Dark days in Ghana…VAT to go up to 15%, petrol price zooms up…
Doctors flee for their lives…As 'machomen' attack them
Robbery…Four bolt with 77mC in broad daylight
Amoatia named Okyehene-elect
Ghana seeks to bring her refugees home
Rapist brought in from Togo
Nkrumah's hometown cries for help…Demands his body back
Trade Minister promises reduction in corporate tax
Trouble still in the air…!
Trouble brews in NPP…Over 5 million cedis deposit
Dark days in Ghana…VAT to go up to 15%, petrol price zooms up…
The lead story in the Statesman appears to paint a gloomy picture for Ghana in the days ahead. The story says that as cash-strapped Ghanaians grapple with the recent hike in petroleum prices, a hint has been dropped that VAT may be increased from 10% to 15%.
The paper says Mr Victor Selormey, a Deputy Minister of Finance, who made this 'Freudian slip' at a forum of the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce in Accra, stated that the increase from 10% to 15% is to rake in more revenue.
The Deputy Minister, who was contributing to discussions on the falling world market prices of cocoa and gold, is reported at saying that these 'nose-dives', which have been compounded by crude oil price rises, made nonsense of government projections. He is quoted as predicting very tough times ahead, saying that the impact of these world price adjustments would be felt in Ghana with time and expressed fears that the demands of next year's general elections, would compound these problems.
The Statesman says Mr Selormey referred to a demand for 30 billion cedis by the Electoral Commission to revise the voters' register and said "the democratic process is too expensive, but we must push on".
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The Guide
Doctors flee for their lives…As 'machomen' attack them
In a screaming headline story, the Guide says the use of thugs and 'machomen' in Ghana is gradually becoming institutionalised even at social gatherings. The paper says last Thursday at the National Theatre in Accra, the otherwise very civil and popular "Public Concern" programme on "GTV", turned into an arena of political intrigue and intimidation.
It says the occasion was a face-to-face meeting of the Minister of Health Mr Samuel Nuamah Donkor and the Greater Accra Regional President of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), Professor Akosa and the secretary, Dr Oheneba Danso on the militarisation of the Ridge Hospital, La and Mamprobi Polyclinics in Accra. According to the Guide, the gentlemen conducted the affairs in a very intellectual manner, devoid of acrimony and antagonism, even though emotions rose at certain times.
The paper says at the end of the function, then came the coup de grace, when a number of young doctors, still not satisfied with the firm and well-defended position of the Minister, started discussing the issues among themselves and drawing attention to the possible danger, the decision portends for Ghana.
The Guide says that was their 'crime', as a group of young men, obviously transported to the place in a Motorway bus, moved menacingly towards the doctors, calling them. Those who attempted to argue with them were ruffled, molested and pushed about, while more insults were hurled at them.
Some of the doctors quickly dashed out of the hall to avoid being manhandled by the thugs and looked for the nearest exit to safety, the paper concludes.
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Robbery…Four bolt with 77mC in broad daylight
The Daily Graphic reports on its front-page that four armed robbers last Monday, attacked and robbed a vehicle conveying money to the bank in broad daylight, bolting with 77 million cedis belonging to Rana Motors in Accra. The paper says the robbers stopped the vehicle a few metres from the company's gate and ordered the driver, a security man and two female cashiers out of the vehicle at gunpoint and sped off.
The vehicle, a KIA Sportage saloon car with registration number GD 919 D, is said to have been abandoned later in front of the offices of the State Housing Company, opposite the Awudome Cemetery in the metropolis. The Graphic says a source close to the Police Anti-Armed Robbery Squad said at about 1.50 p.m. on
Monday, September 27, the car was conveying two female cashiers and a security man to the bank to lodge the money into the company's account. According to the source a few metres from the gate four armed men emerged from the Linda Dor Restaurant, located opposite the offices of the company, and attacked the driver by firing a shot at the car.
The robbers then ordered the occupants of the car, entered and sped off. The Graphic says all efforts to arrest the robbers have so far proved futile, while the abandoned car has been conveyed to the Police CID Headquarters.
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Amoatia named Okyehene-elect
In a second story, the Graphic reports that the five divisional chiefs of Akyem Abuakwa have approved the nomination of Odehye Nana Kwame Amoatia Ofori Atta, 47, as the Okyehene-elect.
