GRi Press Review Ghana 27 - 09

The Peduase Lodge, a Presidential retreat, is to be rehabilitated at the cost of ¢7 billion, after which it will serve as both a retreat for President Kufuor and a tourist attraction, reports The Ghanaian Times.

Mr Kwamena Bartels, Minister of Works and Housing, disclosed this at Peduase in the Eastern Region on Wednesday when he toured the lodge to acquaint himself with conditions at the place.

The lodge, built in 1959 by the first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah has never been renovated and is now in a deplorable condition. Most of the glass windows are broken and some of the rich and expensive hand woven Persian carpets torn.

Almost all the roofs leak, while the elevators, air-conditioners, telephones and taps do not function. Tiles in the kitchen and bathrooms are also broken. A recreational room used by the former Presidents, is now infested with snakes and is only fumigated once a while”, says the paper.

“Perhaps the only things that can be said to be in good condition are the lawns and an old chandelier”, adds the paper, which also reports that there are currently 60 workers at the place trying to keep it in good condition.

Mr Bartels reportedly disagreed with a suggestion that the Lodge should be disposed of through divestiture or otherwise, saying that, "it is a national asset ranking in status with the Flagstaff House and the Castle".

He explained that it would also be used as a tourist attraction where visitors could see the living rooms and bedrooms of Dr Nkrumah and the other Heads of State.

More…/

Parents besiege Oguaa schools

Some anxious parents seeking admission for their wards have since Monday been besieging the premises of various second cycle institutions in the Central Region capital, Cape Coast.

As early as 8:30 am most of the parents gather in front of administration blocks of the schools waiting for the headmasters and headmistresses.

Some heads of the institutions do not come to the school at all because of the pressure from parents, and prefer to operate from secret places.

Even parents whose wards already have admission, had to return home on some days, looking worried because the student's prospectus and admission letters were not ready.

More…/

Hearts will never use unqualified player

Accra Hearts of Oak will never make the mistake of fielding an unqualified player knowing very well the rules of the game, Mr Harry Zakkour, chief Executive of the club has stressed.

Mr Zakkour was reacting to a protest by Kumasi Asante Kotoko against the club for fielding Charles Taylor in the19^th week Star Premier League encounter at the Kumasi Sports Stadium. Kotoko claimed that Taylor had attracted three yellow cards before playing in the match.

Mr Zakkour, talking to the Times per phone on Wednesday, stated emphatically that he had a letter from the Ghana Football Association (GFA) stating that Taylor had received two yellow cards before the match.

More…/

Twenty people apply to man GFA Secretariat

The hunt for a competent person to man the Ghana Football Association (GFA) secretariat is over and a substantive General Secretary will soon be appointed to take up the vacant position.

More than twenty persons have applied for the position, which was left vacant after the expiration of Mr W.K. Agra's tenure three months ago.

The number has however been pruned to sixteen who will be interviewed by the committee set up by the GFA for the selection of a new General Secretary on October 5. It is likely the committee might need more than a day to undertake a meticulous work on the interviewers.

The GFA Secretariat is currently being handled by Mr Kwame Ampim-Darko in an acting capacity.

More…/

Okwawu asks for Accra Stadium too

The management of Soccer Mountaineers' Okwawu United has renewed its appeal to the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to permit it to honour its remaining home matches at the Accra Sports Stadium by alternating with Liberty Professionals on Saturdays.

A statement signed by Dr F.K. Frimpong, Board Chairman of the club, said the move is to enable management to undertake renovation works on its home grounds at the Nkawkaw Stadium.

According to Okwawu, a previous request on the same issue to the GFA on August 27, this year was turned down. "However, we wish to renew our humble appeal with the hope that you would reconsider it on the same basis that you granted a similar request from Tema Ghapoha F/C”, the statement added.

Ghapoha last Saturday grossed ¢140m (their highest ever) at the gates when they played Kumasi Asante Kotoko at the Accra Sports Stadium, triggering in its wake a chain of requests from other clubs, including Kwaebibirem United to temporarily adopt the Accra Stadium.

More…/

Dwarfs, Voradep slapped with ban

Cape Coast Ebusua Dwarfs F/C has been banned from playing their home matches in and within 40 km radius of Cape Coast for a period of one year.

