GRi Press Review 27 – 06 – 2000
Bills to ensure safe lake, sea transport
Halt unfair trade
Soldiers storm church to arrest criminal
Rawlings lashes at critics
Government offers higher interest rates as public borrowing requirements rise
The economy still on right track - Chambas
Who ordered the murder?
Rawlings is desperate
"Prison officer's apology is wrong
Chambas, Wayo battle for Nima
CPP vetting committee spokesman clears Aggudey
EC disassociates itself from "voters" register found in Tema
Bills to ensure safe lake, sea transport
The Daily Graphic’s front-page story says cabinet has placed before Parliament two bills, which will ensure the safety of lake and sea transport in the country.
The paper says the bills: the Lake Traffic Control Bill and the Maritime Authority Bill, when passed into law will ensure the enforcement of lake traffic regulations through effective monitoring and surveillance, as well as enforce maritime safety regulations respectively.
Mr. I.P. Azumah, Deputy Shipping Commissioner of the Ministry of Roads and Transport, is reported to have told the paper in an interview that his ministry in collaboration with the Volta River Authority (VRA) has been consistent in educating boat owners on the basic principles of navigation, but expressed regret that these cautions have been ignored by operators who continue with overloading for commercial gains.
The paper quotes Mr. Azumah as saying that the ministry has realised that the problems have to do with enforcement and the need for lake traffic control unit suitably located within the lake to regulate, monitor and enforce regulations.
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Halt unfair trade
The nation’s producer of Portland Cement, Ghana Cement Works (GHACEM), has appealed to the Ministry of Finance to halt the unfair and prejudicial trading practices being engaged in by WACEM, a rival cement company operating in Togo, the Graphic reports in another front-page story.
The story contained that the Togo project is under the ownership and management of an Indian consortium and their cement is imported into Ghana under the name of Diamond Cement.
GHACEM, according to the Graphic, in a letter addressed to the Ministry of Finance, alleged that the company, which operates in the industrial free zone of Togo, breached both Ghanaian law and relevant agreements and protocol of the ECOWAS in their export of bagged cement into Ghana.
“Under the circumstances, the Government of Ghana is losing considerable revenue at both ends such as the revenue on import duty and tax revenue from GHACEM’s operations.”
GHACEM, the paper says, accused the Togolese company of non-payment of duties and other taxes apart from VAT on about 20,000 metric tonnes of cement imported into the country between March and April, this year, adding that this was detrimental to GHACEM’s operations and tax revenue generation for the Ghana Government.
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Witness collapses
The banner story of the Ghanaian times says a prosecution star witness, Mr. Michael Kesse, 31, yesterday threw a Circuit Tribunal in Kumasi into disarray when he collapsed in the course of his evidence in a matter involving Mr. Harry Zakkour, Chief Executive of Accra Hearts of Oak and Abubakar Quattara, former Kumasi Asante Kotoko head coach.
The two, according to the story, are charged with conspiracy to commit crime, defrauding by false pretences, processing forged documents and uttering forged documents.
The paper says policemen and court clerks who went to the aid of the witness had it difficult trying to get him out of the witness box as he clasped a concrete pillar close to the box.
Kesse, said to have screamed and sweated profusely, was eventually rushed to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and the case adjourned to July 3, according to the story.
The accused are reported to have obtained the consent of Kwaku Adu to part with 14,000 dollars, 6million cedis and 150,000 CFA Francs, under the pretext of transferring Yaw Sakyi, a regular midfielder of Hearts of Oak to Germany in 1998.
The deal, according to the story, would have yielded 600,000 dollars to be shared among the three.
Quattara, the story says, allegedly forged FIFA International Transfer Certificate in respect of the player in the process.
Quattara and Zakkour have both denied the charges and are on a 50 million cedis bail each with one surety.
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Soldiers storm church to arrest criminal
In another front-page coverage, Times says the joy and excitement at the E.P. Church Dela Cathedral at Ho during a “Women’s Day” celebration on Sunday, suddenly gave way to fear and pandemonium when mid-way in the service a group of Soldiers swooped in to arrest a member of the congregation.
Eric Agbinku, 42, also known as ‘Rastaman’, according to the story is suspected of serious criminal offences but had been evading arrest by a joint police-military team since June 11.
Times reports ASP Hubert Kwesi Sagoe, Second-in-Command of the Ho Police District as saying that on June 11, the charge office received a complaint that the suspect had assaulted his mother, Madam Ella Gadey, at their Ho-Heve residence, and also threatened to kill her.
The story says two policemen who were detailed to arrest him found the suspect at home on the third day but he bolted after threatening them with a knife.
The story says another arrest attempt by a combined police-soldiers team resulted in stabbing one of the soldiers in the rib and although he was overpowered he managed to escape from a taxi that was conveying him to the police station.
