Kofi Coomson throws challenge to Rawlings
NPP will compile own results - Odoi-Sykes
Upper East Voters without photo IDs
Is Jerry dying?
Mills sure of victory on first ballot
Mrs. Sankoh cries for justice
Kofi Coomson throws challenge to Rawlings
The President of the Private Newspaper Publishers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG), Mr. Kofi Coomson has throw a challenge to President Rawlings to make himself available to the full cast of the private press, report the Guide.
PRINPAG, the paper says has noted with concern the consistent and serialised scolding of the independent press in Ghana by the President at every opportunity, both at home and broad.
Our members are deeply concerned about this and we believe that the absence of opportunities to interface with the press may have contributed to the real perception of mutual suspicion.
Such an encounter will bring down the curtain of suspicion and distrust that has characterised the Government for over a decade and hopefully plant the seed of understanding, PRINPAG said in a statement.
GRi…/
NPP will compile own results - Odoi-Sykes
The Daily Graphic reports on its front that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has decided to compile its own results in the forthcoming presidential and parliamentary elections to check vote rigging.
The paper says having been cheated twice in the 1992 and 1996 general elections and with the over-bloated voters' register as well as the alleged fraudulent deals in the on-going replacement of thumb print identity cards, the party has no confidence in the Electoral Commission (EC) to ensure free and fair elections.
Mr. Odoi-Sykes, National Chairman of the party is reported to have said this at a press conference in Accra on Tuesday. He said, "this time round we shall help ourselves by compiling our own results that are declared at the polling stations to cross-check with the official results compiled by the EC".
This, he said will throw more light and set the records straight on the NPP's proposed new voting procedure which they feel will bring down the multiple voting and other electoral malpractices.
GRi…/
Upper East Voters without photo IDs
The Ghanaian Times reports indicates that a lot of eligible voters in the Upper West Region are entertaining fears that they might not be able to exercise their franchise in the December 7 elections.
This is because they found it difficult and cumbersome to travel to their various district capitals to get their thumb-printed identity cards (ID) changed to photo IDs.
The Minister of Environment Mr. Cletus Avoka, disclosing this to the Times in Accra on Tuesday on problems regarding the impending elections in his area, said the voters in a district like Bawku East, which had three constituencies, namely Binduri, Garu-Tempane and Bawku Central were expected to converge at Bawku for their pictures.
After that, they have to get their thumbprint ID cards changed to photo IDs for lamination with only one camera.
The Times says in the Bolgatanga District, which comprises of three constituencies - Talensi, Nandom and Bolga Central, people were to use one camera for the exercise at the district capital.
In addition, the exercise was being done at a time people in the region are harvesting their crops and therefore did not have enough time to avail themselves of it, he said.
GRi…/
Is Jerry dying?
The Weekly Insight with a screaming banner headline “Is Jerry dying?” says speculations about the health of the President Jerry John Rawlings are continuing in earnest as a result of a combination of factors.
First, Mr. Rawlings does not look like his usual self - he appears much slower and sometimes his speech is even slurred. In addition, the refusal of his Public Relations people to disclose the nature of the ailment, which put him under the knives of the Swiss doctors has fueled the speculations.
An official statement issued by the Ministry of Communication only said the President had undergone surgery on his throat. However, well-informed sources suggest something more serious than trouble with vocal cords.
The Insight cited other versions of the story including that reported by the BBC and said whatever happened to the President is of public interest and Ghanaians deserve to know.
GRi../
Mills sure of victory on first ballot
The Ghana Palaver reports that a thorough assessment done by its scouts scattered all over the country indicates that the NDC flagbearer, Prof. John Atta Mills is coasting home to victory on the first ballot of the December elections.
The paper says six weeks to the D-day, “we have decided to hold on to the details of the assessment done by our Scouts, as we continue with our monitoring exercise.”
According to it, a final assessment and projection of the figures will however be done ahead of election as done in 1992 and 1996.
The paper further says information made available to it indicated that the NPP has started preparing another alibi for its defeat.
GRi…/
Mrs. Sankoh cries for justice
The Free Press reports that a Ghanaian lawyer Captain (rtd.) Nkrabeah Effah Dartey, has been engaged to defend Sierra Leone's rebel Revolutionary United Front leader Foday Sankoh should he be put on trail in the foreseeable future.
The paper reports that this was disclosed by the rebel leader's wife, Mrs. Fatou Mbaye Sankoh in a statements issued during her visit to Accra. She also appealed to the President, J.J Rawlings, the Nigerian leader, General Olusengu Obasanjo and UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan to continue with their efforts to bring peace to Sierra Leone.
Mrs. Sankoh , a USA based lawyer, pleaded with President Rawlings for help to get "justice for my husband and also help restore peace to Sierra Leone".
Foday Sankoh whose followers were accused of committing beastly atrocities including indiscriminate hacking off the limbs of even toddlers who were in no way in involved in the fighting, has been in detention in a secret location in Freetown since his arrest early this year.
When asked whether she was aware of the atrocities the husband was alleged to have masterminded, Mrs. Sankoh said in a radio interview in South African that it was the usual "press sensationalism".
GRi…/