'NPP worse than NDC' - Dr Mahama
Aggrey Memorial boys flog girls for going ‘outside’
Minority welcome Obed’s ‘balanced team’
'A new Obed, a new Tony is what NDC needs'
“Let’s nurture our nascent democracy” - Larry Bimi
Ghanair's headaches over 'missing' engines
Ablekuma south NPP suspends two members
Ghana
asked to grow organic cocoa
Writ to restrain
Effutu Omanhene
'NPP worse than NDC' - Dr Mahama
Accra (Greater Accra) 30 April 2002 - The leader of the People's National Convention (PNC), Dr Edward Mahama, says the government of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is performing worse than the previous administration of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
According to Dr Mahama, even though both the NPP and the NDC have identical economic policies, the NPP has woefully failed and worsened the plight of Ghanaians by declaring the country as Highly Indebted Poor Country (HIPC). "Economically, the NPP is doing worse than the NDC by declaring us HIPC," he said in an interview with the Chronicle at the PNC headquarters in Accra on Monday.
He observed that the debt relief granted Ghana under the HIPC initiative could be derived from sound economic policies by the ministries, adding that there are men in the PNC who can generate that much. Comparing the NDC to the NPP, Dr Mahama said "the boat is driving in the same direction but with different drivers. We need a driver who'll change the course."
In an earlier press conference, Hon Alhaji Yusif Azumah, PNC MP for the Walewale Constituency, buttressed the point of his leader and stressed that the PNC joined forces with the NPP because Ghanaians needed a change of government, stressing that the merger was not a matter of policy.
"Our support for the candidate, Mr J.A. Kufuor, was not an alliance between the PNC and NPP. The PNC did that because the people of Ghana needed a change from the 20 years rule of the PNDC/NDC government." He said the PNC, a true Nkrumahist party, will be committed to the provision of social services, such as water, education and health, for the broad masses of the people who are predominantly poor.
Continuing, Alhaji Yusif Azumah said the PNDC is in total disagreement with the pure capitalist policies being pursued for the benefit of the few rich by the NPP government, including the sale and transfer of viable state assets to foreigners, an unreasonable increase in utility tariffs without commensurate increase in salaries and wages.
He said the PNC also disagrees with the NPP government's wholesale implementation of the IMF and World Bank sponsored policies, including HIPC. "PNC believes in self-reliance in the form of agro-based industrialisation. Hence our insistence on subsidies and other support programmes for farmers and fishermen and empowerment of women and youth development," he added. - The Chronicle.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 30 April 2002 - In just fifteen months of its stewardship, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government has contracted ¢15 trillion loans with nothing to show for it in development projects. The National Democratic Congress (NDC) which made the allegation last Saturday contrasted the NPP picture with the ¢41 trillion loan it (NDC) contracted over eight years.
Mr Kwamena Ahwoi, a leading member of the NDC recalled that, on assumption of power, the Kufuor administration accused its predecessor of bequeathing a domestic debt of ¢41 trillion to it, thereby crippling the economy.
Across the country, the NPP mounted hundreds of platforms to tout the graveness of the offence the NDC had committed in raising the loans. In those days "pimpim, pimpim, pimpim" became common phrase of the Akan translation of the huge figure of trillion. Today, however, it is obvious that by the time the NPP serves out its four-year term, it would have raised more loans than the NDC and misused it, Ahwoi indicated.
Another critic in the NDC, Dr Tony Aidoo, strode to the microphone to account for the ¢41 trillion debt left by the NDC. After mentioning the "excellent asphalt roads, water projects, schools, hospitals, electrification projects and maintenance of environmental cleanliness" it looked like Ghanaians were actually indebted to the NDC. - The Chronicle.
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Aggrey Memorial boys flog girls for going ‘outside’
Cape Coast (Central Region) 30 April 2002 - Female students of the Aggrey Memorial School at Cape Coast, were last month subjected to severe flogging and lashing by their male colleagues at a Sunday evening service. Their reason? The boys were angry with the girls for fratenising with boys from Adisadel College during their 12th Annual Regional Athletics Competition held on 15 March.
They switched off the lights during the service and pounced on the girls with sticks and belts, which they had taken into the church, hidden in their clothes. According to sources close to the school, some of the girls, in their attempt to flee the assault, fell down and received various degrees of injuries. A few fell unconscious. Those hurt were treated at the Cape Coast Hospital.
