Print Press Review for 3rd October

DAILY GRAPHIC – FRIDAY, 3RD OCTOBER, 2003

1. WE WON’T ACCEPT SHODDY JOB … ON THREE MAJOR ARTERIES – PGS. 1 & 3

According to the paper, government has made it clear that it would not entertain any shoddy work in the construction of the three major road arteries in the country.

The roads are the Accra/Yamoransa, Accra/Kumasi and Accra/Aflao highways.

It said the three major roads, which formed part of the Trans-Ecowas Highways were being undertaken at a great cost to the national economy, adding that any contractor found not to be living up to expectation would be surcharged with the cost of the project.

Dr. Richard Anana, Roads and Highways Ministe, announced this at a news conference in Accra yesterday.

2. MINISTRY TO INVESTIGATE ILL-HEALTH OF PFC WORKERS – PG. 3

The Ministry of Employment and Manpower Development is to set up an independent medical board to investigate the ill health of workers of the Pioneer Food Cannery (PFC), manufacturers of StarKist Tuna.

In view of this, the Ministry will meet the PFC management, worker, leaders and other stakeholders to determine the composition of the board.

The board will be expected to examine affected workers with a view to ascertaining the nature of their ailment and how it relate to their work.

Mr. Yaw Barimah, the Sector Minister, made this known in an interview at Tema yesterday.

He expressed concern about the recent publicity and allegations against the company, saying if the allegations were true, it would suggest that the company was pursuing policies which were not in the best interest of its workers and would, therefore, call for a new approach towards their operational procedures.

3. CEPS INTERCEPTS SHOT-GUNS – PGS. 1 & 3

The paper reports that, CEPS in the Upper West Region has intercepted 15 pieces of Russian made shot-guns at the Kulmasa barrier in the Northern Region.

The guns were found on a Hamile-bound Neoplan bus from Kuamsi.

According to the paper, when questioned, all 70 passengers on board the bus denied ownership of the guns.

4. GOVT TO RECEIVE 250 BUSES FROM CHINA – PG. 21

According to the paper, negotiations have begun between the government and its Chinese counterpart for the supply of 250 intra-city buses to beef up the operations of the Metro Mass Transit Company.

Dr. Richard Anane, Roads and Highways Minister announcd this in Accra yesterday.

He said the first consignment of the buses were expected in the country by the beginning of next year.

The Ministry was expecting 83 Fiat Iveco buses from the Italian Government to bring the number of buses provided by that government to 200.

The Government was also in negotiations with the Dutch government for the supply of another 250 intra-city buses under ORET funding.

THE GHANAIAN TIMES – FRIDAY, 3RD OCTOBER, 2003

1. HEALTH INSURANCE: …. GNAT BEATS OWN PATH – PG. 1

The Ghana Nation Association of Teachers (GNAT) has hinted that it is considering establishing an exclusive health insurance scheme for its members. It says it will take advantage of the provision for private mutual schemes in the NHIS bill to set up its own.

To that end, the GNAT urged the government to give it the GES budgetary allocation for refund of medical expenses, to enable teachers to establish their health insurance scheme to be registered with the NHIS.

This was contained in a statement issued by the GES in Accra.

Government, the GNAT argued, should allow individual companies and communities to organize their health insurance schemes to satisfy their peculiar environment.

2. BEWARE OF I.T. FRAUD – PUBLIC WARNED – PG. 1

According to the paper, an information technologist, Miss Tim Lowery, has warned the public to be wary of unscrupulous people who use the internet and other forms of Information technology to dupe innocent people and organizations.

“There is an increasing number of fraudsters, especially Nigerians, who are using the internet to defraud unsuspecting people”.

She was speaking at a workshop organised by Kabissa, a non-profit organization dedicated to information technology, in Accra.

3. CATHOLICS LAUD TURKSON’S ELEVATION – PGS. 1 & 3

The Apostolic Nunico, Archbishop George Kochery, has said that, the elevation of Archbishop Peter Appiah Turkson of Cape Coast to a cardinal was the Pope’s recognition of the church’s contribution to the socio-economic development of Ghana.

It was also an opportunity given to the nation to continue to project its good image worldwide, he said.