In addition, the Cape Coast club is to pay a fine of ¢3 million to the GFA within 21 days plus a refund of ¢1,064,900 to Mpohor Iron Fighters being total medical expenses incurred on their injured players.

This was the outcome of the GFA Disciplinary Committee meeting following the brutal and unwarranted assault of players and officials of Iron Fighters after a Division One League (DOL) match at the Cape Coast Stadium on September 5.

After evaluation of the match report and all the evidence adduced, the GFA Disciplinary Committee have also in accordance with Article 34 (4) of their Regulations charged Ebusua Dwarfs to repair all property of the Cape Coast Stadium that were damaged by their supporters.

The management of Dwarfs has also been strongly advised to educate their supporters against vandalism and hooliganism to avert a repeat of violent incidents in matches involving their club.

In a related development, Ho VORADEP F/C have also been banned from playing home matches at the Ho Sports Stadium for the rest of the 2001 DOL Season.

This was as a result of rowdy and violent assault on a referee by supporters and some players of VORADEP of the club during their match against Home Stars, which ended abruptly in the 83^rd minute.

Consequently, VORADEP was declared losers in the match in addition to the loss of three points from their accumulated points plus a fine of ¢500,000 to the GFA within 21 days of notice. Home Stars was therefore declared winners of the match and credited with three goals and three points.

GRi…/

Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com

Return to top

The Crusading Guide

Rawlings' Public Relations man exposed

An attempt by Mr Victor Smith, Head of Public Relations of the Office of Ex-President, Flt Lt J.J. Rawlings, to mislead and misinform Ghanaians on how Ghana's Mission in Canada handled the plight of the former President when the latter got 'stranded' in Canada as a result of the terrorist attacks on the USA, has been exposed.

The Crusading Guide says speaking on an Accra radio last Monday, Mr Smith had sought to create the impression that the ex-President was completely neglected by the Ghanaian diplomatic authorities in Canada even though Ghana's Foreign Minister, Hon. Hackman Owusu-Agyeman had told Ghanaians that "the appropriate courtesies" had been accorded him in the wake of t he diversion of his Boston-bound British Airways flight to Halifax on September 11, 2001.

"He is fed up and disgusted. It is an on-going thing, you see it hurts him even more when he happened to have ended up in Canada when that incident in America happened, and the government then goes on air and makes it look as if they are being so nice to him. And when in fact nothing of the type that the Foreign Minister mentioned was actually accorded to him when he was in Canada because he really was having it tough out in Halifax, some 700 miles from Ottawa where the Mission was. We had to do a lot of work, I was in Boston then and I had to do a lot of work to get certain things put properly before he was able to come back to London", Mr Smith was quoted to have stated.

But the Deputy Government Spokesman, Kwbena Agyepong had via telephone refuted the submissions of Mr Smith. "Well what I want to say is that we don't want to get into a slanging match here. I do believe that the Foreign Service are up to their duties. The Foreign Minister articulated the position to the whole country. And whatever we were supposed to do to accord help to our former President was done. And if his Aide is saying that nothing was done, well that is their view. In our view we accorded him the respect that he deserved."

The Crusading Guide says subsequent developments on the airwave the following day (Tuesday) clearly exposed Mr Smith as having been very economical with the truth the day before as he was confronted with irrefutable, factual, and official evidence of the Ghana Mission's assistance to the Ex-President while he was stranded in Halifax.

GRi…/

Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com

Return to top

Daily Guide

Kotoko Supporters go wild, see red

Thousands of fans of Kumasi Asante Kotoko took to the streets of Kumasi on Wednesday to lodge their protest against the Ghana Football Association (GFA) following its decision to declare Kotoko losers in their recent league match with Bofoakwa Tano, which ended abruptly.

The epic league match was played on Sunday September 9, 2001. Seventy minutes into the game, a tall and lanky man dashed straight to the referee and gave him a hefty slap in the face with the sole of his boot thus blinding the referee momentarily and causing the abrupt end of the match.

Two days ago, the Disciplinary Committee of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) announced that following fresh evidence from a video footage of the match it had observed that a ballboy wearing the red shirt (colours of Kotoko) was found to be the one who violently assaulted the referee. The GFA has therefore decided to punish Kotoko for the incident.

