The Ghanaian Times / Daily Graphic
Kufuor enters Castle / We’ll work for peace, stability – Rawlings assures Kufuor
No list of sanctioned ministers yet
AGI calls for fresh look at liberalisation
Kufuors' Cabinet
Securing the state is top priority – Kufuor
Kufuor to clean Castle
Kufuor enters Castle / We’ll work for peace, stability – Rawlings assures Kufuor
The State-owned Daily Graphic and The Ghanaian Times carry the historic meeting at the Castle between outgoing President Jerry John Rawlings and the President-elect, Mr John Agyekum Kufuor, on Wednesday.
The Times states that Mr Kufuor made a landmark entry into the seat of government for the first time after being elected President in the December election.
Mr Kufuor, accompanied by a 10-member NPP delegation, including Vice-President-elect, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, was at the Castle to meet President Rawlings and his team that included Vice-President J.E.A. Mills, as part of bilateral talks between the two parties to set the tone for a smooth transition of power.
“The historic meeting was held in a frank atmosphere, and characterised by jokes and laughter,” The Times said.
President Rawlings reportedly entered the discussion with Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu, Presidential Advisor on Governmental affairs, Dr Obed Asamoah, the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice and others while Mr Kufuor’s team included Mr S.A. Odoi-Sykes, chairman of the NPP, Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, campaign manager, and Mrs Gladys Asmah, Deputy Minority Leader in Parliament.
Reporting on the deliberations, Graphic quotes President Rawlings to have assured the in-coming administration of his personal commitment and that of his government to work to enhance the peace, order and stability of the nation and therefore urged Mr Kufuor to feel free in contacting him on such matters.
He assured Mr Kufuor that he would not give him sleepless nights, adding that, “if anyone will give you sleepless nights it would be your own men.”
Mr Kufuor thanked President Rawlings for his message of goodwill and indicated that his government would welcome constructive criticism and be fair to all people, adding that the NPP respects every achievement President Rawlings and his team have chalked over the past two decades.
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No list of sanctioned ministers yet
The Graphic reports on its front-page that the Office of the President-elect, Mr John Agyekum Kufuor, has denied that he has sanctioned a list of prospective ministers.
It has accordingly, stated that, “all names floating out there are mere speculations from unauthorised individuals.”
The denial was contained in a statement issued by the Office of the President-elect and signed by his Special Assistant, Mr Kwadwo Mpiani, in reaction to some press reports alluding to the fact that a vetting committee for the in-coming administration had been formed to vet prospective ministers and other office holders.
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AGI calls for fresh look at liberalisation
The Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) on Wednesday urged the in-coming government to review the trade liberalisation programme and adopt a more ‘gingerly approach’ to ensure that the economy benefits.
Mr Samuel B. Boakye, Director of Finance and Administration, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview in Accra that ‘the current unbridled liberalisation does not augur well for the country, especially when virtually anything is allowed onto the Ghanaian market from countries whose governments support them to break through into the export market.
“Sadly, our government does not provide local industries with similar support”, he said.
He called for an urgent reduction of interest rates to levels that would make Ghanaian industries and their products competitive in the West Africa sub-region.
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Kufuors' Cabinet
The Evening News reports that the President-elect, Mr J.A. Kufuor's pledge to constitute a government of inclusion involving people from all the political parties has sparked off intense lobbying by people from all walks of life.
The intensity of the pressure on the party hierarchy has reportedly, led to the setting up of a secretariat where individuals and groups are filing curriculum vitae and other qualifications for consideration.
The paper quoting highly placed sources said the foremost position up for grabs, which is the Speaker of Parliament would go to Mr Peter Ala Adjetey, an accomplished lawyer and immediate past chairman of the NPP.
It said although names like Justice N.Y.B. Adade, a retired Supreme Court Judge and Attorney-General in Dr Busia's rigime and Mr B.J. da Rocha, first national chairman of the party have come up, party faithfuls are not too keen on supporting Mr Adade's candidature because, to them, he has not shown enough commitment in helping to build the party.
Mr da Rocha is however perceived as being up to the task but for his health, which after well over 70 years is keeping him from much activity lately.
On the frontline for the Finance portfolio are Mr Yaw Osafo Marfo, MP for Akim Oda, Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku, MP for Offinso North, Mr J.H. Mensah, Minority Leader in Parliament, and the Convention People's Party's Dr Kwesi Nduom.
It is most likely that the Attorney-General's position would fall to Nana Akufu-Addo who is perceived as having the credentials for the job.
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Securing the state is top priority – Kufuor
The President-elect, Mr J.A. Kufuor has said healing divisions and uniting the nation are among his top priorities.
In an interview with 'All Africa.com', he also pledged to revitalize the nation's sluggish economy and stabilize the staggering currency.
According to a front-page story in the Guide, the president elect also gave the assurance that Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings, the outgoing President, will also not face prosecution for the coup that brought him to power in 1981.
Mr Kufuor however indicated his plans to establish a Truth and Reconciliation Committee to head off any attempts at reprisals by people with grievances.
He said securing the state by ensuring that the security agencies are firmly placed and loyal to the new government to prevent untoward upset in the state machinery was a major concern to his in-coming administration.
He indicated that it was too early to comment on the fate of the special army units set up by President Rawlings.
"What I understand though is that it is made up of professional soldiers, so I would expect them to be amenable to any rearrangement within the army. But, of course, I would want to take over properly and ascertain their role before I make any moves," he was quoted as saying.
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Kufuor to clean Castle
The Accra Mail traces the history of the Osu Christianborg Castle, at different times as the seat of government for Ghana, including that of the outgoing President Jerry John Rawlings, and says Ghanaians today associate the place with nothing but oppression.
The place, according to the Mail, is neither loved, nor respected but rather feared and has become an anachronism, ready for retirement into a self-sustaining public admitting museum.
According to it, public opinion is in favour of the incoming government starting on a clean slate and therefore not rushing headlong to occupy the Castle.
There are suggestions, according to the paper, that if Kufuor has to move to the Castle, then a massive 'exorcism' and renovation has to be performed by Christians and Muslims, and the Castle prison be removed.
It is in the meantime perceived that the new administration could start sitting from areas including the State House, the Peduase Lodge, the Flagstaff House or even the 'Sultan's Lodge'.
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How NDC men shared SIC property
The Chronicle reports that its ongoing investigations into the state of affairs of the nation's insurance giant, State Insurance Company (SIC) has uncovered further deals that can spell the doom for the company.
"The company's fixed assets which include buildings and plots of land have been sold out," according to the paper.
Most of the properties are reported to have been sold to people who have direct links with the ruling NDC, the company's board of directors and management members.
Although staff of the company were not left out, only a few could afford them at the five-day notice given them to raise money for the purchase and several pleas by them to the management to halt the sales or extend the deadline went unheeded.
The paper says contrary to the impression created by the management in an interview that the houses were offered to the general public, the leadership of the company selected some top men and wrote to them offering special opportunity to purchase the SIC properties.
This, according to Chronicle sources, was done to ensure that the properties stay in the grip of some top NDC men.
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