The Chronicle in its front page states that, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) officials have out of panic, twisted the arms of their 132 members of Parliament (MPs) to stay away from the congress of the Reform Movement at the University of Ghana on February 4 and 5.
According to the paper, the NDC (MPs) were locked up in a Cancus meeting at Parliament House where they were issued with verbal and written threats to dissuade them from attending the congress.
'The MP's were preparing to answer the invitation from the leadership of the Reform Movement (RM) and show solidarity with the break-away wing of the Party' the paper said.
At the meeting, warning letters signed by the NDC majority leader and Minister of Parliamentary affairs and the Majority Chief Whip, in the persons of Dr. Kwabena Adjei and Mr. E.K. Doe Adjaho were reported to thrust warning letters to the peoples representatives (MPs).
Some of the contents of the letters were as follows: 'The leadership of the NDC parliamentary group would like to state that whilst not preventing anybody from exercising his legitimate and constitutional right of associating with any person, it nevertheless wishes to state in clear and ambigious terms that any association with the Reform Movement (RM) which has clearly, persistently and Publicly declared its intention of breaking away from the mainstream of the NDC to which members of the NDC Parliamentary group belong is contrary to our party constitution especially Articles 6(2)f and 29 (a)'
Gateway Project launched; Ghana lost 191 doctors in 1996-98 and Otumfuo appoints Herbert Mensah are some of the interesting stories that took the front page of the =91Ghanaina Times'
According to the paper, Minister of Health, Mr. Samuel Nuamah Donkor in answering questions at parliament yesterday dropped the hint about the defection of the said doctors during the last two years in search of greener pastures.
He said the current 1500 doctor size of the country, including private and public practitioners gives a doctor-population ratio of one to 12,000.
The Minister is reported saying that the Ministry of Health had embarked on some positive lines of actions to arrest the situation.
The banner story of the Times informs that launching was made in Accra yesterday of the Ghana Trade and Investment Gateway Project 9GHATIG) by Vice President John Atta Mills.
Describing the project as an 'exciting endeavour', Vice President Atta Mills said the 56.5m dollar initiative seeks to introduce a comprehensive set of reforms aimed at attracting a critical mass of export-oriented investment to 'kick start' export-led growth, as well as facilitate trade.
'It aims at addressing most of the bottlenecks and impediments that continue to militate against efficient trade and increased flow and development of investments.
The Times, in another story said Mr. Herbert Mensah, M-Net country Director has been appointed as the Chairman of Kumasi Asante Kotoko by Otumfuo Opoku Ware, Asantehene, in an effort to solve the rumpus raging in the great club.
The paper's story said the life patron arrived at this decision after a consultative meeting with Paramount chiefs of Asante.
One of the two stories on the front page reads 'PNC in trouble'. According to the story the man tipped to replace Dr. Hilla Limann as the Party Chairman Mr. John A ndebugre, a founding member and Vice chairman of the party has resigned.
The paper states that Mr. Ndebugre is a committed fighter for democracy and has credibility as an anti Rawlings/NDC campaigner than many other leaders of the Party.
The paper added that the resignation of Mr. Ndebugre is most certainly a major blow to the PNC and analysts believe it will take a long time before the party recovers from Ndebugre's absence.
The paper concluded that already many of the leaders including Mr. Felix Amoah, chairman, Chris Zigah, Vice Chairman, Dr. Nii Noi Dowouma, General Secretary, Kwaku Yirboku, Deputy General Secretary and Mr. Vegbe, Education Secretary have all resigned and joined the Convention Party, meanwhile the Presidential Candidate for PNC Dr. Edward Mahama describes the mass resignation as a good riddance.