Belize national grabbed
4 Con men arrested
Don't allow self-seekers to subvert nation
Make national reconciliation a reality
Rawlings won't talk again – NDC
"Boom!" UN is unhappy
Parliament to investigate
Rawlings house under siege
Addo Kufuor, CDS warn Rawlings
Rawlings' House under security cordon
˘7.6b GWCL computerisation project a mirage
Selormey stones TV cameraman
Raw deal for Rawlings continues
Britain to assist Ghana
Chamber to Promote Ghana-Britain Trade
Belize national grabbed
A Belize national, Albert Hamid Odinga, 59, known for his alleged counter-intelligence activities was arrested by security personnel in Accra at the weekend, reports the Daily Graphic.
He was arrested in a special operation, which began at Ridge last Friday night through to Saturday morning.
Police sources, which briefed the Graphic about the operation, believe it was misconstrued by a section of the media to be an attempted swoop on the residence of former President, Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings.
They contended that the closeness of the apartment, where the operation took place, to the residence of the former President, was such that the massing up of armed personnel as well as plain clothed officers might have made people jump to that conclusion.
For now, the sources said, the police are investigating the circumstances under which Odinga returned to Ghana in 1989, after he was allegedly deported many years back for his espionage activities in the country.
The police sources indicated that for sometime now, intelligence reports have proved that there have been an unusual movement of people to and fro and, in some cases, at odd hours at the house, where he was arrested, which records indicate, has not been allocated to any public official for years now.
Consequently, the security agencies after satisfying themselves that some people were illegally occupying place and had been the brain behind the secret meetings, decided to conduct a special operation to apprehend the occupants.
The sources said it was the unusual heavy security presence in the vicinity of the former President that might have alarmed residents and motorists as well as passers-by, who might have informed the radio stations.
They said the security personnel later conducted a thorough search on the house but no weapon was found.
Meanwhile, some police officers and members of the public interviewed have deplored the speculative reports on the issue as relayed by some FM stations and called on the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) and the National Media Commission (NMC) to check the practice, which they described as an abuse of pres freedom, since by their action, they sought to create unnecessary panic, anxiety, and tension in the metropolis.
They said it was against the background of such alarming and speculative reports that Mr Victor Smith, an Aide to the former President, also granted an interview to a section of the electronic media and alluded to a possible swoop on the premises of the ex-President in search of alleged hidden arms.
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4 Con men arrested
More than 500 resident, mostly women of Kwadaso Estate and Patasi in Kumasi, who were tricked into buying a drug alleged to have been manufactured by the Minister of Health, Dr Richard Anane, and his foreign partners in Switzerland, besieged the Patasi Police Station on Saturday, to retrieve their money from the con men who, had been arrested.
The suspects, Kwame Sarpong, 30; Kwame Owusu, 40; Kwabena Owusu 25, and Kwadwo Agyapong, 24, had told the unsuspecting residents that the Minister of Health who is also the Member of Parliament for the area, had asked them to sell the drugs at a "reduced price of ˘5,000 each" to only residents in his constituency. They claim the drug could treat many ailments.
To make the residents believe them, the salesmen gave those who bought the drugs pieces of papers they were to use the following week for free injection against Cerebro-Spinal-Meningitis (CSM), an exercise which they said was also being sponsored by the Minister of Health.
A spokesman of the victims, Ms Theresa Darty, told the Graphic at the police station that they were awakened early Saturday morning by loud speakers used by the men, urging the residents to come out in their numbers and buy the "Armstrong Herbal Blood Tonic" alleged to have been manufactured by the Minister of Health, Dr Anane.
She said the four men told those who went to find out what they had for sale that the Minster, in collaboration with his Switzerland partners, had manufactured the herbal medicine to reduce the spread of many diseases, including CSM.
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Don't allow self-seekers to subvert nation
The Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, has called on Ghanaians not to allow self-seeking individuals and groups to subvert the current constitutional order, says another story in The Daily Graphic.
He said the dominance of the military in the management of national affairs since independence has not allowed civilians to excel and transform the society for the good of all the people.
The Vice-President, who is on a one-week tour of the Northern Region, told the various chiefs and Muslim leaders in the Tamale municipality at the weekend that constitutional democracy is the tool for accelerated development.
"Changes in government must be effected through the ballot box and not illegal military takeovers," he stressed.
Alhaji Mahama said the people have the right and responsibility to judge the performance of the government in a democratic state by voting for it again or rejecting it through the ballot at the end of the four-year term.
