Paul Osei-Tutu in Accra, reviews the Ghanaian press. The stories have not been verified and therefore we cannot vouch for their accuracy.
The Ghana Palaver, in a front page story headlined, 'Haruna Atta's Resignation - The Plain Truth', says the editor of the Statesman is leaving his job over monetary differences rather than what has been told to the public.
The story says Haruna is being denied money for effective operations by Mr. Amfo Kwakye, Managing Director of the paper.
According to the paper when Haruna complained of his frustrations to Nana Akufo Addo, the publisher, he was treated with contempt and reduced to a level of an apprentice while Kwakye, a cousin of Nana Akufo-Addo, maintianed a bossy status.
'Things have got to the point whereby Amfo Kwakye bahaves as if the paper is his bona fide. Family considertions no doubt pushed Haruna to the wall,' quotes palaver reporter.
Meanwhile the paper reports that senior reporter and nephew of Nana Akufo- Addo, Ferdinard Ayim, is moving in as the new editor of the Statesman.
The Free Press in its banner story says former NPP presidential candidate Prof. Albert Adu Boahen denies newspaper story that he has links with the Ashanti Region branch of the Reform Movement (RM).
The 1992 flagbearer, in an interview with the Free press wondered how he could be absent from the country and be flirting with the RM at the same time. 'I have not known Goosie Tanoh in my life', the eminent historian is quoted as saying.
Prof. Adu Boahen, who told the paper that he was out of the country from January 26, and returned only on February 14, could not see reason how he could be at an RM meeting on February 7, as carried by the newspaper.
The history Professor promised to treat the publication with levity and contempt.
The Free Press also reports that a proposed University project at Koforidua to be undertaken by All Nations Development Agency (ANIDA) seem to have fallen on the rocks because some landowners have rejected what they regard as meagre compensation for the release of their land.
So furious are some of the landowners that,should ANIDA decide to treat the aggrieved persons with contempt, a debacle is most likely to ensue, the paper says.
The Ghanaian Times banner story headlined 'Queenmum attempts suicide' says that Nana Akosua Ansuaa, queenmother of Dormaa Traditional Area of the Brong Ahafo slashed herself several times in a suicide attempt on learning that her son whom she nominated as next Dormaahene has been rejected by the kingmakers.
The paper quoted an authoritative palace source as saying the queenmother was rushed to a hospital in Dormaa for emergency treatment and later transferred to another hospital in Kumasi where she is said to be doing well.
The Times says Nana Akosua Ansuaa felt betrayed by some trusted chiefs who indicated to her that they would toe the line of the majority who are said to be in favour of another candidate from the Ankanase royal lineage, a rival ruling house.
In another front page story, the Times reports that and Accra Circuit Tribunal yesterday ordered the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to investigate a claim by an accused is a stealing case that six soldiers beat two of his colleagues to death after they were arrested.
The paper says Tijani Mohammed, unemployed, is being tried with another accomplice Eze Eze, a trader on the charge of conspiring to steal foreign currencies belonging a forex operator in Accra.
Mrs Elizabeth Anderson, who chaired the Tribunal said the allegation of murder should be brought before the DPP for his redress as the prosecution itself had confirmed the arrest of the accused by soldiers who later handed them over to the police.
The Ghanaian Chronicle has 'My Constituents won't vote for us ' NDC MP' as one of its leading stories on the front page.
According to the paper, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) member of parliament for Kadjebi, Mr John Kodjo Dzampong has said his constituents will not vote for the party in the 2000 elections unless their problems are addressed.
The paper added that Hon. Dzampong expressed regrets that for the past seven years only 14km of roads in the District have been constructed and wondered when the rest will be constructed. He continued that the government does not even know whether the roads will be asphalted or doubled.
The paper continued that the MP said the upper half of his constituency has been neglected to the extent that ordinary drinking water has become a dream realised outside it.
The paper concluded that the Hon. MP commended the District Assembly and the Ghana Education Service for doing their best in the face of all odds.
In another front page story headlined:' BNI casges wife, brother and dog of suspect' the paper says Lord Sey, a businessman walked into their offices and requested that he be taken to the BNI since operatives of the bureau were after him.
Sey wanted the Chronicle to be in the know of his whereabouts so the whole world will know if something happened. According the story Yamoah Boakye a friend of Sey was kidnapped by Andrew Lewis businessman to whom Yamoah sold some gold. Lewis was later arrested by the police for possessing fake gold but he thought he had ben betrayed by Yamoah.
Lewis then organized and picked up Yamoah from his house and subjected him to inhuman treatment until he was rescued four days later by the Police. Lewis was then picked up but later released by the Police. Not satisfied with the turn out of events, Lewis is alleged to have reported the matter to the BNI who went on rampage arresting anybody connected with Yamoah who is suspected of being part of the deal.
The paper quotes Sey as saying the BNI ransacked his house, picked up his wife, , Vera Adasua, his borther's wife, two relatives, and even his dog, when they found he was not in.
His Opel Kadett car is was also impounded, Sey alleges.
One of the stories in the inside page of the paper reads 'Maame Dokon's assailant remanded'. According to the story, Frank Nortey 27, has been remanded by the Tema Circuit Tribunal for threatening actress and radio presenter Grace Omaboe for exposing his nefarious acts.
According to the paper, last July, the accused who lived with his two younger sisters raped them in turns. He continued to rape them till they could no longer bear the pains and reported the matter to their father and stepmother who failed to reprimand him.
The paper added that, when Madam Debora Mawuko the biological mother of the victims visited her children, they informed her of the problem in the house who also in turn reported the matter to the police at Ashaiman and Frank was arrested.
The paper concluded that when a medical examination was conducted on the victims, it indicated that the victims had been raped.
The mother and children reported the matter on Maame Dokono's progamme on radio but Nortey felt aggrieved and threatened the life of the popular radio presenter.
During the proceedings, Nortey pleaded guilty and was remanded in prison custody.
The banner headline on the front page of the paper reads 'NPP selects Okuley Nortey' The paper reveals that the New Patriotic Party (NPP)last Wednesday elected Mr. Victor Okuley Nortey as its candidate for the vacant Ablekuma Central Parliamentary seat on March 26 by-election.
The story added that, Mr. Nortey emerged the winner from a field of five strong contenders who later withdrew their nomination for Mr. Nortey after a fierce competition.
The paper added that, Mr. Jake Obetsebi Lamptey, Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the party praised the spirit of compromise and consensus that characterised the process and expressed his admiration for the selflessness and positive support of all the contestants.
The story disclosed that, Mr. Obetsebi Lamptey declared, 'looking for a new MP, we in the NPP have sought and by the grace of God, we have found the man who can carry out the work of the late Mr.C.S. Crabbe'.
The paper concluded that Mr. Dan Botwe General Secretary of the Party, praised the high sense of maturity exhibited by the party members and love for the party in these trying times following the death of Mr. Crabbe.
He called for total support from all the candidates and assured them that with the entire party moving in unison, no stone would be left unturned to win the seat to honour the memory of the late Mr. Crabbe.