According to the story, the security got wind on Sunday of Agbinku’s presence in the chapel and soldiers numbering about 11 effected his arrest.
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The Evening News in its lead story reports that President Jerry John Rawlings at the weekend took a swipe at opponents of the government and described their allegations against the government and his family as “rubbish.”
“I tell you that 99 per cent allegations against me, my family and the government are rubbish,” the paper quotes President Rawlings to have said during a speech at the 17th anniversary celebration of the Association of Committee for the Defence of the Revolution (ACDR) at Kumasi.
He is reported as saying that the opponents of the regime hate the government for its principles and had orchestrated moves to attack all the achievements it had chalked since the launch of June Four and December 31 revolutions.
“I am not the target. It is a matter of attacking June Four and for that matter you,” quote the Evening News.
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CPP to field candidates in 15 constituencies in the WR
The Evening News, in another front-page coverage says the Convention People’s Party will field candidates in all the 19 constituencies in the Western Region for the impending parliamentary elections in December this year.
The party is reported to be streamlining its selection mechanisms so that only those who have the potential to win their seats are chosen.
Dr Esua Kwesi, Regional Chairman of the party is reported to have told the Evening News that it is time for serious work to consolidate the four seats the party already had in the region by working hard to add the remaining 15.
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Government offers higher interest rates as public borrowing requirements rise
The High Street Journal (HSJ) says Government borrowing has increased significantly over the past one year as pressure to finance its budget deficit rises in the face of increased expenditure and dwindling revenues.
The story, carried on the front-page of the paper says as a result rates on treasury instruments have been rising continuously.
The story contained that between May 5 and May 26 this year, the Bank of Ghana (BOG) statistics revealed a composite deficit for the month, captured by CDH’s monthly market review.
It said total treasury instrument offers (treasury bills and certificates) for May this year amounted to ¢1,884,000m as against sales of ¢1,688,022.11m amounting to a ¢195,977.89m sales deficit for the month.
HSJ reports that the figure translates into a 10.4% shortfall of public demand for government’s treasury instruments compared with officialdom’s requirements.
According to the story, government is likely to increase rates on its treasury instruments over the coming months in order to attract investment with which to finance the rising budget deficit.
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The economy still on right track - Chambas
The Ghanaian Democrat in a front-page story reports that contrary to sharp criticisms by opponents of the NDC government, Deputy Minister of Education, Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas has assured Ghanaians that the government is in perfect control of the economy despite world market forces on our export commodities.
Dr Chambas, is reported to have told a gathering of NDC, PVO’s, ACDR’s, 31 WDM, EGLE Party, DPP and other faithfuls of the Progressive Alliance that since every economy works and operates according to the dictates of the world economy, Ghana’s case is not isolated.
He is reported to have stated that between March - April 1999, inflation dropped steeply to 9 per cent from about 18 – 20 per cent in 1997/8, adding that it was over 100 per cent in the 1980s.
Dr Ibn Chambas, according to the story, said interest rates fell by 20 – 23 per cent in March 1999 and by mid-1999 it rose to 30 per cent.
He further stated that for about the same period, Ghana’s main export, cocoa had dropped dramatically from $1,600 to as low as $800 per tonne while world oil price almost tripled from $11 to $30 per barrel.
“In all this imbalance and turbulent situation, the government of the NDC have nonetheless not relented and have managed to put the economy on an even keel and track despite the external shocks,” the Minister was reported to have told the gathering.
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Who ordered the murder?
The Statesman reports that as the nation observes the 18th anniversary of the gruesome murders of the three High Court judges and the retired army officer, new revelations have lent credence to the need to revisit the event which continues to remain an agonising blot on the nation's conscience.
According to the paper Justice Cecilia Koranteng Addow, Adjei Adjepong, Sarkodie and Major Sam Acquah, were abducted and murdered by agents of the PNDC, headed by Flt Lt Jerry Rawlings on June 30, 1982.
The paper states that the most pertinent of these revelations hinges on the role of the President, Flt Lt Rawlings, who was the chairman of the PNDC at the time of the abduction and murder, his wife and the credibility of the Special Investigation Board (SIB).
The paper says among the recommendations of the S.I.B was the conclusion that Capt. Kojo Tsikata (rtd) was the brain behind the plot to kidnap and murder the three judges and the retired army officer.
It continues that the statement seems to have been contradicted by the acknowledged ring lead of the sordid operation, Amartey Kwei, who in his famous eleventh hour confession before his execution by firing squad denied the famous former security capo’s involvement.
The paper contended that the big question, in the light of recent revelations is if Capt. Tsikata was not the master brain, then who was the engineer of the dastardly act, which will not disappear from the national agenda until the real truth is known.
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Rawlings is desperate
The Guide's front-page story says the National Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Major Courage Quarshiga has described President Rawlings as a desperate person trying to overcome his fears.