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Make national reconciliation a reality
The National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osmanu Nuhu Sharabutu, at the weekend urged President John Agyekum Kufuor to expedite action on the full implementation of the government's policy of national reconciliation, reports The Ghanaian Times.
Sheikh Sharabutu who made the call when the President, Mr J.A. Kufuor, joined hundreds of Muslims from all walks of life at the New Fadama School Park in Accra, to climax activities marking the birth of the Holy Prophet Muhammed, explained that it was a vital tool for national unity and integration.
The annual religious ritual, known as Maulid Nabbiyi, represents the culmination of Allah's divine grace to bring to perfection the high office of Prophethood.
The Maulid Nabbiyi observed by Muslims the world over, served as a period of joy dedicated to the celebration of thanks, praises and glorificaiton of the Almighty Allah for His gift of infinite grace and mercy.
The vigil was characterized by recital of the Holy Quran and a short sermon on the essence of the mauled celebration, amid the singing of the Zikr-songs of Praise.
Sheikh Sharabutu offered special prayers for President Kufuor and the Ministers of State, and asked for Allah's protection and guidance to ensure continued peace and harmony in the country.
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Rawlings won't talk again – NDC
The NDC said on Sunday that the statement made by ex-President Jerry John Rawlings on June 4 did not amount to incitement or a call to arms nor were they so intended as the government would like the public to believe, write the Ghanaian Times in another story.
The party said "indeed the substance of what the ex-President sought to say was not different from the contents of the NDC's recent protest letter to President Kufuor on the disturbing political situation in the country".
A statement issued by the party on Sunday, signed by Alhaji Huudu Yahaya, General Secretary of the party, reiterated the party's commitment to the full realisation of the principles of democracy as enshrined in the 1992 Constitution.
"To this end, the party stands ready to defend the constitution at all times," the statement said.
The NDC said that it had consequently endorsed the decision of ex-President Jerry John Rawlings not to make any further public comment on the address at the June 4 lecture.
This is to demonstrate the party's readiness and willingness to play its part to help reduce the current political tension in the country.
It said the NDC had observed with keen interest the public debate which ensued following some critical comments on the current political and economic situation made by former President Jerry John Rawlings at the lecture in Accra held to commemorate the 22nd anniversary of the June 4, 1979 Uprising.
"Of particular concern to the NDC is the tendency of the NPP government to invoke the spectre of a coup d'etat - in-the-making whenever they are subjected to public criticism as they have done in this case, or whenever they are confronted by public agitation as happened when the youth of Nima-Maamobi went on rampage recently.
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"Boom!" UN is unhappy
The Accra Mail says it has learnt from United Nations sources in New York that the destabilizing and treasonable antics of ex-Flt. Lt. Rawlings on June 4, 2001 at the Accra Arts Centre has caused great consternation in certain sensitive corridors of the august world body.
The consternation is due to the fact that the largely symbolic UN Eminent Person for Volunteerism bestowed on the ex-Flt. Lt. is being exploited in local politics and in the process politicising it and divesting it of its purely non-partisan status.
"They cannot wait for December 15," said a source," for the one year programme to end, after which he would be on his own." It will be recalled that The Accra Mail in an earlier edition published a story on "Rawlings to be out of job".
In discreet follow-ups after the story, it was established that the "Eminent Person" status conferred on him had become something of an embarrassment.
The Accra Mail can now conclusively report that his Accra Arts Centre attacks on Ghana's President and democratic institutions have done him a lethal blow at the UN - the proverbial shooting oneself in the foot.
However, the hopes of those Ghanaians who would want to see the UN divest him of the Eminent Person status would be dashed, because as The Accra Mail has discovered, diplomatically, the UN would not wish to be wade into this local affair, but would rather wait to see him through the remaining items on the programme which end on December 15, 2001.
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Parliament to investigate
The Public Agenda reports that the Speaker of Parliament, Peter Ala Adjetey on Friday directed that an alleged action of the Auditor-General in appointing a firm to audit the Office of the Auditor-General should be referred to the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament.
The directive followed a statement Edward Doe Adjaho, Minority Chief Whip made to the effect that Parliament has not appointed any Auditor to do that job. "To the best of my knowledge, Parliament has not appointed any firm of Chartered Accountants to audit the Office of the Auditor-General".
It is the duty of Parliament to appoint an Auditor to audit the Auditor-General, he said, adding that that has yet to be done. Adjaho quoted Article 187 (15) of the Constitution, which states: "The accounts of the Office of the Auditor General shall be audited and reported upon by an Auditor appointed by parliament."
He said there was a publication in an Accra Daily on June 4, "that the Acting Auditor-General Edward Dua Agyeman wrote to his predecessor to send records to his office for auditing by a firm of Chartered Accountants appointed by Parliament as a Constitutional requirement."
