NPP's Running Mate - Kufuor speaks out
Remove flags, banners
'UN happier with conflict prevention'
5 deaths rock K'dua Poly
Kufuor boxed in with Hawa
Will NDC last?
Quarshigah dropped
NPP's Running Mate - Kufuor speaks out
The Dispatch writes that the Flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has dropped hints on the guidelines, which will help him and the party leadership select his running mate. The hints, according to the paper, make it increasingly clear that the running mate will be a non-Akan.
The paper quotes Mr. Kufuor as saying that the running mate should be Presidential material who has attributes of potential President, thus, proven experience in political life and general understanding of the problems facing the country.
Mr. Kufuor, according to the paper, stated that the second and very important thing is the loyalty and commitment to the party and the Presidential candidate to facilitate co-operation and harmonious relationship.
Dispatch says Mr. Kufuor, in an answer to a question bordering on ethnicity stated that "to ensure ethnic balance to reflect the country's diverse geographical distribution, reconciliation and unification, I would like a non-Akan. Other factors include the gender and age of that person."
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Remove flags, banners
The Ghanaian Times reports in its lead story that the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Peter Nanfuri, has asked all political parties and their agents to remove all political symbols from unauthorised points.
The paper says a statement issued on Sunday by the IGP drew attention to the mounting of banners, flags and billboards on trees, flyovers, bridges, electric and telephone poles and other high-rise devices by the various political parties.
Mr. Nanfuri is reported to have warned that the Police Administration, in conjunction with the Metropolitan, Municipal and District authorities would undertake joint exercises in the next 24 hours to have them removed.
The IGP according to the Times, stated that while political parties had the right to publicly display their symbols, especially in an election year, the current trend and manner of display had become unsightly and offended the rules and regulations displaying those symbols.
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'UN happier with conflict prevention'
The Daily Graphic in a front-page story reports the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr Kofi Annan, as saying on arrival in the country on Saturday that the world body is more interested in conflict prevention than its resolution.
Mr Annan, who is on a five-day official visit to Ghana, noted that many potential conflicts have been diffused but because these have been on the quiet they hardly attract press attention.
He said the major obstacle in conflict prevention is the unpreparedness of the protagonists to co-operate.
He also said the trial of Foday Sankoh of Sierra Leone "is necessary to prove to Africa that the kind of crime perpetrated by the RUF would not be allowed to go on unpunished". "We need to make it clear that impunity cannot be allowed to have its way", the paper quoted him as saying.
The UN Secretary-General according to the paper said a draft resolution has been prepared by the Security Council for Sankoh's trial to begin.
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5 deaths rock K'dua Poly
Five deaths, two of them unrelated have hit the Koforidua Polytechnic over the past week, creating panic among the students and staff of the school, reports the Daily Graphic in a banner story.
According to the paper the woes and tribulations of the school deepened following the latest tragic death of three final year marketing students who drowned.
The three, all males, are reported to have gone to Ada with their colleagues for a sight seeing when the tragedy befell them.
The story carries that earlier on Wednesday, a final year female student died through ectopic, which was followed on Friday by the death of a tutor who had stroke, throwing the campus into mourning.
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Kufuor boxed in with Hawa
The Ghanaian Chronicle says it has learnt that as many as five names, excluding Nana Akufo Addo, are the likely persons from which the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, Mr J.A Kufuor would make his choice of a running mate.
Mr. Kufuor's choice for a non-Akan, according to the paper is what rules out Nana Akufo Addo.
The paper names the five in order of preference as Alhaji Muhammed Aliu, a solid highly successful businessman, Honourable Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris, the youthful Tamale MP, General Joshua Hamidu, former Chief of Defence Staff, Alhji Seini Wayo and Madam Hawa Yakubu, independent MP of the 1992 constitution.
The fifth, according to the paper, is Major (rtd.) Quarshiegah, but who, the party says is irreplaceable as national organiser, having turned out the most effective, since 1992.
According to the story, Mr. Kufuor enjoys strong backing from the Northern bloc as shown by the total support he got from the Congress when he cleaned up almost every delegate in his duel with Nana Addo, and he is keen on returning the courtesies.
Aliu, the rank front runner is however reported to be currently disinterested because of his ethnic origin.
Mustapha Ali, Hamidu and Mad. Yakubu according to Chronicle were nominated by their regions at Kufuor's request for the three Northern blocs to put in candidates but adds that Ali's cash strap position and Hamidu's long exile leaves Mad. Yakubu with the brightest chance.
The story however says the expectation by NPP pundits for two main qualities - resourcefulness and aggression - for the running mate still makes the Akufo Addo candidature capture the imagination of some NPP fans.
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Will NDC last?
The Accra Mail in its banner story writes that as Election 2000 approaches and with the constitution of Ghana barring President Jerry John Rawlings from a further term, it is becoming evident that the NDC will have to re-invent itself or disintegrate.
The paper says the NDC, if truth should be told, is now having to decide on how to handle a post-Rawlings era.
According to the paper, one Senior Verandah Boy told it that "this is NDC's true transitional period. This is the time for the party to develop the structures for a true political party."
The source, according to the paper, also admitted that in 1992, the party was sponsored by government and had very little to do with ordinary people.
The Accra Mail says the ad hoc and cynical measures of Election '92, adopted by the party, will have to make way for a true bottom-up democratic process, and that is where the NDC is faltering now.
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Quarshigah dropped
The Ghana Palaver reports that Courage Quarshigah dream of becoming the running mate to Mr J.A. Kufuor fizzled out after the former army major opened his mouth too wide.
The paper says its scouts gathered that Kufuor and the National Council of Elders have accused Courage Quarshigah of publicly supporting a statement contained in the party's campaign strategy, which has been often quoted by the Palaver.
"Quarshigah has been accused and condemned for telling a group of NPP sympathisers on tour of the Volta Region that J.A. Kufuor is not a good orator and eloquent and that he is to all intents and purposes 'stammerer'."
The paper has it that the position on Quarshigah, was extensively discussed at a meeting held by the party's gurus on Friday July 21, questioning why he should give credence to Palaver's publications.
The story contained that in a bid to show the retired army officer where power lies, the party's leaders have also decided that the National Orgniser should be directed to work under, and take instructions from Jake Obetsebi Lamptey, Kufuor's campaign manager.
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