Depreciation of the cedi…BOG clears the air
22 pupils trapped by pregnancy…They fail to take BECE
After the shock attack on Opposition…Mills under fire
Mandela to settle quarrel between Rawlings and Tsikata
Our rally didn't cost 900mC - NDC
Depreciation of the cedi…BOG clears the air
The Daily Graphic reports in its top story that the Bank of Ghana (BOG) has stated that the fall in the value of the cedi was the result of a deliberate policy by the National Economic Management Team (NEMT) to boost exports and restore Ghana's international competitiveness, among other objectives.
The Graphic says that the central bank has, therefore, assured the investor community that the sharp depreciation of the cedi in October and November, did not signify a loss of control by the country's monetary authorities.
The paper says that the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr Kwabena Duffuor, speaking in an interview in Accra yesterday stated that in August, the NEMT decided that the central bank "removes all props on the cedi as it was becoming too strong".
The team, he said, felt the strong nature of the cedi was hurting exporters and making Ghana lose her international competitiveness. It was also necessary to let the cedi adjust to external shocks resulting from the fall in the price of gold and cocoa.
The Graphic says that Dr Duffuor explained that the fall in the value of the cedi did not mean that the Bank of Ghana was reckless or had lost control over the economic situation. He is reported as saying that more recently, the BOG intensified its liquidity management through more active market operations, thereby triggered increases in money market, interest rates, as well as making cedi-denominated assets more attractive.
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The Ghanaian Times
22 pupils trapped by pregnancy…They fail to take BECE
In its lead story, the Ghanaian Times reports that out of the 30 candidates who failed to write last August's Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in the Adansi East District, 20 were pregnant.
Mr J.A. Manu, District Director of Education is said to have announced this at a send-off party organised in his honour at New Edubiase in the Ashanti Region at the weekend. Mr Manu is retiring from the Ghana Education Service (GES) after 35 years service.
The Times says that he expressed concern about the rate of school dropout, especially among girls, and condemned the bahaviour of the men responsible for the pregnancies.
"These girls could have become future scientists, nurses, parliamentarians, teachers and the like, had it not been for the uncalled for, the lust of some men in the society", he said, and charged the District Ladies Club of the Ghana National association of Teachers (GNAT) to mount a campaign to promote girls' education.
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The Ghanaian Chronicle
After the shock attack on Opposition…Mills under fire
The Ghanaian Chronicle reports in its lead story that the Vice-President, Prof. J.E.A. Mills, is under fire and has become the butt of intense public revulsion and derision following his failed attempt to inject some militancy into his platform performances at the recent NDC rally at the 'Kawukudu' Junction in Accra.
According to the Chronicle some Ghanaians, including even moderates within the NDC, lawyers, the opposition NPP and others in the United States, have roundly condemned the learned law Professor's name-calling politics.
The paper says that at the rally Vice-President Mills abandoned his usual cool and collected stagecraft, went haywire and launched a most vitriolic attack on the opposition political parties, calling them liars and people who go on 'useless' demonstrations. It says Prof. Mills is not feeling the heat only from the NDC, but a number of Ghanaians both at home and in the United States, have been bristling over his "loose remarks".
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Mandela to settle quarrel between Rawlings and Tsikata
In a front-page screaming headline story, the Dispatch says that new credible reports from Accra and Cape Town indicate that the former South African President, Nelson Mandela, will be asked to try once again, and resolve the differences between President Jerry Rawlings and Captain Kojo Tsikata (rtd) former head of national security. According to the paper, the choice of Mr Mandela is not surprising.
Capt. Tsikata is married to a South African and now spends most of his time down there. Besides, the paper says that Ghana has long-standing relations with the African National Congress (ANC) that date back to the height of the anti-apartheid struggle.
The Dispatch says that its sources indicate that the former South African President had made one unsuccessful attempt at reconciliation but mutual friends of the two Ghanaian statesmen are hoping that Mandela would succeed this time.
The paper says that there are speculations as to what led to the break-up but the First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings has, in an earlier rejoinder to the "Dispatch", denied ever being one of the alleged reasons for the waning of the Captain's influence.
It says that the First Lady's reaction, sent through her lawyer, Mr S. E. Vanderpuye, stated that she is "not responsible for any problems whatsoever that Capt. Kojo Tsikata has or has not, and indeed, has not been responsible for any alleged waning of his influence as you think".
The Dispatch says that for all those who thought or are thinking that the First Lady had any alleged contribution to the Captain's problems with the President, Nana Konadu's lawyer wrote: "The First Lady wishes it to be known to you and those who think like you that she has not been responsible for any problems whatsoever" that the Capt., is supposed to have or not have.
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The Evening News
Our rally didn't cost 900mC - NDC
In its front-page banner headline story, the Evening News reports that the NDC has denied ever spending 900 million cedis during its recent rally at 'Kawukudi' Park in Accra.
The paper says that describing the allegation by the Reform Party about the cost of the rally as disgusting, then NDC did not, however, specify how much it spent on the rally.
The Evening News says that in a statement signed by Mr Vincent Asiseh, national press secretary of the NDC, the party stated "it is becoming increasingly obvious that the National Reform Party has been infected by the falsehood virus and it is in a relentless battle to outclass the other opposition parties in the art of sensationalism".
"The journey to election 2000 is long and arduous and starting from the bottom of the political pyramid where it is, NRP had better devote its time, energy and resources towards the battle ahead".
The statement pointed out that the Reform Party could not carry the full complement of the original NDC reform group with it and that a good many of those presently in the Reform Party are on tenterhooks about their future. They find the spectre of a dive from victory into defeat daunting", the statement said.
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