He said the publication also indicated that the United Nations Imprest Account was also being audited. Adjaho said according to UN regulations no body has the authority "to conclude arrangements for audit by national authorities without prior approval of the competent legislative bodies".
He asked the House to "condemn the purported unconstitutional auditing of the said accounts using Parliament as a cover". He urged Parliament to appoint auditors now that the time has come to audit the Office of the Auditor-General.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah, the Deputy Majority Leader, in reply to the request said Parliament could not stand on a mere newspaper publication to condemn an action on which it is not well informed about.
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Rawlings house under siege
The Free Press reports that dozens of heavily armed policemen and Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) operatives last Friday night invaded the vicinity of the residence of ex-president J.J. Rawlings for reasons, which are still unclear.
Eye witnesses to the incursion revealed that the armed security personnel, arrived in about eight vehicles including Land Rovers and Pickups, whose registration numbers had been covered to prevent detection.
The armed men invaded the area around 7:30pm and remained in the vicinity until about 10:30pm when they departed.
The Free Press says its scouts managed to speak with a Supt. Sogbordjor who was allegedly incharge of the operation and he stated that they had been ordered into the area for an operation but he could not specify what operation it was or who ordered that operation.
Meanwhile, official security sources have also been tightlipped over the incident, refusing to comment on it.
Informed sources have however stated that the operation was probably an attempt to search the ex-President's residence possibly for arms.
The source alleged that the authorities had suspected that Rawlings had a cache of arms concealed in his Ridge residence. It could also be a reaction to the veiled threats the former President issued in his June four anniversary speech at Monday, June 4, 2001.
Eyewitness accounts of the siege indicated that the policemen at one time attempted to storm the residence but were met at the gate by the ex-president's secretary, Mr Victor Smith who rebuffed them. It was also learnt that the ex-President and his wife were at home at the time of the incident.
In a related development, soldiers last week invaded the Prampram township and searched the residence of some NDC executives in the area for arms.
Prampram is the hometown of Ex-Sports Minister Mr. E.T. Mensah and among those searched was his brother.
According to a source, a cold store belonging to E.T.'s elder brother was searched on the allegation that arms had been stored there but nothing was found.
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Addo Kufuor, CDS warn Rawlings
Exactly a week after former President Jerry John Rawlings had made inflammatory remarks at a June 4 lecture in Accra, the Minister of Defence, Dr. kwame Addo Kufuor and the military top brass including the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Major General Seth Obeng have asked him to shut up, The Independent reports.
The two who were accompanied by the General Officer Commanding the Northern sector, Brigadier Aryiku also warned the ex-President not to send wrong signals to suggest that the Ghana Armed Forces is the personal property of anybody.
Addressing a durbar of soldiers of the Sunyani third Garrison and later a news conference in Kumasi, the Defence Minister warned that Ghana has not been mortgaged to anybody, adding that the "Ghana Armed Forces in particular is not the private property of any individual".
He stated that should Ghanaians allow irresponsible people to incite them into violence by their irresponsible statements, Ghana would grief.
The Defence Minister warned that if care is not taken and such a situation occurs, Ghana would slip into an abyss of confusion and war-like situation like Sierra Leone and other war-torn countries.
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Rawlings' House under security cordon
One man suspected to be of Caribbean origin is in the grips of the National Security following a red alert around the residence of ex-President J.J. Rawlings that attracted disquiet in the ex-President's house, rousing anxious reactions from his orderlies, reports the Ghanaian Chronicle.
Operatives from the National Security were alerted about unusual movements in a house opposite the Konadu-Rawlings weeks ago. The vacant house which used to be inhabited by Rawlings' men looks like a perfect setting for an assassin with a gun.
Panic took hold at command and control units of the security agencies triggering a wild dash to the area by armed units in four operational vehicles.
Oblivious of what was happening, the former President, who was indoors with his wife, stepped out to find out what was happening and returned indoors but by this time his Press Secretary, Mr Victor Smith, had been mobilized to the scene.
Chronicle says its monitors could not spot Mrs. Rawlings, who is down with a throat and serious eye problems.
Chronicle learnt that the man was taken away from the house for question, and shortly after the security men left.
According to the Chronicle, since the fall of the Rawlings-Mills Government, a large number of Ghanaians living in exile in Europe and North America have returned home, some bearing pain in their hearts and vengeance in their spirit. An even larger number of those living in neigbouring West African countries in exile, particularly Cote d'Ivoire, are soldiers, including commandos who had been chased out of Ghana for various reasons by Rawlings. Some of these men are reported to have suffered long periods of hardships and are charged and wild.
