GRi Press Review 13-1-99

 Free Press

 650m cedis for the poor missing at TMA. Chief Executive accused. Money withdrawn from Bank of Ghana Screams the lead story of the Free Press. The Paper reports that a total amount of 650m cedis allocated to the Tema Municipal Assembly toward the implementation of its Poverty Alleviation Programme for the last two years can not be traced.

 The paper reports that there is no record that the amount released in two batches of 400m cedis for 1997 and 250 m cedis for 1998, by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development have been expanded on any project or projects to alleviate poverty in the Assembly=92s area jurisdiction.

 The paper says when the assembly's sources were contacted they insist that the money had been deposited at the Bank of Ghana and the Tema branch of the National Investment Bank although the money was meant to be spent on poverty alleviation programmes.

The Dispatch

NDC Hunts for Reformists Within - is the banner headline of the Dispatch. The paper says where as the Reform Movement has been working hard in the various constituencies, setting up offices, finalising their contacts and delaying their expected big congress, the NDC has also decided to smoke out the Reformists within the NDC.

 The paper says senior NDC officials in a chat with the Dispatch last Monday revealed that they have realised that quite a number of the MPs belong to the Reform Movement but were hedging and bidding their time. They agreed that because they are not mind readers, they could only wait for those MPs who share ideas with the Reform Movement to make the wrong move.

 According to the paper, for the first time the NDC officials acknowledged that the recent ministerial shake up was an attempt to try to mess up any network the Movement would have put in place.

 The Chronicle

 The Chronicle, in its lead story; 'Akwasi Agyeman dragged to court for stabbing two cab drivers , Police unwilling to prosecute.' Says Nana Akwasi Agyeman, the mayor of Kumasi, will on Friday, January 15, appear before a umasi High Court where he has been sued by a taxi driver, Mr Jacob Konadu Agyemang. Konadu is claiming more than 10m cedis in damage in general and special damages for intentional and willful harm caused him by the Metropolitan Chief Executive. He brought the action after attempts to seek an out of court settlement were aborted.

The paper said Konadu is also claiming damages for the wrongful seizure and detention of his vehicle GT 1307 F for 14 days by Nana Agyeman.

 The Chronicle says it has learnt that the suit was filed on July 24, 1998. However, hearing was delayed for negotiations, aimed at settling the matter out of court. Negotiations broke down when the plaintiff refused to accept terms proposed by the defendant.

 Weekly Insight

 'Scandal. More questions on $5m bribe' asserts the Weekly Insight in a front-page lead story which says President Jerry John Rawlings is coming to the realisation that the scandal arising out of allegation that he received $5m bribe from the late General Sani Abacha would not die easily.

 The paper view is that the President=92s purported clearance by the Nigeria government has raised more questions than answers. It says where as a Radio Ghana News bulletin said the Chief Press Secretary of the Nigerian leader, Alhaji Haruna has denied at a press conference that President Rawlings received the bribe, many Nigerian journalist working on reputable publications like the 'Daily Times' and 'The Post Express' which the Insight contacted said they were not aware of the press conference, 24 hours after the Radio Ghana bulletin.

 The Daily Graphic

 'Pollution of Dansu. Its sensational', says K'dua MCE. Graphic story is credible =96 Expert=94 is the lead headline of the Daily Graphic. In one of the two stories under the headline, the paper said, the Koforidua Municipal Chief Executive, Mr. Emanuel Adu-Boateng has denied that pollution of the Densu River is due to =93irresponsible disposal of solid and liquid waste=94 into the river by residents in the catchment areas.

 According to the paper, Mr. Adu-Boateng therefor described as sensational the lead story of the Monday Daily Graphic saying, =93it is intended to create panic'. In the other story, an environmental specialist, Mr. S.B. Akuffo, has commended the Daily Graphic for exposing the danger posed by the pollution of Densu to River by residents in the catchment area of the river.

 The paper quoted the specialist as saying that the Graphic story confirms the pollution of the river through the dumping of solid and liquid waste.

The Ghanaian Times

'Growth rate up- Kwame Peprah' says the Times in a lead story which says the Minister of Finance, Mr. Kwame Peprah says in spite of the energy crisis and draw-backs, the country weathered the storm and ended the year with a growth rate close to five per cent.

For the first time, we registered very positive developments. All the monetary indicators, such as money supply, inflation and interest rates are heading in the right direction,=94 the quoted the minister as saying.

 Mr Peprah said these after signing a memorandum of understanding with the new Canadian High Commissioner, Mrs. Janet Graham on a =A21 billion assistance to strengthen Ghana's Parliament.

 The three-year project will strengthen the Public Accounts and Finance Committees of Parliament, and foster all-party cooperation and collaboration within the parliamentary committees, thereby strengthening democracy in the country.