Kufuor backs NDC's Chambas …For top ECOWAS job
Kufuor honoured
Flood claim 11 lives
¢1bn loss at Plant Poll - Witness on the run
The state of the economy - Vision 2020 is a sham
Who is Selormey's main man?
Akuffo, Afrifa, others to be reburied …Govt sets up c'ttee
Zero tolerance at work - BNI probes Prisons boss
Kufuor backs NDC's Chambas …For top ECOWAS job
The President has thrown his massive weight behind the ranking NDC Member of Parliament for Bimbilla, Honorable Mohammed Ibn Chambas, in the battle for the top job of Executive Secretary for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), reports The Ghanaian Chronicle.
The position has become due following the imminent retirement of the incumbent, a Guinean, and the break-out of lobbying within the sub-region for the position of the increasingly important position in geopolitical reckoning among the world's powers who are anxious to allow Africans to sort out their own problems without recourse to them.
"Among the basket of names that came up for consideration for nomination, President Kufuor personally picked 'Chambo' the dapper diplomat from Bimbilla whose genteel demeanour masks his resilience and inner strength," states the paper.
Ibn Chambas was one of the NDC members who surprised observers with his patience and tolerance when he was regularly humiliated by ex-President Jerry Rawlings and his mate, Dr Obed Asamoah, and passed by lesser endowed people for top appointments within the NDC Government.
For two terms, he served as Deputy Minister, first at Foreign Affairs, and then Education where Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, his junior in education and in office, was passed over him to become the Minister of Education.
A popular radio poll (of JOY FM) that rated him as the most popular public office holder dwindled his fortunes within the NDC leadership.
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Peprah burgled
After a meal of Tilapia and Banku at Labone on Tuesday, embattled ex-Minister for Finance Mr Kwame Peprah emerged to find his car sawn at door ends and his briefcase containing some money and essential documents missing.
His cellular phone and comb were left on the front seat untouched.
A desperate Peprah standing trial at the fast track court was seen at neighbouring houses pleading to pay any amount for the recovery of his briefcase, according to the Ghanaian Chronicle.
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Kufuor honoured
The Ghanaian Times carries that President John Agyekum Kufuor, was on Wednesday night, honoured for his exemplary leadership qualities, at a reception in honour of African leaders in Washington. He was also presented with a gift.
Aslo honoured at the reception was President Alfa Konare of Mali, who also received a gift.
A Radio Ghana news bulletin said the reception was part of a programme of a three-day conference on 'Partnership to Cut Hunger in Africa', which is underway in Washington.
The awards were presented by Mr Stephen Muscle, President of the Corporate Council on Africa.
A citation, accompanying the award, praised President Kufuor for his election victory and his role in developing Ghana.
That accompanying President Konare commended him for promoting education in his country and for being one of the initiators of the Partnership to Cut Hunger.
The Partnership is an independent effort by US and Africa public and private institutions and international humanitarian organisations.
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Flood claim 11 lives
Eleven people died in the floods, which hit Accra and its surrounding areas last Wednesday, according to the Daily Graphic.
According to the Works and Housing Minister, Mr Kwamena Bartels, Accra recorded six deaths, while the MPs for Awutu-Senya and Ashaiman reported two deaths each in their constituencies.
They were briefing Parliament on Thursday on the flood disaster, which affected most parts of Accra and its satellite towns.
But during a briefing of the Vice-President, Allhaji Mahama Aliu, after a tour of the affected areas, Dr K.K. Manfo, Greater Accra Regional Commander, said seven deaths were actually recorded by the police in Accra.
Mr Bartels told the House that about 100 families have also been displaced in the flood-prone areas and that the government was doing everything possible to bring relief to the victims.
He said Accra and its surrounding areas will continue to experience floods because developers have flouted statutory regulations with impunity.
The minister disclosed that between 60 and 70 per cent of structures are illegal because their owners did not obtain building permits from the appropriate authorities.
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Emergency Cabinet session today
Cabinet meets in an emergency session today to consider measures necessary for dealing with the perennial floods in Accra and the type of relief the government must give to victims of Wednesday's flood disaster.
According to the Daily Graphic, the Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, who cut short his working visit to the Volta Region, announced this after a visit to areas affected by the floods.
Alhaji Mahama, accompanied by the Government Spokesperson and Minister of Media Relations, Ms Elizabeth Ohene, Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Kwabena Adjei-Darko; the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Sheik I.C. Quaye and the Mayor of Accra, Solomon Darko, also visited the families of four of the deceased persons.
Earlier the Vice President, who had flown over Accra to have a first hand look at the situation, described the construction of homes and shops on waterways as unfortunate and unacceptable.
He said the government will have to take difficult decisions to demolish those structures on waterways to allow for the free flow of water.
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¢1bn loss at Plant Poll - Witness on the run
The former Secretary of Plant Pool, Mr J.K. Wilson, now studying in America and on whose head has been shifted a colossal embezzlement and misappropriation involving over ¢1 billion returned home dramatically last Friday but has since failed to show up at the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) probe to state his side of the case in the ongoing investigation into the affairs of the company, writes the Daily Guide.
The paper says is undercover investigation rather seems to suggest that the man, after all, plans to scuttle and scurry back to the US anytime.
Consequently, the security agencies are said to have put in place the necessary arrangements at all border points to have him apprehended should he make any false move to abscond.
According to SFO sources, the former Managing Director of Plant Pool Ltd., Group Captain B.M.K. Koko (rtd) and his deputy, Mr E. Markin have lumped the entire embezzlement during their nine years administration, said to be over ¢1 billion, on the former secretary as his handiwork.