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˘7.6b GWCL computerisation project a mirage
The Chronicle says on-going investigations into activities of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) have established that a US$1.6 million computerisation project initiated in 1996 turned up to be a financial debacle.
The contract that was handled by Intelligence Solutions, a computer specialization firm, has in actual fact not changed anything in the GWCL's Management Information System unit. In fact as Chronicle learnt, things are getting worse.
"The computerisation project was a total failure. It benefited no one except perhaps those who benefited financially”, a source is said to have told the paper’s reporter.
Ghanaian Chronicle learnt that the project was aimed at improving upon information management and other administrative functions of GWCL but unfortunately it never ended as envisaged and there are reports suggesting that funds meant for the project were diverted for personal gains, hence its failure.
Staff of the company who spoke to this reporter said the present Managing Director, Charles Agyei, was not at post when the deal was made. They rather pointed accusing fingers at members of the award committee that gave out the US$1.6 million computerisation project to Intelligence Solutions.
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Selormey stones TV cameraman
The Daily Guide reports that a dramatic scene was created last Friday in front of an Accra High Court, when Mr Victor Selormey, former Deputy Minister for Finance fell flat on his stomach as he attempted to throw gravels at a TV3 cameraman, who had his lenses focused on him.
As Selormey walked out of the courts, to his car the news sensitive cameraman wanted one last shot.
Selormey warned him to stop, but as the cameraman persisted, Selormey bent down, collected a handful of fresh gravels from the street and attempted to hurl them at his target.
Unfortunately in his fit of anger, Selormey miscalculated his steps and landed on the ground, flat on his stomach.
Curious bystanders, who were utterly amazed at the scene, helped the bulky frame back on his feet. But for them the former Deputy Minister could have lain on the ground for several minutes without being able to get on his feet.
A private legal practitioner who was attracted to the scene, described Mr Selormey's fall as "the millennium fall" which evoked laughter from those around.
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Raw deal for Rawlings continues
Ghanaian Democrat reports that Ghana's ex-Head of State, Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings is at his witsend as he is subjected to all manner of danger by the NPP administration following their refusal to allow him travel with his bodyguard to Cairo, Egypt for an international conference compelling him to carry his own luggage.
Flt. Lt. Rawlings' bodyguard and batman WOI Mensah was refused permission to travel with him at the very last minute and too late for an alternative replacement to be effected.
The paper reports sources as saying that the necessary arrangements had been made by the office of the ex-leader concerning his delegation to the conference.
The NPP government kept mute over the bodyguard issue as if to suggest that all was well. Determined to see to the demise of Rawlings, the government gave firm instructions to the security agents to prevent WOI Mensah from accompanying him to Cairo.
The timing of the refusal of the permission caught the former President off-guard. The departure time was against him. He had no alternative but to carry his own luggage.
The Democrat says its sources at the presidency revealed that the refusal of the authorities to grant his body guard permission or clearance to travel with him stemmed from Rawlings indignation at the change of military security guards.
The NPP government was showing him where power lay.
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Britain to assist Ghana
The British Government has expressed its determination to cancel the country's debt, as part of its assistance towards the economic recovery effort, reports the NPP News.
The debt cancellation will however, be determined by Ghana's ability to meet the conditionalities under the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative.
The Minister of Finance, Hon Yaw Osafo Maafo disclosed to journalists on his return from the African, Carribean and Pacific countries conference of Ministers held in London.
The Minister said Ghana can enjoy debt relief if the creditor countries are convinced that the target set in the budget can be met. Other conditionalities expected to be met are the stabilisation of the cedi against the major foreign currencies, keeping inflation under an eagle eye, preventing wastages and improving revenue generation.
Britain, the Minster said, has agreed to write off the country's debt as a sign of its determination to assist Ghana's economic recovery programmes.
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Chamber to Promote Ghana-Britain Trade
The Ghana-Britain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GBCCI) is set to promote trade and investment opportunities between Ghana and Britain, and thereby contribute to the accelerated development of Ghana's economy, writes the High Street Journal.
It therefore seeks to bring together, in a bilateral association, business concerns from the two countries to make for easier bridge-building and interaction.
At an open meeting of the chamber held at Architectural House last Thursday, Nii Adama Morrison, president of the GBCCI, lamented the fact that no such association had existed until 17 months ago in spite of the long existing trade links between Ghana and the United Kingdom.
He said the GBCCI will link up with counterpart chambers in the UK to create avenues for direct contact for members.
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