The Administrator of the District Assemblies' Common fund, Josiah W. Ampiah, has disclosed that the disbursement of the common fund is in arrears for nine months, The Daily Graphic reports.

This means the assemblies have not received any money from the central government this year, while the last quarter of last year is yet to be paid.

He said the delay is due to the difficulties encountered with revenue inflows last year.

Mr Ampiah, in an interview, explained that attempts are being made by the government to rectify the hold-off, which is not normal with the disbursement of the fund.

The fund, since its inception in 1994, has always been in arrears for the last quarter, he said, adding however that measures were underway to restore inflows to normal levels.

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'No compromise on comfort of passengers'

The Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) have made it clear that they would not compromise passengers' comfort for the profit motive of commercial driver This is because the country's traffic regulations uphold the safety and comfort of passengers.

The Daily Graphic report Mr Victor Tandoh, MTTU Commander, and Mr Justice Amegashie, Chief Executive of the DVLA, as giving the warning in separate interviews in Accra on Monday, in reaction to the withdrawal of services by trotro drivers at Adenta near Accra.

The drivers took the action in protest against an exercise being carried out by the MTTU and DVLA to enforce public transport regulations on the Adenta-Accra Road, leaving hundreds of commuters from Adenta to various parts of the Accra metropolis stranded on Monday morning.

The drivers were insisting on picking four passengers in a row on their minibuses, instead of three authorized by the DVLA.

According to the drivers, the fare of ¢1,000 from Adenta to Accra, and Kwame Nkrumah Circle, cannot meet the cost of fuel for the journey for which reason they chose to add a passenger each to a row to break even rather than increase the fares.

Some taxi drivers took advantage of the strike action to charge commuters exorbitant fares.

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Move to hand over mission schools

The government has begun shedding some control of mission schools as a first step in the process to hand over such schools to religious organisations.

Consequently, the religious groups have taken over disciplinary issues and the provision of some infrastructures in their schools, the Minister of Education, Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, disclosed in an interview in Accra.

The government will continue to pay salaries of staff and supply textbooks to such schools until a firm decision is taken on handing the schools over to the religious organisations.

The shedding of control of the schools, he said, has been done to test the preparedness of the religious groups to assume total control.

"Government believes that this first step will strengthen the hands of the religious bodies to better handle the schools when a decision is finalised on the handing over of the mission schools," he said.

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Ghana’s Aviation Authority probes crash

The Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has set up a committee to investigate the circumstances that led to the crash-landing of a DHL Fokker plane at Damang, near Tarkwa on Saturday.

The plane was enroute to Lagos from Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire.

The Director of Safety Regulations of the GCAA, Edward F. Akohene, said the four-member committee officials of the authority.

The committee, which began sitting on Monday, has not been given any time frame to complete its work.

GRi…/

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Ghanaian Timess

Peace FM tops media survey

Media Survey on Radio Listenership conducted by Research and Marketing Services Ghana Limited (RMSG) shows that Peace FM is Accra's favourite Radio Station.

It was nominated by 46 per cent of those who participated in the polls in the RMSG third survey.

Second and third places were taken by Joy FM, 17 per cent and Radio GAR, 7 per cent.

Other stations in the Accra Metropolis were considered by recipients as their favourite station in the following order Radio Gold, 6 per cent, Atlantis, 6 per cent, Radio Universe, 3 per cent, Choice FM. 3 per cent, Vibe FM, 3 per cent, Channel R, 3 per cent, Top Radio, 2 per cent, Adom FM, 2 per cent and GBC 2,1 per cent.

The firm also carried out similar listenership polls in Kumasi, Takoradi and Tamale.

In Kumasi Joy FM was named as the most favourite station by 22 per cent of those questioned. Second and third positions in the tight race went to Otec FM 21 per cent and Luv FM, Joy FM’s sister station, 17 per cent.

Other Kumasi rankings were Kapital FM, 15 per cent, Garden City Radio, 7 per cent, Mercury, 7 per cent and Ash FM, 6 per cent.

