Warning – Y2K problem to manifest next month
Okyenehene’s burial rites begin today
‘Scores of patients discharged at K’dua, Sunyani hospitals’
GNPC loses 520m Cedis in Angola – Tsatsu, Engineer blame UNITA
Anti-robbery operation – Soldiers role creates fear
Arkaah, Nduom and CP's 2000 slot
Okumkkom Survives Opposition Treachery
Kufuor Diverts NPP Funds For jaguar
Landlords in big trouble
Old Vehicles Swell Ghana's Automobile Population in Four years
Warning – Y2K problem to manifest next month
‘Warning – Y2K problem to manifest next month’ is the banner headline of the Daily Graphic.
The story warns that the millennium bug problem is likely to manifest next month because the Common Business-Oriented Language (COBOL) based computers, interpret the figure ‘9 9 99’ as ‘stop’.
Quoting Mr Kwame Young-Gyampo, Finance Planning Manager of the National Y2K Office, the paper says computers which are Year 2000 (Y2k) non-complaint, are likely to shut down on September 9,1999.
It gives a ray hope to computers users in the country as it says that it is only about 10 per cent of computers that are likely to be affected by the problem. Most computers in the country as now Year 2000 (Y2K) complaint.
Mr Young the Graphic says further assured that by the end of September, all vital organisations in the country will be Y2K complaint.
Okyenehene’s burial rites begin today
In another front-page story, the Graphic reports under the headline ‘Okyenehene’s burial rites begin today’, that the week-long burial rites of the late Okyenhene, Osagyefuo Kuntunkununku II begins today with the laying in state of the body of the late chief at ‘Potosoro’, the Great Council Hall at the Ofori Panyin Fie at Kyebi.
The late Okyenhene who was also President of the National House of Chiefs and Member of the Council of State, passed away in the early hours of March 17, 1999, at the age of 57.
According to the Graphic the seven-day burial rites dubbed ‘Dotoyie’ has thrown the entire Kyebi traditional area into a state of mourning.
Vice-President John Evans Atta Mills is expected to lead government officials including Members of the Council of State to file past the body today after which the Amantuomiensa will perform some traditional rites. Chiefs from the Central and Upper West regions will take their turns later in the day.
Tomorrow will be the turn of chiefs from the Volta and Brong Ahafo regions, as well as Members of Parliament.
Members of the National House of Chiefs, and chiefs from the Upper East and Western regions will take their turn to file past the body on Wednesday, August 11.
The Eastern regional Minister, members of the regional co-ordinating council and chiefs from the Ashanti and Greater Accra regions file past the body on Thursday, August 12, to be followed the next day, Friday, August 13, by Northern and Eastern regional chiefs.
Members of the public are allowed to file past the body only in the afternoons each day from Monday to Friday.
President Rawlings is expected to attend the funeral rites on Saturday, August 14.
The ceremonies are rounded-up on Sunday August 15 with a Thanks-giving service at Essekesieho, the forecourt of the Kibi palace to be followed by the final interrement of the mortal remains of the late chief.
Return to top ‘Scores of patients discharged at K’dua, Sunyani hospitals’
A third prominent story on the front page of the Graphic says that doctors at the Sunyani and Koforidua hospitals have been forced to discharge scores of patients on admission following a strike action by some nurses and paramedical staff.
Under the headline ‘Scores of patients discharged at K’dua, Sunyani hospitals’ the paper says almost all the workers of the Sunyani hospital, except doctors are on strike while junior nurses and other paramedical staff are on strike at the Koforidua Central hospital.
It says at the Sunyani hospital, the strike action entered its sixth day yesterday and has brought all activities at the hospital to a standstill. This situation has led the authorities of the two hospitals to discharge patients in admission for lack of personnel to attend to their needs.
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GNPC loses 520m Cedis in Angola – Tsatsu, Engineer blame UNITA
The paper reports under a banner headline on its front page that ‘GNPC loses 520m Cedis in Angola – Tsatsu, Engineer blame UNITA.’
According to the story, another ambitious oil exploration venture by the Ghana National Petroleum Company (GNPC) in Angola in 1993 hit the rocks causing the nation over $200 (ø520 bn) loss but the management of the Company are tight-lipped about it.
The paper says however that in a chat with the Chief Executive, Mr Tsatsu Tsikata and Mr Philip Oduro, and engineer, who has been accused of misappropriation of funds meant for the Angola project by some of the staff, the two admitted the loss blamed it on activities of the UNITA rebels.