He said, “There are so many countries in the world who do not have a cardinal, therefore selecting a person from Ghana is a big honour to the nation.

“This a big gift from Pope John Paul II to the nation”, he said.

He was speaking to the paper in an interview in Accra.

THE STATESMAN – FRIDAY, 3RD OCTOBER, 2003

1. VOTERS UNHAPPY WITH PROCUREMENT EC CONTROL – PGS. 1 & 3

The paper’s survey in three Regions indicate that majority of voters, including supporters of the NPP are unhappy about Government’s intention to establish a procurement committee for the EC.

Out of 98 eligible voters the paper spoke to the paper in Accra, Tema, Kumasi, Kyebi and Koforidua, 68% of those polled said “NO” to the question, “Do you agree with Government initiating a procurement committee for the EC?

According to the paper, if it considers the sample of that the voters wishes, then the results of the poll suggests that the Government would score an own-goal if it insisted on carrying through its intention.

Even more revealing in the paper’s survey was the response from 58 of those questioned who identified themselves to be supporters of the NPP.

2. ANGRY PASSENGERS ATTACK GHANA AIRWAYS STAFF AND OFFICES – PGS. 1 & 3

The paper reports that, angry passengers travelling to Germany by Ghana Airways yesterday besieged the office of the airline at the Kotoka International Airport and vandalized properties worth millions of cedis.

Hundred of passengers have been left stranded at the airport since Monday, 30th September and travellers from London to Ghana were stranded in Rome over the weekend due to an engine fault Ghana Airways had suffered.

However, yesterday saw frustrated passengers venting their anger physically on structures and officials.

The incident which began at around 1 p.m. as a peaceful demonstration, took a nasty turn when the stranded passengers including foreigners took their protest to the offices.

An eye witness, John G. Annan, told the paper that he had gone to make a reservation at the office and was waiting for his turn when the upset passengers entered, shouting and threatening to cause destruction in retaliation of the bad treatment they had been subjected to by Ghana Airways.

The damage properties which belonged to the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) include computers, fax machines, telephones, furniture, glass windows among others. THE EVENING NEWS – THURSDAY, 2ND OCTOBER, 2003

PROCUREMENT COMMITTEE FOR EC .. DAN BOTWE CAUTIONS GOV’T – PG. 1

According to the paper, Mr. Dan Botwe, NPP General-Secretary has advised the government not to go ahead with the intention to set up a procurement committee for the EC.

Speaking to the paper in an interview in Accra, Mr. Botwe said although the government had good intentions in bringing up the idea, the feedback from various quarters suggests that the decision must be discarded.

“Nobody can begrudge the government for attempting to fine-tune a system that we all know has been bedevilled by problems in the past with the view to improve upon it”.

He observed that if the government and for that matter the NPP did not take care, all the inefficiencies that may crop up in next year’s elections may be placed at the door-steps of the government.

GHANA PALAVER – FRIDAY, 3RD – 6TH OCTOBER, 2003

AFTER HI-JACKING TESHIE NGO …NPP MP BLOWS ?40M AIDS MONEY – PGS. 1 & 3

The paper reports that, the Minister of Fisheries, Mr. Eddie Akita, has not only hi-jacked an NGO, formed by others but also used his position to withdraw millions of cedis, lodged for an anti-AIDS campaign, from a bank, without the notice of the founders of the organization.

In one instance, Mr. Akita took away a total amount of over ?26m, within a week, sometime last August, for purposes unknown.

When contacted by original promoters of the NGO, known as the Christian Aid Mission, Mr. Akita is said to have claimed that he had to withdraw the monies lodged with the bank to send them home for safe-keeping.

The Christian Aid Mission was formed in 1999 to assist needy children. It was also given grants by the National Aids Commission to help wipe out the dreadful disease through workshops and other education and health promoting programmes.

However, out of the amount of ?40m granted the NGO, Mr. Akita, who is also NPP MP for Ledzokuku has managed to drain off the cash, leaving a credit balance of only ?10,723,000.

THE GHANAIAN VOICE – FRIDAY, 3RD OCTOBER, 2003

1. CORRUPTIONS AT LANDS COMMISSION … GOV’T URGED TO INVESTIGATE – PGS. 1 & 3

According to the paper, officials of the Lands Commission have been accused of indulging in corrupt practices to rob innocent hard working landowners of their legally acquired properties.