Due to the trauma, some of the girls could not attend classes for sometime. The source said that on Friday 15 March, as the students prepared to leave for the competition at the Adisadel compound, the boys warned their girls not to come along, for they had information about what the Adisco boys had planned to do with the girls.
But the girls refused to take the advice. They organised themselves and joined the school bus to Adisadel. After the competition, which went in favour of Adisadel College boys and Apam Secondary School girls respectively, all the heads of schools and organisers departed, leaving only the students who were waiting for their school buses to convey them back to school.
The Aggrey Memorial School bus arrived at the pitch twice but some of the female students refused to join it back. While they were waiting for the bus to return for the third batch, the rains set in. the female students together with some Adisadel boys ran to find shelter at nearby places, where the Adisadel boys were said to have taken advantage of the situation to “mishandle” them. Some of the female students returned to campus late while others were seen only the next morning.
The Aggrey boys, offended by the action of their female counterparts, then decided “to instill some discipline in them.” Thus, on Saturday 16 March, they prevented the girls from attending prep and dining. The boys threw stones and sticks at those who attempted to break into the dining hall. Not even the interventions by some of the teachers could change the situation. According to sources, some of the teachers ordered for food to be sent to the girls at their dormitories.
Most of the girls refused to attend classes throughout the week for fear of being beaten up by their male colleagues. Some attended classes on Monday at about 12.15 pm. It was not immediately known what action the school authorities had taken against either the boys or the girls who spent the night outside.
When the Times visited the school later, broken door glasses were seen on the stairs of the Assembly Hall where the church service took place. The Headmaster, Mr Kwesi Appiah Danquah was not present as he was said to have traveled to Accra. Non of his two assistants were also available for comments. – The Ghanaian Times.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 30 April 2002 - The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Minority in Parliament has also extended its congratulation to the party on the successful holding of the 5th National Delegates Congress.
A statement issued in Accra on Monday and signed by Minority Chief Whip Doe Adjaho, said the NDC Minority Caucus is encouraged by the peaceful atmosphere and sense of maturity and responsibility that characterised decision making at the congress. The caucus expressed sincere appreciation to the delegates for their high level of sophistication in bestowing on the party a balanced team that has brought together onto the National Executive Committee people of varied orientation and tendencies.
The statement congratulated the new executive and called on the newly elected chairman, Dr Obed Asamoah, to reach out to all members of the party to contribute their quota towards rebuilding the party into a formidable political vehicle to recapture power in 2004.
The caucus called on the Regional Chairmen who have announced their resignation to rescind their decision and come back on board to work for the strengthening of the party. They include Nana Alex Asamoah, Western Region, Hon Ato Quarshie, Central Region and Ohene Kena for Eastern Region.
The caucus extended its appreciation and commendation to losing contestants, especially, Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu, whose sense of maturity, level headedness and love for the party saved the day during the controversy over a recount of the ballot. The caucus also recognised and expressed appreciation to the founder of the party, “Ex President J.J. Rawlings for the fatherly role he played during the congress and for setting the tone for the entrenchment of democratic values in the party.
The caucus pledged support for the new National Executive Committee and promised to work closely with them to achieve the congress slogan of “New Vision, New Direction.” – The Statesman.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 30 April 2002 - The People's National Convention (PNC) has assured the National Democratic Congress (NDC) that it will collaborate with it to unsent the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government in the 2004 elections.
Dr Edward Mahama, the leader and flagbearer of the PNC, gave the assurance at a news conference in Accra on Monday.
He said, "If the NDC's manifesto is in line with that of the PNC, then there is the need to work with them to salvage the interest of the poor Ghanaian."
The news conference was convened by the PNC to throw light on pertinent national issues. Dr Mahama said the PNC is in total disagreement with the pure capitalistic policies being pursued by the NPP government. These, he said include the sale and transfer of viable state assets and unreasonable increase in utility tariffs without a proportionate increase in the salaries and wages of workers.
He said the Nkrumaists position is to provide free education, free medical care, subsidies for farmers and fishermen and water for the majority of the people who are poor. This, he noted, the NPP government had not been able to fulfil since they believe in property owing democracy.
He said even though the PNC supported the NPP in the 2000 election that was only for a change and not an alliance. He explained that the collaboration with the NDC, should not mean his party is fighting the Kufuor's government, but rather on the belief of saving the poor Ghanaian.
The PNC, he said would therefore work with other groups to put pressure on the government to deliver in the interest of the nation. "The people are crying and need to be relieved in their anxiety," he said.