Peeved, Mr Wilson was said to have dashed back from a Masters Degree programme he was pursuing with the aim of clearing his name but, unfortunately, he did not show up at his former residence, rather a new house he is said to have constructed.
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Mallam Isa opens defence on Tuesday
Counsel for Mallam Isa, Ambrose Dery, last Wednesday prayed the Fast Track High Court trying the former Minister for Youth and Sports for allegedly stealing $46,000 belonging to the state, to grant him one week to enable his client to open his defence, reports The Daily Guide.
He contended that he needed enough time to enable him bring certain witnesses to testify before the courts as Mallam Isa opens his defence.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Osafo Sampong did not object to the request and was of the view that as the Appeal Court has asked Mallam to open his case at the High Court he would consent to the request.
The Judge, Justice Julius Ansah, an Appeal Court Judge sitting as an additional High Court Judge, however, ruled against the application submitted by Mallam Yusif Isa's counsel and instead adjourned the case to Tuesday July 3, 2001.
He said he is surprised at Mallam's application as the defence has had enough time to prepare for his defence.
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The state of the economy - Vision 2020 is a sham
The erstwhile NDC government's Vision 2020 concept has been described as an illusion in last year's state of the Ghanaian Economy report presented in Accra on Thursday by the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER) of the University of Ghana, Legon.
According to the Free Press, Professor K. Asenso-Okyere, Director of ISSER, presenting the report, stated that the disturbing act was the lack of relationship between the annual budget and Vision 2020, which was supposed to direct Ghana's development efforts.
Targets set in the budget, he said, did not relate to targets of the Vision.
"It therefore becomes increasingly clear that the Vision is an illusion", Prof. Asenso-Okyere noted.
He asserted that from all indications, the economy of Ghana was in crisis, which had deepened in the last two years.
He recalled that in the last year's report, the Institute emphasised on the vulnerability of the Ghanaian economy to the external shocks such as the fall in the prices of primary commodities, the increase in crude oil prices and the reduction in external inflow of funds for the last three years which had pointed to the lack of resilience of the economy of Ghana.
He noted that while external conditions were propelling a disequilibrium internal mismanagement precipitated it and threw the fundamentals of the economy in disarray.
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Who is Selormey's main man?
Deputy Minister of Finance in the NDC government, Mr Victor Selormey has been in court these past number of weeks on trial for alleged corruption when he was in office.
The former minister has pleaded not guilty and has been very regular at court with his lawyers.
According to The Accra Mail, he is a man with a wide girth, which seems to have reduced somewhat since he started appearing in court.
The paper says a name that has been featuring in the proceedings has been that of one Dr Boadu resident in the United States. So far he has remained a mystery to most Ghanaians.
The paper says it has laid hands on exclusive personal data on one Dr Boadu, certified by one of its US correspondents as that of Dr Boadu.
The doctors of letters, from the bio data available has impressive credentials and pedigree.
Mr Selormey's trial is based on the allegation that he conspired with Dr Frederick Owusu Boadu to defraud the state to the tune of US $1,297,500.
The company, Leebda, through which the funds were supposedly channeled is a phony and does not even exist.
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Akuffo, Afrifa, others to be reburied …Govt sets up c'ttee
The Evening News reports that the mortal remains of the three slain former Heads of State, Generals I.K. Acheampong, F.W.K. Akuffo, and Akwasi Amankwah Afrifa and five other senior Army Generals are to be removed for reburial before the end of the year.
Subsequently, a committee to facilitate the smooth removal of the bodies for a fitting burial by the families, chaired by Air Vice-Marshal Out, a retired officer of the Ghana Air Force, has been constituted.
Ms Elizabeth Ohene, Government Spokesperson and Minister in charge of Media Relations, who disclosed these to the paper in an interview in Accra, named other members of the committee as family members of the victims and those of the Veterans Association of Ghana (VAG) among others.
She said the President was in total agreement with the release of the remains for fitting burials and intends to ensure that the appropriate steps and procedures are followed so that the wishes of the families are fulfilled.
According to her, forensic experts and pathologists among other professionals would be needed and this, the government is feverishly considering to ensure that the process does not trigger any 'confusion'.
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Zero tolerance at work - BNI probes Prisons boss
The Weekend Statesman carries that the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) has descended upon the Director of Prisons, Richard Kuuire and, according to authoritative information, is investigating him in connection with allegations of massive malfeasance.
The paper in its May 20, 2001 issue carried a story alleging "harrowing malfeasance" on the part of Richard Kuuire, in which an audit and other reports incriminating him were mentioned.
Kuuire himself, in a rejoinder published by the paper on June 10, 2001 stated that "a witch-hunt committee was hurriedly constituted to investigate me" and admitted that "the committee wrote an adverse report against me".
According to the information now available to the paper, BNI investigations at the Prisons Headquarters to find the report drew a blank, the very report, which Kuuire admitted in his rejoinder, had been issued to which-hunt him.
According to a spokesperson for an anti-corruption and human rights group, Crusade for Zero Tolerance, "the non-existence of the audit report at the Prisons Headquarters in itself is a serious indictment on the administration of Richard Kuuire."
Fortunately, according to the spokesperson, the group has been able to ferret out the relevant documents and passed them on to the BNI. These include the report of a board of enquiry, which went into the allegations contained in the audit report which Kuuire claims which-hunted him. Incidentally, this Board recommended that Kuuire be punished.
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