The paper says at a solemn and peaceful ceremony at Kyebi, seat of the Ofori Panin Stool, yesterday, the new chief swore the oath of allegiance to the five divisional chiefs, the Ankobiahene of Kyebi, the Apedwahene, acting head of the Amantoomiensa division and the Abusuapanin of the Asona Royal Clan, Bafour Kwabena Akowuah. Odehye Ofori Atta, whose stool name is Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin II, succeeds his late brother, Osagyefuo Kuntunkununku II, who died on March 17, this year, as the 35th chief of the Akyem Abuakwa State.
The Okyehene-elect who holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science/Public Administration, is expected to be outdoored on Monday, October 11, after his one week confinement.
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Ghana seeks to bring her refugees home
The Ghanaian Times reports that discussions began in Lome yesterday between Ghana and Togo on the eventual repatriation of Ghanaian refugees in Northern Togo. The paper says the meeting is at the instance of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
According to the Times, official Togolese estimates have it that there are now about 11,208 Ghanaian refugees in the districts of Bassar, Dankpen and Sotoubo. The paper says a sizeable number of Ghanaians fled their communities in 1994, during the ethnic conflict in the Northern Region and sought refuge in Togo. Mr David Ananglate, ambassador, leads the Ghanaian team to Togo, says the paper.
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Rapist brought in from Togo
In a second story, the Times says Joseph Osei Agyemang, a 45-yearold trader, wanted by the police for raping a nine-year-old girl who later became paralysed, has finally been arrested. The paper says Agyemang had given 400,000 cedis to the victim's parents as an out-of-court settlement.
He is said to have absconded to Togo to evade arrest and prosecution when the girl became paralysed and the deal was exposed. He had earlier been granted bail with a surety. The Times says when relatives of the surety, Nana Dankyi Awere, Ntonsohene of Kwahu in the Eastern Region, realised the danger their chief was in, they lured Agyemang from Togo to come home "to help solve a family problem".
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The Independent
Nkrumah's hometown cries for help…Demands his body back
The Independent reports that the people of Nkroful, the birthplace of Ghana's first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, have accused the government of being apathetic to the idea of developing the town into a tourist centre.
In a banner headline story, the paper says the people have called on the government to implement the idea that had been on the drawing board for years now, without delay. It says Mr Jacob Corney, a member of the Nzema East District Assembly, on behalf of the inhabitants of Nkroful told a group of journalists from the "Independent" last Sunday that the NDC government should return the body of Dr Nkrumah to has hometown from where it was removed for re-burial in Accra.
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The High Street Journal
Trade Minister promises reduction in corporate tax
The Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr John Frank Abu, is reported to have promised reduction in corporate tax for targeted industries to help them operate competitively against imports.
The High Street Journal, in a front-page story, says Dr Abu told the annual general meeting of the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce that reducing the tax burden on industry is important as an incentive. He is reported as reacting to calls by industry that corporate tax should be reduced from the current 35% to 30% .
The paper says the president of the Chamber of Commerce, Mr Ato Ampiah, who re-echoed the calls, argued that reduction in corporate tax would allow companies to plough back profits for expansion, as well as investment into research and development.
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The Crusading Guide
Trouble still in the air…!
The Crusading Guide in a front page story, notes that the President, Flt-Lt Jerry Rawlings, last week Friday, displayed a high degree of "presidential interventionism" when he, together with the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, amicably resolved the rift between the Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive, Nana Akwasi Agyeman and Dr Richard Anane, MP for Bantama in Kumasi.
The paper, quoting an NPP statement signed by the General Secretary of the party, Mr Dan Botwe, says while welcoming the gesture and all other efforts at reconciliation and unity, the NPP has cautioned that such efforts "must not be mere public relations exercises or media shows".
Mr Botwe is reported as suggesting that "they must attempt to deal with the root causes of the problem if they are to have any real and lasting effect". According to the Crusading Guide, Mr Botwe noted that "the assault on Dr Anane was but the latest such charge against Nana Akwasi Agyeman", saying that there are others who need to be appeased.
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Ghana Palaver
Trouble brews in NPP…Over 5 million cedis deposit
The Ghanaian Palaver in a banner headline story, says even though the NPP hierarchy had persistently denied the truth about the five million cedis deposit as one of the conditions for parliamentary aspirants of the party, the situation on the ground attests to this truism.
According to the paper, party aspirants who could not raise the five million cedis have indicated that they are on the verge of defecting to the NDC or going solo in next year's general elections. The paper says the 'aggrieved' aspirants have uncovered a secret plot by some leading members of the NPP to eliminate some of them from the contest. They are reported as claiming that the national leadership has been secretly paying the deposit of their preferred candidates.
In addition the national leadership has single-handedly selected delegates who will cast votes at the constituency electoral college of the party, currently being held in some regions.
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