On his part, the Member of Parliament for West Mamprusi, Alhaji Issifu Azumah, said the PNC, being a true Nkrumaist party, is a centre-left party, committed to the provision of social services to the people. The party, he said therefore disagrees with the NPP government's wholesale implementation of IMF and World Bank sponsored policies including HIPC.
The PNC, he said believes in self-reliance in the form of agro-based industrialisation, hence their insistence on subsidies and empowerment of women and youth development. "In view of this the PNC announced for the information of the public that, we stand ready to work together with all parties, groups, organisations and individuals who are centre-left in thought to salvage the Ghanaian economy," he stated. - The Evening News.
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'A new Obed, a new Tony is what NDC needs'
Accra (Greater Accra) 30 April 2002 - Dr Aidoo, a member of the newly-elected members of the National Executive Committee of the NDC and one of the leading critics of Dr Obed Yao Asamoah, has stated that he is willing and ready to work with the party's new Chairman only if he fulfils certain conditions.
Speaking on an Accra radio station on Monday, on which Dr Asamoah had earlier made his contributions and comments on the party's congress, Dr Aidoo said listening to Obed he said he saw "a new Dr Obed Asamoah, and promised that he (Asamoah) would see a new Tony Aidoo.
"However, my emphasis is, if he does things according to the constitutional provisions of the party, if he shows mutual respect for his peers, if he abandons his dictatorial habits, his arrogance, he will have my undying support and highest respect. "But, if he does the contrary, then he will see that I will match him pace for pace," he threatened.
Dr Aidoo's comments came in the wake of allegations of mismanagement of party resources levelled by him and other leading members of the party against Dr Asamoah which nearly scuttled the latter's bid for the NDC's chairmanship slot.
Asked why he stormed out of the Trade Fair Centre moments before the Chairmanship results had been declared, he explained that he did so because there were voting irregularities going on. He alleged that the new Women's Wing Organiser voted, as well as her outgoing colleagues although the party constitution allowed for only one of them to do so.
He said as a member of the party's internal election committee, he had the right to ensure that the right things were done. Consequently, he pointed out the irregularity to Mrs Barbara Fynn Williams, Chairperson of the party's electoral committee, Nana Ato Dadzie and Mr Kwamena Ahwoi, but they first tried to restrain him from bringing the issue up. "The reason why I walked out was that one of them said, but Tony, what is one vote? I was shocked that such things should be condoned," he said.
Explaining further, he said he was not the only one who walked out of the place and mentioned Professor Kofi Awoonor, Mr Ohene Kena and others as having walked out as well.
Dr Asamoah on his part pledged to work with all the party members including those who were very critical of him, particularly the two chairmen who resigned, saying, "I have a high regard for them. I share the personal concerns of Professor Atta Mills and his call to them to reconsider their decision and come back."
"Really, I don't see the difficulty in working with those people. There may be some who did not share some of the ideas I put forward regarding how the party should be run, such as the single or co-chairmanship, but nothing stops such people from working with me to advance the cause of the party. - The Evening News.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 30 April 2002 - Barely 24 hours after Dr Ato Quarshie, Central Regional chairman of the NDC announced his resignation from his position, he has rescinded his decision following the intervention by Professor John Atta Mills, the former flagbearer of the party. A source close to the former Vice-President confirmed this to "The Evening News" on Monday.
The source explained that Dr Ato Quarshie's resignation was not because Dr Obed Asamoah won the chairmanship, but because somebody from the region campaigned for single chairmanship when in actual fact they had all taken a collective decision to vote for co-chairmanship earlier.
According to the source, Dr Ato Quarshie felt that the person had betrayed the cause and "that amounted to a stab in the back and also undermined his authority" hence the decision to resign. The source further hinted that the Central Regional Propaganda Secretary who also announced his resignation had also rescinded his decision.
It is recalled that moments after Dr Obed Asamoah's victory at the marathon congress of the NDC, Dr Ato Quarshie and another colleague, Nana Alex Asamoah from the Western Region resigned from their positions. Dr Ato Quarshie, however declined to comment on why he decided to resign when contacted by newsmen. - The Evening News.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 30 April 2002 - The University of Ghana Medical School (UGMS) will be compelled to start charging fees if the current level of government funding remains the same.
