Five days later the team was there again to pull down the new two-storey building. The Public Agenda says to protect what was left of the building, the family on April 21, went to the High Court to obtain an interim injunction against the Assembly.
GRi../
"Army angry over role in demolitions", says the Dispatch in a front page banner. The accompanying story says the on-going demolition exercise within the Greater Accra Region, has been received with mixed reactions. According to the Dispatch, apart from the controversial demolitions being undertaken by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, there are demolitions being carried out by companies claiming that their plots of land have been occupied by trespassers. The paper says there are also individuals demolishing houses because of alleged trespassing, adding that in all these, ‘serious-minded professionals’ of the Ghana Army are unhappy about the role they are being made to play – guarding the demolitions. The Dispatch recalls that two years ago, there was an uproar when a private estate developer was given some armed soldiers who stood by whle the demolition of several completed houses was carried out. The developer, the paper says, was prosecuted and the action of the military was condemned. Then about two weeks ago, recalls the Dispatch, motorists to and from the Tetteh Quarshie Roundabout in Accra were in the early hours of April 12, met with a sight of soldiers armed in full battle gear who were later said to be providing protection for the demolition of a 65-room hotel, together with all furnishings and accessories.
GRi../
The Daily Graphic publishes a supplement on the enstoolment today of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, as Asantehene, in what the paper describes as a "Daily Graphic Souvenir" The supplement carries on its front page a close-up picture of Otumfuo Osei Tutu swearing the oath of allegiance before Asanteman while he is surrounded by a large crowd of people from all walks of life.. In the accompanying story the paper says
Today, all the sorrows and gloom that engulfed Asanteman with the demise of Otumfuo Opoku Ware II, will be replaced with joy when Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, is out-doored and later enstooled as the 16th occupant of the Golden Stool. The paper says the unity and singleness of purpose with which the process of filling the void created by the death of Otumfuo Opoku Ware was approached, has once again demonstrated that with understanding. respect for time-honoured practices and institutions and a commitment to peace and order, "we would be able to move forward as a nation…
In its main issue. The Daily Graphic also carries a story on the enstoolment of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, as the 16th occupant of the Golden Stool. The paper says the procedures and processes for the enstoolment of the new Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, will reach their climax today. It says Otumfuo Osei Tutu will go through special rites at ‘Pampaso’, one of the ancient traditional wards of Kumasi. The Graphic says since the installation of Opoku Ware I, in 1782, the ward has been the site for very important and special rites that need to be performed for and by an Asantehene-designate towards the completion of his installation as Asantehene. After the Pramso rites, Otumfuo Osei Tutu, resplendent in a "Batakari Kese" war dress, will then proceed to the Kumasi Sports Stadium to demonstrate his ability to command and lead the Asante nation, by firing three shots with other chiefs responding in turn. … The Graphic says at midnight, Otumfuo Osei Tutu will symbolically be placed on the Golden Stool to signify his enstlooment after which The paramount and divisional chiefs will swear the oath of allegiance to him.
Ghanaian Times
The Times in a front page story reports that as from June, this year, all driving licenscs in Ghana will be declared invalid and replaced by new ones. All holders of driving licences should be prepared to undergo fresh driving test under a new law passed by Parliament. The paper quotes Mr Dominic Azumah, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Roads and Transport as announcing this at the sixth Regional Parliamentary Forum held at Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region, on Friday. The paper quotes Mr Azumah as saying that despite the government’s ability to rehabilitate and make the roads in Ghana motorable, the rate of accidents does not seem to abate. Furthermore, he said the 14 shillings fine or one month’s imprisonment imposed for a motor offence, have outlived their usefulness. According to the Times, Mr Azumah, who is Member of Parliament for Garu-Tempane, said monies that had been spent on
The rehabilitation of roads also require judicious use of such facilities, hence the bill to introduce new measures into road traffic regulations in Ghana. The new law stipulates that "anybody who drives carelessly or negligently resulting in an accident, when convicted will be fined five million cedis or one year imprisonment or both".