GRi's Paul Osei-Tutu in Accra, reviews the Ghanaian press. The stories have not been verified and therefore we cannot vouch for their accuracy.
'Tema East NDC officials resign' is the screaming banner headline of the Public Agenda. In what the paper described as a dramatic confirmation of the NDC's gradual loss of support in parts of the country, the paper said the party was last week hit by a spate of resignations of its high ranking officials in the Tema District.
In less than a week, three key members of the party's executive in the Tema District resigned from their positions leaving followers of the party shocked and wondering about the prospects of the party in the next elections, the paper said.
First, to go was Peter Osei Asiedu who relinquished his position as chairman for Tema East constituency. He was also the co-ordinating chairman for Tema District. In a letter dated January 17, Osei Asiedu cited health reasons for his decision to quit the party he had faithfully served in the last six years.
The chairman's resignation was followed by that of two other top officials, Samuel Amegashie, propaganda secretary and Bela Aglah, deputy secretary, all of the Tema East constituency who resigned the same day, the paper said.
'Reform congress on Feb. 4' is the front-page lead story of the Dispatch. According to the story, the long awaited congress of the Reform Movement (RM) will take place in Accra on Thursday, February 4. The paper says its investigations have revealed that the Congress will be attended by delegates from the Regions, invited progressives from Ghana, Africa and the Diaspora and representatives of all the political parties in the country.
Issues to be discussed include stages of the development of the Movement into a political party, the formation of cells, guidelines on membership and the process of attainment of leadership in the RM, says the paper.
The February congress will also initiate a national debate for evolving a national policy framework, on which the political party, which emerges out of the Movement, will seek a mandate from the Ghanaian electorate, the paper stated.
'Ghana to import natural gas from Cote D'Ivoire for Power Generation' is the headline of a story on the front page of the High Street Journal. The story says Ghana may save up to 30 per cent in energy generation costs if current high level talks between the governments of Ghana and Cote d'Ivore on supply of natural gas to fuel the Takoradi thermal plant go through.
A Mines and Energy Ministry official who disclosed this was hopeful that there will be a positive out come. The Takoradi thermal plant, one of two in the country built for the Volta River Authority, has total capacity of 330 mw and was built in 1997.
The paper says natural gas is reckoned as being up to 30 per cent cheaper than crude oil as well as more environmentally friendly.
Already, Ghana is a signatory to the long-term West Africa Gas Pipeline project which, when it becomes a reality, will carry natural gas from Nigeria's huge reserves to Benin, Togo and Ghana, the paper recalled.
Reporting under the headline, 'Tema elders fight at news conference... journalists whipped', the paper says one person was slashed with a machete on the head and several others received laceration from hips when two factions in the Tema chieftancy dispute clashed at Manhean at the weekend.
Fighting, was said to have broken up when supporters of Nii Adjei Kraku the second and Asafoastemen armed with whips attempted to stop a press conference called by Nii Adjetey Kraku the third, claiming that Nii Adjetey Kraku was not the chief of Tema.
When the journalists arrived for the press conference at 9 a.m. about 12 Asafoastemen from Nii Adjei Kraku's side had blocked the entrance to the venue and warned the journalists not to listen to Nii Adjetey Kraku, otherwise there would be bloodshed.
The journalists refused and in the midst of the arguments, one supporter of Nii Adjetey Kraku was attacked with a whip by one of the Asafoatsemen, and that resulted in a free for all between supporters of the two factions.
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'Police grab drug Baron" accomplice on the run' is the front-page lead of the Daily Graphic. The story says the Police Narcotic Unit has arrested a man believed to be behind a syndicate which sponsors people as drug couriers from Ghana to London.
The suspect, Kofi Mintah, now on a 25 million cedis bail, is helping the Police in their investigations. His accomplice, Omar Mohammed Garba, a Nigerian is believed to have fled to Lagos.
Two students of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and technology, Yaw Karikari Appenteng and Kweku Nkwaye Painstil Ansah, who were arrested at Heathrow Airport for carrying two kilogrammes of cocaine, last September mentioned Mintah as their sponsor, the paper said.
Appenteng and Ansah are being held in Britain awaiting prosecution.
=91Chief Justice must explain', and =91Time for Rawlings to act is now', are the front-page headlines of =91Ghanaian Voice'. In two separate stories on latest developments on late John Ackah Blay Miezah's assets, the paper first story says Chief Justice, Mr. Justice I.K. Abban as head of the judiciary should explain the circumstances surrounding the unusual action where John Kells paid all travelling, hotel and per diem expenses of a travelling Judge and her team in London.
The Judge, Mrs. Sawyer-Williams had moved court to London to hear a case about the legacy twist of Blay Miezah's alleged billions at the request of Kells who is an interested party.
The paper is worried about the propriety of a seating judge accepting gratuities from an interested party before making a ruling. It said in this case she ruled on behalf of the person who paid her all her expenses.
The Voice says it has been informed that the judge moved the court to London because John Kells Ghanaians are savages and that he will be killed if he comes to Ghana. Are this wild allegations sufficient reasons why our courts should be moved to London, the paper asked.
In the accompanying story Mr. Greg Frazier the international co-ordinator of Oman Ghana Trust says in an interview with the Voice is reported as saying that the Ghana government has a role to play in accessing the billions of dollars in the Trust's banks just as its international co-ordinators and wife of Blay Miezah, Joyce.
He is calling for a meeting between him and President Rawlings to unveil all truths about the legacy.
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The lead story on the front page of the Ghanaian Democrat reads 'Rawlings is Winner any Day'. The story says, the President Flt. Lt. J.J. Rawlings last Tuesday displayed one of its leadership qualities when he defied protocol and mingle freely with thousands of muslims, at the Independence Square during this years thanks giving prayers to Allah for his support through the month long Ramadan fast.
The paper says, it was not the first time that the President was joining the Muslims, but taking into consideration the Presidents ill health and the advice given him by his Doctors to have some rest, made his presence a surprise to all present.
According to the paper it was an emotional sight as several Muslims could be heard shouting 'Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar' meaning 'God is great, 'God is Great'.
A few Muslims, the paper interviewed said they Muslims don't know any other leader apart from Rawlings, because he identifies himself with them in their hopes and aspirations and before the opposition can win power then they must do away with the pomposity and come down to earth.
One of the inside page stories of the African sports has the headline 'Terrorism No. Answer to the Hearts Puzzle'. The paper writes about the search for the crooks who attempted to transfer yaw Sakyi under dubious circumstances.
According to the paper, as the night turns to day, the issue appears to be getting even more intriguing with all kinds of claims and accusations being made by parties involved in the whole affair.
Whilst some claim the principal culprits are Abubakar Ouattara and Harry Zakkour, others also believe that Mr. George Aduse Poku 'Gerogido' was the man who faked the International Transfer Certificate (ITC) which sought to transfer Yaw Sakyi.
The paper says speculations are that coach Ouattera is being manipulated by disgluntled elements against Ato Ahwoi and Harry Zakkour regime to cause disaffection for Mr. Zakkour.
According to the paper, some Hearts fans stormed the Police Station in Kumasi where the Parties involved had converged, chanting and attempted to lynch the principal witness in the whole matter, coach Abubakar Ouattara.
The paper asks why should anyone want to subvert the course of Justice by resorting to threats and intimidation, and in whose interest is this group of aggressors working.
This is one investigation everyone in Ghana agrees should be conducted to its logical conclusion, so nothing must be done to subvert it, the paper concludes.