The Dean of the UGMS, Professor Clifford Nii Boye Tagoe, announced this at the launch of the 40th anniversary celebration of the school in Accra, on Friday. Prof Tagoe said that the perennial problem of inadequate funding was making it difficult for the school to expand and also provide some basic research and teaching equipment. Fee charging, he said, offered the only way out if government funding did not increase.
Speaking further about the problems, he said that the UGMS was still grappling with the issue of academic staff shortage and ageing staff. The Dean explained that the average age of lecturers in the school was over 50 years, while all the departments were operating with less than 60 per cent of the required staff.
He drew particular attention to the plight of the basic sciences departments, which were being stifled by “the glamour of clinical medicine.” He said that no new doctors had been recruited into those departments for further training since the early eighties, adding that doctors were more easily attracted to the clinical departments where the prospects of better remuneration were much brighter.
Prof Tagoe appealed to the Ministries of Health and Education to institute measures, as was done at the inception of the Medical School, to make it attractive for doctors to specialise in the basic sciences and to staff the school.
The Provost of the College of Health Sciences, Rev Prof Andrew S. Ayittey, urged corporate bodies and organisations to help sponsor graduates of the school who were interested in post-graduate courses. He urged students of the school to show patriotism after completion by staying in the country to practice. “That is a challenge of nation-building you must take up,” he said. – The Ghanaian Times.
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“Let’s nurture our nascent democracy” -
Larry Bimi
Accra (Greater Accra) 30 April 2002 - Ghanaians have been called upon to resist attempt by any group of ill-motivated persons who might want to overthrow the 1992 Constitution as had happened in years past.
Briefing newsmen in Accra on the 2nd Constitution Week which fell on 29 April and continues to 4 May 2002, the chairman of the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE), Mr Larry Bimi, advocated that at a time Ghana was consolidating its democratic culture, nobody should be allowed to tear it apart.
The theme for the week, “The Constitution, Cultural Values and Good Governance: Challenges and Prospects,” was to afford Ghanaians the opportunity to appreciate the principle of the Constitution, to make them informed, responsible and effective participants in the democratic process.
Towards the sustenance of Constitutional Democracy for the achievement of political, economic and social stability, the NCCE is poised to create awareness in the citizenry to appreciate their civic responsibilities and rights through civic education. The NCCE Chairman, said, the goal of the annual national constitution week is to produce a society in which the Constitution is supreme, stressing that the week will contribute to the development of the spirit of Constitutionalism and make the 1992 Constitution, not only a living document, but part and parcel of the daily life style of all citizens in Ghana.
To this end, he hoped, “Ghanaians will develop the culture of democracy, the courage to resist violation of their human rights and the tenacity to resist dictatorship of all forms and more particularly and fundamentally, any overthrow or attempted overthrow of the Constitution.”
He intimated that the week is expected to contribute to increased and sustained interest and participation of all Ghanaians in the new democratic and constitutional dispensation for the achievement of good governance, social and political stability, national integration and development.
Touching on the findings of the 2001 Constitution week, he noted that participation was low and exhorted the public as well as the media to get involved apart from disseminating information in support of the programme. – The Crusading Guide.
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Ghanair's headaches over 'missing' engines
Accra (Greater Accra) 30 April 2002 - More bizarre stories continue to pop up at the corridors of the troubled national airline, Ghanair, as the nation still ponders over its tattered state.
Days after the Chronicle story about the whereabouts of two DC9 engines belonging to Ghanair, it has emerged that three additional DC9 engines that were airlifted form Accra between 1999 to 2000, ostensibly for servicing, are also nowhere to be found.
As officials of the troubled airline continue to give conflicting accounts as to the whereabouts of the engines, Chronicle sources at the airline indicated that almost all the five engines had been sold out. Documents stumbled upon by the paper indicate that Ghanair even spent $26,000 (about ¢300 million) on a team of technicians dispatched from London to Ethiopia to inspect the two engines, on behalf of A.J. Walters Aviation.
When Chronicle reached Mr Joe Brown, Deputy Director in charge of Engineering, who was assigned by the then Chief Executive Officer of Ghanair, Mr Emmanuel Quartey, Jnr., to deal with the engines, he refused to comment. "Big man, you have already written what you want to write, what is your problem again?" Brown, who is now a key figure in the airline's Management Task Force, said and hung up his phone.