Skyy Power maintained its dominance in Takoradi with a 70 per cent rating to Twin City FM's 27 per cent while Savannah Radio was overwhelmingly nominated as the most favourite station in Tamale.

This latest RMSG survey covers May/June and seeks to establish the radio media habits usage and rankings by Ghanaians across the social status, sex and literacy strata among a randomly selected sample of adults aged 15 and above.

In all, 29 stations were covered: 13 in Accra, 11 in Kumasi, three in Takoradi and two in Tamale.

GRi…/

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The Crusading Guide

Kofi Asante blasts Kan Dapaa

The Shadow Minister for Energy, Kofi Abraham Asante, has expressed shock at Energy Minister, Kan-Dapaah’s statement that Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) was not going to be privatised, describing it as a complete falsehood aimed at throwing dust into the eyes of Ghanaians.

According to The Crusading Guide, Asante, in an interview emphasized that he was aware of ongoing negotiations by the government to privatise TOR.

“I can assure you that I am really on top of this subject to the extent that I am aware that (the) government is going ahead and they have gone far in holding discussions with SAMSUNG somewhere in Korea to be specific, and I am aware that the discussions that they are holding are specifically on the privatisation of TOR. I am beginning to suspect that the Minister of Energy has not updated himself”, Asante stressed.

The Minority Speaker on Energy also affirmed that negotiation for the privatisation of TOR started as far back as June.

The majority NPP in Parliament, he said had voted in favour of the privatisation of TOR, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB) as an IMF conditionality and he does not see why the Minister can now say that TOR is not going to be privatised.

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No DNA test for executed Generals?

Unconfirmed reports that reached the Crusading Guide on Friday indicated that there may be no need for any DNA test of the mortal remains of the eight executed senior military officers, for identification purposes prior to their reburial, as widely speculated by the media and sections of the Ghanaian public.

Sources close to the medical authorities at the 37 Military Hospital told the paper that “tell tales” were found on each ‘mortal remain’ to identify and authenticate who it was that had been exhumed from which grave.

“Each of them had something unique and characteristic; physical or otherwise, known to friends and family relations to identify him; for instance rings, chains, belts and boots, which fortunately had not been destroyed beyond recognition in spite of the years and circumstances of their burial”, hinted the Guide’s sources.

The sources further revealed that the late Mr Acheampong’s remains had been identified and authenticated by the rings he wore at the time of his execution while the late General Afrifa’s boots were what made his identification possible and relatively easy.

The rest, including Air Marshall Boakye and Gen. Utuka were also identified by similar characteristics and things they wore during the execution.

GRi…/

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The Daily Guide

New Patriotic Party is only deceiving Ghanaians

The Member of Parliament for Bibiani, Seidu Adamu, has pointed out that the current New Patriotic Party (NPP) Administration thrives on the politics of deception and that Ghanaians are witnesses to it.

Hon Adamu was speaking on “The State of the Economy” at a press briefing organised by the NDC’s Western Region Parliamentary caucus at Takoradi last Tuesday, according to The Daily Guide.

He contended that Ghanaians would soon realise that the NPP’s claim that for the past five months, there is stability in the value of the cedi compared with the US dollar, is a hoax because its sustainability would soon be dashed against the rocks to confirm his belief as well as that of the NDC that the NPP government has been deceiving Ghanaians.

According to him, the cedi is protected by high treasury bill interest rates as well as discount rates and explained that it is the interest rates on Treasury Bills and Discount that have contributed to make hedging in foreign exchange less attractive, adding that “The NPP government has since March this year, targeted inflation and the exchange rate through some cosmetic window dressing at the expense of productivity, economic growth, employment and raise in income levels.

He further argued that if the exchange rate had stabilised and inflation was falling, he wonders why lending interest was so high to crowd out the private sector in a so-called golden age of business.

GRi…/

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The Statesman

Bagbin’s ¢18m ghost shea butter project

The Statesman carries that an intricate case of potential fraud and malfeasance is brewing in the pot of NDC Minority Leader and MP for Nadowli North, Alban Bagbin.

The paper says its investigations revealed that some time in August last year, Bagbin used his position as a board member of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GHAPOHA) to collect ¢18 million from the company, for a shea butter project in his constituency.