But on Wednesday the Kotoko fans wearing red bands and dresses and chanting war songs marched into Kumasi streets to express their dissatisfaction with the declaration of the Disciplinary Committee.

“We need positive change in Ghana football”, “Let justice prevail in Ghana soccer” were some of the placards carried by the demonstrators.

The demonstrators passed through some principal streets of Adum and headed towards the road leading to the offices of the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council where they presented a resolution to the Regional Minister, Hon S.K. Boafo, and copied to the Minister of Youth and Sports.

The resolution indicated that the fans of the Reds were not happy with the decision of the Committee and wanted it reversed.

GRi…/

Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com

Return to top

Africa Sports

Jones Attuquayefio angry at leave order

Accra Hearts of Oak's coach Jones Attuquayefio is an angry man according to the bi-weekly Africa Sports.

The reigning African coach of the year has been ordered to go on leave by the management of the African Champions and that has angered the coach who is disappointed by the decision.

Jones told Africa Sports in an interview that he just doesn't understand why he has been asked to proceed on leave. "I don't understand why they took the decision. All the letter told me was that in view of recent developments, I should proceed on leave. It didn't say what the recent developments are. I just can't understand”, Jones said.

The 2000 Africa best coach says he does not think the action is related to a controversy over a supposed yellow card that would have barred one of his players whom he had used in a subsequent match.

"My brother, let me tell you. I cross -checked on this Charles Taylor thing thoroughly from the FA and the records showed that the boy was eligible to play. I made no mistake."

After explaining himself on the Taylor issue, the African Cup winning coach launched into an angry outburst against those who he says try to undermine his authority as a coach.

"Some management members came to Kumasi just before the game and messed everything up on the Charles Taylor issue. What I want to tell them is that I am in charge of the playing body and technical matters. When a match is going on, I won't accept any management member dictating to me how I am supposed to do my job. I am no novice. I know this job and I know what I am about. I will never compromise that.

“I believe in interaction, I understand you must share ideas but I must be given the autonomy I deserve. If the management don't like that, they can sack me. I am prepared for that," Jones said.

GRi…/

Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com

Return to top

P & P

Contractor rapes year old baby

The P & P says it at times beats the imagination of all right thinking members of society as to why some men can stoop so low, virtually throwing their morals to the wind when it comes to sex. For such sex maniac, they would go to bed with any female irrespective of age.

A story appearing in the paper contained that the residents of Apotuagya in the Bosumtwe Kwawoma District of the Ashanti Region are yet to come to terms with what could have prompted a 35 year old man, who claims to be a contractor, to have allegedly defiled his own one-and-a-half year old step-daughter in the bathroom.

For that alleged abominable act, Charles Afoakwa is presently in the grips of the Women and Juvenile Unit of the Ghana Police Service (WAJU).

On the day of the incident, the baby girl eased herself while the mother was attending to some household chores, so Afoakwa who was in the bathroom at the time, allegedly requested to bath her, to which the mother obliged.

However, upon leaving the bathroom, the child started crying uncontrollably, so the worried mother picked her up only to discover to her amazement, that she was bleeding profusely from her private part. She immediately confronted the husband who allegedly stated that his fingers might have mistakenly scratched her during the bath.

Since all attempts to control the bleeding proved futile, the child was sent to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital where it was reportedly detected that she had been abused sexually.

The security men on duty immediately apprehended Afoakwa, who had incidentally accompanied the wife and stepdaughter to the hospital.

A WAJU source confirmed the story adding that the suspect would soon be arraigned before court.

GRi…/

Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com

Return to top

The Independent

Ahwoi dares NPP gov't.-We'll meet fire for fire

The Independent carries that Mr Kwamena Ahwoi, former Minister of Regional Integration last Tuesday re-enacted his boisterous self, daring to meet the current administration fire for fire if it so wishes.

Best remembered for his call to legitimise 'shit bombing' of certain press houses which were considered hostile to the then NDC regime, Ahwoi in an answer to a question on his role in the revolutionary Citizen Vetting Committee (CVC) said whatever excesses that occurred in that era were precipitated by the decree that was invoked at the time.

Kwamena Ahwoi explained that the situation at the time was entirely different from the current constitutional dispensation and if the NPP government "wants us to go back to the revolutionary era, then we should go back, but if they want us to go on with the constitution, then we should go on with it".