Despite persistent denials and conflicting accounts as to the whereabouts of these DC9 engines by some officials of Ghanair and A.J. Walters Aviation, the company alleged to have purchased the engines, Chronicle can report that a few days after the first two engines arrived in Ethiopia for the so-called 'servicing', officials A.J. Walters Aviation, reputable in aviation issues, sent technicians to Ethiopia to inspect the engines.
The crux of the issue is that when the engines arrived in Ethiopia, A.J. Walters engaged engineers for technical assistance from London to assess the engines and at the end of that exercise a bill of $18,000 was presented to Ghanair. As if that was not enough, Walters again engaged AERO-Propulsion Management Service Ltd. on October 26, 2000, for technical assistance and at the end of this exercise Ghanair again parted with $7,335, bringing the total bill to about $26,000.
A glance at the breakdown of the bill reads, 'Charges for Technical Assistance in review of JT8D engine work packages at Ethiopian Airways; UK visit to Ethiopia for AJ Walters, Yellow fever vaccination £33 pounds, Return airline ticket form UK to Ethiopia £1,896.50, UK visit to Ethiopia for A.J. Walters visa application and postage £57.75; three nights at a Hotel in Addis Baba £291.34 and other expenses brought the total figure to £2,379.73."
The bill, which was signed by Mr John H. Davies MD of AERO -Propulsion Management Services Ltd, was first submitted to A.J. Walters, who later passed the bill to Ghanair.
Like the two previous engines airlifted on 12 February 1999 a DC9 engine with number P688118B was airlifted from Accra and to High Flyer, an aviation company, in London, with Ghana Airways Bill (AWB) number 237-04878602. This engine weight is 2446, while the stand on which the engine was placed before airlifting it from the airport cost Ghanair $12,000. Again, on 20 April 2000 another engine with engine number 696683B was dispatched to ATITECH in Rome with WB number 237-0500-3854.
Management of Ghanair later sent a third engine to Alitalia in Italy under the same excuse that they were going to service these engines, but they are yet to take delivery of the said engines. While one account maintained that the engines had been sold, officials of Ghanair who were involved in the deals and are still at the helm of affairs are claiming that they did not sell the engines but no one knows when the said engines would arrive.
Interestingly, after the first story, AJ Walters Aviation wrote to Chronicle to deny that they had purchased the two engines that were sent to Ethiopia. "Both engines were routed to Addis Ababa for repairs. As they were in unserviceable condition, their value was no more than $1,000,000" AJ Walters stated.
Contrarily, a document signed by John Davies of AERO-Propulsion Management Service Ltd to A.J. Walters for technical assistance indicated that the engines had been sold to A.J. Walter Aviation. Almost all the engines had one million dollar price tag on it when it was being airlifted from Accra. - The Chronicle.
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Accra (Greater Accra)
30 April 2002 - The Ablekuma South Constituency branch of the New Patriotic
Party (NPP) has suspended two leading members from the positions they held for
three months for indulging in acts intended to tarnish and ridicule the public
image of the party.
It said the party will not tolerate members whose actions are likely to cause
public disaffection and, therefore, affect its chances of retaining political
power in the next elections. The suspended executives are Messrs A. Tettey
Tetteh, Constituency Organiser, and Augustine Darkwah, Electoral Area
Organiser.
In a letter signed by the Constituency Secretary, Mr John Boadu, the party
requested the two members to write an undertaking to be of good behaviour for
one year to the Gbebu Electoral Area executive and the constituency executive.
Mr Boadu said the suspension of the party functionaries takes immediate effect
after the receipt of their undertaking to show good conduct for the next year. According
to him, Mr Tetteh, however, retains his membership of the party and must
discharge all his duties and responsibilities as a member of the party.
Mr Boadu pointed out that Mr Tetteh used false pretences and identity to
collect certificates belonging to some polling agents of the party in the last
general elections. He was also accused of some lapses in the sharing of a bag
of rice among members of the ward. “The behaviour exhibited by Mr Tetteh
brought about total confusion and unnecessary tension resulting in a near fight
at one of their meetings,” he said.
The Constituency Secretary also blamed Mr Darkwah for allowing himself to be
exploited by Mr Tetteh to attack certain members of the party. “Considering the
behaviour of Mr Darkwah, he allowed himself to be used as fodder to cause
confusion and disagreement in the Gbebu Ward,” he said.
Mr Boadu said considering the mistrust arising out of the issues in the ward
and constituency, the constituency executive recommended that the two persons
should be sanctioned for their misconduct. - Daily Graphic.
