Memorable!
The Queen praises Ghana’s democracy
Queen praises Ghana’s progress
Rawlings reaches out to the Opposition
Arrest Akufo Addo…NDC prays, for ‘he is a brat’
'Rawlings Tape’ controversy
Big probe into ‘Rawlings Tape’
Memorable!
That is how the Daily Graphic headlines its lead story on Queen Elizabeth II. The paper adorns the whole front page with a picture of President Jerry Rawlings leading the royal couple out of Parliament after the Queen had addressed the House.
In the accompanying story, the paper says activities in the central business district and along selected streets in Accra, virtually came to a standstill yesterday as thousands of Ghanaians poured out onto the streets to give hilarious "Akwaaba" to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on her second visit to Ghana in 38 years.
The Graphic says throughout the 25-minute state drive, jubilant crowds made up of the old and young, who had positioned themselves as early as 8 a.m. to catch a glimpse of the British monarch, were seen jostling each other to be in the front row to have a better view of the convoy.
The paper says the Queen, attired in an immaculate pink dress with a hat to match was flanked by President Jerry Rawlings, who was resplendent in kente cloth and native sandals.
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The Queen praises Ghana’s democracy
Reporting on her address to Parliament on Monday, the Ghanaian Times says Queen Elizabeth II, the British monarch, praised Ghana’s democracy and said an open society, free media, truly independent judiciary and a democratically chosen, accountable executive, provides the conditions under which the equality of opportunity, initiative and a stable society can flourish. In a front-page lead story accompanied with a picture of the royal couple chatting heartily with President Rawlings and the First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, the Times quotes Her Majesty as saying this in her address to Ghana’s Parliament on the second day of her three-day visit. The paper says the Queen, who spoke for about 10 minutes, said that it is not just in politics that Ghanaians make a valuable and dynamic contributions to British society, but also in the other professions, particularly, the arts. She said Ghanaians are using their entrepreneurial flair throughout the British economy. The Queen said that the United Kingdom is Ghana’s most significant trading partner and best export customer, and added that British investment far surpasses that of any industrialised country.
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Queen praises Ghana’s progress
The Ghana Palaver, in accounts of the Queens address to Ghana’s Parliament, says the Head of the Commonwealth and Her Majesty the Queen of England, Queen Elizabeth II, has praised Ghana’s efforts at economic development and her new path of deepening democratic values.
The Palaver reports that the Queen said Ghana’s commitment to democratic values is reflected in her strong Parliament and hoped that the 2000 elections will deepen the political freedom and choice of the Ghanaian people.
The Queen, says the paper, stated that Ghana’s democracy could lead to a more stable society when it ensures the building of a truly independent judiciary, free media, strong Parliament and a robust executive.
The Palaver says the British monarch noted with pride the historic bonds that have existed between Ghana and the United Kingdom, saying that as faithful partners in development, what the two countries need is equity and justice in trade relations to quicken their development efforts.
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Rawlings reaches out to the Opposition
The Independent says in a rare exhibition of what a united country can stand for, President Jerry Rawlings over the weekend, extended a hand of comradeship to the flagbearer of the NPP, Mr John Agyekum Kufuor.
The occasion the paper says was during celebration marking the 40th anniversary of the creation of the Brong Ahafo Region. In its top story, the Independent says President Rawlings, while delivering the keynote address at a durbar of chiefs and people of the region, paused to call for the unofficial leader of Ghana’s opposition to join him on the VIP dais.
According to the paper, even though the invitation shows that Mr Kufuor was not part of the original plan for the event, by extending his ‘olive branch’, the President may have been trying to patch up some of the differences that have arisen between government and opposition since the advent of the Fourth Republic.
The Independent says the gesture was a departure from the past, when the President on many platforms, had no kind words for members of the opposition.
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Arrest Akufo Addo…NDC prays, for ‘he is a brat’
In a front-page lead story, the Guide says the "Albert Tape" issue is still causing consternation and sending shivers down the spine of the NDC and its activists.
The paper says the NDC in a statement to the press, has stated that Nana Akufo Addo, the publisher of the "Statesman" and MP for Abuakwa, cannot be protected under any parliamentary immunity, ostensibly from arrest.
According to the Guide the NDC threatens and suggests the arrest of Nana Akufo Addo, noting, "to have a recourse to parliamentary immunity which he is seeking in his desperation, he would have to take a permanent residence on the floor of the House and pray that Parliament never breaks off, to succeed with it".
The NDC is also said to be emphatic that the position of NANA Akufo Addo on the tape cannot stand in a court of law.
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'Rawlings Tape’ controversy
The Crusading Guide says Ghanaians and citizens of other countries in the world with access to satellite television, were last week Wednesday privileged to watch how the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) relayed the news about the controversial "Tapes from the Rawlings episode" to its viewers both in South Africa and elsewhere on the continent and beyond.
The paper says with President Jerry Rawlings’ picture and the map of Africa with Ghana inserted in it superimposed on the screen, SABC proceeded to inform its viewers that Ghana had been rocked by a scandal involving the allegations of use of terror and murder by some close security associates of President Rawlings, who appear to have implicated the Ghanaian Head of State in their heinous crimes against humanity.
According to the Crusading Guide, the SABC news report highlighted the fact that some media personnel had been arrested and detained for questioning by the Ghana Police.
The report listed Mawuko Zormelo, acting News Editor of "JOY FM", Samuel Atta-Mensah, Director of Programmes, JOY FM, Mr Kwasi Twum, Chef Executive of Multi Media, Mawuli Ocloo, General Manager of JOY FM, as among those who were being questioned by the Ghana Police.
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Big probe into ‘Rawlings Tape’
In a front-page banner, the Statesman says the gauntlet has been thrown down and the "Statesman" is right on the spot to pick it up. The paper says its integrity and credibility are on the line because a story "we published has been described as ‘forgery’. We must therefore get to the bottom of the whole matter.
The Tape on the Rawlings episode is about to play and play until the truth is known". According to the Statesman, the departure of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II from Ghana, is bound to revive, within government circles, plans to move against journalists on the "Statesman", which were put on hold y government to ensure a smooth visit by Her Majesty. The Statesman says these plans include allegedly, ‘regular and irregular actions’…
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