KNUST to adopt quota system… For enrolment of SSS students
GUTA threatens strike action
Two rob court of 300million cedis
African envoy honours Osagyefo
Don't draw us into politics of deceit - NPP
Top NDC official to account for wealth at CHRAJ
Minister impregnates JSS graduate
Nana Konadu angry with state media
Plot to keep Nana Akwasi
Pupils demonstrate… Kaku Korsah encroaches on school land
KNUST to adopt quota system… For enrolment of SSS students
Professor J.S.K. Ayim, vice-chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), has announced that the university is considering the quota system for the admission of disadvantaged students, reports the 'Daily Graphic' in its banner headline.
Prof. Ayim who was addressing KNUST Alumni at Wa, said about 80 percent of admissions would be on merit while 20 percent would be reserved for less endowed Senior Secondary Schools (SSS). He however stated that students admitted on the quota system would have to satisfy the minimum entry requirement.
He suggested to district assemblies to sponsor students from their localities who would return to serve the community on completion of their courses.
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GUTA threatens strike action
The Daily Graphic in another story reports that the Ghana Union Traders' Association (GUTA) will on Monday begin a week-long nation-wide strike action in protest against the continued depreciation of the cedi against the major foreign currencies.
The strike action would also be in protest against a 20 percent special tax on some categories of import, a measure introduced to promote the purchase of made-in-Ghana goods.
According to the report, indications are that the more than one million-member traders' association intend to use its power as a collector of government revenue as a bargaining tool to put pressure to prop up the cedi and withdraw the special tax.
It said, the red-band-wearing members of the association, at an emergency meeting held in Accra on Wednesday, characterised by an atmosphere of anger and frustration, impressed on each other that the intended action should be undertaken without fail.
They are said to have contended that the issues have had negative impact on their businesses and are throwing them out of work.
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Two rob court of 300million cedis
The police have mounted an intensive search for Kwesi Blay, a Tema-based lawyer, and Dr Teddy Yeh, owner of Taiwan Herbal Clinic at Nungua, after a Tema High Court issued a bench warrant for their arrest on Tuesday.
According to the Ghanaian Times, the two are in contempt of the court following their withdrawal of 300million cedis from the court's account without the knowledge of the presiding judge, Mr Justice K.K. Acquaye.
The amount is said to be part of the proceeds from the sale of WATECH Electronic Company, which was ordered by the court due to its indebtedness to the Barclays Bank.
Blay was said to have been arrested on Monday, and brought before the court after he and Dr Yeh refused to obey an earlier court order to refund the 300million cedis. The Judge then ordered that he should be remanded but he however, with assistance of some court officials, managed to escape. As a result, the Judge has issued a new bench warrant for the two to be arrested.
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African envoy honours Osagyefo
In another front-page story, the Ghanaian Times reports on a visit yesterday to the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum and Memorial Park in Accra by the African Diplomatic Group in Ghana to pay tribute to the First President of Ghana, Dr Kwame Nkrumah.
The visit was part of activities of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) Day, which was observed on Wednesday.
The group, the report says, was led by the Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps, Mr W.L. Wood-Greaves. He laid a wreath on behalf of the group in honour of Dr Nkrumah, one of the founding fathers of the OAU.
The African Group, composed of 14 ambassadors, High Commissioners and Heads of Missions accredited to Ghana with residence in Accra, includes Algeria, Benin, Burkina Fasso, Cote d I'voire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Togo, Nigeria, South Africa and Niger.
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Don't draw us into politics of deceit - NPP
The Central Regional branch of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has stated that it does not intend to be drawn into any politics of abuse, lies and deceit, reports the 'Evening News'.
"The party recognises and respects the sentiments of the many men and women of goodwill who have commended the politics of decency and propriety", it said.
The party, the report says, was reacting to an allegation that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has been using the Central region as a special base of attacks on the NPP and its flagbearer.
A statement signed by Mr Albert Essuman, regional secretary of the NPP, is said to have stated that the party has taken note of the NDC's ill-conceived desire to "quench the fire of support that Mr J.A. Kufuor has lit in the Central Region through the first phase of his tour and reminded the NDC that the people in the region are now awake and would no longer succumb to any ruses."
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Top NDC official to account for wealth at CHRAJ
In its lead story, the Dispatch says Honourable Joseph Yaani Labik, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for the Buukpurugu /Yuuyoo Constituency in the East Mamprusi District of the Northern Region appears to be in serious trouble.
The story says, some of Hon. Labik constituents has petitioned the Commission for Human rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to investigate alleged acquisition of wealth by Hon. Labik, after it came to light that he has written to a donor in Canada to stop funds to the Bimoba Literacy and Farmers Co-operative Union (BILFACU), an NGO at Buukpurugu.
The constituents, ex-Cpl. Sambrain and Landa Laar, said their petition to CHRAJ was pursuant to articles 284 and 286 of the 1992 Constitution and Public Officers Act, 1998, Act 550.
