Election officials to go if…
Novotel boss worked illegally for 3 years
Rawlings consoles Obed
Suspended imprisonment for pregnant women advocated
No comment on Kuffour as a Flagbearer - Kakra Essamuah
Mrs. Kufour breaks into NDC's World Bank
Disgrace!
Panic grips NDC
Election officials to go if…
The electoral Commission has given the assurance that it will not hesitate to delete the names of election officials who are found to be registered members of political parties, reports the Daily Graphic in a front-page story.
It has, therefore, called on political parties and individuals to conduct their independent investigations of the political affiliation of election officials and provide it with the facts.
Speaking at the opening session of a two-day Gender Conscious Electoral Campaign Techniques at Elmina at the weekend, she is said application forms of election officials were properly scrutinised and validated before they were recruited.
“We are convinced that they would complement efforts at ensuring free and fair election,'' she said.
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Novotel boss worked illegally for 3 years
The Dispatch reports that one of Ghana’s four-star hotel, Novotel has infringed Ghana’s laws with impunity. Its General Manager, Mr. Bernard Henri Antoine, is reported to have worked illegally in the country for three years, August 1997 to September 2000, without a permit.
According to the paper, a source close to the Ministry of Interior confirmed this and revealed that this was uncovered during routine checks on expatriates’ immigrant quotas in Ghana, by the Ghana Immigration Services.
Mr. Antoine, a French national, who will be 66 years at the end of this month, has been at post since 1994.
The paper also discloses that another expatriate employee, a Dutch, Mr. Erik Struik had also stayed and worked for three years illegally since his Quota expired in late 1997.
Novotel was made to pay 1,000 pounds per an illegal employee and the employees were made to pay 100 pounds each.
In accordance with the country’s immigration laws, the two
staffers were asked to leave the country and to re-apply permit.
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Rawlings consoles Obed
The Ghanaian Chronicle reports President Rawlings as describing both Dr. Obed Asamoah and Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu as very competent men who are good enough either as President or Vice-Presidential candidates.
According to the paper he explained the rational for the selection of Martin Amidu and said Prof. Mills was given the free hand to pick a running mate he could comfortably work with.
Prof. Mills according to the president submitted a list, which "we went through and the lot fell on Amidu".
The President continued that: "As we stand today, Obed Asamoah knew Amidu as his surbordinate. But once the party hierarchy made its choice he (Asamoah) was consulted and he expressed his support".
The president also stated that Ghanaians enjoy a lot of freedom under the NDC government, adding that unless this freedom is used well, it will not contribute to the foundations that uphold democracy.
"If freedom of speech is misused to prevent and corrupt factual situations it will undermine the very democratic institutions that the government is trying to establish", he was reported as saying.
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Suspended imprisonment for pregnant women advocated
Mr. Emile Short, Commissioner for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), has called on the courts to avoid imprisonment of pregnant women except for serious offences.
According to a Ghanaian Times story, Mr. Short said their imprisonment could be suspended until after delivery in order that the child does not suffer for the mother's transgression. Presenting a paper at Kumasi on the topic "Fundamental Human Rights and Freedoms under the 1992 Constitution" at a seminar organized by CHRAJ, the Commissioner also urged the courts, police and prisons officers to be vigilant and ensure that juveniles were not remanded in prison custody to avoid their being mixed with adult prisoners and hardened criminals.
The authorities concerned should make a concerted effort to deal with outstanding court cases in view of the high number of suspects remanded in prison custody, Mr. Short stated and called for effective use of non-custodial sentence saying: "The power to remand a suspect and to impose a custody sentence should be exercised with circumspection."
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No comment on Kuffour as a Flagbearer - Kakra Essamuah
The Palaver reports on its front page that Mr. Kakra Essamuah, an Accra-base lawyer and a leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), who contested the position of General Secretary of the party about two years ago, last Friday, gave a loaded answer of "no comment" when asked a question about the NPP's flagbearer on a "Radio Gold" programme.
