Govt is in control of economy - Rawlings
Volta MPs oppose plans to relocate chimps
Mills scolds opposition
I am not afraid of coups - Rawlings
VAT hike faces resistance
'Juju' involved in selection of Mills' vice
Govt is in control of economy - Rawlings
The Daily Graphic reports President Jerry Rawlings as stating that despite the economic difficulties facing Ghana, the government has a firm grip of the direction of the economy.
The Graphic in a top story, says President Rawlings made it clear that the government has not in any way, lost control over the economy as being politicised by a section of the population.
The paper says that President Rawlings said this in an address read for him by the Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Hajia Fati Seidu, at a durbar of chiefs and people of Kusasi Traditional Area at Bawku over the weekend. President Rawlings is reported as saying everything is being done to manage the temporary dislocation in the economy so that "we can all as Ghanaians, derive the best out of the situation".
He called on Ghanaians to appreciate the fact that the current state of Ghana's economy is not the making of the government or any individual but by external factors over which the country has no control.
The Graphic says that the President expressed regret that "at a time that the country is going through economic difficulties the workers are going on strikes or threatening to strike actions to back their demands for increases in salaries and improved conditions of service".
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The Ghanaian Times
Volta MPs oppose plans to relocate chimps
In a front-page story, the Ghanaian Times reports that the Volta Region caucus in Parliament says it is not favourably disposed to attempts to relocate unwanted chimpanzees from America to the Konklobi Island in the Nkonya Traditional area of the region.
It has, therefore, called for a suspension of the programme until further studies and talks are held to establish the feasibility of the programme. The Times says at a news conference in Accra on Friday, Dr Alex Ababio, chairman of the caucus, said it was important that they know a little more about the project, the benefits it will have for the people and the environment and to determine whether the primates involved are not carrying any disease.
Dr Ababio, who is NDC MP for South Dayi, is quoted as saying: "Primates are the closest to humans and they could be carrying some diseases, which would be unnoticeable in temperate conditions, but in the tropics they might explode into uncontrollable proportions among the people".
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The Ghanaian Chronicle
Mills scolds opposition
The Ghanaian Chronicle says that the Vice-President, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills, who has endeared himself to many Ghanaians for his sober pronouncements on public affairs since he entered the murky arena of Ghanaian politics some three years ago, last Saturday, veered off his prepared speech and tore into Ghana's Opposition, accusing them of practising politics of lies, destabilisation, arrogance and going on useless demonstrations.
Prof. Mills is said to have also derided the "Yabre" demonstration organised by the five opposition parties three weeks earlier, as a "useless demonstration", and emphasised that the NDC will not allow itself to be drawn into such actions since it wants to use its time in more profitable ventures.
"The fact that we don't hit the streets to also demonstrate on some of these things, is not because we don't have the time.
We are not going to waste our time over useless thing such as the demonstration they are resorting to because you have given us the mandate to rule and this is what we must pre-occupy ourselves with", He is quoted as saying.
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I am not afraid of coups - Rawlings
The Independent writes that in a highly emotional and 'electrically charged' speech at Kanda in Accra, last Saturday, President Jerry Rawlings told Ghanaians that he is not the sort of person to be afraid of coups.
The paper, in its lead story, says the President, in an apparent reaction to a threat by a mysterious organisation calling itself the Ghana Armed Liberation Movement that it will topple Jerry's NDC government, stated that members of the Ghana Armed Forces and the police are not stupid people because they know that he and his government are honest people working hard to better the lives of Ghanaians.
The security forces, he is reported as saying, also have seen what happened in Liberia and Sierra Leone and will thus not allow themselves to be deceived by anybody into doing anything that will destabilise the status quo.
"Our soldiers and police are not stupid, they know what they are defending. They know what Sierra Leone and Liberia look like" he is quoted as saying to thunderous applause and the beating of drums.
The Independent says that President Rawlings, however, admonished the security agencies not to ever relax in their duties as anything can happen any time.
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Public Agenda
VAT hike faces resistance
In a front-page lead story, the Public Agenda writes that claims of resistance by parties it spoke to when Deputy Finance Minister, Victor Selormey first announced government's intention top increase the VAT rate are about to be tested as government prepares to re-submit the proposal to Parliament.
The paper says workers, economic experts, manufacturers, employers and opposition parties last month warned that they would fiercely resist any attempt to increase taxes. According to the Public Agenda, some of the opposition parties appear ready to carry out their threats of resistance.
Dr Charles Wereko-Brobby, presidential candidate of the United Ghana Movement (UGM), is reported as saying that he is going to take government to court should it attempt to increase taxes. The government proposes to increase the VAT rate to 12.5% from the current 10 per cent.
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The Ghanaian Voice
'Juju' involved in selection of Mills' vice
The Ghanaian Voice in a front-page banner, says although we might not know the time for the selection of the running mate to Prof. John Atta Mills in the 2000 elections, it is apparent that vice-presidential aspirants are not taking things lightly.
The paper says according to the authoritative "Northern Monitor", Northern NDC presidential aspirants are moving heaven and earth to catch not only the ears and eyes of the leader of the party, President Jerry Rawlings, but also of the congress delegates of the NDC.
The Northern Monitor is said to have written in its Thursday, December 9, edition that heads of cows, goats and some twelve Mallams imported from the West African sub-region were at work.
The Voice reports the Monitor as writing that some desperate Northern NDC presidential aspirants, who ditched Goosie Tanoh and decamped from the Reform Movement, have in desperation, imported over 12 Mallams from practically all the West African sub-region and camped them in Tamale, Kumasi and Accra to produce rare charming recitations to influence some people in the NDC, believed to be those calling the shots for NDC presidential slot to name them as the presidential running mate at least!
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