However, one year after the release of the grant in cash to the NDC Minority leader, there is no project to show for the money collected.

According to the paper, baffled officials of GHAPOHA in expressing misgivings over the endorsement of the grant, said it was against the practice since such monies are released for projects only in areas of GHAPOHA operations.

“What has shea-butter got to do with GHAPOHA? Our social responsibility is to the people of Tema and Takoradi,” the Statesman quotes an aggrieved official as saying.

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Pupils who sell on markets days…

About 75 per cent of pupils in Akorabo-Kukua and Supresu in the Suhum/Kraboa Coaltar District in the Eastern Region are withdrawn by their parents from school to sell on market days.

Assembly Member for the area, J.E. Tettevi, who is also the headteacher of Kukua Local Authority Primary School, disclosed to the District Chief Executive (DCE), Michael Kofi Mensah, when he addressed members of the Akorabo Area Council at Akorabo last week.

He said the parents withdraw their children to help them on market days during school period without the knowledge of their teachers.

This, Tettevi said, has resulted in the falling standards of education in the area adding that, “the same parents blame the teachers whenever their children fail in their examinations.

The trend, he said, has so much affected the standard of education that no pupil has ever passed the BECE examination since the introduction of the JSS concept.

GRi…/

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The Chronicle

Firebrand politician joins NPP race

The Race for top leadership positions in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has moved into high gear with the dramatic return of a political dynamo to the country after twenty years stay outside the country as a political refugee, writes The Chronicle.

The name does not sound it, but Francis Kojo-Smith, the Human Rights lawyer and notary public, is a thorough-bred Ga boy, born in the alleys of James Town, Accra.

The Chronicle says when it met this ebullient character last week Thursday at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) where he had disembarked, he was wearing his characteristic broad smiles and patting shoulders of friends as the usual Ghanaian compliments soothed the air.

Said by friends to be a very good listener, Kojo Smith is said to be among the few lawyers who openly defended victims of the PNDC regime and vigorously opposed the regime till an attempt was made to arrest him together with some eight other high profile lawyers.

The Chronicle says it learnt that one of the landmark cases he stoutly defended and won to the chagrin of the notorious PNDC was the one involving a young man of the Agbado (Heward Mills) family. The client was alleged to have mouthed obscenities at the former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyemang-Rawlings.

In exile in London, he served as an executive member of the Ghana Democratic Movement along with Hon. J.H. Mensah, Majority Leader in Parliament and Minister of Government Business.

He is also said to have helped revive the Ghana Movement for Freedom and Justice in the United Kingdom to mobilise local and international support against the PNDC regime.

In 1986-92, Kojo Smith was the publisher and Editor of "The African Crusader" in the U.K., a paper set up to expose the barbaric acts of the PNDC and degrading treatment meted out to political opponents.

Punch for punch, the suave Kojo-Smith believes he is the best candidate for the very hot National Organiser seat, last occupied by the NPP ranger and karate kid, Major (Rtd) Courage Quarshigah.

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Palaver cited for tax evasion

A mouthpiece of the former ruling government of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the Ghana Palaver has been cited for evading tax over a period spanning three years.

According to The Chronicle, at a time the Rawlings regime was dragging business people of all shades to the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) and other allied agencies for alleged economic crimes, the NDC government deliberately failed to ensure that its own paper sets standards in probity, accountability and credibility as preached by the party's leadership.

The Chronicle says it gathered that, in 1998, Ghana Palaver's tax obligations to the internal Revenue Service (IRS) based on official assessment was ¢9.5 million.

When it failed to pay up, the IRS slapped a penalty of ¢1.4 million on the paper pushing their tax obligation for the year to ¢11 million.

In 1999, the Palaver was assessed for ¢9 million but failed again to pay, compelling the IRS to penalise it with another ¢1.3 million slap but it persisted in its anti-social and unlawful act.

For the year 2000, when they were assessed at ¢13.5 million, they failed to pay and received ¢2 million which they again ignored till 2001 when their assessment rose to ¢15 million plus a ¢3.7 million penalty.

