Paul Osei-Tutu in Accra, reviews the Ghanaian press. The stories have not been verified and therefore we cannot vouch for their accuracy.
'1982 Murder of 3 judges & ex-major .... Sgt. Akata-Pore ready to help solve 17-year mystery!' The accompanying story says that a former member of the erstwhile provisional national defence council (PNDC), sergeant Alolga Akata-Pore, now living in exile in the United Kingdom, has declared his total support for the recent call by Mr Kwabena Adjepong, son of one of the murdered judges for a Truth and Reconciliation Commission into that 'hideous act of terrorism' and other killings in the PNDC era.
The paper quotes Sgt. Akata-Pore as denying any involvement or complicity in that dastardly act midnight abduction and torching to death of four prominent citizens of the land: Justice K.A. Ageypong,Justice Sarkodie-Addo, Justice (Mrs) Mary Koranteng-Addo, all High Court Judges, and Major (rtd) Sam Acquah, then personnel manager of the GIHOC group of companies.
When asked whether he was involved in the murder of the four, Akata-Pore replied: 'The simple answer is no. And whatever support I can give to anyone who will re-investigate and establish the truth, I will be ready and obliged to do whatever l can to assist that person or persons because it (June 30, 1982 kidnapping and murder)is one of the mysteries which l think must be solved.'
The paper in another front-page story says ' Rawlings'US State visit, a success!' The story says that President Rawlings' recent visit to the United States has been largely held to be successful.
The paper says a consensus was reached on Groove FM's Hotline programme, which involved an interview with an American diplomat and Ghanaian politicians from both sides of the political divide.
The panellists agreed that the US tour was a success =96 at least in terms of the potential for progress in Ghana and America relations, the paper said.
The lead story in the 'Graphic' has the banner headline: 'Police descend on Dormaa. The story says that a crack team of Police Detectives from the Accra and Sunyani have been dispatched to Dormaa Ahenkro to unravel who was behind the multiple wounds inflicted on the Dormaa queenmother, Nana Akosua Ansuah Ababio.
The police investigation team was constituted after appeals from the traditional council and other bodies to the Inspector General of Police to conduct investigations into the death of the queen mother because they did not believe it was as a result of suicide.
The Krontihene of Dormaa and acting President of the Traditional Council, Barima Ansu-Adjei, said the council doubts the claims in certain quarters that the queenmother inflicted cutlass wounds on herself in an attempt to commit suicide.
'We believe there was a murderer in the house and that person should be smoked out,' he said.
Another front page story reads: 'Workers salaries ready this month.' According to the story, the chairman of the management board (CMB) of the public sector salary restructuring committee, Mr A. K. Yankey, has assured public sector workers that the board would complete the rationalisation of public sector salaries by the end of the month.
He said, however, that the Controller and Accountant General's Department will have to adjust its facilities to enable it to conform to the new salary structure before the implementation of the government salaries and wages policy.
Mr Yankey was speaking at a press briefing in Accra yesterday to throw light on efforts so far made by the CMB
towards the implementation of the new salaries and wages policy popularly called the price waterhouse report which has generated a lot of anxiety among public sector workers.
Has as its banner headline : 'NDC, RM reach consensus.' According to the story, the National Democratic Congress and its Reform Movement have committed themselves to work for the growth and sustenance of the party.
The NDC Reform Movement based on fruitful discussions, and broad consultations has re-affirmed its loyalty and pledged to seek the progress of the NDC.
This was contained in a communiqu=E9 on their talks and signed by Alhaji Huudu Yahaya, the NDC General Secretary and Mr Sam Garba of the RM.
The communique noted that in line with party processes and internal democracy, party branches, which are not properly structured, would be re-organised by June this year, the paper says.
In another front page story, the Palaver says 'NDC will win 2000 elections =96 Mahama Iddrisu.
The presidential advisor on governmental affairs, has predicted that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) will win the 2000 presidential and parliamentary elections with an increased majority.
Alhaji Iddirsu said this when a team of leading NDC functionaries, led by Dr Obed Asamoah, Attorney General, inaugurated the Nanumba district branch of the veranda boys and girls club in at Bimbilla at the weekend.
He said equal opportunities exist in the NDC for both old and new members and said the progressive alliance, on the basis of its development-oriented programme, is the only political grouping capable of effectively administering the country, the Palaver says.
The paper carries a banner headline 'Reform backs candidate for bye-elections.' According to the story, the forth-coming bye-elections in the Ablekuma Central constituency has taken a new dimension with the decision by the Reform Movement to back the an independent candidate, Solomon Bayngo Sulemani, a senior Librarian at the University of Ghana, for the seat.
The paper added that Mr Sulemani said he decided to contest because he believes Ablekuma Central needs more of a serious democratic and well-oriented Member of Parliament. Asked why he decided to be an independent candidate, Mr Sulemani said his support base cuts across all parties which gives him a chance of winning.
The paper carries on its centre page 'Rocky road to victory.' The accompanying story says the poor performance of the Black Satellites against Mali and the dismissal of Coach Osam Duodu during the run-up to the XIth Africa Under-20 soccer tournament, were some of the stumbles that marked the Satellites'=rocky road to victory in the tournament.