Kwamena later in a chat told the paper that he has not really spoken but hopes to do that at the right time, adding that he only made certain submissions at the NDC press conference to set the records straight.
GRi.../

Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com

Return to top

The Chronicle

Tarzan orders auction of J.J.'s horses- but ex-Prez asks for return of 'Khalif'

The Chief Executive of Volta River Authority (VRA), Dr Wereko Brobby has confirmed that ex-President Rawlings abused the resources of both Kpong Farms Ltd (KFL) and VRA, reports The Chronicle.

He said the revealing story carried by this paper (Chronicle) on why KFL has collapsed is a clear warning to politicians and public officials to refrain from abuse of power because one day they may be called to answer for their stewardship.

"It was very clear that the authority's resources, and not just that of Kpong Farms were abused... the house in which he was living at Akuse, the development of airstrips were not activities that one could say in any normal way of things, were part and parcel of VRA's business".

In an interview with the paper last Tuesday, Dr. Wereko Brobby said it appears that such projects may have been done under very strict instructions from the ex-president, adding that there are not very brave Ghanaians who will go directly against the request of the head of state.

He observed that the experience of a few people who have dared to challenge the ex-President's directive has not been very palatable.

"The chief executive of the Ghana Highways Authority, who dared to challenge the ex-President's view on the Tema Motorway, was dismissed and nobody in Ghana came to his rescue, so we are not a country that acknowledges public servants who stand up to what they consider to be unlawful demands or directives from higher authorities," he added.

Dr Wereko Brobby, however, said that a special relationship existed between VRA and serving heads of state dating back to the days when President Nkrumah established the VRA. The Act, which established VRA requires the President to nominate the Chief Executive of VRA.

On the matter of the ex-President's horses which depleted the accounts of VRA, he said that originally the former President sent one horse to KFL but as it sired, the number multiplied and KFL bore the cost of taking care of them.

Dr Wereko Brobby noted that he has issued a directive to make immediate provision to release Khalif, one of the large horses of the ex-President, following his request for that particular horse.

He said since the ex-President says he has no interest in the remaining horses he is going to auction the rest, adding that a directive has been issued to that effect.

GRi.../

Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com

Return to top

The Evening News

NDC's stand amounts to lawlessness-Olof Palme Foundation

The decision by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to boycott appearances before probes and investigations committees has been described as a stance that is tantamount to lawlessness and anarchy, reports The Evening News.

"This is unbelievable of a group that yesterday was preaching probity and accountability as appendages to our Freedom and Justice national motto."

These were sentiments expressed by Osoronko Nana-Yabani, Executive President of the Olof Palme Peace Foundation (OPPF), in an interview with The Evening News in Accra.

Reacting to the issues raised at the NDC's news conference in Accra Yesterday, Osoronko Nana-Yabani, who is also a social critic, said the NDC should count themselves very lucky that they were being invited before probes and investigation committees because the Djentus, Kweku Baakos, Kabral Blay Amiheres and several others were denied that privilege.

"Why should it be unacceptable for them to be brought before committees to help unravel acts carried out by them now, when in the past the same processes were followed in their reign of terror," he asked?

GRi.../

Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com

Return to top

The Ghanaian Democrat

I’m still loyal and committed to NDC - Asamoah

Mr Felix Archibold Asamoah, the NDC Western Regional Chairman, has stated that his loyalty to the party remains firm and unshakable.

He said allegations that he has abandoned the NDC are false, unfounded and a figment in the minds of mischief-makers.

Reacting to allegations that he has crossed carpet and vacated his position, Mr Asamoah said he is still the regional chairman of the NDC and stressed that he will continue to serve the party to the best of his ability.

Mr Asamoah pointed out that until the next regional elections, he continues to be the Western Regional Chairman of the NDC.

He however, disclosed that due to the pressure of duty and personal commitments he has asked for a short period of absence from meetings to be able to execute his commitments.

GRi…/

Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com

Return to top

The Ghanaian Voice

Rawlings paid $600 in Canada

The Ghanaian Voice reports on its front page that long before the government made attempts to defray the expenses of ex-President, J. J. Rawlings who had his plane diverted to Halifax in Nova-Scota, Canada, the University of Boston had already made arrangements to pick the bill.