They are asking CHRAJ to investigate alleged "illegal acquisition of wealth" by Hon. Labik to "the detriment of the State, the citizens of Ghana and the poor people of East Mamprusi District assembly Area under colours of his office".
Some of the alleged properties illegally acquired by Hon. Labik, according to the story, includes a SSNIT flat at Sakumono; two houses at Koi Larbi Estates, May Flower Street at Batsonaa, Spintex Road and two houses at Nankpanduri in the East Mamprusi District.
The petition also alleged that Hon Labik owns six vehicles including two 33-seater Benz buses with registration numbers GT 968 Q and AS 3918 Q.
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Minister impregnates JSS graduate
The Deputy Minister of Mines and Energy, Mr Simon Abingya, will soon appear in court to face charges of impregnating a lady and abandoning her, reports the Ghanaian Chronicle.
The minister, the report says, denied the claim in a telephone interview with the 'Chronicle' yesterday but admitted that he knew the lday.
According to the report, Miss Sheitu Adams, of Bolgatanga and until recently, a receptionist at the office of the Democratic People's Party (DPP), a junior partner in the Progressive Alliance, has finished putting finishing touches to a legal action against the minister for failing to meet his pre-natal responsibilities for a four-month pregnancy she has laid at the minister's doorsteps.
Sheitu is said to have sought the assistance of the Women and Juvenile Unit (WAJU) of the Ghana Police Service in the matter but WAJU referred the case to the legal aid board, which finally referred it to a lawyer for prosecution following the Minister's persistent denial of responsibility.
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Nana Konadu angry with state media
In another front page story, the Ghanaian Chronicle reports that Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawling, First Lady and President of the 31st December Women's movement (31st DWM) has attacked the Ghanaian Media for not supporting the government.
She said to have stated that
Speaking at a the 31st DWM rally at Nyankumasi Ahenkro in the Central Region, Nana Konadu said "in Ghana, it is unfortunate that both the print and electronic media criticise the government" adding that the state-owned media is supposed to support the government, because they are paid from government resources.
She wondered why the state media does not heap praises on the government as in other countries and cited the GTV Breakfast Show programme, saying the presenter (no names mentioned) had been using it as launching pad for criticisms against the government.
Nana then lashed at Ghanaians journalists saying: "they don't know anything, but just get up to write nonsense and distort facts."
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Plot to keep Nana Akwasi
The Weekend Statesman says residents of Kumasi who plan to champagne and celebrate in June, when the term of office of the controversial Metropolitan Chief Executive, Nana Akwasi Agyeman comes to an end, may have to shelve the idea if reports of attempts by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government to retain him turn out to be true.
According to the paper, grapevine sources intimated to it that though the term of office of Nana Akwasi Agyeman effectively ends in June, the government is bent on exploiting a loophole in the 1992 Constitution to keep the metropolitan Chief Executive at post.
Although Clause (2) of article 246 of the Constitution states that a person shall not hold office as District Chief Executive for more than two consecutive terms, officials of the NDC who want to retain Nana Akwasi Agyemang argue that while he was appointed in 1992, he has not technically served two terms since his term was interrupted when he was appointed Minister of
Environment in charge of the northern sector in 1994.
The paper says it has learnt that the Constitution is silent on what happens when such a situation arises in the tenure of a District or Metropolitan Chief Executive. It also says a source close to the NDC confided in its reporter that, Nana Akwasi Agyeman's departure from office before the 2000 elections would have adverse effects on the performance of the party in the region hence the battle to keep him in office.
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Pupils demonstrate… Kaku Korsah encroaches on school land
The Free Press reports that an attempt by the Metropolitan Chief Executive of the Shama Ahanta East Metropolitan Assembly (Shama), Col. Kaku Korsah to allocate a plot belonging to the Axim Road Key Primary School at Takoradi to the Sacred Order of Silent Brotherhood Church has backfired.
This followed a directive by the western regional Minister, Mrs Esther Lily Nkansah, acting on a resolution presented to her last week Thursday, May 18, by the pupils of the school.
According to the report, the pupils had earlier staged a peaceful demonstration throughout the principal streets of Takoradi and later walked about eight kilometres to Sekondi to present a resolution to the Regional Minister, Mrs Nkansah.
The six-point resolution signed by Nana Nyarko-Appiah, chairman of the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) and four other members of the association and dated May 16, 2000, stated among others that "we do not share the view Shama Assembly that the school block is for all children in the district and as such can be sited any where within the metropolis."
The resolution further declared that, "Shama is not appreciating our efforts of trying to maintain a high academic profile at the basic level of the district".
It therefore appealed to the Regional Minister to probe the circumstances leading to the alleged sale of land in front of the school, which was meant for the "expansion of the Secred Order of Brotherhood Church".
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