(Paul Osei-Tutu in Accra, reviews the Ghanaian press. The stories have not been verified and therefore we cannot vouch for their accuracy).
The lead story on the front pages of both the Daily Graphic and the Ghanaian Times is about the 1-0 victory of Ghana's Under-20 soccer team, the Black Satellites over their Malian counterparts. While the Graphic headline says: "Africa U-20 kicks off...Ghana in good start...Thanks to the magic of penalty", the Ghanaian Times headline reads: "Satellites manage a win... And set to work".
The Graphic account has that one moment of blunder can unmake the dream of a country, while a moment of brilliance can actualise the dream of another country. The paper says this was the first lesson learnt on the opening day of the 11th African Under-20 Youth Championship in Accra with Ghana smiling away with a lucky lone victory over Mali. The Times, on the other hand says the national Under-20 team, the Black Satellites, kept hopes alive yesterday when they began the 11th African Youth Soccer Championship with a slim 1-0 victory over their zealous Malian counterparts. The Graphic says the Malians baffled the fans, high and low, with their brilliance, power and pace, adding that at one stage, they had their Ghanaian counterparts chasing their shadows. It says the situation of the Ghanaians was so desperate and embarrassing that only a moment of magic could turn their game around. The Graphic says luckily for the Satellites and unfortunately for the well-drilled, athletic-looking Malians, who made good use of open spaces and played coherently to a rehearsed pattern, that moment came just on the stroke of half time. According to the Times, it was a significant victory for the Satellites who have in the past, found the Malians difficult to handle at the youth level.
The paper says so elated were the Satellites that they danced for almost 15 minutes to the brass ban music provided by Ghana National Supporters' Union, underlining the importance of the victory.
"Tony Aidoo's job on hold...Allegations galore", says the lead headline story of the Ghanaian Chronicle.
According to the paper, moves are under way in the Appointments Committee of Parliament to subpoena the record of service of Dr Tony Aidoo, a Presidential nominee as Deputy Minister of Defence, at the University of Cape Coast, where he taught for some time. The Chronicle, quoting sources close to the Committee, says this came to light at the closed sitting of the Committee after Lt-Colonel E.K.T. Donkoh, nominated as Defence Minister, appeared before it to be vetted for approval by Parliament. The paper says the sources said the Committee did not reach any agreement on the issue. This means Dr Aidoo's appearance before the Committee will not be anytime soon, adds the paper. The Chronicle says it also learnt that the simultaneous nomination of Lt-Col Donkoh and Dr Aidoo as Minister and Deputy Minister of Defence respectively, breached the constitution. It says according to the constitution, the Deputy Minister should be nominated in consultation with the Minister, but as there was no substantive Minister for the President to consult with, Dr Aidoo's nomination was unconstitutional. Dr Aidoo's vetting is, therefore, being put on hold until Lt-Col Donkoh is confirmed for the necessary consultation to be made.
"Election 2000...MPs meet on Nana Konadu's candidacy", is splashed on the front page of the Dispatch. According to the paper, close aides of Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, have denied that she is interested ib becoming the running mate to Prof John Atta Mills, in the year 2000 presidential election.
The Dispatch says the aides cold not, however, indicate whether calls on her to fill the position would be rejected. The paper says, nevertheless, some NDC Members of Parliament are scheduled to meet within the next six weeks to discuss what her reaction would be if she is called upon to accept the slot. The paper quotes sources close to the aides as saying "we have no doubt that she is indeed a capable person, fit to be the running mate or even the resident of a country, adding "but after nearly 20 years of being the First Lady, we think she should turn down such calls".
According to the Dispatch, one of the aides admitted that before the media speculations arose, there had been enquiries from certain NDC quarters as to whether the party would consider putting her up as part of the residential ticket.
The Public Agenda in a lead story headlined: "Basic Education crisis: FCUBE money lies idle...World Bank threatens", says a strange scenario is unfolding as basic education wallows in crisis even as badly needed funds made available by the Word Bank lie unutilised and attract interest. According to the paper, differences between the Word bank and the Ghana Government over the implementation of the Basic Education Sector Improvement Programme(BESIP)have led the Bank to threaten cancellation of the credit facility. The Public Agenda quotes the World Bank as saying BESIP, the government's programme aimed at reforming basic education, is two years ehind schedule and the agreed Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education (FCUBE) programme targets. The paper says the Bank, in a statement that amounts to an ultimatum, proposed a restructuring of BESIP ad an appraisal of the restructuring proposals not later than March 30, this year, when the two parties are to meet. "Should it not be possible to meet this deadline, we would have to take steps to proceed towards suspension of disbursement and cancellation of the proceeds of the credit", the Public Agenda quotes a draft document of the World Bank as indicating. The Bank document, says the paper, expressed concern about the slow pace of the disbursement of funds, saying as at last September, there was an u undisbursed balance of $44 million in the Bank's credit account for BESIP.
A screamer headline on the front page of the Ghanaian Democrat says "Ablekuma to fall to NDC- Huudu".
The paper reports Alhaji Huudu Yahaya, General Secretary of the NDC as saying that the unfortunate death of Mr C.A. Crabbe the NPP Member of Parliament for Ablekuma Central in Accra, has given "us another chance to claim a seat that is rightly ours". The paper says this view was expressed when it contacted Alhaji Yahaya on the preparation being made by the ruling NDC towards a bye-election occasioned by Mr Crabbe's death on
February 10, this year. Alhaji Yahaya is reported as saying that the NPP was lucky to have won the seat in the last general election in December, 1996, because of the refusal of the pro-NDC Independent candidate, Mr Cornelius Adablah to step down for the NDC candidate, Alhaji Ismail Bawa. Accordidng to Alhaji Yahaya, the NDC is not taking chances this time saying the party would win back the seat and prove to everyone that the NDC remains the most popular and strongest party.