Ghana strikes oil, gas…in significant quantities in Tano Basin
Stowaways couldn’t bear the cold
31st DWM’s $10-million OPEC deal…Finance Minister implicated
NDC threatens teachers with transfer…for showing support for opposition
Danger…2000elections can end in chaos
Ghana strikes oil, gas…in significant quantities in Tano Basin
The Daily Graphic reports in its top story that a British company, Dana Petroleum, which is prospecting off the shores of the Western Region, is said to have struck oil in significant quantities. The Graphic says that an article in the January 2000 issue of "Upstream News", a London-based oil industry magazine, quoting sources in London, mentioned figures of 200 million barrels and 300 billion cubic feet of oil and gas respectively as possible reserves from the find close to the Tano fields.
The paper says that an oil analyst, Mr Iain Reid at the Warbury Dillion Read, an investment bank, is quoted as saying, "it is looking good so far but there are still some significant uncertainties t be resolved". The story says that London oil sources were further quoted as saying that a test programme is being planned, pointing to optimism that an accumulation in potentially commercial significance has been found. Dana Petroleum is said to hold 90% of the West Tano prospects while the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) has 10%.
GRi./
Return to top The Ghanaian Times
Stowaways couldn’t bear the cold
In a front-page story, the Ghanaian Times reports that an attempt by 10 Ghanaians to stow away to Holland and Las Palmas on a ship was aborted when they surrendered themselves to the captain of the vessel. The story says that they were finding it difficult to withstand the harsh weather conditions on the high seas.
They were subsequently, detained by the captain and when the ship berthed at the Port of Holland, he handed them over to the Dutch Immigration authorities, who repatriated to Ghana. The Times says that yesterday, all the 10 were arraigned before an Accra Circuit Tribunal on a charge of stowing away.
The stowaways are named as Peter Owusu, Francis Jean, James Ghartey, Iddrisu Musah, John Atachie and Samuel Bediako. The rest are Papa Kakraba, Simon Weah, Ekow Sagoe and Alex Bebey. The pleaded not guilty to the charge and were jailed three months each by the court presided over Mrs Elizabeth Anderson-Yeboah.
GRi./
31st DWM’s $10-million OPEC deal…Finance Minister implicated
The Ghanaian Chronicle writes in a banner lead story that its investigations have uncovered a major deal involving the 31st December Women’s Movement (DWM) and a secret attempt to collect million of dollars from an overseas financial institution, OPEC Fund for International Development, in the form of a loan to be serviced by the Ghanaian taxpayer.
According to the Chronicle this information was obtained through an electronic mail signed by Ms Audrey Haylins (Information Officer for the OPEC, Vienna, Austria) that they had approved $2.3 million out of the funds but were very clear of the destination of the funds – Not 31st December Women’s Movement (DWM). They were responding to the paper’s fax enquiries.
The story says that on November 17, 1997, Mr George Eder, Ghana’s Honorary Consul-General to Austria, tabled a proposal on behalf of the DWM, a non-governmental organisation, headed by the First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, for a $10-million loan from the OPEC to implement a Social Investment Fund Project to alleviate poverty in rural communities in Ghana.
According to the Chronicle, OPEC funds are not meant for non-profit organisation like the DWM, which ad told Mr Eder to say that the Movement was going to use the money for road maintenance. The paper says that Mr Eder dutiful, gave a breakdown to OPEC on how DWM intended to disburse the $10 million. The DWM would also use part of the loan to support businesses in the rural areas with $4.5 million loan, spend $1.5 million to provide potable water, and allocate $1.7 million to public works/service programme to undertake routine maintenance of roads and waste collection, among other activities.
The Chronicle says that nearly two months later on January 13, 1998, Mr Seyyid Y. Abdulai, Director-General of OPEC responded in a two-page letter to Mr Kwame Peprah, Minister of Finance, informing him of the request from the DWM and OPEC’s desire to support the project with a loan.
The story says that OPEC indicated that since the funds had to be re-paid with interest it would rather deal with the Ghana Government and entrust the management of the Social Investment Fund to a project implementation unit with an established record of performance…
GRi.
Return to top Free Press
NDC threatens teachers with transfer…for showing support for opposition
In a front-page screamer, the Free Press says that in a clear case of intimidation and coercion, the NDC branch in the Offinso North Constituency in Ashanti, is threatening to transfer teachers in the area, who are suspected to be opposition sympathisers.
The paper says that the situation is so grave that at least, three of such teachers from Afrancho, have been served with transfer letters while many more have been targeted. According to the story, apart from this, electoral officers especially, the constituency returning officer, who is also suspected to be an NPP sympathiser, has not only been threatened with transfer but also possible removal from that office, as several warning letters are said to have been written about him.
The Free Press Says that this serious issue came to the notice of Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku, MP for the area, during a recent tour. The MP is said to have deplored this machination saying that this could affect free and fair elections in the constituency.
GRi../
Danger…2000elections can end in chaos
The Weekly Insight writes that national elections this year may end up in chaos as a result of a combination of factors, including the opposition lack of confidence in the National Electoral Commission as currently composed. The paper says that the NDC’s determination to hang n to power at whatever cost, is also a signpost to post-election troubles.
The story says that added to these is the fact that none of the presidential candidates on offer is charismatic enough to hold the nation together in the event of any disturbances. The Weekly Insight says tat another sorry feature of the electioneering campaign is the fact that it has not been issue-centred as all political parties are offering variations of the same old and tired policies being pushed by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
The paper says that so far, only the NDC appears to have any confidence in the Electoral Commission headed by Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, an appointee of President Jerry Rawlings. The Weekly Insight says that in 1992, all the opposition political parties rejected the results on account of widespread irregularities, which they lamed on the Electoral Commission and activists of the ruling party.
GRi../