According to the paper, Major Quashigah made reference to the President's June 4 address at the El Wak stadium and the one in Kumasi on the occasion of the ACDR's day, as statements of a desperate person who has failed to deliver boastful promises.
According to the paper, in a telephone conversation with the Guide, Major Quashigah said President Rawlings's behaviour these days stem from the fact that he has woefully failed the people of the country 20 years after ruling the country. He said the utterances of the President are ample evidence of lack of a cultural base and lack of understanding and knowledge of the culture of the people he rules. " So you must now know why Rawlings was bound to fail and this failure is actually our failure as a people who do not assess people properly before we make them leaders", he added.
Quashigah said Rawlings's last utterances in Kumasi is sending panic among the citizenry for the fear that Rawlings in his desperation and fear of the unknown, would stage another coup to entrench himself in power.
According to the paper Quashigah later compared Kufour to Moses who even though spoke little, succeeded in leading the Israelites out of bondage.
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"Prison officer's apology is wrong
The Guide discloses that a group of 15 junior officers of the Prison Service have accused Senior Chief Officer, (SCO) Emmanuel Segbawu of allowing himself to be used by the em-battered government for self gratification.
The paper states that Segbawu's hurriedly organised press conference to apologise for the prison officers street protest is not only politically motivated but also a clandestine gesture to help secure his retirement benefits and other governmental gratitude.
According to the paper SCO Segbawu who coincidentally happens to be the national chairman of the ACDR will soon retire from the Prison Service, so the organised press conference was to please his bosses and also make some personal gains.
The paper states that some of his colleagues who are not happy with his move described his action as subversive, treacherous and a betrayal.
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Chambas, Wayo battle for Nima
The Independent writes that after winning the third position in the 1996 parliamentary election in Bimbila constituency, Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas, Deputy Minister of Education now has his eyes on the Ayawaso East seat, in the Greater Accra Region.
The paper states that Dr Chambas faces very stiff opposition in his new quest. Apart from the internal struggle with the incumbent MP Dr Farouk Braimah, who is still hungry for the east Ayawaso seat, Kofi Wayo whose declaration threw the entire Nima and its environs into a frenzy some months ago is also aiming at the seat.
The paper states that Kofi Wayo enjoyed the greater part of his youthful days in the slums of Nima and its environs before his long sojourn in the United States of America from where he returned two years ago with an abortive oil exploration idea.
The paper notes that Chambas' problem is not Wayo alone. He has to scale over a major hurdle in his party before he squares up with Wayo in the December General Elections.
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CPP vetting committee spokesman clears Aggudey
The Crusading Guide on its front page discloses that an interminable controversy seems to be raging over the academic qualifications of Mr George Aggudey, the failed presidential aspirant of the Convention Peoples Party (CPP) long after the Party's National Congress.
According to the paper, Dr Vladimir Antwi-Danso, spokesman for the CPP Presidential vetting committee, has stoutly cleared Mr Aggudey as a qualified lawyer, in a rejoinder to the Crusading Guide for a story done earlier on Aggudey.
The paper states that Dr Antwi-Danso in an answer to the controversy surrounding Mr Aggudey's qualification stated that all CPP presidential aspirants submitted their certificates, which were testified to the satisfaction of the committee. Further answering questions from Journalists on the issue, Dr Antwi-Danso denied ever seeing a letter purportedly received by the CPP secretariat to the effect that Mr Aggudey had no law certificate.
Dr Antwi-Danso is said to have emphasised that he had personally seen Mr Aggudey's certificate and had seen and read both letters. The first one from Gray's Inn in response to the "unofficial enquiry" which denied any knowledge of Mr Aggudey who was purported to have practised at the Temple Inn (Inner Temple). The second one from the same Gray's Inn in response to the "official enquiry" admitted that Mr Aggudey had schooled there and had been called to the Bar there.
The paper concludes that Aggudey may or may not be a qualified known lawyer but that is not exactly the beef of those asking questions about his academic claims. The paper continued that the crux of the issue is whether or not he was ever admitted at the Gray's Inn and Inner Temple as he claimed in his campaign brochure.
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EC disassociates itself from "voters" register found in Tema
The Crusading Guide on it's back page discloses that the Electoral Commission (EC) in a Press Statement signed by its Deputy Chairman, Mr David Kangah has clearly stated that it has nothing to do with the "voters" registers discovered at Tema.
According to the story, the EC has inspected the registers and a thorough examination has clearly established that these list of voters were part of the registers it distributed to the political parties in April 1996 prior to the Exhibition of the Voters Register that year.
The paper adds that the registers were provided to the political parties to use in their campaigns, there were no dates on them and some of the materials used to print them were old National Commission on Democracy (NCD) stationary. It further explained that the list have not been used for official work since 1992 and will not be used for the 2000 elections.
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