It says Ghana's initial hope was only to be among the five qualifiers for the World Under 20 tournament in Nigeria, and not winning the prize at stake.
The paper added that so steep was the graph of progress by the Satellites that by last Sunday's final, the confidence and spirit by Ghanaian had hit a peak reflecting in the huge crowd that poured in to watch finals.
The paper said the VIP lounge of the stadium enjoyed a rare patronage including Ghana's President J.J. Rawlings, First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, FIFA President Sepp Blatter and CAF President Issa Hayatou, were among dignitaries present there.
The paper has on its front-page 'President's vision for educating the Ghanaian'. According to the paper the President, Jerry John Rawlings has stressed that education of the youth is the responsibility of all and not only the government, educational bodies or the district school authorities.
The Paper stated that the President made the this known when he addressed a colourful parade of school children and other organisations in Accra to mark the 42nd Independence anniversary of the country.
The paper says the President sighted the case of Kushea in the Northern region where the people, the chief and the leaders came together with unity of purpose to solve the problem of the abysmal performance of their children in examination.
According to the story, the president also advised the youth to read papers critically to be able to know the truth.
The paper concluded that the children promised to keep their environment clean and move away from anti-social activities such as drugs abuse and teenage pregnancy.
The paper carries a front-page story headlined: 'chiefs won't pay royalties'. The paper says Paramount chiefs in the Western Region have threatened to stop paying royalties to the various District Assemblies if the latter do not spend these monies on development projects in their areas of jurisdiction.
The paper added that the chiefs see these monies as being misdirected into other ventures, which do not benefit their communities.
According to the paper, what infuriated Nananom was that whenever they approach the Assemblies over the issue, they are told they've used it for 'recurrent expenditure'.
The paper added that Nana Nkuale Okodom the third, Omanhene of Sefwi Wiawso traditional area who is barely two years old on the throne said since his enstoolment he has been able to pay as much as 800 million cedis in royalties to the District Assembly in his area.
The paper concludes that Nana Nkuale Okodom the third stressed that not even a single project has been undertaken by the Assembly in his are after paying so much.
Stadia rehabilitation contracts probe=85Vital witness seeks refuge in Togo', says the Ghanaian Times in a lead headline. The paper says a man whose participation as a witness in the work of the committee to investigate the award of contracts for the rehabilitation of the Accra and Kumasi sports stadia for the just-ended Africa Under-20 Youth soccer championship, has fled the country. According to the Times, he fears that his life will be in danger if he appears before the probe and he is reportedly seeking refuge in Togo.
The paper says before he disappeared he said: 'I can't hide and keep quiet forever, because one night while I was on my job, a very big man came to the Accra Sports Stadium and I revealed certain things to him'.
The Vice-President, Prof. John Atta Mills, ordered a probe into the award of contracts for the renovation of the two stadia, because of suspected irregularities. The Times says the witness (name withheld), told the paper, 'I fear for my life. I am dealing with high society people who can be very vicious and are capable of harming me'.
The Independent in a headline: 'Hawa Yakubu's bombshell', says Madam Yawa Yakubu, former Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, has urged that Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings should be reminded of her role in the killings of the three judges and a retired army officer, if she ever run for an election as either President or vice-president of Ghana. The paper says although Nana Konadu is yet to declare her intentions openly, there is widespread speculation that she might go for the high office of President. Madam Yakubu, reported to be one of the many who opposes of Nana Konadu's candidacy, is said to have asserted that the First Lady's Presidential bid would be a 'tragedy and a disaster to Ghana' . The former MP is reported as saying that 'Nana Konadu is not the role model for women in Ghana and Africa'. Madam Yakubu said that while she recognised the inalienable rights of Nana Konadu to contest the next elections, she would be bringing too much trouble onto herself since she would be reminded about her link to the murder of the judges and the retired army officer in 1982.
The Independent reports Madam Yakubu as saying that the Azu Crabbe Commission of enquiry into the murders, specifically mentions that the keys to the cars that were used in the murder of the four, were picked from her residence. 'Will Konadu, like Pinochet, be asked to account for the abduction and murder of the four. What will be her answer?', the former MP is quoted as asking. Madam Yakubu is reported as saying that Nana Konadu must follow her husband out of the Castle in 2001, adding, 'We will have room for them in Ghana but no more in the Castle'.
The High Street Journal reports that the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), last year, registered 187 projects estimated at 177 million dollars and which have the potential to create 12,240 new jobs for Ghanaians. The paper quotes a statement by Mr E.M. Gyasi, GIPC director in charge of research and development, as saying that last year, projects coming through the Centre, fetched 51.68 million dollars in foreign equity and 113.14 million dollars debt, bringing total foreign direct inflows through the Centre to 164.82 million dollars.
The statement says from September 1994, to December last year, GIPC-registered projects have brought in 997.04 million dollars foreign direct capital inflows made up of 344.32 million dollars equity and 652.7 million dolaars in foreign debt.