GRi…/

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The Evening News

Confusion in NPP camp over regional chairmanship

Tension is mounting in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) camp in the Upper West Region following the alleged removal of the Regional Chairman, Alhaji Issahaku from office by a cross section of the party executives, reports The Evening News.

The party is currently in a state of confusion and divided into two camps with each operating under a chairman of its own.

The group that passed the alleged vote of no confidence in Alhaji Issahaku owes allegiance and loyalty to Mr. C.B. Gbekature, the first regional vice chairman of the party.

But another group comprising five constituency chairmen, four vice-chairmen, five secretaries, an organiser and youth organiser from all the eight constituencies of the region has fired back describing the removal of the regional chairman as unconstitutional and without merit.

A statement issued at Wa stated emphatically that Alhaju Issahaku is and remains the chairman of the Upper West branch of the NPP until otherwise determined by laid down rules and regulations under the constitution of the NPP.

It said the action of the ‘so called’ executives was illegal, since it failed to meet the legal requirement of the 40 percent of delegates of the party to give a written notice of their demand for the removal of a chairman as provided for by article 10 of the NPP constitution.

It described the alleged removal as destructive, coming from ‘self-styled’ executives.

Reacting to the story, Mr. Kwodwo Afari, Press secretary of the NPP said the party has received a copy of the statement against the regional chairman and said efforts were being made to settle the issue peacefully.

GRi…/

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The Independent

Death trap on Volta Lake

Travellers to certain parts of the three northern regions (Upper East, Upper West and Northern) who use the Pontoon transport services being operated by the Volta Lake Transport Corporation between Yeji in the Atebubu district of the Brong Ahafo Region and Makango in the East Gonja district of the Northern Region are at risk, says The Independent.

This is because there is a clear indication that the Pontoon, Nana Basemem, which ferries passengers between Yeji and Makango on the Volta Lake, has been structurally neglected for some time now.

A reporter of the Independent who visited the area last weekend says he realised that as a result of neglect the pontoon is fast deteriorating and could possibly cause a national disaster if not checked.

Investigations revealed that the pontoon, Nana Basemen, has only five life jackets, which is woefully inadequate for passengers on board the pontoon for a trip.

The independent also found out that it lacks communication gadgets with which it could communicate with the ground staff in the event of a need for such assistance.

The pontoon which could use about 20 minutes to cross the lake to the other side at present is doing so in between 45minutes to one hour due to the fact that the propellers of one of the engines helping it to move fast are now crooked. The engine cannot perform efficiently as a result, because attempts to move faster cause serious vibration.

GRi…/

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The Accra Mail

Where to catch the armed robbers

The Accra Mail says much as the security measures on the ground are registering some degree of success in the anti-robbery war, there is one important area, which the security agents are overlooking.

This, according to a concerned resident of a leading drug centre, Tudu, in Accra, is the demobilisation of the drug markets where the armed robbers go for their much-needed sniffs before going on their missions.

He said it is a known fact by residents in Tudu that every evening armed robbers come for doses of illicit hard drugs before embarking on their deadly operations.

The security agents should therefore raid the drug markets especially towards dusk, at what time they come in their numbers.

They should also plant their agents in the selling spots for a certain period, as it would have an inhibitory effect on the trade.

Although there are occasional raids by the police striking force on the major Tudu market, these do not register much success as they are haphazardly done and also because the dealers somehow get prior information of the operation.

GRi…/

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Graphic Sports

Ishmael set to equal Dan Owusu's record

Followers of the country's most passion-filled game are looking forward to the unveiling of a new chapter in her football, thanks to some indicators in the first round of the Premier League, reports the Graphic Sports.

From the depths of mediocrity into which the local league had nose-dived lately, it is obvious things are beginning to look up again for the country's football in fundamental departments of the game.

The 2001 Star Premier League has just travelled halfway the mark, but already disciples of football find themselves walking down memory lane, back to the period when Ghana's game was the beacon on the continent.

For the first time in so many years, there is consensus that Ghanaian players have exhibited standards that can be compared with what have all these years served as the benchmark elsewhere on the continent.