Mr. Essamuah, the paper reports, had caused to be published in the Daily Graphic on October 13, 2000, a letter commending the Vice-President Prof. Mills, on his brilliant performance at the press conference.
He had described the Vice-President's performance as a depicting display of "masterly grasp of issues, a wonderful facility for the quick debating thrust and language that is clear, accessible and uplifting". This, he said is the reason why Prof. Mills is his party's choice.
The paper said this is a clear departure from partisan type of appraisal on the part of Essamuah, who had concluded in the letter that; "it is my fervent prayer and hope that the good people of his country will convincingly affirm this choice by electing you to the office to which you so well suited".
The Palaver says unconfirmed reports reaching it indicate that an emergency meeting has been held by the National Executives Council of the NPP and it was decided that, Kakra should be dealt with at two levels both involving expulsion. First, dismiss him from Mr. da Rocha’s Chambers and two from the party.
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Mrs. Kufour breaks into NDC's World Bank
The Ghanaian Voice banner headline story says Mrs. Kufour, the wife of Mr. J.A Kufour the NPP's Presidential Candidate for the December 7 2000 election last Thursday paid a historic visit to Agbozome and Aflao to undo the NDC.
Mrs. Kufour who was accompanied by Madam Obaa Yaa Afrifa, the national women's organiser of the Party, was said to have made some powerful speeches at two rallies organized at Agbozome. Both ladies, according to the story, were mobbed by thousands of people who listened to them, speaking ewe.
Mrs. Kufour is reported to have told the people not to be deceived by the propaganda of the NDC and that they should try the NPP this time around. We will break the NDC' "world bank", she is reported as saying.
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Disgrace!
The Accra Mail reports that the general call in Ghana today is for peace during and after the election. Yet some elements in the society seem hell-bent on destroying the wishes of the majority.
What is even more worrying, according to the paper, is that some parliamentary candidates are using the violent methods to cow their constituents.
It says, following what many see as yet another national disgrace, after the third “who gets the seat?” programme on Vibe FM, the police have given the assurance that they will enforce peace and calm in the city.
Tugs reportedly attacked the station's premises during the debate among the Ayawaso Central candidates last week, disrupting vehicle movement in front of the Trust Towers in Accra, where the station is situated.
According to the host, Kwaku Sintim-Misa, the Police tried to blame the organisers for the confusion but after questioning, it was realised that the organisers had nothing to do with what went on outside.
It said the organisers had premonition of what could unfold and had insisted that only five supporters should accompany the candidate. Mr. Sintim-Misa said, the debate is well structured and because it is live, there have to be few people to ask questions. This was not adhered to last week, when busloads of NDC supporters arrived at the Trust Towers, where a number of NPP supporters had already assembled.
When Mr. Sintim-Misa realised there was a problem, he asked the NPP and NDC candidates to appeal to their supporters to be calm.
Sheikh I.C Quaye was able to calm down the NPP supporters but the NDC candidate Mr. Ammon Kotei rather provoked his supporters by saying he will meet force with force.
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The NPP’s genuine concern for free, fair and transparent election through the call for a voting system, which will eliminate double voting, has sent a shock waves into the NDC.
The NPP at a press conference addressed by the National Chairman, Mr. Samuel Odoi-Sykes called for the adoption of a voting method developed by the OAU for Nigeria two years ago to ensure fair and acceptable result.
The method, which he said is less expensive, ensures that “everyone who is entitled to vote is able to do so and does so only once.”
The NPP proposal, according to Mr. Odoi-Sykes would give credibility to the electoral process. He said disputed electoral results would be too costly for the country.
But in an apparent move of fear and panic of losing elections because of the call for transparency, the NDC hurriedly organised a press conference to condemn the NPP’s quest for transparent electoral process.
A statement read by one of the NDC’s numerous vice chairmen, Prof. Kofi Awoonor described the NPP’s proposals as “bogus and fraudulent as well as part of its well-orches-trated plan to undermine the NDC’s efforts to retain political power.”
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