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Anti-robbery operation – Soldiers role creates fear
Under the heading ‘Anti-robbery operation – Soldiers role creates fear’ The Public Agenda reports that over the past three weeks a joint Military and Police operation has been going on to crack down on the spate of armed robberies and other violent crimes that have hit Kumasi and other areas in the Ashanti region. Similar operations have also been undertaken in the Accra/Tema Metropolitan area and other regional capitals.
It says the operations which have consisted mainly of swoops on houses and neighbourhoods suspected of habouring criminals has brought immediate results as some suspected armed robbers and accomplices have been rounded up.
But the Agenda said the exercise code-named ‘blietskrieg’ has conjoured images of nazi-like swoops in Germany during the Second World War and left them scared.
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Arkaah, Nduom and CP's 2000 slot
The Dispatch writing on the nominations of candidates for the Convention Party's presidential slot which opened last Thursday, says as at its presstime, three candidates, Supi Bentsi-Enchill, Mr. Johnny Hansen and Alhaji Ibrahim had declared their interest in the CP's top post.
The paper says other names being mentioned for the post include former vice-president, Ekow Arkaah, Dr Kwasi duom and Prof. Geaorge Hagan.
According to the paper, Dr. Nduom in reaction to a question on whether he had Presidential ambitions and would contest for the CP's 2000 slot however, said: "The situation is very simple as far as I am concerned. Would I someday be in the position to lead this country? Yes. Am I in a position or is my party in a position to lead in the 2000? I would say no. This is because we have a lot of work to do."
The paper also says when they contacted Mr. Arkaah aka. "Sturbborn Cat"on speculations that he would throw his candidacy into the CP bowl of contestants, he had this to say: "That is absolutely out of the question. Those speculations are unfounded and I can tell you that the answer is no.
Its about three more weeks to the deadline for the submission of nominations but one crucial factor which will determine the 2000 presidential candidate will be the outcome of the election of CP's substantive national Chairman, which will precede the election of presidential candidates, says the paper.
GRi../
Okumkkom Survives Opposition Treachery
The Ghanaian Democrate in its front-page lead story says the Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive, Nana Akwasi Agyemang has effectively survived the recent treacherous moves allegedly initiated by the opposition led by the NPP to remove him from office.
The paper says 46 NPP led Assembly members who recently passed a resolution calling for the removal of the KMA boss, was no where to be found when the presiding member of the Assembly, Nana owusu Banahene called an emergency meeting to debate and vote on their allged ill conceived corruption charges.
The paper says in the end, 48 other distingiushed Members of the KMA reafirmed their solidarity and sopport for the honest, dedicated and hard working Nana Akwasi Agyemang, the kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive.
Return to top Kufuor Diverts NPP Funds For jaguar
In a second front-page story the Democrate alleges that tension and emotions are high at the New Partiotic Party Head quarters following the alleged diversion of the party's funds by the flagbearer of the NPP, John Agyekum Kufour.
According to the paper, Mr. Kufour is alleged to have used the party's dollars giving to him during his recent tour of some European countries by some sympathisers of the Danquah-Busia tradition to purchase a brand new British - made Jaguar salon car for his personal use.
The paper says though the NEC of the party is yet to determine how much money was given to Mr. Kufuor in the name of the party, they have grown wild and are now considering the adoption of several motions emanating from some constituency and ward executives of the party for a vote of no confidence in Mr. Kufour at he party's next national delegates congress.
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Landlords in big trouble
The Accra Mail in its front-page lead story headlined: "Landlords in trouble, says property owners in the country better beware because they are in danger of losing their property when drug related offences are traced to their homes.
The paper says the Narcotics Control Board has therefore embarked on a campaign to sensitise landlords/ladies, who allow drug couriers and abusers to use their houses as trafficking points. It is to alert them that they risk prosecution if traffickers are arrested in their houses.
The paper mention Tudu and its environs as having become the prime target of the board in Accra.
Return to top The High Street Journal
Old Vehicles Swell Ghana's Automobile Population in Four years
According to the High Street Journal, by the end of 1998, there were 394,903 motor vehicles in Ghana. This consisted of all vehicles registered by the Vehicle Examination and Licencing Department, VELD, between 1995 and the end of last year.
The paper says during the four- year period 1995 recorded the least registration of 43,522. Last year 51,339 vehicles were registered and 52,318 in 1997.
According to the paper 1996 recorded the highest vehicle registration totaling 247,724 or 62.7%. There are no clear indications why the big jump in 1996. But it would appear that the 1998 deadline for prohibition of importation of cars more than five years old with effect from 1998 must have triggered the influx of imported cars to beat the deadline.
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