The dearth of goals that has been the bane of the country's football may be giving way to a new era of fruitful football, if the number of goals scored in the first round, and the quality about them, are anything to go by.

Free-scoring Ishmael Addo whose predatory instincts turned many a defence inside out in last year's CAF Champions League is gunning for his third consecutive goalking title in the Premier League. And he is leaving no doubt about his ability to do that.

When the league resumes in two weeks time, lynx-eyed analysts will watch to see whether the Hearts of Oak goal machine can equal the 26-years three-time goalking record that stands in the name of Dan Owusu of Tano Bofoakwa and Black Stars fame.

The burly striker, easily one of Ghana's greatest goal scorers of all-time, won the title in 1975, 1976 and 1977.

Ishmael Addo was the goalking for the 1999 and 2000 football seasons and has promised his treble this year.

GRi…/

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Hearts News

Heats forms news marketing and publicity structure

A new era in professionalism is gradually beckoning the Accra Hearts of Oak Sporting Club Limited. Only a week after being appointed by the club to be responsible for all marketing, sponsorship and publicity matters, Mr. Frank Appiah, a Marketing Consultant has named a ten-man independent network team to help him undertake the arduous task ahead.

They are Mawuko Afadzini (Marketing and Advertising Manager, Ghana Airways), Mr. Safo Abebrese, Legal Practitioner; Mr Sam Aboah, M.D. Sambus Ltd. Mr Ofosu Yeboah M Plaza Hotel; Mr Christian Abbew, Group Sports Editor, New Times Corporation; Mr Clement Dodoo, ECOBANK; Mr Mikki Osei Berko, Broadcast Journalist; Mr Fiifi Forson, Hearts Management Member; and Mr Yaw Ofei Nkansah, Ghana Tourist Board.

According to the Chairman of the team, Mr. Frank Appiah, the inauguration of the committee would take place at the end of the week.

GRi../

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Asante Kotoko Express

Kotoko Transfer Five

Kumasi Asante Kotoko ended the first round of the league with perhaps the highest transfers at one go since the Herbert Mensah Administration took office, writes the Asante Kotoko Express.

The Club’s mouthpiece, Asante Kotoko Express names Augustine Amponsah, Shamo Abbey, Clovis Kambou and Gabriel Opoku Ware as five of her players who found themselves in new clubs by the close of Friday.

Also on the list of movements was Michael Ofori Mensah a.k.a. Mark Fish who has been loaned to Tema Ghapoha for the rest of the season.

Bofoakwa Tano was the major beneficiary, purchasing Kambou, Opoku Ware and Amponsah whiles ‘wonder club’ Accra Great Olympics secured the services of Shamo Abbey.

The Accra representative of the Fabulous club, Kwame Amoa Bosompem confirmed to Kotoko Express that the affected clubs had moved in fast to beat the Ghana Football Association’s deadline for the registration of players in the first round of the league.

Asked if the transfers and loan deal will not remotely affect Kotoko, Bosompem replied in the negative and said all the affected players had already been transfer listed.

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Kotoko state case against Arsenals

Kumasi Asante Kotoko last Thursday presented their version in the case in which they are requesting the Ghana Football Association to declare Berekum Arsenals losers in their 12^th week league encounter for fielding two unqualified players, George Brown and Ibrahim Yahya

Accra representative, Kwame Amoa Bosompem who led the Kotoko side said Kotoko presented its case eloquently and orderly and was hopeful of a favorable response.

Bosompem declined to offer the details of the Kotoko argument because the matter was at the deliberation stage, but opined that “When a driver is punished for possessing an expired driving license, he does not come out of the punishment to drive again, without first regularizing his expired license.”

Though he refused to elaborate it was clear he was making a reference to George Brown who was last year banned for not regularising his position with the Ghana Football Association after a stint outside the country.

The FA’s Disciplinary committee is expected to rule on the matter by close of the week. A victory for Kotoko will mean she will be credited with 2 points and three goals. Kotoko already won one point for drawing the match in question.

GRi…/

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