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Ghana
asked to grow organic cocoa
Accra (Greater Accra) 30 April 2002 –
Ghana has been urged to adopt the cultivation of organic cocoa to attract
higher prices for the commodity on the European market. Organic cocoa is
cultivated with the use of very little or no artificial preparations such as
pesticides, among others, but natural methods.
Mrs Francisca Staubli Asobayire, the Project Manager of the Swiss Import and
the Promotion Programme (SIPPO), who made the call, said more and more people
in Europe are adapting to organic products so it would be in the interest of
Ghana to capture that market.
She was delivering a paper on the topic: "Production of organic cocoa so
its market potential", at an international seminar on organic cocoa held
in Accra. The two-day seminar is being attended by participants from France,
Switzerland, Britain and Ghana.
Mrs Asobayire said too much of pesticides and herbicides are being used in
recent times in the cultivation of cocoa and other farm produce. She said this
is what people are refusing to take because of their taste for farm produce,
which are cultivated through natural means.
Mrs Asobayire said: “The most important driving factor of the market growth is
an increased health awareness of consumers.” Mrs Asobayire said the market for
organic cocoa has developed well to date with annual market growth for the last
three years reaching between five to 10 per cent. - Daily Graphic.
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Winneba (Central
Region) 30 April 2002 - A writ has been filed at a Cape Coast High Court
seeking to restrain the Paramount Chief of the Effutu Traditional Area, Neenyi
Ghartey VII, from participating in Saturday’s Aboakyer Festival of the chiefs
and people of the area.
Mr Issac Otumto
Arthur of Winneba holds the power of attorney of Abusuapanyin Kow Mensah-King,
based in the United States, who filed the writ.
An affidavit in
support of the motion said there is presently pending at the registry of the
Central Regional House of Chiefs a law suit entitled “Abusuapanyin Kow Mensah
King and another vrs Opanyin Kwaku Kyokyibi Gyan and others”, challenging the
validity of the nomination and installation of Neenyi Ghartey as Omanhene of
the Effutu Traditional Area. The affidavit said for some time now, the suit has
not been heard due to the fact that the house has had no counsel for the past
three years.
It said Neenyi
Ghartey has taken advantage of this to parade around Winneba in his false
status as Omanhene, thus creating a lot of tension in the township, which is
normally heightened during the celebration of the annual Aboakyer Festival.
According to the
affidavit, which was avowed to by Mr Arthur, this situation nearly got out of
hand two years ago when the festival was celebrated. “The police contingent,
who were dispatched to Winneba, however, could hardly contain the situation as
rival factions loyal to both sides nearly clashed. If that had happened,
mayhem, loss of lives and property would have been occasioned,” it added.
The affidavit said the respondent was advised by the Regional Security Council to refrain from attending the festival, but he stubbornly refused to heed the advice. It said the situation is likely to be repeated during the forthcoming festival if the respondent defies the previous advice of the council and attends the festival, which is scheduled for Saturday 4 May 2002.
It said it is desire
to avert the impending gloom that hangs over Winneba that the Central Regional
House of Chiefs in its wisdom, wrote to the Central Regional Minister and
copied other interested bodies to advise the respondent to stay out of this
year’s festival. The affidavit said the entire township of Winneba stand to
suffer, if mayhem descends on the town as a result of the respondent’s decision
to participate in the festival as Omanhene.
Meanwhile, the two
Asafo companies in Winneba, the Tuafo and the Dentsifo, and some inhabitants of
the town have called on President J.A. Kufuor to stop Neenyi Ghartey from
participating in the festival to avoid clashes that might result in the loss of
lives and property.
Making the call at a
press conference at Winneba last Friday, they said there have been opposition,
disturbances and chaos, leading to casualties, police arrest and court actions
anytime Neenyi Ghartey presided over the celebration of the festival.
The spokesman for the
group, Nana Otubuo Sipiri II, Tufuhene of the Effutu Traditional Area, said
their opposition to the Neenyi Ghartey stems from the fact that his nomination,
election and enstoolment as chief were fraudulent and at “variance with Article
277 of the 1992 Constitution”.
He said the
installation of Neenyi Ghartey as Omanhene in 1995 was improper and
contemptuous, since the case was pending before the Judicial Committee of the
Central Regional House of Chiefs at the time. Nana Supiri appealed to Neenyi
Ghartey to see reason and suppress his inordinate ambition to step on a live
dear as a way of ensuring a peaceful celebration of the festival. - Daily
Graphic.
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