The officials were blamed for altering and falsifying land documents at the Commission.

Pastor Sampson Joe Baning, Head Pastor of the Living Testimonies for Jesus Bible Ministry, made the allegation at a news conference in Accra.

He was reacting on media report that he has unjustifiably ordered a demolition of structure on a piece of plot at Ngleshie Amanfro, near Kasoa in the Central Region.

The Pastor has therefore called on the office of the President to institute a probe into activities of officials of the Commission.

2. WEREKO-BROBBY AND CO. COMMITTED WRONG DOING … SAYS NDUOM – PGS. 1 & 3

According to the paper, the Minister of Energy, Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom, has stated that the resignation of Dr. Charles Wereko-Brobby, the CEO of VRA and his Deputy, Mr. Jabesh Amissah Arthur constitute an admission of wrong doing.

He said if nothing had gone wrong “they will not have resigned” adding that those on suspension are also in that fate on account of long standing negligence over the years.

When the paper pressed the Minister to say whether the CE and his Deputy were forced to resign or were really dismissed, he would not stick out his neck but said “ma otse biara, fa no damaara” meaning “take it as it is”.

He explained that even though the former CE had been exonerated from the allegations against him, there might be some “soft ground” under the surface.

Dr. Nduom revealed this to the paper after interacting with the staff of the Central Region Electricity Company of Ghana.

THE GHANAIAN CHRONICLE – FRIDAY, 3RD OCTOBER, 2003

1. SAGA OF DIVIDE & RULE – NPP MEMBERS BARE TEETH – WARN REGIONAL EXECUTIVES – AS THE CONSTITUENCY FEUD DEEPENS – PGS. 1 & 3

The paper says report from Ablekuma South Constituency of the ruling NPP speak of trouble looming among the ranks of the membership with some aggrieved members baring their teeth against the MP, Ms. Theresa Amerley Tagoe.

It indicate that the party had been in disarray since after 2000 elections, resulting in feud between the MP and sections of the party’s ex-constituency executives.

however, things came to a head during the recent visit of the President as part of his tour to the Greater Accra Region when the disgruntled ex-executives carried placards with inscriptions like, “Theresa, why have you allowed the police to arrest party activists”, “we don’t want divide and rule MP” among others.

The aggrieved members also told the paper that it was unfortunate that all efforts to resolve the impasse had proved futile and accused the MP of blocking all moves towards a peaceful resolution.

2. ROADS MINISTER DISMISSES ALLEGATIONS OVER MASS TRANSPORT – ONLY 36 OUT OF 183 BUSES HAVE BROKEN DOWN – PGS. 1 & 3

The paper reports that, Roads and Transport Minister, Dr. Richard Anane, has dismissed recent media reports that activities of the Metro Mass Transit (MMT) Company Limited were gradually grounding to a halt due to the breakdown of 80 of the vehicles and said the MMT instead had made some modest achievements.

Addressing the press yesterday, in Accra, Dr. Anane said the MMT made an excess income over expenditure of ?1.36bn from its operations in the four cities, Accra/Tema, Takoradi/Sekondi, Kumasi and Tamale as at the end of August.

He said as at today the number of broken down buses was 36 out of the 183 in all four centers and not 80 as reported.

NETWORK HERALD – FRIDAY, 3RD OCTOBER, 2003

FIREMEN WANT REFORM – PS. 1 & 3

Disgruntled personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service have expressed disappointment and frustration at their condition of service and have appealed to the Interior Minister to “overhaul the system”.

They have alleged favouritism, tribalism and total disregard for professionalism and fraudulent practices in the service.

Personnel from the Greater Accra, Volta and the Northern Regions, who spoke to the paper, said the situation in the service is so bad that many of the personnel do not have any confidence in what they do and find it difficult to rank it in terms of ranking.

They accused top management for these short comings, some of whom they describe as square peg in a round holes.

According to them, the distortion in the system is so alarming that senior officers especially those posted to the Northern part of the country find themselves working under junior officers.

They complained that ranks in the service are given not on merit but “irrelevant considerations”.

They however pleaded with the Interior Minister to “put qualified persons at the helm of affairs” and help streamline the service.