The University, which was to have him as a keynote speaker had faxed a letter that since he was their guest, if the terrorist attacks had not happened in the U.S. they were willing and prepared to pick the tab and that a fax had been sent notifying the Delta Barrington hotel with a Credit card to guarantee the payment.

Mr Kwabena Agyepong, the deputy Government Spokesperson had stated that the government was able to pay the bill a day after Mr Victor Smith had gone on air to complain about the poor treatment given to the ex-President.

Mr Smith is reported to have said that he called the Ghana Mission in Ottawa 30 minutes after he heard the plane had been diverted and spoke to one Miss Benneh, who told him she was going to get the High Commissioner Mr Oliver Loluvi.

Mr. Smith also said that the ex-president was on the plane for 9 hours instead of the 4 hours expected because no High Commission staff turned up to get him and he had to pay $600 as a deposit to enter Delta Barrington hotel, being all the money he had on him and still had to go to the airport alone when leaving Halifax for London.

“What sort of courtesies are they talking about? If they had been of assistance he would not have arrived at London Gatwick airport at 1.00 am and take a public transport” Mr Smith had remarked.

GRi…/

Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com

Return to top

Graphic Showbiz

The return of Opia

Surprise, surprise! Good old Opia, one of the luminaries of concert party theatre, who many may have thought has had his day, is actually kicking and is about to mount the stage again, writes Graphic Showbiz.

Looking quite strong and hearty, Opia told Showbiz that he has been around, although not as active as he used to, attributing his seeming absence to his inability to raise a band because of lack of funds to acquire instruments.

“But I am coming back and with the help of lovers of music and theatre, I hope things will change for the better”, he said.

The Shama-born Yaw Broni Bampoe (his real name) disclosed that he and the Jaguar Jokers are planning to embark on a national tour to create awareness of the HIV/AIDS and its effect on the economy, through concerts and donate part of the proceeds to the Korle-Bu Cardiothoracic Centre and to the victims of the recent Accra flood disaster victims.

Though hailing from the Western Region, Opia was born at Suhum in the Eastern part of the country.

He had his primary education at Suhum but dropped out midway at the Trinity Commercial College also at Suhum as a result of lack of support. It was during his school days at the college that he got into acting.

More…/

Osagyefo’s birthday bash in Accra

Two concerts to mark the 92^nd birthday of Osagyefo Doctor Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first President, have been held by the Rastafari Movement in Accra.

The concerts, held at the Beach Bar and Restaurant of La Beach, brought together a cross section of Ghanaian reggae groups, radio personalities and music lovers to celebrate the life and to keep the freedom fighting spirit of Dr Nkrumah alive.

The bands, including Orthodox, the Vibration Kings, Juda I and Peace Force, took turns to elevate the consciousness of patrons to the fact that freedom, like Osagyefo said, was for all.

The Showbiz remarks that as Osagyefo was being remembered in music, the theme that ran through the concert was that Africans should ponder the struggle of Blacks for emancipation of their minds from colonial and imperial way of thinking just as Dr Nkrumah.

GRi…/

Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com

Return to top

The Daily Graphic

Mfantsiman ordered to admit 400 students

The Mfantsiman District Directorate of Education has directed the Mfantsiman Girls' Secondary School to admit a maximum of 400 students this year to reduce congestion in the school.

This is about 35 per cent less than the usual intake of more than 600 students in the previous years. The District Director of Education, Mr Isaac Bart-Addison, said in an interview that the directorate has identified congestion as one major problem facing the school.

It is envisaged that when the congestion is eased, the school authorities would be in a better position to effectively monitor the activities of students and improve the quality of teaching and learning, which has deteriorated in recent years.

Mfantsiman has been in the news over the past weeks because of problems of congestion, insanitary conditions, and what many people have described as an unacceptable rate of student deaths, Graphic writes.

More…/

Tax rebate for firms that employ the disabled

The Government will soon implement a policy that entitles any organization, which employs a person with a disability to a tax rebate of 2.5 per cent in a move to encourage more organisations to employ the disabled with employable skills.

The Director of the Ministry of Manpower Development and Employment, Mr Ben Clement Eghan, announced this at a one-day workshop organized by the ministry to review the draft National Disability Bill.

Mr Eghan said the necessary recommendations for amendment of the draft Bill will be made by the representatives and presented to Cabinet and Parliament for approval.

GRi…/

Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com

Return to top